Ate Astin Gureir! Recruited Soul Hunter

Several days later.

When Su Changge and his party returned in triumph, bringing with them a vast haul of furs, scales, claws, and other rare materials harvested from various ice-attribute spirit beasts, the entire Murong Castle was plunged into an unprecedented state of shock.

The convoy was so heavily laden that it seemed to stretch on forever.

If these rare treasures could be sold, the financial crisis of the Murong Earldom would be reversed in an instant.

"Changge!"

"Are you alright? These past few days, I have been so worried about you."

Under the gaze of hundreds of onlookers, Murong Ruyan threw herself into Su Changge's arms, a sight that made Astin Guilaier, standing a few meters away, burn with envy.

Long before Su Changge arrived, news of the great victory at Eagle Beak Pass had already reached the castle.

Astin Guilaier was well aware that this man, two years her junior, had accomplished something truly earth-shattering at Eagle Beak Pass.

Such spirit! Such capability!

Ten Murong Bodas combined could not compare to him.

If only she had met Su Changge instead of Murong Boda back then... how wonderful that would have been?

If that were the case, the one carrying Su Changge's child right now would not be Murong Ruyan, but her, Astin Guilaier!

After the crowd dispersed, Su Changge helped Murong Ruyan back to their room.

He was exhausted—not physically, but mentally and spiritually.

"Changge, I'm sorry. I am pregnant now and cannot take care of you as I used to."

Watching Su Changge fall into a deep sleep, a flash of resolve crossed Murong Ruyan's affectionate eyes.

Afterward, she closed the door and headed toward Astin Guilaier's room.

As one of the mistresses of the Murong Earldom, it was time for Astin Guilaier to contribute her own strength to the territory.

Besides, wasn't everything she was about to do exactly what that bitch secretly longed for?

Late that night, Su Changge felt his lower body engulfed by a wave of warmth, and driven by instinct, he rolled over and pinned her down.

A night of passion followed, filled with endless moans.

Months passed.

The remains of the many spirit beasts were liquidated through various channels, bringing the earldom an income of 300,000 Gold Soul Coins.

With money in hand, all pensions were paid, and the development of firearms and military fortifications proceeded on track.

Su Changge personally forged a unit of five hundred Musket Cavalry.

In a recent conflict with the Viscount Molan territory, this Musket Cavalry unit shattered a thousand-man elite armored infantry force under Viscount Molan in less than ten minutes, slaying over a dozen low-level spirit masters.

This feat shocked the neighboring viscountcies and baronies, frightening them into hurriedly returning the various mines and resources they had previously seized from the earldom by various means.

For a time, the name of the Murong Earldom shook the southern border of the Haagen-Dazs Kingdom, and no fewer than twenty spirit masters and grand spirit masters came to pledge their loyalty.

Several miles outside the castle, Su Changge sat on his warhorse, backed by two hundred Musket Cavalry. Before him stood Murong Ruyan, who was one month away from giving birth, and Astin Guilaier, who was three months pregnant.

At this moment, both women looked at Su Changge with watery eyes, filled with reluctance.

Perhaps, from a woman's perspective, the current development of the Murong Earldom was enough to ensure their comfort for the rest of their lives and protect their descendants.

But to Su Changge, this was merely a piece of scenery on his path to godhood.

One could indulge in the comforts of women, but one could not be consumed by them.

After nearly ten months of cultivation, his spirit power had reached the peak of level 19.

As long as he obtained his second spirit ring, he could become a grand spirit master at any time!

Murong Ruyan clearly understood Su Changge's character; though she was reluctant to let him go, she dared not stop him.

"Ruyan, Guilaier, rest assured. I am going to the Star Dou Great Forest; I will return in half a month at the earliest, or a month at the latest."

"I have already made proper arrangements for all matters in the territory. You two only need to focus on your pregnancies!"

Stepping into the Star Dou Great Forest region once again.

Compared to his first visit, Su Changge's state of mind was entirely different.

The first time, he had been at the end of his rope, forced to snatch a chance at survival from the jaws of death.

But now...

Su Changge's gaze swept over the two hundred Musket Cavalry, and at the very rear, ten Divine Fire Thunderbolt Cannon V2.0s covered in black cloth.

Now he had men, and he had money! He was no longer the stray dog abandoned by Yu Xiaogang.

Hunting for his second spirit ring... no longer required him to risk his life for a sliver of hope.

The familiar entrance, the familiar location, the familiar shouts!

However, unlike before...

The numerous soul-hunting squads stationed at the outer entrance, who made a living by assisting in the hunting of soul beasts for commissions, all fell silent the moment they saw Su Changge step off his carriage.

They looked at one another, yet not a single person dared to step forward.

With two hundred elite cavalrymen in his retinue, no matter how they looked at it, Su Changge appeared to be a high-ranking noble.

"Hey, look at the armor on those cavalrymen. That's top-tier, custom-made refined steel. This gear isn't cheap; any single set is worth over a hundred Gold Soul Coins."

"Holy crap, could this guy be the King's illegitimate son?"

"...You idiot, have you ever seen an illegitimate son dare to parade through the streets like this? In my opinion, he's likely a core member of some hereditary Marquis or Count's family."

Across a dozen stalls, over a hundred soul masters lowered their heads and whispered, the envy and jealousy in their eyes nearly overflowing.

Ninety-nine percent of them were of commoner origin, having clawed their way up through hardship and walking on thin ice to reach where they were today.

Such a flashy display was something they wouldn't even dare to dream of!

The female soul masters in particular, despite their burning gazes, subconsciously hid their figures behind the men.

For no other reason than that they feared if Su Changge saw them, he would find them beneath him.

"Clap, clap..."

Su Changge, dressed in fine silk robes, clapped his hands lightly.

Immediately, several Musket Cavalrymen dismounted and carried several thick iron chests from the rear.

As the lids were flipped open, rays of blinding golden light swirled out, instantly capturing the gazes of the hundred-plus soul masters.

Gulp!

Over a hundred sounds of swallowing saliva rang out in unison.

"It's gold, so much gold! Heavens... I, Lao Mao, have never seen this many Gold Soul Coins in my entire life."

"Me neither. Who would have thought this great noble wouldn't just be handsome, but also this wealthy! I'm a woman; even if I had to give it away for free, I'd offer my first time to him..."

Listening to the noisy clamor and those unrealistic fantasies, Su Changge's mouth twitched.

Even though he possessed the Many Children Many Blessings trait, which allowed him to grow infinitely stronger as long as he sowed his seeds, not just any woman could climb into his bed.

Having been baptized by the vast information of his past life, his tastes were quite discerning.

"Su intends to head into the deep outer perimeter or the core area to hunt for a second soul ring. Those willing to come: late-stage or peak Great Soul Masters get two hundred Gold Soul Coins, and Soul Elders get one thousand. Payment first, service later!"

Su Changge spoke, gesturing toward the Gold Soul Coins at his feet.

"And what if we are Soul Ancestors?"

Two low voices rang out from the crowd at the same time.

They instantly drew the gazes of the hundred-plus soul masters.

Wait, among us mediocre soul masters, there are actually two hidden experts at the Soul Ancestor level?

"Three thousand coins, how about that!?"

As the Gold Soul Coins at his feet were depleted, Su Changge had successfully recruited two Soul Ancestors, fifteen Soul Elders, and thirty late-stage or peak Great Soul Masters.