In the end, Long Xiaoyao and Ye Xishui received one Primogem, five hundred Mora, and one experience book.
The Ghost Emperor took one Primogem, nine hundred Mora, one Mystic Enhancement Ore, and one experience book.
Dark Blood Demon received one Mystic Enhancement Ore and five hundred Mora. The remaining hundred Mora was used to fob off underlings such as Dark Hummingbird, Dark Bell, and Dark Phoenix.
Ya Li had originally held forty percent of the rewards, but during the battle between the Limit Douluos, she had shoved half her god-given rewards into Zang Xin's hands. That was why she had been injured.
Now that the Holy Spirit Cult had finished dividing the spoils, they scattered. Before leaving, Dark Hummingbird instinctively glanced at Eastsea Academy, feeling as though something there resonated with him.
However, after sweeping the area with his spiritual power, he found nothing. Eastsea City was now under close observation, with countless factions' spies gathered there.
A single quest issued by the God of Games had brought the place to life. Countless factions had gathered here, including the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, the Spirit Pagoda, the War God Temple, the Federation, Shrek Academy, the Sun Moon Soul Engineer Academy, and Virtuous Hall.
None of the Evil Soul Masters dared make a move now. Wouldn't causing trouble in Eastsea City at a time like this be courting death? The Holy Spirit Cult's party therefore slipped away quickly, putting distance between themselves and Eastsea City.
Meanwhile, after confirming that the Holy Spirit Cult's party had left, Lin Huan released East Sea Little Changkong and reminded her:
"Little girl, make sure you stay safe."
"Okay, Officer."
Long Bing answered sweetly, looking innocent and adorable, before leaving the police station with Wu Changkong.
After walking out of the police station, Wu Changkong was still questioning his life. Had he just been mistaken for a lolicon? Long Bing couldn't help laughing either.
"Changkong, for the sake of your reputation, I'll have to stay with you as your younger sister for now."
"...Mm, let's head back. Right, I still need to find a way to get you a Soul Spirit."
Wu Changkong nodded slightly, agreeing to the proposal. To avoid being arrested and electrocuted again, this was his only option.
There was also the fact that his wife... Aaaaargh! (Electrocuted.) His younger sister, Long Bing, was now in the six-year-old state she had just been resurrected in: she had innate full Soul Power but no Soul Spirit.
Even hundred-year Soul Spirits sold for millions these days. In the original story, there was that Godslayer King Kong Baboon encountered when Tang Wulin's group went to challenge the tower after enrolling at Shrek Academy and getting to know Yuanen Yehui.
That Godslayer King Kong Baboon, which had chased down and beaten up Dragon Emperor Douluo, Silver Dragon King, Spacetime Douluo, Starry Sky Douluo, Angel Douluo, Titan Douluo, and Steamer Douluo, cost thirty million.
Soul Spirit prices were primarily determined by three factors: potential, age, and species.
For instance, a five-thousand-year King Kong Baboon was a high-ranking Soul Beast with the potential to become a ten-thousand-year Soul Spirit, and sold for thirty million.
If it were a five-thousand-year King Kong Giant Ape, the price would be at least ninety million, perhaps even over a hundred million. It was a top-tier Soul Beast with the potential to evolve to the hundred-thousand-year level, so its price would be several times higher at the very least.
But what if it were a Titan Giant Ape? That would be a priceless treasure. A super Soul Beast was certain to become a hundred-thousand-year Soul Beast. Of course, if it possessed draconic attributes, the price would be even more outrageous.
Wu Changkong didn't have much money out here in this remote backwater. In the original story, even buying that thousand-year Dragon Scale Fruit for Tang Wulin had required Little Changkong to call in a favor and have the Tang Sect help purchase it.
Now, however, he couldn't return to Shrek Academy or the Tang Sect. He couldn't use his Tang Sect contribution points, and his salary from a small school like Eastsea Academy wouldn't cover it either.
He began considering how to earn enough money to buy his younger sister Long Bing her first Soul Spirit. Surely he couldn't sell his ass?
Just as Wu Changkong was pondering this, he suddenly heard someone calling to him.
"Young man, I need a model for an advertisement. Ten million Federation Coins when it's done. Interested?"
Hearing this, Wu Changkong and Long Bing turned to see someone holding a sign that read: Models wanted for an advertisement. Payment of ten million Federation Coins upon completion.
"Changkong, doesn't this seem a little fake? And this uncle... why does he look a bit familiar?"
Long Bing tugged Wu Changkong's sleeve. Looking at the middle-aged man holding the sign, she felt it was far too fake, and there was something strange about him.
Her woman's intuition told her that something was definitely wrong with this man. The person before them was none other than Lin Huan, wearing another identity. He knew East Sea Little Changkong was worrying over buying a Soul Spirit for his younger sister Long Bing.
