Quest Maker of Soul Land

Shout out to Ervin Altman.

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***

"Grandmaster said that your progress isn't small this time so we can visit settlements without fearing the bounties on our group."

She said before retreating into the tent in a hurry.

"No wonder Yin doesn't beat you... turns out you can compliment others," Xie Xan uttered once Bibi Dong was out of sight.

"No wonder Lana beats you often, then," Ja Sun smiled. Xie Xan merely smirked. If this was five months ago, he would have the urge to fight but that itch was gone. Xie Xan, under Ja Sun's continuous efforts and insults, had grown resistant to insults altogether.

"How did you know?" Liu Erlong inquired.

"Simple, master hadn't left until now and was still observing. I think, he wished to leave only after fully deducing my changes," Ja Sun shrugged. Even if he was romantically slightly dull, if he admitted that he could cheer any woman up then he might just aggrieve Ah Yin for real. If Ja Sun considered his life as an eroge then the value of his relationship meter happened to be the highest with Ah Yin. Of course, he knew his priorities.

"You're rank 50?" Ah Yin inquired as Ja Sun nodded with a grin.

"Me, too," Liu Erlong stated coolly.

"I broke through myself," Xie Xan smiled.

"Same here," Hu Lana stated softly.

Three breakthroughs at once. Ah Yin had yet to absorb her sixth spirit ring but she, too, strangely made high advancement in the last three days. Not only her, but even Bibi Dong admitted that she was on verge of breaking through herself.

Their gazes naturally landed on Ja Sun inquisitively. In reality, all of them were just a bit away from their breakthroughs. Liu Erlong was pleasantly surprised to find out she was already rank 50. Xie Xan and Hu Lana grew into rank 51 and 54 simultaneously. Even if Ja Sun had reached rank 50, they understood that the cause of the commotion he created must have provided benefits other than that.

In reality, the life force that escaped Ja Sun during his fusion with Life Gold as well as turning it into a Spirit Core of a variant form, precisely the: Life-Death Spirit Cauldron, the Life Gold also alleviated and naturally fused with the martial soul due to its area of impact. The third eye in Ja Sun's spirit transformation became real which didn't only change his appearance but also strengthened the martial soul but not the point of a qualitative breakthrough i.e. evolution of the martial soul.

Still, Ja Sun's influence leaked silently during the fusion. If the group knew the true quality of this martial soul then naturally, they would have realized that it is the quality of his martial soul that boosted their cultivation alongside the aura of life gold. But right now, they can only attribute it to whatever heavenly material he consumed.

Without displaying any form of nervousness or worry on the matter, Ja Sun naturally smiled and laughed, "So? Clearly, you all benefited from the after-effects. My body is now strong enough to absorb even stronger spirit rings. This breakthrough, I will be pushing past all of you."

Smoothly shifting their focus on their own inadequacies, Ja Sun now made the trio feel worried. If Ja Sun could jump from rank 40 to 47... can he not, at least, surpass rank 54?

If they didn't see it, or weren't under Bibi Dong's tutelage then naturally, they would have scoffed regarding the possibility of such a rare event happening. But seeing is believing. Ja Sun may truly surpass them altogether. And this brought a formless pressure on everybody. Even Ah Yin. Rank 50 to Rank 60 is a period of slow cultivation. Some might even say that completing the cultivation of rank 61 to rank 70 is relatively quick. Ah Yin was the same. If it wasn't for the Blue Silver Emperor's Core, she might still be stranded at rank 52 to 53. Now, Ja Sun's title would be the same as hers: Spirit King.

This finally pushed Ah Yin to make her mind. She will finally gain a spirit ring alongside Liu Erlong.

Once everybody packed up, the group began moving towards the Dragon Rising City while discussing their future journey. After a single battle against the beasttaken tide, the group had decided to distance themselves from the situation because they felt their teamwork wouldn't really improve where Ah Yin's use was the greatest. Not only that, the situation was murky with traces of conspiracy behind it. Though curious, it wasn't Bibi Dong's place to make everyone follow her and investigate the Hint of Evil for personal reasons.

Taking this chance, Ah Yin finally stated her desire to return to the western border of the Empire once again. Not only that, Liu Erlong was ready to gain her fifth spirit ring, too.

This training could already be considered a great success.

How many individuals can boast the strength of being Spirit Kings at such a young age?

But all of this was by design.

Bibi Dong selected the individuals she did rightly because of talent and the confidence in her ability to teach them.

Bibi Dong instantly agreed on Ah Yin's directions, looking forward to Ah Yin's breakthrough the most. Bibi Dong's interactions with the women of the group were easily greater than the two males, both of them being rather difficult to talk to because of their love of immature humor. So, her expectations for Ah Yin couldn't help but be a little higher.

Finally, after a day's tracking, the group reached the Dragon Rising City while being completely covered.

But...

"Spirit Arena?"

Liu Erlong's voice quivered while a feeling of excitement entered her heart after hearing the word 'arena.'

Bibi Dong had rented a private courtyard this time for their stay due to their sensitive identities. Everyone but Hu Lana was present around the table. Hearing Liu Erlong's question, Bibi Dong began explaining calmly.

