Holy Ghost Cult Gathers at Mingde Hall

Ye Fan did not notice that he had already become prey in Myriad Souls Douluo's eyes.

At that moment, Jing Hongchen pulled him into Mingde Hall.

Along the way, Jing Hongchen looked Ye Fan over from head to toe. "Xiaofan, you've grown quite a bit in the past two months, but you've also gotten much thinner."

"Come, tell your teacher what you went through over these past two months."

Hearing this, Ye Fan could only tell Jing Hongchen the story he had prepared in advance, such as how the Auspicious Beast had independently unleashed a divine ability to protect him in a moment of crisis.

Afterward, he had kindly released the Auspicious Beast. To repay him, it arranged for the dying Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast, the Dark Demon Ape, to sacrifice itself to him.

Then, to evade pursuit by the Soul Beast clan, he had kept flying north until he reached the Far North.

And then he experienced...

Ye Fan gave a simple account of what had happened over the past two months, leaving Jing Hongchen constantly alarmed.

He secretly sighed, Xiaofan's luck truly is unparalleled.

He actually earned the favor of the Auspicious Beast.

Just as Jing Hongchen was pondering this, Ye Fan changed the subject. "Teacher, where are Brother Xiaoxiao and Sister Meng Meng?"

Jing Hongchen came back to his senses. "Them? Ever since you went missing, they've become obsessed. After returning to Mingde Hall, they shut themselves in their rooms and cultivated like mad every day."

"They only come out to see me when they need to collect pills from me."

At this point, Jing Hongchen did not know whether he ought to be happy or sad.

His grandson and granddaughter were clearly cultivating so diligently, yet he somehow felt like a lonely old man.

Upon hearing that both Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen were safe and sound, the weight in Ye Fan's heart finally lifted.

"Oh, right, Xiaofan, what level are you now?"

Speaking of cultivation, Jing Hongchen suddenly asked Ye Fan with curiosity.

Strangely enough, despite being a Titled Douluo, Jing Hongchen could not see through Ye Fan's true cultivation level.

Ye Fan did not hide it. "Teacher, I'm at the peak of Rank 39 now. I feel like I could break through to Rank 40 at any moment."

Upon hearing that, Jing Hongchen first responded calmly, "Rank 39."

Then he repeated himself, "What? Xiaofan, you're already Rank 39?"

"Did you take any pills during this time?"

Jing Hongchen scrutinized Ye Fan from head to toe, afraid that something might be wrong with his body.

Ye Fan hurriedly shook his head. "Teacher, it's all thanks to the Soul Beast Sacrifice."

"I see."

Only after hearing Ye Fan's explanation did Jing Hongchen feel much more at ease.

Then he took several bottles from his soul tool.

Ye Fan asked curiously, "Teacher, what are these?"

Seeing Ye Fan's curiosity, Jing Hongchen patiently pointed to the bottles before him and explained them one by one:

"This is a Soul Ascension Pill, a signature pill of the Sun Moon Empire. Taking one raises your soul power by at least one rank directly. A person may only take one in their lifetime; taking more permanently damages one's cultivation potential."

"This is a White Jade Pill. It contains gentle yet immense soul power and can rapidly raise one's soul power level. It is suitable for Soul Masters between Rank 30 and Rank 60 to improve their cultivation."

"This is a Spirit Spring Pill, produced by Sun Moon Heyi Hall. It is a long-lasting pill that slowly nourishes soul power for an entire month and can raise cultivation by three ranks in total. It is gentler than the Soul Ascension Pill and has fewer side effects. Both Xiaoxiao and Meng Meng have already taken it."

Then Jing Hongchen solemnly pointed at the final exquisite bottle and said gravely:

"There are two Profound Water Pills in here. They are top-grade water-element pills that cleanse the tendons and marrow, purify the physique, and greatly enhance soul power. Their medicinal effect is gentle and has no side effects, so you can take them without worry."

"The first pill has the strongest effect. It expels a great amount of impurities from the body, widens the meridians, and increases soul power. Low-rank Soul Masters can gain one to two ranks of soul power, and it permanently gives a slight boost to innate talent."

"The second pill's effects are directly halved. Its marrow-cleansing effect is weak, and its soul power enhancement is greatly reduced."

"Meng Meng and Xiaoxiao both gained three ranks after taking them. Remember to find time to take yours."

