Chapter 74 - Chapter 74

I frowned slightly as I felt the portal bringing us into the Doulou Dalu universe... Was a tad bit more bumpy than usual. Which made sense considering how massive the universe actually was. To say nothing of the many barriers that separated the mundane galaxy/realm from the heavenly realm.

But my portal worked as per usual with the portal ejecting our party of eight into a random as hell city. And conveniently it was already the hours of twilight and turning dark for the quintuplet's comfort.

"Alright, let's go find an auction house or a large pawn store that won't try to rip us off." I spoke as I took in the surroundings and saw that the city we were in did have a good size.

And with any cultivation universe, that meant there should be large stores that catered to selling treasures off for large amounts of currency.

We moved out from the alleyway with myself taking the lead and inspecting the city we began walking through. 

Once I found a nice park area, I told the girls. "Stay here a moment. I am going to gather some information on where we are alright." 

The girls nodded in understanding though Nino grumbled good-naturedly. "At least we got some shade to hide in."

I swiftly made my way over to one of the nearby smaller stores and as I came in I saw the store runner perk up seeing me come in. "Hello customer, how can I help you?" 

Seeing no one else was in the small store and it being a humble bookstore, I walked up to the register and plopped down a nice bar of silver, and spoke. "I need some information. Are you willing to earn some money to speak? And then after, be paid to keep your mouth shut?" 

The man smiled and I slapped down a finger-sized bar of gold making him raise an eyebrow as I spoke. "I am from the countryside and need some information. First, what city is this, second where can I find an auction house or something to sell some materials, third where is the nearest Spirit Hall building." 

The man's face twitched as he dryly said. "I... I don't know if you are joking but this is literally Heaven Dou City. The Capital of the Heaven Dou Empire?"

At my unimpressed look, he coughed and then continued. "Anyway, if you have special, more valuable materials you should go to the north side of the city near the lower nobility and clan sector. There are a number of stores and auction houses run by families and clans that can buy those materials. But the nearest Spirit Hall building is down the road and take the next left. You can't miss it even if it's a smaller building."

I nodded in understanding committing his words to memory before I dropped another thick gold coin on the table with the guy muttering. "Why do you not even have gold coins?"

But I ignored him and made my way out of the bookstore with the information I needed and thankfully the girls weren't being bugged or otherwise messed with as they were sitting on a couple of benchs together.

"Alright girls, I got the information I need. Let's get going." I spoke firmly.

"So where are we, Master?" Mash asked curiously, and I exhaled and replied frankly.

"In a bit of a troublesome place honestly. We landed in the capital of one of the major empires though I have no idea when we landed... Well, this city is still standing so I know its not too late in the events of Doulou Dalu 1." I muttered at the end before shrugging.

"Alright, we are heading up to the richer side of the city in the northern section, I am going to be selling of some materials for the local money." 

The girls nodded in understanding though Ichika piped up with some interest. "Hey I was just curious, I remember watching the Deviltube and seeing mentions of the Agares and their clan trait of time control. Could we get some of the herbs and such in this universe and bring them back home as well?"

My face twitched at how fucking useful that could be.

As sure the Agares's clan's powers used a fuck load of their mana to accelerate time in an area. Buuttt... I could try stealing/copying their clan trait and use the leylines to power the time-accelerating wards.

Hell, that could be how I can easily get high-leveled Spirit Ring's depending on my Martial Spirit if I didn't want to come back here. I could just groom a spirit herb to a certain age if I didn't want to consume it, sell it, and instead kill it and absorb its spirit ring.

Like that thought... Mind-blowing especially when this universe had a lot of herbs that could be consumed that would help people even without cultivation or whatever, this thought process could literally be the main source of income and stability for the faction I plan to build!

"Ichika... That is a fucking wonderful idea. Now I need to add that to the list, thankfully we plan to be here for a good while." I spoke as we garnered some looks purely for how our clothes weren't nearly as ornate or fancy like the robes and outfits the natives were wearing.

But we remained verbally unmolested and passed through the gates leading into the richer district without issue and we made our way to a large weapon store which I was told bought metals at fair prices.

Coming into the store I saw a beautiful woman in a tightly fitting dress standing at attention who smiled seeing us coming into the store. "Hello honored customers, how may Zhique help you?" 

I raised an eyebrow and after a moment I spoke up. "I am looking to offload a good bit of already refined metals, and want to pick up a shield for my companion here." 

It didn't matter if Mash literally got a Shield, Martial Spirit, she couldn't manifest the martial spirit outwards for a good while and needed a way to defend herself and the vampires who didn't have much combat experience. 

While Mami on the other hand... She was a kickass magical girl who had the power of 'fuck you, I have all the guns.'

And I myself? Yeah, I was confident I could kill anyone below rank 60 without too much issue.

The woman gave a nod and then held out a hand to the side where a door was and spoke. "Please go to the side room, we will have an appraiser take stock of your offer and will bring a catalog on the shields we have available."

I nodded in understanding and we walked into the side room where a large reinforced metal table was. Where obviously the metals would be placed to be inspected along with other things.

"How long do you think they are going to make us wait?" Nino snarked a bit making me chuckle before I took a seat in front of the table.

"Who knows, my patience does have its limits though," I admitted frankly as I flexed my mana into creating a large spear of ice in my hands and my mana-spreading sensory technique picked up someone in the walls shuddering.

As they saw me without flaring 'my' spirit rings, manifest a powerful spear of ice. Which meant simply that I was powerful and had very deep control over my spirit energy in not needing to flare out my spirit rings.

That person hiding in the walls quickly made their way deeper into the store, where I couldn't sense due to the thick special materials filling the many walls of the large building.

We didn't need to wait long, as a rather muscular short king of a man with a long grey speckled beard came into the room. "Alright young man, I assume you are the leader of your little troup is that correct?" 

I nodded and in turn he continued. "Ok, so lay out the materials you want to sell and I got the list of shields we have on hand with pictures and their descriptions along with prices."

Standing up from the admittedly comfortable seat, I came over to the table and I saw the man's widen and then search my body with a frown as he looked for my spatial artifact as I summoned several blocks of gold, silver, and some supernatural metals I had picked up from the bounty money I had been paid in.

The man frowned after he counted up the gold and silver before refocusing on the supernatural metals. "I don't know these metals... Do they come from the Star Luo Empire or the Deep North?" 

I shook my head knowing a bit of Doulou Dalu and said calmly. "No, they come from volcanic islands in the Southern Endless Seas."

The man's frown deepened before he shrugged and said. "I can feel spiritual energy from the metal so I know they ain't crap... Though I don't know what they are best used for so I can't pay you as much as other spiritual materials." 

I gave the man a calm look before I spoke slowly. "I can list off the materials and their general spiritual effects once tempered for a better price. But that's also fine."

The man who I think was a smith tapped on the table and said. "Gold and silver aren't worth as much due to being a mundane metal so it's just above at cost due to their purity being better than typical gold coins. But the spiritual metals are worth a good bit with the amount you got."

He took a breath and said. "So five hundred Spiritual Gold Coins." 

And without missing a beat I stated. "Fifteen hundred spiritual gold coins." 

There was a pause as the smith twitched and then he glared and me before I flexed my mana and the smith staggered as my mana even without flaring 'my spirit' rings was more than he expected to face.

"Do not insult me," I stated calmly.

The smith instead just chuckled and said. "Alright alright young master, I can see you have been raised well in etiquette. Twelve hundred and fifty is the best I can do. That basically only leaves me a hundred in profit. You understand."

I snorted hearing that knowing he was neglecting to mention the money he would be making by making weapons and such out of the materials. To say nothing of him selling off the alien metals to collectors or other smiths for a tidy profit.

But I didn't say anything merely nodded and handed over the catalog of shields over to Mash and said simply. "Pick the best shield for you Mash." 

Mash nodded as the smith went to go get my money and I made a slight humming noise as I felt the spiritual sense of the stronger spirit master leave the room at having felt me flexing my mana.

"Jake, is it ok if I get this one?" Mash asked as she pointed at a shield made out of Hundred Forged Stellar Deep Iron...

Basically, a special metal that was stellar in nature that had also fallen into the deep sea as a meteor and then spent the next several million years being compressed via the sea's spiritual energy that built up so greatly near the bottom of the sea.

Allowing the things forged with the metal to withstand stupidly powerful impacts and prolonged attacks without wear or tear though for some reason it was noted the metal had a weakness to lightning-based attacks.

