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"Wu, what exactly happened just now?" The Celadon Bull Python reined in its fury and, forcing itself to calm, sought the truth.
Xiao Wu dared not tell how she had been defiled by Ye Lan, nor could she confess that she had betrayed Er Ming.
Thinking quickly, she blurted out, "I was lured out of the cave by a butterfly, and afterwards I ran into Ye Lan and a Title Douluo from the Spirit Hall."
"For some reason that Title Douluo recognized me."
"If I hadn't known Ye Lan, I probably would've ended up as a soul bone right then!"
"Luckily Er Ming found me soon after, but by then the Title Douluo had already captured me."
"In the end… Er Ming was forced to be offered to Ye Lan."
"Da Ming, it's all my fault! If I hadn't run off, Er Ming wouldn't have died—wahhh." Xiao Wu sobbed.
"You did nothing wrong, Xiao Wu. All of this is caused by human greed. Don't ever leave me again, okay? I lost Er Ming—I can't lose you too!" Tears of cyan welled in the great python's huge eyes.
The beast and the girl clung to one another, comforting each other over Er Ming's death.
—Somewhere within the mountain ranges of the Heaven Dou Empire, beneath a valley waterfall—
A black-skinned youth was slammed repeatedly by a hundreds-of-meters-tall waterfall. Each time the torrent hurled him away, a nearby middle-aged man urged him on.
Tang San was knocked over again and again, but hatred and longing in his eyes drove him each time to rush back at the falls.
Suddenly Tang San stopped mid-motion.
A vague, fate-twined sensation struck his heart like a sledgehammer. Pain lanced through him; he clutched his chest and writhed in the spring.
It hurt!!
Too much!!
Tang San felt as if he had lost something.
Tang Hao's expression changed. He hauled Tang San up, palms pressed to his back, guiding soul power to sense the youth's internal condition.
When he confirmed Tang San was not gravely injured, he breathed a sigh of relief and asked, puzzled, "Xiao San, what's wrong? Chest pains?!"
"No, Father—my heart. My heart is aching." Tang San cried out in pain.
"Maybe the training's too hard. Rest a while." Tang Hao soothed him.
Tang San clutched his heart, staring into space. He didn't understand what had happened, but his heart bloomed with sorrow.
"Dad—could something have happened to Xiao Wu?" Tang San's eyes filled with anguish.
"How could that be? Xiao Wu has two ten-thousand-year spirit beasts protecting her! Even I couldn't easily break through two beasts' encirclement." Tang Hao patted his son's shoulder, thinking Tang San was simply worrying too much.
Comforted by his father's words, Tang San's heart steadied.
At that moment Tang San did not know that Xiao Wu was currently taking photographs with Ye Lan.
Silver Wolf and Ye Lan had flown for days; weary and travel-stained, they hurried toward Spirit Hall City.
After bidding Silver Wolf farewell, Ye Lan went alone to the Pope's Hall to see Bibi Dong.
But before he entered the hall he saw a golden-haired woman wearing a white veil pacing back and forth before the grand gate, clearly agitated.
Even veiled, she could not conceal her "little angel" aura.
At the sight of the little angel, Ye Lan decided to give her a scare.
He used his Form of the Invisible to hide his aura and quietly slipped behind Qian Ren Xue. In a stealthy move he leapt and embraced her.
Startled by the sudden hug, Qian Ren Xue shivered; her body tensed.
Just as she was about to unleash soul power, she smelled the scent of sweat and life. She instantly recognized Ye Lan's embrace, cancelled the outward release of soul power, spun around, and clutched him in return.
Then she bit down hard on his shoulder.
The iron teeth made Ye Lan yelp, "It hurts—it hurts! Little Xue, I was wrong!"
"You wanted to scare me to death? If I didn't know it was you, you'd be injured!" Qian Ren Xue sniffed between anger and worry.
"I was just trying to hug you."
Ye Lan feigned ignorance. "Little Xue, what are you doing here?"
Qian Ren Xue's face flushed. "I was just taking a walk."
As she spoke, her golden eyes glanced sideways and caught Ye Lan's continual smile. She realized he had noticed her waiting for him.
Humiliated and shy, she bit him fiercely and then bolted.
