Guarding against the Holy Spirit Cult, a bounty for the Spirit Devouring Fierce Blade, and a princess who loved to act (4k)

"Tianjun, Tianjun, why did you go to the Far North alone? Don't you trust me?"

When Yu Tianjun returned to the Heavenly Dragon Sect, before he could ask about Yu Yuanjue, Ling Luochen caught him red-handed, having transformed into an anxious little Ling.

"I didn't! The person who came looking for me this time was just too unusual. They were decisive and powerful, and whisked me off to the Far North as soon as we reached an agreement."

Ling Luochen's generous, warm bosom pressed tightly against his face. Yu Tianjun tried to escape her embrace, but failed. He barely managed two breaths of fresh air before she pushed him back in.

Too little strength wouldn't move her; too much would be hard to control.

As a well-behaved little brother, Yu Tianjun chose to let Ling Luochen hold him tight. He gently wiped the shimmering tears beneath her long lashes with a handkerchief, his low voice carrying a magnetic warmth.

"Don't cry, don't cry. I'm back now, aren't I? It was an unusual situation, really. I never expected to meet a client like that."

Little Ling didn't care. Little Ling buried her face and sobbed /(ㄒoㄒ)/~~!

"We had an agreement! Why didn't we go out together? It's so dangerous for a boy to go out alone. What if you run into bad people?"

Ling Luochen looked ready to burst into tears, completely overturning her usual icy aloofness. This ice-type girl simply didn't open her heart easily. Once she did, her emotions burned hotter than anyone's.

Yu Tianjun: ...

I think I can still protect myself under normal circumstances. Who could've guessed Jing Hongchen would come deceive and ambush a young fellow like me?

That old fellow has no martial honor.

"Luo Chen, I think you've gotten familiar enough with the area. Tomorrow, we'll go to the Adventurers' Association branch and update my Bounty Hunter information to add you. How does that sound?"

"Now that's more like it (^o^)/~!"

Ling Luochen went from sorrow to joy in a single second. She loosened her tightly wrapped arms, and the corners of her mouth curved up happily.

Her great tears technique had unlocked a new achievement: listing their names together. The title of Shrek Seven Devils had finally proved useful for once.

Normally, outsiders who heard "the Heavenly Dragon Sect master's second son" would readily think of a wastrel, while hearing "Shrek Seven Devils" would only make them acknowledge her talent. Wouldn't that push her dear little brother out of the public eye?

Watching Ling Luochen change faces like a Sichuan opera performer, Yu Tianjun felt as though he had been played.

Forget it, forget it. It isn't a bad thing. Taking stock, of all the famous ice-type Soul Masters on the Douluo Continent this season, the only one I haven't met is Miss Snow Lady, Su Tong. I've crossed paths with all the others.

Huh? Why are they all beautiful girls?

I'm shaking with rage and chilled to the bone. What's wrong with us boys? Don't boys deserve to become powerful ice-type Soul Masters?

Yu Tianjun racked his brains. From old to young, this season had no male ice-type Soul Masters. Huo Gua was the sole exception, and even his abilities had been acquired later.

Oh, wait. There aren't any male ice-type Soul Masters among ordinary Soul Masters, but there's one among the Evil Soul Masters!

The Holy Spirit Cult leader Zhongli Wu's personal disciple, Bone Dragon Yan Feng!

Damn it, Zhongli Wu isn't going to bring Yan Feng here to place an order with me, is he? Please, go to Star Dou, I'm begging you. This little place called Dragon City can't withstand your havoc.

If that fellow notices my Martial Soul... that picture is too terrifying to imagine.

His grandfather would inevitably unleash one final battle. The commotion would draw the attention of every major power on the continent, and he would be forced to choose between Shrek, Mingdu, and the Holy Spirit Cult.

