Several days later.
When Su Changge and his party returned in triumph, bringing a long procession of carts laden with pelts, scales, claws, fangs, and other rare spoils taken from the various Ice and Snow Soul Beasts, Murong Castle was shaken like never before.
The caravan was so long that its end was almost impossible to see.
If they could sell all these rare goods, Murong Castle's finances would turn around in an instant.
"Changge!"
"Are you all right? I've been so worried about you all these days."
As hundreds of eyes watched, Murong Ruyan threw herself into Su Changge's arms. A few meters away, Aistin Gullier watched, her gaze burning.
The news of the great victory at Eagle Beak Pass had reached the castle well before Su Changge arrived.
Aistin Gullier knew perfectly well what earth-shaking feats this man, two years younger than her, had accomplished at Eagle Beak Pass.
Such presence, such ability!
Even ten Murong Bodas couldn't compare.
If only she had met Su Changge instead of Murong Boda back then... How wonderful that would have been.
Then it would not be Murong Ruyan carrying Su Changge's child now, but her—Aistin Gullier!
After everyone had dispersed, Su Changge helped Murong Ruyan back to their room.
He was exhausted after all those days—not physically, but mentally, his spirit and will worn down.
"Changge, I'm sorry. Now that I'm pregnant, I can't take care of you as well as I used to."
As she watched Su Changge quickly fall asleep, a resolute glint passed through Murong Ruyan's tender eyes.
Then she closed the door and headed toward Aistin Gullier's room.
As one of the mistresses of the Murong Earldom, it was time for Aistin Gullier to contribute her strength to the earldom.
Besides, wasn't everything she was about to do exactly what that bitch wanted?
In the dead of night, Su Changge felt a warm current engulf his lower body. Acting on instinct, he rolled over and pressed down.
A night of fierce pounding, with moans that never ceased.
For months.
The remains of the many Soul Beasts were sold through various channels, bringing the earldom an income of three hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins.
With money in hand, compensation was paid in full, firearms development and military fortifications got underway... Everything was back on track.
Su Changge even personally formed a five-hundred-strong Musket Cavalry.
Not long ago, in a clash with the Molan Viscount's territory, this Musket Cavalry had routed a thousand armored elites under Viscount Molan in less than ten minutes... and slain more than a dozen low-ranked Soul Masters.
This single victory cowed several nearby viscounties and baronies. In a panic, they returned all the mines and resources they had seized from the earldom by various means.
For a time, the name of the Murong Earldom resounded across the southern reaches of the Haagen-Dazs Kingdom. No fewer than twenty Soul Masters and Soul Grandmasters came seeking to join them.
Several miles outside the castle, Su Changge sat astride his warhorse. Two hundred Musket Cavalry stood behind him, while before him stood Murong Ruyan, due to give birth in a month, and Aistin Gullier, three months pregnant.
At that moment, both women gazed at Su Changge with watery eyes, their faces full of reluctance.
From a woman's perspective, the Murong Earldom's prosperity was enough to ensure they lived in comfort for the rest of their lives and shield their descendants for generations to come.
But to Su Changge, it was merely a passing landscape along the road to godhood.
He could lose himself in the tender embrace of women, but he could never let himself be consumed by it.
After nearly ten months of cultivation, his Soul Power had reached the peak of level nineteen.
Once he obtained his Second Soul Ring, he could become a Soul Grandmaster at any moment!
Murong Ruyan clearly knew what kind of man Su Changge was. Though reluctant to see him go, she did not dare stop him.
"Ruyan, Gullier, don't worry. I'll be going to the Star Dou Great Forest for half a month at most, a month at the longest. I'll definitely be back."
"I've already made all the arrangements for the territory. You two just need to rest and take care of your pregnancies!"
He stepped into the Star Dou Great Forest once more.
Compared with his first visit, Su Changge's state of mind was entirely different.
The first time, he had been out of options, forced to snatch a sliver of hope from the flames of a life-or-death struggle.
But now...
Su Changge's gaze swept over the two hundred Musket Cavalry. At the rear stood ten Divine Fire Thunderbolt Cannons V2.0, covered in black cloth.
Now he had men and money! He was no longer the stray dog abandoned by Yu Xiaogang.
And when it came to hunting his Second Soul Ring, he no longer had to risk everything and fight his way back from the brink of death.
The familiar entrance, the familiar spot, the familiar shouts!
But things were different from before.
The many Soul Hunting teams who had set up stalls at the outer entrance and made a living by helping hunt Soul Beasts for a commission all fell silent the instant they saw Su Changge step down from his carriage.
They looked at one another, and not one dared approach.
With two hundred elite cavalry at his side, Su Changge looked every bit like a top-ranking noble, no matter how they sized him up.
"Hey, look at the armor on those cavalrymen. That's top-grade custom-forged steel. Their gear must cost a fortune. A single suit would go for over a hundred Gold Soul Coins."
"Holy shit, could this guy be the king's illegitimate son?"
"...Idiot. Have you ever seen an illegitimate son dare to make such a show of himself? I'd say he's probably a core member of some hereditary marquis or earl's family."
At a dozen or so stalls, over a hundred Soul Masters kept their heads down and whispered. Envy and jealousy practically spilled from their eyes.
Ninety-nine percent of them were commoners who had clawed their way up, treading on thin ice at every step.
They wouldn't even dare dream of such a flashy display!
The female Soul Masters, especially, gazed at him with burning eyes, yet instinctively hid behind the men.
They were afraid Su Changge would see them and think they were dirty.
"Clap, clap..."
Dressed in brocade, Su Changge lightly clapped his hands.
Several Musket Cavalry immediately dismounted and brought out several sturdy iron chests from the rear.
When the lids were lifted, dazzling golden light spilled out, instantly drawing the attention of more than a hundred Soul Masters.
Gulp!!
The sound of over a hundred people swallowing in unison rang out.
"Gold Soul Coins! So many Gold Soul Coins! Heavens... Lao Mao's never seen so many Gold Soul Coins in his life."
"Me neither! I never thought this great noble would be so handsome and so rich! If I were a woman, I'd give him my first time even for free..."
Listening to the clamoring around him and those far-fetched fantasies, Su Changge's mouth twitched.
Even with his Many Children Many Blessings trait, which let him grow stronger without limit as long as he kept sowing his seed, he wasn't about to let just any woman into his bed.
After being steeped in the vast store of information from his previous life, he had very particular tastes.
"Su Changge is heading deep into the outer region, or perhaps even the core area, to hunt for a second Soul Ring. Anyone willing to come along will get two hundred Gold Soul Coins if they're a late-stage or peak Soul Grandmaster, and one thousand if they're a Soul Elder. Payment first, work afterward!"
Su Changge spoke, gesturing toward the Gold Soul Coins at his feet.
"What about Soul Ancestors?"
Two deep voices rang out from the crowd at the same time.
Hundreds of Soul Masters turned to look.
Wait, among us mediocre Soul Masters, there were actually two hidden Soul Ancestors?
"Three thousand each. How about that?"
Once the Gold Soul Coins at his feet had all been spent, Su Changge had temporarily recruited two Soul Ancestors, fifteen Soul Elders, and thirty late-stage or peak Soul Grandmasters.