"A ten-thousand-year Crystal Blood Dragon Ginseng?!"
Yang Wushuang was stunned for a moment, shaking his head with a trace of surprise. "Your Highness, this subordinate has never heard of a Crystal Blood Dragon Ginseng over ten thousand years old. As for the Agility Clan, I have had many dealings with them and haven't noticed anything unusual. I wonder where Your Highness heard this news from?" Doubt filled Yang Wushuang's eyes.
"Just hearsay. Since you don't know, then I shall return," Ye Tian said, shaking his head slightly before turning to leave. He already had the answer in his heart. It seemed the Ten-Thousand-Year Crystal Blood Dragon Ginseng in Bai He's possession was obtained after the clan left the Clear Sky School. He could only plan for it later.
"Farewell, Your Highness!" Yang Wushuang knelt on the ground and shouted respectfully.
The next morning.
While Ye Tian and Bi Bi Dong were still sitting cross-legged on the bed, back to back, with the translucent Flawless Nascent Pill hovering above their heads—meditating quietly amidst a mist of spiritual energy—a brisk set of happy footsteps hurried up the stairs.
Hu Liena's short orange hair bobbed up and down, and her small face was brimming with smiles. As she ran, she seemed light as air, as if floating. Her bright eyes sparkled with irrepressible excitement.
Bi Bi Dong was already about to wake up. Her delicate ears twitched slightly as she heard the familiar footsteps. Her Purple Eyes slowly opened. "Brat, it seems your junior sister is back," she said calmly.
Hearing this, Ye Tian, who was pressed tightly against her, shifted slightly. He opened his eyes and looked toward the door, a smile appearing on his face. "She's running so fast; it seems her gains were quite significant."
"Why not just ask her?" As she spoke, a fragrant breeze brushed past Ye Tian. Bi Bi Dong had already reached the dressing table. With a wave of her hand, the door swung open.
"Teacher?" Hu Liena's surprised voice rang out. Through the doorframe, Ye Tian soon saw Hu Liena still in a mid-run posture.
"Heh... come in. He's still here with me," Bi Bi Dong said with a smile as she sat down gracefully. Then, a hint of surprise appeared in her eyes as she looked at Hu Liena—was there still Soul Power fluctuating around her?
"Haha, I see, Teacher!" Hu Liena laughed and skipped into the room. Seeing Ye Tian sitting on the bed, she gave a joyful cry. "Morning, Senior Brother!"
"Morning. You're smiling so sweetly, Nana; it seems your gains weren't small at all?" Ye Tian asked with a grin. In the Soul Master Realm, under normal circumstances where one wasn't deliberately showing off, it was impossible to see a Soul Master's specific cultivation level—unless one had mastered a special Soul Skill like Ning Fengzhi. Coincidentally, Spirit Hall possessed such skills as well.
"She's already a Rank 27 Soul Grandmaster, so the gains are naturally not small." Bi Bi Dong merely glanced at Hu Liena's feet before withdrawing her gaze and cheerfully began to comb her loose hair.
"Mm-hm! Teacher is right!" Hu Liena nodded repeatedly in delight. Her charming figure spun in place, and a fluffy tail appeared behind her. Two purple Spirit Rings slowly unfurled beneath her feet as she excitedly reported the good news. "Nana is already a Rank 27 Soul Grandmaster. So is my brother. That arrogant Yan is slightly ahead; he's a Rank 28 Soul Grandmaster."
"Haha... In that case, it's about what I expected. The Phoenix Sky-Burning Pill made from the Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower as the main ingredient is indeed more powerful, though the pain is greater as well. You reap what you sow," Ye Tian said with interest, nodding slightly.
"Don't worry, Senior Brother! That arrogant Yan won't be ahead for long. My brother and I will overtake him soon! He can only enjoy his little lead for a moment." Hu Liena was a bit disgruntled when mentioning Yan's progress, but her movements didn't slow down. Without even appearing to walk, she seemed to be skating as she kept her hands behind her back and lightly tapped the ground with her toes. She glided toward Ye Tian on one foot, her face full of pride and an expectant smile, as if seeking praise.
Seeing this, Ye Tian was first surprised, then delighted! "Nana, you can fly?"
Indeed! To Ye Tian, this wasn't just gliding; it was more like flying! It was the state of flight Hu Liena achieved by using Mind Power to support her feet!
"Haha! That's right! After Nana became a Soul Grandmaster, not only can I fly myself, but I can also make Senior Brother fly!" Hu Liena chirped before pouncing into Ye Tian's arms.
"That's wonderful!" Ye Tian was overjoyed. He couldn't help but reach out and grab Hu Liena's two fox ears, giving them a gentle tug like he was revving a motorcycle throttle.
"This is nothing," Hu Liena said, her face flushing as she nuzzled against Ye Tian's stomach. The fox tails behind her wagged shyly as she continued to explain. "It's all thanks to the Spirit Rings Senior Brother planned for Nana! After absorbing the second Millennium Mystic Pivot Nine-Tailed Fox Spirit Ring, not only did Nana's Mind Power improve significantly, but the number of objects I can control has also changed. Instead of one object for every ten ranks, it's now two. Meaning, Nana can now control four objects separately!"
