As they spoke, someone knocked and entered the room, bowing before Shangguan Wei'er.
"Alliance Leader, the people sent to the Heavenly Soul Empire have returned."
"Have they found that shipment?" Shangguan Wei'er lazily stretched her arms.
"Not yet, but there's progress on another matter." The person who entered raised their head slightly. "Our people spotted a rather rare martial soul in the Heavenly Soul Empire."
"Oh?" Shangguan Wei'er's interest was piqued, and she sat up straight. "What is it?"
"Angel Martial Soul."
As soon as the words were spoken, the corners of Shangguan Wei'er's mouth curved slightly. She didn't speak immediately, instead gazing out the window toward the street.
"Good. Evil soul masters disrupted the Ordinary Alliance's business, and that can't be overlooked lightly. No need to keep searching for the shipment. Bring that person back."
"Yes, Alliance Leader."
Meanwhile, as Lin Xiao stepped out of Qiwu Garden, he took a deep breath of the street's air. The fragrance in his nose faded slightly, and the night breeze brought a chill to his back. Only then did he realize that, at some point, a thin layer of sweat had formed on his body.
Interacting with someone like Shangguan Wei'er, who was adept at dealing with people and reading their hearts, was no less exhausting than a fierce battle. During their casual conversation at the banquet, Lin Xiao had been extra cautious, but he wasn't sure how much Shangguan Wei'er had gleaned from their exchange.
He had already guessed that his invitation was likely related to his recent meeting with Xu Tianran. As the Crown Prince of the Sun Moon Empire, especially after the incident with the Second Prince, matters surrounding Xu Tianran naturally drew attention.
This had put Lin Xiao in the spotlight. However, while it was a coincidence, without this event, he likely wouldn't have had the chance to connect with the Ordinary Alliance and Shangguan Wei'er given his current strength. If he could make good use of it, it might not be a bad thing.
Steadying his mind and letting his thoughts relax, Lin Xiao glanced around and walked down the street. But he wasn't heading back to the academy—he was going to the Holy Spirit Sect's branch.
The appearance of Qiwu Garden's people at the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Tool Academy wasn't a secret. Lin Xiao was certain that, besides himself, there were other Holy Spirit Sect members in the academy, and this news wouldn't escape the sect's notice. That was why he had visited the branch the night he received the invitation.
Now that the banquet was over, he needed to report back. A disciple who had undergone the spirit ascension ceremony was expected to be utterly loyal to the Holy Spirit Sect.
"So the Ordinary Alliance sought you out just to learn about Xu Tianran?"
"Yes, Teacher."
In the Holy Spirit Sect's branch, Lin Xiao had changed into the sect's attire, his voice slightly muffled behind a mask.
"How did you respond?"
"Teacher, Shangguan Wei'er is skilled at reading people. I told her the truth but withheld some details."
"Hm." Nightmare Douluo nodded. "She didn't inquire about sect matters?"
"No," Lin Xiao shook his head.
"Seems she's learned her lesson," Nightmare Douluo sneered. "When the Holy Sect first entered Mingdu, many people, openly and covertly, tried to pry into our affairs. But I've always trusted the loyalty of our disciples."
Lin Xiao didn't respond but acknowledged that Nightmare Douluo spoke the truth. In the Holy Spirit Sect, only disciples who had undergone the spirit ascension ceremony knew the sect's deepest secrets, so there was no concern about betrayal.
Nightmare Douluo paced forward a few steps, deep in thought. "But this could be an opportunity. If the Ordinary Alliance can dig into our affairs, why can't we probe their secrets?"
"If the Ordinary Alliance approaches you again, you can reveal some minor, inconsequential sect matters," Nightmare Douluo said, turning to Lin Xiao. "She suspects you have a special status, doesn't she? Let her suspicions become reality."
"I understand, Teacher," Lin Xiao replied, bowing his head. Before the spirit ascension ceremony, Nightmare Douluo would never have made such a decision, wary that Lin Xiao might actually leak sect secrets.
But now, after the ceremony, he had no reservations about him.
"Go back for now. This matter can only progress if they approach you. If we act proactively, it'll seem less genuine."
"Yes."
It was already late when Lin Xiao left Qiwu Garden, and the trip to the branch took more time. By the time he returned to his dormitory, it was the latter half of the night.
But Lin Xiao didn't rest immediately. Sitting cross-legged on his bed, he took out a brocade box from his storage soul tool. He had accepted Shangguan Wei'er's "reward"—such valuable items were never too many, and he had no reason to refuse.
Lin Xiao couldn't discern the exact age of the whale glue in the box, but coming from the Ordinary Alliance, its quality was undoubtedly high. As soon as he consumed it, a wave of heat surged into his abdomen, spreading to his limbs and bones. With each breath, a faint fragrance lingered in his mouth.
"Hoo—"
Lin Xiao exhaled softly, the air from his mouth feeling noticeably hotter. In the darkness, his skin visibly reddened, and beads of sweat dripped from his forehead.
He was well aware of the effects of such a potent, yang-heavy substance. Enduring the discomfort, he tapped his storage soul tool, and a large object appeared before him.
It was the Star Vein Grass he had taken from the wolf den.
Sand and stones fell from the large chunk of soil onto his bed, but Lin Xiao had no time to care. Instead, he plucked a leaf from the Star Vein Grass and put it in his mouth.
Instantly, a cool sensation spread from his mouth, flowing down his chest to his abdomen, clearing his mind significantly.
In contrast to the intensely yang whale glue, the Star Vein Grass, grown in dark, damp caves, was a profoundly yin substance. Consuming it now perfectly neutralized the side effects of the whale glue.
The two substances, with opposing properties but similar effects, entered Lin Xiao's body. Rather than canceling each other out, their yin and yang energies merged and amplified each other. Lin Xiao could clearly feel every muscle in his body transforming.
He consumed the grass leaves one by one. In the pitch-black dormitory, his skin began to emit a faint glow like the Star Vein Grass, while beneath it, his blood surged rapidly under the whale glue's stimulation.
One substance came from an animal, the other from a plant; one from the deep sea, the other from the mountains; one dynamic, one static; one yang, one yin. The two forces intertwined and fused, invisibly enhancing Lin Xiao's physical strength.
Sitting cross-legged on his bed, Lin Xiao's brows furrowed slightly. The two forces caused his complexion to flicker between light and shadow. The soul bone on his left arm glowed on its own, a silver-gray light enveloping his entire arm.