"Of course, it's about you and Xue'er going undercover in Heaven Dou City," Ye Tian reminded with some exasperation.
He couldn't help but worry—with a teammate like this, could Qian Renxue really carry out the Nation Theft Plan successfully?
Even with the Zombie Pill in play, Ye Tian feared Jin Yue'er might ruin everything.
"Oh~ So that's what it is!" Jin Yue'er suddenly understood, slapping her thigh with her small hand and nodding emphatically. "I know about that!"
As she spoke, she reached out to pat Ye Tian's head.
"Because I know, that's exactly why I had to find a chance to come say goodbye to you~"
Slap!
Ye Tian irritably swatted her hand away, his lips twitching as he said dryly, "Didn't you just say it was a coincidence?"
"When did I say that? I don't remember saying that, hmm?" Jin Yue'er rubbed her reddened hand, pouting slightly, falling back into her usual act of playing dumb.
"Anyway, even if I go to Heaven Dou City, you still have to send Pills to me and Sister Xue on time~ Our cultivation can't be delayed!"
"Hehe~"
Grinning cheekily, Jin Yue'er leaned forward with her hands on the table edge, bringing her delicate face close to Ye Tian's. Her nose twitched a few times...
Soon, she confirmed it without a doubt!
Qian Renxue had left her mark on this handsome face.
Ye Tian looked at Jin Yue'er's innocent, carefree smiling face... a few faint black lines slowly appeared on his forehead.
"Hehe~"
Jin Yue'er's eyes curved into crescents as she giggled foolishly.
She was already scheming about how to follow Qian Renxue's lead later...
and leave her own mark on Ye Tian.
"Sigh~"
Ye Tian shook his head lightly at the lovesick Jin Yue'er, already placing his hand on the Green Pearl Bracer.
"I have plans for the Pills..."
"That's good!"
Jin Yue'er swayed her legs, still leaning on the table edge, her demeanor as carefree as ever.
The parting three days later seemed like a trivial matter to her, of no real consequence.
And that was indeed the case.
In Jin Yue'er's view, as long as they were alive, as long as she and Ye Tian were still living...
there would be plenty of opportunities in the future!
Why be sad over a temporary separation? They should look forward to it instead...
look forward to their next reunion!
Look forward to the future, when they could share the same bed.
Besides, with Ye Tian's Pills, she could taste his essence every day~
If Ye Tian were more generous and open-handed,
letting her be filled with his Pills every day, that would be even better!!
"Huh?"
Jin Yue'er's eyes suddenly sparkled.
She stared at the large, square box Ye Tian had taken out from the Green Pearl Bracer.
There was a clear fluctuation of Soul Power coming from inside the box...
"Ye Tian, what's this? Pills you've stockpiled?"
Jin Yue'er rubbed her hands together curiously, already salivating with anticipation!
"Can't you think about anything besides Pills?"
Ye Tian looked up, rolling his eyes slightly...
"I can! Besides wanting to eat your Pills, I also think about you... hehe. I've thought for a long time now...
that you'd be even more delicious than the Pills!"
Jin Yue'er placed the tip of her index finger in her mouth, gazing at Ye Tian with eyes full of expectation.
Ye Tian's face twitched as he said fiercely, "Sometimes, I really want to crack open your head and take a look..."
"Haha!"
Jin Yue'er couldn't help but giggle.
"Alright, enough fooling around. What's actually in this box is a Spirit Bone."
Ye Tian straightforwardly placed the box in front of him.
Jin Yue'er froze, her mouth hanging open.
"A Spirit Bone?!"
The sudden exclamation made Ye Tian quickly cover his ears.
He glared at Jin Yue'er with some annoyance. "Are you trying to kill me?!"
"A Spirit Bone?! Ye Tian, are you giving a Spirit Bone to me?!"
Jin Yue'er was still brimming with excitement.
She clenched her fists, looking at Ye Tian in disbelief.
Her heart raced.
Ye Tian calmed down and nodded.
"Sort of. This Ten Thousand Year Soul Bone isn't very suitable for me, but it's quite compatible with your Golden Crocodile King Martial Soul."
A Ten Thousand Year Soul Bone?!
At this moment, Jin Yue'er was truly stunned.
She stared blankly at Ye Tian, her eyes growing hazy.
