Master, Save Me!

"Little Meng, is it to your liking?"

At a border town on the edge of the Extreme North, Jiang Mian and the Auspicious Beast sat resting at a noodle stall.

The bright moon hung high in the sky, and the surrounding shops had long since closed for the night, leaving only this noodle stall still open for business.

The stall owner was a kindly old man, clearly advanced in years, and his Martial Soul was quite interesting—it turned out to be flour.

Food-type Martial Souls were always rare, but unfortunately, this old man had only reached level 34 before stagnating, likely because no one had guided him in his youth.

"It's delicious." The Auspicious Beast nodded, smiling. "No wonder Di Tian said I'm lucky to have met Jiang Mian."

"Hahaha." Jiang Mian stroked the Auspicious Beast's silky hair and said, "After Snow Empress passed me her message, there's been no further word. But now that we're getting closer to the Extreme North, the vague connection between her and me is growing clearer."

"Snow Empress isn't in danger, and her cultivation is steadily improving. We'll rest a bit and set out tomorrow morning."

In truth, even before leaving the Sunset Forest, Jiang Mian had sensed that Snow Empress wasn't in real peril. After all, if a problem couldn't be solved by her seventy thousand years of cultivation, what use would Jiang Mian be?

And given Snow Empress's personality, she wouldn't let Jiang Mian throw his life away for nothing. That was why he felt confident leaving Bear Lord and Yan behind at Martial Soul Hall, bringing only the Auspicious Beast to the Extreme North to find her.

The Auspicious Beast, now in the form of Nan Meng, was wolfing down her noodles. Jiang Mian rested his chin on his hand, quietly watching her.

She's so beautiful. After all, who didn't have a white moonlight in their youth? But now that his white moonlight was sitting right beside him, Jiang Mian felt she was so sacred that no impure thoughts could arise.

"Sir, could you spare me a bowl of noodles?"

From a corner in the alley, a girl in tattered hemp clothes suddenly poked her head out. She was terribly thin, her cheeks sunken, but also strikingly beautiful, exuding a cold, fragile aura that tugged at the heart.

She was so frail she looked like a gust of wind could knock her over. Clutching her stomach, she slowly walked up to Jiang Mian.

Jiang Mian met her eyes. They were bright and shimmering with tears, like the countless stars in the sky—pitiful yet lovely.

"Boss, give her a bowl of noodles."

Jiang Mian waved his hand, gesturing for the girl to sit. The old man quickly prepared a bowl of noodles. When he saw who the customer was, he let out a sigh and handed it to her with practiced ease.

The girl devoured the bowl of noodles ravenously. She discreetly wiped away her tears, looking as if she still wanted more but didn't dare ask.

"Give her another bowl," Jiang Mian said calmly.

"Sir, you've given me two bowls of noodles. I'll repay you—I can sleep with you twice." The girl bit her lip as she spoke.

"Are you very hungry?" The Auspicious Beast leaned on the table, staring at the girl with curiosity. Does hunger really make someone give up so much?

"Yes, I haven't eaten in three days." The girl's words were heartbreaking. Jiang Mian said nothing. She finished the second bowl quickly, stood up, and said in a trembling voice, "Sir, come with me."

Jiang Mian shook his head. The noodle stall owner suddenly walked over and said, "Sir, don't go. She's sick."

At those words, the girl burst into tears. She quickly turned away, covering her face as she sobbed.

Jiang Mian's eyes widened in disbelief as he looked at the old man. The old man, unable to bear it, said slowly, "She lost her parents when she was six. To survive, she had no choice..."

"In this Extreme North, no one could take her in?" Jiang Mian felt a pang of sorrow. "A six-year-old child—how much food could she eat?"

"Sir, you're from a big place." The old man smiled bitterly. "This is the border of the Extreme North. There's no end to the chaos here. Everyone's just tightening their belts to get by."

Jiang Mian shook his head. Perhaps the Auspicious Beast, Nan Meng, didn't yet understand what this meant. She blinked her innocent eyes and said simply, "If you're sick, go get treated, big sister."

Jiang Mian patted the Auspicious Beast's shoulder, signaling her to stay quiet. The borderlands of the Extreme North had never been governed. Most of the people living here could be called the forsaken.

Forced by circumstance, they came to this place to scrape out a living, only to face constant raids from bandits, Evil Spirit Masters, and even soul beasts.

Those who survived lived in hardship.

"Miss, take this money and get yourself treated." Jiang Mian pulled a handful of Gold Soul Coins from his storage Soul Tool. His expression was complicated as he said quietly, "This should be enough for you to start a small business and make a living. Don't stay here."

