Using a ten thousand year Soul Bone as a paperweight, smeared with sheep fat

The floor tiles of Old Huang's mutton restaurant were covered with black, oily mud accumulated over the years.

Ning Fengzhi, the dignified head of one of the Upper Three Sects, a man who usually complained about uneven ground when walking, suddenly plopped down on the black, muddy ground and couldn't get up for a long time. He stared at the nine-story glazed pagoda spinning above his daughter's head, looking completely lost, his face covered in tears and snot, utterly devoid of the dignity of a sect leader.

"Alright, stop with your cat pee."

Ling Yun tapped the large, rough porcelain bowl twice with his bamboo chopsticks, making a loud clanging sound that jolted Ning Fengzhi back to reality, "I already said, if you pay Old Huang for this hot pot meal, we'll be even."

Ning Fengzhi forcefully pulled Chen Xin up from the ground; her legs were still trembling.

He wiped his face haphazardly with his sleeve, gave Ling Yun a wry smile, and bowed. "Captain Ling, are you making fun of me? The Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda is the foundation that my Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect has risked their lives for generations to obtain. You're offering such a great favor in exchange for a bowl of Lamb Soup worth a few dozen copper coins?"

"If Ning really pays for this meal and leaves, tomorrow I'll just take down the signboard of my Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and chop it up for firewood."

Ning Fengzhi, being a cunning and shrewd man, was quick-witted. He took a step forward, lowered his voice, and spoke with unwavering obsequiousness, "Captain Ling, if you ever need anything from my Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect School in the future, just say the word, and I, Ning, will go through fire and water without hesitation!"

"Going through fire and water is unnecessary; I find it too hot."

Ling Yun rolled his eyes, reached into his pocket, pulled out something like a rag or handkerchief, and threw it across the table without even looking at it.

Clang--!

The thing landed squarely in the broken dish that had just contained the sesame paste, splashing a ring of sticky, yellowish-brown sauce.

Ning Fengzhi and Chen Xin looked down and their eyes nearly popped out of their sockets!

It was a skull gleaming with a deep blue light! The spiritual pressure emanating from it forced the billowing white steam in the copper pot back three feet!

The Spirit Hall Pope's most prized possession— the Spirit Condensation Wisdom Skull!

This little thing, covered in half a leek blossom and a large clump of mutton fat and sesame paste, lay greasy on the broken table.

"This... this... this..." Ning Fengzhi's throat was dry, and he could barely speak.

"I said it a few days ago at the entrance of the Papal Hall," Ling Yun said, picking his teeth with a wooden skewer and glancing at him sideways. "This skull looks pretty sharp. I'll take it back and use it as a paperweight in your study to weigh down the documents on your desk. I'm a man of my word; if I said I'd give it to you, I'll give it to you."

Ning Fengzhi gasped, not daring to reach for it, but instead taking a half step back.

It's burning hot!

This isn't Soul Bone! This is a death warrant that could drag the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect School into an abyss! Taking this bone is like slapping Bibi Dong of the Spirit Hall across the face twice. If word gets out, do you think those mad dogs of the Spirit Hall will let the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect off the hook?

"What? You think your hands are dirty from the mutton fat?"

Ling Yun spread his legs, rested his arms on his knees, and stared intently at Ning Fengzhi, his gaze scraping across Ning Fengzhi's face like a boning knife. "Old Ning, there's no such thing as a free lunch. Your daughter ate it all, and you even leveled up. You're taking this bone, but if the Spirit Hall comes looking for trouble with me later..."

Ling Yun gave a thumbs-up and gestured behind him. "You, and this old man next to you who's playing with a sword, have to stand in the front row and take the blows for me."

"That's called being beholden to someone who takes a bribe. Do you understand?"

Blatant and outrageous Bind!

Yellow sweat trickled down Ning Fengzhi's face. He glanced at his daughter Ning Rongrong, then at the coveted Ten Thousand Year Soul Bone on the table, and gritted his teeth.

Fortune favors the bold! Since we're already on this dangerous path, we might as well grit our teeth and go all the way!

"Captain Ling's reward, I, Ning, accept!" Ning Fengzhi grabbed the Soul Bone covered in sesame paste, wiped it haphazardly on his sleeve, and stuffed it tightly into his robes. His eyes turned dark and cold. "If the Spirit Hall dares to bare its teeth, the sword bones of my Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect School are not made of clay!"

As they were talking, the dilapidated wooden door outside the restaurant was suddenly pushed open with a "bang".

The once noisy alleyway outside was now deathly quiet.

Seven or eight imperial guards in golden armor lined up on both sides with their swords at their waists, driving the candied hawthorn vendor and the shoe repairman away to within ten paces.

