Shui Bing'er nodded in agreement:
"That's right, Senior. We've all reached a bottleneck in our strength. Better to have none than settle for less, so it's worth spending more time searching."
Azure Luan Douluo looked up at the sky and mused:
"It's getting late.
Searching for high-quality Soul Beasts in the Star Dou Great Forest at night isn't ideal.
Very well, let's call it a day.
We'll find somewhere to rest in a town on the outskirts of the forest, then head into the inner region tomorrow."
At Azure Luan Douluo's level, rest was hardly necessary.
But Huang Yan and Shui Bing'er had only recently gotten together, and were clearly enamored with each other.
Azure Luan Douluo felt it was important to give Huang Yan more opportunities to grow close to her.
After all, the better their relationship, the greater the compatibility of their Martial Soul Fusion Skill—and the more powerful it would be.
"Whatever you say, Teacher."
"We'll do as you say, Senior."
Huang Yan and Shui Bing'er replied in unison.
Before long, Azure Luan Douluo led them out of the Star Dou Great Forest and into the nearest town.
The town was bustling with people, mostly mercenaries and Soul Masters who lived by the sword. It was quite noisy.
The three didn't linger. They went straight into a rather grand-looking tavern.
"Welcome, honored guests! Are you here to eat or to stay?"
As soon as they entered, the waiter hurried over to greet them.
Azure Luan Douluo casually tossed him a Gold Soul Coin and said flatly:
"Three of your finest rooms.
And prepare a table of your best food and wine. Bring it to that table by the window in the main hall."
"Right away!
This way, honored guests!"
The waiter accepted the Gold Soul Coin, his face instantly breaking into a broad smile as he led them to a quiet spot by the window.
The food and wine were soon served.
Azure Luan Douluo took only a few bites before getting to his feet. He smiled meaningfully.
"I've had my fill. I'll go upstairs and rest.
You two youngsters take your time. There's no need to hurry."
With that, Azure Luan Douluo went upstairs, leaving the two of them alone.
Without an elder present, they relaxed considerably.
Shui Bing'er picked up a tender slice of meat, blew on it gently, then brought it to Huang Yan's lips.
"Yan, try this."
Huang Yan smiled and ate it, then picked up a delicate pastry and fed it to Shui Bing'er.
They fed each other, their gestures intimate and affectionate.
To the other patrons, Huang Yan looked strikingly handsome, while Shui Bing'er was elegant and lovely.
A faint crimson aura emanated from Huang Yan, mingling with the watery blue glow around Shui Bing'er.
Red and blue, they seemed like a pair made for each other by heaven itself, drawing frequent glances from the tavern's patrons.
Yet not long after Azure Luan Douluo left, Huang Yan suddenly paused.
He set down his chopsticks and looked past the noisy hall, straight toward the tavern entrance.
"What is it, Yan?"
Noticing the change in his expression, Shui Bing'er asked in confusion.
Huang Yan narrowed his eyes and said softly:
"There's a very impure aura of Evil Fire approaching us."
What a coincidence.
Huang Yan pondered.
Who else could have that disgusting aura of Evil Fire but Ma Hongjun?
Judging by the timeline, if Ma Hongjun had appeared in a town on the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest, then the rest of Shrek's group had arrived as well.
This was also the point in time when Tang San would encounter that Man Faced Demon Spider with over two thousand years of cultivation!
And that Man Faced Demon Spider would drop the External Soul Bone, the "Eight Spider Lances"!
External Soul Bones were already extremely rare, and no less valuable than a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone.
What's more, the Eight Spider Lances could evolve alongside their owner in the future, eventually transforming into a divine artifact!
Since he had run into it here by such a twist of fate, there was no way Huang Yan would let Tang San have it.
"Bing'er, it seems our trip to the Star Dou Great Forest won't be for nothing after all."
Huang Yan turned back with a smile.
Shui Bing'er blinked and asked curiously:
"Did you sense a high-quality Soul Beast?"
After Huang Yan and Shui Bing'er had purified their Phoenix bloodlines, they could sense many Soul Beasts with the same Phoenix bloodline just by relying on their own.
