Elf Egg!

Inside Pope Palace

A maid led Zhang Qingxuan to a side hall, then stopped.

"Young Master Zhang, please wait here for a moment. His Holiness the Pope is handling official matters and will be here shortly," the maid said with a bow.

"Mm, I understand. Go tend to your duties first." Zhang Qingxuan waved a hand and poured himself a cup of tea.

The maid performed a respectful salute and quietly withdrew.

Not long after the maid left, the familiar system notification sounded in his mind.

[ Ding! ]

[ Successful sign-in at Pope Palace in Spirit City. Congratulations, Host, on obtaining an Elf Egg! ]

"Pfft—"

Zhang Qingxuan nearly sprayed out his tea. He coughed several times before finally catching his breath.

Looking closely, he saw that an oval egg had somehow appeared on the table.

The eggshell was creamy white, covered in fine red patterns that gleamed softly under the sunlight.

What... is this? I can even sign in for something like this?

Zhang Qingxuan was filled with surprise as he reached out and lightly touched the shell.

It felt warm and smooth, and he could faintly sense a weak pulse of life within.

System, when this thing hatches, does it count as a Soul Beast?

[ Ding! No! ]

With that answer, Zhang Qingxuan nodded, and some of his doubts faded.

He carefully picked up the Elf Egg and examined it closely.

The patterns on the shell seemed to contain some sort of law, but he could not decipher it for the moment.

Time slipped away quietly as he studied it.

About two hours later, steady footsteps sounded outside the hall.

Zhang Qingxuan had only just put away the Elf Egg when the doors were pushed open.

Qian Xunji walked in.

"Greetings, His Holiness the Pope." Zhang Qingxuan rose to bow.

"No need for such formality. Why be so polite between us?" Qian Xunji waved a hand and walked straight to the seat of honor.

Though he was still dressed in the Pope's ceremonial robes today, his brow carried traces of fatigue and irritation that he could not conceal.

"Thank you, Your Holiness." Zhang Qingxuan sat back down, keenly noticing that something was off with the other man's mood.

"Ah, you!" Qian Xunji pointed at Zhang Qingxuan, his tone full of helplessness.

He lifted the hot tea the maid had just served, took a sip, and let out a long sigh.

"Tell me, what did you come to see me about? My reputation isn't exactly good these days. Hardly anyone is willing to visit me anymore." Qian Xunji set down his teacup, resentment nearly overflowing from his words.

"Reputation? What reputation?" Zhang Qingxuan was startled.

Recently, he had done nothing but cultivate. Today was even his first time leaving home in a month, so he knew nothing of the rumors outside.

"Isn't it all because of that Whale Rubber business?" Qian Xunji rubbed his temples, a half-amused, half-exasperated expression appearing on his face.

"Ever since I learned of Whale Rubber's true use from your father, I secretly ordered people to start buying it in large quantities, intending to monopolize the market first. It should have been a brilliant move, but who could have expected—"

He paused, and his voice abruptly rose. "Some bastard leaked the news! Now rumors are spreading everywhere, saying that I was so desperately searching for Whale Rubber because... because I 'can't perform' anymore!"

"Cough, cough, cough!" Zhang Qingxuan choked on his tea. He coughed repeatedly before barely suppressing his laughter.

"Please... please continue."

Could you stop laughing?!

Qian Xunji rolled his eyes, but there was nothing he could do. "And that's not even the end of it! I thought that since my reputation was already damaged, I might as well drag those old fellows down to 'share the hardship' with me."

"So I went to see several elders, planning to share the matter of Whale Rubber with them and, incidentally, have them bear some of these rumors with me."

Hearing this, Zhang Qingxuan could practically imagine the elders' expressions upon learning of it, as well as the "treatment" Qian Xunji might have received.

"And then?" he asked, following the thread of the story.

"And then?" Qian Xunji slammed a hand on the table.

"Those old fools! Not only were they ungrateful, they even joined forces to lecture me! They warned me not to tell anyone that they had anything to do with it! Tell me, where in the world could you find people so selfish?"

The more he spoke, the angrier he became. He lifted his teacup and drained it in one gulp, as though it contained not clear tea, but all the resentment in his heart.

Seeing Qian Xunji in this state, Zhang Qingxuan gave two light coughs, refilled his cup, and said slowly, "Your Holiness, in my opinion, this may not be a bad thing."

"Mm?" Qian Xunji looked up at Zhang Qingxuan, a flicker of curiosity in his eyes.

"What do you mean?"

Zhang Qingxuan spoke unhurriedly. "Your Holiness's damaged reputation is indeed unpleasant, but please consider this: Whale Rubber's true effects will inevitably be discovered sooner or later."

"We need only wait for a suitable opportunity to reveal it to the public—"

He paused. Seeing Qian Xunji listening intently, he continued, "When that time comes, Your Holiness's reputation will undergo a heaven-shaking reversal."

"The deeper the misunderstanding you endure now, the greater the reversal will be in the future."

"Just imagine it. When everyone is mocking you, you reveal a discovery that benefits the entire Soul Master world. What do you think they will feel then?"

Qian Xunji's eyes gradually lit up.

"And that is only in terms of reputation." Zhang Qingxuan struck while the iron was hot.

"The practical benefits will be even more considerable. During this period of panic and rumor, we can continue buying quietly and further strengthen our monopoly."

"When the truth comes to light, won't those people who once mocked you have to come begging you for Whale Rubber? By then, won't the pricing and distribution be entirely up to you?"

He raised his teacup and said leisurely, "Therefore, Your Holiness need not concern yourself with temporary gains or losses in reputation."

"Today's humiliation will surely bring immeasurable returns tomorrow."

"When the merits of Whale Rubber are revealed to the world, your prestige will rise to unprecedented heights. Such an achievement will be enough to leave a bold mark in Spirit Hall's history."

Qian Xunji fell silent for a moment, then suddenly burst into laughter.

"Good! What a fine 'do not concern yourself with temporary gains and losses'!" He rose to his feet and paced to the window, gazing at the vast sky beyond the hall.

"Qingxuan, Qingxuan, your words have truly enlightened me."

He turned to Zhang Qingxuan. The gloom in his eyes had vanished, replaced by a sharp gleam. "Then let them laugh. I want to see what expressions those people will wear when the truth is revealed!"

At that moment, Qian Xunji's thoughts had already drifted to the near future. He seemed to see the leaders of every major power piling on smiles, stepping forward with bowed backs to beg him for Whale Rubber allocations, and the corners of his mouth rose once more.

"Your Holiness... Your Holiness?"

Only after Zhang Qingxuan called out several times did Qian Xunji suddenly snap back to his senses.

"Ah, oh... My mind wandered for a moment." Qian Xunji raised a hand to hide the smile at his lips, coughed lightly, and sat upright again.

"By the way, you must have something important to discuss if you came to see me. Speak freely."

He was in an excellent mood now, and his tone was much more open. "So long as it is something I know, I will tell you everything without reserve."

"Thank you, Your Holiness." Zhang Qingxuan nodded slightly, though his expression became more serious.

"Actually, I came today to ask you about a certain place—"

He looked Qian Xunji in the eye and slowly spoke three words.

"Evil Soul Valley."