A young man wearing a bright yellow silk robe stepped over the broken threshold and entered.

Prince Xue Qinghe.

This noble and privileged prince is in for a rough time today. The 180 tables of imperial banquet in the palace have long since gone cold, and the emperor is dozing off on his dragon throne while waiting in the Xue Ye. As the crown prince, he has no choice but to bite the bullet and lead his men to search the streets. Finally, following the scent, they find their way into this shabby alley. As soon as they enter, a strong smell of mutton mixed with the sour stench of cheap liquor hits them right in the head.

Xue Qinghe's gentle face twitched twice, and a surge of nausea welled up deep in his eyes.

She possessed Six-Winged Angel Martial Soul and was born with an extremely severe case of mysophobia. In the imperial palace, she would only dare to step on any place after fumigating it with sandalwood three times. The greasy mud on the floor of this fly restaurant was so slippery that someone could fall and die, and the rotten cabbage leaves under the table were mixed with the smell of dog urine. It was truly going to kill her.

"Captain Ling, we've finally found you!"

Xue Qinghe forced back the bitterness rising in his throat and managed a forced, amicable smile on his fair face, "Father has prepared a grand banquet in the palace, specifically to welcome the heroes' triumphant return. Why is Captain Ling leading everyone to wait here... in this shabby little shop?"

Ling Yun remained seated, not even lifting his buttocks.

With a flick of his toe, he kicked a greasy, long bench next to him with a thud right in front of Xue Qinghe.

"A meal with grand formalities and an extravagant atmosphere is disgusting."

Ling Yun raised his chin. "Since Your Highness has come all this way, don't stand on ceremony. Sit down and have a bite to eat."

Xue Qinghe stared at the oiled bench covered in black mold, his hands tightly tucked into his sleeves, unable to move.

"Brother Yun has spoken, Your Highness, please have a seat!"

Ma Hongjun, that fat guy, was the most clueless, or rather, he did it on purpose. He grabbed a large, chipped bowl, scooped a whole bowl full of mostly fatty mutton from the copper pot, casually added a large spoonful of bright red chili oil, and then threw in a handful of minced raw garlic and cilantro rings.

With a loud crash, the large bowl slammed heavily onto the table in front of Xue Qinghe, splashing soup everywhere.

"Your Highness, eat it while it's hot! Eating more garlic can prevent strokes!" Ma Hongjun grinned, his mouth smeared with sesame paste.

Xue Qinghe stared at the bowl of rotten meat soup, which was covered with a thick layer of red oil and had a pungent garlic smell that seemed to pierce his brain. He felt nauseous and his throat tightened.

The imperial guards nearby could no longer stand it. They gripped their sword hilts and shouted, "Insolence! How can His Highness the Crown Prince, a man of noble birth, eat such filthy scraps!"

"If you think it's filthy, then get out and starve!"

Ling Yun rolled his eyes, his words sharp enough to choke someone. "If you enter this table, you have to eat here. Not eating here is disrespecting me."

Xue Qinghe's eyes twitched.

She cursed Ling Yun's ancestors for eighteen generations in her mind. But for now, in order to win over this freak with bizarre combat power, she could only Crunch her teeth and swallow her anger.

" With Captain Ling's kind invitation, Qinghe dares not refuse."

Xue Qinghe forced himself to sit down on the greasy bench, picked up the bamboo chopsticks that had been chewed by countless people, picked up a piece of fatty mutton with garlic bits on it, held his breath, stuffed it into his mouth, and swallowed it whole.

"That's more like it."

Ling Yun suddenly reached out his greasy hand, which had just been holding a lamb bone, and slapped Xue Qinghe on the shoulder without any hesitation!

Xue Qinghe felt a chill run down his spine, a tingling sensation spreading from the top of his head to his heels!

Ling Yun's hand slid down her shoulder and squeezed it, his fingertips rubbing heavily against the thin brocade fabric twice, before he chuckled in a rough voice:

"Your Highness, your skin is even more luscious than a woman's. I saw Hu Liena, the Saintess of the Spirit Hall, on the Arena, and I doubt she has a figure as smooth as yours. What kind of tonics do you eat in the palace to maintain this? You should prescribe some for my brothers too."

Boom!

It was as if a muffled thunderclap had exploded in Xue Qinghe's mind!

She had disguised herself as a man for over a decade, and even the Xue Ye hadn't noticed a single flaw. But Ling Yun's seemingly casual gesture and offhand remark were like a rusty iron knife, piercing straight through her facade!

He figured it out?! He knew I was a woman?! And he even compared me to Hu Liena?!