His foreknowledge left Yu Tianjun breaking into a cold sweat. Afraid that he might see off the Radiant Virtue Hall master only to welcome the Holy Spirit Cult leader, he said to Ling Luochen:

"Sis, I'm planning to contact Princess Vina and ask her to stop flooding us with good reviews. Our reputation's getting too big. If we attract Evil Soul Masters, we'll be in serious trouble."

"From now on, we won't take missions from the Dragon City Adventurers' Association branch. We'll only accept safe missions vetted by the Three Imperial Cities, to make sure the clients are normal Soul Masters."

"Unless it's necessary, we shouldn't casually accept invitations to go out. All sorts of demons and monsters are lurking around these days. We both need to live well in this unsafe world and grow into people who can rely on each other."

"Safety really is more important than money. I've earned enough to fund my cultivation for years. If you're short on cultivation resources, tell me and Grandpa. Don't stand on ceremony. We're family."

"Keep steady for thirty years, and the future will be ours..."

Ling Luochen nodded repeatedly. Suddenly, she saw Yu Tianjun take a strange Soul Tool radiating soul power fluctuations from his storage ring.

At a second glance, her pupils contracted in shock.

Th-this... isn't this the Level Five Invincible Shield those filthy-rich bastards from the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy were equipped with during the Soul Fighting Tournament?

Things like this are hard to obtain in the Original Three Kingdoms. Could a powerful figure from the Sun Moon Empire have slipped into Dragon City earlier?

"Sis, my client gave me this. Take it. If you run into danger, don't hesitate to use it. There's nothing shameful about Soul Masters using Soul Tools to save their lives."

"I know your Martial Soul Department might have reservations about Soul Tools, but, Sis, there's really no conflict. Powerful Soul Masters like us can unleash even greater strength with Soul Tools..."

Yu Tianjun knew that before the tournament, Ling Luochen would encounter the strongest Soul King in history. That Soul King's battle record was outrageously impressive. Although Ling Luochen's life would not be in danger, she would still need quite a few days to recover.

He wouldn't gamble on everything following exactly the same course as the original story after his arrival. This Invincible Shield could protect Ling Luochen, and he no longer needed it.

"Tianjun, just what did you encounter on this trip? Don't scare me."

Ling Luochen didn't accept the Invincible Shield. It wasn't out of reserve or fear that she couldn't repay him. She already intended to spend her future in the Heavenly Dragon Sect, and eventually move the Ling family to Dragon City as well.

What frightened her was the possibility that Yu Tianjun had encountered danger...

"Have you forgotten? My rule is mutual confidentiality. I can't say."

Yu Tianjun gave her a sunny smile, wrapped an arm around Luo Chen's soft, supple waist, and sat down on the Flame Lion King sofa. Calm and composed, he said:

"This trip gave me a wake-up call. Experts fill this world like clouds. A genius is simply a powerful person who still needs time to grow. We haven't cultivated long enough. We need to be more careful as we grow."

Ling Luochen pursed her lips and lowered her head slightly. She saw nothing wrong with reclining halfway into Yu Tianjun's arms as she said gently:

"How about coming with me to stay in Shrek City for a while? My memories of Shrek Academy aren't very pleasant, but they really do possess the greatest power on the continent."

"Shrek City has more than twenty Titled Douluos. There are six elders in the Sea God's Pavilion, all Super Douluos. Its mysterious pavilion master might even be a Limit Douluo."

"Neither powerful figures from the Sun Moon Empire nor those wretched Evil Soul Masters would dare go there."

"Really? I don't see it that way."

Yu Tianjun gently shook his head. Ling Luochen wasn't wrong. Shrek City really was the strongest city on the original Douluo Continent.

But... he didn't particularly enjoy living under someone else's roof. Besides, the Holy Spirit Cult had successfully stormed Shrek twice, for Ye Xishui and Ma Xiaotao. Clearly, it wasn't that the Holy Spirit Cult couldn't destroy Shrek. It simply didn't want to.

