The scar-faced man licked his lips, his eyes leering.
While Yu Xiaogang was momentarily stunned, he patted him again.
The scar-faced man chuckled.
Only then did Yu Xiaogang snap out of it. He backed away two steps in anger. "Y-you! What are you doing? How dare you be so rude?"
The scar-faced man's lips curled into a teasing smile. "Heh. I'm a Purple-Robed Bishop of Spirit Hall. Why should I bother with manners?"
Yu Xiaogang's pupils contracted.
He hadn't expected that this unremarkable-looking scar-faced man before him was a Purple-Robed Bishop.
After all, even the weakest Purple-Robed Bishop in Spirit Hall was a Soul King.
Given his current circumstances, he figured he probably shouldn't provoke the man.
"Hmph."
Yu Xiaogang gave a cold snort, walked around the scar-faced man, and prepared to leave.
The scar-faced man stepped forward, blocking his way with a smile.
"Trying to get to the top floor?"
As he spoke, the scar-faced man looked Yu Xiaogang up and down with keen interest, making him feel thoroughly uncomfortable.
"That's none of your business. Please move."
Yu Xiaogang's voice was cold, but the scar-faced man wasn't offended. His smile only grew wider.
"You're not with Spirit Hall. If you don't get the chance now, you'll never set foot on the top floor in your life."
Yu Xiaogang caught his meaning, and most of his arrogance faded. His voice took on a hopeful note. "You... can take me up there?"
The scar-faced man's lips curled into a meaningful smile. "I can. But there's no such thing as a free lunch. If you want my help, heh... you'll have to pay a small price."
"A price? What kind of price?"
Yu Xiaogang stiffened, wariness rising in his heart.
After all, he was only a twenty-ninth-rank Soul Master.
Aside from a few gold coins, he had nothing else on him.
What could the other man possibly want?
Before Yu Xiaogang could think it through, the scar-faced man leaned closer, his tone tinged with ambiguity.
"Would you care to share a drink with me tonight?"
Yu Xiaogang froze.
Then his face turned ashen, and his whole body began to tremble.
He even wondered if he'd heard wrong. But one look at the other man's expression confirmed that he hadn't, and a surge of fury rushed straight to his chest.
"Utterly outrageous!"
Yu Xiaogang flung his sleeves and turned to leave.
He had never suffered such humiliation.
This time, the scar-faced man didn't stop him. His voice carried just loudly enough for the people nearby to hear. "No need to refuse in such a hurry. I live at the Bamboo Residence of West Courtyard in Spirit City. Whenever you change your mind, you can come find me."
The people around them immediately gave the pair strange looks.
What a way to "change your mind"!
A few people who knew the scar-faced man all broke into leering chuckles.
Yu Xiaogang quickened his pace, anger plain on his face. If he could beat the man, he'd have made him eat a fart by now.
The scar-faced man watched Yu Xiaogang go, then reluctantly drew his gaze away.
"Bishop, the prey you've set your sights on is quite a delicacy."
Meanwhile, Bibi Dong left the library with Su Chen. On their way back to Spirit Hall, a maid approached them.
"Your Highness, the Pope has summoned several elders, as well as Your Highness, to attend a meeting."
"Did my teacher say what it's about?"
"This subordinate doesn't know either. It seems they're discussing an attack on some place..."
"Xiao Chen, go back without me."
After a few instructions, Bibi Dong followed the maid to the Pope Palace.
Su Chen figured it was about Devil Island, and that Bibi Dong would probably be leading the expedition.
On his way back, he ran into Ye Lingyuan coming toward him.
As soon as she saw him, the woman hugged Su Chen.
She left a long, wet mark on his face.
"Hehehe! Big Sister's going to get a Soul Ring."
"Big Sister's happy today. I've reached level sixty!"
Su Chen helplessly wiped his face.
Hearing her words,
his thoughts began to stir.
After a year together, Ye Lingyuan had proven to be a good person.
Su Chen felt the time was right.
"Ling Yuan, how about I go with you?"
Ye Lingyuan smiled. "Sure. If you have time, and you're not afraid Her Highness the Saintess will blame you."
"Hehe, Teacher won't blame me."
Su Chen figured this would be a good time to give her the Immortal Herb and win her over.
Besides, if she underwent a dramatic change, they could chalk it all up to a natural Martial Soul Mutation caused by absorbing a Soul Ring. That wouldn't arouse suspicion at all; after all, such things had happened before.
He'd already figured out what Ye Lingyuan was like. She was absolutely trustworthy and someone he could cultivate as one of his own.
"Great!"
"But we don't need to go to the Planet Great Forest."
"I've already planned out my Soul Ring, and I've already captured the Soul Beast."
Ye Lingyuan hugged him as they set out together, heading straight for Spirit Hall's own Soul Beast breeding and holding grounds.
Guards stood watch all around the enormous courtyard. It was Su Chen's first time in a place like this.
There were plenty of Soul Beasts in the iron cages nearby.
One of them was a giant, fiery-red chicken with two heads.
Su Chen knew this must be the Soul Beast Ye Lingyuan had prepared in advance for her Soul Ring.
"Not bad, right?"
Ye Lingyuan showed off her Soul Beast to Su Chen, a hint of pride in her expression.
Then her expression changed, and her voice turned cold. "Everyone, leave."
The guards all bowed and withdrew. Ye Lingyuan set Su Chen down.
"I'm about to absorb the Soul Ring. Just keep watch over me."
"Ling Yuan, wait a moment. Eat this first."
Su Chen took out a piece of thousand-year-old Whale Rubber and offered it to her.
"Hmm? What is it?"
Ye Lingyuan curiously took it and gave it a squeeze. Then her face flushed. "Th-this isn't Whale Rubber?"
"That's right... Ow!"
As soon as Su Chen spoke, Ye Lingyuan rubbed his head and huffed. "So you really have been thinking about me and want to make a move, huh? You've been sneaking peeks at books lately, haven't you?"
"But you've got it wrong. I'm not the one who eats this. You are. It won't do anything for me."
Su Chen rolled his eyes. "Ling Yuan, people only know Whale Rubber as an aphrodisiac. They don't know it can temper the body and widen the Soul Power meridians, doubling your chances of success and the upper limit when you absorb a Soul Ring. I'm telling you because I consider you one of my own."
Ye Lingyuan paused, looking at him suspiciously. Meeting Su Chen's clear eyes, she asked uncertainly:
"You really aren't trying to make a move on Big Sister?"
"Eat it if you want. If you don't, give it back."
Su Chen held out his hand.
Ye Lingyuan immediately covered her mouth with a chuckle. "Once something's in Big Sister's hands, how could I possibly give it back?"
Ye Lingyuan held the Whale Rubber, which had already been roasted, and hesitated briefly before opening her mouth and slowly swallowing it.
Warmth slid down her throat,
Ye Lingyuan tried to guide the energy with her Soul Power. A look of utter shock appeared on her face.
Soon, Ye Lingyuan's brow furrowed again, and a light sheen of sweat appeared on her skin.
Su Chen pulled out a prepared water flask from his Soul Tool and spoke with practiced ease. "Open your mouth!"
Ye Lingyuan looked at him in confusion, her lips parting slightly.
Su Chen brought it in.