Chapter 360: 9-Day Soul Refining Array

Winnie had been living it up these past couple of days. The kid's performance during the Dragon City expedition had pleased her dad so much that he restored her unlimited monthly spending money. With a grand wave of her hand, Winnie dragged Wu Di and Kela straight into the top-floor suites of the Burj Al Arab, each getting their own luxurious presidential room. As for meals, it had to be the so-called "menu feast"—the kind where, regardless of whether they could finish it or how thick the menu was, they'd grab one at random, not even glance at it, and order every single dish listed. A truly all-out gluttony fest...

The terrifying spread at every meal left even bottomless pits like Wu Di and Kela rolling their eyes and groaning in misery... There was no helping it. Any self-respecting beastman simply couldn't tolerate waste. The sight of a table full of uneaten food about to be thrown away made them feel like they were betraying Winnie, their beastkin heritage, their ancestors struggling for survival, and worst of all—those shiny silver Leos!

Eat. They had to finish it all! Even if it meant eating till they puked, till their guts were ready to burst, they had to clean every plate!

The sheer do-or-die determination they showed at every meal delighted Winnie like she'd discovered a new continent. She found that eating with Wu Di and Kela made everything taste crazy delicious—just watching them wolf down the food made her appetite soar, and she couldn't help but go for three extra bowls.

But... what the fuck was Wang Feng up to? He used to complain all the time about her mooching off him, yet now when she invited him to freeload, to enjoy the luxury for free, he wouldn't come. Instead, he holed up in the Holy Sanctuary all day, tinkering with who-knows-what. And then there was Ah Xi, that fatass who never turned down free stuff—this time, he'd vanished without a trace too. Goddammit! Here she was, treating them for once, and they couldn't even be bothered? What the actual fuck?

At the Rose Holy Sanctuary's training grounds...

Old Wang stared at the two who had just returned to the team, utterly speechless.

Wu Di had clearly gained a few pounds. The extra weight made his face greasy and pudgy, dulling his usual vigor. Beside him, Ah Xi wore a grin like an idiot in la-la land—but coincidentally, Wang Feng had been frequenting the Alchemy Institute's workshop these past few days and knew Famier wasn't around either. One look at Ah Xi's dopey lovestruck expression, and you didn't need brains to guess what had him so giddy.

Damn... While he'd been working his ass off over potions and rune arrays, these two had been living it up? Just seeing their carefree faces pissed him off.

"Wow, you two look positively radiant. Must've had a great time," Wang Feng drawled.

Ah Xi's eyes lit up like Christmas lights, his face melting into a lovesick haze. "Feng, you have no idea. These past couple of days, I finally understood what true love and happiness are! I was such an idiot before. Love, let me tell you, it's never a one-way street—"

Wang Feng cut him off with a wave. "Stop. I don't wanna hear it. I'm already full."

For fuck's sake. Was this his life now? Being force-fed Ah Xi's sappy love story? Absolutely revolting.

"Captain, Captain, the Burj Al Arab was amazing!" Wu Di blurted, his face flushed. He struggled to find more elegant words, but his vocabulary wasn't exactly Shakespeare. "I've never slept on such soft beds or eaten so much delicious food..."

The two immediately launched into a chaotic retelling of their experiences, as if they'd been living in a dreamlike paradise. There was just too much to recount—they could go on forever.

But before they could really get into it, Wang Feng sharply clapped his hands. "Sounds like you had a blast. As your bro, I wouldn't wanna ruin your fun. How about I give you a few more months off to enjoy yourselves? Then, when the enemy's at our doorstep, I'll buy you tickets outta here so you don't have to stick around and die with me?"

He said it with a smile, his tone light, but the words carried weight. The previously excited Ah Xi and Wu Di immediately fell silent.

Ah Xi scratched his head sheepishly. "Feng, we came back on time..."

"Your bodies are here, but are your hearts?" Wang Feng said coolly. "I made Rose's situation and our plans crystal clear on the Magic Rail Train. I gave you the choice to stay in Old Wang's team and join my madness. You chose to stay, so you better understand this—there are only two paths here: either we live with honor or die gloriously. There's no middle ground. This isn't some kids' game! If you still don't grasp the severity of our situation, you can leave now. I won't stop you. And I sure as hell don't wanna see my brothers charge blindly to their deaths without knowing what they're getting into!"

This was the first time they'd ever seen Wang Feng so serious. The sudden shift in his demeanor, the gravity he exuded—it was nothing like his usual playful self.

