Chapter 46: The Tavern's Foolish Words, Part One
Ah Yin longed to join them, but with her current strength still lacking, she had to sulkily watch Ye Wen and the others depart. "I don't care next time, I'm definitely going!" (`~)
The journey was long but uneventful; after all, their group was filled with soul masters, including one of the continent's rare Soul Saints, Dugu Bo. Accompanying them were Ye Wen's eight direct disciples, along with Lan Lan and Qian Qian, who, though usually quiet, didn't want to miss out on a grand soul master event like this. Ye Wen brought them along to experience it. As for Ye Buyi, the elder chose to remain behind due to the exhausting travel.
Ye Buyi agreed to oversee the Heavenly Path Medical Clinic during Ye Wen's absence. With Ye Wen's recent breakthroughs in effective medicines and Ye Buyi's discerning eye for common ailments, the clinic could continue its work smoothly. For serious injuries, Nordin City's peaceful atmosphere made such cases infrequent.
After a month on the road, they finally arrived in the territory of Spirit City. The city's towering white walls and magnificent, Western style architecture made Ye Wen narrow his eyes in admiration.
"No doubt about it, the continent's top soul master force knows how to make an impression," he remarked.
Dugu Bo stepped up, speaking gravely. "Even with my strength, I may not be able to fully protect everyone here. It's best to avoid trouble. However, Spirit City is unlike the capitals of the two empires; the rules here are absolute. Soul masters are forbidden from bullying civilians or fighting at will. The enforcement squads here are no joke."
Ye Wen chuckled, nodding in agreement. He knew his disciples well; each was courteous and respectful, nothing like Xiao Wu's chaos bringing nature from the original story.
Once they paid the entry fee and entered the city, they immediately felt its grandeur. The clean streets, the relaxed smiles on people's faces it was clear this was a peaceful place. Fortunately, Ye Wen's group had arrived a month before the tournament finals, allowing them to book accommodations before prices surged. They soon secured long term stays in the prestigious Shining Glory Inn, reputedly backed by the Angel Clan. This assurance of peace attracted Ye Wen despite the higher price.
Apart from the top notch lodging, the tavern offered excellent cuisine, and Ye Wen savored every dish. After months of intense training, his disciples appreciated the relaxed pace, even though Ye Wen didn't let them slack off entirely. True, rest was essential, but excessive leisure could dull their skills, so he sent them to Spirit City's combat arena for practical sparring. His well trained disciples performed well, achieving more wins than losses, which added several thousand gold spirit coins to his coffers. Between that income and the cost of lodging, their trip to Spirit City was practically paid for.
One day, as they enjoyed lunch on the tavern's second floor, footsteps echoed up from the stairs. They paid little mind until they heard an arrogant voice declare:
"Saintess, let me explain. Based on my studies, the first spirit ring should be around four hundred twenty three years old, the second around seven hundred sixty four years, the third one thousand seven hundred sixty years, the fourth five thousand years, the fifth twelve thousand years, the sixth twenty thousand, the seventh fifty thousand, the eighth below one hundred thousand, and the ninth around one hundred thousand. So when you hunt for your sixth spirit ring, don't exceed twenty thousand years, or you won't be able to handle it."
"Pffft!" Dugu Xin snorted, barely suppressing his laughter.
The noise attracted the attention of the two figures on the stairs, a man and a woman. The woman, with striking golden hair cascading to her waist, had a commanding air, her beautiful features showing an intense spirit. The man looked more ordinary, sporting a short haircut that added a touch of sharpness. He wasn't unattractive, perhaps even charming in a gentle way, like a "puppy" type.
One glance at them, and Ye Wen recognized them both immediately. Although years had passed, the fierce yet youthful aura surrounding Bibi Dong was unmistakable. And as for the person confidently rambling about ring absorption limits it could only be Yu Xiaogang. Only he would confidently recite such a flawed theory, and of course, he was persistently by Bibi Dong's side.
Ye Wen rapped Dugu Xin lightly on the head, reminding him, "Mind your manners."
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