A child not yet twelve years old dared to address him directly by name—yet Salas didn't dare show the slightest disrespect. Terror filled his heart.
He hurriedly bowed deeply and said, "I am willing to swear loyalty to Your Highness! I only beg that Your Highness spare my life."
Yin Zhang nodded in satisfaction.
"Good. Since you're willing to pledge your loyalty, that's fine. Bibi Dong is like a grasshopper at the end of autumn—she won't last much longer."
As he spoke, Yin Zhang glanced at Qiangu Yunying, his eyes filled with undisguised amusement.
Qiangu Yunying had still been a little confused, but when she caught Yin Zhang's expression, she nearly burst out laughing. She barely managed to hold it in, though her eyes were brimming with mirth as she looked at Salas.
Salas, though confused, remained bent at the waist, waiting respectfully for Yin Zhang to continue.
"Alright, stand up. I didn't come here just for this matter. I also have a small task for you."
Salas immediately replied ingratiatingly, "Please give the order, Your Highness. I will definitely see it done!"
His heart was still in turmoil, as if waves were crashing violently within him.
He hadn't returned to Spirit City in decades, so he had no clear idea of the current situation among the Hall of Worship's elders.
When he had left Spirit City back then, there were only five Consecrated Elders.
The current Sixth Consecrated Elder, Qian Jun, and the Seventh Consecrated Elder, Jiang Mo, had not yet entered the Hall of Worship at that time. It was only after Salas departed that their spirit power rose to Rank 95, and they became the Sixth and Seventh Consecrated Elders.
More than twenty years had passed—had even the Second Consecrator reached Rank 99 and become a Limit Douluo?
Salas was stunned by the thought, but Yin Zhang neither noticed nor cared.
"It's simple. I've written a letter. I want you to deliver it to Spirit Hall, to my teacher, Gold Crocodile Douluo. Can you do that?" Yin Zhang said calmly.
Looking at the moderately thick envelope Yin Zhang handed over, Salas felt a surge of joy. He hadn't expected the task to be so simple and quickly agreed.
"Yes! Of course!"
After Salas personally saw them off, Yin Zhang and Qiangu Yunying walked a short distance before stopping.
Yin Zhang turned to look at Qiangu Yunying.
"Sister Yunying, what did you think about what I said to Salas in the Spirit Sanctuary?"
Qiangu Yunying thought for a moment, then said, "You spoke very convincingly. If I didn't know the real situation, I probably would've believed you too. After all, Grandpa Gold Crocodile really is about to break through and become a Limit Douluo. I just don't know when you're planning to go back. If you make Grandpa Gold Crocodile wait too long, I suspect that when you return to Spirit Hall, you'll receive a very 'loving' lesson."
Yin Zhang smiled helplessly and chuckled.
"I don't really have a choice. The message has already been sent back, but we can't just return right away, can we? That would be too boring. Teacher's been stuck at Rank 98 for decades—waiting a few more months won't make a difference. The important thing is that we leave Heaven Dou City and enjoy ourselves!"
The destination: Fasinuo Province, the village next to Nuoding City—Holy Soul Village.
To be precise, it was the hundred-thousand-year Blue Silver Emperor right leg bone hidden in the waterfall cave behind the village, as well as the Blue Silver Emperor that was still growing there.
At present, Tang San was still in Holy Soul Village, only four years old, while Tang Hao was also there, drowning his sorrows in alcohol.
If he could find the right opportunity, it would be best to snatch the treasures inside the cave.
Yin Zhang considered it carefully. With his current abilities, there really was a chance.
Tang Hao didn't have divine perception. While he was playing the role of a drunken blacksmith in the village, if Yin Zhang took the spirit bone and fled, what could Tang Hao do?
With that thought, Yin Zhang adjusted his original plan and decided to head to Nuoding City first.
More precisely, he would leave Qiangu Yunying somewhere before reaching Nuoding City, then go alone to retrieve the spirit bone and the Blue Silver Emperor.
The Blue Silver Emperor was an incredible treasure.
In the original story, after she sacrificed herself for Tang Hao, she remained in the cave for more than a decade before being taken by her son, Tang San, to the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well to grow rapidly. Later, under special circumstances, she recovered her human form and lived a secluded, peaceful life with Tang Hao.
Before transmigrating, Yin Zhang had read many Douluo fanfics. In those stories, protagonists would directly consume Ah Yin to enhance their aptitude, strengthen themselves, and absorb her spirit bone—a complete power boost.
But what about him?
After obtaining Ah Yin, what should he do?
Yin Zhang wasn't interested in married women—especially married spirit beasts. Still, under the current circumstances, the exact outcome of dealing with Ah Yin remained an unknown variable.
Yin Zhang and Qiangu Yunying boarded a carriage that Salas had carefully prepared.
The carriage was extremely luxurious. The interior was even more spacious than it appeared from the outside. There was a small, soft bed inside, fully furnished windows, and every convenience one could imagine.
Seated inside, Yin Zhang couldn't help admiring it.
"Did Salas give me his treasured carriage? If this were auctioned, it'd probably sell for tens of thousands—maybe even over a hundred thousand—gold coins, right?"
Qiangu Yunying looked out the window at the ever-changing scenery, her curiosity evident.
"Xiao Zhang, are we going straight to Nuoding City?"
Yin Zhang chuckled. "Yes—but you can't go."
"Ah? I can't go? Why?" Qiangu Yunying said in disbelief.
Yin Zhang shook his head gently.
"Because that place is very dangerous. When we arrive, you'll stay there and wait for me. Just wait for me to come back."
At first, Yin Zhang had wanted to mention Tang Hao, but then decided against it. There was no need—telling her would only make her worry unnecessarily. Since he was confident, there was no need to say it out loud.
Qiangu Yunying looked at him quietly, her eyes filled with grievance, making her look utterly wronged. Yin Zhang couldn't help but chuckle.
Just as he was about to explain further, a mechanical voice suddenly rang out in his mind.
[Detected that the host is facing a decision. The following choices have been triggered:]
[Option One: Take Qiangu Yunying with you to Nuoding City to search for the Blue Silver Emperor and the hundred-thousand-year spirit bone.
Reward: 2,000-year spirit bone age enhancement card]
[Option Two: Do not take Qiangu Yunying with you.
Reward: 2,000-year spirit ring age enhancement card]
[Option Three: Go to neither.
Reward: Thousand-year whale glue]
Yin Zhang was startled as he looked at the three options and their rewards.
He decisively chose the second option.
The first reward was useless to him at the moment. He didn't even have a spirit bone yet—and even if he did, the lowest would be a hundred thousand years. A mere two thousand years meant nothing.
In contrast, the spirit ring age enhancement card was actually useful.
[By the way, System—can this age enhancement card be used on others?]