Entering the City

Tang San opened his mouth, but it took him a while to find his voice. "Y-you too...?"

Xiao Wu planted her hands on her hips, entirely justified. "What? Jiang Chen gets to stumble onto a bargain, but I'm not allowed to try my luck? Just now, while I was in the bushes... uh, taking care of something important, a badly injured Soft Bone Rabbit soul beast happened to collapse beside me. It looked so pitiful, barely hanging on, so I put it out of its misery!"

Listening to that excuse riddled with holes, Jiang Chen nearly laughed out loud.

A badly injured Soft Bone Rabbit? This girl did not even bother drafting her lies.

Wait, hadn't I just done the same thing...?

Tang San looked dazed. He looked at Jiang Chen, then at Xiao Wu, feeling that something was off but unable to put his finger on it.

Was this Soul Hunting Forest wholesaling Thousand-Year Soul Rings today?

How could one person after another pick one up just by going to the bathroom?

Seeing that neither of them spoke, Xiao Wu guiltily changed the subject. "Alright, alright! Since we're all done, let's hurry back! I'm hungry!"

Jiang Chen gave her a meaningful look but did not expose her. Turning around, he headed toward the edge of the forest. "Let's go. If we head back now, we can reach the academy before nightfall."

Tang San scratched his head. Though full of doubts, he still followed.

He silently made a note to himself: before obtaining a Soul Ring next time, he absolutely had to find somewhere to relieve himself.

Maybe, if he got lucky, he would run into a soul beast on the brink of death too.

Two and a half years later.

The Balak Kingdom, one of the Heaven Dou Empire's four great kingdoms, possessed fertile lands and bustling trade routes.

Among them, Suotuo City was one of the kingdom's most prosperous cities.

Its towering walls were built from solid granite, while people, carriages, and horses streamed endlessly through the city gates.

"Wow, it's so lively here!"

The moment Xiao Wu entered the city, she excitedly looked around. Her black braid swayed behind her, and her rabbit ears trembled lightly with her movements.

Before long, she had two candied hawthorn skewers in her hands and a sparkling carrot hairpin in her hair.

Walking beside her, Tang San swept his gaze around and quietly took note of the street layout and the conduct of the passersby.

"Brother Chen, are we really going to follow that Master's advice and head to Shrek Academy?"

Two and a half years of cultivation had made his temperament far more reserved. Influenced by Jiang Chen, he had also become more thorough in the way he considered things.

Over the years, Yu Xiaogang, who called himself Master, would occasionally seek them out, wanting to take them as disciples.

Every time, however, he left empty-handed.

In Tang San's heart, the only person qualified to be his teacher was Brother Chen.

It was also because he had listened to Brother Chen's advice that he had become who he was today.

He was now a level twenty-nine Soul Grandmaster. His Blue Silver Grass had evolved twice, while his Mysterious Heaven Skill had reached the peak of the third layer.

In truth, with Tang San's efforts over the years, he could have raised his Soul Power Level to thirty or even higher.

But Brother Chen had not allowed him to do so. Instead, he had made Tang San continuously accumulate Soul Power and condense the gaseous Soul Power in his body into liquid.

Though it was only a difference of one word, actually accomplishing it had taken Tang San no small amount of effort.

Although he appeared to be only level twenty-nine, the total amount of Soul Power in his body did not even lose out to that of a Soul Elder!

That was the benefit of condensing Soul Power. It not only made his foundation more solid but also laid the groundwork for obtaining higher-year Soul Rings in the future.

Furthermore, the Blue Silver Grass now possessed powerful vitality. Not only had its toughness increased, but his own physical strength had improved along with it.

And a strong physique allowed him to cultivate the Tang Sect's secret arts more effectively.

That was also why the Mysterious Heaven Skill had progressed so quickly.

Jiang Chen walked at the front. Hearing his question, he did not turn around, and his lazy voice drifted back.

"Little San, I've taught you many times not to casually dismiss everything about a person just because of your own opinions. Although that Master's character is not particularly good, some of his advice is still worth taking."

"I know that with our current talent, we would be treated as honored guests no matter which academy we attended."

"But if a dazzling genius lacks the strength to protect himself, what do you think will happen when he catches the eye of those important figures?"