Huang Yan chuckled and lowered his voice.
"It's not a Soul Beast, but it is a treasure.
We can't let this good thing slip by."
As they spoke, the tavern doors swung open, and a noisy group entered.
At the head was Dai Mubai, with Tang San, Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing, and the others following behind.
One round, red-haired fatty in particular stood out. It was Ma Hongjun.
"Waiter, push two tables together!
Bring out all your best food and wine!"
Dai Mubai called out loudly.
The group sat down in the middle of the hall without a care in the world.
Since Huang Yan and Shui Bing'er were sitting in a corner by the window, and the tavern was crowded, Ma Hongjun and the others didn't notice Huang Yan.
"I'm starving. Hurry up with the food!"
Ma Hongjun plopped down in his seat and grumbled.
Following Huang Yan's gaze, Shui Bing'er frowned slightly.
"He's still so arrogant."
It hadn't been long since Ma Hongjun had come looking for trouble and been put down immediately.
Shui Bing'er remembered it clearly.
"Brother Yan, by the way, are you very familiar with Ma Hongjun?"
Shui Bing'er couldn't help asking.
Huang Yan took a sip of tea and replied coolly:
"We know each other, I suppose.
His name is Ma Hongjun. He's from the same Poultry Village as me, and he's six years younger.
I awakened my Martial Soul at six and joined Spirit Hall.
It's normal that he doesn't know how strong I am.
He only learned from his teacher, Flender, that he and I share the same Martial Soul, Evil Fire Phoenix."
"After that, relying on Flender being his teacher, he came to my house demanding things, acting incredibly arrogant.
You know about that too."
Huang Yan paused, a trace of mockery flashing in his eyes.
"Later, he even brought his dean, Flender, to my home to cause trouble.
But Teacher didn't even lift a finger. Just the pressure of his Soul Power was enough to scare the pair of them into wetting their pants."
Shui Bing'er couldn't help laughing.
"I still laugh a little whenever I think about it."
"However..."
A cold smile curled Huang Yan's lips.
"This fatty only fears my teacher. He has no idea how strong I really am.
He keeps thinking my Martial Soul has the same flaw as his, that it's plagued by Evil Fire backlash.
He also thinks I'm just pretending to be aloof. I bet he's cursed me behind my back plenty of times, wondering why I don't go to a brothel to vent my desires."
Disgust flashed in Shui Bing'er's eyes.
"So he's a shameless lecher."
Just then, another group entered the tavern.
They wore matching moon-white Soul Master robes, with the words "Canghui" embroidered on their shoulders.
Their leader was a middle-aged man, followed by several young men and women. One of the female students was quite pretty.
As soon as the people from Canghui Academy sat down, Ma Hongjun's beady eyes locked onto the female student.
"Boss Dai, look over there!"
Ma Hongjun elbowed Dai Mubai, grinning lewdly.
"That cutie from Canghui Academy looks pretty sweet!
Look at that figure. Tsk, tsk..."
Dai Mubai glanced over and sneered contemptuously, deliberately raising his voice.
"She might be pretty, but she's just from some second-rate advanced Soul Master academy.
Fatty, if your Evil Fire's getting out of hand, someone like her might do in a pinch."
"Heh heh, Boss Dai's right!"
Ma Hongjun burst into unrestrained laughter, his gaze roaming even more brazenly over the Canghui female student.
"Hey, cutie, how about coming over and having a couple of drinks with big brother?"
Several male students from Canghui Academy flew into a rage and sprang to their feet, slamming their hands on the table.
"What the hell did you two just say?!"
"You're asking for it!"
Faced with Canghui Academy's fury, Dai Mubai didn't back down. He leaned arrogantly against his chair and taunted them.
"What?
Got a problem with that?
A bunch of trash from some worthless academy, and you dare run your mouths at us?"
In the corner, Shui Bing'er watched the scene with an even deeper frown.
"These people are far too domineering and unreasonable."
Huang Yan watched coldly and chuckled.
"A bunch of clowns who call themselves monsters but only dare pick on the weak."
Before you continue