And the shield cost seven hundred spiritual gold coins...

But giving Mash a good shield was a priority as she still had some amount of enhanced strength while having me as her Master even if she didn't have Galahad's spirit in her body.

So after the smith came back and gave me a pouch filled with several coins that I picked out to be the spiritual gold coins due to the way the gold had special mana flowing through the metal. I gave him the coins needed to buy the shield that Mash wanted.

And after getting the shield we got ready to leave, but... As we were moving to leave the store someone walked into the store with their own entourage.

A man with thick, almost lion's mane-like thick blond hair strode into the building and I frowned at the evil dark glare within his eyes

And that wasn't at all an exaggeration, his eyes were obviously part of his martial spirit with how they themselves passively radiated spirit energy.

But I didn't seek out conflict I simply moved to the side so the man and his entourage of four other men following behind could properly come into the shop.

Along with the seven girls behind me doing the same.

But as the man and his entourage past us and I was going to move along and head over to some stores to pick up some herbs and such. The man spoke, with his voice sounding as rough and deep as a tiger's roar.

"Peasant... You are to at least bow to your betters, I may be a foreign prince, but I am a prince all the same."

My lips twitched as I looked at the man and I realized with his special eyes that he realized we weren't even spirit masters/cultivators.

Which was actually the majority of the population of the world.

Most people manifested trash martial spirits that couldn't even be cultivated basically without heavenly herbs or something to evolve them.

Either way... His words reminded me of enough, plus his eyes told me who he was. I just had no fucking idea why I had run into the crown prince of the Star Luo Empire here in the Heavenly Dou Empire.

Either way. I had no inclination to bend the knee and after collecting my thoughts I said simply. "Come on girls." 

And without a word, I turned my back on one of the inheritors of the Evil Eye Tiger God, Martial Spirit.

The girls knowing to follow my lead followed me outside without a word and once we were outside I popped my neck as I sighed as... As fucking, of course, the prince would be offended by actions.

But was it too arrogant of me not wanting to bow my head even if it would save me a bunch of trouble?

Seeing one of the prince's lackeys puffing up to deliver some lines I spoke very calmly. "I do recongize you now Prinze Dai Weisi... Obviously, I am curious as to why you are here in this empire rather than your own. But either way, the only way my head bows is when I die, a man's pride shoudn't be so easily bent after all."

The prince raised an eyebrow before snorting and saying with amusement. "A simple mortal, not even a spirit master dares to speak of pride in front of a son of heaven like myself... That and the beautiful women you walk beside is more than enough reason for me to desire to suppress you for walking in my view."

Wordlessly I summoned a spear of Sitri ice into my hands and his face tightened as I flared my mana completely outwards. "You aren't in your empire... Boy, sure your royal family will make me bleed but I wonder if the Heaven Dou Empire would protect me simply for the humor of seeing the vaunted Royal Family of your empire so humbled by a commoner." 

The man snorted as he realized he had no way to actually win as people were starting to look with interest at the two groups squaring off.

But now... He was also having some doubts as he had no idea how actually strong I was. The ability to 'hide my spirit rings' while flaring my power was a good warning towards him as he naturally believed I had my own force behind me.

So with that, I waited, and seeing no reaction I snorted and turned around, but before I could leave. He spoke coldly. "The Star Luo Empire and the Heaven Dou Empire have a small public tournament happening next week here in the capital. With the reward being three, one thousand-year-old spirit bones... You will be there won't you?"

I looked over my shoulder and without even turning around stated. "Why should I bother with such an event besides the spirit bones?"

The man smiled darkly before saying coldly. "Because I have your scent, I have captured your form with recording jades. If you don't appear and show your pride at the tournament I will put three even better spirit bones up for a bounty on your head."

My eyes darkened and I looked at the man as I turned around.

There was a moment of silence. Before I smiled a dark thing as I said calmly. "Alright. I will be there."

But in reality, I was thinking. 'I will be there... And you won't be leaving.'

I had every intent to kill the little bastard now that he wanted me dead for merely not bowing my head to him.

This time we were left alone as we made our way over to the Spirit Hall we got recommended towards even though news of the Star Luo Prince forcing a random passerby into the tournament quickly filled the city's upper crust.

Most nobles just shook their heads in pity as the Star Luo Prince was well known for being a cruel tyrant to those he saw as beneath him.

-

"My prince... Why did you bother with that man? His women aren't even spirit masters either plus you have Lady Zhuyun as your fiancee."

Prince Dai Weisi was silent for a moment as he watched where the young man had left before smiling and saying.

"No matter what I win... My little brother Du Mubai and his bitch Zhu Zhuqing is supposedly entering the tournament in order to get the tiger and cat spirit bones I had set for the tournament to draw them out of Shrek Academy." The prince spoke coldly before he strode away from the scene with a cruel smile.

"Either the young man is indeed a hidden talent who will see my brother and either cripple or greatly suppress him thinking I am connected to him and push his anger onto Mubai. Or Mubai sensing the killing intent in the wretch will kill him off for me anyway. I win and don't even need to dirty my hands at all." 

Prince Dai Weisi's guards hearing the 'glorious cunning' in their charge's words applauded quietly and spoke words of praise while the prince's smirk faded as he idly wondered where his own bitch was.

Zhu Zhuyun the older sister of Zhu Zhuqing, was his own fiancee as was tradition with the Star Lou Empire while Zhuqing was his little brother Mubai's fiancee.

'At least that whelp knows not to fall into the claws of the Hell Spirit Cats.' Dai Weisi snorted with disdain as he honestly believed the Hell Spirit Cat Martial Spirit line was slacking in the last few generations with their clan only producing females which was a perfect match for his White Tiger clan which only produced males and served as their empire's royal family.

And so the prince went on towards the palace the White Tiger Clan kept within the capital of the Heaven Dou Empire to wait for his plan to be taken care of without him needing to do anything.

-

"Sooo why didn't you kick his ass Jake." Nino grumbled making me pop my fingers as I clenched them as I took a breath.

And after a moment I spoke calmly. "Because the rat is the Crown Prince of their empire. An empire that has dozen's of old monsters serving the royal family that could kill me and all of you."

My senses were taking in the surroundings making sure we were being overhead, but even still I kept up a veil of magical energy that captured the sounds of my voice from escaping to far as I added. "It's not at all that is he is untouchable. Just that I got to be more careful when I deal with him." 

Either way, I shook my head and said firmly. "Come on, we need to go to the smaller Spirit Hall building to get our Martial Spirits unlocked."

And without any other event, we made our way to the Spirit Hall building and even with this being a smaller building I could feel a couple of decently strong presence within the building.

Once we came into the building I saw there was a line of people and I gave a small smile seeing how some of the people were younger teens and were obviously impoverished who had come to get their Martial Spirits unlocked.

Along with that, I could see that the service of unlocking your martial spirit only cost five gold coins here in the capital. Gold coins, not even the spiritual gold coins which was more than do-able obviously.

I gave the girls some money and knowing how it was oh so damned likely for me to make a bit of a hubbub I sent the girls out first.

Paying for our group to enter a side room as we were all together, an older man who was a Spirit Grandmaster or past rank thirty in this universe's very nicely simple level-based cultivation system.

"Alright ladies, I need to hold your hand to put some spirit energy into your spiritual veins... No idea why you all waited so long but you all are truly well behind in the best years to be cultivating." He scolded us lightly.

My lips twitched as I thought. 'We literally just popped into this damned universe.' 

But the older man started off with the quintuplets with Ichika first. The one with the shorter pink hair and being the most... Socially gifted you could say.

Ichika's hand was held upwards while the older hand had his hand under her own hand to fuel her with spiritual energy and I raised an eyebrow as I watched as Ichika glowed gently blue with spiritual energy.

"Hmm... Innate Full Spirit Power, but for an adult that isn't anything surprising." The man muttered before the blue light surrounding Ichika thickened with a form showing up in her outstretched hand.

"Hmm, a metal bracelet with thorn-covered chains? I am not sure what kind of bracelet this is but with all the jewelry-based Martial Souls you can expect them to be enchantment, enhancement, or with the chains possibly a control system type of Martial Soul." He spoke.

This meant that likely the martial soul would be best used to have her add Spirit Rings that followed those effects, spirit rings that would allow her to buff herself or allies, or possibly use the chains attached to the bracelet as way to control targets.