Hu Liena looked up at Ye Tian and held up four fingers. Her eyes narrowed into crescents. "And the benefits Nana received don't stop there!"
"There's more?!" Ye Tian was stunned.
"Yes! There's more!" Hu Liena nodded vigorously, her tails wagging even faster, like a pet acting spoiled for its master.
While Ye Tian was still pondering, Bi Bi Dong's voice suddenly drifted over. "Brat, this doesn't seem like the observational skill you should have. Is it because you're not fully awake? It's one thing that you didn't notice Nana has been using a Soul Skill since she walked in, but did you really fail to notice the extra tail behind her?"
After speaking, Bi Bi Dong looked back at Ye Tian while also giving Hu Liena a hidden, sharp glare. To think she dared to hug Ye Tian on her bed! How audacious!
"An extra tail?" Ye Tian was momentarily dazed. He looked up and finally noticed the two large pink tails swaying before him! He was even more delighted. "Nana, your Martial Soul evolved?!"
"Yes! Teacher is the best! Nana told Senior Brother there was a little tail growing after taking the Phantom Seizing Heaven Pill, but you didn't react at all." Hu Liena puffed out her cheeks, her eyes filled with resentment. She seemed to be blaming Ye Tian for not checking her properly back then.
"Heh... back then, I was exhausted from Teacher's training. I didn't pay much attention," Ye Tian explained with a sheepish laugh. Bi Bi Dong heard this and gave a knowing, extremely tender smile toward the mirror.
"However, it makes sense now. No wonder you can lift yourself up with only your second Spirit Ring. I'm afraid the Martial Soul evolution played a huge part... after all, the same Soul Skill performed by Martial Souls of different qualities results in a massive difference. A higher-quality Martial Soul provides a much greater amplification to the Soul Master." Ye Tian gently patted away the two fox tails Hu Liena waved in front of him and then affectionately patted her forehead.
"Hehe! Senior Brother is exactly right!" Hu Liena hugged Ye Tian's waist and rested her head on his thighs, wiggling her body. "How about Nana makes Senior Brother fly?"
"Oh?" Ye Tian raised an eyebrow, his face quickly showing a hint of playfulness. He nodded heavily. "Sure! It just so happens that in a few days, I want to give Teacher quite a surprise..."
"???" Bi Bi Dong raised an eyebrow, her expression turning slightly strange. She looked back at Ye Tian and warned, "The Succession Ceremony for the Holy Son will be the focus of everyone's attention. Don't you dare do anything reckless. If you mess it up, I won't forgive you!"
"I won't, Teacher. I don't want to lose face either," Ye Tian promised with a smile. Looking at the two swaying fox tails before him, he couldn't help but reach out and start stroking them... He wondered if Hu Liena's Demon Fox Spirit would eventually evolve into a Nine-Tailed Demon Fox if she continued to add Mystic Pivot Nine-Tailed Fox Spirit Rings.
"Ah... Ying! Senior Brother, be gentler..."
"!!!"
As Hu Liena's delicate, strange cry rang out, an icy aura instantly made Ye Tian feel like he had fallen into an ice cellar. He looked up and met Bi Bi Dong's cold gaze.
"Uh!" Ye Tian's hand froze mid-stroke. Hu Liena's delicate cry was instantly cured as she started shivering, hurriedly trying to squeeze into Ye Tian's arms. "Senior Brother, save me!"
"What do you two think my bed is? A place for flirting?" Bi Bi Dong appeared by the bedside in a flash.
"Ah—Senior Brother!" Amidst Hu Liena's scream, Bi Bi Dong hoisted her up. Then, seeing that Ye Tian was also being hoisted, Hu Liena immediately stopped screaming in a daze.
Ye Tian's numb gaze met hers, and the poor pair of fellow disciples were tossed out directly by Bi Bi Dong.
Heaven Dou City!
In an unnamed tea house, on the drafty top floor. It seemed the entire floor had been reserved. Of the five tables, only the center one had steaming hot tea.
A middle-aged man with apricot-colored hair sat there. His light-yellow physician's robe was embroidered with a striking flower that resembled a begonia. He exuded a sense of calm and harmony, possessing the tranquility of one who had seen through life and death.
A warm breeze brought with it a slight scent of snake musk.
"The Head of the Ye Family truly has elegant tastes. It is rare for someone to invite this old man out for a cup of hot tea." Following the greeting, a dark green figure appeared in front of the middle-aged man.
"Haha... Head of the Dugu Family, you must be joking. What is so rare about me inviting you for tea? That you actually accepted the invitation is what's truly rare." The middle-aged man gave a gentle laugh that felt incredibly approachable.
Who else in Heaven Dou City could be addressed as the Head of the Dugu Family? It was, of course, Dugu Bo, the man who would later be known as the Poison Overlord of the World!
And for someone to be able to talk and laugh with Dugu Bo—a Rank 80-plus Soul Douluo known for being eccentric and temperamental—they naturally couldn't be an ordinary person. This middle-aged man was the current head of the Nine-Hearted Begonia Ye Family, Ye Renxin! Though he looked middle-aged, his true age was not much different from Dugu Bo's.