A warm current, more stimulating than even the Marrow Cleansing Pill or the Bright Soul Nourishing Pill, welled up from the depths of her heart, spreading through her being. Instantly, her body grew hot and excited.
The crocodile's vertical pupils only partially appeared within her pale golden irises.
Yet, in Jin Yue'er's eyes, they seemed to form a heart shape.
"Yue'er, what's wrong with you?"
Ye Tian looked up, somewhat bewildered, at Jin Yue'er who had suddenly frozen.
Her ears, under his gaze, actually turned crimson.
"Ah!!"
Jin Yue'er couldn't control herself and let out a shriek.
Caught completely off guard.
Ye Tian was startled by Jin Yue'er's scream.
Finding the sound piercing, he immediately wanted to raise his hand to cover that cherry-like mouth.
Unfortunately, before Ye Tian could lift his hand, he was struck by a sudden impact.
Forcing him to exhale the pent-up breath in his chest.
"Pfft!!"
This was because Jin Yue'er, in her excitement, spread her legs, her buttocks lifting off the table as she tumbled into Ye Tian's embrace. Her legs wrapped around the youth's waist, her soft, delicate body crashing into Ye Tian's, knocking both him and the stool over in a heap.
Thud—!
With a dull thud.
Came the sound of Ye Tian grimacing and sucking in a sharp breath from the blunt pain in his back.
"Ouch! That hurts..."
"Jin Yue'er! Is your butt asking for another spanking?!"
Ye Tian growled fiercely.
But Jin Yue'er's voice was even louder and clearer than his.
"Ye Tian—!"
Following the sound.
What met Ye Tian's eyes were golden hair tips naturally dangling before him.
Within the gently swaying golden curtain, a pair of pale golden eyes brimmed with brilliant light, tinged with a hint of pink as if dyed by the flush on her face.
But no matter how those eyes changed.
Only his own face would be reflected in Jin Yue'er's gaze...
"Ye~ Tian~"
Jin Yue'er called out softly, syllable by syllable, poking Ye Tian's cheek with her fingertip. Her faintly visible oval face also turned bright red, appearing both playful and charming.
"Hey! Don't mess around, get off me now."
Ye Tian shook his head, trying to evade the teasing fingertip.
Having been subdued by various girls in similar situations several times before, Ye Tian was naturally quite experienced. He knew all too well what Jin Yue'er might do next.
But being ridden by Jin Yue'er like this...
He really wasn't good at this—should have done a carp flip or something, otherwise it would have been awkward... "Hehe~ I wouldn't mess around like that."
Jin Yue'er giggled, straddling Ye Tian's waist, leaning forward as she tucked her slender fingers away, staring intently at him.
"I just wanted to say a few words..."
"What kind of words need to be said like this?"
Ye Tian glanced at the stool lying at his feet, feeling somewhat speechless.
"Well, since we're already like this~"
Jin Yue'er argued unreasonably, and Ye Tian didn't want to argue with her, giving a helpless smile.
"Alright, then keep it short."
"Mm!"
Jin Yue'er nodded gently, looking down at Ye Tian, speaking openly: "Ye Tian~ you're just too, too, too good to me! Haha..."
"Huh?"
Ye Tian was a bit confused, thinking to himself, is that it?
Isn't that just nonsense?
But Jin Yue'er's bright and bold smile gradually faded, her expression turning serious.
The blush on her cheeks grew even more intense.
Ye Tian immediately became alert, sensing that something was off.
"Can't you speak louder?"
Ye Tian looked strangely at Jin Yue'er as she slowly leaned down, her familiar face drawing closer to his.
Ye Tian could clearly notice that Jin Yue'er was actually saying something—her pink lips parted slightly, emitting faint sounds.
But he just couldn't hear what Jin Yue'er was saying.
Until their breaths were almost touching.
Eyes locked, Jin Yue'er's delicate body pressed against Ye Tian's chest, allowing them to clearly feel each other's heartbeat. Jin Yue'er's heartbeat could only be described as a wild, frantic pounding. Ye Tian couldn't help but feel his own heart racing too.
As Jin Yue'er's face flushed crimson.
A wisp of mist-like steam drifted from between Jin Yue'er's lips and teeth. Only then did Ye Tian finally hear, close to his ear,
Jin Yue'er's increasingly firm murmur.