"Little Xue! Little Xue!!" Ye Lan could only chase after her—this proud tsundere was impossible to resist.
But Little Xue being angry was also rather adorable.
They rounded a corner with few people in sight. Ye Lan grabbed her small hand; she tried to wrench free but an arm wrapped strong around her waist, and she fell forward into his chest.
Qian Ren Xue stared into the perfect, warm, golden-haired face before her. As she stood frozen, she felt a wet warmth across her lips.
"—mm."
Ye Lan pinned Qian Ren Xue's wrist against the white marble wall above her head with his left hand, pulled her close by the waist with his right, and sealed her mouth with a passionate kiss.
Qian Ren Xue's fair skin flushed hot and crimson. Clumsy and inexperienced, she could only passively accept Ye Lan's sudden assault.
After a long while, she finally returned the embrace.
The two lingered long in that shadowed corner. Many faculty and staff, seeing the San Child and the Spirit Hall Young Master entwined, pretended not to notice and hurried away.
"You're awfully practiced, Ye Lan," Qian Ren Xue murmured, lying against him, cheeks still burning.
At her question, Ye Lan instantly toggled his Eight-Faced Ingenuity Heart overlaid with the Seven-Openings Ingenuity Heart, engaging sixty-three hearts' worth of calculation. If Little Xue discovered what he'd done in Xilu City—what he had with Leng Leng for half a month—she would tear him apart.
In half a second he answered as if unconcerned, "Maybe it's something I learned during a certain night raid."
Qian Ren Xue's cheeks reddened as she recalled the night she had once surprised Ye Lan on a camping trip. She hadn't thought he'd noticed.
"What night raid? I don't know what you mean!" she pouted and burrowed into his arms, avoiding eye contact.
Ye Lan relaxed when she diverted her attention.
"Ye Lan—what spirit rings did you get? How long has it taken?" she asked curiously.
Ye Lan patted her back. Surely she had missed him each day, waiting outside the gate.
He then used his soul power. "Little Xue, look around."
She peered through his embrace and saw four soul rings shimmering above Ye Lan—deep yellow, purple, black-purple, and blood-red.
"Blood-red?!" she gasped.
"What!! That's a ten-thousand–year spirit ring?!" Qian Ren Xue couldn't believe it.
"Yes! Isn't your husband incredible!" Ye Lan crowed.
"Ah! Don't bite!" Ye Lan yelped.
Steam practically burst from Little Xue's head as she instantly became a steaming tsundere princess.
"Who said you're my husband?!" she sniffed.
"Little Xue," Ye Lan said softly.
"Hmph—I don't believe you. Then tell me, how many wives will you have in the future?" Her golden eyes fixed on him.
Ye Lan began to ponder aloud.
Seeing his reaction, Qian Ren Xue fumed, "We're not done yet!!"
"Ahhh!" Ye Lan called as she ran off.
After escorting Qian Ren Xue back to the Douluo Hall, Ye Lan converted Blue-Silver Grass essence into life energy to heal the bite marks on his body.
Watching Little Xue's lively retreating figure, Ye Lan breathed out—she was definitely of the dog zodiac!
She even bites harder than Rong Rong!
Calming Little Xue was harder than threatening a Titan Ape.
At that moment Ye Lan's fourth soul ring trembled for a moment, as if to say: Ye Lan, what do you mean—am I, a ten-thousand–year Titan Ape, to be treated without dignity?
He watched Qian Ren Xue enter the Douluo Hall, then steadied himself and went to the Pope's Hall. There he found his teacher asleep, one hand supporting her cheek—Bibi Dong dozed quietly.
Sensing her even, calm breathing, Ye Lan's palm glowed with golden soul power. He took a black robe from the Nine-Shining Star Ring and draped it over her. Just as he was about to leave he paused, hovering a foot off the ground, then set his foot down and lingered to savor her sleeping face.
In the past he wouldn't dare stare so openly at Bibi Dong. This time he indulged himself.
But just as he lost himself in admiration, Bibi Dong opened her eyes. Their purple and golden eyes met. Seeing Ye Lan, the tension in her features melted. She noticed the black robe and the faint scent of Ye Lan on it.