Cold sweat instantly soaked through Xue Qinghe's inner garment, piercing her back. She Sheer Force to remain calm and forced a dry laugh as she brushed Ling Yun's greasy hand away, "Captain Ling, you jest. Qinghe has simply been frail since childhood and rarely sees the sun. Besides inviting you all to the banquet, I have another important matter to discuss today."

She dared not let Ling Yun touch her again, and quickly brought up the important matter:

"Father has issued a decree to designate three hundred acres of prime land within the Royal Forest Garden specifically for the construction of the continent's top-of-the-line simulation field for the Blue Tyrant Academy. From now on, all of Blue Tyrant's food, drink, and shelter will be provided by the national treasury. Upon graduation, all of you will be granted the rank of general with real power. Captain Ling, the Empire has truly emptied its coffers."

With their vast wealth and influence, they bestowed official titles and made promises, treating the entire Blue Tyrant team like royalty.

Flender, listening nearby, was Alto Mare drooling, rubbing his hands together, waiting for Ling Yun to nod in gratitude.

Ke Ling Yun picked up a bamboo skewer and slowly picked the bits of meat out of her back molars.

With a "pui" sound, he spat the scraps of meat he had picked out onto the muddy ground.

"Forget it."

Ling Yun propped himself up on the edge of the table, stretched out a big yawn, and his joints cracked all over.

Not only did he ignore Xue Qinghe's comment, but he also threw out a ridiculous remark that left everyone in the room speechless:

"Playing this stupid competition, playing house with a bunch of immature kids, I'm tired of it."

The entire hall fell silent.

Xue Qinghe was stunned, Ning Fengzhi's teacup stopped in mid-air, Flender's mouth was wide open, drooling without Frisk.

"Boss, what... what did you say?" Tai Long scratched his bald head, not understanding.

Ling Yun put his hands in his pockets and glanced at Dai Mubai, Ma Hongjun, Zhu Zhuqing, and Oscar at the table.

The lazy air on his face vanished completely, replaced by a ferocious look that made one's teeth ache.

"I'm saying, I'm not staying at this lousy academy anymore. My days of being a hothouse flower in Heaven Dou City, Arenas for everyone to watch, are over."

Ling Yun kicked the empty wine jar in front of him, shattering it. The broken shards of pottery struck the wall with a piercing sound.

"Boss Dai, Fatty, Zhu Zhuqing, Xiao Ao."

"Go back tonight and pack a few durable, rough clothes. Tomorrow at daybreak, come with me."

Dai Mubai suddenly stood up, a wicked Evil Fire in his eyes. "Brother Yun, where are we going?!"

"Go to that filthy, blood-soaked place, where dead bodies are everywhere."

Ling Yun grinned, his gleaming white teeth gleaming fiercely under the oil lamp. "What kind of skill is it to play by the rules here? I'll take you to rob real gold and silver, to seize territory, to crush all the most despised scum on the entire continent under my feet!"

"Those who are afraid of death, stay in Heaven Dou City tomorrow and live a peaceful life as your viscounts, serving as watchdogs for the royal family. Those who aren't afraid of death, see you outside the West Gate tomorrow morning."

That guy just flipped the table and dropped out of school!

Flender's eyes turned red with anxiety. He rushed forward and grabbed Ling Yun's arm, exclaiming, "My little darling! Are you crazy?! You're giving up a bright future to become Mountain King?! Our Blue Tyrant's reputation has just been established!"

Ling Yun shoved Flender aside and turned to walk out.

Without a second thought, Xiao Wu threw down her chopsticks and followed Ling Yun closely, as if she would jump off a cliff if Ling Yun did.

Ma Hongjun swallowed the mutton in his mouth with force, patted his round belly, grabbed his short jacket, and yelled, "Brother Yun, wait for me! I'm really itching to start this murder and robbery business!"

Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with bloodthirsty pleasure. Without another word, they followed.

Oscar glanced at the stunned Ning Rongrong, gritted his teeth, Stomping Tantrum, and dashed out as well.

Xue Qinghe sat on the black, oily bench, watching the table of people who had all left in a flash, completely dumbfounded.

Her father had stayed up all night preparing the bestowal of official titles and promises, and the assassination plots from the Spirit Hall had all been thwarted by this kid. He played by no rules, directly overturning this grand scheme of the world and going off to become a living Yama himself!

Ling Yun walked to the broken threshold and stopped.

Without turning his head, he tossed a shiny little toy behind him.

With a crisp "clang," a Silver Soul Coin fell next to the bowl of red oil soup in front of Xue Qinghe.

"Your Highness, this mutton soup is on me. The money's on the table, please enjoy."

The night wind rushed into the dilapidated alley, and those menacing figures had long since disappeared into the shadows.