The Third Villager

Overnight, they had built such a large house.

Whew...

Ning Sixth Uncle was filled with questions. How had these children managed to do this?

Ning Sixth Uncle had also heard a little about Ning Qiu's recent affairs.

Ning Qiu had apparently made a small fortune by growing carrots. Perhaps he had hired many skilled craftsmen overnight and had them work through the night, resulting in the building before them.

"Sixth Uncle, I'd like to discuss something with you," Ning Qiu said.

"Go ahead," Ning Sixth Uncle said.

"Your current crop has already been harvested, so I'd like to take back this piece of land," Ning Qiu said.

Ning Qiu would need to construct even more buildings in the future. How could he do that without land?

"Alright." Ning Sixth Uncle nodded.

"You agree?" Ning Qiu looked startled. Ning Sixth Uncle had agreed far too readily.

"Mm. Business in the village hasn't been very good lately, and several gangs have come to Notting City. I was already thinking of planting fewer vegetables this year. Ning Qiu, you discussed something with me, and I have something I'd like to discuss with you too," Ning Sixth Uncle said.

"You go first."

"Ning Qiu, I heard Gou Dan has been hanging around with you lately. Could you take care of Ning Chen too?"

Ning Sixth Uncle glanced at Ning Chen, who looked like nothing more than a skeleton.

Ning Sixth Uncle had learned from Gou Dan's father, Skinny Monkey, that Gou Dan listened to Ning Qiu very well. Gou Dan, who had once constantly made a fuss about becoming a Soul Master, no longer cried or made trouble after following Ning Qiu. He had even started helping Ning Qiu farm.

Ning Qiu was also very generous. Every time he sold vegetables, he gave Gou Dan a substantial payment. Especially lately, Gou Dan had become extremely diligent after following Ning Qiu. He got up before dawn every day to turn the soil. It was as though he had become a completely different person. This had delighted Gou Dan's father, Skinny Monkey, beyond measure.

Ning Sixth Uncle's son, Ning Chen, was in a similar situation to Gou Dan.

Ning Chen's martial soul was also a useless martial soul, and when it awakened, he had not possessed the slightest bit of Soul Power. He could not become a Soul Master.

Ning Chen had been thoroughly brainwashed by Old Jack. Even though it had already been a year since his martial soul awakened, he still stubbornly wanted to attend Soul Master Academy and become a glorious Soul Master.

People had to go through a process, didn't they?

Ning Sixth Uncle truly had no other choice. He had brought Ning Chen to see Ning Qiu. On the way, they ran into Gou Dan. They headed for Ning Qiu's little villa but did not find him there. Then they spotted a house here, so they came over with Ning Chen and Gou Dan, leading to the earlier scene.

"Huh?" Ning Qiu looked surprised, his brows rising slightly as he looked at Ning Chen.

"Ning Qiu, your father and I were cousins. Taking care of one person is taking care of someone; taking care of three is the same. Why not take one more?" Ning Sixth Uncle truly had no way to deal with Ning Chen. Helpless, he could only play the family card.

"Sixth Uncle, what are you saying? Even if you and my father weren't cousins, my parents died early. Without the care of you and the other uncles and aunties in the village, would I even have survived?" Ning Qiu asked with a smile.

"So you agree?" Ning Sixth Uncle looked delighted.

"Mm." Ning Qiu nodded.

"Good. Thank you, Uncle. It's getting late, and I have things to do, so I won't keep chatting. Ning Chen, follow Ning Qiu properly from now on. If you dare mess around again, I'll break your dog legs!" Before leaving, Ning Sixth Uncle did not forget to glare at his son.

Once Ning Sixth Uncle had left, Gou Dan immediately grew anxious.

"Ning Qiu, does that mean I'll have to give him half my work from now on?" Gou Dan asked reluctantly, as though someone had stolen his cake.

"Well..."

"I couldn't care less!"

Before Ning Qiu could answer, Ning Chen cut in with a disdainful look.

"Are you sure?" Gou Dan's face lit up.

