Red Bean

Ye Yuan'er watched for a while, then handed it to Su Wen. There wasn't a trace of reluctance on her face. He shook his head.

"Aunt Ye, I don't need it. You shouldn't absorb it just yet, either."

Su Wen knew that the Blue Silver Emperor's Right Leg Bone granted the Spirit Skills of healing and flight.

He didn't know why a plant would have a flight skill.

But the Blue Silver King's abilities were probably part of it.

Healing was acceptable.

But flight...

Su Wen didn't dare take the risk.

If he really ended up with a flight skill, he'd be better off with a Thousand-Year Soul Bone.

Besides, he wanted the Blue Silver Emperor's Right Leg Bone more than this one.

"Why?"

Ye Yuan'er was baffled. She crouched down and gave him an exasperated look. "This is a top-grade Spirit Bone, its value impossible to estimate. If we took it out, who knows how many people would fight over it!"

"It's too useless. Aunt Ye, you defeated it in a few moves, and it isn't suitable for either you or me."

Su Wen made up an excuse, then added, "We can keep it for now. If we can't find anything suitable later, it won't be too late to absorb it then. Aunt Ye, let's go back!"

"This... all right!"

Seeing how serious Xiao Wen was, Ye Yuan'er could only go along with him.

She stowed the Spirit Bone in her Soul Tool, then took Su Wen with her as she stood on her Martial Soul. As the Phoenix spread its wings, they became a streak of light and vanished from the Blue Silver Forest.

It was nearly evening. The two rested for the night in a nearby town before returning to Spirit City.

Back at his quarters in Spirit Hall, Su Wen was in high spirits. Aunt Ye was almost level ninety-four. Once she broke through, they would go find trouble with Tang Hao.

Tang Hao should be level ninety-two or ninety-three at this point.

Even if that guy's combat strength was absurd, Aunt Ye's flames had undergone a qualitative change after she took the Immortal Herb. With the support of a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring, her combat strength was formidable, too.

Tang Hao also seemed to be injured. Even if Aunt Ye couldn't kill him, she could hold him off and give Su Wen a chance to get the Blue Silver Emperor's Right Leg Bone.

"Senior... Senior Brother!"

Suddenly, a sweet voice called out.

The next moment, Hu Liena ran into the courtyard, her little face full of worry and nervousness. "Senior Brother, where did you go? When Teacher saw you were missing, she even went to your old place to look for you, but you weren't there. Teacher's really angry now."

Oh no!

He'd forgotten to let her know before leaving!

Su Wen felt a little embarrassed.

But in front of Hu Liena, he pretended to be calm. "Your senior brother went out to clear his head. You haven't been slacking off these past few days, have you?"

"No!" At the mention of it, Hu Liena's expression turned serious. She rummaged through her clothes and pulled out a little booklet.

"Look, Senior Brother. Nana's been writing in it every day. This is what I wrote over the past two days."

Then Hu Liena looked at him expectantly.

She looked exactly like someone hoping to be praised.

Su Wen glanced at the pages, which were covered in crooked writing.

"Loyal to Senior Brother. Loyal to Teacher."

He was quite satisfied. "Very good. You did well."

Hu Liena blushed, her large eyes crinkling with a smile.

"But..." Su Wen suddenly changed his tone. The smile vanished from Hu Liena's little face. Her hands clenched unconsciously, and nervousness filled her eyes.

Su Wen leaned close to her ear and whispered, "You don't have to write about Teacher anymore. Just write 'Senior Brother' fifty times. That way, you won't get tired, but make sure you remember it as you write."

Hu Liena felt his warm breath tickle her ear, and a blush crept over her face. Hearing that her senior brother was looking out for her warmed her heart.

Her pink lips parted, and her voice was soft and sweet. "Nana understands. Senior Brother is so nice!"

"Mm! Keep up the good work. We're the most loyal disciples!"

Su Wen patted her little shoulder and gave her the most certain answer.

"Um... so, how is Teacher feeling right now?"

"Senior Brother, Nana hasn't seen Teacher today."

As soon as Hu Liena finished speaking, a voice rang by their ears, laced with amusement.

"What... has my eldest disciple finally remembered me?"

Bibi Dong strode into the courtyard, a smile on her lips that was impossible to read. When her sharp gaze fell on Su Wen, he felt his scalp prickle.

"Teacher, hehe!"

Su Wen steeled himself and stepped forward, grinning at her. "I brought you a gift!"

Bibi Dong's expression didn't change. She said nothing, simply watching as if to say, "Let's see what you've got."

"Teacher, candy!"

