No one knew how much time had passed before Han Li finally opened his eyes.
Feeling the changes in his body, a smile appeared at the corner of his mouth as he stood up.
"How is it? A hundred-thousand-year soul bone, anything special about it?"
Dugu Bo, seeing him awake, stood up from the chair beside him and asked curiously. It was the first time he knew someone had obtained a hundred-thousand-year soul bone.
Han Li stretched his body before answering with a smile, "Nothing much, just that the soul bone has two skills. It feels less special than developing my external soul bone."
Dugu Bo's mouth twitched, wanting to slap him. Was that even human language?
Before meeting Han Li, he had never heard of anyone obtaining an external soul bone or a hundred-thousand-year soul bone; these were always considered rumors.
"Can you reveal it?"
Dugu Bo looked at him and asked. Given their relationship, it wasn't necessary, but he still asked symbolically.
"Of course, you all will know sooner or later anyway," Han Li answered casually. He would use it sooner or later, so it made no difference whether he said it now or later.
"The first skill: Like a prairie fire that cannot be extinguished, it will come back to life with the spring breeze. The effect is the body's self-repair; even severed limbs can regenerate. In a place full of Blue Silver Grass, this effect is better and faster."
Without minding Dugu Bo's wide eyes, he continued, "The second skill, Absorb, can quickly restore soul power and spiritual power by rapidly extracting from surrounding plants, not limited to Blue Silver Grass. Of course, the effect is better with Blue Silver Grass."
He had used the slight advantages given by his obedient son to slightly modify the flying skill that came with it. However, due to his limited strength, he could only expand on the original basis and couldn't fully obtain the skills he wanted.
But, for him, it was enough. This greatly enhanced his endurance, compensating for the shortfall of soul power during cross-level battles.
"Healing, limb regeneration, soul power, and spiritual power recovery. Tsk, I'm curious, when you reach the titled rank, what will you be unable to do? An all-system soul master."
Dugu Bo had taken the extreme path, with very obvious strengths and weaknesses.
"Hey, just lucky. So-called schools of thought mean nothing, being strong is enough."
Han Li smiled. He was just compensating for his shortcomings, still a bit away from being a dual-class warrior.
"Have you decided what soul beast to choose for your sixth soul ring?" Dugu Bo looked at him with a headache. Han Li's fifth soul ring was already eighty thousand years old; this time, it would be a hundred thousand years.
He still had some self-awareness. The only hundred-thousand-year soul beasts he knew were the two in the core of the Star Dou Great Forest. Even though Han Li's combat strength was impressive, and he was titled douluo, he didn't think it was a sure thing to fight on others' home turf.
"No rush for the soul ring, I've already thought about it. Let's go to a place first, then gather people after we come out."
Han Li shook his head; he wasn't planning to hunt soul beasts now.
This time, he came to take the Blue Silver Emperor's soul bone, also preparing for future matters. Their improvements were all leaps. Either don't do it or do it thoroughly. Frequent trips to the Star Dou Great Forest would only cause unnecessary trouble.
And he hated trouble.
"Not obtaining a soul ring? That would delay your growth rate," Dugu Bo looked at him puzzled.
"Don't worry, have I ever made an irrational decision? The growth rate won't be slow in the future. You might even take the opportunity to break through to Super Douluo."
"Next, we will head to the Slaughter City."
Han Li said solemnly.
"The City of Slaughter? Isn't that a place where Evil soul masters gather? Can you improve your soul power there? Hardly anyone comes out alive, right?"
Dugu Bo frowned deeply. He felt like he needed to go back to studying. How could he, a dignified Titled Douluo, know so little?
"Yes, you can. The way to improve there is very simple: kill. As long as you kill enough, you'll improve fast enough. In the end, just walk out alive."
When Han Li spoke, it was as if he were talking about killing chickens or pigs, without any discomfort.
"Tang Hao and the current Pope both walked out from there and even gained domains," Han Li added.