"Ye Tian~ I love you so much, love you, love you~"
Her voice grew from soft to heavy, from playful to resolute, until finally, it was almost a shout.
"I love you to death! Hehe!"
"Huh?!"
Ye Tian widened his eyes, staring at the steaming, tender face before him.
He never expected her to say something like that.
Even though Ye Tian already knew, this kind of almost obsessive confession...
Still left him a bit overwhelmed.
In his daze.
Ye Tian suddenly realized that his hands had been pinned beside his ears by Jin Yue'er, unable to move. The radiant, breathtakingly beautiful smiling face before him was rapidly approaching.
Their breaths were already mingling. As Jin Yue'er lowered her head slightly, in just an instant, their lips met. "Gulp~"
Jin Yue'er's throat moved slightly, her already firm and perky buttocks gently swaying from side to side.
Her light golden eyes stared directly at Ye Tian...
"??!"
Ye Tian felt the oxygen in his body growing scarce, unable to help but breathe rapidly.
Pop!
It sounded like a cork being pulled from a wine bottle.
Jin Yue'er stuck out her tongue, lifting her head slightly to look at Ye Tian, whose face was flushed, and couldn't help but lick her moist lips, laughing brightly.
"Haha! Ye Tian~ I really, really love you!"
As soon as she finished speaking.
Thump—Jin Yue'er lowered her body, releasing Ye Tian's hands... and tightly hugged the young man beneath her from his shoulders.
"Huff~ huff~~"
Ye Tian somewhat numbly placed his hands on Jin Yue'er's waist, taking deep breaths.
The girl's scorching cheek gently rubbed against his ear, her hot breath exhaled against his neck, warming his entire body.
He stared blankly at the ceiling.
This wasn't the first time he had been ambushed by Jin Yue'er.
Ye Tian felt that while he couldn't exactly say he was accustomed to it, at times like these, it seemed he shouldn't be too particular with her.
A somewhat bony hand lightly covered Jin Yue'er's back.
The scent of Jin Yue'er's body began to linger at the tip of his nose.
In his ears were Jin Yue'er's words of praise.
"So fragrant, so fragrant..."
Ye Tian couldn't help but feel amused and, as if possessed, offered a comment of his own.
"You're quite fragrant too~"
"What?"
Jin Yue'er instantly lifted her head, looking at Ye Tian with curiosity.
Ye Tian smiled and said calmly, "I said, you should get up now."
"Oh?"
Jin Yue'er was somewhat surprised.
Grabbing Ye Tian's collar with both hands, she wriggled her body, beaming with joy.
"I thought you were going to spank my butt again."
"If you have that particular quirk, I can appropriately satisfy you."
Slap!
As soon as the words fell, Ye Tian raised his hand and smacked Jin Yue'er's perky, upturned rear.
"Ah! I'm not a masochist!"
"No more hitting!"
Jin Yue'er hurriedly covered her trembling buttocks and grabbed Ye Tian's hand before it could land again.
Wriggling her body, she coquettishly complained, "If you hurt me, I won't be able to get up. You'll have to carry me to the table."
"..."
Ye Tian rolled his eyes at Jin Yue'er and helplessly withdrew his hand.
"Fine!"
With that said.
Ye Tian slowly pushed himself up from the floor.
Jin Yue'er clung to him like an octopus, firmly attached to his embrace.
With his physique, lifting Jin Yue'er was certainly no difficult task. Supporting her with both hands, he stood up briskly.
With a step of his foot, the overturned stool righted itself.
Stepping forward—a mere two steps—Ye Tian placed Jin Yue'er, who was still clinging to him, back beside the table.
"Alright now?"
"Alright, alright~"
Jin Yue'er wore a brilliant smile as she released Ye Tian with both hands. Yet her face drew close again, planting a light kiss by his ear.
Only then did she loosen the legs that had been tightly wrapped around him. Ye Tian shook his head, gently pushed Jin Yue'er's legs aside, and sat back down. He was about to raise his hand and reach for the box containing the Spirit Bone that he had taken out...
But his left hand was intercepted by Jin Yue'er, who took it in her own.
She placed it on her black wide-leg pants.
"??!"
Watching as Jin Yue'er manipulated his hand, rubbing and pressing it against the black fabric, Ye Tian couldn't help but feel a few black lines appear on his forehead.
He applied a bit of force with his fingers.
