Zhu Zhuyun

How was she supposed to cultivate this Blue Silver Grass?

After becoming Xu Yu's summoned beast, the Blue Silver Grass's growth could no longer be measured purely by age. If it had energy suitable for absorption, it could grow rapidly as well.

In the original story, Tang San had relied on his Blue Silver Grass martial soul, evolved to its ultimate form, to draw upon the life force of countless ordinary Blue Silver Grasses and restore Ah Yin to human form. Xu Yu could not do that. Even though he possessed a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone from the Blue Silver Empress, he did not have the Blue Silver Empress's bloodline.

He did not know whether the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well would work. That treasured place contained an immense amount of heaven and earth energy. Perhaps he could use the Contract Tome as a medium to accelerate the growth of plant-type summoned beasts.

However, the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well was located in Sunset Forest in the north. Tang San and his father might be hiding there to take refuge. Xu Yu did not dare rashly head over there and deliver himself to their doorstep.

After absorbing the Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone, not only had his physical attributes greatly improved, but his Soul Power had also broken through level fifty. Following the Treasure Codex's suggestion, he planned to search the southern seas for a spirit beast compatible with his Brilliant Gold Scepter.

It was an underwater plant-type spirit beast called the "Extreme Devourer Immortal." This spirit beast stored immense energy in its body and could grant him a buff called "Spirit Power Reservoir." This buff could continuously supply its user with fifty percent of their Soul Power.

Moreover, it would provide a one-hundred-percent supply of Soul Power from the same source. Compared to other buffs, the Spirit Power Reservoir consumed far more Soul Power, but the return was worth it.

Of course, that was assuming he could find such a spirit beast. It was a creature of the deep sea. Even if some individuals lived in coastal waters, finding and hunting one would still be extremely difficult.

Fortunately, the Contract Tome could help him search for it. Otherwise, Xu Yu truly would not have wanted to travel all the way from the center of the continent to its southernmost edge.

Also, there was a Sea God Island at the southern end of the continent. In the original story, the Shrek Seven Devils had greatly increased their Soul Power there. Should he go take a trial as well?

But the vast sea was incomparably dangerous. Without the Heaven Dou Empire Royal Family's divine artifact, the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud, he would probably be shark food before even reaching the deep sea.

Perhaps he should look for a buff that would let him breathe underwater? That was something to consider later. For now, he should focus on finding the Extreme Devourer Immortal first.

This spirit beast resembled a cactus from the desert. It generally grew on the deep seafloor, but it could also be found in coastal waters around a hundred meters deep.

It was simply difficult to find.

More than half a month had passed since he left Spirit City. Xu Yu had searched the beaches and the relatively shallow seafloor several times, but the results disappointed him. He could not even find a trace of the Extreme Devourer Immortal.

On the fifth day after arriving in the southern seas, the weather remained clear. Seagulls filled the sky. Xu Yu was once again searching the seafloor while considering how to venture deeper into the ocean. Otherwise, his chances of finding an Extreme Devourer Immortal would be far too low.

At the same time, he regretted not bringing the Ninth Elder with him. If he had, descending seven or eight hundred meters into the deep sea would have been effortless.

As he stood on the soft sand in regret, Xu Yu failed to notice that there were fewer and fewer fishermen nearby. This place was sparsely populated and ecologically primitive, with almost no human activity.

Xu Yu froze. Just as he was about to head back, a rustling friction sound came from the dense coastal windbreak forest. His Phantom Talent activated with a grave expression, followed by the flight soul skill of his Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone.

Within the forest, a tall woman whose figure was perfectly outlined by black leather pants was fleeing in disarray. Two men and two women pursued her from behind. Judging by the number of their soul rings, the weakest were Soul Saints, while the strongest was even nearing the rank of Titled Douluo.

"Zhu Zhuyun, stop! Do you intend to betray the family?" the female Spirit Douluo nearing the Titled Douluo rank shouted angrily.

Ahead, Zhu Zhuyun did not even turn her head as she continued fleeing. Since losing the challenge match, she had been planning this operation. She had even risked her life to steal two leg Soul Bones from the family. There was no need to think about what would happen if she were captured and brought back. How could she possibly stop?

What use would it be even if she kept her life? Her martial soul would certainly be crippled, and they might even sever her legs to extract the two Soul Bones she had stolen.

She had no path of retreat left. Besides, once she made this decision, she had never intended to return. There were only two possible outcomes for her this time: either she escaped successfully, or she died beneath the sea.

