Half a month later, Murong Mansion.
"Second Soul Skill, Death Hunt!"
A purple-green spiderweb shot toward Murong Huai. He summoned the Immortal Lord Nine-Arrival Sword. Though the sword remained sheathed, a golden flash burst from it, and several sword energies sliced the web to pieces. The moment it landed on the ground, it corroded a huge hole in the earth.
Next, Bibi Dong controlled the Death Spider Emperor and unleashed several poison slashes. Murong Huai raised his sword to block them, stopping every attack with ease. His figure flickered, and he appeared in front of Bibi Dong, the scabbard stopping three inches from her eyes.
"Dong'er, you lost again." Murong Huai withdrew his Martial Soul and said with a smile.
At that, Bibi Dong pouted and put her hands on her hips.
"Hmph, Brother Huai, how are you so strong? You're much stronger than the Soul Elders at the academy."
Murong Huai ruffled Bibi Dong's hair. "You're strong too, Dong'er. You're already a level twenty-eight Soul Grandmaster. It won't be long before you reach the Soul Elder realm."
Yue Guan had found Bibi Dong an Immortal Herb called the Blood Sacrifice Demon Heart Flower. It had granted the Death Spider Emperor and Soul-Eater Spider Emperor a powerful poison each: Blood Pattern and Heart-Eroding Drop.
However, since most of the herb's medicinal power had gone into the two Martial Souls, it hadn't increased Bibi Dong's Soul Power by much—only five levels.
"Xiao Huai, are you ready...?"
At the sound of the voice, the two looked over. Qian Xunji walked into the courtyard. When he saw Bibi Dong, he smiled.
"Xiao Huai, who's this little girl...?"
"Senior Brother, her name is Bibi Dong. I met her when we awakened our Martial Souls together. Like me, she has Twin Martial Souls. Dong'er, this is the senior brother I told you about, Qian Xunji, the young master of Spirit Hall." Murong Huai introduced them.
"Greetings, Young Master," Bibi Dong said, quickly bowing.
Qian Xunji waved his hand. "Oh, there's no need for formalities. So you're the other genius who awakened Twin Martial Souls. You're only a little girl, yet you already have level twenty-eight Soul Power. Impressive."
"Senior Brother, why are you in such a hurry...?"
At that, Qian Xunji said, "Hey, you brat, did you forget? We have to go to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect for a birthday banquet!"
"Right, right, I almost forgot." Murong Huai slapped his forehead as he finally remembered.
"A birthday banquet? Can I come too?" Bibi Dong asked curiously.
At Bibi Dong's question, Murong Huai thought for a moment and looked at Qian Xunji. The latter nodded with a smile.
"Of course. Come along. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect is rich and powerful. They won't run out of food just because one little girl is coming."
"Yay!" Bibi Dong beamed with delight.
"All right, then. Let's set off, Senior Brother."
"Let's go."
They came to the entrance of Murong Mansion, where three carriages were waiting. Gui Mei, Yue Guan, and Dugu Bo stood beside them, along with Qian Jun and Jiang Mo.
"Young Master, Holy Son."
Qian Xunji nodded. "Let's set off."
"Yes."
They climbed into the carriages, and the drivers slowly led them out of Spirit City, heading toward Heaven Dou City.
One day later, Heaven Dou City.
After traveling for a day, Murong Huai, Qian Xunji, and the others arrived in Heaven Dou City.
"Senior Brother, weren't we going to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect? Why didn't we go straight to Seven Treasure City? Why come all the way to Heaven Dou City?"
Hearing Murong Huai grumble, Qian Xunji folded his arms across his chest.
"Hey, we're Spirit Hall. What kind of impression would it make if we got there too early? We'll stay in Heaven Dou City tonight and go tomorrow. There's no rush."
"Such a show-off..." Murong Huai muttered under his breath.
"What?"
"Ah..." Just as Murong Huai was about to make something up, a shout rang out.
"Get out of the way, you filthy commoner!"
