More than ten days later, Soul Fighting Cards were seeing a lukewarm reception in Lingdou City, while Xu Sanshi had left to enroll at Shrek Academy. Everyone's spirits were somewhat low.
Never mind promoting them across the entire continent; at the moment, even getting them beyond Lingdou City was a problem.
More importantly, they also had to cultivate regularly and couldn't spend all day running the business. The Soul Fighting Society had fallen into a half-dead state.
Chu Jiazheng had to return to his sect to handle its affairs, leaving only Xue Lingyi at Ease Pavilion to keep him company.
Chu Qing frowned at this. The dream was beautiful, but reality was cruel. He said to everyone:
"That's all for today. Everyone, head home for now."
They left one by one, until only Princess Xue Li remained. She encouraged him:
"Don't lose heart. I believe you'll succeed."
As she spoke, she took a small, palm-sized leather pouch from her ring.
Chu Qing could clearly see that it was made of the same material as the wrapping around the Soul Bone before. It blocked its contents' presence, making it impossible to sense what was inside.
Thinking it must also have been given to her by the Dou Ling Emperor, he took it. He could feel segments inside and wondered why the Soul Bone was so small. Unable to resist, he opened one corner, and dark golden light immediately burst out.
He was startled. It was actually a 90,000-year Man Faced Demon Spider Emperor External Soul Bone: ten finger bones.
The Soul Bone was of exceptionally high quality. Judging by the energy spilling from it, it even possessed the rare Mental Attribute.
Princess Xue Li looked at him with a smile.
"Well? Do you like it?"
Chu Qing nodded and accepted the Soul Bone, then turned to Xue Zhan in the courtyard.
"Elder Zhan, I'm going out for a stroll with Princess Xue Li. I'll bring you back some tobacco and liquor from the night market."
Xue Zhan leisurely waved his fan and said:
"Xiao Qing, bring me back some dishes to go with the wine too. An old acquaintance of mine is coming tonight."
Chu Qing nodded and took Princess Xue Li out. As the two of them strolled through the night market with no one following them, he said:
"Xue Li, I've always thought of you as a younger sister."
Princess Xue Li's eyes dimmed.
Chu Qing stroked her head and said affectionately:
"Silly girl, I won't let you become a tool for a political marriage."
"For now, we'll just pretend we are. That way, they won't arrange other matches for us."
"During that time, you can be yourself."
"By the time I'm in my twenties, I should have enough strength. Then I'll protect you, and you can live however you want. No one will be able to decide your fate for you again."
Tears glistened in Princess Xue Li's eyes. Whether she was happy or sad, it was hard to tell. She nodded and smiled.
"All right, I'll do as you say."
Chu Qing smiled and asked:
"All right, what do you want to eat? Don't hold back with me. Tonight, we'll eat to our hearts' content. Don't be afraid of getting fat."
"All right, you're treating."
Princess Xue Li followed happily behind him.
In the end, Chu Qing escorted her into the imperial palace and waved goodbye. Princess Xue Li watched his retreating figure, silently grieving.
"What if you're the one I like? Will I be able to marry you then?"
Chu Qing bought the things and returned to the Soul Fighting Society. Seeing Xue Zhan waiting for him at the entrance, he felt it was rather improper.
"Elder Zhan, I'm back. Let's go inside."
"You don't need to worry about my safety. We're right under the imperial city's nose, after all."
"Xue Zhan" turned to look at him, his gaze somewhat cold.
Chu Qing sensed it and was surprised. He hurriedly backed away and exclaimed in shock:
"You're not Elder Zhan!"
"Who are you?"
The old man chuckled, his presence frightening.
Just then, Xue Zhan's voice came from inside:
"Don't be afraid, Xiao Qing. As it happens, he's your fourth great-uncle. Come in."
At that moment, three people also emerged from the shadows. Chu Qing had met one of them before: Wu Feng's grandmother.
The middle-aged man at their head had a heroic and extraordinary appearance. Seeing that there seemed to have been a misunderstanding, he spoke, though he was still somewhat uneasy:
"Young friend, sorry to disturb you. I am Ning Changqiu, sect master of the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect. Our sect is quite interested in your Soul Fighting Cards. We can provide you with ancient records of the battle between the two gods ten thousand years ago. Could we commission a batch of cards from you?"
Chu Qing immediately felt much more at ease and said:
"Many thanks, Sect Master Ning, but it's already late today. I'll pay you a personal visit tomorrow instead."
He wanted to invite the three of them inside, but then he felt that doing so would make Xue Zhan think he didn't trust him.
Ning Changqiu was mildly surprised and said:
"Very well, tomorrow it is."
He left with the other two. After they had gone several dozen paces, Wu Feng's grandmother still glanced back from time to time at Shadow Douluo Xue Chen, who had defected to the Sun Moon Empire, clearly distrustful of him.
Chu Qing said respectfully:
"Fourth Great-Uncle, I'm Princess Xue Lingyi's son. Let's go inside."
