"Forget about the Strength Clan. I heard from the Spirit Hall people in Heaven Dou City that the Strength Clan seems to have pledged allegiance to Tang San a few years ago.
Such a clan is ultimately an enemy, so we'll just deal with them directly when the time comes," Xiao Ze said.
"Then when… will we deal with them?" Dugu Yan was already eager to do it herself.
"No rush. Let's wait until we've brought the other three single-attribute clans under our control. After all, they used to be allies, even if their relationship might have soured now.
But we still need to inform them; otherwise, problems might arise."
Although the three single-attribute clans weren't of great use to Xiao Ze himself,
they still had their purposes.
For example, the Crystal Blood Dragon Ginseng from the Speed Clan, the Defense Clan's defensive capabilities, and Yang Wudi's alchemy skills.
All of them were quite good.
Especially Yang Wudi. If Yang Wudi could be properly cultivated, Spirit Hall might have a continuous supply of elixirs in the future, and not just ordinary ones.
But elixirs researched by the God of Agriculture.
This would significantly boost Spirit Hall.
Besides, having more friends is always better than having more enemies.
Anyway, it wouldn't cost anything.
"Since that's the case, let's go recruit the other clans tomorrow."
"Mm."
The next day.
Everyone quickly set off.
The carriage clattered as it moved out of Spirit City.
Inside the carriage, it was exceptionally quiet.
In front of Xiao Ze, a woman dressed in leather clothes and pants was flicking her burgundy short hair.
The zipper of her leather jacket stopped just above her full bust, creating a breathtaking curve with the carriage's bumps.
Her figure was visibly excellent, fiery and voluptuous.
She sat in the carriage, staring wide-eyed at Ning Rongrong and the others.
"Who are you?" Ning Rongrong asked.
"Ling Yuan, a Titled Douluo. Supreme Pontiff Bi Bi Dong sent me to protect His Highness the Saint Son," Ling Yuan said with a smile, flicking away non-existent dust with her finger.
The women exchanged glances.
Although this was a good thing, the fact that she was a woman set off their alarm bells.
Even though Ling Yuan was probably around the same age as Bi Bi Dong,
if Bi Bi Dong could be interested, then Ling Yuan might also take a liking to Xiao Ze.
This was not good.
Ning Rongrong pondered for a moment and decided not to worry about it. After all, she was a Titled Douluo, and her family would definitely not suffer a loss.
Perhaps it would even make Bi Bi Dong's heart ache.
Their destination was Dragon Excitement City in the Star Luo Empire.
This was where the Defense Clan resided.
It would take Spirit Hall at least three days to reach Dragon Excitement City.
Night fell.
Everyone came out of the carriage, and Huo Wu and the others immediately began to set up the iron pot.
Ling Yuan looked at this scene, a little confused: "Are you planning to cook?"
"That's right."
"Is that really necessary? It's only a few days," Ling Yuan said.
"You wouldn't understand."
"Heh, what wouldn't I understand?" Ling Yuan said, exasperated.
"When we're done, don't eat it," Meng Yiran, as the head chef, said.
"If I don't eat, I don't eat. How good can your cooking be?" Ling Yuan said indifferently.
She thought this young lady was being a bit delicate.
But she regretted it very quickly.
As Meng Yiran lifted the lid of the clay pot, the rich, white broth was still bubbling.
The honey-glazed ribs shimmered with an amber glow, the stir-fried crystal vegetables were so tender they seemed to weep water, and even the simplest mushroom soup rippled with flavor.
The air was filled with an intoxicating aroma.
Ling Yuan's throat involuntarily gulped.
A clear 'grumble' suddenly came from her stomach beneath the leather jacket.
Startled, she abruptly pressed her legs together.
The tips of her ears, hidden by her burgundy short hair, turned slightly red. She pretended to look into the distance.
Everyone chuckled. This ability to deceive oneself was quite impressive.
"Mmm… it's so delicious. Yiran, your cooking is getting better and better. I feel like you're almost catching up to Xiao Ze," Ning Rongrong mumbled with puffed cheeks.
"No way, it's just okay," Meng Yiran said with a smile.
Xiao Ze looked at Ling Yuan, who seemed to be acting like a thief. She would occasionally sneak glances at them eating, but as soon as she saw Xiao Ze looking over, she would immediately turn her head away.
"Come and eat."
"No!" Ling Yuan said, a bit haughtily.
"Eat or don't eat!" Ning Rongrong said.
"This Seat is merely testing for poison for you all!" Ling Yuan walked over.
The moment the rice entered her mouth, she suddenly froze, her eyes widening instantly.
The next second, this Titled Douluo squatted down in front of the small table without any regard for her image, grabbing honey-glazed ribs with her left hand and scooping mushroom soup with her right, eating in large mouthfuls.
Even grains of rice stuck to her cheeks, covered by her burgundy hair.
She had never tasted such delicious food and didn't care about her table manners at all.
"Eat slowly," Xiao Ze said with a smile, handing her a handkerchief. "No one's fighting you for it."
Ling Yuan gasped, burning her mouth but unwilling to spit it out, mumbling indistinctly: "The chefs of Spirit Hall should be chopped up and fed to dogs."
Ling Yuan took the handkerchief and wiped her face. Although her face was a little red with embarrassment, she still pretended not to care.
Ning Rongrong burst out laughing.
Ling Yuan's ears were so red they looked like they could bleed.
After everyone finished eating.
Ling Yuan lay on the ground, stroking her stomach: "So full."
"Haven't you noticed the changes in your body?" Ning Rongrong asked.
Upon hearing this, Ling Yuan sensed herself, and her eyes widened even further. She did a carp jump and stood up.
"My spirit power, my body, and even many other parts have all improved, and even the age of my spirit rings has increased!" Ling Yuan looked at Meng Yiran with an expression of disbelief.
Meng Yiran was a little scared by her intense gaze: "Don't look at me like that. It's not my cooking; it's Xiao Ze's ingredients.
The ingredients Xiao Ze cultivates with his Spirit all have special effects."
Ling Yuan then looked at Xiao Ze, her eyes as if she wanted to devour him.
Xiao Ze stepped back: "Don't look at me like that."
"No wonder His Eminence made you a Saint Son directly, without consulting us. So that's why," Ling Yuan realized.
"Your talent is truly powerful, and with such special crops… your future is limitless," Ling Yuan said with emotion.
"It's alright."
"Alright… do you know how useful this is?! Even for a Titled Douluo like me, it's effective, which speaks volumes."
"However, you still shouldn't let others know, or you'll be in danger. Although you are a Saint Son now, there will always be places where we can't protect you," Ling Yuan said.
"Don't worry, not many people know."
Upon hearing this, Ling Yuan's heart unconsciously beat a little faster.
…
Four days later.
Everyone had arrived at Dragon Excitement City.
This place was less than two hundred li from the border of the two Empires, a true frontier city.
Dragon Excitement City itself was the territory of a subordinate kingdom, but trade was very prosperous, and the city was also very bustling.
People came and went in an endless stream.
After passing inspection, everyone entered Dragon Excitement City.
Putting everything else aside, Dragon Excitement City could earn a lot of money just from road tolls.
One gold coin per person was simply outrageous.
(End of Chapter)
[Get +30 Extra Chapters on - P@tr3on "RinBlaze"]
[Every 15 Power Stones = 1 Bonus Chapter Drop]
[Thanks for Reading!]