Chapter 248: Wanbao Pavilion – Purchasing a Soul Bone
"Xiao Xiao, are you alright?"
Ye Chen hurried over, concern in his voice.
He hadn't used his full strength, but it hadn't occurred to him that breaking through Xiao Xiao's seal might cause a backlash.
That didn't mean her sealing ability was weak, however. Quite the opposite—it proved just how powerful it was.
If facing any ordinary opponent, her seal would have completely suppressed them. Against him, it only caused her a faint disruption in soul flow—a clear sign of terrifying control potential.
"I'm fine… just a slight bit of soul-force turbulence," Xiao Xiao replied softly, brushing off his worry. Still, her gaze held a trace of quiet disappointment—not at him, but at the overwhelming gap between their strength.
Even now, she couldn't glimpse the edge of his power.
"It's fine as long as you're not hurt," Ye Chen said, pulling her gently into his arms. He kissed her cheek apologetically.
"I'm not that fragile~" Xiao Xiao giggled, sticking out her tongue playfully. That one simple gesture from him made all her earlier frustration fade away instantly.
So what if their power difference was vast? Ye Chen was her man—that was enough.
"Hey, hey! You said this was a skill test, not cuddle time!" Wang Dong protested, rolling her eyes.
Then she stepped forward mischievously and pinched Xiao Xiao's bottom.
"Ahh! Wang Dong, what are you doing?!"
Xiao Xiao squeaked, jumping out of Ye Chen's grasp and glaring at her friend, though even her angry expression looked adorably harmless.
"You still haven't explained what your new soul skill actually does!" Wang Dong said innocently.
She'd seen Xiao Xiao's fourth skill in action—the way that giant cauldron manifested with such crushing force—and she knew she couldn't have withstood it herself.
That leaf-sized seal seemed impossibly strong.
But Ye Chen had shattered it with a single casual motion.
Xiao Xiao nodded, thoughtful. "My soul skill is a type of seal, but it has two outcomes."
She paused and explained, "If the opponent can't break the seal, they'll remain completely bound. But if they do break it, their soul power will still drop by at least thirty percent. Unless they're two full ranks above me, I can seal any opponent for at least three seconds. At the same level, if they don't dodge in time, I can trap them for ten seconds or longer… except for monsters like Ye Chen."
Wang Dong blinked, her eyes wide in awe. "That's insane…!"
A sealing skill that powerful was practically unbeatable at her level.
Ye Chen smiled faintly. "It's strong, yes, but it's not without flaws. When she's using it, Xiao Xiao can't attack or move freely—it's essentially a one-for-one tactic. In most fights, that means she trades her control position to restrain the enemy's strongest attacker. With good teamwork, though, she becomes unstoppable."
He gave her a reassuring glance. "Team support will make your seal deadly."
Xiao Xiao pouted a little but smiled. "I know, I know~ It's more than strong enough already."
Ye Chen chuckled and pinched her cheek gently. "Of course, my Xiao Xiao's the best."
He wasn't belittling her—just reminding Wang Dong to stay cautious in future fights.
Even now, as only a Soul Sect, Xiao Xiao's strength was outstanding. Ye Chen believed that if she reached the Titled Douluo stage and fully mastered her twin spirits, she could become the continent's top control-type soul master—perhaps even a pillar of Tang Sect's legacy.
Having invested so much in her, Ye Chen's expectations for her future were high. She was already far ahead of her original path.
After testing her ability, the three enjoyed a hearty meal before heading back toward Shrek City.
As they relaxed, Xiao Xiao looked up curiously. "So, what kind of fourth soul skill are you planning to get, Wang Dong?"
Before Wang Dong could reply, Ye Chen answered for her, smiling. "Her family will handle that. They've already prepared the best ring for her."
"Your family really treats you well, huh?" Xiao Xiao said, a touch of envy in her tone.
She wasn't wrong. Wang Dong's refined looks, her bearing, the quiet confidence in her gaze—everything about her spoke of noble heritage far above ordinary aristocrats.
Xiao Xiao's family was well off, but compared to Wang Dong's, they weren't even in the same league.
"It's not as great as you think," Wang Dong murmured softly, cheeks glowing pink. "Growing up in that kind of family means living under constant pressure."
As the Clear Sky Sect's heir, she'd been the center of attention since birth—spoiled by privilege but bound by duty.
Her life had been endless cycles of study, cultivation, and expectation—until she came to Shrek.
Only now did she understand freedom. Only now did she feel happiness.
And—she chuckled at the thought—she'd also learned what it truly meant to "have a cheat."
At first, she hadn't understood what Ye Chen meant by that phrase. But after witnessing him defy logic—his meteoric strength, the heavenly herbs he gifted her and Xiao Xiao, and their explosive progress—it all became clear.
If everyone at Shrek was called a "monster," Ye Chen was something far beyond that.
The rest were fake monsters by comparison.
After finishing their meal, Ye Chen led the two of them back to the city. But instead of returning to the academy immediately, he brought them to Wanbao Pavilion—the largest treasure emporium in Shrek.
Since Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao had both advanced, it was only proper to celebrate with gifts.
Life, after all, needed ritual.
And for lovers, such things mattered most—it deepened bonds in ways simple words couldn't.
Plus, Ye Chen had recently promised Wang Dong a soul bone. A promise from him was never empty.
(END CHAPTER)
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