Wouldn't Becoming a Venerable Do the Trick?

"Screee!"

As the final cry faded, the bottomless pit that was Tang Qingye had drained all the Nine Heavens Azure Luan's energy.

"Hum!"

A magnificent purple Soul Ring slowly rose beneath Tang Qingye's feet. Three silver markings circled and wandered across it; its age was undoubtedly three thousand years.

Crackling sounds also rang out inside Tang Qingye's body, like a delicious dish being stir-fried. How could the word "bliss" alone possibly describe that sensation?

As the Soul Power within him reached 5 Kun levels, a soft, sweet voice rang out in Tang Qingye's mind. At the same time, faint messages emanated from the Gourd within his Sea of Consciousness, as though his Martial Soul had gained some new ability.

At this point, some darlings would ask: after absorbing such an incredible Soul Spirit, why had he only gained one Kun level? Most of the energy had gone into activating the Heavenly Cang Art and condensing the Heavenly Cang Marrow, and the compression of the Soul Power within him far exceeded that of ordinary geniuses.

"Master, we have successfully formed our contract... please look after me from now on."

That sweet, melodious voice naturally came from the miniature Nine Heavens Azure Luan.

"Since you have chosen to follow me, I will never fail you. Otherwise, may the Great God Realm explode right where it stands."

Tang Qingye answered, while muttering inwardly that even her mental faculties had declined after her power was drained. Still, one thing was one thing and another was another: this little female luan was rather adorable.

"Mm-hmm, Master, of course I believe you. But this world is trapped in shackles now. What should we do?"

At that, Tang Qingye smiled faintly. "Can't become a god? Then wouldn't becoming a Venerable do the trick?"

"As expected of my disciple. Little fellow, let your teacher examine you properly..."

The spirit transmission ceremony concluded successfully, and the Six-Pointed Star Array slowly dissipated. The moment it revealed Tang Qingye's body, now even sturdier from absorbing his Soul Spirit, Leng Yaozhu stepped forward and inspected him from head to toe, checking whether he had been hurt anywhere.

"Teacher, I'm fine. I want to go to the Spirit Ascension Platform to test my strength and show you my First Soul Skill while I'm at it."

"All right, all right, whatever you want. I'll also introduce you to someone. You can go in together and look out for each other."

Hearing Leng Yaozhu's words, Tang Qingye involuntarily recalled what she had told him aboard the Mecha that day. My shadow? I'm a little excited.

Leaving the secret chamber, Leng Yaozhu explained the Spirit Ascension Platform's various procedures and requirements along the way, as well as how its riot period differed. She reminded him over and over: if he couldn't win, run; press the button and care about no one.

Although he already knew, he still listened attentively. But what the hell was this rule against mating and reproducing with virtual Soul Beasts? Tang Qingye's expression turned rather strange. Had some Indians transmigrated here too?

As they approached the Spirit Pagoda's main hall, an enormous mural on the wall caught his attention. It depicted a man and a woman who looked deeply in love.

The two figures were naturally Huo Yuhao and Tang Wutong, the couple who had once been invincible throughout the world. Tang Qingye shook his head. They had indeed made some contributions, but an incompetent Dai and a stitched-together freak? Forget it.

As for reducing the conflict between Soul Beasts and humans, it had helped a little, but not much.

The whole of Star Dou had been bundled up. Whatever disagreements there were, everyone could sit down and discuss them at leisure.

What interested Tang Qingye was how Electrolux would feel if he saw Huo Yuhao now: forgetting his hatred, forgetting his teacher's kindness, a model worker devoted to being a dog, overjoyed as soon as he was tossed a little pay.

As he pondered, Leng Yaozhu stopped in front of a door. Before she did anything, it opened automatically. This one even had sensitive skin.

"Teacher, young master."

Along with a cool, melodious voice, a tall, graceful figure appeared before Tang Qingye.

The girl was tall and slender, her emerald-green eyes gleaming with a clear, sharp light. Her long wine-red hair was tied into a neat, high ponytail that fell to her waist. Her skin was delicate and lustrous, her figure shapely and supple, and a faint air of aloofness and pride that warned strangers away rippled around her.

A closer look revealed how her vivid red hair framed her exquisite face, making her beauty dazzling. A competitive streak also lurked in her eyes, as though encountering a powerful opponent would make her want to duel.

Tang Qingye knew she was genuine at a glance. Mm, a character who never appeared, but a beauty in the making.

"Nu Jiao, didn't I tell you to address me by my position at the Spirit Pagoda?"

Leng Yaozhu said with a smile.

"Yes, Lady Tianfeng."

Leng Nu Jiao lowered her head.

"Oh, you, you really can't take a joke. Yeye, come here. Get to know each other properly. You'll be spending time together from now on, after all."

Tang Qingye's gaze shifted slightly. He stepped forward and offered her his hand. "Hello, my name is Tang Qingye. Please look after me."

Leng Nu Jiao paused, then quickly reacted and extended her right hand. Their hands met in the air. "Hello, young master. My name is Leng Nu Jiao."

