Second-Stage Talent

"Miss, take off your mask for inspection!"

At the gates of Spirit Hall, the guards on duty stopped Zhu Zhuyun, who was wearing a black mask.

Xu Yu walked over and shot the guard a glare. He was the one who had put that mask on Zhu Zhuyun's face. Did the man dare remove it?

"P-please, go ahead!" The guard gave an awkward smile and let them through. After they had left, he muttered under his breath, "What are you being so arrogant for? Don't let Your Excellency the Pope crush you to death with one slap."

The guard consoled himself. Why bother arguing with someone about to die? Still, he felt rather regretful. Though the woman wore a mask, she had a fiery figure and fair, delicate skin. She had to be a great beauty. Not being able to see her true face was truly one of life's great regrets.

Being a genius spirit master was great. You even had beauties like this by your side, the guard thought sourly.

After passing through the gate inspection, Xu Yu said, "Don't go see Spirit Hall yet. Come stay at my teacher's place for a few days."

Elder Golden Goose's residence was safe and reliable. There definitely would not be any problems there. Golden Goose had also told Xu Yu last time to move back in with her, so she could conveniently beat... guide him in his cultivation. This time, gritting his teeth, Xu Yu decided to move in after all.

Although getting beaten up by Golden Goose hurt badly, those herbs were worth taking the beating for. More importantly, there was Zhu Zhuyun. He could not exactly take her back to his apartment. It was a bachelor's apartment, and Zhu Zhuyun would not agree either.

According to her, whether Xu Yu could even survive the cutthroat competition in Spirit City was still uncertain. She did not want to give herself away for nothing.

After thinking it over, Xu Yu agreed. He was not someone ruled by lust. If things dragged on too long, he could always find other women.

It was simply too difficult to find someone with aptitude like Zhu Zhuyun's. Just like the Qian Clan—because Bibi Dong's talent was too exceptional, Qian Xunji had disregarded his teacher's dignity and forcibly claimed his own student.

Although Qian Xunji had been fed spiders, the result had indeed turned out just as he had expected. Qian Renxue was the most outstandingly gifted descendant the Angel Clan had seen in twenty thousand years.

Besides that, Zhu Zhuyun's ambition was another reason Xu Yu thought highly of her. He admired women with dreams and aspirations who worked tirelessly toward them.

The two arrived in Spirit City's most extravagant residential district and stopped before a courtyard toward the back. Xu Yu took out a key and opened the gate. After entering, he introduced the place to Zhu Zhuyun. "This is where my teacher rests. She said she has barely come here a few times. Other than the master bedroom, you can pick any room you like."

"Also, Spirit Hall has been conducting strict inspections recently, so don't wander around. It's best if you don't leave this little courtyard. I'll go to the academy later to move some luggage over. Just stay here!"

Zhu Zhuyun nodded, then remembered something and quickly asked, "I can't cook. What am I supposed to eat if I don't leave the courtyard?"

"I'll come back and cook tonight. This is the residential area for Spirit Hall elders, so don't run around."

"Then I'll go to the academy with you." Having been repeatedly warned by Xu Yu not to wander around, Zhu Zhuyun's mentality collapsed. She thought Xu Yu was warning her about something.

Yet she could not figure out what he meant, so she could only make that request. Besides, she did not want to remain cooped up in the courtyard. She needed to go out and investigate Spirit Hall, since they might cooperate in the near future.

After thinking for a moment, Xu Yu nodded and agreed to let Zhu Zhuyun come with him. Free labor was free labor.

"Oh, right. If anyone asks about your identity, say you're my woman. Got it?"

"..." Zhu Zhuyun had taken off her mask in the courtyard. Looking at Xu Yu's solemn expression, she gave a cold snort, which counted as agreement.

Still, publicly acknowledging herself as another man's woman was something she could not adapt to. Even with Dai Weisi, even though they were engaged, Zhu Zhuyun had never personally said in public that Dai Weisi was her man. Everyone already knew, so what was there to say?

Now, however, things between her and Dai Weisi were basically impossible, yet she was being asked to acknowledge herself as Xu Yu's woman. It was still somewhat humiliating to Zhu Zhuyun, but she knew she had to do it. It was also the best explanation and pretext for her to remain in Spirit City for the time being.

Seeing Xu Yu choose a bedroom on the first floor near the entrance, Zhu Zhuyun selected the room beside his. In an unfamiliar place, being close to Xu Yu gave her a little sense of security.

After all, Xu Yu would soon become the man who had direct physical contact with her. Though he was unreliable, the thought that he was temporarily more reliable than anyone else firmly occupied Zhu Zhuyun's mind. Even Zhu Zhuyun herself found it difficult to notice this subtle change.

After tidying up the bedroom, Xu Yu glanced at Zhu Zhuyun, who was still dawdling. She must have grown used to being waited on. She had been cleaning a bedroom for ages.

He regretted bringing her along to the academy. Wouldn't it have been better to go by himself?

While sitting on the living room sofa waiting for Zhu Zhuyun, Xu Yu suddenly had an idea. He had not looked at the Contract Tome in a long time. He wondered how the Chaos Ancient Tree was doing.

When he had returned last time, he had not recalled the Chaos Ancient Tree into the Contract Tome, entirely because he coveted the Great Sea's vast supply of spiritual energy. As Xu Yu's Life Guardian Battle Beast, the Chaos Ancient Tree complemented him. After absorbing energy for just over a month, it had nearly pushed Xu Yu up another level of Soul Power.

After absorbing the Blue Whale Fish's spirit ring, Xu Yu's Soul Power had already reached level fifty-two. With the level pushed by the Chaos Ancient Tree, his Soul Power was now a full level fifty-three.

Yet Zhu Zhuyun had also broken through to level fifty-three, which puzzled Xu Yu for a long time. Could it have been Soul Power that had been stuck before? Impossible.

She had only been level forty-eight during the Continental Elite Tournament. Being able to break through to level fifty and become a Soul King had already surprised Xu Yu. How could she still have held back Soul Power and released it after absorbing the spirit ring?

Then where had her level fifty-three Soul Power come from? Did absorbing a Ten Thousand Year Tiger Shark have such benefits?

Curiously glancing at the graceful figure of the woman in the room, Xu Yu opened the Contract Tome and paid her no further attention. Yet that instant of Xu Yu's aggressive gaze was still felt by Zhu Zhuyun, and her body stiffened for a moment.

In the end, she took a deep breath and endured it. That bastard was taking advantage of their deal to stare at her body without restraint. It made her body feel strange, and she was not used to it at all.

She would endure for a while longer. Once she sat on the queen's throne, she would no longer need to put up with him.

Naturally, Xu Yu did not know Zhu Zhuyun's plans, since he could not read minds. In truth, he was rather straightforward by nature. Accommodating girls and coaxing them were not things he did, so he could only try his best to make girls accommodate and coax him.

Upon opening the Contract Tome, the first page still recorded Xu Yu's basic information. The difference was that his Soul Power Level had risen to fifty-three, there was now a Ten Thousand Year Spirit Beast listed, and the tome had evolved into a Silver Tome.

Upgrading the tome was actually simple. One only needed to subdue summoned beasts of the corresponding level, while the Life Guardian Battle Beast and talent would likewise advance to the appropriate stage.

Xu Yu's Life Guardian Battle Beast, the Chaos Ancient Tree, was already a Ten Thousand Year Spirit Beast, corresponding to a Platinum Level summoned beast. The only restriction preventing his tome from advancing to Platinum Level was his talent, which was only at the second stage.

Phantom Talent, Second Stage: Clear Vocalization. On the foundation of visual simulation, it added sound, making the illusion more realistic.