The New House Was Soundproof, and Liu Erlong Was Young Again

With Flender outside keeping everyone else away, no one came over to Liu Erlong's place.

But dusk was falling, and anyone looking this way from elsewhere would surely notice something unusual.

Su Ling had no way to conceal it, either. The Intermediate Defensive Formation only provided protection; it could not block out this light.

The sky grew steadily darker, but fortunately, once Liu Erlong's house had burned down, the flames were no longer so intense.

Liu Erlong remained in the form of a fire dragon over twenty meters long, coiled above the charred ruins of the wooden house.

About an hour later, Flender returned to Su Ling's side.

"Su Ling, how is it going? Everything's all right, isn't it?"

"Everything's fine. Sister Liu is doing very well," Su Ling replied.

Both men waited. Su Ling also wanted to know what would happen after Liu Erlong consumed the Dragonflame Flower.

Time slipped by. They waited from nightfall until daybreak, but Liu Erlong showed no change throughout. Her transformation was taking far longer than Zhu Zhuqing's and the others' had when they consumed their immortal herbs.

Suddenly, Liu Erlong, still in her fire dragon form, moved.

The fire dragon flew straight into the sky. In an instant, her originally ordinary fire dragon martial soul gained the imposing presence of a king.

A deafening dragon's roar rang out. After circling in the air for less than half a minute, she descended and returned to human form.

[Ding... Liu Erlong's affection +6. Obtained Purple Chest ×2, Black Chest ×4.]

[Ding... Liu Erlong's affection is now greater than or equal to 96.]

[Bound Goddess: Liu Erlong]

[Goddess Overall Rating: 96]

[Current affection: 96 (will never betray you, willing to sacrifice everything for you)]

[Binding effect: The host receives 50% of the bound goddess's daily cultivation gains without reducing her cultivation speed.]

[Bound skill 1: Advice Listening (can be activated once daily; the bound goddess has an 80% chance of following the host's advice)]

[Bound skill 2: Protection (passive skill; when the host encounters danger, Liu Erlong's combat strength increases by 200% if she is nearby)]

[Bound skill 3: Teleportation (activation condition: when the host encounters danger, Liu Erlong can be teleported to your side. Range: within 2,000 meters)]

[Bound skill 4: Fusion (performs a martial soul fusion skill by merging into the host's body; can be stacked with other goddesses)]

96?

Liu Erlong's goddess overall rating was actually equal to Zhu Zhuqing's and Ning Rongrong's current ratings.

He looked again at Liu Erlong as she walked toward him. She seemed to have changed quite a bit.

Liu Erlong was in her early forties and had previously looked around thirty. Now, she looked about twenty. She had become so much younger.

Flender stood beside him, staring in a daze. It was as though he was seeing Liu Erlong when he had first met her over twenty years ago.

"Erlong, you..."

As she approached, Flender stepped forward to speak to her. But Liu Erlong ignored him and strode straight up to Su Ling.

She threw her arms around Su Ling and whispered, "Su Ling, thank you. Thank you!"

Liu Erlong was actually hugging Su Ling?

Flender's expression darkened, but he could hardly say anything.

After all, Su Ling was responsible for Liu Erlong's transformation.

Still, seeing Liu Erlong embrace Su Ling left him feeling unhappy. Flender hurriedly spoke again. "Erlong, how did it go?"

Flender came right up beside them. How could they keep embracing, let alone do anything else?

Liu Erlong released Su Ling.

"I got too excited. Su Ling, thank you for giving me this opportunity. You've given me a chance to pursue greater heights."

"Sister Liu, there's no need to thank me," Su Ling said. "That herb was best suited to you anyway. Only you could bring out its full effects. No one else could have achieved this."

"Yes, this Dragonflame Flower really was perfect for me. It evolved my martial soul from a fire dragon into the Fire Dragon King. And then there's my soul power. I've reached rank seventy-nine, and I could advance to rank eighty at any moment," Liu Erlong said excitedly.

"Rank seventy-nine? Doesn't that put you a rank above me?" Flender exclaimed. Although he had absorbed a thirty-thousand-year soul bone, his soul power remained at the peak of rank seventy-eight.

