Level 8 Soul Guidance Storage Device

Chu Yan had long been aware of these implications; once you become the disciple of a powerful figure from a top-tier faction, others will inevitably categorize you as part of that faction, whether you acknowledge it or not.

"This disciple understands."

Seeing his serious demeanor, Leng Yaozhu stopped lecturing and gave a slight nod. Then, as if remembering something, her gaze swept over him and landed on his bare wrist.

"Do you have a soul guidance storage device on you?"

Chu Yan looked down at his wrist and waist, shook his head slightly, and said, "Not yet."

Although the Chu Clan possessed storage soul devices, most were for communal use. Personal items for children required custom orders, and since he had only awakened his martial soul a little over half a month ago, he hadn't had the chance to prepare one.

Leng Yaozhu said nothing more, merely raising her hand to press gently against the crimson bracelet on her left wrist.

A faint light shimmered across the surface of the bracelet, and an object appeared in her hand out of thin air.

It was a silver-gray bracelet, about two fingers wide, crafted from a lightweight alloy. Its surface was smooth and warm to the touch, devoid of any ornate decoration, save for a string of tiny serial numbers engraved on the inner side.

"Level 8 Soul Guidance Storage Device."

Leng Yaozhu handed the bracelet over, her tone casual and calm. "The capacity isn't massive, but it's enough for what you need at your current stage. Once you bind it to your soul, only you can open it. I've placed a few things inside; you can check them when you return."

Hearing this, Chu Yan accepted the bracelet with both hands and, without declining, immediately fastened it onto his right wrist.

The bracelet conformed to the curve of his wrist, feeling so light that he could barely sense its presence.

"Inject a sliver of soul power, and it will recognize you as its master," Leng Yaozhu reminded him from the side.

Chu Yan followed her instructions, channeling a tiny wisp of soul power into the sensor core on the inner side of the bracelet.

The surface of the silver-gray bracelet grew slightly warm, and the serial numbers flickered once before sinking into the metal, as if a piece of confirmation data had been read and then vanished.

A faint consciousness link extended from the bracelet, establishing a connection with his mind.

He sensed the size of the storage space and couldn't help but be stunned. Was this what his teacher called "not massive"?

It was a full three hundred cubic meters—roughly the size of a lecture hall from his previous life—which would be more than enough for him for a long time to come.

Within this space, he could sense several items.

Nine spiritual fruits of various shapes were piled in a corner, emitting faint energy fluctuations.

There were also several neatly cut soul guidance energy cores and a few small scrolls that appeared to be records of cultivation techniques.

"There are some spiritual fruits and resources suitable for your early-stage cultivation inside. Take your time with them when you get back. Remember to finish the fruits within three months; their efficacy is at its peak around one hundred days after being picked. Once that period passes, their medicinal value will diminish," Leng Yaozhu's voice came from the side. Her tone remained casual, but her instructions were meticulous.

Chu Yan withdrew his mental perception, looked up at Leng Yaozhu, and said earnestly, "Thank you, Teacher."

Setting aside the soul device itself, the six spiritual fruits inside were worth more than the Chu Clan's total income for two years, to say nothing of the two fruits specifically beneficial for cultivating mental power.

"Alright, enough with the thank-yous." Leng Yaozhu waved her hand, stood up, and smoothed her skirt. Her tone returned to the faint, composed ease she had displayed at the start of the banquet. "It's about time; I should be going. I have several arrangements this afternoon."

She walked to the door, pulled it open, and looked back at Chu Yan, who was still standing in the center of the reception room.

"Chu Yan."

"This disciple is here."

"Although the formal apprenticeship ceremony hasn't been held yet, you are my personal disciple. Do not let me down."

With that, she turned and walked out the door, her dark red skirt fluttering at the frame before disappearing into the depths of the corridor.

The sound of her footsteps gradually faded until they were no longer audible.

Chu Yan stood where he was, watching the door that had closed once more. He remained still for two or three breaths, then looked down at the silver-gray bracelet on his right wrist.

