Lan Fozu, Clear-Eyed as Ever

A few days later, the day of their agreed reunion with Lan Fei arrived.

Su Ming and Lan Fozu arrived early at the place they had agreed upon and waited for Lan Fei to join them.

This beach was far from any inhabited area and desolate beyond measure. No one ever came here under normal circumstances.

Especially now that it was night, it was even less likely that anyone else would come.

"Young Master Su Ming, I, Lan Fei, have captured the Mirage Rain Phantom Mother for you."

Violent waves surged across the distant horizon, though Lan Fei himself had yet to appear.

However, his triumphant voice reached Su Ming and Lan Fozu before he did.

Su Ming possessed the ability Listening to the Sound of All Things, while Lan Fozu herself was a Sea Soul Beast in human form, so she could naturally understand and communicate with him with ease.

Hearing this, Su Ming was overjoyed and quickly replied, "Lan Fei, you've done me a huge favor!"

Of course Su Ming was delighted. Since Lan Fei had brought the Mirage Rain Phantom Mother to him, he no longer needed to make a trip out to sea himself.

Not only had it saved him time and effort, but it also spared him from taking greater risks.

Why hadn't Lan Fei ever been this proactive before?

Lan Fozu, however, was fuming inside when she heard Lan Fei's words.

She had originally imagined that if Lan Fei still failed to find it this time, she and Su Ming could continue enjoying their undisturbed world for two.

Even if he had found it, at least they could have kept the part where the two of them went out to sea together.

As for danger, with Lan Fozu around, there was no way that could happen.

That was precisely why Lan Fozu had been so relaxed and casual about going out to sea with Su Ming to hunt Spirit Rings.

After all, with her protecting him the entire way, Brother Su Ming only needed to enjoy a relaxing "vacation" with her.

And now, it was all gone in an instant.

How could Lan Fozu not feel upset?

But in the next moment, Lan Fozu looked at Su Ming beside her with utter admiration and congratulated him.

"Brother, congratulations!"

"Now your third Spirit Ring has come right to your doorstep without you ever needing to leave home."

"Is this what the books call 'good fortune favors the virtuous'?!"

After saying that, she blinked her large eyes, looking exactly like an adoring little fangirl.

It was actually quite easy to understand.

Although she felt upset and regretful that she could not have more time alone with Su Ming,

Lan Fozu still knew very clearly what mattered most and what mattered less.

So, she was sincerely happy for Su Ming that he could so easily obtain a Ten Thousand Year third Spirit Ring.

Even if we can't spend more time alone together, I can always change my approach.

You think that can stump me? Hmph, hmph.

Lan Fozu thought smugly to herself.

She did not want to become the kind of woman who only held him back.

Love alone was not enough.

Lan Fozu wanted to become indispensable support for Su Ming, a truly capable wife.

Only then could she stand out among all her rivals and become the one and only woman by Su Ming's side.

When it came to such matters, Lan Fozu was remarkably clear-headed.

"I really have to thank Lan Fei. If it weren't for him, my plan to find and absorb my third Spirit Ring wouldn't have gone so smoothly."

Su Ming sighed inwardly. Having such an assistant in the ocean truly saved him worry and effort, and made things much safer.

Previously, he could use Listening to the Sound of All Things to ask Xiao Bai and even more Sea Soul Beasts to help him.

They were fine for spreading messages, but as true practical support, they were certainly no match for Lan Fei.

At the same time, Lan Fei's enormous figure emerged from the sea and came to a steady stop at the edge of the beach.

Then, with a pull of his tentacle, he dragged over the Mirage Rain Phantom Mother, which had been coiled into a ball, and placed her before Su Ming and Lan Fozu.

"Little Princess, Young Master Su Ming, I, Lan Fei, am quite useful, aren't I?" Only after finishing all this did Lan Fei begin claiming credit.

He then asked Su Ming, "Young Master Su Ming, is the age right?"

"Perfect," Su Ming replied succinctly.

A Mirage Rain Phantom Mother that was fifteen to sixteen thousand years old was precisely the best choice for his third Spirit Ring.

"Brother, hurry and absorb the Spirit Ring."

"I can't wait to see your third Spirit Ring." Lan Fozu urged him. "Lan Fei and I will stand guard for you."

"Alright." Su Ming nodded.

He immediately sat cross-legged on the ground.

With a gentle activation of his power, a round water droplet appeared in the air.

The next instant, the droplet shot forth and pierced straight through the Mirage Rain Phantom Mother's body, ending her life.

It was so fast and pierced so cleanly that there was not the slightest pain. Instead, it freed the Mirage Rain Phantom Mother, who was still poisoned, from her suffering.

A short while later, a black Spirit Ring emerged above her corpse.

Seeing this, Su Ming no longer hesitated. He immediately activated his Soul Power and drew over the freshly formed Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring.

As he absorbed the Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring, streams of black energy continuously surged into Su Ming's body.

In Su Ming's mind, the lingering resentment left behind by the dead Mirage Rain Phantom Mother emerged as well.

Nothing but the wailing of the weak. Utterly useless!

Disdain flashed through Su Ming's heart. This so-called mental shock, along with the remnant soul of resentment, had no effect on him whatsoever.

How could his Mental Sea be shaken by the resentful remnant soul of a mere ten-thousand-year soul beast?

The moment it crashed into it, it vanished completely into smoke.

Given Su Ming's current physical condition and mental state, absorbing a Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring required hardly any effort at all.

Thus, it was not long before he finished absorbing the Spirit Ring and officially advanced to the rank of Soul Elder.

"Whew..."

Feeling the power growing within him, Su Ming was thoroughly satisfied.

And the ability granted by his third soul skill was exactly what he needed.

"Brother, now that you've finished absorbing the Spirit Ring, let's head back early."

The moment Su Ming opened his eyes, Lan Fozu hurried over to him.

"Alright." Su Ming nodded, but then he remembered something.

He subconsciously asked, "By the way, Little Lan, where's Lan Fei?"

"Well, since Lan Fei had already finished his task, I told him to head back early." Lan Fozu explained with a smile.

While chatting with Lan Fei just now, she had happened to learn some new information.

Realizing that she could arrange a grand gift for her brother, Lan Fozu hurriedly urged Lan Fei to leave and set a time for their next meeting.

Of course, Lan Fozu would not tell Su Ming any of this.

After all, if a surprise was revealed beforehand, it would not have the same effect.