Judging purely by its effects, the Dragonflame Flower was no worse than any immortal herb. It might even be better than most.

"Erlong, you look as though... as though you've gone back more than twenty years. And you're even prettier than you were then," Flender added.

"Ah, really?" Liu Erlong immediately took out a mirror.

Her skin was clearly much more supple, and her face brimmed with youthful vitality.

What woman did not love looking beautiful?

And who did not want to become younger?

Even someone as powerful as Liu Erlong was no exception.

Looking at her changed appearance, she thought, Wonderful. I'm finally a match for Su Ling.

Before, she had constantly worried that she was too old, that the age gap between her and Su Ling was too great.

But now, she seemed almost the same age as him.

She wanted to kiss Su Ling to express her gratitude.

But with Flender present, she restrained herself. In her view, it was not yet time to reveal her relationship with Su Ling.

"Boss Fu, you're right!" Liu Erlong said.

Liu Erlong's potential had increased. She was younger and even more beautiful.

The animated series had shown Liu Erlong in her youth, too. The scene of her wearing a red wedding dress had been truly breathtaking.

Her beauty was no less than that of Shrek's three beauties. Or rather, Shrek's three beauties could not compare to her yet.

They might surpass her in the future, but not now.

The main reason was Liu Erlong's maturity. The three beauties were still too young and had not fully blossomed.

As for opportunities to improve further in the future, perhaps they would need exclusive rewards from the system, just like Liu Erlong. Then their improvement would only be a matter of time.

After this enhancement, Liu Erlong had even greater potential. Perhaps she now had a chance to become a god someday.

"Sister Liu, the wooden house is destroyed. Are you going to rebuild it?" Su Ling asked.

"Of course! I'll go find someone to arrange it right now," Liu Erlong said.

"I'll go!" Flender volunteered.

"No need. I have my own ideas for the construction." Liu Erlong declined Flender's kindness.

Two hours later, Liu Erlong brought over a dozen people to the site of the burned-down wooden house.

"Build it according to what I told you. Remember, every room must be soundproof. No matter how loud a sound is, it mustn't escape," Liu Erlong instructed.

"Rest assured. We're one of Heaven Dou City's top three soul master construction families. We'll make sure everything is done properly."

"How long will it take?"

"Half a month will be enough."

Su Ling left Liu Erlong's place and returned to his room. Everyone else had gone to class during the day, so he had nothing to do.

He looked through the various items in his system.

A top-tier martial soul?

Should I use it now?

He could give himself another martial soul. But on second thought, he did not particularly need one right now. It would be better to wait.

He glanced at his system panel.

Host: Su Ling (healthy)

Age: nineteen

Martial soul: Five Elements War Bow

Soul power: rank 48

Mental power: rank 61

Soul rings: yellow (320 years, water attribute), yellow (652 years, wood attribute), purple (1,358 years, fire attribute), black (20,086 years, metal and earth attributes)

Soul bone: external soul bone, Golden Dragon Armor (20,086 years)

Cultivation methods: Concentration Art (first level), supreme primordial origin scripture: basic volume, part one

Skills: Carefree Journey (minor mastery), Eight Desolations Fist (major mastery)

Through practicing the Concentration Art and increasing his soul power, Su Ling's mental power had already reached the soul emperor tier.

His external soul bone had gained ten thousand years. It could grow, too, but its method of growth differed from the devouring method used by Tang San's Eight Spider Lances.

Su Ling could increase his external soul bone's age through cultivation. When he directed his cultivation gains into soul power, they increased his soul power. When he directed them into his soul bone, they increased its age.

For now, a twenty-thousand-year external soul bone was sufficient. Increasing his soul power was the priority, so Su Ling temporarily set aside improving his external soul bone and focused entirely on soul power.

"What else can I improve immediately?"

"Immortal herbs? It doesn't seem like I can take any for now. No, wait. There's still one immortal herb I haven't used."

"Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew!"

