“Huh?”

Yan Bingyue was startled.

She felt her forehead was warming up; all of a sudden, she could no longer feel the astral powers inside her. They vanished into thin air and that feeling filled her with trepidation. What was that skill?

She stared at the breathtakingly beautiful girl with golden hair who seemed to be extremely dangerous. At the same time, out of instinct, Yan Bingyue felt she should respect the girl, as if she were endowed with a n.o.ble charm, something which could bring them closer, making her hold the girl in awe and respect.

Tang Ruyan had been staying in the store for some time. She had known for a while that Joanna was a terrifying character, and in no way was the simple teenage girl that she appeared to be. Tang Ruyan gazed at the golden mark on Yan Bingyue's forehead, alerted. It was fortunate that Su Ping didn't tell Joanna to do this to her, or else she would have also lost her astral powers.

After staring at the symbol etched on Yan Bingyue's forehead, Su Ping asked, “Done?”

This turned out to be simpler than he had thought.

“This is the Astral Seal. Her astral powers were sealed off and she can no longer use them. But since she's physically fit, she can still move about. Do you need me to break her arms and legs?” Joanna asked.

She asked the question so casually, as if the question were “Do you want pizza for dinner?”

Tang Ruyan was startled.

Yan Bingyuue's pupils contracted and her heart was racing

Su Ping shook his head. “No, thanks. She won't be able to summon battle pets without astral powers. She won't do any harm with her physical strength.”

Anyone else would think Yan Bingyue had a strong physical quality, able to practice outstanding physical skills. However, Su Ping cultivated the Solar Bulwark; Yan Bingyue was just a tad stronger in his opinion, when compared to other battle pet warriors of her rank.

The only explanation was that battle pet warriors were too weak on the Blue Planet.

All the True G.o.ds he had encountered in the DemiG.o.d Burial had mastered physical skills and would progressively tone up their bodies. They could be stronger than some beasts.

He wondered if that was the case for other planets in the Federation.

Su Ping shook his head. The Federation was not something he should focus on right this moment. He had to deal with the trouble at hand first.

“From today on, you have one more a.s.signment: to keep an eye on her,” Su Ping said to Tang Ruyan.

Tang Ruyan suddenly realized, Did Su Ping only ask Joanna to seal off the girl's astral powers because he was afraid I would be unable to keep her in check, right? Tang Ruyan was furious. What an insult! “Who the h.e.l.l is she? Where did you find her?” Tang Ruyan asked rudely. This was also a chance for her to show the “new” friend the “seniority” she enjoyed.

“Get inside and ask her.” Su Ping opened the scroll without paying attention to Tang Ruyan's tone.

Although he didn't answer the question, Tang Ruyan was still happy. She snorted and then stepped back into the scroll triumphantly.

But Yan Bingyue was still baffled. Impatient, Su Ping picked her up by her collar and threw her inside.

He put away the scroll and asked Joanna with a cunning grin, “That seal you used. Can you teach me that?”

Joanna raised her eyebrows. Hmm, what a surprise. He was showing his unscrupulous merchant side again.

“No problem. But you do need to have Divine Energy first,” Joanna answered.

It was just a skill. Teaching him would not cost her a thing. She wouldn't mind as long as he wasn't asking for rare resources.

A smile crept across his face. He had Divine Energy inside him. He had been able to crack the seal at the venue. Part of the reason was that he had used the Strength Enhancement astral runes on that arm; the other part of the reason was that he used Divine Energy. That was why he had been able to exert a force that was close to the legendary rank!

That was the Fist of Exorcist.

At the first rank, he could punch a ninth-rank beast to death.

Coupled with the Strength Enhancement astral runes, as well as the Solar Bulwark and the Divine Energy, he had been able to crack the seal.

I need one more material to finish the first level of the Solar Bulwark. By then, my physical strength would be well matched to the ninth-rank, the t.i.tled rank. With the Fist of Exorcist, I will be able to exert greater strength. Besides, when my physical strength reaches that level, the Fist of Exorcist will be unleashed much faster!

I will start on the second level after I finish getting a hold of the first level. I will try and see if I can get some of the materials needed from the five families tomorrow. Su Ping went over his plans meticulously.

He didn't start learning the Astral Seal from Joanna right then, choosing to wait until they went to the cultivation site. That would save him time and Divine Energy.

His mom was still at home. Su Ping told Joanna to go and take care of her own business. He had to go home and tell his mom and Su Lingyue about some matters to be mindful of.

In the meantime, inside the scroll.

Tang Ruyan and Yang Bingyue were sitting under the Astral Spirit Fruit tree. Yan Bingyue recognized the tree as soon as she saw it. On a second look, to her disappointment, she noticed that the tree had yet to bear fruit.

The tree was precious, for sure, but the fruits were the most valuable. It could take more than a hundred years for one fruit to grow; she would be long gone by then.