After hearing Jiang Chen's explanation, Tang San could not help feeling a chill run down his spine.

That was right. No matter how talented they were, they were still insignificant before true powerhouses.

Even if those people did nothing to them openly, they would certainly restrict their freedom behind the scenes.

Trading away their freedom for temporary gains right before their eyes was, in Brother Chen's words, not an equal bargain.

Seeing Tang San's enlightened expression, Jiang Chen nodded in satisfaction and said nothing more.

His mind had already sunk into the light screen before him.

[Host: Jiang Chen]

[Martial Soul: Glazed Green Lotus, Purple Sky Dragon Spear]

[Cultivation Art: Creation Green Lotus Art · Green Lotus Blooming (Minor Success): Total Soul Power ×3.5, recovery speed ×2; Endless Life passive unlocked, restores 0.5% Soul Power per second.]

[Glazed Divine Eyes · Soul-Absorbing Phase (Minor Success): Possesses three abilities—dynamic vision, clairvoyance, and mental impact. Can see the flow of Soul Power and predict an opponent's movements.]

[Glazed Jade Bones · Green Lotus Bone Attachment (Minor Success): Both hands are as hard as Mystic Iron, and all bones are as resilient as jade. Can receive the claw strike of a thousand-year soul beast barehanded and briefly seal a soul master's Soul Power.]

[Nine Heavens Stacking Waves Force (Third Layer)]

[Special Effect: Soul Power cultivation speed increased by 21%]

Over the years, as Tang San's cultivation art improved, along with his own sweat and hard work, all the cultivation arts returned to him had improved as well.

Although his Soul Power Level remained at thirty, Jiang Chen felt that ordinary Soul Elders were no match for him. He could even take on a Soul King.

Still, Jiang Chen preferred fighting opponents at the same level. After all, had he not cultivated so painstakingly just so he could enjoy crushing weaker opponents?

Who had nothing better to do than constantly fight above their level and end up injured here or there?

He was someone who was very afraid of pain.

After strolling through the bustling market, the three found an inn to rest at.

"Rose Hotel?"

Looking at the familiar decor and name of the hotel before him, Jiang Chen could not help twitching his lips.

Perhaps this was fate.

As they entered the lobby, a rich scent of roses washed over them.

The receptionist at the front desk was a young woman in a pink uniform. Her eyes lit up when she saw the three enter. "Welcome~ Are the three of you staying the night, or...?"

"Staying the night. Three rooms," Tang San immediately said.

The receptionist froze. "I'm sorry, but there's only one suite left. It's a couples-themed room..."

"Only one room?"

Tang San frowned slightly. Just as he was about to head for another hotel, an arrogant voice sounded behind them.

"Didn't you ask about the rules here? This room is reserved exclusively for Young Master Dai!"

At that domineering voice, all three turned around.

A tall, broad-shouldered man with shoulder-length blond hair walked into the lobby, an attractive young woman in a short skirt hanging from each arm.

The blond man looked seventeen or eighteen. He was handsome, and his pair of sinister heterochromatic eyes openly swept over the three of them.

When his gaze landed on Xiao Wu, a flash of amazement crossed his eyes.

But when he saw the youth beside her with a pair of golden eyes, the amazement in his gaze was instantly replaced by seriousness, mixed with a hint of envy.

It had to be said, this kid really was rather good-looking.

Even someone as self-confident as him had to admit that he did not compare to the other party.

"Big sister, he's so handsome!"

"Oh, don't say it out loud. Young Master Dai will be unhappy."

"..."

Hearing his female companions whispering, Dai Mubai's face instantly darkened.

Dai Mubai shoved the women beside him away. His sinister double pupils sized Jiang Chen up several times before he lifted his chin.

"What are you looking at? This young master reserved this room. If you know what's good for you, get lost."

Xiao Wu immediately bristled. "Hey! You jerk, do you even understand first come, first served?"

Tang San frowned slightly and stepped half a pace forward, shielding Xiao Wu behind him. His tone remained calm. "Brother, we asked about it first."

"So what?"

Dai Mubai let out a disdainful laugh. Two yellow and one purple Soul Rings slowly rose beneath his feet, and the pressure of a Soul Elder spread through the lobby.

"In Suotuo City, strength is the rule."