He let out a soft breath and walked slowly out of the reception room.

The corridor had returned to silence, save for the soft blue glow of the wall lamps.

Chu Yan retraced his steps, passing through the short corridor and returning to the banquet hall, which was now occupied only by staff.

Most of the tables and chairs had already been cleared away, and the remaining ones were being packed up by the workers.

Chu Yan did not linger in the hall, heading straight for the elevator and pressing the down button.

The elevator descended smoothly, moving much faster than it had on the way up, and reached the ground floor in a moment.

When he stepped out of the main entrance of the Spirit Pagoda, it was mid-afternoon, and the sun was blazing.

Chu Yan squinted, adjusting to the change in light, and then spotted the Chu Clan's dark gray soul guidance car still parked in the waiting area at the edge of the plaza.

Chu Yuntian was not sitting inside; he was standing beside the car, arms crossed, leaning against the door, gazing toward the main entrance of the Spirit Pagoda.

Seeing Chu Yan emerge, he lowered his arms and hurried over in a few long strides.

"Are you done talking?" he asked in a low voice, his eyes scanning his son quickly to confirm he was unharmed.

"Yes," Chu Yan nodded.

"Get in the car, we'll talk there." Chu Yuntian didn't press for details, pulling open the back door. After Chu Yan climbed in, he walked around to the other side and entered as well.

The door closed, the soul guidance engine hummed with a low vibration, and the car pulled smoothly out of the plaza, merging into the flow of traffic on the central avenue.

Chu Yuntian didn't rush to interrogate him. Only after the car had traveled two blocks did he turn his head to look at his son sitting beside him and ask, "How did it go?"

Chu Yan leaned back against the seat and, without beating around the bush, gave a brief account of the events.

"...She has accepted me as her personal disciple, though the formal apprenticeship ceremony will be deferred until I go to Shrek City in the future. She also gave me this token and this storage bracelet."

Chu Yan spoke, showing his father both the crimson Phoenix Token and the silver-gray bracelet on his right wrist.

Chu Yuntian's gaze lingered on the token for a full three or four seconds before shifting to the bracelet; he then leaned back into his chair and let out a long, weary breath.

"This trip was well worth it!" Chu Yuntian couldn't help but burst into laughter. He had always known his son possessed the potential to reach the limit!

"However, Yan'er, since Tower Master Leng said to keep this matter hidden, you must not tell anyone else. I will inform your mother, but don't mention it to Xu Xiaoyan or the others for now. After all, the implications are significant, and it is better if fewer people know." Chu Yuntian said to Chu Yan earnestly.

Leng Yaozhu was absolutely right; where there are factions, there is conflict, and where there is conflict, there are sacrifices. Not to mention those fellows from the Holy Spirit Cult—the sooner this was exposed, the more dangerous it would become.

"Understood." Chu Yan nodded. In truth, his experiences in his past life had made him disinclined to share important information with others.

If not for the sincere companionship of his parents and Xu Xiaoyan in this life, he wouldn't even have spoken of the Yan Divine Weapon's properties or the autonomous condensation of his Soul Ring.

By the time they returned to the Chu Clan, it was already two or three in the afternoon.

Chu Yuntian stepped out of the car at the entrance, gave Chu Yan a few more reminders to get some rest, and then headed toward his study.

"If you need anything, just tell the butler. If the spirit fruits in your Silver Soul Guidance Bracelet are difficult to store, you can put them in the Constant Temperature Storage Room in the manor."

"Understood, Father."

Chu Yan replied, watching his father's figure disappear around the corner of the corridor before turning to walk toward his own courtyard.

Back in his room, he closed the door and sat down at his desk.

He then removed the bracelet from his wrist, examined it in his palm for a moment, and injected his soul power, extending his consciousness into it.

A moment later, a blue-purple fruit the size of a fist appeared in his hand.

Millennium Spirit Fruit: Deep Orchid Spirit-Focusing Fruit.