The carriage rattled along the road.
Su Yan sat at the front of the carriage, feeling refreshed.
Now that he had his Soul Ring, he no longer had to put up with Tang Chi's startling Soul Skills.
Su Yan entered the Inner World of Martial Souls and found a Yellow Soul Ring floating in the very center of the altar.
Egglet bounced out excitedly and rubbed against his arms over and over.
"Egglet, I really want to know what you are." Su Yan noticed that another Yellow Soul Ring had appeared at the very bottom of Egglet's shell. "So, are you my Martial Soul?"
Egglet trembled once, then twice more.
Yes and no.
That answer again.
Su Yan stood up to leave, but was surprised to see one of the five-pointed stars standing all around him light up. The thick black fog beyond them had receded a little.
He unwound the bandage, and one of the five-pointed stars on the back of his hand lit up too.
Was it because he had absorbed a Soul Ring?
Su Yan couldn't think of any other reason.
At this rate, he would need three more Soul Rings to light up all the Little Red Stars.
There was still a long way to go.
Inside the carriage, Bibi Dong wore glasses and focused on writing and drawing in a notebook.
Su Yan could see the words "Bi's Training Method" on its cover. In his eyes, the notebook was a Flame-Flame Fruit.
"Master, what will we train in next?"
"Don't rush. We'll go back for the victory banquet first, then return to the Soul Hunting Forest tomorrow." As Bibi Dong spoke, she marked the second training method for special attention.
"Are we going to start combat training?" Su Yan began looking forward to tomorrow—and to the day he would get the Flame-Flame Fruit.
Dusk was approaching when the carriage came to a steady stop outside the Spirit Hall in Notting City.
Su Yuntao, whom they hadn't seen in some time, stood at the entrance to welcome them. After their trip to the Main Martial Soul Hall, he had become an executive in Notting City.
"Holy Maiden, the victory banquet is ready. Please come inside." Su Yuntao bowed, glancing toward Su Yan with delight in his eyes.
Bibi Dong nodded and led the way, with the others following close behind.
The last time they'd held a banquet here had been the time before.
That night, it had been a feast for the children.
Today, it was a feast for the Spirit Hall in Notting City.
Su Yan saw that half the inner hall had been cordoned off. Inside, more than a dozen chefs in white clothes and hats were bustling about.
The chef standing by the stove had a wok bearing no fewer than five Soul Rings, if Su Yan saw right.
He was a Soul King—Wok Soul King!
No wonder he could be a chef.
The chef beside him, preparing ingredients, wielded a huge cleaver that also bore four Soul Rings. It glowed from time to time, and all his Soul Skills seemed to be related to chopping vegetables.
Best of all was the chef preparing ingredients in the back. He kept muttering under his breath, and the food on his plate just kept piling up.
Su Yan rose onto his toes to get a better look.
He could tell that the banquet would mostly be vegetarian—and spicy, too.
He spotted Chili Soul Ancestor, Cabbage Soul Elder, Carrot Soul Elder, Salt Soul Grand Master, and others.
Their Martial Souls seemed tailor-made for chefs.
Why was he suddenly looking forward to this?
Su Yan turned away and sat in the spot they'd saved for him, between Zhu Zhuqing and Tang Chi.
"Did everything go well today?" Zhu Zhuqing asked.
Su Yan nodded. "It did. I finally got my First Soul Ring."
"Why didn't you hunt a Soul Beast back then? Now we have to make another trip," Tang Chi said from the other side.
"There was a little unexpected complication. I'll tell you after training tomorrow." As soon as Su Yan finished speaking, the banquet officially began.
The victory banquet was a more formal affair. After Hall Master Ma Xiunuo gave a speech of thanks, the head chef took the stage to introduce each dish.
"This dish is called Four Soul Flowers. Please enjoy."
Su Yan gazed at the cabbage blooming like a flower before him and couldn't help thinking of a famous dish: boiled cabbage.
He picked up one of the flowers and put it in his mouth. A fresh, sweet fragrance burst across his palate and rushed straight to his head, while the pure Soul Power within washed over his body, leaving him warm from head to toe.
The cabbage came from Cabbage Soul Elder. It tasted excellent and also contained one of his Soul Skills—a healing skill.
Su Yan eagerly picked up a second flower.
Compared to the first one's fresh sweetness, the second had a richer flavor, as if Salt Soul Grand Master had added his touch.