Ah Xi and Wu Di immediately straightened up, their expressions solemn. Ah Xi snapped to attention. "Feng, I was wrong! No more fooling around. Just tell me what to do!"

Wu Di flushed with shame. "Captain! I—I was wrong too. I'll follow your lead!"

"Got your heads back in the game?" Wang Feng asked flatly.

"Yes!"

"Still thinking about women? Soft beds and feasts?"

"N-no!"

"Ready for me to work you to the bone?"

"Ready!" Ah Xi and Wu Di shouted in unison, their voices growing louder, faces red with determination. "Just train us to death, Feng! If I so much as bat an eye, I'll renounce my family name!"

"Tch. That's the spirit! The duty of becoming true title heroes and defending Rose Holy Sanctuary's peace falls to you!" Wang Feng magically produced two drinks and handed them over, declaring passionately, "Chug it!"

"Cheers!" Gulp, gulp, gulp!

The two of them didn’t hesitate, roused to excitement by Old Wang’s impassioned speech, and chugged them down in one go. Only after finishing did they realize Old Wang hadn’t touched his. Huh? Wait a minute—shouldn’t a toast for morale be shared by everyone? Could this... could this be some kind of prank diarrhea potion? Punishment for their earlier lightheartedness?

Their bodies suddenly felt oddly feverish, their minds racing. Ah Xi and Wu Di were still processing this when Old Wang pushed open the training room doors.

This training room had been specially requisitioned from Hawkland. Above the entrance hung a plaque inscribed with “Old Wang’s Team” in Old Wang’s own handwriting—though the calligraphy was so peculiar that Wu Di and Fan Te Xi had stood outside for a while without recognizing it. The Nine Heavens script was already notoriously difficult to write, and given Old Wang’s skill, attempting a formal style would only embarrass him. So, he’d opted for an impromptu cursive script—never mind if others couldn’t read it, as long as Old Wang himself could, and it looked bold and distinctive enough!

The doors swung open to reveal an empty space—until a closer look showed the vast training hall’s floor entirely covered in faint ink-colored runes.

“What’s this?”

“Your training ground. Enjoy your stay!”

Without giving them time to react, Old Wang kicked the two dumbfounded figures inside, then pulled out a massive α4-grade soul gem and slotted it into the runic control node by the door.

*Buzz—!*

The soul gem activated, and the enormous runic array flared to life. Fan Te Xi and Wu Di, standing in the center, shuddered violently before freezing in place, their eyes glazed over.

Having accomplished this, Old Wang exhaled deeply, too tired to bother with their reactions. He dragged over a small stool, plopped down by the door, pulled out his health tonic tea, and crossed his legs.

A morale-boosting toast? This wasn’t an execution—what morale needed boosting? Those two drinks were no simple beverages. Unlike the diluted fakes he’d given Kela before, these were genuine Soul Elixirs—capable of stimulating the soul’s essence and unlocking latent talents.

In the past, Old Wang couldn’t have brewed these. For one, he lacked funds and materials—now, that wasn’t an issue. More crucially, back then, he only had one Heavenly Soul Pearl, insufficient to guarantee success in crafting such high-grade elixirs. But with two pearls now in hand, things were different. There was also the matter of his “Tang Monk Blood.” The changes in the ice bees had inspired him—too much risked mutation, but a small amount mixed into the Soul Elixir could safely enhance its effects.

Of course, nothing was guaranteed. Elixirs were just elixirs—no matter how strong the boost, awakening ultimately depended on the individual’s fortune and effort.

Which brought them to the runic array on the training hall’s floor...

The Nine Heavens Soul Refining Array!

Similar to the soul trials in the third layer of Dragon City’s illusion realm, but whereas that was a group version, this was a highly targeted personal edition.

Rose couldn’t control the narrative. The Eight Tribes, who might have granted Rose some leeway, had already left Aurora City. No matter how flawless his plans were, there was only one shot. The immediate priority was rapidly strengthening Rose’s combat strength. Wu Di and Fan Te Xi had talent—deeply hidden, but present. To unleash their true potential from their souls, direct soul refinement was the fastest method.

As for explaining things to them in advance... couldn’t be bothered! Setting up this array and brewing those “drinks” had exhausted Old Wang for days—he’d even bled for this! Where would he find the energy to explain?

Wang Feng sipped his tea leisurely, watching the two standing motionless in the array, their expressions gradually contorting in pain...

