The stone chamber's door closed again, leaving Lin Xiao alone inside. Only then did he have the chance to carefully sense the changes within himself.
Beyond the enhancement of his soul rings' lifespans, his physical strength had also increased somewhat. Although his soul power level remained unchanged, it had become much more condensed compared to before.
Raising his palm, he channeled his soul power, and Higanbana appeared in his hand. Its bewitching colors were even more vivid, and the voices of the remnant souls echoed more clearly in his ears.
Among them was a faint but particularly lively remnant soul. Nestled within the stamen of Higanbana, it showed no discomfort, instead wandering freely as if at home in water.
Lin Xiao revealed a faint smile, retracted his martial soul, and, feeling the changes in his body, let out a soft sigh.
The Spirit Ascension Ceremony seemed to have lasted quite a while, and his body bore many traces of growth that came with time. When he returned to the Holy Spirit Church, it was nearing the end of the year. By his estimation, the outside world had likely already welcomed the new year.
He had to admit that the Holy Spirit Church indeed had some skill. Setting aside the brainwashing process, the method of enhancing soul ring lifespans and boosting various aspects of a soul master's abilities was not something an ordinary faction could possess.
Unfortunately, even having experienced it firsthand, he had been too consumed by pain during the process to think deeply. He still couldn't quite figure out what exactly that "Holy Emperor" was.
It seemed that even with his memories from a past life, there were still many things within the Holy Spirit Church that he didn't understand.
Pushing aside his thoughts, Lin Xiao slowly entered a state of meditation…
Several days later, a few figures streaked across the sky, carried by the light of flying soul tools.
The sound of wind roared in his ears. Lin Xiao glanced slightly at Xu Tianran, who was flying ahead. He hadn't expected that Xu Tianran, as the crown prince, would travel without an entourage of guards. Instead, dressed in simple, practical attire, he moved using a flying soul tool like the other soul engineers.
"The front lines are fraught with danger. Your Highness, please don't stray too far from us," one of the people traveling alongside spoke up, concerned that Xu Tianran might encounter trouble.
"The soldiers on the front lines fight to the death for the Sun Moon Empire, protecting the nation's peace. What danger could there be?" Xu Tianran said, then smiled as he looked at Zhongli Wu. "Moreover, with Consecrator Zhongli here, there's no need for concern. You all don't need to worry."
Zhongli Wu merely glanced at Xu Tianran without responding.
Xu Tianran didn't seem bothered, maintaining his smile, though he occasionally glanced back in Lin Xiao's direction.
This time, he had invited Zhongli Wu to accompany him, clearly with the intention of winning him over. Among the people Zhongli Wu brought, aside from two consecrators of the Holy Spirit Church, there was only Lin Xiao.
Xu Tianran didn't know Lin Xiao's identity, but during the flight, he could sense that Lin Xiao's cultivation was far inferior to the two consecrators. For someone of such cultivation to be brought along by Zhongli Wu, he must have something special about him.
Looking at the mask, Xu Tianran kept speculating about what lay beneath it and whether there was a chance to pull him to his side.
Xu Tianran's subtle intentions didn't entirely escape Zhongli Wu, but he showed no concern.
Lin Xiao followed silently behind, his demeanor as calm as it had been days ago.
"Hm?" As the scenery below flashed by, Xu Tianran suddenly spoke up. "That place is…"
"Your Highness, those are refugees who fled from near the front lines. The city below is likely distributing porridge to aid them," someone promptly responded.
"Alas, for the sake of the empire's great cause, the common people have sacrificed much," Xu Tianran said with a sorrowful expression, sighing deeply before glancing at Zhongli Wu again. "Since we're here, shall we go down and take a look?"
"As Your Highness commands," Zhongli Wu replied politely, though only he knew what he truly thought.
Although they didn't announce the crown prince's title, the attire of Xu Tianran and his group clearly marked them as extraordinary. As they entered the city, many people turned to look at them.
The refugees who had fled to this place, however, showed little reaction. Their numb gazes were fixed solely on the porridge stall ahead. To them, strangers appearing out of nowhere were far less significant than half a bowl of porridge.
Only a few curious children glanced their way.
"Your Highness…" One of the people by Xu Tianran's side spoke softly, seemingly reluctant to let him get too close to the refugees.
Seeing this, Xu Tianran didn't insist. He frowned, sighed, and continued walking forward.
"It's getting late. Shall we rest here for a bit?" Xu Tianran said, his gaze directed at Lin Xiao.
The others in the group had high cultivation levels, and traveling didn't consume much energy, so there was no need for a special rest. Xu Tianran's words seemed to be specifically considerate of Lin Xiao.
"No need, Your Highness," Zhongli Wu spoke up, drawing Xu Tianran's attention. "We're not far from the border. We can rest once we arrive, which will also put the border generals at ease."
Zhongli Wu's words caused the others beside Xu Tianran to glance at him, their faces showing a hint of relief.
Their mission was to protect Xu Tianran. Stopping here suddenly could bring unknown dangers, and if anything went wrong, not only they but also their families might suffer the consequences. Reaching the border, where the army could provide protection, would lighten their burden.
"Since Consecrator Zhongli has spoken, very well," Xu Tianran nodded, saying no more.
However, just as he prepared to leave the city and continue the journey, his gaze suddenly fell on the roadside.
There, kneeling, was an eleven- or twelve-year-old girl. She looked frail, likely due to her life as a refugee, with dirt smudged on her face, though one could still discern a delicate outline.
Xu Tianran's eyes flickered. He stepped forward and brushed away the stray grass on her head.
"Are you going to buy me?" the girl asked timidly. Though her face was covered in grime, her eyes remained bright, carrying a hint of cleverness.
Xu Tianran stared at her for a moment before suddenly chuckling. "You want me to buy you? What can you do?"
"I… my father was a chef. I can cook."
"Haha, I don't need you to cook. I'm short one person to attend to my daily needs. If you're willing, I can consider it."
"I'm willing," the girl said, immediately kowtowing.
Looking at the girl kneeling on the ground, Xu Tianran laughed again and glanced at the person beside him. "Take her along. To appear before me, she must have some ability."
"Yes," the person beside him bowed, then approached the girl. "Child, lift your head. What's your name?"
"My name is… Ju zi."