Seeing that the Symbiotic Blood Lotus had been successfully brainwashed, Meng Xuanji no longer had to worry about being backfired on by it—at least for the time being.
"By the way, there's one more thing. Now that you've taken root in my Sea of Consciousness, what do you eat? My Soul Power? My mental strength? Or... my life force?"
Seeing Meng Xuanji's gaze grow more and more dangerous, the Symbiotic Blood Lotus hurried to explain.
"No, no, it's not that bad. How could I possibly hurt you, Master? I'm a Soul Beast that keeps its promises."
"My food is the nutrients you take in every day. Only occasionally do I absorb a little Soul Power and mental strength to strengthen myself. I would never dare touch your life force."
As if. The Symbiotic Blood Lotus wasn't stupid. It had finally hitched a ride on the train to godhood. How could it possibly block its own path forward?
Although it had indeed devoured its contractors' life essence in the past, Meng Xuanji could be the exception. The price was that it needed far more nourishment in other areas. For example, it had a huge appetite.
"That's good."
Meng Xuanji glanced around at the books in the Forbidden Book Area. The auras beneath their seals had grown slightly restless because of the Symbiotic Blood Lotus's sacrifice.
It seemed they wanted to be free, too.
"Forget it. I've seen enough for today. I can come back another time."
The Symbiotic Blood Lotus had indeed left Meng Xuanji with quite a bit of psychological trauma. Until he became strong enough, he had no choice but to explore this area cautiously.
Before long, Meng Xuanji crossed the long tunnel and reached the library on the surface. When he breathed in the fresh air again, he felt a wave of relief.
"Ha! Sunlight suits me better! This warm feeling is so much more comfortable than the ice cave down there."
"So this is what freedom feels like? Phew! That feels great!"
Basking in the free sunlight, the Symbiotic Blood Lotus couldn't help exclaiming.
If it had known that a sacrifice would let it leave that damned place in the Forbidden Book Area, it wouldn't have attacked Meng Xuanji.
The Forbidden Book Area had been infiltrated more than once by Evil Soul Masters with impressive skills, but not a single one had ever made it out alive. In the end, they all became nourishment for various forbidden items.
Even if they hadn't died at the hands of a forbidden item, they would have been tainted by forbidden auras and trapped in the tunnel forever. In the end, the Forbidden Book Area, like some abyssal beast, would have devoured them bit by bit.
It was only because Meng Xuanji had the Angel Gold Key that he was able to take the Symbiotic Blood Lotus out of that hellish place underground.
Grr~
So hungry.
The Symbiotic Blood Lotus had now taken root in Meng Xuanji's Sea of Consciousness and begun sharing the nutrients inside his body.
For a glutton that hadn't had a proper meal in nearly a hundred years, the Symbiotic Blood Lotus was already showing restraint by not draining Meng Xuanji's body of all its nutrients.
"Master, I'm hungry too. Hungry, hungry. Food, food."
"Enough, I know. I'll take you to the cafeteria."
Meng Xuanji quickened his pace. He didn't want this glutton to torment him to death. Hunger was painful and exhausting—it was simply unbearable.
After leaving the library, Meng Xuanji hurried toward the cafeteria, following the direction of the cooking smoke.
As soon as he stepped inside, the rich aroma of food hit him in the face, nearly drawing the Symbiotic Blood Lotus's soul right out of its body.
"Food! It's food! Is it finally time to eat?"
The Symbiotic Blood Lotus was so hungry it was about to lose its mind. Fork in hand, it could barely stop itself from digging in.
The cafeteria was already full, and Xie Yue and Hu Liena were there, too.
Everyone except Hu Liena immediately lowered their heads and wolfed down their food when they saw Meng Xuanji, pretending they hadn't noticed him.
The sight of Meng Xuanji single-handedly taking down the Three Pure Ones Hall yesterday was still fresh in everyone's minds. Nobody had a Soul Ring yet, and with his Dark Blue Silver Emperor, Meng Xuanji was practically in a whole different league.
Heh, just kidding. They couldn't beat him even if they had Soul Rings.
"Meng Xuanji, you're here!"
"Wait, Hu Liena!"
Xie Yue tried to call out to his younger sister in a low voice, but Hu Liena moved too quickly. He didn't dare make too much of a fuss, so he could only watch as she walked toward Meng Xuanji.
"This is bad."
Xie Yue thought to himself.
Meng Xuanji had said some pretty shameless things about Hu Liena in the Three Pure Ones Hall just last night. Would he really do something to his sister?
Seeing the look of admiration on Hu Liena's face, Xie Yue had a vague premonition that his younger sister had already been won over.
"Thank you for saving me last night. This is a token of my gratitude. I hope you like it."
Hu Liena pulled a silver ring from her pocket.
"This is a Storage Soul Tool with a hundred cubic meters of storage space. I hope you like it."
Hu Liena's warm smile looked even more beautiful and captivating in the sunlight. She was like a celestial maiden descended from heaven, gentle yet elegant.
"Thank you."
Meng Xuanji accepted the ring. He did indeed need a spare Storage Soul Tool.
The ring Bibi Dong had given him could serve as the one he used openly. This one could hold little things he didn't want others to see.
Grr~
Meng Xuanji's stomach rumbled at the worst possible moment.
"Oh, you must be hungry now. Come with me. I'll get you something to eat."
Hu Liena led Meng Xuanji to the seat where she had been sitting. The others scattered as if avoiding a plague god, and the already somewhat crowded table suddenly grew spacious.
"Huh? Everyone seems really afraid of you."
"Maybe it's because of my Martial Soul. You know how people tend to see things through colored glasses."
"Oh, I guess so. But don't worry. I think you're a good person, and I believe you'll become a righteous Soul Master."
Hu Liena patted her chest, her innocent, carefree smile full of confidence.
She believed more than anyone that Meng Xuanji would become a good person—even more than Meng Xuanji himself did.
"Thank you."
Meng Xuanji thanked her sincerely.
"Then sit here for a bit. I'll get you some staple food. If you're too hungry to wait, drink my porridge first. It's cooled down now, and I haven't had a single sip."
After saying that, Hu Liena left her seat to get food for Meng Xuanji.
Meng Xuanji didn't refuse. If he didn't eat soon, the Symbiotic Blood Lotus would get so hungry it would start eating people.
Gulp, gulp.
Meng Xuanji picked up the bowl and gulped down the porridge, then even licked the remaining bits from the corners of his mouth.
"I'm still hungry."
Meng Xuanji grabbed a steamed bun from the table and stuffed it into his mouth. He picked up his cup, gulped down some water, and swallowed it all in just a few bites.
Xie Yue watched Meng Xuanji wolfing down food as if he'd seen a ghost. The other boy's appetite was like that of a young Ferocious Beast!
In just two minutes, he had eaten enough food for ten people!
"This guy's appetite is that huge?"
Xie Yue swore he had never seen anyone his age eat so much.
Not one person.
Before you continue