Since You're Here, Then Take a Look

After entering the Branch Hall and passing through several courtyards, they arrived at an elegant reception room.

After the maid served the fragrant tea, she withdrew, leaving only Salas and Lan Aotian seated across from each other.

Salas picked up his teacup but did not drink immediately. Instead, he looked at Lan Aotian with scrutiny and curiosity in his eyes.

"Claude's message said that Your Majesty single-handedly repelled Ju Gui Douluo and forced His Holiness the Pope to yield."

He slowly said, "Although I knew Your Majesty's strength was unfathomable, I never imagined you would be this powerful."

Lan Aotian's expression remained unchanged. "It was merely luck."

Salas smiled and did not continue questioning him.

He was an intelligent man and knew what he should ask and what he should not.

"Your Majesty, rest assured. I will fulfill every condition Claude promised earlier."

He said seriously, "I will arrange access to the outer perimeter of Spirit Hall's Library Hall, as well as the information on the few medicinal ingredients Your Majesty requires, as soon as possible."

Lan Aotian nodded. "Thank you for your trouble."

Salas continued, "The Finals will officially begin three days later. His Holiness the Pope has already ordered that all Competition Teams must complete their registration by tomorrow. If Your Majesty is interested in watching the matches, I can arrange a good seat for you."

Lan Aotian said, "Very well. Since I'm here, then I might as well take a look."

The two exchanged a few more pleasantries before Lan Aotian rose and took his leave.

Claude was already waiting outside. When he saw Lan Aotian emerge, he hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, your lodging has already been arranged. It's in the VIP Courtyard beside the Branch Hall. The surroundings are quiet and secluded, and no one will disturb you."

Lan Aotian nodded and followed him there.

The VIP Courtyard was indeed quite good, with its own separate compound, two connected sections, and elegant furnishings.

Several unknown Flowering Trees grew in the courtyard. They were in full bloom, filling the air with waves of fragrance.

Lan Aotian stopped in the courtyard and swept his gaze across the surroundings.

The people from the Branch Hall had already left, leaving him alone.

He closed his eyes, and his Mental Power spread out like ripples of water, enveloping the entire VIP Courtyard.

A moment later, he opened his eyes.

There was no spying.

Salas certainly knew the rules.

He entered the Main Room, sat down cross-legged, and began regulating his breathing.

Although he had not used his full strength in today's battle, releasing nine Three Hundred Thousand Year Soul Rings simultaneously had consumed a considerable amount of Mental Power.

He needed time to recover.

At the same time, he was sorting through what he had gained today.

Bibi Dong's attitude was more complicated than he had anticipated.

That woman's final words had definitely not been spoken casually.

She would certainly make a move during the Finals.

Tang Hao's appearance had also been within his expectations.

That Clear Sky Douluo should currently be hiding somewhere, secretly observing him and Tang San.

And then there was Tang San...

Lan Aotian's eyes flickered slightly.

In the Canyon today, the two of them had been less than a hundred meters apart.

That connection on the level of their bloodlines had been unmistakably clear.

He could sense that the Blue Silver Emperor Bloodline within Tang San's body was still sleeping deep within his Martial Soul and had never truly awakened.

That boy did not even know that his mother was a Soul Beast, nor that he was a hybrid of a human and a Soul Beast.

He only knew that he was Tang Hao's son, the heir of the Clear Sky Sect, and a genius with Twin Martial Souls.

Nothing more.

The corners of Lan Aotian's mouth lifted slightly.

This is fine, too.

When Tang San truly awakened one day and discovered that his Blue Silver Emperor Bloodline could only reach Quasi-Emperor Rank, forever unable to approach the true Emperor level...

That scene would certainly be interesting.

Of course, it was still too early to think about such things.

The most urgent tasks were to recover his condition, wait for the Finals to begin, and... await Bibi Dong's "invitation."

Outside the window, the sky gradually darkened.

The night of Spirit City was about to arrive.

At this moment, in the inn district on the other side of Spirit City,

the Competition Team from the Heaven Dou Empire had just settled in.

Tang San stood before the window, gazing at the unfamiliar streets outside with a slight furrow in his brow.

Ever since entering Spirit City, he had felt something strange.

It was as if something was watching him from somewhere beyond the visible world.

That feeling was faint, so faint that he could barely detect it.

But whenever the night grew quiet, it would appear, lingering in his heart and refusing to fade.

He recalled the Deep Blue figure he had seen in the Canyon today.

Did That person feel the same way?

He did not know.

He only knew that That person's gaze when looking at him had been very unusual.

It had contained neither hostility nor goodwill, but rather a kind of... indescribably complicated feeling.

It was as if That person were looking at someone connected to him.

"Xiao San."

A knock sounded at the door. It was Xiao Wu's voice.

Tang San came back to himself and opened the door.

Xiao Wu carried a tray inside. Several small dishes and a bowl of rice sat on it.

"Master said you were quite exhausted today, so he asked me to bring you something to eat."

Xiao Wu placed the tray on the table and looked at him. "You don't look well. Are you feeling uncomfortable?"

Tang San shook his head. "I'm fine. Just a little tired."

Xiao Wu looked at him, hesitating to speak.

After a moment, she said softly, "Xiao San, in the Canyon today, did you feel That person's aura...?"

Tang San froze.

Xiao Wu continued, "I mean, there was a very strange aura around That person. It was a little like... like the auras of some powerful Soul Beasts I sensed in the Star Dou Great Forest before."

Tang San looked at her, his gaze shifting slightly.

Xiao Wu was a Soul Beast undergoing Transformation, so it was perfectly normal for her to be sensitive to that kind of aura.

But he was different.

He was human.

Why could he sense that connection on the level of their bloodlines?

Tang San fell silent for a moment before slowly saying, "Xiao Wu, do you think... it's possible that my Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul is connected to That person?"

Xiao Wu was stunned.

She lowered her head and said quietly, "I don't know either. But Xiao San, whether there's a connection or not, you're still you. Don't think about it too much. Eat first."

Tang San nodded and did not continue asking.

But the doubt in his heart only grew deeper.

Outside the window, the night grew darker.

The lights of Spirit City lit up one after another.

And at this moment, that Deep Blue figure was also somewhere, gazing at the same Night Sky.

The night deepened.

The lights of Spirit City remained brilliant, but the VIP Courtyard had already fallen into complete silence.

Lan Aotian sat cross-legged in the Main Room, faint Azure Blue radiance swirling around his body.

After two hours of regulating his breathing, he had recovered most of the energy he had expended during the day.

Releasing nine Three Hundred Thousand Year Soul Rings simultaneously had indeed placed a considerable burden on his Mental Power, but it had also allowed him to control his own strength with even greater precision.

He opened his eyes, and a glint flashed through them in the darkness before vanishing.

Amid the Night Wind outside the window, the faint clamor of the distant streets drifted over.

The nightlife of Spirit City had only just begun. The restaurants, Teahouses, and even some hidden Underground Exchanges were at their liveliest now.

But he had no intention of going out.

He was waiting.

Waiting for someone.

Or rather, waiting for a message.

About the time it took an incense stick to burn, faint footsteps sounded outside the courtyard.

The footsteps were very light, but they were crystal clear within Lan Aotian's perception.

Claude.

He stopped outside the courtyard gate and said in a low voice, "Your Majesty, here is the information you requested."

Lan Aotian raised his hand and waved. The courtyard gate opened silently.