Ichika stepped back, and then Nino stepped forward. And as the older man did the same thing, I watched as Nino awoke... A lit torch? But the metal torch was covered in barbed wire around the top and flame atop the torch was bloody maroon and I could almost smell the iron from it.

"Hmm, I do recognize this one. The Ghostly Blood Flame, though the torch is new... I almost thought it was Twin Spirits honestly. But either way, the Ghostly Blood Flame belongs in the Attack category and is rather strong due to it having the ability to boil the blood and burn the souls of the targets even through great defenses." 

With that Nino smugly hopped off the altar allowing Miku to go next with Miku being the most soft-spoken of the five sisters and having the long more brown hair.

"Now let's see..." The older man murmured as he raised an eyebrow as Miku went through the same process and my lips twitched as from her hand formed a pure black jaguar-looking monster. "Oh my... The Blood Drinking Jaguar." He spoke while I wondered something.

If someone awoke an animal Martial Soul would they be translated into this universe's spiritual creatures? "The Blood Drinking Jaguar specializes in the assassination and speed system of Martial Souls." 

From there Yotsuba went up next and from her hand came a stileto that was seemingly dripping blood as it floated above her hand. "I do not remember this particular martial soul. But with it being of the stileto, and dagger line. It is likely following the assassination and stealth system at the very least." 

Yotsuba actually pouted a bit as she hopped off the alter and as she came over to me she muttered. "I wanted to have a big evil sword... Miku gets cat ears! That's not fair."

Itsuki then went up next with her taking a deep breath as she likewise began glowing and her own martial soul. And from her raised up hand was a dark cloud that was seemingly raining drops of blood. "Hmm, once again. A Martial Soul I do not recognize, but this one is likely a mutated version of the Acid Storm Pattern with the acid being replaced with blood." 

The older man gave the five sisters a wry look and said. "It seems all of your martial souls have something to do with blood. But either way, let us continue, I can unlock the rest of your martial souls before I need to take a break."

I gave Mami a nod with her smiling and skipping forward with the older man unlocking her Martial Soul and the old man looked utterly flummoxed as a fucking large musket hovered above Mami's hand.

"I... Well this is embarrassing, I have no idea what this tool or weapon spirit is?" He spoke with a bit of redness entering his face while Mami chuckled and replied.

"Its perfectly alright, I am sure I can figure it out haha." 

And with that Mami strode back over with Mash heading over next.

But as Mash went up and got her Martial Soul unlocked... I tensed as her second hand raised up as Mash's face dulled and I saw as in one hand, Mash awoke a large shield that was all too damned familiar. And in the other hand.

My face twitched as in the other hand was a fucking test tube with a little red dot inside of it.

"Twin martial souls... Haaa its such a terrible pity you are already an adult and your best years were wasted." The man bemoaned but I saw the man inspecting my group as though realizing all of our martial souls were rare or otherwise rather powerful.

I exhaled and gave Mash a quick side hug as she strode back with her holding her vial up in her hands with a dark look in her eyes.

As I recognized what that vial meant. It was a symbol of her being a homunculus.

"Whelp! My turn now." I spoke aloud to get the old man back into focus and his eyes lasered in on me and knowingly nodded.

I walked over and the man's hand touched the back of my upraised hand and I felt his... Spiritual energy, not mana especially, but spiritual energy entering my body with the man grumbling. "Your spiritual energy veins... Its an absolute disgrace that you haven't cultivated for a decade now at this point!"

As it took him a good minute to actually fill up my previously all but un-used spiritual veins with his own spiritual power and then I felt as he overflowed the veins and then with a popping feeling I felt the Seal of Solomon in my soul shifting as my other hand rose up as well.

In the hand he was pouring his spiritual energy was an expression of the Seal of Solomon. A signet ring style stamp with chains that wrapped around my wrist and then going up to my arm and shoulder.

And in the other hand... My lips twitched as I felt the connection I had with the demon blade Soul Edge that I got with my reincarnation disappear as the blade was fused into a large scythe with the blade glowing with the shifting colors of my Mystic Eyes of Death Perception.

"Another set of Twin Martial Spirits... Young man, what is your name?" He questioned as I pulled back my hand from him and inspected my martial souls with a sigh escaping me.

I had no doubt they would be strong, but... Now I knew this man was going to tell Spirit Hall about two Twin Martial Spirits walking into here.

"Here," I spoke dropping fifty Spirit Gold Coins into his hand. "Keep quiet about us for today. Tell your bosses or whatever tomorrow at the very least."

My cool eyes stared at the older man, and he flinched as he seemingly saw the hidden threat in my gaze before he smiled and said. "Aye I understand. I will make sure the notice for your Martial Spirits will be at the bottom of the list." 

I took what I could get and with a sharp nod, I said. "Girls, let's get going."

We quickly left and I brought us over to a local library where there were some reading rooms where we would have some privacy.

"Ok... So I imagined I would at least have Twin-Martial Spirits, but Mash also having it is a surprise. But alright, so with how we all have full spirit power. We will need to go get our first spirit rings from a spirit beast."

Taking a breath I brushed a hand across my face before I added. "Twin-Martial Spirits are very rare... So Mash and I will need to be careful as its inevitably going to gain attention onto ourselves." 

With that said I exhaled and then clapped my hands together. "Alright. So for right now, we should be figuring out our Martial Souls. Most of us don't exactly know what our Martial Soul's need in Spirit Rings.

Taking a breath I looked to Mash and said. "Your shield, on the other hand, is simple. We need to get you spirit rings to simply make you more durable. While I know your... Homunculus Martial Soul is probably a martial soul based on making yourself more powerful vitality-wise." 

'That or possibly giving her body the ability to mutate or something I can't be sure until she starts getting Soul Rings to fill out her Martial Soul.' I thought

Either way, I looked at the vampires and spoke. "Hmm... Itsuki, and Nino both have caster-based Martial Souls, Miku has a beast martial soul based on assassination and stealth, and Yotsuba, an Ichika have either assassination or another spell-casting Martial Soul."

I shrugged and then added. "When we add our Soul Ring's we will see how our Martial Souls express the soul rings through themselves it will tell a lot." I finished.

Now... Came the fucking fun part. Finding out what the hell our Martial Spirit's best fit with and had the best compatibility with.

Looking at Mash I brushed my hand across my face and said. "Mash, what do you think of working on your shield Martial Soul first. We can get you a turtle spirit beasts Soul Ring which makes the best sense."

Though Mami gently interjected. "Jake, what about you? You are being pulled into this tournament right? Shoudn't we focus on you gaining strength?" 

I was silent for a moment as I considered things. Before I spoke slowly. "I do have some ideas on where I can gain strength. This is my Seal of Solomon... And I have a strong belief that if I can bind some Spirit Beasts into Soul Ring's willingly. It will be far better for me." 

What I was speaking of was the major plot of Doulou Dalu 2. Where the MC went and got the Spirit Rings of very powerful spirit beasts that were almost all beautiful women when they transformed. If I did the same that would obviously be extremely useful as I did know the general locations of those and other extremely powerful spirit beasts.

As there was nothing saying I couldn't help the spirit beasts by taking them away from this world and freeing them of the Tribulation Lightning that came to strike them every hundred thousand years for having the audacity to be fucking immortal.

And of course in the worst case... There were still plenty of Spirit Beasts I could kill and take as a Spirit Ring, though a voluntary Spirit Ring would be for the best.

Either way Mami snapped me out of my thoughts as she asked firmly. "Well, how would we go about doing that?"

I exhaled and using my enhanced memory of Doulou Dalu I spoke slowly. "I got three options... I go to the Extreme North where several such existences are available but it will be tight on the timeline and I will have to leave you all behind as frankly none of you could survive an hour within the environment."

I added on. "It is the best place for me honestly as it can allow me to gain several spirits that are rightfully afraid of their lifespan ending. But beyond that, there is also the Southern Ocean. Where there is a large number of old powerful spirit beasts I could slay but once again I would have to go alone as only Mami can fly and not for long."

Taking a breath I shrugged and then said. "Leaving me with one last option frankly. We go to the Heavenly Dou Star Dou Forest. It's a massive forest bigger than Asia itself that isn't so hostile that you will all die and we can get the first souls we need."

"Also! It's actually in this country so it's a lot closer right?" Yotsuba added excitedly with me nodding in agreement though I would need to get maps and whatnot to have the full details.

