Ian Song checked on the Spirit Mushroom Beast inside the Divine Temple and, seeing it perfectly fine, felt much more at ease.
Let's keep moving!
After discovering the wonders of the Beast-Taming Seal, Ian Song couldn’t help but become much more eager to hunt for Martial Souls.
His next mission was to become sect master of the Pristine Way Sect. If he could return with dozens of Martial Souls, who could possibly deny him the position?
Martial Souls are special spiritual entities; once they come into contact with a person, the fusion process begins automatically.
There are only two possible outcomes: either the fusion succeeds, or it fails.
If the host is killed within this dimensional space, the Martial Soul will automatically manifest and become ownerless once again.
However, outside the dimensional space of the Martial Soul Hall, if the host is killed, the Martial Soul will disappear as well.
That’s why, every time the Martial Soul Hall opens, all thousand contestants end up fighting each other.
Harriet, what’s your dream? Ian suddenly asked.
"Dreams?"
Harriet looked a little lost. After a while, she said, "Before I came to the Pristine Way Sect, I always followed my parents’ plans and focused on training, hoping to pass the entrance exam and become a disciple. After joining, my grandfather wanted me to work hard and try to become a Core Disciple like my elder brother. As for my own dreams… I don’t really know. I’ve never thought about it."
Hearing this, Ian Song couldn’t help but sigh—Harriet’s story was really the story of most people in this world.
Within the Human Race, there’s endless infighting among factions, and outside, the Demon and Devil races are always lurking.
To survive, you have to cultivate and grow stronger. That’s the mainstream belief among the Human Race.
At the end of the day, it’s because this is a world where the strong prey on the weak.
It’s not like the real world—Yanhuang—where the main goal is developing the economy.
Comparing the two, you realize just how lucky people in the real world are.
Thinking of this, Ian Song couldn’t help but squeeze Harriet’s hand. "From now on, I’ll hold up a sky for you. Do whatever you want—don’t work too hard."
"You’re so sweet, Liang-ge."
Hearing Ian’s words, Harriet was so moved she rested her cheek on his shoulder.
If it weren’t for Princess Nissa, the 'idiot princess,' getting in the way, Ian would definitely have taken the chance to get a little closer to Harriet.
"Hey, aren’t you two going a bit overboard? Showing off in public—don’t you have any shame?" Princess Nissa rolled her eyes, clearly annoyed.
None of your business!
Ian replied irritably.
Though Harriet didn’t understand what Princess Nissa was saying, she could guess from her expression and quickly pulled her cheek away from Ian’s shoulder.
Half an hour later.
Ian, Harriet, and Nissa arrived at a small stream.
The stream was just over a meter deep, with dozens of differently colored stones lying on the clear bed.
Ian’s gaze locked onto a seemingly ordinary black stone among them.
If it weren’t for his Omniversal God-Eye, Ian would have had a hard time spotting that this black stone was actually a Martial Soul.
Activating his Omniversal God-Eye, Ian got the Martial Soul’s info: Stubborn Stone Beast, a rock-type Martial Soul, ordinary grade. After fusion, the host can manifest a suit of stone armor, boosting defense by at least three times.
That’s actually a pretty good Martial Soul!
Ian nodded to himself—if two cultivators at the same level fought and one had the Stubborn Stone Beast Martial Soul, with triple defense, they could go all out attacking their opponent.
Beast-Taming Seal!
With a thought, the golden seal shot into the Stubborn Stone Beast, and Ian immediately sensed a tight new connection between them.
Collect!
Opening the Divine Temple, the Stubborn Stone Beast leaped from the streambed and vanished into the temple’s space.
Harriet was long used to her boyfriend’s endless tricks, but she was still happy for him—he’d just collected another Martial Soul.
Several hours later.
"Hey, I’m starving! Hurry up and give me something to eat!" Princess Nissa called out weakly to Ian.
Here, take it!
Ian casually tossed some food and water to Princess Nissa, then gently asked Harriet, "Are you hungry? If you are, I have pastries and flower tea."
As he spoke, Ian took out a plate of fragrant pastries and hot tea from his Storage Spirit Ring.
I want pastries and flower tea too!
Princess Nissa was very unhappy about Ian’s favoritism and complained loudly.
Don’t forget—you’re my prisoner. You should be grateful you even get food," Ian said playfully.
You’re awful!" Princess Nissa shook her fist angrily. "If I ever catch you, I’ll pay you back double!
I doubt that day will ever come!" Ian laughed.
Do you want to eat?
Harriet handed the plate of pastries to Princess Nissa.
Thank you, you’re so nice. Unlike that guy—he’s just awful!
Princess Nissa grumbled as she stuffed pastries into her mouth, glaring fiercely at Ian—clearly holding a grudge.
Harriet couldn’t help but laugh at the scene.
Ian couldn’t be bothered to respond.
After a simple meal, the three continued on, but Princess Nissa’s slow pace seriously dragged down Ian and Harriet.
Why don’t you go wait in the Divine Temple?
Ian frowned.
No, I don’t want to go to that horrible place—there’s nothing there!" Princess Nissa shook her head desperately, eyes full of fear, and clung tightly to Harriet’s arm.
Liang-ge, don’t bully her. I think she’s pretty pitiful," Harriet said to Ian.
We only have ten days. More than three have already passed, and with her here, our search speed drops a lot!" Ian explained.
Why don’t you help her?" Harriet suggested, knowing Ian was fast enough that even with Nissa, their speed wouldn’t suffer.
Looks like that’s the only way." Ian nodded helplessly, then said to Princess Nissa, "Come over here."
What are you up to?" Princess Nissa asked, full of suspicion.
I’ll hold your hand—your speed is just way too slow!" Ian said, exasperated.
No way! I’m not letting you touch me!" Princess Nissa shook her head vigorously.
Ian’s face turned cold. "Either you go wait in the Divine Temple, I leave you here, or I lead you by the hand. Your choice."
I…!
Princess Nissa wanted to choose the second option, but remembering the danger, she pouted and walked over to Ian.
Let’s go!
Ian grabbed Harriet with one hand and Princess Nissa with the other. In a flash, they appeared nine kilometers away, with his Omniversal God-Eye activated to quickly search for Martial Souls.
With this method, Ian’s search efficiency soared. In just two hours, he’d found five more Martial Souls, though all were ordinary grade.
It seemed finding two high-grade Martial Souls before was just pure luck.