If his Ultimate Darkness truly came to light, the crippled Mu En couldn't protect him at all. Mu En couldn't even preserve his own old life.

His grandfather was Level 96. Despite years of secluded cultivation, his injuries had prevented him from advancing any further, and his lifespan was nearing its end.

If his injuries could recover, and Yu Tianjun then found some gold of life, could that allow him to take another step forward?

The evil aura on the Spirit Devouring Fierce Blade couldn't withstand his Ultimate Darkness. He could purify it even without Electrolux.

A healthy Level 97 Super Douluo could just about command enough power to deter threats in one region.

His second uncle was a Level 84 Soul Douluo with a Dark Shadow Dragon Martial Soul. If Yu Tianjun bestowed the Ultimate Darkness attribute upon him, his combat strength would rise dramatically, but that was a trump card to use only when there was no other choice.

His father was cultivating hard and attempting to break through the threshold of Level 94. Beyond him, they had no other top-tier fighters.

The elders were all Soul Douluos. The Heavenly Dragon Sect's resources and foundation really fell far short of Shrek and the Body Sect.

"Don't worry. Things aren't that bad yet. It's not impossible for the old man to advance further. In the future, when the two of us go Soul Hunting, we might have a Level 97 Super Douluo escorting us."

Yu Tianjun smiled easily. "I've been looking through ancient texts at home, searching for a way to help Grandpa advance. I've already found a few leads."

"When we go to the Adventurers' Association tomorrow, we can post a mission while we're there. Let's experience being clients for once."

A warm current flowed slowly through Ling Luochen's heart. This was the family member she had decided to accompany for life after only a short time together. His talent was outstanding and his temperament perfect. He always possessed a calm, unhurried manner of handling things that fascinated her.

"All right. I believe you."

Ling Luochen carefully put away the Level Five Invincible Shield her little brother had given her.

"Once we leave the Adventurers' Association, I'll return to the Shrek Inner Court and take enough Inspection Corps Missions to qualify for graduation. I'll spend the remaining two years here in Dragon City with you."

The next day, the two went to the Dragon City branch of the Adventurers' Association. After adding "Ling Luochen" alongside "Yu Tianjun," they posted a purchase mission.

Target: the Spirit Devouring Fierce Blade, which had repeatedly failed to sell at auction. Starting offer: ten thousand Gold Soul Coins. Price negotiable.

Afterward, Yu Tianjun contacted Princess Vina remotely through a voice transmission Soul Tool to express an important request: please, my dear lady, stop flooding me with good reviews. I can't bear it.

"The invincible Yu Tianjun actually gets scared? That's not like you. Haha..."

Vina laughed merrily on the other end of the call, no longer even pretending to hide her delight in his misfortune.

Yu Tianjun's face darkened, and he said slowly:

"Suppose Your Highness was enjoying pastries and music in the palace, in a wonderful mood, when you received a sincere invitation to a banquet. Then you arrived and discovered that your host was a top expert from the Dou Ling Empire's Offering Hall. I think you'd be frightened too."

"Oh my, that would be terrifying."

Princess Vina, who was changing clothes in the palace to attend a court banquet, put down her milkshake and instantly understood how he felt.

She was only a princess now because her ancestors had been rebels.

Yu Tianjun urged her, "Then hurry up and call off your paid review army. Instead of spending money on good reviews for me, why not give the soldiers on the frontier some extra allowances?"

"Impressive, truly impressive. The moment you open your mouth, you commit the grave crime of urging a princess to cultivate ties with the frontier army. Young Master Yu, what punishment do you deserve? Shouldn't you come to Heaven Dou City and explain yourself to this princess, hmm?"

Recalling how her imperial father reprimanded his ministers, Princess Vina tried hard to maintain an imposing air.

Then she laughed so hard she trembled like blossoms in the wind and couldn't straighten her waist. Her luxurious gown of Heavenly Silkworm Silk slipped to reveal a broad expanse of alluring, snowy skin at her chest, but no one was there to appreciate it.