"The idea of Spirit Arena has been going on for quite a time already. Jointly owned by the two empires and the Spirit Hall, Spirit Arenas, like Spirit Temples, can be found being constructed in every major city on the continent. The idea of Spirit Arena is to divert one's energy.

Most of the Spirit Masters rob others on the road not because of their preferences but because of their needs. Besides, a spirit master doesn't always look for another individual to compete. This only prevails in orthodox factions like ours. In reality, Spirit Masters have too much energy but no way to vent. The hope behind Spirit Arena is to divert several rogue spirit masters remaining in both the Empires as warriors of the Arena.

They all will still be free, but they can earn money in the arena. Not only that, the arena can promote the profession of spirit masters by allowing normal men and women to watch the battles."

Ja Sun nodded internally. After Spirit City's construction was completed, a number of changes happened within the city and outside, too.

After explaining the one true change in the outside world, Bibi Dong went on and explained the changes in the internal structure of the Spirit Hall she learned while delivering the amnesiac man to the Temple.

First of all, the Titled Douluos level recruited within the Spirit Hall will be considered as Elders. Instead of inner and external elders, there is only one Elder's Hall within the Supreme Pontiff Palace. Of course, with Qian Daoliu's existence exposed to the group, Bibi Dong then explained that higher than elders and the Supreme Pontiff are the Priests of the Elder's Hall.

However, Bibi Dong merely stated their existence: not their numbers or strength.

"Dinner's ready!"

Hu Lana hummed a cheerful tone while holding a tray as wide as the table itself. Though weaker in physique, she was still a spirit master with higher strength than an ordinary woman. Setting the large tray, she revealed many dishes.

"It... actually looks good," Ja Sun mumbled, his eyes wide in surprise as Hu Lana snorted, "It also tastes good."

She sat down while fully knowing what Bibi Dong spoke of since the Pinkette had intentionally raised her voice.

Still, everyone felt the cozy surroundings turning them calmer and light-hearted.

"Say... what about the seventh member? We all are definitely improving but wouldn't everything fall apart if we cannot even participate in the coming competition?" Hu Lana's words made everyone's expression bleak.

It was true.

What about the seventh?

Where are they going to find him or her and even if Bibi Dong did decide on someone, would this person need high-intensity training or not?

Bibi Dong sunk the most.

The last thing she wanted to do was disappoint her master.

"I... don't want to reduce my standards..." Bibi Dong bit her lips, her mood conflicted once again. Seeing her teacher glaring at her in such an indignant manner, Hu Lana couldn't help but smile wryly. The difference in their age was barely noteworthy so instead of teacher and student, they considered each other a friend already.

"O-of course, not. We wouldn't want a weak teammate either, right?" Hu Lana looked around but found that everyone looked at her food rather than Bibi Dong and her.

Their lips were trembling, as if trying to control it to split their mouth with a wide smile, and began eating silently.

'I hope all you get food poisoning!' Hu Lana screamed internally.

"But... I think we need to take drastic measures for our last teammate," Bibi Dong finally sighed.

"Kidnapping!" Ja Sun pumped his fist.

"No, trading!" Bibi Dong glared at Ja Sun.

"Trading?" Ah Yin frowned, unable to understand.

"Yes. This competition mostly places the two empires at each other's throats. That doesn't have to be the same for us... although, due to Ka-ul's actions, Star Luo Empire has targeted us. Still, we can trade a valuable team member from another party, possibly, one of the upper sects, for heavy benefits. Of course, since we cannot ask the help of the Hall, we will have to collect the said benefits ourselves."

"What if we trade half the rewards itself?" Ja Sun suddenly inquired.

"What do you mean?" Bibi Dong questioned curiously. The rewards of the competition in itself weren't too suited for the group. Yes, they were spirit bones but as the successor of Spirit Hall, Bibi Dong wanted her companions to gain spirit bones with affinity to their martial souls for greater benefit.

Smilingly, Ja Sun stated, "Well, it depends when we can meet the party I have in mind but if we're lucky then they must be here to train against beasttaken tides, too. What I mean to say is..."

---

Dragon Rising City, though small, is lauded as one of the strongest locations in terms of manpower and defense.

The city itself is divided into various parts with many private clans and factions situated in the outer ring of the city, cleverly using these private clans and factions to be the first to face any enemy, and then, in the middle of the city came various facilities including the work-in-progress Spirit Arena.

Unlike Gengxin City that looked like a giant city of furnaces with countless gas pipes moving around, or the Star Luo City's elegant structures, the infrastructure of Dragon Rising City did not have any particular uniformity. And it was due to this reason why this city felt attractive to Spirit Masters.

Even during the night, the city remained lit with fervor.

With constant battles came constant frustration so during every major event, the prices and popularity of red-light districts and their services would shoot through the sky.

"Damn you, bastard! This isn't a nice place!" Liu Erlong blushed under her mask as Ja Sun pointed at the narrow end of an alley.

The street was basked in a soft red glow, almost pink, due to the deliberate lighting system of the owners of the district. In the direction where Ja Sun pointed, Liu Erlong surprisingly saw two women mingled together. Both of their faces were hidden by the shade but even if their bodies were illicitly exposed, they didn't seem to care about it and neither did the passerby.

