"His Excellency the Pope knows about my physical changes."
"She said it wasn't a bad thing."
Facing the persistent gazes of Hu Liena and the other two, Wang Zhong finally had to mention Bibi Dong to prove the truth of his words.
With Wang Zhong's statement, although Xie Yue and Yan were still somewhat unconvinced, they could only suppress their doubts.
Hu Liena, however, let out a soft sigh of relief. She knew much more than Xie Yue and Yan, and she also knew that Wang Zhong was not lying to her at this moment.
With the Pope's assurance, there shouldn't be any major problems.
"By the way, speaking of the challenge with Teacher Ying, this time, you might be disappointed!"
"Because for this battle, I want to face Teacher alone."
Wang Zhong's calm words drew a second wave of exclamations.
"Why?"
"That's right, Wang Zhong, our current strength is far inferior to Teacher's. One more person would mean one more chance of winning!"
"Teacher Ying is really strong!"
Hu Liena, Xie Yue, and Yan spoke one after another, inquiring about the reason. They couldn't understand why Wang Zhong would have such an idea.
Wang Zhong chuckled, put down his chopsticks, and said with absolute confidence, "Because I can win!"
It was like a declaration, or perhaps a statement of a predetermined reality!
His profound confidence displayed the young man's absolute arrogance. The radiance emanating from his brows could capture everyone's attention. He was like a young king who had ascended to the pinnacle and looked down upon all beings, proud and majestic, or like a proud and soaring eagle soaring high in the nine heavens.
Hu Liena's red lips parted slightly, and she stared blankly at Wang Zhong, her eyes hazy and intoxicated. Her heart was beating so fast at this moment, as if it would leap out of her chest in the next second.
Xie Yue and Yan were simultaneously stunned. The confidence and certainty in Wang Zhong's eyes at this moment made them feel a sense of powerlessness that was hard to refute.
He could really win!
The thought of such an outcome appearing in their minds filled Xie Yue and Yan with an unbelievable astonishment.
One was a Soul Saint with exceptional strength, and the other was a newcomer who had recently advanced to the Soul King realm.
This apparent gap in strength was enough to make many mock the latter for overestimating himself, yet they actually believed the latter could win, believing Wang Zhong could achieve victory against Ying Yanyang!
Were they crazy! Or foolish!
No, neither. They were simply infected by Wang Zhong's intense confidence and conviction, and they unconditionally believed he could accomplish something that others would dismiss as a joke.
"Hiss!"
"This is too much! I actually believe you can do it a little." Xie Yue sighed and slumped back into his chair, his expression filled with strangeness.
"I believe you can too!"
"Because you have created too many miracles and allowed us to witness too many unbelievable things! Wang Zhong, go for it!"
Compared to Xie Yue's uncertainty, Yan expressed his utmost trust at this moment.
A Soul Master defeating a Great Soul Master, a Great Soul Master defeating a Soul Ancestor, and a Soul Ancestor defeating five Soul Kings – these three feats were considered impossible by others, yet Wang Zhong had achieved them.
Why couldn't Wang Zhong, now a Soul King, defeat a Soul Saint?
"I support your choice, and I believe you can do it." Hu Liena held Wang Zhong's hand and never let go. A smile and unconditional trust graced her alluring face.
Whatever came out of Wang Zhong's mouth, Hu Liena always believed it to be true.
Returning a gentle smile to Hu Liena, Wang Zhong continued, "Actually, there are other reasons why I want to do this."
"This reason concerns me, and it also concerns His Excellency the Pope."
Hu Liena blinked her eyes. She seemed to understand why Wang Zhong wanted to go alone.
"Zhong, do we need to hide this matter anymore?"
"Yes, anyway, after the grand competition three days later, Xie Yue and Yan will know. It doesn't matter anymore."
In response to Hu Liena's question, Wang Zhong nodded casually.
However, these vague words left Xie Yue and Yan utterly bewildered. Why would a challenge match involve the Pope? They couldn't have imagined that.
Soon, Wang Zhong provided the answer, "Three days later, regardless of the outcome of my duel with Teacher Ying, His Excellency the Pope will publicly announce that I am taken as a disciple!"
Xie Yue and Yan's eyes suddenly widened at this moment. They had heard incredibly significant news.
"His Excellency the Pope… is going to… take you as a disciple…"
"The Pope… His Excellency's… disciple!"
Their tongues suddenly got tied, and they even began to stutter.
Disciple of the Pope – these four words represented one of the highest levels of identity and status within the Spirit Hall.
Second only to one, above ten thousand others!
This was no exaggeration whatsoever.
"Yes!"
Wang Zhong nodded heavily under their disbelieving gazes.
"Three days later, regardless of the result of my challenge with Teacher Ying, my only teacher will be His Excellency the Pope!"
"As a former student of Teacher Ying, I have a responsibility to give my best in that arena battle, to present a perfect graduation paper for myself."
"I need to use my own strength to tell Teacher Ying that his student has not failed his expectations and has grown up!"
His calm tone was filled with deep reminiscence. Years ago, a few days after Lu Xiaoshuang challenged him, in Ying Yanyang's office, Wang Zhong had never forgotten the earnest teachings of his mentor, and he kept them firmly in his heart.
"Wang Zhong, although Teacher has given you almost absolute freedom, Teacher has requirements for you, no, for all students."
"First, do not stop your cultivation progress. Keep moving forward, go as far as possible on the path of a Soul Master."
"Second, you are not allowed to do anything that would even slightly damage the dignity and glory of the Spirit Hall, nor are you to harm the interests and future of the Spirit Hall Academy."
"Can you do it!"
"I can, Teacher Ying!" Wang Zhong's eyes slowly closed as he responded silently in his heart.
With nearly four years of guidance from Bibi Dong, Wang Zhong's foresight, strategy, and methods had all made significant progress.
Recalling this so-called five-year pact with Ying Yanyang, Wang Zhong saw something different.
Whether it was a spirit bone or a challenge, even the so-called concession after two years, Ying Yanyang was doing only one thing.
Allowing his students to go further and become stronger!
Even if he himself became the fuel, consumed entirely by his students' flames, his heart would not change.
To reciprocate this expectation and sacrifice, Wang Zhong decided to fight alone.
With Wang Zhong's current strength, to speak the truth, Ying Yanyang truly couldn't defeat him!
With the Six Gates of the Eight Inner Gates fully opened, who in this world could wield such terrifying power that could shake half of the Death Canyon!
Under the Sage Mode, the wood spirit's soul skills, with their immensely enhanced power and destructive force, could even kill the Purple Winged Spider King in one blow. How could Ying Yanyang withstand it!
Furthermore, because the little fox had integrated all twelve spirit bones into its body, Wang Zhong could now use the Nine-Tailed Fox Robe, which greatly enhanced his abilities, similar to a beast spirit master's spirit possession!
This was a power even more ferocious and terrifying than the Eight Inner Gates, or even Sage Mode. Although he had only tried opening one tail, its power was truly unmatched!
If it were simply for victory, Wang Zhong could have brought Hu Liena, Xie Yue, and Yan to win this battle, which was enough to be recorded in the history of Spirit Hall Academy.
And by leveraging the merits of this battle, their status and resources could be forcefully elevated to the level of Class 4-A. It was even possible to push Si Qianyi and the other five out of their Class-A positions.
But Wang Zhong couldn't do that!
Because this challenge match represented a teacher's expectations and sacrifices!