"Correct. Plus there is something there I need to see." I spoke as I recalled the Yin-Yang Holy Well was there hidden behind a constant fog of highly toxic mist. That nominally belonged to the Poison Title Doulou-Dugu Bo.

Which could give me a score of powerful old herbs I could have us absorb and I can keep for cuttings to use back in the DXD universe.

"So... I suggest we get camping supplies, along with maps and such if we are heading for the Star Dou Forest," I announced with all the girls nodding in agreement.

With that we quickly did so without any real issues beyond the girls taking a bit of time to pick out local outfits so they could fit in better and just to humor them I also got myself a fancy Xianxia-style outfit that actually shared some of the colors of the Mystic Eyes of Death Perception which is what drew me to it.

With that we left the capital with myself renting a carriage and a driver with a tamed spirit beast horse take us away to the outskirts of the Heaven Dou Star Dou Forest.

And even with the spirit beast running fast as hell, it still took a full day basically with the horse slowing its run through the night for us to reach the base outskirts of the Star Dou Forest with us only getting there around noon the day after we began our journey.

"Thanks for the ride." I spoke handing the driver ten more Spirit Gold Coins as thanks with him nodding before looking at my part and thinking about obviously warning us about entering the forest without a chaperone but he shrugged and he was off with his spirit beast horse pulling the carriage seemingly back down the road we came back towards the capital.

"We will be teleporting back don't worry." I spoke seeing the girls stretching after being in the cart all night long.

We began making our way into the forest without too many issues until I held up a hand to make everyone stop as I raised an eyebrow. "Girls, do you have any enhanced senses or methods of magical detection?" I questioned curiously.

Mami and Mash didn't but Itsuki surprised me as she shrugged and said. "Vampires, should we relax and extend our senses can sense the sound of heartbeats and rushing blood. It's to help us find people hiding in closets, under beds, and whatnot." 

My lips twitched but either way, I shrugged and said. "Good, now the first of you to find the creature creeping around us get a mouthful of my blood."

I made sure not to look at the predator that had snuck up and was patiently waiting for us to keep moving so it could likewise do the same... And boy was I not a fucking fan of giant spiders that could turn invisible to the naked eye.

As the girls shifted and began looking around I said firmly. "Do not move. Only listen with those vampiric senses."

Itsuki and Nino being spitfires gave me half-hearted glares... But both of them were even more addicted to my physical affection and blood than the others so it was clear that they were trying harder besides Miku who actually activated her Martial Soul.

A pair of adorable black cat ears popping out of the top of her head as she tried to use her Martial Soul granting her enhanced senses to help her find the creature.

And after a minute Miku actually twitched and then she pointed directly at the horse-sized spider. "There. The monster is-"

But before she could finish, the spirit beast at being so bluntly pointed at. Zipped forward at high speed. But before it could reach anyone a dozen spears of ice impaled it from below and hoisted it up into the air with its invisibility fading away.

"And that is a spirit ring forming... Now normally only I could absorb it seeing as I killed it. But, this spirit beast doesn't seem to even be ten years old." I spoke wryly as the spirit ring couldn't even properly form meaning it wasn't old enough.

I shrugged and then tilted my head to the side with a frown crossing my face as I felt something... Attempting to attach to my soul and a golden chain swung out from my hand slashed out and I cleaved the connection between me and the damned spirit ring that was seemingly trying to attach itself to me.

'My soul is naturally extremely powerful with death, holy, and other powerful attributes... I need to be careful that Spirit Beasts don't literally rush to become shitty spirit rings in my soul.' I thought with a frown.

But thankfully I could use both of my Martial Soul's that had strong soul attributes in dealing with such issues.

I shook my head and spoke calmly. "Keep an eye out... There are literally millions of different spirit beast races and they all have ways of hunting their targets or otherwise keeping themselves alive."

With that Mash took point on the right side while Mami took the left while Miku having better senses took the back position while I remained in the front as I brought us deeper into the forest.

Our trip deeper into the forest however wasn't so... Calm, I had no idea what was drawing Spirit Beasts to us. Or maybe we just came into a predator-heavy side of the forest. But every five minutes we came across a venomous, toxic, stealthy, or otherwise oversized predator that wanted to eat us.

I formed a scythe of Sitri ice and a roar escaped the great saber-toothed tiger-lion Spirit Beast as it lost its front legs and after a moment I told Miku. "If I find a stronger cat-based Spirit Beast, you will obviously get its Spirit Ring." And then I slammed a spear of Sitri ice into the monster's head to silence it.

And from the Spirit Beast came a yellow spirit ring meaning it was over a hundred years old. But I wasn't at all interested in any spirit ring that wasn't purple at the very least.

But once again, this time at least. I destroyed the Spirit Ring that was actually floating towards me.

"Alright, let's keep going. We will want to get a good location to put down camp for when night falls." I spoke as I knew the vampire quintuplets were going to be exhausted after running around all day even if their clothes were enchanted to protect them from the sun's rays.

We kept moving for a bit until we came across a large raised hill and I used my Sitri ice to quickly cleave open a cave into the hillside giving us a nice shaded room out of the sun's gaze and out of the forest's thick almost jungle heat and humidity.

"Haa... I need a nap." Yotsuba groaned aloud while Miku looked at me expectantly at getting the previously promised reward making me smile and pat my lap as I sat down on a couple laid out white plastic mats I laid out so we could be off the ground.

Miku came over and with a small flush snuggled up into my lap with her mouth slipping onto my throat with her pointed teeth piercing my flesh with her suckling my blood.

Even as Miku was drinking my blood I just relaxed well used to the sensation and I spoke. "We are getting deeper into the forest. So later tonight, when you girls are rested up we will start looking for purple Spirit Rings above the age of a thousand years old for you girls, and in my case, I will be looking for any Black Spirit rings for Spirit Beasts over ten thousand years old."

"Jeeze... So many of these Spirit Beasts are literally thousands of years old. Literally older than most human recorded history back on earth." Mami spoke with a wry expression.

Hearing that I added dryly. "And there are a number of Spirit Beasts, enlightened herbs, and materials that are literally over a fucking million years old... Older than all gods I know of in our universe." 

Meaning the DXD universe anyway. Great Red, and Ophis may have been older but Zeus, the Shinto? Yeah, they were all barely ten thousand years old if that even if you counted their primordial deities like Nyx.

A loud closer bird call rang out from outside the cave entrance I lined up with ice with holes in it to allow fresh air, to ring out inside the cave. With myself just relaxing against the mats before I added. "Get a nap in ladies. The night will be a lot more hectic as that's when the predators come out in force." 

With only Nino asking. "Can we get a bit of your blood before we go?" 

And I gave a simple. "Yes." Before I closed my eyes and forced my body into a restful state while Miku finished drinking her little reward before she disengaged and simply snuggled against and used my chest as a pillow.

With the wall of ice in front of the cave wall, we were left alone with the ice wall having added benefit of the fresh air coming into the cave being chilled rather well allowing us to be rather comfortable for the next few hours and take a good long nap.

But after the sun went down, it was time for us to continue and I took a deep breath before we continued heading off deeper into the Star Dou Forest where the stronger Spirit Beasts were.

'Hmm, we are being followed by something smarter.' I thought with a slight frozen as the mist I was passively letting out acted as radar with anything that moved in the mist even slightly revealed itself to my senses.

I didn't whirl around on the source of the disturbance though. I simply kept going with the girls following until I stilled as I turned and sighed. "Alright alright, stop stalking us little thing." I called out as I sent a compressed wave of the mist into the creature to push it back a bit in warning.

"Oi! That mist is cold!" A voice yelled and I stiffened with fear entering my guts as I felt an overwhelming powerful spiritual pressure crush my mist into nothingness.

"Oh... Whoops." The voice muttered and I glared as I activated my Mystic Eyes of Death Perception as I glared outwards before blinking as the mist I created faded allowing me to see the terror of a literal god that had fucking appeared out of nowhere.

A fucking worm... No 'THE' fucking worm.

The cheat Skydream Ice Worm, that the protagonist from Doulou Dalu 2 made a contract with like literally ten plus thousand years in the fucking future.

"Hey kiddo, sooo you want the offer of the lifetime?" He questioned excitedly and I relaxed slightly knowing his soul pressure was his only weapon.