"We must go."
Dugu Bo answered emphatically. No soul master could resist this temptation; it was a treasure trove for acquiring domains post-birth.
"When do we leave?"
Dugu Bo was a bit impatient. He was different now compared to before. Now, with his martial soul possessed, anyone below the Titled rank who touched his wings would surely die.
These people didn't lack self-created soul skills, so he wasn't worried at all.
"The day after tomorrow. Tomorrow, I'll go see Uncle Xiao; it's been a long time," Han Li thought for a moment and replied.
"Alright, that's good."
Dugu Bo, who was quite sentimental, also smiled at his words.
"Alright, let's eat something and rest here. I'll send those three to rest first."
Dugu Bo pointed to the food on the table, kept warm with soul power, signaling them to eat first.
"Okay."
Han Li responded, quickly finished eating, and casually found a room to rest.
Early the next morning, after reintroducing the soul bone skills to the three girls, they disguised themselves and headed to the City Lord's mansion.
Compared to before, the City Lord's mansion was much more luxurious. They didn't choose to enter through the main gate but instead sneaked in after circling around.
Seeing the greatly changed Han Li, Lord Xiao almost didn't recognize him for a moment.
After a long conversation, under his gratified gaze, Han Li and his companions quietly left, leaving only a ring on the table.
Thinking of his son, now working in Wuhun City, he smiled, put the ring away, and it was as if no one had ever appeared.
Then, back at the hotel, under Dugu Bo's urging, the originally planned schedule for the next day was moved up.
What Han Li didn't expect was that when they reached the next city and went to the shop to switch the ordinary carriage to a luxurious one, they encountered an unexpected person.
She was renting a carriage.
The people beside Han Li were a bit surprised and followed his gaze.
It was a young girl with long black hair draped over her shoulders, fair skin, and an extremely voluptuous figure that didn't match her age.
Her expression was very cold, a kind of coldness from the heart, a pure coldness. Her black eyes didn't even carry a hint of vitality, which clashed with her otherwise very beautiful face.
Her limbs were well-proportioned and long, exuding a deathly coldness that was hard to adapt to.
"Is she good-looking?"
Dugu Yan took one look and felt hurt. She immediately gritted her teeth and looked at Han Li, her hand already reaching for his waist.
"Isn't it just a bit bigger? Is that why you're so attracted to her?"
Shui Bing'er and Xiu'er also lowered their heads, silent. Although they were not inferior, they felt equally defeated.
"Am I that kind of person?"
Han Li smiled and held her hand, explaining, "Don't misunderstand, I just recognized her identity."
Seeing that he didn't look guilty, Dugu Yan gave up on hitting him, letting him hold her hand, but still looked at him, waiting for an explanation.
"Zhu Zhuqing, the second young lady of the Zhu family of the Star Luo Empire, betrothed to the third prince, Dai Mubai, since childhood. It's rumored that the two of them have a martial soul fusion skill, although they haven't displayed it yet."
"The most interesting part is that a few years ago, the third prince, Dai Mubai, escaped from Star Luo. So, what do you think she's doing here, in the Heaven Dou Empire?"
Han Li's lips curled into a smile as he observed Zhu Zhuqing, who was handling procedures at the counter.
"A member of the Zhu family from the Star Luo Empire? And involved in the fight for the throne?"
Now, the three girls were interested too, looking at Zhu Zhuqing with curiosity and a hint of pity.
Han Li's martial soul fusion skill hypothesis, under Qian Daoliu's cost-free support, had been confirmed. In the type of martial soul fusion skill with incremental evolution, the auxiliary would indeed become a vassal of the dominant, even becoming unlike themselves.
Perhaps because their gazes were unabashed, Zhu Zhuqing turned her head when she noticed them. Seeing that it was one man and three women observing her, and Han Li was holding Dugu Yan's hand, with a middle-aged man who looked like a guard beside them, their gazes were peculiar.
She frowned, turned away, and said nothing.