Yu Tianjun fell silent for a moment. "...I was just saying it casually. We can't condemn people for their words. How about recruiting a few geniuses from Di'ao Academy instead? Surely an imperial princess has at least that much authority?"

"Of course I have that much authority. But I'm already recruiting the person I want most. Focusing wholeheartedly on one thing for a time is an excellent quality, so I have no interest in recruiting anyone else right now. You wouldn't teach me to be a bad girl, would you?"

Princess Vina sat down. The mirror reflected a beauty capable of toppling cities and kingdoms, her slender hands like finely carved jade as she compared the jewelry for that evening.

Her lips curved upward and her smiling eyes became crescents. She realized she had grown fond of these amusing conversations.

Having spent so long deep within the palace, Her Highness had seen her fill of mediocre men and sanctimonious hypocrites. She was particularly fond of a genuine gentleman like Yu Tianjun. Only someone like him could become a sincere friend.

Sure enough, after hearing Vina's words, Yu Tianjun didn't let Her Highness's little scheme fall flat. He obligingly begged for mercy:

"I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare. I'm terrified that Your Highness might open her golden mouth and ask His Majesty to charge me with high treason. Then I'd want to cry but have no tears left."

"Oh, I wouldn't dare say such a thing. After my imperial father learned that you'd easily slain a 4,000-year Soul Beast, he told me never to put on airs in front of you. This little lady is terribly frightened now. If Young Master Yu came to Heaven Dou City to lodge a complaint before the emperor, I'd be the one held accountable."

In one second, Vina switched from an imperious queen to a pitiful young maiden. Even the bearing of her reflection changed.

Banter needed to go both ways. Yu Tianjun's good temperament didn't mean he lacked a genius's pride. Vina understood the meaning of respect.

If putting on airs ruined their relationship—even if she merely lost a friend around whom she could take off her mask—Vina felt she would regret it for a long time.

"Really? His Majesty values me that much?"

Yu Tianjun's voice came from the other end of the call, sounding somewhat disbelieving.

Vina giggled. "Young Master Yu, you've spent so long in Dragon City without paying attention to outside affairs that you don't have a clear understanding of your own talent. You're..."

"Your Highness, the banquet is about to begin. Miss Mu Xue is waiting for you."

Just as Vina was engrossed in her role-playing, a maid's ill-timed voice came from outside her chambers.

Her Highness's good mood instantly vanished. She answered, "I'll be ready soon," then said to Yu Tianjun with a hint of helplessness:

"It's a shame, but we'll have to end our call here. I'll take care of what you asked. Don't worry."

"But could you stop only contacting me when you need something?"

"I was just afraid of wasting Your Highness's time. Since you don't mind, let's keep in touch more often. I hope you enjoy your luncheon banquet."

Only after hearing that did Vina reluctantly end the call. Looking at the elegant, noble face in the mirror and the precious jewelry before her, she suddenly felt rather dispirited. She casually picked up a Five-Colored Necklace and hung it around her slender, fair neck, adjusted her clothes, and pushed open the door.

"Vina, your outfit today is a little casual, isn't it?"

Mu Xue was somewhat surprised. At every previous banquet, Vina, as the imperial princess, had been the focus of everyone's gaze—the most beautiful blossom in the Heaven Dou Empire.

"There's no need to dress too formally to see those people. From old to young, they're all wastrels living off their ancestors' shade. The genuinely interesting person isn't there anyway."

"Though... the old me didn't really have any right to criticize them either."

Princess Vina pressed the necklace against her chest, and a smile that could dazzle time itself appeared at the corner of her lips.

"Mu Xue, tell me. If I weren't a Princess, where would be the best place for me to live and cultivate?"

"Where do you want to go?"

"Maybe Dragon City."

"Huh?"

"Haha, I was just saying. Let's go."