Old Wang stretched and yawned. He couldn’t be bothered to guess what illusions they were seeing. With the Soul Elixir protecting them, no matter what they experienced, they wouldn’t die in the illusion.

After days of relentless work, he could finally nap. As for those two... let them tough it out. The sooner they grew and transformed, the sooner their suffering would end. Otherwise, they’d endure this twice daily—five hours each session—until they fully awakened. Good luck, boys!

After a refreshing nap, Old Wang woke energized. Inside the array, Fan Te Xi and Wu Di were drooling and foaming, their eyes rolled back, completely dazed.

Old Wang hauled them back to their dorm and tossed them into their beds. First-time soul refinement always hit hard—they’d recover after some sleep. The Soul Elixir had pros and cons: it protected their souls, minimizing risks, but also diluted the tempering effects... Not a problem yet. They weren’t at the life-or-death breakthrough stage—more time would suffice. This was the safest approach. Hopefully, they’d show some progress by morning.

The past two days had been spent on this major task. With Rose taken care of for now, Ah Xi and Wu Di’s training took priority—but outside, plenty more to handle.

Boulevard of Eight Sages...

Night had fallen, the streets bustling. The Golden Shell Auction House glittered brilliantly. By the floor-to-ceiling windows on the third floor, Clara held a glass of red wine, lost in thought.

Wang Feng had been back for days, yet hadn’t sought her out. Clara had considered sending someone to fetch him, but after deliberation, she held back. It wasn’t due to the New Lord’s feud with Rose’s Lei family.

Truthfully, the New Lord’s arrival had changed the power balance in Aurora City. Many now distanced themselves from Rose and the Lei family—but for the sea people, this was irrelevant. A mere city lord couldn’t influence the larger conflict between their kind and humans. No matter how Aurora City churned, the Golden Shell Auction House stood firm, largely unaffected. What really stopped Clara was the cost of approaching Wang Feng...

Recent events had left her vulnerable. With no progress on the elixirs, she’d lost her right to audience with the Queen. Her authority waned, her control over the auction house weakening. Wang Feng’s elixirs were her lifeline, but...

She refused to believe his claim of having only two or three finished bottles. Instinct told her he knew where the formula was. The real question was the price he’d demand... Last time, her eagerness had let him charge 25 million euros per bottle. If this kept up, who could bear it? A permanent solution required patience. If she reached out first, she’d lose all bargaining power!

Yes, no matter how urgent it is, I mustn't show it! But that bastard...

Clara couldn’t help gritting her teeth: Was her charm completely wasted on him, or had she been too reserved with him before? But for men, isn’t what they can’t have always the best? Is that guy even human?

Hmm?

Clara suddenly froze. She spotted a figure entering the opposite Anhe Hall—his back looked somewhat like Wang Feng’s. But wasn’t he already blacklisted by Anhe Hall for abusing discounts...?

She pressed a hand to her forehead, both annoyed and amused.

Probably just someone who looked similar from behind. Seems like she was really getting obsessed—lately, everyone reminded her of Wang Feng!

Come to think of it, the arrival of the New Lord in Aurora City and his hostility toward Rose seemed to have unexpectedly become an advantage for her.

That little bastard wasn’t coming to see her? Fine, let him be! She’d wait it out. This princess would see—facing the New Lord’s pressure, would that little rat flee, or how long could he hold out before crawling to her for help?

...

In the lobby of Anhe Hall, a supervisor’s face darkened the moment he spotted Wang Feng. This guy had exploited the boss’s goodwill to buy goods at cost price for the entire Rose Foundry—everyone in Anhe Hall knew about it, and it had taken a serious bite out of their business for a while. Rumors spread that Anhe Hall’s prices were overpriced, and the massive 30% discounts were clear signs the quality was slipping.

Though Anbolin hadn’t reacted much to the rumors, the staff below him had come to hate Wang Feng. After all, their income was directly tied to Anhe Hall’s profits—they earned commissions! Poorer business meant smaller paychecks all around. A hero? Someone who brought glory to Aurora City? So what? If he screwed things up again and cut their monthly earnings, that made him public enemy number one! Now that business had finally recovered, they couldn’t let this Wang guy drag them down again.

The supervisor strode over and glared coldly at Wang Feng. "Wang Feng, Anhe Hall doesn’t do business with you. Leave!"

"You sure about that?" Old Wang chuckled. "I was personally invited by your boss—a handwritten letter, no less. I’m a VIP here. Isn’t Uncle An in his office right now?"