It was the perfect opportunity to deliver some money to him. Little Changkong himself hadn't noticed anything amiss. What a joke-if a Soul Saint could see through Lin Huan, a peak First-Level God, wouldn't all his cultivation have been for nothing? Long Bing had a sixth sense, but that was beyond his control.
Looking at the middle-aged man dressed like a wealthy merchant, he considered that the man was merely an ordinary person, while he was a Soul Saint. The man couldn't possibly dare deceive him. Even if he did, Wu Changkong could simply use his strength to beat him up.
In Hajikong's eyes, Lin Huan was just an ordinary person, so he wasn't particularly guarded. Besides, he really was short on money, so he spoke up:
"An advertisement? What kind? Let me make this clear first: if it's anything improper, I won't agree."
Little Changkong laid down his ground rules first. He was a good citizen of the Douluo Federation. He didn't break the law or violate regulations, nor would he engage in any disreputable business. Earning money was fine, but earning dirty money was beyond him.
"Don't worry, don't worry. It's just a drink-coconut milk. Want to try some?"
Lin Huan hurriedly answered with a face full of smiles, handing over a case of coconut milk for him to inspect.
Wu Changkong opened it curiously and took a look. The ingredient list was quite clean: pure additives, nothing natural.
He then took out a bottle, opened it, and had a sip. It tasted excellent, better than most drinks on the market, so he nodded his agreement.
"All right, I accept."
"Hehe, excellent! Young man, one look at that handsome figure of yours told me you'd make a great advertising model. This ad is definitely going to go viral!"
"I have one more condition."
Hearing "go viral," Wu Changkong remembered that he might currently be in many people's sights and immediately added another condition. Lin Huan nodded for him to continue:
"Go ahead."
"You must not reveal my whereabouts in Eastsea City."
"No problem! I'll broadcast the ad in Mingdu, the farthest place from Eastsea City. Absolutely no one will know you're in Eastsea City."
Once they had settled the terms of their cooperation, filming officially began. Lin Huan had Wu Changkong strike a pose:
He stood in place, drawing his left arm back to support the bottom of the coconut milk can while reaching his right hand around his head to press down on its top.
Looking at this pose, Long Bing inexplicably found it an eyesore, yet somehow addictive too. What was that about? She wasn't sure, so she took another look... How had she never known her husband was this shameless?
The advertisement was soon finished. Looking at the coconut milk ad endorsed by East Sea Little Changkong, Lin Huan nodded in satisfaction. Not bad, not bad. Later, he would have Little Changkong work in sales, selling products on livestreams to support Long Bing.
"Excellent, excellent. I'm very satisfied. Here's the payment I promised you."
As he spoke, he placed a safe in front of Wu Changkong. Two pairs of eyes, one belonging to an adult and one to a child, settled on it, confusion flashing in both.
Strange... Why put ten million Federation Coins in a safe? Don't you have a bank card or debit card or something? Or is this dirty money?!
For a moment, all sorts of guesses flashed through Wu Changkong's and Long Bing's minds, along with numerous suspicions that the money had come from an illicit source. Ten million was already an enormous amount of cash.
Paying in cash was indeed rather suspicious, so they could hardly be blamed for thinking that. Just as Wu Changkong was about to question him, he looked up to find no trace of the man. He had vanished.
"How is that possible?!"
Wu Changkong shuddered violently. Someone who could instantly vanish from his perception without him noticing anything could only be a Titled Douluo or stronger!
At that thought, his expression immediately grew grave. Never in his wildest dreams had he expected a mighty Titled Douluo to come all this way specifically to trick him into filming an advertisement. Seriously? Are you Titled Douluos sick in the head? So bored your balls ache?
"Changkong, where did that uncle go?"
Only belatedly realizing that the middle-aged man who had given them the safe had disappeared, Long Bing immediately questioned the person beside her, only to receive an exceedingly grave answer.
"He's gone... I didn't notice a thing..."
"That uncle was a powerful expert too?!"
Long Bing instantly shuddered as well, lingering fear flashing through her eyes. At the same time, she considered what purpose he could have had in approaching Wu Changkong. What purpose could filming an advertisement serve?
"Let's leave this place first..."
Unease stirred in Wu Changkong's heart. He wanted to leave the city and conceal his identity. His current appearance was indeed far too conspicuous; he needed a disguise.
Wu Changkong immediately took out a hat, a mask, and sunglasses, covering his face completely. As soon as he finished speaking, he prepared to make himself scarce. Long Bing picked up the safe, put it inside her Storage Soul Tool, and fled with him.
