Force Them to Stay, or Make Friends?

King Sagros, as one of the most powerful representatives among King-type Spirits, received unimaginable enhancement after evolving.

Most notably, its attack stat had already entered the top tier among attack-oriented species. On the Douluo Continent, its attacks naturally surpassed those of all major Martial Souls. Perhaps it had reached the level of the ultimate attribute recorded in later generations: Ultimate Attack!

Next came its speed and initiative, both of which had undergone a qualitative leap. Its speed needed no explanation; that had always been Sagros's strength.

As for initiative, it was Sagros's natural cheat code in combat! In theory, no Martial Soul could attack faster than it. In other words, once battle began, it would always launch the first attack. That was terrifying. This trait would naturally become apparent in future battles.

Finally, after advancing into a King-type Spirit, it awakened a talent skill: the Soul Mark "Sa"!

Its Soul Mark "Sa" could, once its Soul Power reserves fell below ten percent, increase its attack stat for the next round, remove and grant immunity to abnormal conditions and all reductions to additional abilities, and double the Soul Power its opponent consumed when using attribute-type skills.

By the time someone could fight Sagros until the very end, their Soul Power would not have much left either. If Soul Mark "Sa" was triggered, it meant both sides only had a little Soul Power remaining. The outcome would be decided in those final few moves. At that point, its own stats would rise again while the opponent's consumption increased once more. One could only imagine how disgusting that would be.

"It's already this powerful as merely a King-type Spirit. It's hard to imagine what kind of enhancement Saint King Sagros would bring me after it advances further. By then, would there still be anyone on this continent who could stand against me?"

After regaining consciousness, Chen Chu checked everything over, then opened his eyes and looked around. The Dragon Mantis's corpse had already shriveled up. Unfortunately, it had not produced a spirit bone, which disappointed him somewhat. That creature's spirit bone would have been exceptionally compatible with him.

"My Soul Power has actually reached level sixty-four. It seems I accumulated quite a bit in Slaughter City. Combined with the bloodline absorption and Martial Soul Evolution, I suppose this is normal."

Feeling the abundant Soul Power within him, Chen Chu could not stop the corners of his lips from rising. After all, who would not want a higher level?

After settling everything, Chen Chu turned toward the cave in the distance. He looked at Dragon Duke Meng Shu, who had been staring at him from the entrance, pondered for a moment, then walked over.

"Thank you for helping me this time, Old Dean. Chu is deeply grateful!"

Chen Chu walked up to him and gave a proper bow of respect from a junior. Though he did not have a favorable impression of the man, the old man had genuinely helped him this time. If he simply left without saying goodbye again, as he had before, that would be rather inconsiderate.

Dragon Duke looked at the young man bowing before him and sensed the faint sharp aura radiating from him. He was astonished. "Kid Chen Chu, why are you here? And where have you been for the past year?"

The moment Chen Chu finished bowing, Dragon Duke Meng Shu grabbed his arm, shook him, and demanded loudly.

"Old Dean, let go first!" He bared his teeth as he struggled free, rubbed his elbow, and retreated two steps.

Dragon Duke's eyes widened round. Even the hand stroking his beard trembled as he said sternly, "Don't change the subject! Last year, you just up and left the academy, leaving behind a note saying you were going out to 'train.' Then you vanished during this training? If I hadn't run into you today, I'd have thought a soul beast had carried you off!"

Chen Chu rubbed his nose, muttering inwardly that the old man's memory was rather good.

He could hardly say that he had spent a year grinding dungeons in Slaughter City, and that he had conveniently evolved his Martial Soul into King Sagros this time, could he?

Just as he was about to make up an excuse about accidentally entering a secret realm to cultivate, a crisp child's voice rang out from the cave. "Grandpa, come see my soul skill! I'm a Soul Grandmaster now too!"

Their conversation was interrupted by Meng Yiran, who had just finished absorbing her soul ring. A little girl in a blue dress skipped over, grabbed one of Dragon Duke's arms, and began swinging it back and forth.

"Huh? Where did this person come from?"

Only when Meng Yiran approached did she notice Chen Chu in the distance. She had never seen him in her memories, so she asked curiously.

Naturally, Chen Chu had never seen this little thing either. Judging by her appearance, she was probably already in her teens. Yet she had only just reached two rings at this age. To be honest, her talent was a little lacking.

"Yiran, this is your... uh, senior student. We ran into each other while you were absorbing your soul ring."

Meng Shu crouched down, gently stroked his granddaughter's forehead, pointed at Chen Chu beside them, and explained softly.

"Senior student?" Meng Yiran raised her head and looked at Chen Chu again, but she did not dare look for long. She soon lowered her head and nodded at her grandfather.

Chen Chu, having only just left Slaughter City, was hardly approachable. Naturally, he would not be liked by children or girls.

The killing intent around him instinctively made people afraid to get too close, even though it had been devoured by Sagros.

Snake Dowager Zhao Tianxiang emerged at that moment as well. She first glanced at her old man, then looked toward Chen Chu and smiled. "Kid Chen, since you've finished absorbing it too, let's head out. This forest is far too damp and dark."

Chen Chu had no objection to Chao Tianxiang's suggestion. After nodding in agreement, the group headed toward the outskirts of Beast Canyon.

They returned to the inn from before. Since it was already dark, they decided to rest for the night after dinner and leave the next day.

Inside the room, after Meng Yiran had fallen asleep, Dragon Duke and Snake Dowager went to the main hall. Looking at the light next door, Dragon Duke pondered, "From the boy's attitude tonight, it seems he isn't willing to return with us."

Hearing her husband's words, Chao Tianxiang sat down on the sofa beside him and mused, "It's normal that he doesn't want to return. With his current cultivation, there is nothing more for him to learn at the academy. Staying there would only waste his time."

"Besides, he is only a student of Exotic Beast Academy, not a member of our Exotic Beast Family. The academy does not interfere with its students' choices, and we cannot forcibly keep him either."

Dragon Duke naturally understood that, but he had finally encountered such a gifted young man. There was a high chance that the boy's future achievements would surpass his own and reach the Title Douluo level. How could he bear to let him go?

Seeing the hesitation on her husband's face, Chao Tianxiang naturally understood what he was thinking. They had been together for decades and possessed a Martial Soul Fusion Skill. She sighed and said slowly, "Old man, you're too fixated on this. He isn't a child anymore. A Soul Emperor already has the means to stand on his own. We can't force him to stay."

"If we truly act and he escapes, then in the future, would our Exotic Beast Family not have to live in fear? After you and I are gone in a hundred years, can Yiran withstand that pressure?"

As Snake Dowager spoke, she rose, poured a cup of tea, and handed it to him. In a low, serious voice, she added, "Besides, with such talent and at such a young age, he already possesses this kind of strength. I suspect there may be a major power supporting him from behind. Better safe than sorry. We must not act rashly!"