Murong Huai pushed aside the carriage curtain and looked out. A youth of about fifteen or sixteen, dressed in fine clothes, galloped down the street, cracking his whip and charging through the crowd.
An elderly woman couldn't get out of the way in time and froze in place. Seeing her, the youth raised his whip. White Soul Power clung to it. With a sharp crack, he struck her down, and she spat out a mouthful of blood.
"Wife!"
A stooped old man hurried over and caught the woman in his arms. She was already very old and had no Soul Power. After taking the youth's whip, she was gravely injured, coughing up blood as her breathing grew faint.
"Wife, how are you?"
"Bah! How dare a mere commoner block this heir's path? If you want to die, crawl off to the side! If you won't die, I'll give you a hand!"
The youth looked down at them with disdain. At his words, the old man burned with rage.
"You butchers! You take human lives like they mean nothing. You'll meet a horrible end!"
The old man's fury drew a crowd. One after another, the onlookers spoke up against the youth.
"How can someone behave like that..."
"Galloping through the street, knocking people aside, and now he's beaten someone..."
"Exactly. He has no decency at all!"
"..."
Hearing the old man curse him, and seeing the crowd's eyes on him, the youth gave a cold snort and strode forward. Soul Power surged around him, and two yellow Soul Rings appeared. A graceful white swan emerged behind him.
"A Swan Martial Soul. Could he be part of the royal family?"
"That old couple is in trouble..."
"Quick, get out of here!"
"..."
At the sight of the Swan Martial Soul, the crowd scattered at once. In the Heaven Dou Empire, especially in Heaven Dou City, the Swan Martial Soul symbolized royal authority. No one dared provoke its owner, least of all commoners.
"You old fool, you dared curse this heir? Fine! For showing contempt to the royal family, you deserve immediate execution. I'll send you both on your way today!"
The old man stared at the youth, his eyes filled with defiance and rage.
"Bah! You're nothing but a pack of parasites. You butcher people, and Heaven will strike you down with five thunderbolts! Even as ghosts, my wife and I won't let you go!"
Soul Power gathered in the youth's palm as he struck toward the old man. The old man closed his eyes.
Yet death never came. The old man opened his eyes to see a slender but strong hand gripping the youth's wrist. The one who had intervened was Murong Huai. The youth saw that someone had dared stop him and roared in fury.
"Who are you? How dare you meddle in my affairs!"
Murong Huai sneered and pressed his fingers together. With a crack, the youth's bones shattered, and he let out a scream.
"Ah..."
Murong Huai flicked his hand and flung the youth away. He crashed to the ground and howled in pain.
Just then, a man came running over with a squad of soldiers. Seeing the youth lying on the ground and howling, he hurried over.
"Xue Xing, Your Highness, are you all right?"
Xue Xing clutched his hand, cold sweat running down his face as he glared furiously at Murong Huai.
"Kill him!"
At Xue Xing's order, the man rose to his feet and looked at Murong Huai with a cold snort.
"Hmph, you insolent commoner! How dare you lay hands on Prince Xue Xing? Get him! Kill him!"
At the man's command, a dozen soldiers rushed at Murong Huai with their spears. Murong Huai snorted at the sight, not taking them seriously in the slightest. Then a voice rang out.
"Third Soul Skill, Aura Barrier!"
A terrifying pressure descended, crushing everyone to the ground. The man was forced to his knees, bracing himself with both hands.
Yue Guan stepped out from the side and stood beside Murong Huai. The man braced himself against the ground and roared through clenched teeth.
"Outrageous! Do you know who you've hurt? He's the son of Prince Xue Tian. If you dare hurt him, then..."
"Hmph, what a noisy fool... Break one leg each and send them away," Murong Huai said coldly.
"Yes, Your Highness." As Yue Guan spoke, more than a dozen golden blades shot out, severing the soldiers' tendons and breaking their leg bones. Blood streamed everywhere, and the men let out agonized screams. Xue Xing passed out from the pain.
"Ah..."
"Get lost!"
At Yue Guan's words, the men limped away in panic, carrying Xue Xing with them.
Before you continue