As their palms touched, her hand felt as fine as jade. Her fingertips carried the faint coolness unique to plants, and her finger bones were slender and well-proportioned, smooth to the touch yet with a hint of firmness.

"Teacher, is Nu Jiao your disciple too?"

Tang Qingye asked casually.

Leng Yaozhu said, "Mm... you could say that. I've been raising her for over ten years."

"Then... wasn't I your one and only final, foremost disciple?"

Tang Qingye said softly.

"Well, Nu Jiao is my door-locking disciple. Haha."

Leng Yaozhu's gaze wandered a little.

"Then, Teacher... didn't you say she would be my guard? Sister Nu Jiao looks only twelve or thirteen, hmm?"

Just look at what you've been protecting!!!

Although Leng Nu Jiao beside them did not understand why their conversation had turned to her, Tang Qingye calling her Nu Jiao stirred her heart slightly. This was the only member of the opposite sex apart from her teacher.

Qiangu Zhangting: Am I not human?

That wasn't what you said when you attacked.

"Well, supervision and care are also forms of protection. Don't worry about those little details."

"Do you think Titled Douluos grow like cabbages? Besides, you little fellow have so many secrets. I wouldn't trust anyone else."

Leng Yaozhu gently tugged Tang Qingye's collagen-filled cheeks, her red lips curving slightly, laughter nestled in her phoenix eyes.

"Besides, feelings need to be nurtured. Whether it works out is up to you."

Tang Qingye: More manipulation, but I want to live off a woman.

Leng Yaozhu waved her fair hand, and the wall of special material slid apart to either side, revealing two silvery-white metal pod doors.

"You little slickster, now lie down nicely for your teacher and let me get a feel for the depth of your strength."

As Leng Yaozhu spoke, the metal pod doors slowly closed and disappeared back into the wall, leaving her alone in the room.

Inside the riot-period Spirit Ascension Platform, space rippled faintly, and Tang Qingye and Leng Nu Jiao appeared amid golden light.

Ancient trees towered skyward, lush greenery spread everywhere, and the azure sky was clear and limpid. The fresh scent of vegetation drifted through the woods, soothing the mind and spirit as it entered their lungs. From time to time, a few ethereal birdsong notes floated over from afar.

Tall ancient trees pierced straight toward the clouds, and great swathes of shrubs grew unchecked.

The sky was clear, the clouds pale. Unbroken mountain ranges stretched across the distance, while boundless primeval forest spread toward the horizon. Abundant, concentrated vitality filled the world.

Fragments of sunlight spilled through the gaps, scattering overlapping patches of light and shadow through the woods.

It was practically a sacred dating spot on the Continent of Romance.

Leng Nu Jiao stood quietly behind him and said softly, "Young master, danger lurks everywhere here. Be careful."

With that, a deep, restrained ink-jade sheen spread through Leng Nu Jiao's eyes. She lightly raised her pale hand, and ink-black Soul Power, thick as condensed jade, slowly gathered.

An upright bamboo stalk emerged from empty space, its joints covered in a fine, warm jade texture. Three differently colored markings-cyan, blue, and green-wound and intertwined across its surface.

The plant origin emanating from its body drew the spiritual energy drifting throughout the forest into a slow spiral around the bamboo.

"A bamboo Martial Soul... three attributes? It feels a little familiar..." Tang Qingye's eyes narrowed as he silently assessed it, searching his mind for information about this bamboo. He had some impression of it, but not much.

"Young master, my Martial Soul is ink jade spirit bamboo." Seemingly sensing Tang Qingye's gaze, Leng Nu Jiao volunteered an explanation.

"Ink jade spirit bamboo? A very powerful Martial Soul. It suits you well," Tang Qingye teased.

"Thank you for the compliment, young master." Leng Nu Jiao's eyes curved, her wine-red hair stirring in the breeze.

No wonder it felt a little familiar. It's a mid-range version of the ink jade divine bamboo in the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. Tang Qingye divided his attention, chatting with her while his thoughts drifted toward the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.

"No need to be too nervous, Sister Nu Jiao. Here, almost nothing can hide within the range of my domain."

As he finished speaking, warm, azure-green Wood Qi rippled outward from his body like water, layers of verdant radiance spreading as all the plants in the forest trembled lightly and bowed their heads.

Slender threads of pale-green light floated through the air, markings flowed across his chest, and all the free-floating Yi Wood Essence Qi between heaven and earth gathered toward him.

Domain expansion!

Every movement within a hundred meters was within his grasp. Rich vitality wrapped Leng Nu Jiao beside him in warmth, and the aches left by her usual training slowly faded under the Wood Qi's nourishment.

"Young master, is... is this a domain?" Tang Qingye shocked Leng Nu Jiao for the second time: Ye's second shock to Nu, for short.

"Let's go. Time to begin our trial journey." Tang Qingye smiled at her and walked slowly forward.

Leng Nu Jiao's eyes shimmered, and she too stepped briskly forward.