Bibi Dong blushed at the gentle attention and for the first time a flush streaked her face—an expression even millions of followers had never seen—and Ye Lan simply stared.
Sensing his gaze, Bibi Dong smiled, "Do you think I look good?"
"You do," Ye Lan blurted out, then immediately regretted the words; his heart hammered.
"Little Ye Lan, don't be foolish," he scolded himself silently.
Bibi Dong's heartbeat quickened too. Such a simple compliment moved her—because it came from Ye Lan.
Not showing her inner thoughts, she asked, "Where have you been these days? Have you found suitable spirit rings?"
Ye Lan breathed easier. Thank goodness she hadn't noticed his earlier slip. "Yes, Teacher. I found suitable rings—more fitting than I imagined!"
"Really?" Bibi Dong brightened.
"Teacher, look." Ye Lan materialized the four soul rings again.
The glaring blood-red ring flashed in Bibi Dong's purple eyes. She grasped Ye Lan's shoulder in disbelief and concern. "Little Ye Lan, are you alright? That is a ten-thousand–year ring!"
Her ten fingers clamped his shoulder so hard it hurt, but Ye Lan's focus was entirely on her gaze. In her purple eyes he saw worry and anxiety. He realized then how much he mattered to his teacher.
Touched, Bibi Dong finally relaxed her grip.
"Teacher, I'm fine! You know I don't act without certainty," Ye Lan hastened to reassure.
Bibi Dong nodded and took Ye Lan's hand, channeling soul power. He felt warm, soft hands around his, and then an icy soul power poured into his body—cooling him through and through. He did not resist; instead he let it flow.
Though her soul power was cold, his heart was warm. He felt, within his teacher's care, a long-missed concern—more direct and fervent than Leng Leng's distant sympathy.
After scanning his body, Bibi Dong breathed out. Ye Lan's physique exceeded expectations—his meridians' strength and breadth were beyond the Soul Lord realm, and his body approached the Soul Douluo's standard.
"Teacher, how could that be? I—your student—is the continent's top theorist!" Ye Lan joked.
Pleased, Bibi Dong asked, "Tell me, how did you get the ten-thousand–year spirit ring?"
Ye Lan recounted how he had compelled Zhao Wuji to abduct Xiao Wu and then used the Titan Ape to threaten it—though he omitted the part about Xiao Wu herself.
Bibi Dong admired his stratagem. "No wonder, Ye Lan—you truly plan grandly. To manipulate a ten-thousand–year spirit beast so smoothly… Apart from the Spirit System, the continent has never seen a ten-thousand–year spirit ring at the Soul Lord stage through normal means."
"Even a forty-level Soul Lord cannot withstand the physical shock of a ten-thousand–year spirit bone and a Ten-Directional-Year spirit ring."
Seeing Bibi Dong's pride, a strange guilt fluttered in Ye Lan's chest. "Teacher, you won't blame me for keeping the ten-thousand–year rings secret, will you?"
Bibi Dong smiled. "I wouldn't snatch your ring. There are still two ten-thousand–year beasts left—consider them your reserve ring pool."
"Teacher, although the Celadon Bull Python doesn't perfectly suit your Soul-Eating Spider Emperor, since it's a ten-thousand–year beast I can take you hunting for it!" Ye Lan offered.
Bibi Dong shook her head. "Ye Lan, by not telling me about these beasts, you must feel they aren't suited to me, right?"
"Since that's your thought, I'll respect it."
"Teacher's priority is resolving the missing ten-thousand–year beasts crisis. These ten-thousand–year rings aren't my pressing need—I have a few ten-thousand–year spider beasts as backups. Don't worry about my ring."
"Also, my whole body contains ten-thousand–year spirit bones! Little Ye Lan, your spirit bones aren't all complete, right? You gave away all the elite academy champion rewards—surely you want a full set of spirit bones too."
Ye Lan scratched his head—Bibi Dong had seen right through him.
"So keep those two ten-thousand–year beasts!" she said warmly.
Her heart swelled. She hadn't expected Ye Lan to tell her about the ten-thousand–year beasts, nor offer to help her obtain rings. The care he showed touched her deeply. Ten-thousand–year rings and bones were the stuff of every spirit master's dreams.
