"My Martial Soul, Soul Power, and Soul Beast were all arranged by you, young master. Yuan'er doesn't know how to repay you!"
"So please take this Soul Bone, young master. Besides, I'm already a Titled Douluo. A Soul Bone is more important to you."
Ye Yuan'er suppressed the emotions in her heart. No Soul Master could resist the desire for a Soul Bone, much less a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone.
"There's no need, Sister Yuan'er. Naturally, only a Soul Master of the same origin can draw out the full potential of a Soul Bone preserved by a fire-attribute Soul Beast."
Gu Wuchen declined Ye Yuan'er's offer and pressed the Soul Bone into her hands.
This was Ye Yuan'er's own fortuitous encounter. With a hundred-thousand-year Soul Beast and a Soul Bone, even Bibi Dong would think more highly of her.
"Young master, don't you know how valuable a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone is?"
Ye Yuan'er looked at the Soul Bone in her hands, somewhat at a loss.
An ordinary Soul Master who obtained a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone would be desperate to absorb it immediately. Yet to Gu Wuchen, it was like an insignificant object.
Could the young master have already seen through the mortal world? But he's only seven, not even eight yet.
"Of course I know. I'm the Gu Clan's eldest son. I've met plenty of Soul Masters through our business dealings. Many Titled Douluo spend their entire lives without obtaining a single decent Soul Bone."
Ye Yuan'er had served Spirit Hall diligently all her life, yet she did not have a single Soul Bone.
As a Platinum Bishop, she should have been rewarded with a Soul Bone to strengthen her loyalty to Spirit Hall.
Qian Xunji and Bibi Dong, those two Popes, were rather stingy. Even though she served in Spirit City, they had not given her a single Soul Bone.
"Don't say any more, Sister Yuan'er. You don't have a single Soul Bone right now. This is just the right opportunity to absorb one."
After saying that, Gu Wuchen went to a tree and sat quietly beneath it with his legs crossed.
"Young master..."
Ye Yuan'er's face reddened a little. She had intended to say that the Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone was worth a fortune.
But now, Gu Wuchen's words had left her at a loss for words.
"Then thank you, young master. I'll be sure to give it my all from now on," Ye Yuan'er said.
Carrying the right arm bone, Ye Yuan'er entered a side room and began to absorb it.
Gu Wuchen spread his hands. "We'll all have Soul Bones in the future."
"Little Wuchen, I didn't expect you to act so grown-up. You really do look like someone who'll become a powerful expert someday."
The Snow Empress's teasing voice rang out in his mind.
"Sister Xue, you never miss a chance to chime in. One of these days, I'll cut off my connection to the Sea of Consciousness and see what you do then," Gu Wuchen said with a grin.
At that, the Snow Empress immediately bristled. "You wouldn't dare! Little Wuchen, if you cut it off, I'll keep you awake at night and crush you to death!"
Gu Wuchen burst out laughing. "I was only teasing you, Sister Xue, and you actually took me seriously. You're so easy to fool."
His mood was as good as could be, but the next second, the Snow Empress suddenly appeared before him.
"Sister Xue, why did you come out without asking?" A chill ran down Gu Wuchen's back.
The Snow Empress clenched her fists. "Little Wuchen, are you itching for a beating? Sister Xue is going to give you a lesson in love so you'll remember it."
She really could not hold back anymore. This little rascal thought she would not dare come out with someone else around, and he was growing more and more brazen.
"Sister Xue, look! There's a giant bird in the sky!"
Gu Wuchen looked astonished and pointed at the sky.
This time, the Snow Empress fell for it immediately. Gu Wuchen's act was so convincing that she believed him and looked up, only to find nothing there.
"Little Wuchen, you dared trick Sister Xue again..."
By the time the Snow Empress turned around, Gu Wuchen had already run back to his room.
Gu Wuchen had just rushed into his room and reached back to lock the door when the Snow Empress passed straight through the wall, giving him no chance to close it.
"What?" Gu Wuchen was startled and tried to flee.
The Snow Empress was quick. She seized him by the back of his collar, gave a gentle tug, and pinned him to the cushioned couch.
The Snow Empress swung a leg over Gu Wuchen and straddled him, pressing both hands on his shoulders. She glared at him indignantly and scolded him in a playful voice, "You little rascal, you dared play tricks on Sister Xue? You really are itching for a beating!"
"Third time's the charm, is that it?"
Pinned down and unable to move, Gu Wuchen hastily put on a pitiful face and surrendered. "Sister Xue, I was wrong! Don't! You're going to crush me to death!"
Why is she really doing this?!
The Snow Empress raised a brow and deliberately settled down a little more. "Hmph. I'm not even heavy, so stop pretending to be pitiful."
Gu Wuchen's cheeks flushed slightly, and he opened his mouth to protest. "But..."
He had barely started when the Snow Empress reached out and covered his mouth. Her almond-shaped eyes widened as she threatened him fiercely:
"Shut up! Say another word, and I really will spank you!"
That little rascal Wuchen had no filter. She did not like Gu Wuchen calling her fat.
With his mouth covered, Gu Wuchen could only whimper and blink, his clear eyes filled with pleas for mercy.
Seeing how obedient he looked, the Snow Empress could not help bursting out laughing. She loosened the hand covering his mouth, but did not get off him.
"Now do you know what you did wrong?" the Snow Empress asked with a grin.
Gu Wuchen nodded hurriedly, mumbling an answer.
If he did not agree now, letting the Snow Empress keep him pinned down like this was no solution.
Only then did the Snow Empress release his mouth, though she still held his shoulders and kept him from getting up. "If you dare trick me again, just see how I deal with you."
Gu Wuchen took a great gulp of air and said helplessly, "I know, I know. Sister Xue, get off me first. If someone sees us, I won't be able to explain myself."
"What are you afraid of?" The Snow Empress snorted, but did as he asked and got off him, casually ruffling his hair. "Even if someone sees us, who would dare say a word? I'll freeze their mouth shut for you."
Gu Wuchen sat up and straightened his rumpled clothes, shooting her an annoyed look. "All you know how to do is bully me because your cultivation is higher."
The Snow Empress smiled and pinched his reddened cheek, her eyes full of affection. "If I don't bully you, who else would I bully? Our Little Wuchen is just so cute."
"Are you addicted to bullying me now?" Gu Wuchen said, pretending to be angry.
The Snow Empress grinned. "Of course. If I don't bully you now, I won't get the chance later."
She reached out a slender, jade-like finger and gently lifted Gu Wuchen's chin, her gaze fervent. "Sister Xue went a little too far this time. Come, I'll give you a little reward!"
"No! I don't want one." Gu Wuchen held up his hands in refusal and took a few steps back.
He simply could not handle the Snow Empress when she was like this.
"Little Wuchen~" The Snow Empress's tingling voice made Gu Wuchen shudder.
While he was momentarily dazed, the Snow Empress moved swiftly and brushed his lips with a kiss, as lightly as a dragonfly skimming the water.
She was so fast that Gu Wuchen could only cover his mouth. "Sister Xue, you..."
The Snow Empress pressed a finger to his lips. "Don't speak. Sister Xue is cherishing this hard-won opportunity. Once you've grown up, it won't feel the same anymore."
Her tone was affectionate. Then the Snow Empress sensed a presence emanating nearby and knew that Ye Yuan'er should have finished absorbing the Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone. Without lingering, she turned into a streak of light and quickly returned to Gu Wuchen's Spiritual Sea of Consciousness.
Gu Wuchen rubbed his forehead and gathered his thoughts. After he calmed down, someone suddenly knocked on the door.