CHAPTER 82.1: SOUL ENHANCEMENT, HEARING THE VOICE FROM THE GAME

Qi Yuan was momentarily stunned. "You're a prince?"

This guy really had the full protagonist template. Not only did he have a remnant soul in his body, he was also a prince. He also had a fiancée who broke off their engagement, to boot.

Dong Xian said earnestly, "For the Dragon-Seizing Contest, our sect master has granted me permission to choose two Foundation Establishment cultivators to assist me. The first person I've chosen is Senior Brother Kang Fulu. I wish to invite you to aid me in this contest. If you're willing to assist me, Senior Brother, I will offer you generous rewards. Regardless of success or failure, I will present you with three Jade-tier cultivation techniques and three Foundation Establishment treasures. Should we succeed, I'll open the royal treasury and allow you to choose whatever you desire."

This was the most precious offer he could make, putting his entire fortune on the line.

Qi Yuan listened, but his interest waned. "The Dragon-Seizing Contest is in the Great Shang capital. That's too far. I don't want to go. I like staying at home."

That time when he destroyed Black Mountain Sect, he even rushed home overnight. He really didn't like traveling, especially not overnight stays outside.

Dong Xian was dumbfounded. That's your reason for refusing? Seriously?

"Well, since there's nothing else, I'll go back to cultivating," Qi Yuan said.

Dong Xian, clearly a protagonist type, was dangerous to be around. If Qi Yuan helped him too much, he could end up getting killed off later to trigger his emotional growth arc. Qi Yuan knew this kind of development all too well.

Dong Xian pressed. "Senior Brother Qi Yuan, I can offer even greater rewards! If you're not satisfied, we can negotiate!"

Qi Yuan rejected him outright. "Too far. Don't wanna go."

He didn't waste time to return to his wooden hut to continue cultivating.

Outside, Dong Xian stood in silence, disappointment flashing across his face.

"Artifact Master, were my terms not good enough?" he muttered.

"Perhaps it's not about your terms," the old soul within him replied. "When Qi Yuan said he doesn't want to travel far, he may actually mean it. Some geniuses have peculiar habits, especially Obsession cultivators."

Dong Xian clenched his fists, unwilling to accept this. He had already informed his mother—who was one of the emperor's lesser consorts—that he was joining the Dragon-Seizing Contest. Her family was small, with only one Foundation Establishment cultivator, his uncle. His uncle had given both of his precious Foundation Establishment treasures without hesitation, while his mother even handed over most of the spirit herbs and treasures rewarded by the emperor. That was how Dong Xian managed to persuade Kang Fulu. But if he couldn't recruit Qi Yuan, his odds of winning were slim.

He didn't want to let his mother and uncle down. Hence, he stood silently outside the hut, waiting patiently like a scholar standing in the snow outside his master's door.

Suddenly, his transmission talisman vibrated. It was from Kang Fulu.

He glanced at the contents and froze. "Artifact Master, do you know what Kang Fulu just told me?"

"What?"

"He said a secret realm has appeared in Rong City, and the Dragon-Seizing Contest's location has been changed to Rong City!"

"What?!"

Rong City was very close to the Seven-Colored Peak. Even a Qi Refinement cultivator could reach it in an hour or two. Moments ago, Qi Yuan had said it was too far and now, the location was right next door.

Was this fate helping me? Dong Xian's heart surged with excitement.

"Senior Brother Qi Yuan, Dong Xian requests another audience!" he shouted joyfully toward the hut.

Qi Yuan came out. "You still haven't left?"

Dong Xian said eagerly, "Senior Brother Qi Yuan, the Dragon-Seizing Contest has changed locations. It's now in Rong City!"

Qi Yuan blinked. "In Rong City?"

That’s too close. Why the sudden change? Qi Yuan wondered.

"It's true! Senior Brother Kang Fulu confirmed it!" Dong Xian said, white breath rising in the cold air. "So, may I now ask if you can help me?"

