First Arrival in Mingdu
"Nani!"
The five women were shocked once again. While waiting in line, they had seen just how formidable Xu De was: a level 43 Soul Ancestor at twelve years old. And the director wanted him to team up with them? Was he serious?
"Um, director, how about we forget it? I don't think we're really suited to this place. We're not actually as talented as you think!"
Ning Rong spoke up first, and the other women behind her chimed in together. They had only just arrived, and although they were awed by Mingdu's might, they had not forgotten their original goal: to steal the art of Soul Tool crafting and then return to the empire.
"Hahaha, no need to decline. I've seen your talents for myself, so that settles it. Oh, and you can ask Xu De more about Soul Tools. He's a fourth-rank Soul Engineer!" After saying that, Meng Shu left without giving them a chance to react.
??? What the heck? Was he saying a twelve-year-old Soul Ancestor had also found enough spare time to reach the fourth rank in Soul Tool studies?
The women's gazes snapped to Xu De in unison. They looked at him as though he were a monster. No, they were looking at a monster.
Xu De rubbed his nose, but otherwise barely reacted. By now, he had cultivated a thick enough skin. He was flirting with girls, and more than one at that. If he were thin-skinned, how many times would he have embarrassed himself?
His intensive study of Soul Tools was also why Xu De's Soul Power was so low right now. At this point, someone might ask: was level 43 at twelve years old really low? Gangzi had only broken through to level 30 at fifty.
But could the two be compared? Xu De had been born at level 20, and his cultivation speed was fast to begin with. Add to that the Soul Power boosts from his Immortal Herb and Soul Bone, and by his own estimate, if he had not devoted himself to studying Soul Tools, he might have been at least level 53 by now.
"So, should we call you Xu De or Xu Wushuang, Your Highness?" Hu Liena stepped forward, a faint pink light flickering in her eyes as she looked at Xu De with a teasing expression.
Xu De had never intended to hide the truth from these women. In fact, he would gradually show his true face to others as well. After all, now that the five women were here, he had never considered the possibility of failing to bring them into his harem.
As for the others, he could win them over gradually, even make them submit of their own accord. Those fellows from the Lower Four Sects didn't have such stiff backbones. He had kept his identity hidden because he didn't want them to become wary as soon as they arrived.
"Miss Hu certainly knows quite a lot. Since we're going to be a team from now on, why don't we introduce ourselves?"
Xu De ignored Hu Liena and walked among the group. He bowed slightly in a noble's greeting. "I am Xu De, a twelve-year-old level 43 Battle Soul Master. My Martial Soul is the Purple Brilliant Heaven Destroying Dragon, and I'm also a fourth-rank Soul Engineer."
As he finished, Soul Rings lit up beneath his feet in succession: purple, purple, black, black.
Before anyone could react, Xiao Wu also stepped forward and introduced herself. "My name is Xiao Wu, the Wu from dancing. I'm a twelve-year-old level 35 Battle Soul Master, and my Martial Soul is the adorable Soft Bone Rabbit! My favorite food is carrots!"
Soul Rings lit up beneath her feet in turn: yellow, purple, purple.
Ning Rongrong's expression was truly off now. With Soul Ring Configurations like those, were they really human? Xiao Wu's second ring being a thousand-year ring was one thing, but what the heck was with Xu De's first ring being a thousand-year ring and his third a ten-thousand-year ring?
Seeing Xu De turn his gaze toward her, Ning Rongrong swallowed with difficulty and introduced herself as well.
After everyone had finished introducing themselves, Xu De smiled. "All right, now that everyone's introduced themselves, it's settled. Does anyone object to me being the team captain?"
The people present looked at one another, but no one spoke. Did they have any reason or ability to refuse?
"Hu Liena, your Soul Power is the highest at level 43, so you'll be vice captain. As for Bing'er and Yue'er, you have a Martial Soul Fusion Skill, so you can practice it more often. And Yue'er, you need to work harder. Your sister's already level 42, but you're only level 36!
"As for Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing, your most pressing task is to raise your Soul Power. The academy has suitable mimicry environments and secret medicines, but you'll need to exchange your own contribution points for them. And you must use the secret medicines strictly according to the plan I give you. That's the only way to avoid damaging your foundations."
Xu De issued instructions one after another, laying everything out clearly. Although Ning Rongrong felt a little resentful, she could find nothing to argue against. Zhu Zhuqing, on the other hand, nodded earnestly. She had come here to grow stronger, and there was nothing wrong with what Xu De had said, so of course she would listen.
"All right, don't be so serious. Go pick out your own rooms in the villa and get ready. I'll take you into Mingdu for a feast tonight!"
Seeing that everyone had something on her mind, Xu De decided to bring them closer together over a meal.
"Yay!" Shui Yue'er was the first to cheer. Shui Bing'er shot her a glare, then voiced her agreement as well. The remaining women cheered in unison. It was their first time in Mingdu too, and they naturally would not miss a chance to see the vast capital.
The women took their luggage into the villa one after another to pick their rooms. Only Xiao Wu stayed glued to Xu De. "Hmph, you big liar, you big jerk! You started getting involved with all sorts of pretty girls as soon as you arrived!"
Xu De cleared his throat twice and offered no rebuttal. After all, it was true. "Xiao Wu, you're the most important person in my heart! Maybe I'll have all sorts of women in the future, but I promise, you'll always be the one I love most!"
Loving a woman meant not only showing it through actions, but also saying it aloud so she could feel how you felt. With women, if you only acted without sweet-talking them, you might as well have done nothing.
"Really?" Xiao Wu raised her head, her big, watery eyes meeting Xu De's gaze. Just as Xu De thought she was so moved she was about to cry, Xiao Wu spoke again.
"Then why did you sleep with Sister Yiran without me?" Xu De hurriedly covered her mouth in fright. Was that something she could say here?
"Xiao Wu, you're too young right now. Let's talk about it in a few years!" Although Soul Masters developed extremely quickly and were basically fully developed by twelve or thirteen, Xu De couldn't get past it psychologically.
"Xu De!" Huo Wu walked in from outside the villa, looking aggrieved. "Your name isn't Xu Wushuang at all. You actually lied to me!"
Xu De felt a headache coming on. Now he truly understood how difficult it was to be caught between women. "Sister Huo Wu, if I said I had unavoidable reasons, would you believe me?"
He looked at Huo Wu sincerely and slowly took her hand, his gaze unwavering, even as Xiao Wu pinched him hard.
"Xu De, we're ready! When are we going for that feast?" Shui Yue'er came skipping out of the villa, followed by a helpless-looking Shui Bing'er and an expressionless Zhu Zhuqing.
"Let's go, right now. I've already had someone make a reservation. Sister Huo Wu, come with us."
Huo Wu looked at Xu De. Although she knew he was only sweet-talking her, for some reason she simply couldn't get angry. Sigh, was she one of those lovestruck fools from the stories?
Meanwhile, at a couples-themed hotel in Mingdu called the Rose Grand Hotel, Dai Mubai had his arms around two pairs of twin sisters and looked thoroughly worn out from overindulgence.
"What's wrong, Young Master Dai? Come on, let's keep going!"
Listening to the beauties beside him urging him on, Dai Mubai felt a sudden, inexplicable palpitation, as though something was about to happen and he was about to lose something exceedingly precious.