'Brother?'
Seeing Athena, Zhang Yue didn't feel surprised.
It was obvious that Garuda and the others had sent a distress message, and Athena, who was just progressing through the World 19, came over with people to support.
What Zhang Yue didn't expect was, 'This Garuda, is actually Athena's brother?'
"My dear little sister," Garuda, upon seeing Athena, immediately started complaining, "Why are you only arriving now! One step later, and all you'd be doing is collecting your brother's corpse!"
"Good thing you're all right," Athena let out a sigh of relief.
Garuda pointed to Zhang Yue at the side and said, "All thanks to this big-shot bro from Dragon Nation, otherwise, little sis, if you wanted to see me again, you'd have to wait for me to appear in your dreams."
Following Garuda's gaze, Athena looked at Zhang Yue.
Immediately, she was a little surprised and pleasantly surprised, "It's you?"
Garuda looked at Athena, then looked at Zhang Yue, "Wait, you two know each other?"
Athena nodded, "Remember I mentioned before, in the World 18, a Dragon Nation beastmaster who helped me."
"It's him!"
Hearing Athena's words, Garuda, who was originally just hugging one of Zhang Yue's legs, suddenly hugged both of Zhang Yue's legs tightly, "Big bro, you're truly a benefactor of our [Divine Mansion] guild!"
Athena said awkwardly, "Brother, what are you doing…"
"If not for him, your brother would be dead already," Garuda didn't care about face, all he saw were Zhang Yue's sturdy thighs. He had to hold on tight.
Zhang Yue thoughtfully asked, "You all are from the Divine Mansion guild?"
Athena nodded, "Yes, I hadn't mentioned it before."
From the first time he met Athena, Zhang Yue could tell that this girl's identity wasn't simple.
Now it seemed, that was indeed the case.
Everyone knows: Divine Mansion is the number one guild in Bear Nation.
Its guild master is one of the globally renowned three Mythical-rank professionals, and also the number one Bear Nation pro: Hell Dragon Rider, Restiev.
It was somewhat unexpected.
The first Bear Nation person he came into contact with turned out to be someone under Restiev.
At this moment, Athena said to Zhang Yue, "You helped me before, and now you've saved my brother and my guild's members, I don't even know how to thank you."
Just as the words fell, before Zhang Yue could respond, Garuda got up, "Thank what, we're family, no need to say such formal things."
"Just marry him already, perfect timing. He's not married, you're not married, you two are a perfect match, both in talent and background."
"This marriage, as your brother, I approve. When you two get married, people from both our nations will come to celebrate—oh!"
Before Garuda could finish, Athena stomped on his foot hard, making him let out a pig-like scream of pain.
Athena smiled apologetically at Zhang Yue, "My brother talks without a filter, don't mind him…"
Zhang Yue smiled, "No problem."
"However, although I've been suppressing it on purpose, the seven major powers are massive, and the arrogance they've built up over a hundred years won't be so easily crushed."
Zhang Yue reminded Athena, "In the Death Territory, your activities should be concentrated together, don't go alone."
Athena nodded, "Mm, I understand!"
After a pause, Athena looked at Zhang Yue and said, "If you have time, come visit Bear Nation, I'll treat you to a meal."
As expected, young girls like this really have simple thoughts.
Zhang Yue smiled, "Sure."
"I still have things to do, so I'll go ahead first. To prevent people from the seven nations from attacking, this place is not safe, you all should also leave quickly."
After speaking, Zhang Yue rode the Armageddon Black Dragon, leaped up, and flew away from the Soul Palace.
Garuda looked up at Zhang Yue's departing figure and couldn't help but shake his head with emotion, "Such a good man!"
"Sis, you really not going to marry him?"
Athena glared at Garuda and said angrily, "You marry him then!"
"Too bad I'm a man, if I were a woman, and had your looks, I'd marry him without hesitation this lifetime. Even if I had to be his second, third, or fourth wife, I'd still be willing."
Athena looked at Garuda with disgust, "How come you weren't killed by those Beacon people just now?"
"You girl, what are you saying, I'm your cousin, watch out or I'll go tell your dad."
———
On the other side.
Zhang Yue left the Soul Palace and returned to the place where he had met the Soul Hunter [Mu En] earlier: the Wraith Forest.
Upon learning that Zhang Yue had killed the Soul Emperor, Mu En's whole family cheered with excitement.
"That demon is finally dead."
"We can now gather the nearby Soul Hunters and build a Watch Fortress at the Soul Palace."
"Great, we finally have a home."
At the same time, a pleasant notification sounded in Zhang Yue's ears.
["Ding~ Congratulations on completing the hidden mission [Crusade Against the Soul Emperor], reward received: EXP +20 billion, Gold +5000, Energy +2 trillion, Soul Hunter EXP +3000! Equipment gained: [Soul Hunt Set] (Level 105, 17-star full set, profession optional) +1!"]
WHOOSH! WHOOSH!
Two streams of silver light rained down from above.
Zhang Yue's Soul Hunter rank immediately rose from Rank 5 to Rank 7.
Only one step away from the mission requirement of Rank 8 Soul Hunter.
Indeed, chained hidden missions are different.
This reward was twice as much as the previous hidden mission [Vengeance of the Family].
And this time's mission even rewarded a full 17-star set?
Zhang Yue was a little interested.
Currently, Armageddon Black Dragon, Skeleton King, and Phantom Predator were all equipped with 15-star Sovereign sets.
And Cherry was also wearing the 15-star Thunder set.
Although quality was similar, the Sovereign Set was a growth-type gear.
Just like transcendent sets, it could absorb other gear to gain advancement value, thereby improving its quality.
So for this [Soul Hunt Set], Zhang Yue decisively chose the [Mage] profession.
Planning to give it to Cherry.
[Set skill: Soul Hunt: Passive. Every time the wearer kills an enemy, they can plunder the enemy's soul. Each soul restores 5% of the wearer's maximum mana.]
This set skill was like adding wings to a tiger for Cherry.
As everyone knows, mages consume the most mana.
Even though Cherry has an 800k+ mana bar, and with the effect of [Mana Aura] reducing 50% of skill cost. But, at Cherry's level, with all SS-level skills, each cast costs 20-30k. Even halved, it's still over 10k.
The Mythical pet-exclusive effect [Radiant Immortal Body] allows Cherry's skills to have almost no cooldown and be cast infinitely. One mana bar empties in no time.
This set skill, Soul Hunt, could greatly improve Cherry's sustainability.
Thus, Zhang Yue did not extract the Soul Hunt skill from the transcendent set.
Instead, left the skill on the equipment, and through energy, upgraded the full Soul Hunt Set to Flowgold level.
However, this set was Level 105 gear.
Zhang Yue extracted all the EXP stored in the Demon Contract and just barely managed to raise his own level to 105.
As for Cherry, currently only level 100, she would have to wait a bit longer.
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