Qi Yuan sighed inwardly. So this is the protagonist's halo at work...

Even heaven itself was helping Dong Xian. If Qi Yuan kept refusing, the heavens would probably smite him for going against the script. Then, perhaps, it was time to name his price..

Qi Yuan thought for a moment. "I'll help you... but I have a few conditions."

Dong Xian's eyes lit up. "Please, speak freely."

"I want a magic treasure capable of killing an Divination Sage."

Dong Xian froze. "...Are you joking?"

"Then I want cultivation that allows me to ascend to the heavens in broad daylight."

Dong Xian fell silent. If he could grant that, would he even need Qi Yuan's help?

"That isn't feasible?" Qi Yuan sighed. "Fine. Then give me the sun, I want to forge my Core."

"..."

"Still not good?" Qi Yuan's face was full of exasperation. "Alright then, how about a secret technique that can strengthen the divine soul?"

Now that was something more reasonable. Dong Xian's mouth twitched. Reasonable... only compared to those absurd demands. But a soul-strengthening technique? Even in the Great Shang, there might be only one or two such arts.

To break through to the Violet Palace realm, Nascent Soul cultivators had to survive a Soul Tribulation. Since it was a disaster that attacked only the soul, strengthening the divine soul was necessary. Without it, one would perish during the tribulation, no matter how strong their spells or spiritual power.

Such techniques were rarer and more valuablethan Profound-tier techniques. Dong Xian hesitated, torn.

Dong Xian began. "Qi Yuan—"

"Agree to it. I have one such technique," the old soul interjected.

Dong Xian was stunned, then overwhelmed with relief and gratitude. "Artifact Master, I..."

His nose burned with emotion as he turned to Qi Yuan. "Senior Brother, I can agree to your condition."

Qi Yuan blinked, mildly surprised. He hadn't expected Dong Xian to actually have such a technique. After a brief pause, he nodded. "Bring the technique, and I'll help you."

Soul-strengthening arts were truly valuable and was something he needed to access his second game world.

"Please give me two days, Senior Brother. I will deliver it to you then."

"Alright."

***

Two days later, Dong Xian presented him with a jade slip.

Dong Xian warned earnestly, "Senior Brother Qi Yuan, this contains the soul-strengthening secret art. But please take care, this technique is extremely painful to cultivate. It will feel as though your soul is being torn apart. Overdoing it may cause permanent soul injury."

Qi Yuan nodded, accepting the jade slip. "I understand."

He returned to his wooden hut and immersed his consciousness into it. Hundred Temperings Soul-Refining Technique.

[This is a standard divine soul enhancement method. 250 structural flaws detected. After modification, its efficiency can be tripled, but so will the pain.]

Just as the name implied, it tempered the divine soul like forging steel, basically hammering it again and again. Naturally, that would hurt like hell.

Qi Yuan pondered for a moment as he sat on his wooden stool. He then began editing the technique. It was difficult, and even with his 'error detection' vision, it took him ten full days to fix the flaws.

"Finally! Let's hope it doesn't hurt too much. I'm afraid of pain, I can't even watch when I get shots."

He began cultivating. A massive soul-forging hammer appeared, pounding rhythmically against his own soul.

Qi Yuan was surprised. "Huh? It doesn't hurt?"

He had expected agony. Instead, it was kind of fun, like playing whack-a-mole. Meanwhile, his divine soul steadily grew stronger.

He didn't know how long had passed before a familiar voice echoed in his mind. "I killed the last person in this world who shared my blood. Though she struck first... heh, I am a demon girl, after all."

Qi Yuan froze. Isn't that little Ning Tao's voice?

However now it sounded cold, emotionless, not cute and childish like before.

He replied casually, "Kill her then. You're written as a demon girl, it's normal for demon girls to kill people."

Qi Yuan then resumed cultivating the Hundred Temperings Soul-Refining Technique without listening to her reply.