After gathering the herbs at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, Su Ling had immediately undergone Ice and Fire Body Tempering. Once he left, he had forgotten about this herb. It could both increase his mental power and help him cultivate Fiery Golden Eyes.

With a thought, the stem of the Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew appeared before Su Ling.

There were three drops in total!

He recalled the description in the Record of Immortal Herbs. It could be consumed directly, while dripping it into the eyes might produce unexpected effects.

He picked up the Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew, swallowed one drop, and put one of the remaining drops into each eye.

Closing his eyes, Su Ling began circulating his soul power.

Instantly, Su Ling felt a swelling ache in his eyes. The Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew seemed to be changing them.

Time passed slowly. Not only were Su Ling's eyes changing, but his mental power was also increasing.

He did not know how much time had passed.

When Su Ling opened his eyes, his lively gaze shone with a faint five-colored light, as though the power of the five elements had merged into it.

Su Ling could actually see the scene outside his door, and his vision could extend even farther.

It really lived up to the name Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew.

"Oh, Zhu Zhuqing and the others are here." With a thought, Su Ling returned his eyes to normal.

The Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew was indeed a treasure. It allowed him to see through everything to its essence, granting him penetrating insight.

Looking at the mental power listed in his system again, Su Ling found that it had risen directly from rank sixty-one to rank sixty-seven-a considerable increase.

Knock, knock...

"Big Brother Su, are you in your room?"

Su Ling rose and opened the door. "Zhu Zhuqing, I'm here."

"Rongrong said she'd like to treat us all to dinner, including you," Zhu Zhuqing said.

"Sure. When are we going?"

"Right now!" Zhu Zhuqing said.

"We've been here so long, but we haven't gone out for a proper meal yet. Today is a good chance," Su Ling said with a smile.

In the blink of an eye, half a month passed!

That night, after taking two Advanced Soul Power Pills in succession, Su Ling's soul power had reached halfway through rank forty-eight.

"Advanced Soul Power Pills are helping me less and less. System, give me all the cultivation gains you've stored during this time."

He had not used them in all the time since Shrek Academy was still in Suotuo City.

Those gains also included contributions from a soul saint like Liu Erlong, as well as the two soul ancestors, Huo Wu and Feng Yu'er.

Suddenly, a vast surge of energy poured into Su Ling's body.

"Holy shit, this much?"

Su Ling felt that this surge of energy was comparable to what he would gain from absorbing a Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring.

The accumulated cultivation gains from the goddesses merged into Su Ling very quickly.

In no time, he advanced from halfway through rank forty-eight to its peak. In less than an hour, he successfully broke through to rank forty-nine.

There was still plenty of unspent energy in his body, and Su Ling's soul power continued to rise.

It only stopped once his soul power reached the peak of rank forty-nine.

Seeing that dawn had yet to break, Su Ling continued cultivating.

When daylight came, Su Ling got up and left his room.

Today was the day Liu Erlong's house would be completed and handed over. Naturally, he had to go take a look.

Feng Yu'er had delivered breakfast early that morning.

She did not disturb Su Ling, simply leaving it on the table outside his door.

After breakfast, Su Ling arrived at Liu Erlong's house. The garden that had burned down had been rebuilt, and all kinds of flowers and plants had already been planted.

Liu Erlong wore red today. Unlike her usual plain clothes, this outfit gave her a more youthful look.

Even after becoming younger, some habits were still difficult to change.

Liu Erlong was also doing her best to change herself, so today she had deliberately chosen a style of clothing she had worn long ago.

"Su Ling, you're here." Seeing him arrive, Liu Erlong immediately put down the watering can in her hand.

"Sister Liu, has everyone left?" Su Ling asked.

"There wasn't really much to hand over. I looked around, found nothing wrong, paid them, and let them leave. Su Ling, help me furnish the place. A lot of the furniture I bought is still in my soul tool."

"Sure! No problem!"

But while the two were arranging the furniture, Flender arrived as well.

By now, Flender's soul power had reached rank eighty.

He had not achieved that increase through his own cultivation. Rather, Su Ling had given him a Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum a few days earlier.

After consuming it, he had finally broken through from the peak of rank seventy-nine to rank eighty.

