Devouring Soul Emperor

"You kid, you’re full of surprises. With your strength and potential, you’ve earned this."

Gao Feng clicked his tongue in admiration. He took out a gray token with a single black character carved in relief on the front: ’Martial’!

Upon seeing the token, all the Martial Artists in the back looked on with envy.

"This is... a Great Xia Samurai token?"

Chu Qingyun didn’t know what it was, so he asked, confused.

"Let me explain! Let me explain!"

"That’s the token for the Great Xia Martial Palace here in Qingshan City! Once you have it, it means you’re a Martial Artist officially recognized by us. You’re basically one of our own now!"

"Lord Qingyun, even a ninth-level Martial Artist would find it difficult to gain this kind of recognition. Hurry up and take the token."

Mo chirped happily from the side.

Very few Martial Artists could achieve a ten-win streak.

That’s why every Great Xia Martial Palace had its own tokens to distribute to Martial Artists with immense potential whom they deemed worthy. It was also a way for the Great Xia nation to recruit talent.

"Chu Qingyun, there’s one thing I have to make clear."

"If you accept this token, it means you belong to the Great Xia. You won’t be able to join other factions as you please."

Gao Feng was always thorough, so he made sure to remind Chu Qingyun.

Chu Qingyun wanted to ask for more clarification, but Ye Qi snatched the token and shoved it into his hand. "What’s there to hesitate about?"

"The Great Xia nation is in its golden age, and its Dragon Guard is the most powerful faction out there. With this token, you could go to the City Lord’s Mansion and become a Guard Captain right now if you wanted to!"

By successfully achieving a ten-win streak, Chu Qingyun received a reward of one thousand Middle Grade Primordial Stones, greatly easing his financial pressure.

After bidding farewell to Mo and Gao Feng, Chu Qingyun and Ye Qi once again slipped out through the back door.

As they were walking down the street, Ye Qi suddenly grabbed Chu Qingyun’s arm and gave it a sharp twist. "Chu Qingyun, there’s something you have to take responsibility for!"

"Take responsibility?"

Chu Qingyun turned, and his gaze naturally drifted down to Ye Qi’s flat stomach.

Ye Qi’s face flushed red. She twisted his arm twice more, hard, and hissed through clenched teeth, "You bastard! I haven’t even gotten even with you for hiding your Martial Soul’s rank, and now you have the nerve to tease me!"

As she twisted his arm, Chu Qingyun couldn’t help but grimace in pain. ’She’s really serious this time.’

Their playful bickering drew sidelong glances from passersby, who simply smiled without a word.

"Okay, okay, stop fooling around. What is it really?"

Ye Qi glared at him and said, "Deng Zhuxuan was supposed to go with me to a competition against the Blood Wolf Gang. Now that you’ve beaten him and run him off, you’re taking his place."

’Blood Wolf Gang? A competition?’

Chu Qingyun’s first instinct was to refuse.

After all, he had killed the son of one of the Blood Wolf Gang’s Elders and two of their Protectors.

Showing his face to the Blood Wolf Gang rashly was not a wise choice.

"There’s a Spiritual Pool in Qingshan City. Every few years, it fills up with energy that Martial Artists can absorb for their cultivation."

"You’ve eaten a Primordial Spirit Fruit, right? The effect of that Spiritual Pool is even stronger than a Golden Thread Primordial Spirit Fruit!"

"My family and the Blood Wolf Gang jointly manage that Spiritual Pool. Every time it opens, our younger generations have to compete to decide who gets to use it."

"In two days, we’ll decide who gets to use it this time."

At this point, Chu Qingyun understood. She was looking for outside help.

However, anything involving the Blood Wolf Gang could affect the very survival of the Chu Family Village, so Chu Qingyun didn’t immediately agree.

"Chu Qingyun, you’ve mastered the Sword Drawing Technique. How powerful do you think it is?"

Ye Qi asked with a smile, a cunning glint in her eyes, like a fox eyeing a vine full of grapes.

"It’s incredibly powerful. I doubt you could find a stronger Sword Technique for anyone below the rank of Martial Master."

Chu Qingyun nodded and answered honestly.

"Hehe, of course! The origins of the Celestial Sword Three Techniques are far beyond what you can imagine."

"After the Sword Drawing Technique come the even stronger Thrusting Sword Technique and Celestial Sword Technique. If you master all of them, you might even stumble upon a great serendipitous opportunity."

"So, how about it? Defeat the Blood Wolf Gang’s people, and I’ll give you the last two forms."

Ye Qi said with a smile, revealing her true intentions.

"The Blood Wolf Gang is known for its brutality. Even if we win, will they really follow the rules and hand over the Spiritual Pool?"

After hesitating for a moment, Chu Qingyun voiced his concerns.

But Ye Qi just curled her lip in disdain and patted her chest reassuringly. "Don’t you worry. The Blood Wolf Gang wouldn’t dare break the rules in front of my family. And since you’ll be with me, you don’t have to worry about your safety."

Ye Qi spoke with such confidence, and since Chu Qingyun did indeed owe her a favor, he nodded and agreed.

"Alright. In two days, I’ll go with you."

"But, do you know the strength of the two people the Blood Wolf Gang is sending?"

"Two eighth-level Martial Artists."

Ye Qi replied.

"Two eighth-level Martial Artists! But you’re only a Fifth Level Martial Artist, right?"

Chu Qingyun raised his eyebrows, a little surprised.

Ye Qi rolled her eyes and said, "That’s why I need you."

Chu Qingyun was suddenly speechless.

’No wonder she offered a soak in the Spiritual Pool and the last two forms of the Celestial Sword Three Techniques. Her plan was to have me fight two opponents all along.’

"Don’t worry, it’s just one fight after another. It’s not like you have to fight them both at the same time."

Ye Qi smiled, patted Chu Qingyun’s shoulder, and ran off.

「In a great hall of the Qingshan City Lord’s Mansion.」

Deng Zhuxuan was chatting with a kind-faced, wrinkled old man.

"Housekeeper Qin, rest assured. In the fight for the Spiritual Pool two days from now, I will protect Qi. I’ll lay down my life before I let anyone from the Blood Wolf Gang harm her!"

Deng Zhuxuan promised, patting his chest.

Though Deng Zhuxuan was arrogant, he was exceedingly respectful in front of this old man, adopting a very humble attitude.

As the head housekeeper of the City Lord’s Mansion, Housekeeper Qin was a prominent figure in Qingshan City.

Furthermore, rumor had it that his own power was unfathomable.

Housekeeper Qin was all smiles, nodding, when he suddenly saw a graceful figure run in from outside. "Oh, Qi is back."

"Deng Zhuxuan? What are you doing here?"

Ye Qi asked, her face hardening.

"Hehe, Qi, I came to discuss the matter of the Spiritual Pool competition in two days,"

Deng Zhuxuan said with a smile. 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

"The Spiritual Pool? I found a replacement. You won’t be needed in two days," Ye Qi said with a dismissive pout.

"What? Who dares to replace me!?"

Deng Zhuxuan’s face was filled with anger.

"Chu Qingyun."

Upon hearing that name, Deng Zhuxuan’s expression instantly soured. Without another word, he turned and left.

"Sir Qin, that Deng Zhuxuan is as annoying as a fly. Can you just stop letting him in from now on?" Ye Qi said, pouting.

Housekeeper Qin chuckled. "The Deng Family is one of the most prominent families in Qingshan City, after all. Our policy is to appease and win them over. Still... who is this Chu Qingyun, that his name alone was enough to make Deng Zhuxuan leave without throwing a fit?"