Chapter Seven: First Arrival in Tiandou City!

After leaving Saint Soul Village, Su Yuntao finally stopped and respectfully cupped his fists toward Xu Sheng, saying, “Your Highness, I have already relayed the information you mentioned to the Martial Soul Hall’s Pope headquarters.”

Xu Sheng lazily waved his hand, casual and unconcerned. “Xiao Taozi, stop calling me ‘Your Highness.’ Just call me by my name. You see, having an overwhelmingly strong soul power awakening can be quite a hassle…”

To be honest, all he wanted was a leisurely life, but this sudden rise to the title of Soul Douluo was proving to be a tremendous burden.

Lowering his head, Su Yuntao muttered quietly, “If other Soul Douluos heard that, they’d probably band together to hunt him down…”

Xu Sheng’s eyes gleamed with insight. “By the way, Xiao Taozi, are we heading to Tiandou City or somewhere else now?”

No matter where they went, he wanted to savor the local cuisine. Having spent these years in Saint Soul Village, surviving mostly on coarse grains that were barely palatable, he longed for something better.

One must learn to enjoy life, after all—especially since he no longer needed to spend time cultivating soul power!

Su Yuntao thought for a moment, then cautiously replied, “Your Highness… Xu Sheng, that letter probably hasn’t reached Martial Soul City yet. It might take a few more days.”

“And we’ll need orders from the Pope before anyone in Martial Soul City receives us…”

Su Yuntao was merely a minor official within the Martial Soul Hall, with little authority; even if they went to Martial Soul City, they would likely be sidelined.

Xu Sheng smiled faintly, straightening his chest as he leisurely said, “So we still have a few days, right? Then let’s visit the nearby Tiandou City first.”

Su Yuntao’s expression darkened. He reached into his empty pocket, stammering, “Though I serve in the Martial Soul Hall, I don’t actually have much gold spirit coin…”

With so little money, they’d be lucky to afford a few meals in Tiandou City, let alone tour other places with you.

Xu Sheng patted his shoulder unconcerned, blinking kindly. “Don’t worry, Xiao Taozi. I don’t spend much on food!”

Hearing this, Su Yuntao felt a wave of gratitude welling up inside, almost moved to tears.

Looking into Xu Sheng’s gentle gaze, he silently marveled, “No wonder he’s the fated child with a ninety-level innate soul power—so understanding and considerate.”

…

Tiandou City!

In a restaurant steeped in ancient charm, a woman dressed in a maid uniform with a delicate, fair complexion held a menu, her cheeks flushed as she stared at the figure seated before her—Xu Sheng, who was a head or two shorter than her.

Her heart pounded wildly. “How does this little boy even grow up like this? Though it’s obvious his clothes aren’t noble attire, he’s just so adorable!”

He was supposed to look aloof and cold, yet with his youthful age and this expression and aura, he was an explosion of irresistible cuteness.

Su Yuntao coughed lightly to cover a faint smile, “Ahem, ahem…”

The maid snapped back to herself, smiling politely as she handed over the menus. “Here you go, the menu for both of you.”

Su Yuntao took the menu and passed it directly to Xu Sheng, his expression gentle. “Your Highness… Xu Sheng, take a look and see what you’d like.”

Xu Sheng was so understanding; surely he wouldn’t order anything outrageously expensive. Yes, he trusted his judgment.

Taking the menu with ease, Xu Sheng thanked her, “Thanks for your trouble.”

His eyes roamed over the dishes listed.

Then, he slowly began to say, “Hmm, ham sausage, apple, corn…”

Su Yuntao’s heart sank hearing such simple, inexpensive items. He imagined to himself, “He only wants these cheap dishes—Xu Sheng must be afraid I’ll overspend.”

The maid quickly noted down the order and smiled as she asked, “Little friend, would you like to order anything else?”

Silently, she sighed with regret. “So he’s not a noble after all. Such a cute and refined child, yet not noble—that’s really disappointing.”

Xu Sheng nodded calmly, “No, that’s about right. Forget those just now, bring one of everything else.”

The maid was stunned. “W-what? Little friend, did you say all the other dishes?”

She doubted her own ears. Had she hallucinated, imagining this child to be a noble’s son?

Beside her, Su Yuntao clutched his chest, wounded and grumbling, “Damn it! What the hell…”

He decided to take back his earlier words—Xu Sheng was a veritable money-sucking machine! This single order would wipe out several months’ salary!

Xu Sheng raised an eyebrow and asked, “Miss, did I say something wrong?”

The maid froze, then her heart blossomed with joy.

What did that child just call me? Miss! Someone so much younger than her had just called her that!

Playfully winking her left eye, she blew a kiss full of affection, leaned close to Xu Sheng’s ear and whispered sweetly, “No, no, since you’re such a cute little brother, I’ll give you a ten percent discount.”

Xu Sheng’s cheeks flushed slightly at this bold teasing. After all, he was still a virgin and couldn’t withstand such intense flirtation…

Fortunately, the maid soon shot him a meaningful look before taking her notepad and heading into the kitchen.

…

Poor Su Yuntao muttered enviously and confusedly, “Xu Sheng, you seem to be quite popular with the young ladies.”

Damn it! Fine spending his money on meals, but he hadn’t expected his looks to attract beautiful maids as well…

Su Yuntao himself was already in his twenties and still single!

Xu Sheng wore an expression of mock hatred, shaking his head. “I can’t help it. Honestly, if possible, I think it’d be better to look a little uglier.”

Su Yuntao was speechless.

…

After the meal, the maid waved and smiled, seeing Xu Sheng and Su Yuntao off. “Little brother, come back often, okay?”

The two left the restaurant. Su Yuntao patted his utterly empty pockets, his face troubled beyond words.

Xu Sheng struck a dashing pose. “Xiao Taozi, you’re not mad, are you?”

After spending so much money on this one meal, even the best temper would be worn thin.

Su Yuntao shook his head with a sigh. “I’m not mad. It’s just that all the money’s gone. I’m afraid we might not even have a place to sleep later.”

He wasn’t angry—after all, spending a few gold spirit coins to befriend a future genius capable of shaking the entire continent was well worth it!

But the thought that even a proud soul master like himself might one day be unable to pay for lodging was nothing short of humiliating.

Just as Xu Sheng was about to say something, his first martial soul, the Nine Heart Blood Hawthorn, seemed to sense a unique aura and began resonating wildly.

He closed his eyes slowly to concentrate, and when he opened them again, he said with certainty, “That is an incredibly sacred aura! It exists in complete contrast to my Nine Heart Blood Hawthorn!”

Xu Sheng began to piece things together. They were currently within Tiandou City, and to sense such a sacred martial soul resonating with his own—

Could it be…?

A faint, blurry figure slowly took shape in Xu Sheng’s mind.