"Wu, we've arrived at Soto City."
Outside the city gates of Soto, Tang San and Xiao Wu appeared together.
"This Soto City is much bigger than Noding City," Xiao Wu remarked, gazing up at the towering city walls in awe. It was the first time she had seen such a massive city.
Noding City was a city, yes, but only a small one.
Soto City, however, was the capital of the Barak Kingdom, one of the major cities in the Heavenly斗 Empire.
The Barak Kingdom was located in the southeasternmost part of the Heavenly斗 Empire, a vassal state of the empire.
"It's almost noon. Let's get inside, find a place to eat, then take a good look around," Tang San said, planning to search the city for materials to craft more powerful hidden weapons.
There was still some time before the Shrek Academy's enrollment this year, so there was no rush.
The two had spent six years studying at the low-level soul master academy in Noding City and had just graduated. Now, under Yu Xiaogang's instruction, they were heading to Soto City to join Shrek Academy.
Yu Xiaogang would arrive later, so they came ahead.
"Mm."
Xiao Wu felt a bit uneasy inside, worried there might be powerful soul masters at the level of Soul Douluo or higher in Soto City.
She was originally a one hundred thousand-year-old soul beast—a Soft Bone Rabbit—who had transformed into human form and was now re-cultivating. Before she reached the maturity phase and became a Soul Emperor, encountering a Soul Douluo or a titled Douluo would reveal her true identity.
A re-cultivating soul beast with cultivation only at level 29, a Great Soul Master, would almost certainly be captured once discovered—too attractive to soul masters.
Although a one hundred thousand-year-old soul beast's soul rings could generally only be absorbed when needing a ninth soul ring, otherwise they were unbearable.
Of course, if captured, they could also force her to sacrifice herself voluntarily.
Once a soul beast sacrifice was offered, there were no limits—soul masters could use it freely regardless of their soul power level.
Plus, a one hundred thousand-year-old soul beast would leave behind a soul bone lasting a hundred thousand years!
So it was easy to imagine how tempting a vulnerable soul beast like Xiao Wu was.
Naively, Xiao Wu had followed Tang San out on this adventure.
"I hope we won't meet any powerful soul masters," Xiao Wu silently prayed as they entered the city with Tang San.
They first found a small inn to eat, then wandered around the city.
Before they knew it, dusk was falling.
"I heard the Rose Hotel is nice. Let's stay there," Tang San said.
"Okay." After an afternoon without incident, Xiao Wu breathed a little easier.
They still had a good amount of money saved up, mostly accumulated from monthly subsidies from the Noding City branch of the Martial Soul Hall over the past six years, plus some Yu Xiaogang had given them before departure.
Yu Xiaogang's income came partly from Noding City but mostly from the Martial Soul Hall. His cultivation level had stayed at 29, allowing him to receive lifetime subsidies from the Martial Soul Hall.
That was why Yu Xiaogang could live leisurely at Noding Academy, without worrying about his livelihood.
The Martial Soul Hall subsidy was a considerable sum for soul masters, and an enormous fortune for ordinary people—enough to inspire envy in many.
Before long, Tang San and Xiao Wu arrived at the Rose Hotel.
It was a famous, luxurious hotel in Soto City.
"Any rooms available?" Tang San asked at the front desk.
"You're lucky—there's one last room left," the clerk said, assuming they were a couple. "But it's a deluxe suite, and not cheap."
Tang San inquired about the price, which was still affordable, and decided to stay until the Shrek Academy enrollment started.
"Alright, we'll take it."
At that moment, a domineering voice came from outside.
"Wait, that room is mine!"
Dai Mubai appeared, flanked by three beautiful women.
"Yo, Master Dai!" The clerk immediately smiled obsequiously. "Of course, that room's yours."
Dai Mubai was a regular at the Rose Hotel, close to the manager, and a Soul Lord with plenty of money and generosity.
"But that room was already ours," Xiao Wu complained, glaring at the clerk.
Tang San's expression darkened. "We got here first. Nobody's taking our room."
The clerk frowned. "Hmph! Master Dai is our VIP guest and enjoys VIP privileges. Besides, you haven't paid yet—the room isn't officially reserved. There are no rooms left now. Please try elsewhere."
"No way!" Xiao Wu snapped.
Dai Mubai saw the light in Xiao Wu's eyes and smiled as he stepped forward. "Little sister, if you want to stay, you're welcome to remain." Then he turned to Tang San: "But you're not allowed."
Though Dai Mubai had played with many ordinary beauties, he had never toyed with a beautiful soul master before.
Xiao Wu stirred his interest.
He could sense the soul power radiating from Xiao Wu and Tang San. They looked young, and their cultivation levels were definitely lower than his—hence his arrogance.
"You're asking for death!" Tang San was furious that he dared set his sights on Xiao Wu.
"I'll beat you until you're covered in teeth!" Xiao Wu was even angrier. "What kind of people are these?"
"Heh!" Dai Mubai sneered disdainfully and released a powerful soul force pressure.
Nearby ordinary people quickly stepped back; battles between soul masters were not for them to get close to.
Tang San frowned slightly, sensing Dai Mubai's strong soul power—clearly far beyond his and Xiao Wu's.
"Hmph! So he's just relying on having stronger soul power!" Xiao Wu believed she and Tang San could handle him together.
But Tang San didn't want her to jump in. "Xiao Wu, leave it to me."
Xiao Wu nodded, trusting Tang San's judgment. Even if he was outmatched, she would step in when needed.
"Quite courageous!"
Dai Mubai laughed and said, "Come on. If you beat me, this room is yours. But if you lose, the guy leaves and the girl stays."
"Disgusting!" Xiao Wu really wanted to strike him on the spot.
Tang San was thinking about how to respond. Without using the Houtian Hammer, it would be very difficult to win with just Blue Silver Grass. In that case, he would have to rely on hidden weapons.
He was quite confident in his hidden weapons.
"Release your Martial Soul!" Dai Mubai declared.
He unleashed his Evil-Eyed White Tiger Martial Soul, and an imposing white tiger phantom appeared, intensifying his pressure to the point where nearby objects trembled and rattled.
Three soul rings—yellow, yellow, and purple—glowed brightly on Dai Mubai's body.
"A Soul Lord with three soul rings!"
Xiao Wu felt a bit worried.
Because the Tiger Martial Soul was a powerful offensive soul skill with strong defense—very hard to deal with.
"Afraid already? Don't even dare to release your Martial Soul?" Dai Mubai mocked when Tang San did not react.
Tang San's right hand appeared holding a Blue Silver Grass, but he did not reveal any soul rings.
"Ha!" Seeing the Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul, Dai Mubai couldn't help but laugh, "You actually dare to compete with me using this useless Blue Silver Grass? Ridiculous!"
Then he turned to Xiao Wu and said, "Little sister, why do you like such a loser? He doesn't deserve you. Come with me from now on!"
"Pfft!" Xiao Wu snapped angrily. "Xiao San, beat him up!"
Without waiting for Xiao Wu, Tang San had already moved. "Entangle!"
As he activated his first soul skill, a yellow soul ring flashed briefly on his body—indicating this was not an instant-release technique.
The Blue Silver Grass quickly sprouted several vines, whipping toward Dai Mubai to entangle him.
Dai Mubai was too arrogant to dodge and let the Blue Silver Grass wrap around him.
ps: advance chapters come to my https://www.patreon.com/c/Seraphim777