That Was Very Feudal Society

Although the third Soul Ring had a higher age limit than the first two Soul Rings combined, most of the Soul Power had been absorbed by the External Soul Bone, so Jiang He had only advanced by one level this time.

Still, overall, it was acceptable.

Soul Power could be cultivated, but an External Soul Bone was something one could only stumble upon by chance.

Even if someone else obtained one, there was no way to seize it.

This was no ordinary Soul Bone. It was an External Soul Bone connected to both the Soul Ring and the body, making it impossible to remove.

If there was any downside... it was that it was a little hard on clothes.

Jiang He touched the two large holes in the back of his clothes, his expression speechless.

He had finally taken Dugu Bo as his master and gotten some good things from him, solving the problem of his clothes exploding whenever he used Martial Soul Possession.

And now, the External Soul Bone was tearing up his clothes too.

As he was thinking, Jiang He suddenly raised a brow and looked outside the courtyard.

A moment later, there was a knock at the gate.

Knock, knock, knock!

Xue Qinghe's voice followed.

"Jiang He, are you home?"

Jiang He walked to the entrance and opened the courtyard gate.

Seeing Xue Qinghe outside the small courtyard, Jiang He stepped aside and greeted him. "Your Highness."

Xue Qinghe smiled in response. "I've told you many times. I'm only a few years older than you, so just call me Brother Qinghe. There's no need to be so distant."

Jiang He smiled but did not respond.

Because he did not particularly want any ties with Xue Qinghe, Jiang He had deliberately kept his distance.

He had pretended not to hear all of Xue Qinghe's little methods of drawing people closer.

Yet after more than a year of contact, Xue Qinghe understood Jiang He's intentions as well. There was not the slightest awkwardness on his face. Instead, he said, "Shall we talk inside?"

"Please, Your Highness~"

Jiang He extended a hand in invitation.

Seeing this, Xue Qinghe entered the courtyard.

Looking at the simple furnishings in Jiang He's courtyard, Xue Qinghe sat on a stone stool and said,

"I once told you that I have quite a few properties in Heaven Dou City. Several courtyards have been left vacant, and if you moved into one, you'd at least add some life to the place so it would not look so desolate. Yet you insisted on refusing."

Jiang He smiled faintly. "I appreciate Your Highness's kindness, but this small courtyard is one of the few things my parents left behind. All my memories with them are here. I truly cannot bear to abandon it."

Xue Qinghe gave a noncommittal smile. "In any case, my offer remains valid. Whenever you change your mind, just move in."

Xue Qinghe placed several property deeds directly on the stone table in Jiang He's courtyard, then changed the subject.

"Just now, the guards reported that an unfamiliar Soul Master flew into the city from the sky and eventually landed near your home. Did you happen to notice anything?"

Hearing Xue Qinghe's words, Jiang He did not hide it and directly released the Dark Gold Scaled Wing from his back.

The massive wings spread open, making Xue Qinghe's gaze sharpen.

Though he had suspected it before coming, seeing it in person still left him somewhat astonished.

"Your Highness, I obtained this External Soul Bone by accident while acquiring my third Soul Ring. If nothing unexpected happened, the unfamiliar Soul Master the guards mentioned was probably me."

Examining the Dark Gold Scaled Wing behind Jiang He, Xue Qinghe said with some emotion, "An External Soul Bone? Your luck really is... Wait! You said you obtained your third Soul Ring?!"

Halfway through speaking, Xue Qinghe suddenly realized something and stared at Jiang He in shock.

Seeing Xue Qinghe's expression, Jiang He smiled faintly and directly released his Martial Soul and Soul Rings.

When Xue Qinghe saw the three pitch-black Soul Rings beneath Jiang He's feet, he fell silent again.

Was this right???

This was not right!

A seven-year-old Soul Elder? Wasn't that a little too absurd?

They both possessed Innate Soul Power at level twenty, yet even Xue Qinghe felt this cultivation speed was outrageously exaggerated.

Amid Xue Qinghe's silence, Jiang He smiled. "I was fairly lucky. I just broke through level thirty and acquired my third Soul Ring. I'm now a Soul Elder."

Although he did not want much to do with Xue Qinghe, Jiang He had no intention of hiding this.

After all, he would be dealing with people from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. Xue Qinghe would learn of it eventually.

Since that was the case, why hide it? Revealing it early would strengthen his bargaining position when dealing with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and make obtaining future Soul Rings smoother!

After a long while, Xue Qinghe finally came back to his senses and said with a face full of admiration, "You broke through to Soul Elder cultivation only one year after awakening your Martial Soul. With such talent, you will surely reach the pinnacle of Title Douluo in the future!"

"Your Highness flatters me. I am only a Soul Elder now. I still have a long road ahead."

Seeing Jiang He's humble expression, Xue Qinghe adjusted his bearing and said, "This time, aside from the matter reported by the guards, there is something else I would like to ask your opinion on."

"Please speak, Your Highness."

"My teacher will be holding an adulthood ceremony for his son at the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect in seven days. I would like to invite you to attend with me. What do you think?"

Jiang He was taken aback.

"Sect Master Ning's eldest child is already an adult?"

He felt somewhat emotional. These noble families really began having children at a young age.

Ning Rongrong was only seven, yet her older brother was already an adult.

But in a feudal society, that did not seem particularly strange.

The leaders of the Upper Three Sects would naturally strive to produce descendants. Their position as sect master was hardly inferior to an imperial throne.

However, Xue Qinghe's next sentence left Jiang He speechless.

"You misunderstood. My teacher's eldest child is already twenty-five. This ceremony is for his fifth child."

Jiang He: ...

Damn, there was almost a twenty-year gap between the eldest and youngest?

He thought about Ning Fengzhi's age.

Good heavens, he had started in his teens. That was very feudal society indeed.

As Jiang He fell silent, Xue Qinghe asked again, "Will you be free seven days from now?"

Jiang He came back to himself, looked at Xue Qinghe, and finally smiled faintly. "My apologies, Your Highness, but it would not be appropriate to show up uninvited. Since the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect has not invited me, I will not go."

"You are being too distant. Given the relationship between us, there is nothing wrong with going together. I believe the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect would also be very willing to see you attend this—"

Before Xue Qinghe could finish, Jiang He raised a brow and looked beyond the courtyard.

The next second, there was a knock at the gate.

Knock, knock, knock!

"Is Jiang He home?"

It was Ning Fengzhi's voice.

Hearing that familiar voice, even Xue Qinghe was stunned.

Good heavens, he had received an invitation card, but Ning Fengzhi had come personally to Jiang He's door?

But when he thought of the talent Jiang He had displayed, Xue Qinghe found it perfectly reasonable.

At that moment, Jiang He walked to the entrance and opened the courtyard gate.

Standing outside were Ning Fengzhi and Chen Xin.

Seeing Xue Qinghe in the courtyard, neither of them showed any surprise. With Chen Xin's spiritual power, he had long sensed the other's presence.