Hu Lana and others merely glanced in the direction before walking silently and calmly. And while Liu Erlong was still in a daze, she heard Ja Sun's amused tone, "If this isn't a nice place, then what is? Besides, we aren't here to get dazzled by the view."

Shame and embarrassment wreaked havoc in Liu Erlong's heart as she observed everyone besides her being calm about the debauchery occurring around them. Then again, she should have expected this in the first place.

Forcefully calming her shuddering breath, she followed behind Ja Sun silently but this time, Liu Erlong couldn't help but glance around. Aside from the constant catcalling from scantily dressed women, the cheerful roars and laughter of spirit masters and equally perverted normal men and women alike, there were lingering moans that constantly itched Liu Erlong's heart.

Still, with the way the group was dressed, giving a neat and stoic vibe, they weren't stopped midway by any drunken man or woman. In fact, their way open up subtly because a sense of cold intention emanated from Bibi Dong, making the spectators frightful internally.

The group walked into an unadorned black-bricked store. The only reason they entered the red light district was for information. It wasn't that the group knew of this location beforehand. But while Ja Sun had planned to find some clues in a tavern, maybe bribing the bartender, this peculiar shop was quite open in its display of goods with bold letters printed on the front ledge: Information House.

Since it was like this, the group entered to check the situation.

"Welcome, welcome~"

A flirtatious whistle blew from the side as the group entered. Sitting behind the table, with her exposed legs placed on it and the charming heels facing the group, a short-haired brunette took the pipe from her mouth and exhaled a puff of smoke. The front of the store was barely enough to hold all of them and the door to the further portion of the store seemed to be locked and behind the woman's seat.

Seeing the silent men and women, the woman gave a prolonged and sensual sigh but she still gave a smile in the end.

"What kind of information would you like?" she inquired softly.

"Location of individuals."

Bibi Dong spoke up, her smooth tone startling the woman slightly.

"And what will you trade?"

"Location of individuals," Ja Sun remarked this time.

Turning slightly, she gave a rhythmic knock on the door, and soon, a little girl walked out. The girl had a mask on her face but the short blonde twintails and the beautiful frock on her little body made her situation known.

"Whose location would you like to know?"

"The Clear Sky Twin Stars."

The woman's eyes twitched.

"And in return, who location would you trade?"

The group grew silent for a moment before Ja Sun smiled and answered, "The temporarily exiled group of Spirit Hall wanted by the Imperial Clan."

The woman's expression changed and she looked at each of them carefully. With a smile, she finally glanced at the little girl and with a monotonous voice, she answered: "Spirit Sage Tang Hao, Spirit Douluo Tang Xiao, along with 29 other individuals from Clear Sky, Speed, Strength, Defense, and Attack Clans were sighted in the Dragon Rising City 2 days ago: Departing for a request of assistance to a westward village."

Bibi Dong and Ja Sun glanced at each other.

"The location of the—"

"Don't worry about it," the woman smiled at the group, "Please have a safe journey and do patronize our establishment again."

Bibi Dong and others smiled for a moment. They were clear that this would happen. In fact, they did all of it knowingly.

As they left, the woman glanced at the little girl and whispered softly, "Transmit the news to Hell Civet, Fire Leopard, and Wind Sword Sects that the bounty on ten-thousand-year-old spirit bones is in the Dragon Rising City. Set watchers on them... and also contact that up-and-coming group. Hint of Evil's base shouldn't be far from the city."

---

"Will this really work?"

A middle-aged man with a thick scar running down his cheek inquired with a deep scowl.

"Relax," a charming voice interrupted him. The speaker happened to be a youth with flowing blonde hair and even if he attracted the gazes of plenty, his heart remained unmoved.

Taking the lead was a bulky dark-skinned bald man, the sight of which would make other five men twitch every time. Even his voice was amazingly deep.

"Didn't teacher already agree that Tang Yuehua is interesting enough to try it? The conditions are right, too. Since they left here with a group, then, of course, they will return for resupply if they don't die."

These six men... were none other than Ja Sun, Ah Yin, Bibi Dong, Liu Erlong, Xie Xan, and Hu Lana.

The dark-skinned metal man was Ja Sun.

The one with flowing blonde hair was Bibi Dong.

And the ugliest one with the thickest scar was Liu Erlong.

Why the ugliest?

Why not?

This was Ja Sun's other ability of the spirit bone: Yin-Yang True Illusion. He hadn't made use of it quite often but this skill is quite practical.

At the expense of his mental energy, Ja Sun can contort space slightly and develop real illusions. These illusions cannot be touched but they are similar to the ones they all faced in the forest because the image isn't in one's mind, but in actual space. And this ability can naturally be turned into the most effective disguise ever.

Seven men walked out but instead of returning to their previous courtyard, this time, they booked rooms in an inn and settled. Now, with Ja Sun's mental energy, he could keep his and the group's disguise for three hours without any issues.

Finally, five meters away from Ja Sun, the group's transformation was removed. Ja Sun removed his own disguise as he sat on his bed cross-legged.