"It's just farming. Who would care about that? Old Jack said farming is the most unpromising thing there is. If you want to farm, then farm. Only a ghost would compete with you for it." Ning Chen's face was full of contempt.

Gou Dan said nothing, but inwardly, he was overjoyed. He looked at Ning Chen as though he were an idiot.

Gou Dan knew that Ning Qiu's land was incredibly magical. Aside from planting and harvesting, even turning the soil every day could earn Soul Power. Turning the soil for an average of five hours earned one hundred points of Soul Power.

After working for three months, Gou Dan was no longer a child without Soul Power. He was now a level 9 Soul Scholar. As long as Ning Chen did not compete with him for work, Gou Dan would be able to obtain his first soul ring within a few days.

Gou Dan had learned from Ning Qiu that once he obtained a soul ring, he would become a true Soul Master. He would even be able to receive a monthly subsidy of five Gold Soul Coins from Spirit Hall!

Uh!

Ning Chen froze, unable to understand why Gou Dan was looking at him like that.

"Ning Chen, are you willing to become a permanent resident of Holy Soul Village, personally under my command from now on?" Ning Qiu asked solemnly. After all, Ning Chen was Ning Sixth Uncle's son and shared a bit of blood relation with him, so Ning Qiu patiently spoke with him.

"Do I have a choice?" Ning Chen asked Ning Qiu resentfully, his face bitter.

Ding dong!

Congratulations! You have recruited the third villager belonging personally to the host. Friendly reminder from the system: when the host recruits ten villagers, you will receive a reward! Please keep up the good work!

Ning Qiu did not mind Ning Chen's attitude. He possessed intelligence that did not match his age.

Ning Qiu extended his hand and passed a Crystal Card to Ning Chen.

"Welcome. You are now a permanent villager personally under my command," Ning Qiu said with a smile.

"What is this?" Ning Chen asked. Looking at the Crystal Identity Certificate, he saw that it actually bore his portrait.

"An Identity Certificate. It is also a pass for entering the Treasure Pavilion. If I remember correctly, your martial soul is a broom, isn't it?" Ning Qiu asked.

Ning Chen nodded. His eyes were filled with defiance. From Su Yuntao, he had learned that his martial soul was a useless martial soul—a textbook useless martial soul. Even so, Ning Chen still wanted to become an honorable Soul Master.

"From now on, the cleaning of this Treasure Pavilion is your responsibility!" Ning Qiu ordered. With that, he turned and left.

"Ning Qiu, what do you mean by this?"

"My dad told me to follow you, not to sweep floors. He wanted me to grow vegetables with you. Are you insulting me?"

"Ning Qiu, my dad and your dad are still cousins! Is this how you treat me? Is our relationship really worse than that outsider Gou Dan?"

No matter how Ning Chen howled, Ning Qiu did not even pause. He left with Xiao Wu and Gou Dan.

"Damn it!"

"Damn it!"

"Damn it! Ning Qiu, you actually dare treat me like this! Once I become a Soul Master, I'll make you pay!"

Ning Chen stared at Ning Qiu's retreating back and wanted to leave. But just as his left foot was about to step down from the Treasure Pavilion's stairs, he suddenly recalled the harsh words his father had left him with.

When Ning Chen's father left, he had said that if Ning Chen caused trouble again, he would break his legs.

Ning Chen pulled his left foot back and hesitated for a long while. He raised his right palm, and with a thought, his broom martial soul floated above it.

With no other choice, Ning Chen looked at the Treasure Pavilion and summoned his broom martial soul to clean it.

"Damn it!"

"Ning Qiu, just you wait."

"I, Ning Chen, swear that if I do not avenge this humiliation, I... swear... I... won't... be... human!"

Ning Chen cleaned as he spat out the fiercest threats.

As he spoke, Ning Chen suddenly froze. He discovered that as he cleaned, streams of warm energy began flowing into his body. His eyes widened in surprise and delight as he exclaimed, "Could this be the Soul Power Old Jack spoke of?"