The Skydream Ice Worm when it was young had fallen into an ice crevice in the Extreme North and had basically found a whole cave that had been left alone for billions of years and had thus grown extremely valuable mystical ice veins that allowed him to basically munch on them for a few centuries and gain the cultivation of a million-year-old Spirit Beast.

Which... Was fucking stupid honestly as he should have just exploded, but now he was the literal example of a paper tiger as he couldn't defend himself and many spirit beasts wanted to just eat him to gain a fraction of that power.

"And what deal should I make with a Spirit Beast that is literally bursting from the seams with power... And one who has quite literally rang the fucking dinner bell for all of the Star Dou Forest?" 

The Spirit Beast in question stilled before nervously laughing and said. "Ok ok, uhhhh real quick. I can turn myself into a Spirit Ring for you to absorb while still keeping my ego and mind inside of your Martial Spirit. I am a Million-year-old spirit beast so even if my ability isn't offensive based. It will still be extremely powerful!" 

I tilted my head to the side and after a moment of thought, I considered it. Granted I wanted waifu Spirit Beasts... But what harm could a literal caterpillar even if male do? It's not like I didn't consider yoinking Ddraig or another Sacred Gear for a quick power-up.

And it's not like I was stuck with them permanently. Once I hit rank 100 and formed my divine core, the Spirit Beasts that kept their souls and egos could leave mine without harming me.

"Soooo, come on, not much time you know. I kinda did ring the dinner bell and those jerks aren't something you and your lady friends can handle!" 

I gave Skydream Ice Worm a look before I said slowly. "Alright, fine. You are still a minor god literally so make sure to cut and seal your spiritual/mental energy into chunks so I can absorb them later on slowly so my brain doesn't just explode." 

And then I added. "Oh and two things, how did you find us, and do you have an actual name?" 

The Skydream Ice Worm closed its eyes and was clearly working as it glowed bright divine gold but hearing my words it said slowly. "First, you are a literal beacon to anything with expanded senses like myself. It's like you are a literal treasure of otherworldly energies that have perfectly meshed together. And second of all... Nope, I don't have a name so if you survive this that's up to you hehe." 

I tilted my head to the side as I thought for a minute... And in reality I knew the Skydream Ice Worm needed to make this contract as his lifespan was up in terms of the Spirit Beasts point of view.

As in the next ten plus thousand years of running around and away from the powerful Spirit Beasts up till Doulou Dalu 2, he was going to feel the tribulation lightning for a million year old Spirit Beast about to come down on his head which would annihalate him.

"You sure this is a good idea Jake?" Mami asked calmly.

And I honestly just shrugged before I grinned and said. "There is risks obviously. But if he tries to betray me, I have methods to protect myself."

I looked back to the Skydream Ice Worm, and I kneeled down on one knee so I could be close to the Spirit Beast and I said frankly. "Well, how about it. Wanna be partners?"

And in response the Skydream Ice Worm chuckled and said. "Even if I seperate my spirtual and mental energy to not collapse your own mindscape, you are going to be in for a good amount of pain. So goodluck my possible partner."

Then the Skydream Ice Worm's form dimmed and I lashed out with a hand to catch its body that fell forward as it killed itself by ripping its soul out of its physcial body and as it came up in a brightly glowing golden Spirit Ring. I took a deep breath and allowed the Spirit Ring within myself.

"Ahhh hell, I didn't imagine you would alreadly have two Martial Souls... Well, I can make this work. Just work my way on in here and aha!" I heard the Skydream Ice Worm speaking within my soul and I twitched with a groan of pain rising in my skull and very soul as the weight of a literal god was settling into me no matter how weak the god was.

But then I heard the Skydream Ice Worm choke out. "What the hell! Why do you have a blessing from an actual god... No a goddess along with a couple demons of the same element? Well, I can work with this haha!" He laughed with joy.

And then I felt it.

I felt the weak blessing of Aqua feel... So much more solid, so much more available rather than just a passive blessing upon my water magic I could call upon. And then I felt the Skydream Ice Worm's tendrils of divine power then swirled the two contracts of Sitri ice power within myself into Aqua's blessing.

'All my previous powers are being consolidated... Made more solid and powerful.' I thought as I could feel the contracts remaining to Sona and Serafall in terms of sheer mana capacity and their current status.

But now the unholy Sitri water magic was swirling in a perfect yin to the holy floods of Aqua's yang water.

"Hmm... This is a whole new Martial soul so lets call it the Heavenly Evil Sea, Martial Soul!" The Skydream Ice Worm spoke firmly but tiredly as I felt it's golden Spirit Ring slot itself into my fucking third Martial Soul.

Which wasn't actually that outlandish... The protagonists in Doulou Dalu 2-3-4 all had multiple Martial Soul's that flip-flopped around.

Not to mention I could feel my soul sublimating and growing in power with loud popping noises ringing out as the power of the million-year cultivation Spirit Ring shot my cultivation straight up to the 19th rank.

And soon enough the mental download was completed and I got an instinctive mental download to the ability the Skydream Ice Worm's Spirit Ring gave me.

[Soul Freezing Shock- Targets hit by the waters of the HeTiaavenly Evil Sea's conjured waters will have their soul take continous damage which scales with the power of my own soul's power.]

I hummed as I manifested the Heavenly Evil Sea, Martial Soul into my hand and it took the form of a swirling Yin-Yang symbol. But half of it was dark icy waters that was part of the Sitri's essence, while the other half was Aqua's blessed holy water.

Which was actually extremely great honestly. As I now never had to worry about Aqua somehow stripping the blessing from me should she feel petty at some point.

"Alright... Good luck partner, I need to sleep for a couple of months. Splitting my mental and spiritual energy into pieces is... weighing on me, to say the least. So try not to get into too much trouble." The Skydream Ice Worm spoke and I nodded in understanding but then shrugged and spoke.

"Before you go, I am going to call you Tian Meng." I spoke to the Skydream Ice Worm who was now my partner and mental headspace sharer even if I could put some mental blocks up to block him out when I was doing things I didn't want him to see.

I heard Tian Meng give a slight hum of thought but then I could literally feel as the Skydream Ice Worm's soul and mind went into hibernation.

And with that, I put some purposefully fragile mental blocks around him so unless he broke out of the blocks he wouldn't be able to sense anything while he was sleeping.

With that all done I groaned as I felt a bit of mental exhaustion due to the events but I shoved down my exhaustion as I could feel Tian Meng's dinner bell ringing had gotten the surrounding forest's attention.

The sounds of primeval tree's being crushed rang out and I popped my neck as an ice sword formed in my hands. "Oh? Well, this is interesting."

As rushing towards us looked like some kind of large bull that had a turtles body. 

Wordlessly I flexed my mana with a dozen spears slamming into the gut of the Spirit Beast from below but my Sitri ice actually shattered on the turtles shell.

'Hmm definitely past the thousand-year mark with a defensive bent.' I thought as I looked at Mash and said. "Mash, this could be a good spirit beast for your first going to your shield. You ready?"

And she nodded firmly with her holding her shield at the ready to bash the Spirit Beast to death. "Alright, let me wound it for you." I said and then I dashed forward at high speed and dodged a flare of flames from the bull turtle creature's mouth.

And with my enhanced Sitri ice sword I carved through the Spirit Beast's legs front legs and then with a sweeping motion I rotated around the beast to carve through its back legs leaving to only slam face-first into the ground.

With the top of its shell being greeted by Mash who leaped up into the air and then slammed the pointed bottom of the shield we brought her into the center of its shell making a harsh cracking noise.

The Spirit Beast gave a low groan of pain but it didn't have long to moan as Mash hopped off the turtle back and smashed the corner of her shield into its head stunning it before it could slide back into its shell.

From there, Mash just beat the Spirit Beast to death with her shield while I kept an eye out for the other Spirit Beasts who were testing the waters to go after the scrumptious dinner bell that Tian Meng rang.

A purple spirit ring floated up into the air and I made a humming noise seeing it was indeed a thousand-year Spirit Beast and after a moment, I spoke. "Mash let me mess with it for a second."

I came over and with all my perks and my Mystic Eyes of Death Perception... It took me less than a minute to pick out the wisps of a soul from the Spirit Ring and then with a knife I plucked the soul out of the Spirit Ring which made it begin to fade making me say firmly. "Mentally will the Spirit Ring to enter you Mash." 

The purple-haired guardian hurriedly nodded closing her eyes with the purple Spirit Ring floating into her and I sagged with relief at seeing her seemingly absorbing the Spirit Ring without issue besides some shaking of minor pain.

