Zhongli ultimately declined "Xue Qinghe's" invitation.
However, he became a guest advisor to the crown prince's residence!
"Zhongli, you've really outdone yourself!"
"You used to send your bills to little Hu Tao, and now they're going to the crown prince's residence!"
Paimon couldn't hold back, patting Zhongli's shoulder and teasing him.
This man was determined to freeload his way through life!
"By the way, Zhongli, how do you know all this stuff? We only just arrived in this world!"
What puzzled Paimon was that Zhongli somehow knew about this world!
How could he know so much on his first visit?
Zhongli gave a mysterious smile but didn't answer Paimon's question.
"Hmph, fine, don't tell me!"
Paimon crossed her arms, turned her head in a huff, and stomped her foot.
"I'm gonna give you another ugly nickname!"
Zhongli: "…"
"Riddle Man!"
Zhongli's eye twitched, and he shook his head helplessly.
Paimon's knack for nicknames was truly something else.
"Xue Qinghe" left; she had many matters to attend to.
Before departing, she left behind a token.
A single token engraved with the character "Xue" (Snow).
Zhongli suspected this token held more sway in Wuhun Hall than in the Tiandou Empire.
Why would "Xue Qinghe" recruit a "useless freeloader" like Zhongli?
For someone as clever as Zhongli, it was better to keep him close than let him fall into another faction's hands!
She might not need him, but if others got him, she'd be the one to suffer!
Fortunately, Zhongli had no soul power and wasn't a powerhouse. A talent like him shouldn't attract too much attention.
Besides, Zhongli was now a guest advisor to the crown prince's residence. Even if others recognized his brilliance, what could they do?
"Damn it, what's with this lousy Tiandou Royal Academy? And that blasted Dugu Bo!"
"Just relying on his Titled Douluo strength, huh?"
"If I were…"
"Huh, what's that?"
Zhongli and Paimon overheard someone ranting and instinctively paused, looking toward the city gate.
It was a group of people, young and old.
Seven youths—boys and girls—were among them.
Suddenly, a complaining girl seemed to notice something, her eyes lighting up as she ran toward Zhongli and Paimon.
"It… it can fly??"
Her beautiful eyes widened in disbelief.
Her companions mirrored her expression, and the older members were equally stunned.
Especially a middle-aged man with a flat-top haircut. He glanced at Zhongli, then at Paimon, exclaiming, "An external beast martial soul!"
An external beast martial soul—there was actually a second person in the world with one!
But why was this person's so cute and able to fly…
While his was some pig-dog hybrid creature?
The heavens were unfair!
He hurriedly approached Paimon, examining her closely.
"Of course Paimon can fly!"
Paimon crossed her arms, puffing up proudly.
"It can talk?!"
The flat-topped man was even more shocked.
He had studied countless martial souls and read extensive theoretical knowledge. He was, without exaggeration, the most knowledgeable person about martial souls in the entire Douluo Continent!
But a talking martial soul? He'd never even heard of such a thing!
"You're a weird uncle. Why wouldn't Paimon be able to talk?"
The flat-topped man, stunned, had a glint in his eyes. So magical, so unique a martial soul!
Seeing this, Paimon felt like she was being stared at by some terrifying creature. She shivered and quickly hid behind Zhongli.
"Zhongli, this guy's scary. Let's get out of here!"
Zhongli: "…"
Seeing Zhongli stay silent, Paimon, in her panic, seemed to realize something.
Zhongli was the Rock King, the one who ended the Archon War. With him here, what was there to fear?
With that thought, Paimon's fear vanished.
"Hmph…"
With a cold huff, Paimon crossed her arms and faced the flat-topped man. "You dared to scare Paimon! I'm gonna give you an ugly nickname for revenge!"
"I'll call you…"
"Little Flathead!"
Flat-topped man: "…"
Everyone else: "…"
The flat-topped man's eye twitched, his calm heart now roiling with waves.
Little Flathead?
In his youth, he was quite handsome!
Maybe not as striking as this Zhongli fellow, but among his peers, he was definitely top-tier!
Time was a butcher's knife, carving him into a mess…
"Xiaogang, that's a great nickname—Little Flathead!"
"Hahaha!!"
Unable to hold back, another middle-aged man burst out laughing.
"Flender! Laugh again, and we're done!"
"Gah…"
Seeing Yu Xiaogang's anger, Flender quickly covered his mouth.
"Kids say the darndest things, kids say the darndest things!"
Yu Xiaogang shot Flender a look, muttering to himself.
He wasn't angry, not angry at all!
"Little girl, you're Paimon, right?"
"You misunderstood me. I was just excited to see a martial soul like you."
"You're one of a kind!"
"You're a miracle!"
Yu Xiaogang didn't hide his enthusiasm, praising her openly.
Wasn't such a martial soul a miracle?
Not only an external beast martial soul, but humanoid, capable of speech and thought, no different from a person!
A miracle in itself!
One of a kind!
The group was stunned. In their minds, Yu Xiaogang was stern and rarely smiled, even with Tang San. Yet, seeing this creature called Paimon, he was transformed!
Yu Xiaogang was notoriously strict, especially during training.
"Hiss…"
The group gasped, dumbfounded.
"The Master, he… he…"
A chubby boy looked bewildered. Was Paimon really that special?
"Hey, you're pretty good at talking!"
Paimon grinned. Who doesn't love flattery?
Someone as naive as Paimon could be fooled seven times in one night!
Yu Xiaogang: "…"
After a moment of silence, Yu Xiaogang turned to Zhongli.
Just one glance, and the faint aura of authority made Yu Xiaogang's mind wander.
Those amber pupils, those phoenix-like eyes, that demeanor—so out of place among the crowd.
Even in a crowd, he was the brightest star!
"Young man, may I ask what your innate soul power level is?"
"I know it's a bold question, but as a scholar, I'm dying to learn more about martial souls!"
"Especially one like Paimon!"
Yu Xiaogang's attitude was polite, but Flender and the others shook their heads.
This wasn't just bold—Yu Xiaogang was courting death!
Innate soul power wasn't something you just asked about!
Every soul master had their secrets. Soul power and soul skills weren't topics just anyone could pry into!