"Sir, if a weak woman like her goes into the city, she'll be snatched up within days," the old man said. "In this world, common folk are cheap."

"Sir, why are you doing this?" The girl clutched the Gold Soul Coins in her hands, her voice trembling.

"Even if the whole world owes you."

"Sir, may I ask your name?" The girl was shaking all over as she repeatedly thanked Jiang Mian.

"Every kind heart in the world is nameless." Jiang Mian said the words that came to him unbidden. "Meeting by chance is fate enough. Don't do those things anymore."

"Yes." The girl nodded heavily, tears dripping onto the table.

"Little Meng." Jiang Mian looked at Nan Meng, opened his mouth, but couldn't find the words. This Auspicious Beast had been pampered in the Star Dou Great Forest since birth; naturally, she didn't know how hard common folk lived. Otherwise, she wouldn't have said what she did.

But it wasn't just the Auspicious Beast—Jiang Mian was no different. They, as Soul Masters, stood high above, never knowing the suffering of the people.

Ding ding ding!

A sharp bell rang out. The old man and Jiang Mian both looked toward the village entrance.

"What's that sound?" Jiang Mian asked. "Bandits attacking?"

"No, that alarm—it's Evil Spirit Masters!" The old man's face went pale. He instantly released his soul rings—one white, two yellow—ready to fight.

The definition of Evil Spirit Masters varied, but they all shared one thing: they absorbed and enhanced their Soul Power through killing and devouring, much like evil soul beasts.

Jiang Mian glanced at Nan Meng. With me here, how much trouble can these Evil Spirit Masters cause?

"Run!" People from every household poured out, scattering in all directions. But quite a few Soul Masters released their Martial Souls to face the enemy. Their levels were low—the strongest was only a Soul Elder.

They were willing to risk their lives to protect everyone's retreat, knowing that as long as not everyone was wiped out, new Soul Masters would keep emerging.

"Old man, a food-type Soul Master shouldn't charge ahead. Do you want to be a target?" Jiang Mian suddenly appeared beside the old man with the flour Martial Soul. He raised a hand and pressed it on the old man's shoulder, smiling. "Leave this to us."

Under the old man's incredulous gaze, Jiang Mian slowly revealed his spirit—one red, four orange!

The old man, whether stunned by the Evil Spirit Master or something else, blurted out a baffling question: "Can spirit rings be dyed?"

"You'll see for yourself whether they're dyed or not." Jiang Mian gave a faint smile, said no more, and strode straight toward the battlefield.

Nan Meng's cheeks were stuffed full, having somehow scrounged up a pile of food. She called out indistinctly, "Jiang Mian, go get 'em! Soak 'em good!"

"Big bro, you're not helping?" Jiang Mian heard Nan Meng's cheering and laughed in exasperation. "Isn't this the world upside down?"

"Big bro, keep it up." Nan Meng tugged the noodle stall owner and the young woman along as she squeezed into the crowd. "I'm gonna bail first—don't you get wet."

Sure enough, people laugh when they're speechless. Jiang Mian finally understood that feeling. Had he brought this auspicious beast to the Extreme North just to be a mascot?

How had the proud, aloof beast from years ago turned so adorable and silly now?

Had spending time with him really caused this effect?

The Evil Spirit Master leading the group at the entrance saw Jiang Mian and bared a mouthful of yellow teeth, cackling, "What a pretty boy. Just right for me to get a taste."

"You're into that kind of thing?" Jiang Mian frowned slightly, blaming his own good looks. He landed in front of the crowd and taunted, "If you've got the skill, you toad-faced bastard, I'm yours today."

"Haha, I like that!" The Evil Spirit Master's face twisted savagely, as if trying to scrunch all his features together. "I'll have my way with you, kill you, then savor your flesh."

"Disgusting." Jiang Mian dry-heaved and muttered to himself, "When it comes to perversion, these guys really take the cake."

"Come!"

The leading Evil Spirit Master let out a piercing shriek as he slowly released his spirit rings—three yellow, two purple, one black. He was actually a Spirit Emperor!

Evil Spirit Masters generally advanced faster than normal spirit masters, using any means to cultivate. But because the world rejected them, almost none ever reached Titled Douluo, capping out at most at Soul Saint.

This one had made it to Spirit Emperor, clearly a bully who had long lorded it over this borderland, with no one to put him in his place.

After all, which big shot would travel all the way to this godforsaken place just for a minor Evil Spirit Master? And the spirit masters who came to the Extreme North for rings followed the principle of "less trouble is better," turning a blind eye to these scum.

