Ink Jade Divine Bamboo

"Xu Xiaoyan, you really have grown bold as brass."

Bibi Dong's fingertips brushed his face, so beautiful it hardly seemed to belong to this world. What a pity he was such a fickle lover.

Smack!

Ye Yan's head snapped to the side, a bright red handprint standing out on his cheek.

"Do you really think I'm that easy to fool? This is the first I've ever heard of Qian Renxue branding her subordinates. I was wondering why you went straight to the Worship Hall the moment you arrived. So you've latched on to that old bastard Qian Daoliu's granddaughter."

"Teacher, I..."

Ye Yan tried to argue his way out, but cool silk stuffed his mouth. He gazed at her through misty eyes, hoping she would let him off.

"Heh, now you know to act pitiful? Xu Xiaoyan, you really won't shed a tear until you see the coffin."

Bibi Dong gripped his chin, admiring the sight of him looking so helplessly endearing. This little man needed far more training than she had thought.

Purple spider claws suddenly emerged behind her and pierced Ye Yan's collarbones. The heart-gouging pain sent him into a violent struggle, but Bibi Dong held him firmly down.

When she withdrew the claws, two purple-green marks appeared on Ye Yan's shoulders. They were unmistakably her Martial Souls, the death spider emperor and the Soul-Devouring Spider Emperor.

Hajimi, if you want to mark me, just do it properly! Did you have to do it like this?

Ye Yan broke into a cold sweat, almost convinced he was about to follow in Qian Xunji's footsteps. Fortunately, Dong'er still loved him.

"Mmph..."

The strange sensation made him moan instinctively, but the unidentified object in his mouth muffled it into a low grunt.

Ye Yan looked up. Bibi Dong had already sat down; she seemed to relish having everything under her control.

Ye Yan was like a tiny skiff tossed amid howling winds and towering waves. One careless move, and the whole game would be lost.

At one point, Bibi Dong decided this was not satisfying enough. She removed another piece of warm silk and blindfolded him. Deprived of sight, Ye Yan's other senses were magnified endlessly.

Moreover, Bibi Dong was a Limit Douluo equipped with a full set of Soul Bones. With no regard for Ye Yan's feelings, she enjoyed herself to the fullest.

Of course, to punish Ye Yan, she even spent several days in the state of Martial Soul Possession. Girls, after all, loved to look beautiful.

Bibi Dong normally refused even to reveal her Martial Soul to others, precisely because Martial Soul Possession turned her into a half-human, half-spider creature.

Naturally, Ye Yan, who adored beautiful faces, was somewhat reluctant at first. Before long, however, she crushed his pride and turned him into Bibi Dong's most obedient, docile little husband.

Only half a month later did Ye Yan set off with the Ice and Snow Emperors toward the outskirts of Heaven Dou City, where the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was based. Ling Yuan Douluo accompanied them.

She was not someone Ye Yan had seduced; Bibi Dong had sent her to keep an eye on him. But clearly, sending a female Titled Douluo was like throwing a meat bun to a dog-once gone, it would never return.

At that moment, her most loyal female subordinate was holding Ye Yan's fox tail and playing with it. Ye Yan had no energy to pay her any attention and was catching up on sleep with his head on the Ice Empress's lap.

Wicked Dong'er had refused to let him rest at all, and her nearly destructive way of using her toy had made it impossible for Ye Yan to feel sleepy.

By the time he woke again, three days had passed. During that time, the Ice Empress had even bestowed upon him the title of Great Lazy Piggy King.

Ye Yan rubbed his sleepy eyes and asked Ling Yuan where they were.

"Xu Xiaoyan, we're in the Heavenly Spirit Mountain Range. We'll reach Jialing Pass in half a day at most. Beyond that lies our destination, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect."

Jialing Pass, huh? Ye Yan looked at the distant gray silhouette. This was the finish line, but also his starting point. He would never let that ending repeat itself.

I can't keep slacking off. Starting today, I'm taking immortal herbs!

He closed his eyes and rummaged through the Wishful Treasure Bag. There were few immortal herbs left, and the only one still suitable for him to absorb was that stalk of ink jade divine bamboo. It did little to increase Soul Power, but it was an unrivaled treasure for strengthening the toughness and rigidity of a plant-type Martial Soul.

"Sister Ling Yuan, Snow Empress, Ice Empress, sorry for the trouble, but please stand guard for me."

After letting them know, Ye Yan took out a section of bamboo flecked with light, wrapped it in the Blue Silver Emperor's vines, and began refining its medicinal power.

The three women gathered around him, studying the ink jade divine bamboo curiously. What was this thing? How could its Soul Power fluctuations be so pure?

"Xue'er, look! Xu Xiaoyan's Martial Soul seems to be changing color."

The Ice Empress pointed at the tangle of vines and called out softly. The Snow Empress followed her gaze. Sure enough, a dark, luminous film was gradually coating the formerly gold-and-blue vines, and Ye Yan's aura was growing more powerful.

Twelve hours later, Ye Yan finished refining the ink jade divine bamboo. After briefly regulating his breathing, he could clearly feel that the Soul Power which had recently surged through his body had become considerably more condensed and solid.

His body in particular had changed. Ye Yan felt that a substantial portion of the energy had dispersed into the bones throughout his body, making them stronger and tougher.

"Xu Xiaoyan, what treasures do you have in there? They can even trigger a slight evolution of a Martial Soul."

Seeing him awaken, the Ice Empress gathered him into her arms and asked about the immortal herb. After explaining, Ye Yan also took out the aromatic silk beauty and sacred radiance scarlet plume orchid for them to admire.

Once Ling Yuan accepted the sacred radiance scarlet plume orchid, greed and desire surged from the depths of her bloodline. Every cell in her body was telling her to eat it, quickly.

She swallowed and looked at Ye Yan, a rare embarrassment showing on her face. He had kindly trusted her enough to let her examine his treasure, yet she wanted to claim it for herself.

"Xu Xiaoyan, could I exchange another treasure for this immortal herb? My Martial Soul is telling me it might be able to advance further with its help."

Ling Yuan had expected him to refuse outright or demand some harsh price in exchange, such as an old Soul Bone or a pledge to risk her life for him.

Yet Ye Yan merely smiled at her and said that since it was useful to Sister Ling Yuan, she could have it. Talking about an exchange would only hurt their relationship.

At that moment, she felt as though she had seen a true angel.

After telling her how to consume it, Ye Yan explained things to the Ice and Snow Emperors as well. First, these immortal herbs had to suit the recipient's attributes. Second, their cultivation was approaching their next hundred-thousand-year threshold, which was why he had not prepared any for them.

Naturally, the Ice and Snow Emperors would not get angry over something so trivial. They told him he was worrying too much.

The Snow Empress, however, looked with some surprise at Ling Yuan, who was refining the immortal herb. He had given away something so precious without hesitation, and he was so gentle about it. No wonder even that woman undertaking the Rakshasa God Trial adored him.

Three days later, Ling Yuan finished refining the sacred radiance scarlet plume orchid. A piercing phoenix cry rang out, and the enormous phantom of a Vermilion Bird spread its wings behind her as waves of heat rolled toward them.

Ye Yan looked in surprise at her long hair, now newly colored orange-yellow. A single immortal herb had been enough to bring about her Martial Soul Evolution.

Not bad, not bad.

Ling Yuan felt more comfortable than ever before. Not only had her Martial Soul's flames and strength increased dramatically, but her Soul Skills had undergone a qualitative transformation as well.