"I'm also the village chief's grandson. Do you think the village chief's grandson is just some ordinary person?"
Luo Mo said this in a dazed voice, then turned and walked away.
Along the way, quite a few villagers looked at him curiously. Luo Mo had Xiao Wu by the hand, and she looked so natural beside him, as though she were his own little sister.
Before long, the two of them reached the village chief's home.
Luo Mo found Old Jack and told him how he had met Xiao Wu, how he had saved her, and how he had taken her in as his little sister.
Then he asked Old Jack to give Xiao Wu a Soul Master's certificate and arrange for her to enroll at Nuoding Academy as a work-study student.
"Good, good, good!" Old Jack readily agreed.
The village had one more Soul Master seedling, and he was proud of it. He would have more to brag about when he chatted with his old friends.
For some reason—perhaps because Luo Mo had asked him to—Old Jack looked at Xiao Wu with a gaze full of affection, almost as if she were his own granddaughter.
His warmhearted ways made her feel a little awkward. After a few perfunctory words, she tugged Luo Mo out of the room.
Back at the house, Luo Mo helped Xiao Wu unpack. "Come on in! This is my home. Make yourself comfortable. Pick a spot and put your things down."
After that, he began to stretch. He hadn't done any exercise today.
Star Dou Great Forest, Lake of Life.
After the Azure Bull Python had arranged for Daming and Erming to escort the two human Soul Masters away, it remained floating above the lake, watching the direction they had gone with a thoughtful air.
No matter how carefully it sensed its surroundings, it still couldn't pinpoint their exact location.
"What's going on? I can clearly sense that my aura has disappeared, but I can't detect them at all. Could those two little fellows have hidden themselves?"
The Azure Bull Python didn't know that, deep beneath the earth, a cave had opened up not long ago.
That place existed in a separate pocket dimension.
Not being able to sense them was perfectly normal.
"Hmph. Even if they can hide for a while, they can't erase it completely!"
The Azure Bull Python intensified its search.
Just then, a strand of green light appeared, then vanished from Xiao Wu's body.
The Azure Bull Python's eyes widened in disbelief. Its enormous head rose out of the lake, water streaming from its scales.
"How can this be? What I used was a trace of the source of life and spiritual energy. Even if that little fellow was strong enough to break the imprint, he couldn't possibly destroy one that involved the source of life itself!"
It couldn't figure it out. After remaining trapped for so long, it had finally chosen to relinquish the imprint.
Its body had vanished, and its flesh and blood had transformed into a soul bone.
With even its body gone, what could it possibly do to the source of life?
"Ah! You damn little thief! You actually think you can escape from my grasp!"
Its pride in its own abilities had been shattered. How could the Azure Bull Python not be furious?
Powerful energy surged from its body. Its branches and vines writhed wildly, sending waves crashing across the lake.
Daming and Erming, who were guarding the entrance to the Soul Beast Trial, sensed the mighty aura from Lake of Life and couldn't help but look over in alarm.
Neither of them knew what kind of being had stirred up such a commotion.
Could it be that the Azure Bull Python had been too slow to take action?
Erming scratched his head, worried for Xiao Wu. "Xiao Wu, where are you? I'm scared..."
Outside Star Dou Great Forest.
Tang Chen, who was searching for the right leg bone of a plant-type Soul Beast, also sensed that overwhelming pressure. His expression changed.
"Since when has Star Dou Great Forest had such a powerful Soul Beast? Its aura is almost on par with the water source of the Abyssal Realm..."
Tang Chen felt his heart tighten. Even he couldn't help but feel a little apprehensive.
Even if he used his hidden trump card, he could only hope to hold it off for a while.
"Hm?"
Suddenly, Tang Chen sensed unusual fluctuations in the surrounding area. "This is... a domain? And a domain belonging to a plant-type Soul Beast!"
Wait a minute.
"Ah Yin is also a plant-type. Could this be her..."
Tang Chen suspected that Ah Yin's right leg bone had been taken by that plant-type Soul Beast.
But he dismissed the idea a moment later.
A Soul Beast wouldn't be able to use a Soul Bone, let alone keep one hidden away.
"Hm?"
At that moment, Tang Chen realized that the frightening presence he had sensed was paying attention to him. His pupils contracted as he prepared to flee.
But he didn't head back toward the forest.
"Looks like I won't be finding the Soul Bone..."
Tang Chen glanced at the box in his hand, then sighed. "Ah Yin, I'll come home and see our little one!"
By the time Tang Chen reached the outskirts of the village, it was already late afternoon.
The setting sun lit up half the sky.
He was tired from his journey and dusted with dirt.
Among the towering trees, Tang Chen quietly landed beside the village, removed his black robe, and revealed his handsome, well-defined features.
Holding the box, he walked into the village.
However, just as he approached the entrance to the house, he sensed a trace of Soul Beast Aura inside.
"Hm? Xiao San is in danger!"
Tang Chen hurried into the room.
To his surprise, the source of that aura was his own precious son.
"Xiao San! You..."
Tang San had been eating when he saw Tang Chen return. He immediately stood up with a smile.
"Dad, you're back!"
"Who are you?" Tang Chen's expression turned cold.
Tang San was confused. "Dad, what are you talking about? I'm your son, Xiao San."
"Use your martial soul. Let me see it."
The Soul Beast Aura couldn't be faked. This fellow in front of him, who looked like his son, was clearly a Soul Beast in human form.
As soon as he summoned his martial soul, its true form would be revealed.
Tang San didn't understand why his father had suddenly gone mad, but he obediently summoned the Blue Silver Grass martial soul in his right hand.
When Tang Chen saw the Blue Silver Grass in Tang San's right hand, he was startled. "There's another one."
Tang San summoned the Clear Sky Hammer as well. Tang Chen stared at it, dumbfounded.
What was going on?
Was this really his own son?
Why would his son have a Soul Beast's aura?
Suddenly, he remembered that half of his son's bloodline came from a Soul Beast.
Could the bloodline have awakened and caused the Soul Beast Aura to spread?
"Dad, what exactly is going on? Why are you acting so strangely? You don't look right at all." Tang San looked suspiciously at the man in front of him, who he thought was his father.
It couldn't be helped. In some ways, a father and son really were cut from the same cloth.
"That's enough." Tang Chen finally calmed down.
He had confirmed that the person before him was indeed his son, so he relaxed a little.
But now he had a new question.
As long as the Soul Beast Aura remained on his son, even powerful beings above the hundred-thousand-year level might mistake Xiao San for a transformed Soul Beast.
Tang Chen frowned, searching for a solution.
Still, as long as he didn't let Xiao San out, there shouldn't be too much danger.
"Dad, what's in that box? It looks so heavy."
Tang San noticed the black box his father wanted to put away and asked curiously.
As the disciple of Tang Sect, he had a certain understanding of hidden weapons. He recognized that the box was made of iron, and it must weigh at least several hundred jin.
What kind of household item needed to be carried in such a heavy box?
Seeing his son's curiosity, Tang Chen thought for a moment. Letting the mother and son take a look wouldn't hurt. He placed the box on the table and opened it.
But when Tang San saw what was inside, his face filled with shock.
The box actually contained an Immortal Herb.
Unlike the Immortal Herbs he had seen in the village, this one had a longer stem, faint golden markings, and a remarkably unusual appearance.
Tang Chen beckoned to him. "Xiao San, come here. I have a surprise for you."
Before you continue