Su Wen searched through his Soul Tool and finally found something he could give her.

Bibi Dong's red lips twitched, and a rare look of speechlessness appeared on her face.

Seeing Su Wen innocently holding it out to her, she realized that this really was a fine gift for a boy his age.

After a moment's hesitation, she reached out with a slender finger and took the candy from his palm.

Su Wen breathed a sigh of relief. Then he unwrapped another piece and popped it into Hu Liena's mouth.

Bibi Dong's voice suddenly turned cold. "I'll let it go this time. Next time, don't blame me for hanging you up and beating you!"

Su Wen and Hu Liena both shuddered. Hu Liena even moved closer to Su Wen and shrank her fair neck.

Bibi Dong glanced at Hu Liena, then looked back at Su Wen. "Starting today, you'll study Martial Soul and Spirit Beast knowledge in the morning, train with me in combat in the afternoon, and meditate instead of sleeping at night!"

Su Wen immediately protested. "Teacher, with a schedule like that, won't my junior sister and I have no time to rest?"

"Heh." Bibi Dong spoke in a tone that brooked no refusal. "Today, I'll teach you combat techniques, starting with swordsmanship."

Su Wen was confused. "Swordsmanship?"

Bibi Dong took a long sword from her Soul Tool and swung it twice through the air, sending ripples through it.

She explained, "Your umbrella has appeared several times in the history of Spirit Hall. Your father was one of its former owners. The umbrella was used as a sword, a spear, and even a shield!"

Su Wen understood. Bibi Dong had already studied his companion weapon in depth.

Looking at the way she held the sword, he couldn't help but wonder. "Teacher, your Martial Soul isn't a Sword Martial Soul, is it?"

"I'm more than capable of teaching you. Use your Spirit Skills and give me everything you've got!"

Bibi Dong glanced at Hu Liena. Hu Liena immediately ran off to the side, making room for them to fight.

"Teacher, go easy on me. I'm still little."

Su Wen raised a hand, and a red Oil-paper Umbrella appeared in his palm.

The Ghost Emperor of the Wedding Dress Martial Soul appeared.

A chill wind followed, along with a Yellow Soul Ring.

"Hongdou!"

"Hongdou?"

"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—"

Bibi Dong was puzzled. Why was he calling for Hongdou?

Just then, several iron chains wreathed in ghostly flames burst from the ground. Waves of cold and searing heat radiated from them, two opposing forces entangling toward Bibi Dong's delicate figure.

A flicker of surprise crossed Bibi Dong's eyes. When the chains touched her clothes, they left marks, burning through the outer layer and exposing the fair skin beneath.

Soul Power surged around Bibi Dong, knocking the chains back as she swung the sword in her hand from side to side.

The sword's cold gleam traced several arcs through the air.

The next moment,

the chains were all cut apart.

Seeing the two damaged spots on her clothes, Bibi Dong couldn't help praising him. "Your speed and attack power are both excellent, and the attack came out of nowhere. Someone at your level would have a hard time reacting. To have this kind of power right after becoming a Soul Master is impressive."

After speaking, Bibi Dong asked what had been puzzling her. "Why doesn't your Soul Ring react at all when you use a Spirit Skill? Your Soul Power doesn't stir, either."

Hu Liena was curious, too. She knew that a Soul Ring always reacted when a Soul Master used a Spirit Skill. It was basic knowledge.

"Hongdou?"

A cloud of red smoke drifted out of the umbrella, and the Ghost Bride appeared from within it.

She stood more than two meters tall, radiating waves of dark energy.

She wore a wedding dress almost identical to the one on Su Wen's Martial Soul. Bibi Dong and Hu Liena were both astonished.

"My first Spirit Skill can't attack. It can only have Hongdou help me. The chains just now were her Spirit Skill, and Entanglement is her Spirit Skill, too."

Su Wen explained Hongdou's situation. Since Bibi Dong was his teacher, there was no need to hide anything from her. Sometimes, revealing more of his talent would earn him more attention and a greater share of cultivation resources.

Bibi Dong exclaimed in surprise, "It seems your umbrella differs somewhat from the one described in Spirit Hall's records. I underestimated your Martial Soul... But since I'm teaching you combat skills, put her away for now."

Su Wen opened the umbrella, and Hongdou dissolved into smoke and returned inside it.

"Come at me. Circulate Soul Power throughout your body and keep yourself in the best condition."

As soon as Bibi Dong finished speaking, Su Wen charged forward. When the Oil-paper Umbrella in his hand clashed with Bibi Dong's long sword, it produced an astonishingly sharp clang.

"That's hard!"