Which was understandable... You were literally having your soul consume the essence of another soul so your soul could use the essence as an intrinsic ability.

After a couple of minutes, Mash twitched and I saw her summon Galahad's shield into her hand as she stood up properly. And then she smiled oh so brightly as the shield grew another layer to it that mirrored the turtle's shell along with an energy projection of the shield being even bigger around the shield.

"It... Was definitely hard with my current physique, but I did it!" Mash spoke as she bit her lower lip and said quieter. "I can fight properly now again."

I nodded and Mash made a loud 'Eeep' as I pulled her into a full hug with me whispering into her ear. "I will trust you with that shield Mash... Just as Ritsuka did." 

I felt Mash freeze before she leaned into the hug with the arm not holding her shield returning the hug before I broke the hug as the moment was kinda ruined by the bloodthirsty Spirit Beasts that were looking at us with such hunger.

"Alright, girls we still need to get you all your first Spirit Ring, I of course need to get two more, and Mash also needs another one for her Homunculus, Martial Spirit." I spoke firmly.

"I am ready!" Yotsuba cried out with excitement with her pumping her fist into the air making me chuckle at how gung-ho she was.

And honestly... The vampires technically had stronger bodies than Mash did with Mash no longer being a Demi-Servant.

So they would have an easier time than Mash did with their Spirit Rings. 

I hummed as I decided to speed things up. "Girls... Pay close attention. I am going to be busy for a bit."

And with that, I held up both hands with two sitri magic circles forming. One to pour a storm of mist into the air above our heads that got blown with the wind. The other hand's magic sigil allowed me to be connected to the mist and have a view and sense of what was within the mist.

Thus for the next fifteen minutes, I scoped out the next few dozen miles with hundreds if not thousands of Spirit Beasts filling my mind. And in doing so, I realized something very important.

Tian Meng's presence as a Mental/Spiritual focused Spirit Beast had changed my mental state to allow me to process information at a much larger scale.

It seemed akin to myself having the bloodline of the Devil Beelzebub clan actually who could control thousands of magical insects at the same time with micro-level master control.

But after doing a general scan and 'NOT' finding a literal divine Spirit Beast who was over a Hundred Thousand years of age/cultivation rushing for our asses. I came back to my full senses and I spoke. "Alright girls, I think I found some Spirit Beasts that will fit you. Especially you Miku, I found a literal Blood Drinking Jaguar thats a copy of your Martial Soul." 

Miku nodded in understanding and said simply. "I am ready."

I shared a nod before saying. "Alright girls, the Blood Drinking Jaguar is actually the closest, let's go deal with that. And then we will go down the list to get you all your Spirit Rings." 

With that, we went deeper into the Star Dou Forest with myself crippling the Spirit Beast for Miku and all the other Quintuplets as they still needed training for their individual vampire powers...

Ok, I really needed to shell out a fuck load of money or something to get some Carmilla clan vampires come to teach the girl's blood magic and whatnot. But for one the Carmilla clan hated men... And I really didn't want to engage with vampires of DXD at all as they were almost all assholes of the worst kind as they saw all of humanity as nothing but cattle.

But the girls did have some skills and Miku was able to enhance a hunting knife I gave her with some blood energy to allow her to stab into the skull of the Blood Drinking Jaguar she found with her absorbing another Purple-Spirit Ring.

And from there the rest of the girls got their own spirit rings from the scan I did over the next few dozen miles in most directions

Miku's Spirit Ring for Blood Drinking Jaguar Martial Soul allowed her to manifest the Blood Drinking Jaguar, shadow cloaking ability allowing her to literally sink into and hide within shadows.

Ichika's Bracelet got a Spirit Ring from a large constrictor snake that allowed the chains from her bracelet to lash out and grapple targets with large fangs on the ends of the chains to stick into the target

Nino's Blood Boiling Flame got a spirit ring from a particularly annoying to kill fire breathing lizard which gave the flames she summoned the ability to further grow from what they burned.

Yotsuba's Stileto Martial Soul got a Spirit Ring from a bat creature and with the spirit ring it made the blood of whatever her Stileto made contact with explode violently with her being immune to the blood explosion.

And finally Itsuki. Her blood storm cloud I went out of my way to snatch some kind of wind-creating bird and allowed her to land the final blow as it was an asshole with the ability to do some weird Logia shit by turning into a swirling cloud of wind blades before reforming a few seconds later. 

That Spirit Ring allowed Itsuki to summon her blood cloud, but her Blood Storm Cloud would drink the blood of anyone that entered the cloud radius that she controlled with the wind blades being augmented by Itsuki's blood energy.

Which all told, took us another day basically. And with that, we also collected the remains of any spirit beasts we slayed with them being kept in our pocket dimensions.

"Alright, so we got our first spirit rings. For now, I suggest we head back to the Heaven Dou Empire. We can sell off some of the materials we gathered and then we can collect a bunch of herbs and books on the local herbs and treasues." 

"I am just ready to get the hell out of this damned jungle." Nino groused with her grimacing as she added. "I need a proper shower in a real bathroom, not to be put through a damned washing machine's spin cycle of water Jake!" She said pointedly.

But I just smiled wryly as that was the best way for us to get rapidly cleaned off.

Either way I unfortunately literally couldn't find Dugu Bo's hidden garden filled with treasures along with the Yin-Yang Well. To be fair... The fucking Heaven Dou Forest was literally the size of all of Asia.

And the garden was no bigger than a couple miles in any direction and hidden in a valley.

So it would need to be something I would have to hunt for over some time actually... Good thing I wasn't in a rush, unlike the other worlds I was in previously.

Where I just rushed into the world, got the cheat, or did what I wanted and left as soon as I could. Here? No, this was going to be my last major stop as I gained true power within myself before I did more stuff in DXD and then tried my hand at cleaning up the world of Worm and dealing with the satanic contracts I had for getting my reincarnation.

Our forms lit up with a devil's magical sigil and with a flex of my magical power we were teleported into a deserted alley back inside the Heaven Dou's capital.

Frome there... The girls checked into a hotel to get cleaned up and get some proper rest while I decided to have some time for myself and deal with selling off the materials.

After a moment of thought, I went towards the nobles section and after heading into a nicer shop I began selling off the corpses of the Spirit Beasts I killed gaining a bit more Spiritual Gold Coins without too much issue or anything interesting happening.

But as I went to a different store to begin looking through some natural treasures that were for sale behind heavily guarded reinforced glass walls I had to explain myself rather annoyingly. "I understand such herbs can take decades if not centuries or more to properly grow. I still want to buy cuttings and any seeds of such species of herbs that you have." 

The woman who was helping me collect everything I was purchasing gave a pursed look. "Sir... Stores, and even noble families don't even bother collecting the seeds of such treasures beyond making sure to replant them so they can grow in the future. It simply takes too long for such herbs and treasures to grow!"

I brushed a hand across my face as I was reminded of a very important fact. Title Doulou's who were the 'pinnacle' of this world could only live up to like three hundred years with how currently the world had strict limits on the amount of power it could support. It was only later that the Doulou world was upgraded and that people could cultivate above level 100 without being booted off the world.

"Uhm, you could put up commissions or something for such seeds. But it will take a while and who knows if the people who gathers the herbs will know how to extract the seedlings and cuttings without hurting the herbs and treasures themselves."

I groaned with some annoyance before saying. "Alright, alright I got it.... Well, can you sell me some books on the effects of heavenly herbs and other such treasures on the human body while I get a list of what your shop has to offer."

The girl quickly nodded and although they didn't carry a total list, I got a half dozen such books from different authors about the topics of the heavenly herbs... And from there, I just spent like eighty percent of the money I had buying the underdeveloped herbs and treasures the store had.

As my pocket dimension was time-locked so it wouldn't hurt the already dying herbs and treasures that weren't in their stupidly stringent natural habitat. But once I got back home to the DXD universe, I could see about creating a farm with the help of Yasaka and using the Agares's time control bloodline to cheat age the herbs properly.

With that done, I sighed as I walked through the busy streets of the capital city and took in the sights.

'Hmm... These people are all going about their lives while I spend most of my own days in a completely different dimension.' I mused as I did my people-watching.

The sounds of footfalls hit my ears as someone walked around the back of the bench I was sitting on but I didn't react as the person walked around the bench and took a seat next to me.

"You are being played you know." A woman's voice rang out.