"Ow!"
Suddenly, Jin Yue'er cried out in pain and hurriedly covered her crotch.
Clearly...
It was because Ye Tian had pinched her inner thigh.
"Hmph~ Can't I even compensate you?"
Jin Yue'er let out a light hum, covering her thigh and pouting.
Yet in her heart, she was still quite pleased with herself. Ye Tian's behavior while she had him pinned beneath her had greatly satisfied her.
"No need, I'm not that petty."
Ye Tian pursed his lips, slowly opening the box before him, and reminded her, "Just listen to me properly first."
"Got it!"
Jin Yue'er still sat with her legs spread apart, palms resting between them, looking like an inquisitive child as she watched the box about to be opened beside her.
Hum!
A substantial surge of Soul Power erupted from the square box that had just been opened a crack.
Following it was a shimmer of multicolored light.
"Wow~"
Jin Yue'er let out a soft exclamation of surprise.
Only when the box was fully opened did she get a clear view of the head Spirit Bone in its entirety.
It resembled a multicolored piece of jade somewhat shaped like a skull. The shimmering, multicolored glow emanated from the five hues within the jade, and strangely, those colors seemed to flow and ripple slowly like liquid.
Ye Tian's voice sounded beside Jin Yue'er's ear.
"This is a head Spirit Bone given to me by the previous Pope, originating from a Chameleon Mad Lizard with over forty-three thousand years of cultivation. Its quality is already considered quite excellent. Now that you are going out to carry out an undercover mission, I might as well give you this idle head Spirit Bone, hoping you can be more clever and cooperate well with Xue'er to complete the task."
After speaking, Ye Tian picked up the head Spirit Bone from the box and placed it into Jin Yue'er's arms.
"Great~"
Holding the Spirit Bone in her arms, Jin Yue'er suddenly reacted.
Pouting her red lips, she looked at Ye Tian and complained.
"So you're giving me this Spirit Bone because you're afraid I'll hold Sister Xue back. Hmph, you can rest assured about that. If I'm accidentally exposed, I'd rather die than implicate Sister Xue."
Jin Yue'er declared earnestly.
"Admittedly, that is one consideration. But more than that, I hope you have sufficient strength to protect yourself."
Ye Tian smiled faintly and nodded candidly.
"Really?"
Jin Yue'er's eyes lit up, and Ye Tian nodded in confirmation.
"Of course! After all, Xue'er has a Disguise Soul Bone, so naturally, you shouldn't be left behind. I speculate that apart from boosting your cultivation and spiritual power, this head Spirit Bone should also grant you a Soul Bone Skill similar to a disguise type."
"A disguise-type Soul Bone Skill?"
While beaming with joy, Jin Yue'er thought for a moment. Ye Tian's speculation did seem to have some merit.
After all, the Chameleon Mad Lizard, this type of soul beast, is exceptionally adept at disguise. It often disguises itself as a weak soul beast to lure prey.
"Alright, Yue'er... you should quickly get down and absorb this Spirit Bone."
Ye Tian stood up and instructed casually.
"Get down for what? I can absorb this Spirit Bone just fine on the table."
Jin Yue'er raised the Spirit Bone in her hand, placed it atop her head, then with a spin, sat cross-legged on the tabletop. She glanced back at Ye Tian.
"Hehe~ I'll trouble you to guard for me."
"Fine, don't get distracted."
Ye Tian smiled slightly and nodded.
Jin Yue'er immediately focused her mind, began circulating her Soul Power, and started absorbing this ten-thousand-year head Spirit Bone from the Chameleon Mad Lizard.
"This way, the Nation Theft Plan seems even simpler."
Ye Tian murmured to himself.
Perhaps the establishment of the Longevity Pavilion could also add strength to the Nation Theft Plan.
Currently, the Heaven Dou Empire has nominally established a Crown Prince.
Given the Longevity Pavilion's future positioning within the soul master world, if a certain prince could establish friendly relations with the Longevity Pavilion, it would undoubtedly make him a strong contender for the Crown Prince.
This would also, imperceptibly, reduce suspicion.
Meanwhile.
In the old mansion of the Nine-Hearted Begonia Ye family in Heaven Dou City.
As the fireball in the sky grew increasingly intense.
It had already been most of the day since Ye Lengling swallowed the Gorgeous Immortal Pill.