This woman's resolve was absolute. No matter how the four pursuers tried to persuade her, Zhu Zhuyun gave no response. Enraged, they no longer intended to capture her alive.

The leading female Spirit Douluo gave the order in humiliation and fury. "Do not hold back! Attack with soul skills! Dead or alive, it does not matter! We must recover the family's inherited Soul Bones. If she takes them into the sea, it will become troublesome."

"Understood!" The three Soul Saints from the Netherworld Spirit Cat Family coldly accepted the order. Stealing the family's inherited Soul Bones and absorbing them without permission was a capital crime. She had to die.

"Seventh soul skill, Martial Soul Avatar!" At this point, there was no longer any need to hold back. Four Hell Spirit Cats appeared behind them, spitting black light that crashed down with a roar.

However, Zhu Zhuyun had absorbed two Ten Thousand Year Spirit Beast Soul Bones inherited by the Netherworld Spirit Cat Family for many years. Both Soul Bones were more than eighty thousand years old. Aside from greatly boosting her base attributes, they possessed two Ten Thousand Year soul skills: Shrinking Ground to Inches and Ultimate Evasion. That was why Zhu Zhuyun had been able to escape the family and was only discovered when she had nearly reached the sea.

But when facing attacks from Soul Saints at almost point-blank range, even if she evaded the main attacks, the knockback from those attacks still made her suffer terribly. Within just a few minutes, Zhu Zhuyun, who had only just reached the beach, was already covered in wounds. The sea within sight now seemed impossibly out of reach.

Her family members were not skilled in water. As long as she entered the sea, she would still have a chance. Otherwise, there was only death. But she could not keep going anymore. Was this how her life would end? Zhu Zhuyun was unwilling—unwilling to pass through this world so mediocrely.

"Stop resisting! You still have a chance."

"Hmph, a chance? A chance to have my martial soul crippled by you? Zhu Ting, stop pretending! You people wanted to find out why my younger sister's Soul Power rose from Soul Grandmaster to Soul Ancestor in only two years, so you did not hesitate to scheme against us and push her into the position of empress. I learned of this long ago. Otherwise, why would I risk my life to leave? A chance if I stay? A chance to wait for death?"

Even knowing that she would not escape this calamity, Zhu Zhuyun continued to struggle. In the end, however, she could not stop herself from turning around and cursing them.

After cursing them out, she truly felt much better. Her speed even increased significantly. Of course, her chances of escape were still zero, but she had also thoroughly enraged Zhu Ting. Zhu Ting had originally not intended to act, but being addressed by name by a junior immediately made her fly into a rage. Her Soul Power transformed into a giant hand that covered the sky and descended upon Zhu Zhuyun.

Feeling the immense Soul Power fluctuation overhead, Zhu Zhuyun's black eyes widened. Despair swirled within them. Then, four different symbols shot from the sky as beams of light and entered her forehead.

Zhu Zhuyun's heart jolted. Her injuries were healing, her Soul Power was recovering, and her attributes rose dramatically. Even the speed at which she released soul skills increased considerably.

Someone was helping her. Who was it? After everyone had turned against her, who would still dare help her?

Aside from the four marks on Zhu Zhuyun's forehead, eight more marks appeared upon the people behind her.

Zhu Ting snorted. "I noticed long ago that some rat was hiding there." With a thought, part of the enormous hand changed direction and swept toward the hidden figure. It would be more than enough to seize Zhu Zhuyun with the Soul Power she had left.

But when the marks descended, Zhu Ting's expression abruptly changed. What kind of soul skill was that? Although it shattered after remaining on her for less than a second, that one second was enough for Zhu Zhuyun to leap into the sea.

Zhu Ting flew into a rage. The two men and one woman behind her also broke free from the buff's control. Their terror turned into towering fury as they each unleashed soul skills toward the source of the Soul Power fluctuations in the sky.

Though they could not see anyone, attacking could not be wrong.

Sure enough, blood continuously rained down from the empty blue sky. Unfortunately, by the time the four reached the shore, they could retrieve nothing. Not only had Zhu Zhuyun escaped, but even the ambusher's shadow was nowhere to be seen.

"Guo Qing, return and report to the family. Have them send people to seal off this area. The rest of you, continue searching with me. The family's inherited Soul Bones must be recovered!" Zhu Ting roared with a dark expression.

Guo Qing, the Soul Saint, did not dare say more and quickly turned to leave.