“Did he kidnap you as well?” Yan Bingyue asked Tang Ruyan. She could tell that the latter was in a similar situation.

“Yes.”

Tang Ruyan shrugged. Do you even need to ask that? Can't you tell?

“Why did he kidnap you? What did you do to offend him?” Yan Bingyue went on.

“I did nothing of the sort. Look at me. I'm a pretty girl. Do you think I look like someone that would go around and anger people?”

“Nope.” “Good eyes. So, what got you here? Did you provoke him as well?”

“As well? Of course not. Do you think I look like someone that would go around and anger people?”

“Not really.”

“Wanna get out?”

“Sure I do.” “Got any ideas?” “Of course not. Or else you wouldn't have seen me here.”

Then, silence.

“So, I think we're in this together, right?” Yan Bingyue broke the silence.

“Uh-huh.” Tang Ruyan's eyes began to glow.

It was her luck that she had welcomed a fellow sufferer there. If she played her cards right, they could be allies or she could use the new girl as an experiment!

“Let's get to know each other. I am Yan Bingyue.”

“Tang Ruyan.” “I'm at the sixth-rank.”

“I'm at the seventh rank.”

“Have you heard about the Star Organization?”

“Have you heard about the Tang family?” “The Tang family? The one that once had a legendary battle pet warrior years ago?” “The Star Organization? The one whose legendary battle pet warrior just pa.s.sed away?”

“That's correct.”

“Right.”

The two girls turned to see the surprise in each other's eyes. They both came from influential backgrounds!

After a short moment of silence, Yan Bingyue asked another question, “You're already at the seventh rank and I think you look pretty young. You must enjoy a high status in the Tang family.”

“You're a few years younger than me and you're already at the sixth rank. You must be a valuable a.s.set to the Star Organization.”

Yan Bingyue nodded but didn't voice an opinion.

“Does the Tang family know you were kidnapped?”

“Not before but soon, I think,” Tang Ruyan answered. She had been waitressing at Su Ping's store for almost a month. It was about time that her existence there should be known.

“Does the Star Organization know about your kidnapping?”

“No, but soon, I guess,” Yan Bingyue said.

Su Ping did what he did in front of hundreds of thousands of people. No way could he hide that information! The two girls made eye contact again.

Then, silence reigned again. “If someone from the Tang family comes, can you get me out as well?” Yan Bingyue gazed at Tang Ruyan solemnly. “Of course. You're from the Star Organization. Helping you means a favor owed by your organization. If your people come first to get you out, can you take me with you?” “Sure. You're from the Tang family. I won't remain with arms crossed to see you die.” “Good.”

“Uh-huh.”

Just like that, the conversation ended again.

A gentle breeze blew past the gra.s.s. The two girls heaved a sigh at the same time with sad expressions on their faces. They wondered when their people would go and get them.

“Huh?”

Su Ping had just stepped out of the door when something popped into his mind.

It was the map of a vast land.

The Mysterious Realm?

On that map, there were 108 boundless dragon scale lands.

Right then, the seal of one of the dragon scale lands had been undone!

The Mysterious Realm is opening up again? How come I haven't heard anything about that? Su Ping raised his eyebrows. He thought of an explanation. The legendary battle pet warrior had gone to his store, meaning to kill him.

The motive for that killing would be that he had also gained the brand to receive the dragon king's legacy.

That legendary battle pet warrior wanted to have Su Ping killed so that he couldn't get the legacy. However, to receive that legacy, apart from pa.s.sing the tests on the ninth dragon bone, he would have to wait till all the seals of the dragon scale lands were undone!

Only after that would the dragon king's soul have enough strength to transfer the legacy!

That legendary battle pet warrior is the one controlling the Mysterious Realm. Now, he's undoing the other seals of the dragon scale lands. So, does he have the confidence that someone can compete for the legacy? Su Ping wondered.

That legendary battle pet warrior was ready.

But Su Ping could tell that the dragon bone tower was still undisturbed. No one had gone to climb the dragon bones yet.

Su Ping sneered. He was determined to get the legacy. For the time being, he could give time for the seals to be undone. He would go when it came to the last couple of seals. Anyways, he could be teleported to the Mysterious Realm at any time he wanted by using the brand. Even when the Mysterious Realm was closed. But before that, I have to get all the materials ready to complete the first level of the Solar Bulwark, Su Ping thought. Time was pressing.

The Little Skeleton was able to kill a legendary battle pet warrior.

However, his opponents were most likely quite knowledgeable of the dragon king's legacy; they could set up an ambush for him since they had been lying in wait and suddenly decided to open up the seal this day.

Su Ping could definitely not afford to underestimate any opponents at the legendary realm. Given the harsh reality, he merely had one life. He had to become as strong as possible when the time came for him to take the legacy.