Master, Respectful Tang San!

Having successfully obtained his reward, Lin Fan did not hesitate and immediately tossed out the Poké Ball that had just captured Xiao Wu.

Bang!

Light flickered, and Xiao Wu's figure emerged. She pursed her lips, looked toward Lin Fan, and said softly, "At this point, can you let me see Er Ming now?"

"Hm? What did you call me?"

Lin Fan cast a sidelong glance at Xiao Wu.

"Mas..."

Xiao Wu stopped mid-word. But once she remembered that her soul had already signed a contract with Lin Fan—not to mention that Da Ming and Er Ming were still in his hands—she had no choice but to lower her head and whisper, "Master."

To be honest, Xiao Wu had not expected Lin Fan's spiritual power and that Poké Ball to be so overbearing.

She had originally harbored other thoughts, but under the constraints of the Poké Ball, everything had become a futile effort.

Xiao Wu was certain that if she dared to harbor any malicious intent, she would absolutely meet a miserable end.

She had reincarnated as a human precisely to live longer and to make it easier to break through and become a god; therefore, Xiao Wu was not easily willing to die.

"Fine, for the sake of you being somewhat obedient, I will let you meet with Er Ming."

With a slight movement of his mind, Lin Fan summoned the Titan Giant Ape, and the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm also appeared, sealing off the aura of the area.

The reunion of the two friends of several tens of thousands of years was naturally very emotional. Upon learning that Er Ming had not been harmed and instead had the potential to become a god, Xiao Wu felt a sense of relief, and the look she gave Lin Fan softened significantly.

The Titan Giant Ape had long since been bamboozled by Lin Fan and was currently busy brainwashing Xiao Wu.

This continued until Lin Fan put them away again.

As for Xiao Wu?

Since she had already reincarnated as a human, Lin Fan wouldn't keep her in the Poké Ball forever. He let her go out to rent a room, putting the expenses on Qin Ming's tab.

Well, as the Director of the Spirit Beast Research Department at Heaven Dou Royal Academy, it shouldn't matter if he spent a little of your money, right?

The night passed without incident.

The next day, when Lin Fan woke up, he was still surrounded by two hot bodies, one on the left and one on the right, much like two personal bodyguards.

"Let's continue; there will be a time for you to cry!"

With a calm expression, he got up, finished washing, and headed straight to the dining hall.

By the time Lin Fan arrived at the dining hall, Qin Ming, Flender, and the others had already been waiting for a long time.

Zhu Zhuqing was there as well. After her martial soul had advanced, her skin had become more delicate and beautiful, and her spirit power had grown stronger!

Last night, after she returned, Yu Xiaogang, Flender, and the others had specifically asked Zhu Zhuqing to spar with Dai Mubai and Tang San respectively, just to test how significant the improvement from the martial soul advancement truly was.

However, the outcome... was shocking!

Relying on the trait of being immune to physical damage for a short period, Zhu Zhuqing had directly beaten Dai Mubai up. And Tang San?

Her speed was already fast, and after the further boost, Tang San simply couldn't track her at all.

What "Mother's Entanglement," what "Tang Sect Hidden Weapons"—in a situation where he couldn't lock onto his target, they were nothing but a joke.

Having realized that the improvement from the martial soul advancement was so terrifying, the way Yu Xiaogang and Flender looked at Lin Fan was as if they were looking at a deity!

Especially Yu Xiaogang; he had considered himself well-read after seeing so many books from Martial Soul Hall, yet he hadn't expected that Lin Fan would play a trump card right out of the gate—a capability he had never even heard of!

Not to mention them, Dai Mubai, Tang San, and Ma Hongjun were all incredibly excited, staring at Lin Fan with faces full of anticipation.

After all, Zhu Zhuqing had previously been considered one of the weaker ones among them. If just a martial soul advancement could allow her to crush them, would they become even more powerful once they advanced?

As for the previous conflicts and friction with Lin Fan?

They had already made up their minds: even if they had to kneel and kowtow until their brains spilled out, they had to treat Lin Fan with respect and beg for a martial soul advancement.

They couldn't possibly choose their dignity over becoming stronger, could they?

"Ahem, Director Lin."

Yu Xiaogang and Flender didn't put on any airs regarding their age and walked straight up to Lin Fan, saying respectfully, "Director Lin, you are finally awake. Your methods are truly earth-shattering and ghost-weeping; they have left us all in shock."

"..."

As the saying goes, flattery will get you everywhere. Being treated with such respect, Lin Fan revealed a smile and, led by the two, arrived at the dining table.

Breakfast was already prepared and was exceptionally sumptuous.

Before long, Dugu Yan, Gu Chen, and Xiao Wu all walked down.

Seeing Xiao Wu, Tang San's expression changed instantly. However, the moment he remembered that he needed to rely on Lin Fan to make his martial soul more powerful, he quickly turned his head away.

Noticing this, Xiao Wu was stunned. Originally, she had felt a bit guilty toward Tang San because Er Ming's aura had just vanished like that.

But seeing Tang San refuse to even look at her because he wanted his martial soul to become more powerful, a surge of anger rose in her heart.

After all, Xiao Wu following Lin Fan could still be attributed to being forced by him.

Tang San's current attitude, however, was a voluntary abandonment!

In an instant, Xiao Wu felt resentment toward Tang San in her heart.

After finishing breakfast, Flender immediately helped Lin Fan clear the table with a smile and said, "Um, Director Lin, I wonder when we might be able to start the next martial soul advancement?"

"Martial Soul advancement?"

Lin Fan said indifferently, "Just wait. I have something urgent to attend to and need to make a trip to the Sunset Forest."

"Ah? You're going to the Sunset Forest?"

Hearing this, everyone was taken by surprise.

Even Dugu Yan and the other young women were stunned, as Lin Fan had never mentioned anything about going to the Sunset Forest before.

"That is correct."

Lin Fan nodded and said calmly, "There is something there that I require."

Upon hearing this, Flender's eyes darted around, and he immediately smiled, "In that case, why don't we accompany you to the Sunset Forest? With our strength, we can certainly ensure your safety!"

"Oh?"

Lin Fan said leisurely, "Do you take this young master for a weakling?"

"We wouldn't dare!"

Hearing this, Flender's body trembled violently, and he hurriedly said, "We only wish to do a little more for you, Master."

Watching the characters from the original novel grovel before him like this, Lin Fan felt an immense sense of satisfaction.

With a flicker of thought, Lin Fan said softly, "You may go to the capital of the Heaven Dou Empire and wait for me. Once I have some free time, I will naturally come to find you and advance your Martial Souls."

"However, do not forget: pay back the money you owe me as soon as possible!"

Sending Yu Xiaogang and the others to the Heaven Dou Empire was a deliberate move by Lin Fan; he knew that penniless wretches like Yu Xiaogang and Flender had no money.

If they wanted money, they would have to find either Liu Erlong or Bibi Dong!

"That's enough, continue with your meal. I'm leaving now."

"Yanzi, I leave Cousin Chen in your care. Xiao Wu, let's go!"

As his words fell, Lin Fan stood up. Without giving Dugu Yan and the others a chance to react, he walked straight out of the restaurant, leaving behind Yu Xiaogang, Flender, Tang San, Dai Mubai, and Ma Hongjun, who all bowed respectfully, terrified of offending Lin Fan and losing their chance at Martial Soul advancement!