As a faint golden moonlight radiated from Ye Lengling's body, the Nine Heart Begonia Martial Soul above her head finally stirred!
In the sealed room, Ye Qinshui knelt on the carpet, right in front of Ye Lengling.
Seeing the change in Ye Lengling, those almond-shaped eyes that resembled shattered glass, mixed with glistening tears, immediately focused on Ye Lengling.
"A breakthrough!"
Ye Qinshui suddenly raised her jade-like hand to cover her agape mouth.
Before Ye Qinshui's eyes, Ye Lengling's innate level-seven Soul Power was continuously breaking through. In almost the blink of an eye, it had reached level ten. Moreover, the aura was still intensifying, proving that level ten was not the peak of Ye Lengling's current Soul Power!
With just one Soul Ring, Ye Lengling's cultivation might directly surpass level fifteen.
Thanks to the existence of the Body Tempering Pill, there was a high possibility that Ye Lengling's first Soul Ring would be a thousand-year purple Soul Ring.
"It must succeed!"
Ye Qinshui quickly shifted her focus from Ye Lengling's soaring cultivation. Instead, she fixed her gaze intently on the pink-and-white Nine Heart Begonia Martial Soul above Ye Lengling's head.
Clasping her hands over her heart, she silently prayed.
"!!!"
When a glimmer of golden light bloomed from the Nine Heart Begonia Martial Soul, Ye Qinshui's heart immediately leaped into her throat.
"D-did it succeed?"
In the next instant, the Nine Heart Begonia that had already bloomed above Ye Lengling's head transformed back into a bud. It spun ceaselessly under Ye Qinshui's fearful gaze.
When the Nine Heart Begonia bloomed again, strands of gold had already woven into the original pink light—a cluster of golden stamens!
The gold continued to spread until, miraculously, the Nine Heart Begonia Martial Soul grew golden roots!
At that very moment, the Nine Heart Begonia Martial Soul stopped spinning, hovering just above Ye Lengling's head. Ye Qinshui widened her eyes...
"D-did it succeed?!"
"Mother~"
Ye Lengling, sitting cross-legged on the floor, slowly opened her eyes and looked at Ye Qinshui.
Like an oriole heralding spring, she eagerly called out, "Mother, Lengling succeeded! Lengling's Nine Heart Begonia Martial Soul has successfully evolved! Now, it has a new name. It's called the Nine-heart Sacred Begonia—whenever I use a Soul Skill, I will receive a shield corresponding to my level. As long as I am healing, this shield will not consume any Soul Power. However, this golden shield only benefits me."
"It succeeded, that's wonderful!"
Overjoyed, Ye Qinshui knelt forward and embraced her daughter.
Ye Lengling gently hugged Ye Qinshui back.
Tears welled up in those sky-blue eyes as she sorrowfully asked, "Mother, since Lengling's Martial Soul has successfully evolved, can Grandpa wake up right away?"
"He will, he will wake up."
Ye Qinshui held Ye Lengling tightly, nodding repeatedly. She looked up at the Nine-heart Sacred Begonia above them, her eyes drawn to the golden bell woven by those golden roots—that must be the shield Lengling mentioned, right?!
"Mother, Lengling misses Grandpa."
The Martial Soul above Ye Lengling's head slowly dissipated as her delicate body nestled into Ye Qinshui's soft embrace, her eyes filled with hope...
"Alright! Lengling, Mother will take you to see Grandpa right now. He will definitely wake up."
Ye Qinshui nodded with certainty.
Clutching the antidote for the Eternal Night Frostbloom that had been prepared long ago, with a heart full of trepidation, he took Ye Lengleng's small hand and walked out of the sealed room.
He looked up at the blazing sun.
Ye Qinshui believed.
That fiery red Pill, burning hot like flames in his hand, would surely pull Ye Renxin back from the eternal night of his feigned death!
In no time at all...
Mother and daughter hurriedly arrived outside Ye Renxin's room.
With a sharp crack!
Ye Qinshui impatiently pushed the door open and led Ye Lengleng inside.
At that moment, Dugu Bo was still sitting guard by the table, quietly sipping his drink. Seeing the two women, who seemed somewhat sorrowful, did not surprise him. The fact that Ye Qinshui could come here meant that the Pill given by His Highness had once again taken effect.