I looked to the side and my lips twitched as I recognized Zhu Zhuyun, the older sister of Zhu Zhiqing, with Zhuyun being engaged to marry that pompous ass Prince Dai Weisi who had dragged me into the tournament.

Which... Honestly was a great thing. As I had already heard how the tournament had three tiger-based Spirit Bones which would be fucking perfect for Miku and make her a lot stronger.

But, now I obviously was wondering what the hell she was doing here, as I honestly didn't recall her personality much beyond being the older sister and fiancee of Dai Mubai's older brother.

With both brothers being forced to kill one another as was tradition to see who would be the Emperor in the future for the Star Luo Empire.

"Zhu Zhuyun... And what can I do for you?" I asked dryly as I leaned back on the bench so I could take in my surroundings better.

And yup... With my enhanced senses I could feel a couple of very powerful beings loitering around in the area. Probably rank 70 plus Spirit Masters with how they seemed to have about three times the power of Prince Dai Weisi who was in the upper fifties rank of cultivation along with having the best resources pumped into him.

Zhu Zhuyun gave a slight hum as she likewise leaned backwards against the bench and I noticed all to easily that her Martial Soul gave her form a very natural enhanced flexibility... Not to mention how she was indeed a very beautiful woman with well-developed curves.

"You... Have something about you. I don't exactly know how to explain it, but my Beast Martial Soul has enhanced my instincts quite a lot." She mused aloud before she refocused.

"Jake Bariss, an odd name for the Heaven Dou Empire, but your name and... Odd feeling about you isn't why I am here." She spoke as her humourous tone died out and she looked straight ahead out towards the throngs of civilians going about their day.

There was a pause before Zhu Zhuyun spoke coldly. "You have probably heard about the trials the Star Lou, Royal Family has between the younger male generation."

I nodded stating that I knew. And then she added. "What most don't consider is the Zhu's or the inheritors of the Hell Spirit Cat are at birth literally assigned to a member of the royal family." 

I could positively taste the hate in her voice as she spoke. "This has been happening for millennia, and to say nothing of the incest with closely tied our bloodline are. But Dai Weisi is a bastard who actively hates women and refuses to even lay with any, preferring the touch of feminine men he can dominate." 

'What the actual fuck am I hearing?' I thought as my lips twitched as I looked at her with a raised eyebrow and stated. "Well... This is certainly enlightening. But why are you telling me this? I shouldn't be hearing the dirty secrets of the Star Luo Empire."

She snorted and then said flatly. "It doesn't matter honestly. He doesn't hide his tastes, not to mention everyone felt your killing intent. So the question is whether you are going to play his game." 

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath to smooth over any emotional emanations before I said coldly. "And why should I be your tool? I can tell, you want the prince dead, but whatever sense you have collected of me, I am still a total unknown." 

Zhu Zhuyun turned towards me and I stilled as she smiled and spoke calmly. "There are over ten thousand registered Martial Souls, some of which cost a good deal to their user... Here is a little-known fact of why Spirit Hall rightfully fears Star Luo Empire despite having more Title Doulou's."

"We have our own hidden Title Doulou who can do short-timed simulations and doing foresight. Guess what his reaction was when I paid quite dearly to have you modeled."

I frowned and remained silent with Zhu waiting for my reaction before shrugging and saying plainly. "He was utterly unable to model you for his foresight or simulations. Your companions, could somewhat be modeled but you yourself? A total blank spot to his senses."

There was a pause before Zhu Zhuyun spoke calmly. "Someone able to avoid and resist the sight of a Title Doulou is no simple commoner... So I am willing to put my bet on you killing Dai Weisi merely for threatening you and hitting your pride in forcing you into the tournament." 

'Ah... So its cultivation Rias. She wants her fiancee literally dead not their engagement canceled.' I thought with some actual amusement.

Though Zhu then added on dryly. "A man who is willing to beat his own youngest brother to death with his bare hands for a verbal offense and then cripple the brother's fiancee, my youngest sister isn't someone you want angry at you for daring to win the bet that he forced you into." 

And to that statement, I nodded before I responded blandly. "And you, his fiancee want him dead. You want me to be the target of your empire... Tell me what makes it worth getting into such trouble."

She opened her mouth but I flared my Mystic Eye's of Death Perception making her pause and I could feel her protectors tense and ready themselves. "Dont... Don't say some bullshit about how it's in my best interest. No, I want to know what you are going to give or do in order to take part in this insanity." 

She frowned and then she smiled coldly as she said. "I can help get you into a room with him after you win the tournament... You are a handsome young man. If you crush his arrogant little brother like he wants you to, along with my younger sister who will be fighting with him. Then I can pitch it as a reward for you and he can try to bring you in as one of his own men."

My lips twitched and I shuddered as I said with disgust. "Become one of his men?"

And Zhu's face went dark before a hint of disgust entered her expression before she looked me up and down before saying. "No... You are handsome, not a man who with dress could easily pass for a woman when they wear their hair down." 

I brushed a hand across my face as I exhaled in total relief with Zhu Zhuyun sniffing before she added flatly. "So, will that be enough. Or do you require a more physical bribe of treasues to do it."

I gave her a look before I shrugged and said shamelessly. "Sure, give me twenty thousand Spiritual Gold Coins. I am buying some Heaven and Earth herbs and treasues. I could use some extra funds to buy more."

"Pfft, you shameless wretch thats like half a year's cultivation funds I get from my clan." She verbally spat and then she stood up and I watched as her large chest bounced as she showed off how flexible she was when she stretched her arms above her head.

Then as her hands came down to her waist she pulled a small pouch from her waist and tossed the pouch at me which I caught with a hand of ice that grew from the ground to catch it without it touching my hands...

As I had no fucking clue if the damned thing was coated in poison or something.

However, as I summoned the ice I saw Zhu's dark-slitted feline eyes which were obviously part of her Martial Spirit heritage tighten at the sight of the ice and I realized she herself must have realized my ice was one of the special forms of ice.

And I couldn't help but idly wonder how Sitri ice matched up against the Doulou Dalu Absolute Zero Ice that could even freeze time.

But that thought was pushed aside as she said with a hum of interest. "There... You are now my bought man. Don't disappoint me Jake." Zu Zhuyun spoke with her tight-fitting leather waist swaying hypnotically as she strutted out of the park.

With the more powerful guards following her fading away as they followed her.

But with that I stood up myself and after a moment of thought I flash-froze the outside of the pouch and then shattered it to expose a half dozen gleaming Spiritual Gold Coins that were laying within there.

I quickly washed the coins just in case with holy water and then after inspecting them I knew they were all Spiritual Gold Coins worth a thousand others with how the metal had that weird Doulou Dalu method of forging that had the metal doubling in density and strength each time you folded it.

'Hmm... It's not twenty thousand, but it's enough to get me by for sure.' I thought. But of course... This wasn't free nor a gift.

This was also a warning from Zhu Zhuyun who was saying, I owed her now along with her favor of setting up a chance for me to actually take the Crown Prince's life.

Which... Could be an issue should I have planned to meekly let the Star Luo- Crown Prince try to play me to my death.

But nope, in the wise words of oh so many young masters. He had offended me, and thus courted death with himself being only to blame for his inability to see Mount Tai.

'Ok. That was a cringe as fuck thought process. But that woman... She is a scary one.' I thought as I made my way back to the hotel where the girls were staying.

Meeting with the girls I smiled as I saw that they were all resting with Mash and Mami at seeing me getting into their beds. "Gonna take a quick shower and then I will turn in as well," I spoke.

After taking a quick shower I told Mami and Mash about my little shopping trip including meeting Zhu Zhuyun with Mash humming and saying. "Miss Zhu reminds me of the magi back home... They run off of cruel logic but she seems to care about her family at least. Either way, its likely she will use you and then see if she can get anything out of you after you deal with the prince." 

The whole reason we were speaking freely was the fact that I had laid down several magical sigils to block off any sounds or forms of surveillance. 

"Well, her bribe means I can afford to deal with gathering under-developed herbs and such that aren't worth as much to try the Agares time control farm idea." I mused before Mami added on.

"Jake remember, we are here to get stronger. Getting involved in too much trouble isn't advantageous for us." She said calmly.

I hummed as she was right. But the crown prince wouldn't rest with how much the drama had been stirred up. At this point for his own pride he 'HAD' to kill or suppress me with how he was tying me into beating up his younger brother.