Along the way, she had encountered many people observing her, but none so blatant. Some even retreated after she revealed her soul rings. Forget it, better not to stir up trouble. The most important thing now was to find Dai Mubai quickly.
It seemed she would need to disguise herself in the future to avoid these situations, which she found rather annoying.
Quickly taking the voucher from the staff, Zhu Zhuqing ignored the group and walked out the door.
"Second young lady of the Zhu family, appearing on the territory of the Heaven Dou Empire like this, aren't you afraid of any unexpected incidents?"
Just as she passed by, an unfamiliar male voice suddenly echoed in her mind.
Instinctively, she turned to look at the few people from before. It could only be them.
Then she saw Han Li and the others looking at her too.
"Is it you? Do you know me?"
She cautiously looked at Han Li, standing in the middle. Not many in Star Luo City knew her, so how could someone here recognize her?
But she didn't immediately activate her martial soul, sensing no malice in the words. Having grown up in that environment, she was always sensitive to malice.
"It's me. Do you have time? How about we sit in the teahouse?"
Han Li pointed to the teahouse opposite, smiling as he asked.
Zhu Zhuqing didn't recognize Han Li. When Han Li had publicly appeared, she had already left Star Luo City.
As for the portrait from more than four years ago, it depicted Han Li when he was six years old. It would be surprising if she could recognize him from that.
"What is your purpose? I don't think I know you."
Zhu Zhuqing frowned deeply, but her focus was on Dugu Bo. It was clear that they had been prepared in advance to stop her. However, she wasn't about to give up resistance and planned to run at the first sign of trouble.
"No need to be so tense; it's just a simple chat. Oh, I forgot to mention, I'm from the Spirit Hall, and I'm not going to do anything to you in broad daylight."
Han Li produced a token and waved it in front of her, proving his identity.
Zhu Zhuqing's eyes narrowed slightly when she saw the token; it was at least of bishop level.
"Alright."
She lowered her head in thought for a moment before responding. The Star Luo Empire and the Spirit Hall hadn't reached the point of open hostility, and her status was quite special. People from the Spirit Hall probably wouldn't dare to do anything to her lightly, right?
"Please."
Han Li gestured for her to go ahead.
Their conversation attracted a lot of attention, as it was clear that they were soul masters, and both the men and women were quite striking.
Zhu Zhuqing hesitated for a moment, then nodded and walked out the door first.
"Are you planning to recruit her?"
Dugu Yan leaned close to Han Li's ear and asked in a low voice.
"Recruit her? No, I don't have that in mind for now. It's just a simple chat, nothing more."
Han Li didn't speak out loud but used his antennae external soul bone skill to transmit his voice into their minds.
Hearing his words, the others nodded thoughtfully. This was in line with his usual way of doing things. They were curious about what he would discuss with the second young lady of the Zhu family.
The teahouse wasn't far; after just a few dozen steps, they arrived at the entrance.
"Two private rooms."
Seeing that Zhu Zhuqing didn't speak, Han Li took the initiative to step forward and speak.
"Honored guests, please come inside."
The waiter's smile became even more sincere; the private rooms had a minimum spend.
They went up to the second floor. After greeting Han Li, the others chose a room and left the two of them outside.
"Aren't you coming in?"
Han Li stepped inside first, casually chose a spot to sit, and then looked at Zhu Zhuqing, who was still outside the door.
Zhu Zhuqing glanced at him, then walked in and sat opposite him without saying a word.
Han Li didn't mind and waited until the waiter had brought everything and closed the door behind him.
Pouring a cup of tea and handing it over, Han Li picked up a grape and ate it, then looked at Zhu Zhuqing.
"Oh, I forgot to introduce myself. Han Li, Holy Son of the Spirit Hall."
As he spoke, he took out the token, placed it on the table, and pushed it over.
Zhu Zhuqing didn't drink the tea or pick up the token. She just stared at it for a while, seemingly verifying its authenticity.
