Mountain Dragon King Torso Bone

"Lin Ming greets Your Highness the Crown Prince." Lin Ming gave a respectful yet unyielding salute. His voice was clear, and his gaze likewise fell upon Qian Renxue.

Although Qian Renxue had disguised herself as Xue Qinghe and altered her face and build with soul power, Lin Ming knew that beneath that seemingly refined male body hid a peerless beauty.

He stared at her intently, a trace of amusement and inquiry in his eyes, as though he wished to see through the disguise and glimpse her true appearance.

Qian Renxue felt somewhat uneasy beneath his gaze and secretly wondered, Why is he looking at me like that? Why does that gaze feel so strange?

Could he have noticed some flaw? Impossible. My Disguise Technique can even fool Titled Douluo. How could a Soul Elder in his thirties possibly see through it?

Just then, a crisp, pleasant system notification rang out in Lin Ming's mind, as melodious as heavenly music.

[Ding—Second female lead detected: Qian Renxue. Distance within reasonable range. Automatic bond successfully established!]

[Bond reward is being calculated...]

[Congratulations, Host, you have obtained: 100,000-Year Mountain Dragon King Torso Bone!]

Lin Ming's pupils abruptly contracted. A storm surged in his heart, and he nearly failed to keep his expression under control.

The Mountain Dragon King Torso Bone?!

That was the Soul Bone of the Mountain Dragon King, foremost of the Nine Dragon Kings! The Mountain Dragon King was known as the Lord of the Earth and possessed the power to control the land. Its defense was unmatched among the Nine Dragon Kings; it was said that even divine attacks could not pierce its scales.

A torso bone was also one of the most precious types of Soul Bone. It could grant a Soul Master immense boosts to defense and vitality, while greatly enhancing their physique and recovery ability.

The value of this Soul Bone was simply incalculable! Even a Titled Douluo would be green with envy and have their heart race at the sight of it!

Lin Ming forcibly suppressed his excitement and took several deep breaths before managing to keep his expression calm. Yet his gaze became even more fervent, as if two flames burned within his pupils, ready to see through Qian Renxue completely.

Qian Renxue felt uncomfortable all over under his gaze, growing ever more puzzled. What is wrong with him? Why does he keep staring at me? Even if this body of mine is rather handsome, there's no need to look at me like that, is there? Could he really have some unusual fetish?

Meng Shenji watched the two staring at each other, and his expression grew increasingly awkward as more beads of sweat formed on his forehead. Why were these two staring at each other nonstop the moment they met?

Their gazes were practically sparking! Why was the atmosphere so strange? He had lived for most of his life and met countless people, yet he had never seen anything like this.

Hiss... I never heard that His Highness the Crown Prince liked men... Could His Highness have a taste for men? No, no, no. His Highness never showed any inclination in that regard before... But these looks—something is definitely off...

The more Meng Shenji thought about it, the more wrong it felt. Unable to help himself, he coughed, breaking the strange silence.

"Cough, cough. Your Highness the Crown Prince, student Lin Ming has arrived. Is there anything you wish to say to him? If there is nothing else, may this subordinate take his leave first?"

Only then did Qian Renxue come back to her senses and realize that she had been somewhat improper just now. She withdrew her gaze, lifted her teacup, and took a light sip to conceal her embarrassment.

Then she set down the teacup and resumed her gentle, refined image as the crown prince. With a perfectly measured smile, she said, "Director Meng, you may leave first. I wish to speak with student Lin Ming alone."

"Yes, yes, yes. This subordinate shall take his leave." Meng Shenji felt as though he had received a pardon. He hurriedly bowed, then quickly left the reception room and closed the door behind him in one smooth motion.

Only Lin Ming and Qian Renxue remained in the reception room.

Sunlight streamed in through the window, forming a golden pillar of light between them.

The air carried a faint fragrance of tea, along with a barely perceptible sweet scent that only Lin Ming could detect—it belonged to Qian Renxue herself. Though she had concealed it with her Disguise Technique, Lin Ming's sense of smell had become exceptionally sharp after being tempered by Immortal Herbs, and he still caught that unusual trace of fragrance.

The two stared at each other, neither speaking first.