As the Spirit Hall's Pope and a born twin-wuhun wielder, she herself had only obtained two ten-thousand–year rings. Major sect leaders like Tang Xiao, Chen Xin, Gu Rong, and Yu Yuanzhen didn't even have one.
Ye Lan giving her such a lead was priceless. So when he revealed the Ten-Directional-Year beast information, Bibi Dong felt content—never before had she felt so cared for.
Though she hungered for power as much as Ye Lan did, suddenly she hesitated at fully equipping herself with ten-thousand–year rings. She feared that if she completed her ring set and passed the Raksasha God Trial, she would risk failing the final test and losing the chance to see Little Xue and Ye Lan again.
"Alright, Teacher. I'll quickly find a solution to the ten-thousand–year beast disappearances." Ye Lan promised, surprised his teacher declined the ten-thousand–year rings.
They then discussed theories of wuhun and spirit rings. Bibi Dong's insights, as an extreme Douluo with twin martial souls, opened Ye Lan's eyes. A few hours of exchange equaled months in the library.
Under Bibi Dong's gaze Ye Lan wandered back to his villa.
At the gate he was startled—Hu Liena was curled up there, asleep. Her hands propped under her chin, white dress damp at the hem—she'd clearly been dreaming.
Ye Lan couldn't just leave her on the road. He hoisted her onto his shoulder, unlocked the gate, and carried her inside.
As he was about to lay her on the sofa, Hu Liena pounded his back playfully and pleaded, "Junior brother, what are you doing? Put me down!"
Feeling the light thumps, Ye Lan said, "Use a bit more strength—my back's sore."
Hu Liena's face burned at her misunderstanding. He set her on the couch and asked, "Sister, are you alright?"
Hu Liena, remembering her dream, blushed and hurried, "I'm fine! I'm fine!" She invented a serious-sounding excuse. "I was practicing the Extreme Soul Power Augmentation Method and fell asleep."
Ye Lan smiled at her earnestness—she was rather endearing. Her excuse was flimsy, of course: she'd waited near the Pope's Hall gate to avoid an awkward encounter with Little Xue.
Realizing this, Ye Lan saw how sincere Hu Liena's feelings were. Waiting was the truest proof of intention.
Unable to reject his senior sister's warmth, Ye Lan played along, "You study hard, Sister."
"If it weren't for your talent I'd have a chance too. With my effort and gift, I could become the Spirit Hall Saintess!" Hu Liena declared.
"Spirit Hall doesn't rule out a saintess, does it?" Ye Lan wondered.
"I refused when the teacher asked me whether I wanted to be the Saintess alongside you," she said proudly. "If you're the perverted Spirit Hall Saint, me as Saintess would be a joke."
Ye Lan scratched his head—she had a point. Comparisons were pointless; with her talent she deserved the role. But if he took the Saint title first and she later became Saintess, rumors of favoritism would follow.
"So I'm glad you refused," he said.
"You bully me!" Hu Liena pretended to thump his chest.
At that moment a blood-red soul ring pulsed over Ye Lan. Hu Liena froze, staring wide-eyed.
"That—is—that a ten-thousand–year ring?!" she gasped.
Ye Lan nodded. "See? I told you."
"Fine—be conceited. Let me smack you!" she thumped his chest hard. The firmness under her palm proved the ring real; she relaxed. It seemed the Spirit Hall's future needn't worry her anymore.
"Sister, I'll support you from now on," Ye Lan teased.
"Ha! I'm not a leech!" she pouted.
Hu Liena crossed her arms and leaned toward him in a flattering angle that made Ye Lan's nose tingle. He blinked and, sensing a nosebleed about to come, channeled soul power to stop it.
"Then you should support me," he joked. "You owe me something, right?"
Her eyes lit up and she strutted close, teasing, "What do you want as proof?"
Ye Lan recoiled under her bold approach. Hu Liena took advantage of his retreat, stepping closer with a wicked grin. "Don't go, Junior Brother!"
Ye Lan ran in mock terror. He could have resisted Hu Liena's seduction—if not for one worry: if Little Xue, Rong Rong, and the others discovered his affair with Leng Leng, it would be a small punishment. But if they learned he'd been ensnared by a vixen… he would surely die.
(End of Chapter)