After a long moment, she suddenly looked up.
"I wonder, the Holy Son, what do you want with me? It shouldn't be as simple as just recognizing me."
"With your status, you should be aware of my situation and know that I currently have no value. If you have any plans, you should go to Dai Weisi or Dai Mubai."
Han Li glanced at her and smiled.
"Miss Zhuqing, you see things very clearly and have a good understanding of the current situation and your position in it."
Hearing his words, Zhu Zhuqing's fists tightened slightly under the table. What she said and what others said represented completely different meanings.
"I am here to sow discord."
Then she heard Han Li's next words, and her clenched hand involuntarily relaxed a bit. A look of surprise flashed across her cold face.
This Holy Son of the Spirit Hall didn't seem very smart. He just said it outright in front of her, directly telling her the purpose of their conversation.
"Why are you so surprised? I'm just being straightforward. Even if I didn't say it, wouldn't you still think so?"
Han Li said casually, seemingly unconcerned that the person opposite him was, in a certain sense, an enemy.
"Aren't you afraid I'll turn around and leave right now?"
After a moment of silence, Zhu Zhuqing finally spoke.
"The door is right there; no one's stopping you. I'm just here to chat and see if I can stir things up a bit. You said it yourself, you're not a key player. I can't even be bothered to lie to you."
Han Li pointed towards the door, indicating she could leave anytime.
Again, always like this. His attitude was no different from her father's, her sister's, or anyone else who knew her.
No one who knew her ever believed in her, cared about her, or even bothered to offer false comfort. She just wanted to survive—was that so wrong?
But now, she could only seek out Dai Mubai, who had abandoned her and fled. He was her only hope left.
Thinking this, Zhu Zhuqing stood up and walked towards the door.
Just as she was about to close the door, she saw Han Li also standing up.
At the same time, she heard a sentence: "It seems another puppet of the Dai family is about to be added. What a pity."
And it was this sentence that made her pause.
She reopened the door and walked back in, looking at Han Li, who was about to leave.
"What did you mean by what you just said?"
Zhu Zhuqing was very aware that reopening the door might have been a mistake.
But she chose to trust her instincts for once.
She knew Han Li had deliberately said that sentence as she was leaving, but she still came back without hesitation.
Her choices were limited, so why not be willful for once? Could the outcome be worse than it is now?
She vaguely sensed that when Han Li said that sentence, the emotion behind it was similar to when her sister told her about Dai Mubai's situation. Though the expression was different and both were equally unpleasant, the underlying emotion was similar.
To be honest, even after traveling from the Star Luo Empire to the Heaven Dou Empire, she still felt somewhat lost.
She didn't know if her choices were right or wrong, whether seeking out Dai Mubai was truly hopeful or just a rebellious act against her constant hard training.
She just wanted to live—was it really that difficult?
She had once fantasized about being an ordinary child from an ordinary family, even without decent innate soul power or any so-called Martial Soul Fusion Technique.
At that time, would she have felt familial affection instead of struggling desperately to survive like she did now?
"Haven't you already left?"
Zhu Zhuqing saw Han Li's very annoying smile. She felt like the person opposite her was mocking her.
Forget it, it didn't matter anymore.
Zhu Zhuqing closed the door again, returned to her seat, and just stared at Han Li without speaking.
"Indeed, cats are the most curious creatures in the world."
Han Li looked at her and smiled, but Zhu Zhuqing showed no reaction.
She genuinely didn't care, because she had never taken pride in Hell Civet Martial Soul. On the contrary, she probably hated her martial soul more than anyone else.
As for being described as a pet, she didn't mind either, because the Dai family had treated her that way for a long time. It was just a fact. Would she get angry just because someone else said it bluntly? Moreover, even if she did get angry, what could she do to the Holy Son of the Spirit Hall?
Seeing her lack of reaction, Han Li sighed inwardly.
This was a character he had once liked. Although at that time, he just thought she was nice, later on, he felt sorry for her.
