"Oh, only level sixty. Wait! Did you say you're level sixty?!"
Oscar shrugged. He had no reason to lie to Lin Yi. He really was a level-sixty Soul Ancestor now. Of course, by the Divine Realm's reckoning, he should be level 160—a Divine Soul Master.
"Lin Yi, you don't need to be surprised. In the lower realm, food-type Soul Masters like Xiao Ao really did cultivate more slowly than the rest of us. But don't forget: Xiao Ao's Martial Soul is the Food God now. Didn't you feel it just now? The food he makes greatly helps increase Soul Power."
"You mean Oscar got stronger by eating?"
"Exactly!"
Hearing Tang San's answer, Lin Yi could only smile wryly. He had never imagined anyone could raise their Soul Power by eating, especially in a place like the Divine Realm.
"In the Divine Realm, there's nothing you can imagine that can't be done. There's still a lot you'll need to get used to."
"This..."
"Hey, don't think about it so much. The Food God Hall welcomes you anytime. I'll make you something delicious when you come!"
If Lin Yi hadn't known that Oscar's food could help increase Soul Power, he might have turned down the offer. But now, he wished he could spend every waking moment in the Food God Hall, eating the food Oscar made.
"Second Brother, you're playing favorites!" Xiao Wu pouted.
"Heh! You're all welcome!"
The Food God Hall rang with laughter. Tang San and Xiao Wu, just like Oscar, were delighted to have Lin Yi there. After all, apart from them, the main gods, there were also some lesser-known minor gods in the Divine Realm. Those minor gods, of course, weren't qualified to associate with them. That was why they found the Divine Realm so dull. But Lin Yi's arrival had certainly brought them plenty of joy.
After eating and drinking their fill, Lin Yi and the others sat in the courtyard, listening as Oscar and the others reminisced about the past. Before long, time had flown by. Although the Divine Realm had no day or night, Lin Yi, who had only just arrived, was feeling tired.
"Third Brother, I'm a little tired. I'll head back and rest."
"Uh, I'll take you back."
Tang San rose to his feet, intending to escort Lin Yi back to the Sea God Hall. After all, he had only just arrived in the Divine Realm and probably didn't know his way around.
"No need. I remember the way. You brothers should catch up. I'll be fine on my own."
Hearing Lin Yi say that, Tang San didn't press the matter. It had indeed been a long time since he'd visited Oscar. Since Lin Yi said he could find his way back, there was no need to worry.
Lin Yi left the Food God Hall and ambled along the road back to the Sea God Hall. He didn't see a single person along the way. Just as he was starting to feel bored, a pleasant voice suddenly came from behind him.
"Who are you? What are you doing here?"
Lin Yi turned around and saw a woman with striking features standing behind him. He smiled faintly. "Hello, my name is Lin Yi. I'm—"
Before Lin Yi could finish, nine-colored light flared around the woman, and a pagoda appeared in her hand. Seeing her Martial Soul, Lin Yi suddenly realized who she was.
"Are you Ning Rongrong?"
"You know me?"
Ning Rongrong had been ready to fight, but when she heard Lin Yi call her by name, she withdrew her Martial Soul. Still, she couldn't recall ever seeing him before.
"What's going on? What's going on? Who upset my Rongrong?"
Oscar's voice came from nearby. Before long, the three of them arrived, and the furious look on Oscar's face vanished into surprise when he saw Lin Yi.
"Lin Yi, what happened? You and Rongrong?"
"It's all a misunderstanding. Nothing happened."
"A misunderstanding?"
Lin Yi nodded. Ning Rongrong, standing beside Oscar, was just as confused. She didn't know Lin Yi, and unlike Oscar, she hadn't heard about him from Tang San.
"Xiao Ao, you know him?"
"Hey, it's all a misunderstanding. We're all friends."
"Friends?"
Ning Rongrong was puzzled. She was certain this was her first time meeting Lin Yi.
"It's like this..."
Oscar didn't hide anything. He told her all about Lin Yi. Hearing his explanation, Ning Rongrong's pretty face flushed red, and she looked at Lin Yi with embarrassment.
"I'm sorry, Lin Yi. I didn't know you were the one next in line to inherit the Dragon God's position. I'm really sorry about what happened just now."
Seeing Ning Rongrong bow to apologize, Lin Yi hurried forward to help her up. Although Ning Rongrong and the others looked about his age, he knew that neither in age nor in seniority could he compare with her or the other two.
"Rongrong, you don't have to do that. I should apologize too. I didn't get a chance to explain."
At Lin Yi's words, Ning Rongrong smiled faintly and asked Oscar, "Xiao Ao, did you tell Lin Yi about me?"
"No!"
"Then how did he know I was Ning Rongrong?"
"This..."
Lin Yi smiled helplessly. He'd made quite a name for himself on Douluo Continent, and he'd heard the name of the Shrek Seven Devils countless times. Though he hadn't recognized Ning Rongrong at first, how could he fail to recognize the nine-colored Soul Power shining around her?
"Rongrong, who on the entire continent hasn't heard of the Shrek Seven Devils? And you received the Nine-Colored Goddess's divine inheritance. The moment I saw the nine-colored Soul Power around you, I recognized you."
"So that's how it was! Lin Yi, you're really clever!"
Faced with Ning Rongrong's praise, Lin Yi didn't know what to say. Fortunately, the misunderstanding was cleared up. Ning Rongrong had never seen an unfamiliar person there before and had thought he might be a bad guy, which explained her reaction.
Ning Rongrong wanted to invite Lin Yi to her home, but he was too tired and politely declined. Because of what had happened, Tang San and Xiao Wu didn't return to the Food God Hall either. Instead, they took Lin Yi back to the Sea God Hall and arranged a place for him to stay.
"Stay here for now. I'll have them speed up construction of the Dragon God Hall. It shouldn't take more than a few days."
"Thanks, Third Brother."
Tang San smiled and nodded. After giving him a few more instructions, he left.
Lin Yi lay down on the bed and fell asleep before he knew it. He only woke when the system's voice rang in his head.
"Congratulations, host, on completing the task of arriving in the Divine Realm. Reward: Mysterious Gift Pack unlocked."
"Damn! This system is getting more and more ridiculous!"
Lin Yi was dissatisfied, but he knew the system wouldn't respond even if he complained. Still, he was very interested in the Mysterious Gift Pack the system had awarded him after he defeated the Storm Battle Dragon last time. Now that he'd been notified that he could open it, how could he pass up the chance?
Before you continue