Su Yan felt the Soul Power inside him surge. Flames sprang up over his body of their own accord. What bliss!
Tang Chi had already tossed his hammer behind his chair. Blue-white lightning crackled over it from time to time.
Zhu Zhuqing was much more graceful. She ate the Soul Flowers in small bites, her reaction mild. The only sign was a pair of small cat ears atop her head, bobbing with every bite.
The third Soul Flower was spicy, and the fourth was mellow.
After eating just four Soul Flowers, Su Yan felt indescribably refreshed. Even the latent injuries he'd sustained in that battle beyond his level the other night had vanished.
By the end of the banquet, he felt even more refreshed, and his Soul Power seemed on the verge of breaking through.
Su Yan leaned back in his chair, thoroughly satisfied, his belly round from all the food.
He saw the chef speaking respectfully with his master and suddenly understood.
No wonder his master had hesitated when he'd asked to go obtain his First Soul Ring. She'd even moved up their departure time.
When Bibi Dong looked his way, Su Yan grinned from ear to ear.
A good meal called for a good drink, too. The adults had wine, while the children naturally got their own drinks.
Su Yan stared at the fizzy Happy Water before him, his excitement surpassing even what he'd felt at the sight of the Flame-Flame Fruit.
There was a Cola Soul Master hiding among the chefs!
He tipped his head back and gulped it down, then let out a tremendous burp. "That hits the spot!"
Tang Chi followed his example and downed his in one go, then erupted into a chain of burps that lasted more than half a minute.
Zhu Zhuqing's cool eyes narrowed. She sipped slowly, her pretty face flushed, looking just as content.
The invigorating kick of Happy Water was intoxicating.
Once the three of them had eaten and drunk their fill, Si Si took them to the Spirit Hall's storeroom to choose one spoils-of-war item as a reward for their brave battle.
Everything that had originally been in the City Lord's Mansion was now in the Spirit Hall's storeroom.
There were jade pendants that calmed the mind and nurtured the spirit, brilliant gemstones, all sorts of weapons and armor, and more.
Su Yan wandered around, then sighed. "Master was right. There really isn't anything worthwhile."
If so, he might as well take something valuable and sell it for Gold Soul Coins. The money could help build up the village.
Su Yan began rummaging through boxes, and Tang Chi was doing the same.
The two seemed to have planned it out, each rummaging furiously through one half of the room.
Zhu Zhuqing had already picked out an Orange Crystal Pendant and was watching from the side.
Before long, Su Yan picked up a wooden box and pushed the lid open. The object inside floated right up into the air.
It was a card.
"Holy crap!" A kind of plant, crisp and pleasant to the ear.
Su Yan's breathing quickened. He rubbed his eyes, unable to believe it was real.
"Zhu Qing, pinch me," Su Yan said.
Zhu Zhuqing did as he asked, giving him a sharp pinch.
"Ah! It's real, it's real!" Su Yan reached up and took the card. A flash of blue-white holy light burst from it.
The card had a name.
Four simple words.
Ace Blue.
Also known as Blue-Eyes White Dragon!
It was Blue-Eyes White Dragon!
The most trusted partner of Seto Kaiba, the president from Yu-Gi-Oh!
First the Flame-Flame Fruit, and now Blue-Eyes White Dragon.
This trip to another world was worth it!
Su Yan was sure that this world had to have a Duel Disk. He would find one, and then he could truly summon Blue-Eyes White Dragon.
He wondered whether the Blue-Eyes White Dragon summoned this way could fight.
If not, it would still make an excellent mascot.
Without hesitation, Su Yan took Blue-Eyes White Dragon and tucked it into his belt. As he walked, he felt a little unsteady on his feet.
In the end, Tang Chi carried off a huge Golden Statue. As he put it, he would sell it and give the money to the village chief.
The victory banquet was nearly over. Ma Xiunuo, his face flushed, raised his wine cup as the others carried him off the table and back to his room.
Su Yuntao was already staggering. Hanging on Si Si, he murmured, "Si Si, let's have a child."
Si Si's cheeks were red, whether from embarrassment or drink, as she helped Su Yuntao leave.
The people from the Enforcement Hall were even more rowdy, arms slung over one another's shoulders as they gave it their all in song.
Night had fallen, and the chefs had already left.
Only a few drunken guests remained in the inner hall, along with the Enforcement Hall's "lullaby."
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