After a minute, I sighed and said. "You are right. And to that effect, I want you and the sisters to be sent to a smaller town out of the way. Out of the capital and any manipulations while I head to the Extreme North for more Spirit Rings." 

I still had to get two more spirit rings for my level 10-20 spirit master transition. And although I was happy with purple or thousand-year cultivation/age spirit rings. I knew I could get 100,000 cultivation/age spirit rings from a few Spirit Beasts that knew they were going to die to the Tribulation Lightning.

And having powerful demi-gods sealed into my soul would make me grow more powerful just naturally with their own soul's power naturally leaking into mine making it slowly stretch to better accommodate their forms and power.

Mash after a few sighed and said. "I can still get another Spirit Ring... Though I am honestly scared about what this Martial Soul will do when it gets powerful."

There was a pause as my lips twitched before I said. "Want me to take you back to the Star Lou, forest to try to get you another Spirit Ring?" 

Mash was quiet before I could hear her shake her head. "No, I need to practice with the Spirit Ring, I already have. And I also need to master this... Spirit energy absorption method of cultivation that's so different from how mages back home used to absorb mana from the world."

With that, I grunted in agreement with myself going to a light sleep as part of my consciousness was tied up in the wards around to the room so we wouldn't get assassinated or bombed while we were sleeping.

Later that night when the vampires decided to wake up I shared my previous activities and my thoughts of getting them out of the city and into one of the smaller towns we ran past while we headed to the Star Luo Forest.

"Hmm, it's probably a smart idea." Yotsuba spoke with a small frown at the danger I remarked about wandering the capital city.

With Nino actually pouting as she added. "I wanted to get more clothes from this world with how nice they were... But yes, going to a different city would be the right move especially as you plan to be heading off to get some stuff for yourself right?" 

The rest of the quintuplets had similar thoughts, that although they were a bit saddened they couldn't continue their shopping. We had already gotten what we 'needed' from the capital in books of herb care, getting our martial souls etc.

Now we just needed to get the girls at least up to rank twenty/thirty with some actual combat experience so they could defend themselves... And then they could use their vampiric heritage to its full effect and we could go after some criminals with bounties to drain them of their blood.

So after waking Mash, and Mami up as they weren't exactly nocturnal creatures like the vampires even if they could go a couple of days of sleep. I flared out my mana with a magical sigil forming under my group form and with a soft noise, we teleported away from the room we had rented.

With us landing in a much smaller city where I got the girls checked into another hotel with them having plenty of money for them to take care of themselves along with Mami and Mash being able to deal with any lesser threats they might run into.

And in that vein, Mami and Mash were going to start training the vampire girls while I was gone while also having some teleportation seals on their bodies so should they actually run into such issues. They could just teleport to a different city we discussed where to meet up at.

"Alright... Time to head to the Extreme North." I muttered and I flew up into the air and then began the wonderful process of teleporting dozens of miles with each teleport sending me further and further north.

'Alright... Time to go to arguably one of the most hostile places on this planet besides the bottom of the great ocean.' I mused as in every minute I crossed literally hundreds of miles with my rapid-fire teleports swiftly sending me to the north.

But as I got closer to the Extreme North, after an hour and literally tens of thousands of miles of untamed wilderness pockmarked by small signs of civilization. I felt Tian Meng breaking the small barriers I put around him in my soul space.

"Whuz going on? Why are we literally like half the world away near the Extreme North?" He spoke inside my soul with him sounding exhausted still.

My lips twitched before I said. "I am going to the Extreme North to get some materials, along with trying to get strong Spirit Rings for my first two Martial Spirits."

There was a pause before Tian Meng groaned before I felt his mind offering a connection between mine and he said. "Here. I spent a few millennia in the Extreme North and know the big players. I can give you the memories of where to avoid and where some interesting things were a thousand years ago. But... What kind of Spirit Rings are you looking for?" He asked with a hint of something in his voice.

I shrugged and after a moment I said slowly. "I am looking for Spirit Rings with an ice attribute obviously. But beyond that, I am also looking for something more esoteric like something to do with time, or space if I can find something like that."

Tian Meng actually snorted and then was silent for a long moment before he said honestly. "You have some interesting methods... Different worlds huh, yeah I can see that you are certainly special. But Jake... If you go after Spirit Beasts in the top ten ranking which is what you will need to do, in order to get such Spirit Rings as you are. You will die." 

I raised an eyebrow and Tian Meng could feel my disbelief with him chuckling and saying. "Jake I am not saying you are weak... Literally not at all, with the way you have conceptual death as an ability I certainly cannot say you aren't strong or dangerous."

"But those Spirit Beasts who have actually lived and cultivated for more than a hundred thousand years. Can flare their soul and mental energies at you and with your weak cultivation and unseasoned soul, their attacks will paralyze or even kill you outright."

I frowned but then Tian Meng added calmly. "Jake... Spirit Beasts who lived and cultivated for a hundred thousand years aren't simple. I assure you they have survived plenty of tribulations and surprises to get where they are."

"What if they ate an entire mountain of treasures like a certain shameless Spirit Beast I know?" I drawled out teasingly making Tian Meng choke before he snorted.

"Bah! What do you know? Luck is even more valuable than talent!" Then his voice became more serious as he hummed and said. "Actually... I do have some friends in the Extreme North, and maybe they can help you. Here accept the memories. Then make your way to their location to find my old friend."

With that, I accepted the mental connection with Tian Meng... And as I accepted the memories from him, I realized the Spirit Beast that the scoundrel wanted me to meet was the Ice Empress. Ranked seven on the strongest Spirit Beasts in the world and actually tried to eat Tian Meng before!

With Tian Meng only escaped due to him falling into a deep crevice which is where he found the bullshit mountain of Divine Ice Crystals which he ate over the course of millennia to become a Spirit Beast with a million years of cultivation.

"Oi! You shameless wretch, this woman will literally fucking kill me!? You told me to avoid Spirit Beasts over a hundred thousand years old and now you are sending me to one of the scariest of the lot!" I yelled sending a jolt of mental energy into Tian Meng making him screech as I violently woke his ass back up from dreamland.

"Jake... You are a man of culture with your own harem and thus you know my hearts trouble. She is just so beautiful and... I can fix her, and I can convince her to join as another Beast Spirit Soul in on of your Martial Spirits... Maybe she could even be your second Spirit Ring in the Yin-Yang Martial Spirit my body became for you."

"Woudn't that be romantic? We could be together as you ascend as a god haha?" Tian Meng asked with entirely too much fucking enthusiasm.

I exhaled with a loud groan as this was just too damned much.

But after a moment of thought, I sighed. As I owed Tian Meng this much. As he was quite literally a much more chill Ddraig who was a caterpillar/worm after my own heart.

'He wants his scary ass scorpion waifu locked in with him so he can work his magic... It's a lot less trouble than having Ddraig have Tiamat after my ass.' I thought with amusement before I sighed and said.

"Alright alright. Fine, you basically gave me a road map to actual immortality in becoming ageless. So I at least owe you the attempt." I muttered as I continued heading north.

Though... As Tian Meng gave a chuckle of glee and went back to sleep to rest up to get the strength for what was inevitable to come. I had my own thought.

'The Ice Empress is already extremely powerful at having just shy of 400.000 years of cultivation... Should Tian Meng have the rizz good enough to get her to join in my Martial Spirit willingly. I... I guess I can do something stupid as well and try to do the same with the Snow Empress.'

And that was the really scary one. The Snow Empress was the true queen of the Extreme North with her having a cultivation of 700,000 years. But hey... If the plan with the Ice Queen worked, maybe said Ice Queen could convince her old friend the Snow Queen to accept.

Or more likely I would need to do some kind of crazy task to get her approval. Though it was even more likely she would attempt to kill me outright.

'Time to help a bro get their own waifu.' I thought with bubbling humor rising in my gut as I wondered how many other people who got isekaied went out of their own way to be the wingman for another dude.

But for what is likely for the next few years, Tian Meng was going to be camping in my soul. So making him a happy camper was for the best to the relationship we would have.

And it took me the rest of the day even at my speed of teleporting at high speed for me to reach the Extreme North... Once I got there I could only say.

"This is bullshit!" I shouted as it watched my breath literally freeze into the snow with how fucking cold it was. And if it wasn't for the Sitri essence running through me. I would undoubtedly be freezing to death within the next five minutes at most.