Besides, these Evil Spirit Masters weren't stupid. They could sense a spirit master's level. If someone stronger showed up, they'd hide until it was safe to come out and throw their weight around again. That's why people said it's not the number of villains that scares you—it's the smart ones.

Over time, this place had become a mess.

The only place that could match its chaos was the City of Slaughter, which was a true hell.

"Third Soul Power, Devour!"

The Evil Spirit Master cackled shrilly, dragging his hands across his cheeks. Several pitch-black ghostly shadows shot toward Jiang Mian, aiming to devour him directly.

But unfortunately, Jiang Mian's body carried the attribute of ultimate light. No evil could approach him. Without even using a single soul skill, the ghostly shadows disintegrated into ash the moment they touched him.

"Divine Light!" The Evil Spirit Master covered his eyes, thrashing and howling, "I hate it! I hate you so much! I'll eat you!"

"Hellfire!"

Jiang Mian smiled faintly and raised his hand, summoning the Scarlet King's innate flame. If the mortal world wouldn't judge these scum, Hellfire would!

"Ah!"

A massive ring of fire erupted around them, trapping nearly all the Evil Spirit Masters. The spirit masters who had been ready to sacrifice themselves looked at each other in bewilderment, unsure whether to help or flee.

"Brothers, don't cause trouble for this lord spirit master! Everyone, run!"

The old noodle stall owner raised his arm, and the crowd responded, surging out in a chaotic tide.

"Huh?" Jiang Mian turned around to find no one behind him. His mouth twitched as he pointed at the Evil Spirit Masters and shouted, "You're surrounded!"

"Charge!"

The leading Spirit Emperor barked orders at his underlings but kept retreating himself. This Hellfire already contained the ultimate fire attribute, and Jiang Mian had also infused it with the ultimate light attribute.

Now, facing this Hellfire, the Evil Spirit Masters were like mice meeting a cat—utterly helpless.

"You useless trash." The flames shrank steadily, roasting the Evil Spirit Masters until their faces twisted in agony, their screams unending.

Seeing the situation turn dire, the Evil Spirit Emperor suddenly began to tremble violently, his eyes rolling back.

Over a dozen black shadows pounced onto the other Evil Spirit Masters, tearing them apart in moments. The Evil Spirit Emperor's face took on a look of ecstasy.

"Exquisite." He shuddered as if after relieving himself, his legs giving way as he clutched his face, sickly delighted. "Haha, truly exquisite."

"Disgusting." Jiang Mian frowned as the stench of blood spread. Every single Evil Spirit Master had their neck bitten through, their blood continuously drained by the Evil Spirit Emperor.

"Sixth Soul Skill, Blood Nether!"

Squelch!

The Evil Spirit Emperor's limbs and torso burst open, and strand after strand of red blood threads wriggled out like maggots.

"What the hell is this?" As the blood-thread maggots grew longer and the Evil Spirit Emperor's face paler, Jiang Mian felt a wave of nausea. He casually swung out a Sky Rend Claw.

The claw severed the blood-thread maggots, but it only accelerated their growth—one split into two, two into four, endless.

Some blood-thread maggots began breaking through the Hellfire's barrier, surging toward Jiang Mian in an unending tide.

A sense of danger struck Jiang Mian. He shot backward like a rainbow, but the blood-thread maggots only sped up, some even sprouting wings to chase him.

As for the Evil Spirit Master, he wasn't faring much better. He collapsed to the ground with a thud, his face deathly pale. This tactic of harming the enemy at great cost to oneself was something only these parasites would use.

"Emperor Cold Sky, Snow Dance Shining Sun!"

Jiang Mian played his trump card. This was a domain skill he had obtained after subduing the Snow Empress. If she used it herself, she could instantly turn a ten-thousand-meter radius into an icy domain.

Jiang Mian's strength was limited—at most a hundred meters—but that was more than enough to deal with this Evil Soul Emperor.

With Jiang Mian at the center, everything within a hundred meters instantly turned into a vast expanse of white. The blood-thread maggots had no time to react, each one frozen into an ice sculpture.

Even the Evil Soul Emperor lying on the ground was shown no mercy—killed in a single strike!

The skill bestowed by the ruler of the Extreme North—did you think it was a joke?

Jiang Mian dusted himself off and was about to go find the auspicious beast when he suddenly heard a miserable cry from behind. That Evil Soul Emperor was engulfed in flames, a blood-red pillar shooting into the sky.

"Master, save me!"