After successfully claiming his reward, Lin Fan didn't hesitate. He tossed out the Poké Ball he had just used to capture Xiao Wu.
Bang!
A flash of light flickered, and Xiao Wu's figure appeared. She pressed her lips together, looked toward Lin Fan, and said softly, "Now, can you let me see Er Ming?"
"Hmm? What did you call me?"
Lin Fan glanced at Xiao Wu.
"Mas—"
Xiao Wu hesitated, but then remembered that her soul had already made a contract with Lin Fan, to say nothing of Da Ming and Er Ming being in his hands. She could only lower her voice helplessly and say, "Master."
To be honest, Xiao Wu hadn't expected Lin Fan's Spiritual Power, or the Poké Ball, to be so overbearing.
She'd originally had other ideas, but under the Poké Ball's restraints, they were all useless.
Xiao Wu was certain that if she dared to harbor ill intentions, she would die a truly miserable death.
She had reincarnated as a human so she could live longer and have an easier time breaking through to godhood. Therefore, Xiao Wu wasn't willing to die lightly.
"Fine. Since you've been reasonably obedient, I'll let you see Er Ming."
With a thought, Lin Fan summoned the Titan Giant Ape again. Sky Dream Ice Silkworm appeared alongside him, sealing off the surrounding auras.
Reuniting with a friend of tens of thousands of years was naturally an emotional affair. When Xiao Wu learned that Er Ming hadn't been harmed and might even become a god, she breathed a sigh of relief. The look she gave Lin Fan softened as well.
Lin Fan had long since fooled the Titan Giant Ape into doing his bidding, and now Er Ming kept trying to brainwash Xiao Wu.
That was, until Lin Fan put him away again.
As for Xiao Wu?
She had already reincarnated as a human, so Lin Fan wasn't going to keep her cooped up in a Poké Ball all the time. He let her go out and get a room, charging it all to Qin Ming.
Well, as the head of the Spirit Beast Research Department at Heaven Dou Royal Academy, you wouldn't mind me spending a little of your money, would you?
The night passed without incident.
The next morning, when Lin Fan woke up, he was still surrounded by two hot bodies, one on either side, like guardians flanking him.
"Keep it up. You'll have your turn to cry!"
He got up with a calm expression, washed up, and headed straight to the dining hall.
By the time Lin Fan arrived, Qin Ming, Flender, and the others had already been waiting for quite some time.
Zhu Zhuqing was there too. After her Martial Soul advanced, her skin had become smoother and lovelier, and her Soul Power had grown stronger!
The previous night, after she'd returned, Yu Xiaogang, Flender, and the others had wanted to test just how much the Martial Soul advancement had improved her. They had Zhu Zhuqing spar with Dai Mubai and Tang San in turn.
But the result... had been astonishing!
Thanks to her ability to become immune to physical attacks for a short time, Zhu Zhuqing had beaten Dai Mubai to a pulp. And Tang San?
She was already fast, and after advancing, Tang San couldn't even keep her in check.
What Mother's Entanglement? What Tang Sect Hidden Weapons? If they couldn't lock onto their target, they were a joke.
After learning how terrifying the Martial Soul advancement was, Yu Xiaogang and Flender looked at Lin Fan as if he were a god!
Yu Xiaogang in particular had thought that, having read so many books from Spirit Hall, he knew a great deal. He'd never imagined Lin Fan would reveal an ability like this, something he'd never even heard of, right off the bat!
It wasn't just them. Dai Mubai, Tang San, and Ma Hongjun were all excited too, staring at Lin Fan with expectant faces.
After all, Zhu Zhuqing had been one of the weaker ones among them. A single Martial Soul advancement had let her crush them. Once they advanced, wouldn't they become even stronger?
As for their earlier conflicts with Lin Fan?
They'd already made up their minds. Even if they had to kneel and bow until their brains spilled out, they would treat Lin Fan with respect and beg him to advance their Martial Souls.
Surely they wouldn't cling to their dignity at the cost of becoming stronger?
"Ahem, Director Lin."
Yu Xiaogang and Flender didn't put on airs about their age. They went straight up to Lin Fan and said respectfully, "Director Lin, you're finally awake. Your methods are truly earth-shattering and god-shaking. We're all in awe."
"..."
As the saying went, flattery never wore out its welcome. Treated so respectfully, Lin Fan smiled and let the two men lead him to the dining table.
Breakfast was ready, and it was especially lavish.
Before long, Dugu Yan, Gu Chen, Xiao Wu, and the others came downstairs.
When Tang San saw Xiao Wu, his expression shifted. But then he remembered that he needed Lin Fan's help to make his Martial Soul stronger, and quickly turned his head away.
Seeing this, Xiao Wu was stunned. She'd felt a little guilty toward Tang San, since she'd left with Er Ming's aura still lingering behind.
But seeing that Tang San wouldn't even look at her because he wanted to make his Martial Soul stronger made anger surge in her heart.
After all, Xiao Wu could say that Lin Fan had forced her to follow him.
Tang San, on the other hand, had chosen to give her up himself!
In that moment, Xiao Wu began to resent Tang San too.
After breakfast, Flender immediately helped Lin Fan clear the table with a smile, then asked, "Um, Director Lin, when can we start the next Martial Soul advancement?"
"Martial Soul advancement?"
Lin Fan replied calmly, "Wait. Something's come up, and I need to make a trip to Sunset Forest."
"Huh? You're going to Sunset Forest?"
Everyone was surprised.
Even Dugu Yan and the other girls were caught off guard. Lin Fan had never mentioned going to Sunset Forest before.
"That's right."
Lin Fan nodded calmly. "There's something I need there."
At that, Flender's eyes shifted. He immediately smiled and said, "In that case, why don't we escort you to Sunset Forest? With our strength, we can guarantee your safety!"
"What?"
Lin Fan drawled, "Do you think I'm a useless young master?"
"Of course not!"
Flender's whole body trembled violently. He hurriedly said, "We only want to do a little more for you, Master."
Watching the characters from the original novel's protagonist group grovel before him like this, Lin Fan felt thoroughly pleased.
His eyes shifted, and he said softly, "You can go to the capital of the Heaven Dou Empire and wait for me. Once I'm free, I'll come find you and advance your Martial Souls."
"But don't forget you owe me money. Pay it back soon!"
Lin Fan was sending Yu Xiaogang and the others to Heaven Dou Empire on purpose. He knew those two paupers, Yu Xiaogang and Flender, didn't have any money.
If he wanted money, he could either find Liu Erlong or Bibi Dong!
"All right, keep eating. I'm leaving."
"Yanzi, I'll leave Cousin Chen in your care. Xiao Wu, let's go!"
With that, Lin Fan stood up and strode out of the dining hall without giving Dugu Yan and the others a chance to react. Yu Xiaogang, Flender, Tang San, Dai Mubai, and Ma Hongjun could only bow respectfully behind him, afraid of offending Lin Fan and losing their chance to advance their Martial Souls!
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