Aside from Flender, Zhao Wuji had also consumed a Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum.

It had successfully raised Zhao Wuji's soul power from rank seventy-six to rank seventy-nine.

Three ranks of soul power in one go.

When Dai Mubai had consumed his, he had not actually gained that much, even though he had still been at the stage of advancing from soul elder to soul ancestor.

The reason for such a huge difference was simple.

The two had taken the medicine at different cultivation levels.

There was still a vast difference between a Level 76 Soul Saint and a Level 39 Soul Elder when it came to absorbing medicinal effects.

By absorbing more of those effects to improve himself, Zhao Wuji had been able to raise his Soul Power by three levels in one go.

Having repaid their kindness, Su Ling had finally laid one of his worries to rest.

"Erlong, do you really need a bed this sturdy?" Flender marveled as he looked at the newly assembled bed, astonishment written across his face.

A bed this sturdy would not break even if a four- or five-hundred-pound member of the Elephant Armor Sect bounced around on it. Did Liu Erlong really need something so solid?

Liu Erlong rolled her eyes at Flender and said, "I don't want to keep replacing it. One sturdy bed will do nicely."

"Oh, once everything's set up, you should head back. I feel like I'm going to break through tonight," Liu Erlong said.

"Really? That's wonderful! If you break through today, we'll go to the Sunset Forest together tomorrow to find Soul Rings," Flender said, his face lighting up with joy.

He had broken through a few days earlier, but had held off on looking for a Soul Ring because he was waiting for Liu Erlong.

"Sure!" Liu Erlong nodded. She still needed Flender's strength to help her find her Eighth Soul Ring, just as Flender needed hers.

That evening, Flender did not come to disturb her, but she had never told Su Ling not to come.

While speaking to Flender, Liu Erlong had sent Su Ling a private voice transmission.

A sturdier bed, and a room with superb soundproofing.

That night, Liu Erlong no longer held herself back. Instead, she let herself go completely.

Smack...

"Call me Daddy!"

After a night together, the more youthful Liu Erlong had given Su Ling an entirely different feeling.

If he had to describe it in one word, it would be: bliss.

Early the next morning, Liu Erlong and Su Ling were already standing at the door.

"They're here," Su Ling said.

Less than a minute after Su Ling spoke, the two men entered the courtyard.

Flender and Zhao Wuji had come together.

"Su Ling, you're here so early. Erlong, how did it go? Did you break through?"

"I did!" Liu Erlong replied.

Flender was delighted. Then he turned to Su Ling and said, "Today, we're going to find Erlong's Eighth Soul Ring. We'll be dealing with Soul Beasts at least fifty thousand years old. They're not something you can handle, so you should head back."

Little did they know that Su Ling had spent the entire previous night at Liu Erlong's place.

In truth, Liu Erlong had not broken through to Level 80 the previous night at all. Where would she have found the time to cultivate?

She had actually reached Level 80 while cultivating the night before that. She had only told Flender otherwise to keep him from disturbing her that evening.

Su Ling had also considered giving Liu Erlong a hundred-thousand-year Soul Ring, but after thinking it over, he decided it was not yet the right time.

Although taking the Dragonflame Flower had strengthened her body, she was still nowhere near being able to absorb a hundred-thousand-year Soul Ring as her Eighth Soul Ring.

Even if she took all three pieces of Supreme Ten-Thousand-Year Whale Glue in Su Ling's system, the risk would still be enormous.

Given Liu Erlong's personality, she might insist on taking the risk to pursue a hundred-thousand-year Soul Ring.

It would be better to save the Soul Ring until she reached Level 90.

"Su Ling can come. I asked him to be here. There's no need to worry about his safety," Liu Erlong said.

"Since you say so, Erlong, all right. Su Ling can come along," Flender said.

"Don't worry. I'll protect Su Ling. I won't let him suffer so much as a scratch," Zhao Wuji said, patting his chest.

A single medicinal herb had raised his level by three, leaving Zhao Wuji deeply grateful to Su Ling. He swore that, whatever Su Ling needed in the future, he would spare no effort to help him.