Arrival in Star Luo City

Traveling by carriage, then on foot, then by carriage again.

In this semi-feudal era, every method of travel was this primitive. It really left Jiang Bai, a modern man, deeply unaccustomed to it.

"When are you going to invent cars for me already?!"

Inside the carriage, Jiang Bai leaned against the wall, swaying with its bumps and jolts. Xue Ying was curled up in his arms, sleeping soundly.

If there were no cars, even a little electric scooter would do!

After getting out of the carriage, Jiang Bai looked over the surrounding terrain.

Mm, this was the town he had visited last time.

Since it was a familiar place, Jiang Bai knew the way. Following his memories from his previous trip to Star Luo City, he paid the entrance fee at the city gate.

Following the bustling crowd before the gates, Jiang Bai passed through the towering entrance and finally arrived in Star Luo City proper.

As he watched the ever-increasing flow of people around him, he saw countless nobles and commoners alike—far more than when he had come here last time.

The number of soul masters was also who knew how many times greater than before.

That was understandable, though. The Soul Fighting Tournament was about to begin, and people from other countries would be coming to watch as well.

After arriving in Star Luo City, Jiang Bai first asked around and found the Nine Treasure Hotel operated by the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

A hotel run by an organization on the scale of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was certainly one of the highest-class, highest-quality establishments.

It was surely also one of the most expensive.

"Where did this poor brat come from? You dare—Lord Soul Master, this way, please."

The face-slapping scene ended before it could even begin. The moment the doorman saw Jiang Bai's three soul rings and the VIP card Ning Tian had given him, he immediately caved.

The VIP card personally bestowed by Ning Tian, the young sect master of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, granted free lodging and basic meals at the sect's hotels, as well as a twenty percent discount on purchases.

"This was given to me by your young sect master Ning Tian. Don't try to cheat me."

Jiang Bai acted rather exaggeratedly, showing it off and strutting about.

His purpose was to let Ning Tian know he was here, lest she be unable to find him. Jiang Bai could only reluctantly make a spectacle of himself.

When the doorman heard that it had been given by the young sect master, cold sweat immediately ran down his back.

No, what exactly had he just done?

After settling Jiang Bai in the VIP lounge, the doorman immediately went to find the hotel manager.

Upon hearing that the card had been given by the young sect master, the manager became even more respectful.

He accepted the card with both hands and carefully inspected its markings. After confirming it was genuine, the smile on his face changed from professional to sincere. He bent even lower, then personally led Jiang Bai through the lobby to the elevator and pressed the button for the top floor.

The nearby attendants found it quite novel to see their manager acting like such a sycophant.

Before long, an attendant brought over a black keycard.

A black keycard was also the highest-grade keycard at the Nine Treasure Hotel. Rumor had it that there were only a dozen or so in the entire hotel, normally used only by people of extremely high status.

"Thank you."

After thanking them, Jiang Bai went to take a look at his room.

It was his first time staying at such an expensive hotel.

The room was certainly better than those in the Far North, and of course, better than the ones at Shrek Academy as well.

For the remaining time, Jiang Bai ate, drank, played, and cultivated. There was plenty of delicious food in Star Luo City; Jiang Bai spent several days eating and still had not finished even one street.

Jiang Bai had already registered his name at the Nine Treasure Hotel. As long as Ning Tian appeared in Star Luo City, she would definitely receive news of him.

That way, Ning Tian could reasonably come looking for him.

And he could reasonably join the reserve team.

At the Star Luo City Royal Hotel, everyone had just put down their luggage. For some unknown reason, every member of the reserve team wore a trace of exhaustion on their faces.

Wang Yan, especially, looked terrible.

During this inspection mission, all the main team members had been severely injured, and Dai Yueheng had died. What were they supposed to do now?! Xuan Zi, what the hell were you doing?!

Wang Yan remained expressionless, but inwardly, he continuously cursed Xuan Zi, that ninety-eighth-rank Titled Douluo.

After cursing him out, Wang Yan began repeatedly calculating the future of this Soul Fighting Tournament in his mind.

But no matter how he looked at it or thought about it, this was a guaranteed loss!

The teams outside were almost all at the Soul Ancestor level. Shrek only had the reserve team capable of fighting now, while all the official team members needed treatment.

How could they win?

No, he had to stabilize the reserve team. Fortunately, Elder Xuan had already gone back to call for reinforcements. He absolutely had to steady them now. Shrek's honor could not be ruined in his hands.

Before everyone returned to their rooms, Wang Yan held a small meeting to reassure them.

The counseling session ended.

"Senior Brother Bei Bei, I'll sleep at your place tonight."

As they dispersed, Huo Yuhao suddenly said to Bei Bei.

"Alright. Go back and pack your blanket, then come over."

Bei Bei thought that fighting Death's Emissary had probably left Yuhao with some psychological trauma. He should take good care of him.

Besides, that was what he, as the senior brother, should have been doing in the first place.

Nearby, Wang Dong, who had originally planned to share a room with Huo Yuhao tonight, froze.

What? Shouldn't he be coming over to sleep on my floor?

Watching Bei Bei and Huo Yuhao walk farther and farther away, Wang Dong looked as though she wanted to say something, but in the end, she said nothing.

"Yuhao, relax. Don't put too much pressure on yourself over the competition. You still have Sanshi and me."

Inside the room, Bei Bei spoke. Although he had no idea what to do either, he still had to set an example for his junior brother.

"I'm fine."

Huo Yuhao shook his head. He did not care about this battle or anything else. There was only one thought in his mind.

Why? Why?

Why was it you?

Seeing Huo Yuhao's despondent, repressed expression, Bei Bei had no solution either. He merely patted Huo Yuhao on the shoulder afterward.

For some reason, Huo Yuhao had become like this after he and Wang Dong unleashed their Martial Soul Fusion Skill.

Still, it seemed that the two of them had not used their Martial Soul Fusion Skill in a long time.

Bei Bei suddenly recalled that Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong indeed had not used their Martial Soul Fusion Skill for a long time. They had not used it since the previous selection meeting.

Huo Yuhao's sea of consciousness...

Several figures floated in midair. Huo Yuhao's spiritual body stood at the front, gazing calmly ahead.

Beside him was the gray bead formed by Electrolux. The Ice Empress lay not far away, her six long legs slightly curled, while Tian Meng was curled into a ball.

"I never expected that this Martial Soul Fusion was the work of a god."

Huo Yuhao's spiritual body, the gray bead formed by Electrolux, the Ice Empress, and Tian Meng all stared at the dark-red trace of power trapped by the Ice God's divine seat.

"Taking advantage of the martial souls merging during the release of a Martial Soul Fusion Skill to stuff power inside... Heh, this Asura God truly is no good person."

The Ice Empress sneered. No matter how she looked at it, using such underhanded means to bring Huo Yuhao under his command proved that the Asura God was definitely no good thing.

"..."