Hotel conference room.
Only Mu En and Xia Ming remained there now.
Zhang Lexuan had returned to her room, while Wu Feng had gone to Xia Ming's room.
From this night onward, her status as his maid was officially settled.
"Teacher, why did you have me accept her?"
"Because the Red Dragon Douluo offered a gift that could not be refused." Mu En smiled.
The next moment, a Soul Bone appeared in his hand.
It was an azure-blue eyeball, only about the size of a palm, yet it shimmered with an unusual light.
"This is a Soul Bone that the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect acquired by chance during the holy war four thousand years ago. For some reason, no one in the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect has ever fused with it."
Mu En explained, "It should be an External Soul Bone originating from the Evil Eye Tyrant. Perhaps it will greatly benefit the growth of your spiritual power."
That made sense.
Xia Ming suddenly understood.
As expected of the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, whose wealth rivaled the world's. Even Shrek Academy did not possess such reserves.
Yet after producing that five-hundred-thousand-year Mermaid Skull Bone, they could still bring out such an incomparably precious External Soul Bone.
But why were they willing to pay such a price just to send Wu Feng to his side?
"I think this is their investment in you," Mu En said calmly.
"Although you have not fully revealed your strength, the way you effortlessly defeated that little girl already showed enough."
Xia Ming nodded slightly at those words.
Indeed, crushing an assault-type Soul Master with a top-tier Martial Soul using only his body, without even using his Martial Soul—
Most assault-type Soul Elders could not accomplish that, much less a mere seven-year-old child!
Although Xia Ming had revealed less than one percent of his strength, it was already enough for him to be recognized as an unparalleled genius.
Given the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect's nature, avoiding enmity with him as much as possible and instead rushing to invest in him was indeed their way of handling things.
Besides, perhaps in their eyes, sending Wu Feng to Xia Ming could turn enemies into friends.
The Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect had truly made a fine calculation.
Yet such calculations were not unpleasant. Xia Ming was more than happy to accept them.
After all, this was an eye-type Soul Bone from the Evil Eye Tyrant. Its value was in no way inferior to that of a hundred-thousand-year Soul Bone.
For a transmigrator like Xia Ming, who pursued the highest standards, it might have been even more precious.
"Alright." Mu En spoke gently. "Stay here tonight and absorb this Soul Bone directly."
Xia Ming nodded. He could tell that this Soul Bone was not particularly old, likely only a few thousand years.
But the age of an External Soul Bone was not actually important, since it could grow alongside the Soul Master who possessed it.
Moreover, this was a spiritual-type External Soul Bone. For him, whose spiritual power was weak, it would undoubtedly be an enormous improvement.
In fact, Xia Ming was even grateful that this Soul Bone was not too old.
Otherwise, if it were like that five-hundred-thousand-year Mermaid Skull Bone, he would have had no chance of absorbing it at his current level.
If the Soul Bone here had originated from the Evil Emperor—
Forget Xia Ming; even if Mu En wanted to absorb it now, the only outcome would be exploding to death.
After taking a deep breath, Xia Ming began fusing with the Soul Bone.
He sat down cross-legged, the Soul Bone floating before his brow.
The eyeball turned into azure-blue liquid and flowed into his forehead.
At first, Xia Ming only felt a warm, comfortable power merging into his body.
But soon, that warmth turned scorching. The Soul Power in his body began circulating at high speed to resist the heat.
Of course, to Xia Ming, this heat was far from deadly.
Before long, the pain on his face turned into comfort.
Xia Ming's fusion with the Soul Bone went even more smoothly than expected.
It took less than three hours for him to complete the entire process.
When the last wisp of azure-blue light completely entered his brow, the fusion process came to an end.
"Phew—"
Xia Ming let out a long breath and slowly opened his eyes. A streak of golden light flashed through their depths.
"The fusion succeeded. How are the results?" Mu En's gentle voice sounded beside him.
"I feel great." Xia Ming revealed an excited expression.
With a thought, the skin between his brows silently split open, revealing an azure-blue vertical pupil.
"This Soul Bone has greatly enhanced my spiritual power. From now on, the rate at which my spiritual power grows will far surpass that of other Soul Masters."
"Moreover, this Soul Bone has given me a Soul Skill. When actively activated, it can double my spiritual power. As its age increases, that ratio will continue to rise."
"But I'm not a spiritual-type Soul Master, so this Soul Skill is not particularly useful to me." Xia Ming appropriately showed a trace of distress.
After hearing him, Mu En could not help nodding, then chuckled.
"After this tournament ends and we return to the academy, I will teach you my Self-Created Soul Skill. At that time, this Soul Skill will become useful."
"Thank you, Teacher!" Xia Ming nodded excitedly.
Of course, he knew which Self-Created Soul Skill Mu En meant.
Reign Over the World, a powerful Soul Skill capable of infusing one's spiritual power into any physical attack.
Once it crushed an opponent, it would crush that opponent's confidence at the same time.
Whenever they faced its user again, they would feel as though they could never contend against the one who wielded Reign Over the World.
Unlike Huo Yuhao in the original story, who as a spiritual-type Soul Master still needed to make adjustments after inheriting this move.
Xia Ming had always focused on physical attacks. Once he learned this move, his strength would undoubtedly increase greatly.
Furthermore, the immense spiritual power granted by this External Soul Bone would also be able to display tremendous effects.
"Next, I'll help you completely fuse with this Soul Bone. Hold on!"
A powerful pressure instantly erupted from Mu En's body and enveloped Xia Ming, making him feel as though every bone in his body was trembling.
The pressure gradually increased until a certain moment.
Crack—
A nearly imperceptible sound.
Xia Ming completely fused with the External Soul Bone.
From this day onward, no one would ever be able to strip this Soul Bone from him again.
Even if he died, no one would be able to find the Soul Bone on his corpse like the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect had found this one.
Xia Ming slowly exhaled a breath of turbid air. When he opened his eyes, the golden light within them had stabilized.
Mu En withdrew his power and stood up, nodding with a smile. "Go. The tournament begins tomorrow. Rest well."
"As for that girl..." He looked toward the end of the corridor outside the door, his tone meaningful.
"Since she is your maid, she is also part of your cultivation. How you treat her is for you to decide."
Xia Ming bowed and left, heading toward his room.
Before pushing open the door, he paused, then ultimately knocked gently.
Slightly flustered footsteps came from inside.
Before you continue