A hint of a smile appeared in Xue Chen's eyes, and he nodded in affirmation.
Chu Qing followed him inside. Looking at Xue Zhan and Xue Chen, whose appearances were nearly identical and whose presences were also much the same, he had many questions.
He put the things down and addressed Xue Zhan, no longer calling him Elder Zhan, but Great-Uncle.
"Great-Uncle, do you think this is enough?"
"Fourth Great-Uncle hasn't been back for quite a few years, has he? Should I go buy some more of Lingdou's local delicacies from the night market?"
Xue Zhan laughed. That boy Chu Qing certainly knew what to do.
"Go and come back quickly. Stay safe."
Chu Qing went out.
Xue Zhan asked:
"Well?"
"That boy's not bad, is he?"
Xue Chen nodded as well and said:
"He really has a differently colored Soul Ring, and his Second Soul Ring is a Thousand-Year Soul Ring?"
Xue Zhan looked rather pleased with himself.
"He already has three rings. He barely broke a sweat absorbing a 9,000-year Soul Ring. If his spiritual power hadn't been insufficient, I reckon absorbing a 10,000-year one would have been no problem either."
"That fast?" Xue Chen was quite surprised.
Xue Zhan smiled and said:
"Guess what level his Soul Power is now."
Xue Chen pondered it, feeling somewhat puzzled.
"Even if absorbing a Soul Ring can raise his Soul Power Level, a 9,000-year one still..."
"Level 40."
Xue Zhan spoke lightly, raising his wine cup and drinking calmly as he gleefully watched the shocked expression on Xue Chen's face.
"How is that possible?"
Baffled and intensely curious, Xue Chen pressed him for answers. At last, he nodded with deep feeling.
"You shouldn't let him show his face in public so much."
Xue Zhan said calmly:
"We gave him that Man Faced Spider Emperor External Finger Bone you wanted back then. With its disguise, ordinary people won't recognize him unless he runs into a Titled Douluo or a spiritual-type expert."
"If we really can't protect him, he can hide on his own without a problem."
Xue Chen nodded and filled a cup with wine.
"That's good, then."
Half an hour later, Chu Qing returned with the things he had bought.
Wu Feng's grandmother, who had been watching Chu Qing from the shadows, said angrily:
"That brat really doesn't take his own safety seriously."
Ning Changqiu said:
"He does have considerable nerve."
He said regretfully:
"Given the Spirit Rhinoceros Sect's resources, if they didn't push him into the spotlight, it would hold Chu Qing back."
"It's just a pity that a genius like him wasn't born in our Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect. Otherwise, I'd have him wait until he became a Titled Douluo before appearing in public."
Chu Qing returned to the Soul Fighting Society, where the brothers Xue Zhan and Xue Chen were spending time together.
He withdrew to one side and began to meditate and cultivate.
By the time he opened his eyes, it was already past midnight. Xue Zhan looked at him and nodded, sighing with endless feeling:
"He's truly a fine seedling for cultivation!"
Xue Chen seemed to have left. Chu Qing asked curiously:
"Great-Uncle, what about Fourth Great-Uncle?"
Xue Zhan explained:
"It's an old story, and a long one. For now, you only need to remember that he's the Sun Moon Empire's Shadow Douluo."
Chu Qing was immediately startled. He did have some recollection of Shadow Douluo Xue Chen, one of Xu Tianran's people.
Seeing his surprise, Xue Zhan wasn't surprised himself. He said:
"Don't worry, the war hasn't started yet."
"Whatever else he may be, he's still your fourth great-uncle. Today, here in the Dou Ling Empire, he's already eliminated all the spies planted by the Sun Moon Empire whom he didn't trust."
Chu Qing was curious.
"So Fourth Great-Uncle is an undercover agent in the Sun Moon Empire!"
Xue Zhan shook his head regretfully, looking weary at heart.
"No."
"Often, things move toward an ending we can scarcely change."
"If war breaks out and we meet, we'll still be enemies."
Chu Qing nodded.
Xue Zhan said:
"But don't worry. He said that just because you called him Fourth Great-Uncle those few times, if the Sun Moon Empire has a plan specifically to eliminate you, he'll let us know a day in advance."
Chu Qing thought for a moment and asked:
"Wouldn't that put him in danger?"
He knew how ruthless Xu Tianran was.
Xue Zhan laughed.
"Like me, he doesn't have many years left to live. It's no longer a question of whether it's dangerous."
He couldn't help stroking Chu Qing's head as he said:
"I'll stand guard for you. Hurry and absorb the Man Faced Spider Emperor's Soul Bone. It has a fine skill that's long since solidified into Man Faced Demon Puppet!"
"Give it a try. Perhaps those fellows outside misjudged it for a moment and mistook it entirely."
Chu Qing nodded. After taking Ginger Softness Grass, he sat down cross-legged on the spot and began absorbing it.