"I suggest taking the Profound Water Pill first to break through to Rank 40, then taking the other pills after reaching Rank 40."

Jing Hongchen even laid out the order in which Ye Fan should take them.

Hearing this, Ye Fan could not help opening his mouth wide.

"Teacher, these are too precious."

Jing Hongchen had given Ye Fan two treasures like the Profound Water Pill, and that was only because taking more would have no further effect.

Otherwise, Jing Hongchen would likely have fed Ye Fan until he was full.

Seeing Ye Fan repeatedly refuse, Jing Hongchen suddenly frowned and reprimanded him. "Xiaofan, this is a token of your teacher's affection."

"You may not be my biological child, but I regard you as one of my children, just like Meng Meng and Xiaoxiao."

"Whatever I give them, I will give you a share as well."

By then, Ye Fan's eyes were already filled with tears. Nothing more than sand in his eyes.

"Teacher, thank you. I definitely won't disappoint you. I'll cultivate diligently and, in the near future, lead the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy to defeat Shrek Academy and claim the throne of the continent's number one academy."

Ye Fan understood Jing Hongchen's intentions. He no longer refused and solemnly stored the precious pills in his soul tool.

He planned to take the Profound Water Pill as soon as he returned to his bedroom and strive to break through the Rank 40 barrier in one go.

Hearing Ye Fan's resolute promise, Jing Hongchen felt deeply gratified.

He smiled. "All right, Xiaofan, you've endured hardship and slept rough these past two months."

"Go back and get some proper rest first."

"Your teacher will speak with you tomorrow about what comes next."

"Okay!"

Ye Fan temporarily bade Jing Hongchen farewell.

He returned to his residence in Mingde Hall.

He did not know that a vengeful spirit had long been following him in the shadows, keeping watch over him.

Ye Fan hurried back to his private courtyard in Mingde Hall, swiftly locked the doors and windows, and activated a soul tool barrier that blocked detection.

For an extra layer of security, Ye Fan secretly opened the Undead Demiplane and had the White Bear King ready to respond to any sudden danger.

After doing all this, Ye Fan sat cross-legged on a jade cushion.

He took out a jade bottle, poured out a Profound Water Pill, and swallowed it. The gentle medicinal power instantly coursed through his entire body, while filth continuously seeped from his pores. The medicinal power kept nourishing his meridians, and in less than half an hour, the shackles of Rank 39 shattered with a boom. Ye Fan successfully stepped into Rank 40.

He did not stop circulating his soul power. According to Soul Master theory, cultivation would not manifest before absorbing the fourth Soul Ring, but soul power could continue accumulating and growing.

As the night deepened and the bright moon moved west until midnight, Ye Fan remained focused on digesting the lingering effects of the Profound Water Pill, silently consolidating his Rank 40 foundation without pausing for even a moment.

Myriad Souls Douluo's surveillance followed him like a shadow from the darkness.

After finding Ye Fan's residence, he did not linger personally. He left behind a vengeful spirit to watch Ye Fan while he went to find the Fourth Consecrator.

"Fourth Consecrator! That brat is currently in Mingde Hall, absorbing pills. Should we make our move now?"

"Wait! Minglei's reinforcements have not arrived yet."

"Yes!"

Myriad Souls Douluo thought that made sense as well, so he ultimately followed the Fourth Consecrator and waited in silence.

After a long while, Minglei Douluo arrived beside a group of black-clad people led by a man and a woman.

"Cult Leader, Deputy Cult Leader."

Upon seeing the newcomers, the Fourth Consecrator was the first to give them a slight nod in greeting.

"No need for formalities, Fourth Consecrator."

Myriad Souls Douluo then bowed to the two cult leaders. "This subordinate greets the two Cult Leaders."

"Mm, Myriad Souls, are you absolutely certain about this information?"

Cult Leader Zhongli Wu questioned Myriad Souls Douluo in a sinister tone.

"This subordinate will guarantee it with my head. The brat who stole our Soul Beast Embryo is inside Mingde Hall."

"Good."

"Feng Ling, take people and guard outside Mingde Hall later. Do not let even a mosquito fly out."

"Alright." The woman beside Zhongli Wu nodded and answered softly.

"Fourth Consecrator, Minglei, Myriad Souls, come with me!"

Then Zhongli Wu swept his hand forward!