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"Sigh~ Little Chiyu, why are you crying all of a sudden?"
Paimon didn't quite understand why Chiyu was crying.
These were all good things—why cry?
Was it tears of joy?
Chiyu wiped her tears, nearly turning into a little tear-stained kitten, and smiled. "Everything will be as Master arranges!"
"Just call me Zhongli..."
"Understood, Master!"
She heard him, but she wasn't listening.
Zhongli rubbed his temples, feeling a headache coming on. He glanced at Chiyu again.
Seeing her stubborn expression, he shook his head and decided to let her be.
A short while later, the group of four arrived at Seven Treasures Hotel.
Seeing them again, the shopkeeper remained completely unfazed, as if he had already grown accustomed to it.
Not that he had a choice—Zhongli and Paimon came almost every day. How could he not be used to it?
At this point, he had already made up his mind—just report the bills and let Ning Fengzhi deal with the headaches. After all, wasn't that what a sect leader was for?
"Your Highness the Crown Prince, Lord Zhongli, Little Paimon, and this… young lady."
This was the first time the shopkeeper had seen Chiyu, so he could only address her as "young lady."
Judging by her appearance, she was undoubtedly a mutated martial soul—a cat girl.
"Boss, her name is Xiao Feilian, courtesy name Chiyu. You can call her Miss Chiyu."
Paimon, ever the reliable "Voice of God," spoke up at the right moment.
"Xiao Feilian, courtesy name Chiyu… Miss Chiyu?"
The shopkeeper was slightly puzzled, but he quickly caught on. It didn't matter if the name was a little odd—as long as he knew how to address her.
"Miss Chiyu, and everyone else, please come in! I've already reserved a private room for you!"
Hearing this, Paimon froze for a moment before blurting out, "Boss, you're amazing! You actually knew we were coming!"
Shopkeeper: "..."
Well, it was mealtime. Of course they'd show up.
The shopkeeper twitched at the corner of his eye, keeping his thoughts to himself.
The shopkeeper's enthusiasm made Chiyu feel somewhat uncomfortable. In the past, who would have ever treated her kindly?
But now that she was following Zhongli, even if she was just a little maid, who would dare treat her poorly?
This change was unfamiliar, but it made her incredibly happy.
"Master is so respected!"
"But what does 'Lord' mean?"
She had heard people refer to Zhongli as "Lord Zhongli" many times now—Ning Fengzhi, the auction house staff, even that "guest" in Black Box No. 2.
So what did "Lord" signify?
It wasn't Chiyu's fault for not knowing. She had almost no exposure to the world of soul masters. Wherever she went, she was bullied and ostracized. It was only natural she wouldn't know.
Once everyone was seated in the private room, Chiyu finally turned to Paimon.
"Um…"
"Pai… Paimon."
Hearing Chiyu's voice, Paimon blinked and instinctively looked at her. "What's up, little Chiyu?"
Since Chiyu was so small, Paimon couldn't help but call her "little Chiyu."
"What does 'Lord' mean?"
"What does it represent?"
Chiyu lifted her head, mustering the courage to ask.
This question left Paimon momentarily stumped.
Oh right, what did "Lord" mean?
Ever since Zhongli had "revealed his strength," everyone in Heaven Dou City—whether they knew him or not—had been calling him "Lord Zhongli."
But what did the title signify?
If this were a question about Teyvat, Paimon could have answered easily. But this wasn't Teyvat!
"Waaah, is Paimon about to lose her job?!"
Paimon's face fell slightly as she fretted internally.
Seeing Paimon frown, her lips parting as if she wanted to say something but couldn't, "Xue Qinghe" was somewhat puzzled.
As Zhongli's martial soul, Paimon didn't even know this?
"'Lord' is an honorific for Title Douluo."
"As for what it represents…"
"Only soul masters who have reached the Title Douluo level can be addressed as 'Lord.'"
"It is a symbol of strength."
"Xue Qinghe" explained with a smile.
Paimon and Chiyu nodded, seemingly enlightened—though their eyes still held traces of confusion.
But who was "Xue Qinghe"?
Paimon and Chiyu's thoughts were practically written on their faces. How could she not notice?
"The soul master profession has ten ranks, from lowest to highest."
"They are: Soul Scholar, Soul Master, Great Soul Master, Soul Elder, Soul Ancestor, Soul King, Soul Emperor, Soul Sage, Soul Douluo, and Title Douluo!"
"Someone like you, Chiyu, would currently be considered a Level 10 Soul Scholar."
"But Zhongli's strength has already reached the Title Douluo level."
After "Xue Qinghe's" explanation, Paimon and Chiyu finally understood—this time, truly understood.
"Thank you, Your Highness, for clarifying!"
But then, what exactly was a "Crown Prince"?
Chiyu didn't ask this question aloud, deciding instead to quietly learn it on her own.
Meanwhile, on Ning Fengzhi and Chen Xin's side—
They had been following Tang San and Xiao Wu's trail when a sudden voice transmission made them halt.
Ning Fengzhi and Chen Xin exchanged glances, their expressions strange.
Well, well. It seemed they weren't the only ones eyeing that rabbit.
"Outside Heaven Dou City, huh."
The two nodded and began heading toward the city outskirts.
As long as the rabbit was still within Heaven Dou City, she wouldn't be able to escape.
Ning Fengzhi and Chen Xin also didn't want to make a scene. If they drew the attention of other powerholders, things could get messy.
Soon, the two arrived at a remote area outside the city.
"Show yourself!"
Chen Xin's voice was cold and commanding.
Even if the other party was also a Title Douluo, the chances of them being stronger than Chen Xin were less than one in ten!
After all, Chen Xin was a 96th-ranked Super Douluo!
Even if he were facing two 95th-ranked Title Douluo at once, he could still hold his own—let alone against just one!
The moment Chen Xin spoke, an overwhelmingly domineering aura erupted. Ning Fengzhi and Chen Xin instinctively turned toward its source.
The man was disheveled, unkempt, his figure hidden beneath a tattered black cloak.
Yet every movement he made screamed one thing—this was a powerhouse.
As he walked forward, his aura intensified.
His first soul ring appeared, then the second…
All the way until the ninth soul ring materialized.
Chen Xin and Ning Fengzhi's expressions turned grave.
"A 100,000-year soul ring?!"
Damn, were 100,000-year soul beasts that easy to hunt these days?
Zhongli had twin martial souls and a 100,000-year soul ring.
And now, this man in front of them also had one?!
Wait a minute—
When the black-cloaked man's martial soul fully manifested, Ning Fengzhi and Chen Xin's expressions changed.
"It's you!"
"That's right. It's me."
"Tang Hao!"
A name that carried weight.
Tang Hao, who had disappeared for over a decade, had finally reappeared!
"Ning Fengzhi, I found that rabbit first."
Tang Hao planted his Clear Sky Hammer on the ground, his tone indifferent.
Note: So far this story is published up to chapter 103 on my patreon, go check it out and remember that if we reach the goal of 20 power stones I will publish the next chapter.