Of course, there was also the most crucial point: he was simply attracted to her body.
But then again, she became a god, so feeling sorry for her was pointless. Overall, his feelings were quite complex.
Now, sitting face to face with her, he couldn't help but feel somewhat nostalgic.
Zhu Zhuqing observed his changing expressions, waiting for his answer. For a moment, the room fell silent.
After a while, Zhu Zhuqing couldn't help but speak up, as her purpose for returning was precisely this.
"Now, can you tell me? What did you mean by your previous words?"
"Are you sure you want to hear it? I did tell you, I'm here to sow discord between you."
Han Li looked at her with a half-smile, confirming again.
"I know. As for believing you or not, I'll make my judgment. This way, you also achieve your goal, right?"
Zhu Zhuqing responded calmly.
"Do you need me to repeat Dai Mubai's whereabouts and information?" Han Li immediately provoked again.
"Yes."
From Han Li's remarks, Zhu Zhuqing knew that her information had become outdated since she left Star Luo.
Now that information was being delivered to her, true or false, she decided to listen first.
"The Kingdom of Balak, Suoto City, Shrek Academy, the unlicensed kind. You probably already know this."
"The Playboy of Suoto City, the nobleman of the hotel, you might have heard of this too. But it's just about booking the couple's hotel suite for a year. Hmm, given the royal family's style, you probably don't mind."
Han Li casually mentioned this semi-public information, observing Zhu Zhuqing's expression, finding she indeed remained unmoved.
"Then, to the part you're most concerned about, his soul power level 37. How about that? Not bad, right?"
Seeing Zhu Zhuqing finally react, Han Li teased her.
Of course, for Dai Mubai to reach this level at his age was indeed impressive, especially considering his indulgence in pleasures and lack of hard work.
The most ridiculous part was that Dai Mubai had jumped five levels between the ages of twelve and thirteen. Perhaps escaping from Star Luo had somehow unleashed his potential.
"Indeed, it's not bad. It seems he hasn't given up entirely."
A glimmer of hope appeared in Zhu Zhuqing's eyes.
"Yes, you're right."
Han Li didn't contradict her; instead, he agreed, nodding approvingly.
However, his emotional fluctuation didn't escape Zhu Zhuqing's notice. She sensed that Han Li's outward expression was opposite to his inner feelings.
So this is his attempt to sow discord? But he was praising Dai Mubai's cultivation speed.
Zhu Zhuqing had great confidence in her intuition, which had not failed her so far.
"Is this your attempt to sow discord? Or have you not started yet?"
Zhu Zhuqing took the initiative to ask, not believing that this was all.
"You're quite perceptive."
Han Li gave her a meaningful look.
"Of course, I haven't started yet."
For some reason, Zhu Zhuqing suddenly wanted to escape.
But she quickly suppressed that emotion, continuing to sit in her chair, waiting for Han Li to speak.
"Very good, I like your curiosity. Now, listen carefully."
The smile on Han Li's face became more pronounced.
"In recent years, the Spirit Hall has discovered an issue related to Martial Soul Fusion Techniques. However, the sample size is too small, so it hasn't been made public. But through testing, some conclusions have been reached."
"Through research, we found that if a Martial Soul Fusion Technique is performed with one person as the primary entity, then gradually, with increased usage and deeper fusion, the assistant will increasingly align with the primary entity in various choices, unconsciously favoring them."
"Eventually, the assistant might lose their subjective thinking, becoming like a different person, completely turning into a puppet of the primary entity."
"Unfortunately, we've only confirmed this with three sample groups and haven't had the chance to test the Hell White Tiger. You wouldn't let us test it, alas."
"Miss Zhuqing, can you enlighten me? Is our research correct or incorrect?"
Han Li first sighed regretfully, then looked at Zhu Zhuqing with a curious expression, as if discussing an academic issue.
Meanwhile, Zhu Zhuqing was completely frozen in place.