Before Lin Xiao could think it through, Di Tian continued:
"Although I suspect you of taking advantage of the Auspicious Beast, there's no denying that you've paid a price too."
"Those pills could earn you a fortune outside, yet you traded them to the Auspicious Beast without even blinking."
"Most importantly, the Auspicious Beast feels safe with you and is willing to trust you."
"That's precisely why we feel comfortable letting her follow you."
Di Tian was no fool, but his decision was largely because of the Auspicious Beast. She represented the fortune of the Star Dou Great Forest, so her choosing Lin Xiao was practically the same as fortune itself choosing him.
By that reasoning, Lin Xiao should be a safe choice.
"In that case, I suppose we can make it work."
"If Ling'er is coming with me, we'll need to work out the expenses..."
As soon as Lin Xiao finished, Di Tian glared at him, looking for all the world as though he were saying, You'd better rephrase that.
"Hey, hey, Senior, you can't look at it that way."
"Those pills cost money too, don't they?"
"And refining pills tires me out too, right?"
"Food, drinks, entertainment, lodging-look, which of those things doesn't cost money in the human world?"
Lin Xiao counted them off on his fingers for Di Tian.
"Stop right there."
"I'll take care of your Soul Rings and give you some medicinal herbs as well."
"Will that do?"
Di Tian was speechless. Humans really were the most cunning creatures.
"Now that's generous!"
"Then, Senior, do you have any Beast Fire or anything like that here? Give me some of that too."
"Preferably some Spirit Gold as well."
Lin Xiao kept prattling on...
Di Tian promptly sealed Lin Xiao's mouth. "Have you come here to stock up on supplies?"
Lin Xiao immediately shook his head.
"Forget about Spirit Gold. As for Soul Rings, forget about hundred-thousand-year ones too. But if you need one, I can take you to hunt in the Demonic Forest. The ocean is another option."
"I'll have the Scarlet King give you those medicinal herbs in a moment."
"As for the Beast Fire you mentioned, the Scarlet King has some. If you need it, I can have him give it to you."
Di Tian went through Lin Xiao's requests and laid out his final offer.
Lin Xiao nodded eagerly as he listened. Soul Beasts really were refreshingly straightforward.
This deal was worth it. The Auspicious Beast was strong, so having her follow him was hardly a loss.
"All right, it's settled."
With that, the two returned to the Auspicious Beast's side.
Lin Xiao looked at the Auspicious Beast as though she were a treasure vault.
He would never have to worry about his future Soul Rings again. With Di Tian around as his muscle, Soul Rings would be no problem at all.
The Demonic Forest was a wonderful place, perfectly suited to him.
"Ling'er, take human form."
Di Tian walked over and addressed the Auspicious Beast.
The Auspicious Beast: "??"
Disbelief filled the Auspicious Beast's face. "Di Tian, do you mean it? I can really take human form?"
The Auspicious Beast was beside herself with excitement, but she worried that Di Tian was only teasing her.
"Go ahead, Ling'er. You'll be leaving with me afterward."
Lin Xiao spoke up as well. He was also curious about what the Auspicious Beast's human form would look like now, without Wang Dong's appearance.
Di Tian nodded too.
"Yay!"
With that, the Auspicious Beast began gathering her power. Golden energy enveloped her, and a breathtakingly beautiful human figure gradually took shape within the golden sphere of light.
Lin Xiao and the others watched as Di Tian concealed the aura of the area, and the Auspicious Beast's transformation continued.
Nearly half a day passed before the golden sphere dispersed. Golden hair fluttered in the breeze above pale gold battle armor, and her fair face held an added touch of charm. The woman stepped forward, holding a golden spear.
This appearance was nothing like Wang Qiu'er's.
It seemed that this was the appearance she truly wanted.
Sacred yet noble, cool yet playful, and beautiful beyond compare.
Xiao Linger walked up to Lin Xiao, one step at a time. "Well? Pretty, aren't I, you scoundrel?"
Lin Xiao burst out laughing. "Just... average."
"Pah! Watch it, or I'll hit you!"
Xiao Linger waved the spear in her hand, threatening Lin Xiao.
"All right, Ling'er. From now on, you'll stay by Lin Xiao's side. Remember to listen to him whenever anything comes up."
Di Tian interrupted their conversation with a reminder.
"I know, I know. Don't worry, I'm not a child anymore. I'm Level 60 now, you know."
"I'm even stronger than this guy."
Xiao Linger put away her spear and held out her hand, looking at Lin Xiao. Her meaning could not have been clearer: did he have any more pills?
Helpless, Lin Xiao took out several pills and handed them to Xiao Linger.
Xiao Linger happily accepted them and began eating. They tasted wonderful.
"Lin Xiao, for your third Soul Ring, do you still want a Dark Attribute Dragon-type Soul Beast, like before?"
Di Tian turned to Lin Xiao and asked.
Lin Xiao nodded. "Preferably a ninety-thousand-year one."
Di Tian rolled his eyes at him. "Are you dreaming? Seventy thousand years at most, and that's only for Ling'er's sake."
"That works too. Seventy thousand years it is."
Lin Xiao stopped being picky. Next time, he would have Di Tian take him hunting for a hundred-thousand-year one.
Otherwise, having such powerful muscle at his disposal would be a waste.
"Scarlet King, go bring one over. Bring all those medicinal herbs too, and hand them to this fellow."
At Di Tian's command, the Scarlet King nodded, turned, and left.
Di Tian was willing to hand over the herbs because he knew that most of them would end up in the Auspicious Beast's stomach.
He would not lose out anyway. As for the Soul Rings? He would merely have to lend a hand a few times. How simple was that?
Lin Xiao had no idea what the other party was thinking, nor did he care.
He was not losing out either.
Before long, the Scarlet King returned to Di Tian's side with a giant dragon and a pile of medicinal herbs.
"Xiao Xiaozi, we've secured what we need for Du Busi's pills."
"When you absorb the Soul Ring in a moment, I'll draw off some of its Soul Power. Keep that in mind."
Hearing Old Medicine's voice, Lin Xiao agreed inwardly.
Lin Xiao knew that Old Medicine was doing this to refine pills for Du Busi later. He would not be stingy, either. He was hardly short of such resources, and he had plenty of time to cultivate.
"Offer yourself in sacrifice to this little fellow. Follow his instructions afterward, and you won't die."
Di Tian spoke to the Soul Beast, who nodded. A moment later, the sacrificial field formed once again.
Just as before, Lin Xiao accepted the sacrifice once more. This time, however, Old Medicine drew away most of the vast Soul Power within the Soul Ring.
Lin Xiao absorbed very little. By the time he finished absorbing the Soul Ring and the dragon became a Soul Spirit, his Soul Power had only risen by two levels.
Lin Xiao did not mind. It was not as though it had vanished without explanation.
Di Tian looked at Lin Xiao in surprise. A seventy-thousand-year Soul Ring had only raised his Soul Power by two levels?
Unable to hold back, Di Tian asked outright, "Lin Xiao, what's going on with your Soul Power?"
Lin Xiao paused, then condensed a crystal of battle energy.
"This is why."
"I'm compressing my Soul Power. Once enough of it is compressed, it becomes like this. I've also sealed some away to gradually release and use later."
Lin Xiao spoke calmly. Whether Di Tian believed him was his own business. Why worry about it?
Di Tian examined it and found that the energy had indeed risen to a much higher grade. This fellow had a good teacher. He already understood the benefits of compressing Soul Power at such a young age.
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