Wu Changkong had no intention of returning to Eastsea Academy. His teacher Zhuo Shi could conceal news of him for a while at most. He couldn't hide there forever; he would be discovered sooner or later.
The two soon left Eastsea City far behind and reached neighboring Skysea City. Relying on his formidable strength, Wu Changkong brought Long Bing aboard a high-speed train to get there, then found a hotel to stay in.
"Changkong, I'm curious about what's inside. Even if it's dirty money, we can still use it. At least we earned it ourselves."
Long Bing took out the safe and knocked on it. It looked extremely sturdy, and a dull sound rang out. After a moment's thought, Wu Changkong nodded too. Dirty money it was, then. They were already being sought by countless major factions anyway.
"Bing'er, move aside. I'll try cutting it open."
As Wu Changkong spoke, he raised his hand and closed his fingers. An ice sword appeared, and he slashed down.
Clang!
A crisp sound rang out as the longsword formed from ice elements snapped. Astonishment flashed through Wu Changkong's eyes, and he stared thoughtfully at the broken ice sword in his hand.
"Its hardness rivals soul-forged metal... This material is no ordinary thing..."
Looking at the safe, which remained pristine, smooth, and completely intact, Long Bing realized it wasn't as ordinary as it appeared. He noticed the puzzle mechanism on it and immediately beckoned.
"Changkong, it looks like we can just try solving this puzzle."
The two leaned in to examine the safe and found a question affixed to its front.
Question: Twenty thousand years ago, why was the rank eighty-nine Tang Hao able to escape pursuit by three Titled Douluos?
A. Qian Xunji was actually secretly in love with Tang Hao and couldn't bear to hurt him.
B. Tang Hao seduced Qian Xunji.
C. The hundred-thousand-year Soul Beast Blue Silver Emperor sacrificed herself.
D. Tang Hao escaped pursuit by the three Titled Douluos by selling his ass.
Wu Changkong was speechless at the question. What the hell are these answers? Isn't this a bit ridiculous? Only an idiot could get it wrong.
With that thought, Wu Changkong chose C without hesitation. The very next second, a surge of electricity struck him.
"Aaaaargh!"
East Sea Little Changkong immediately screamed. Long Bing jumped in fright, then hurried forward in concern at the sight of Wu Changkong, electrocuted until he was crispy outside and tender within.
"Changkong, are you all right?"
"I'm fine... I seriously suspect this safe's answer is wrong..."
His face blackened, Wu Changkong stared at the safe. History clearly recorded that Tang Hao had successfully repelled Spirit Hall's attackers thanks to the sacrifice of the Hundred-Thousand-Year Blue Silver Emperor. How could that be wrong?
"Let me try. One of them has to be right. Maybe option D is correct."
As she spoke, Long Bing reached out to select D, but Wu Changkong stopped her. What a joke! How could he possibly let her put herself at risk?
"I'll do it. It's just getting zapped a few times."
With that, he reached out and selected the last option.
Beep!
An electronic sound rang out, and the safe's red light turned green. It had opened successfully. Wu Changkong and Long Bing exchanged looks, question marks practically appearing above their heads. Then the safe began playing a video...
Meanwhile, in Holy Soul Village, in the Martial Soul Realm.
Having finished awakening her Martial Souls, Tang Shan returned to the thatched wooden cottage, her cheeks rosy and her complexion healthy. She carried a large bundle of wild vegetables and two wild rabbits in her arms.
The moment she entered, she heard thunderous snoring and saw the mess strewn across the floor. Those were the pots and bowls Tang Hao had thrown at her in anger. They were all broken, so she could only try repairing them herself.
As she repaired the furniture, Lin Huan's figure kept flashing through her mind, frequently leaving her distracted. She thought about going to the hill behind the village after preparing dinner that evening to see whether she could meet Brother Lin Huan again.
Evening soon arrived. Tang Hao slowly emerged from his room, and Tang Shan called out fearfully:
"Father... Dinner is ready..."
However, he didn't spare his daughter another glance. He simply sat down and started eating.
Halfway through the meal, however, Tang Hao suddenly detected fluctuations of Soul Power from Tang Shan. He froze, astonishment flashing through his eyes, followed by anger.
"Did you go awaken your Martial Soul? Answer me!"
His furious roar shook the entire wooden cottage, and his incomparably powerful presence bore down on Tang Shan. Facing the enraged Tang Hao, her eyes filled with panic, but she still answered honestly:
"Yes, Father... I awakened my Martial Souls not long ago. Look, I awakened innate full Soul Power, and twin Martial Souls!"
As she spoke, Tang Shan hurriedly displayed her two Martial Souls. A stalk of Blue Silver Grass and a Clear Sky Hammer appeared in her hands.
November's third and fourth updates, combined into one four-thousand-character chapter.