Hard to Say

A moment later, several Emerald Swans reached a consensus.

The lead swan looked at the three dragon beasts again, let out a clear cry, then turned around and spread its wings lightly as it flew toward the distance.

After flying some distance, it looked back, clearly signaling for the three dragons to follow.

Fire Dragon, Earth Dragon, and Wind Dragon exchanged glances, hope igniting in all their eyes.

Fire Dragon carefully picked Jiang Bai up again, secured him onto Earth Dragon's back, and the three dragons followed the Emerald Swans into the distance.

After crossing another stretch of forest, they arrived at a vast cluster of lakes.

The lake water here was astonishingly clear, revealing the swaying aquatic plants and tiny fish swimming beneath the surface.

Several islands of varying sizes were scattered across the lake. Strange-shaped trees grew upon them, their leaves gleaming like emeralds beneath the sunlight.

The deeper they flew, the richer the aura of life in the air became.

From time to time, they could see flocks of Emerald Swans gliding across the lake, preening their feathers.

When they saw this unusual group flying by, they all raised their heads curiously to watch, but showed no hostility.

At last, the lead swan brought them down at the edge of the shore on the largest Lake Heart Island.

A ring of strange flowers emitting a soft white glow grew along the lakeside, filling the air with a sweet, refreshing fragrance.

The lead swan raised its long neck and let out a melodious, lingering call.

Almost the instant the cry faded, an elegant and noble figure slowly rose from the dense forest at the center of Lake Heart Island.

At first glance, the figure resembled an ordinary Emerald Swan, but as she gradually flew closer, the differences became obvious.

Her body was more slender and perfect, and when her wings spread, they spanned a full ten meters. Every feather seemed carved from the finest white jade.

When she landed on the shore, light flowed around her body, and her form rapidly changed, transforming into a human!

She was a breathtakingly beautiful, tall woman. Her emerald-green hair cascaded down her back like a waterfall.

Her eyes were the same deep emerald green. She wore a simple aqua-green dress, its material neither quite gauze nor cloth, fluttering gently with her movements and outlining her slender, flawless curves.

Her exposed arms were white as tender lotus roots. Most eye-catching of all were the pair of translucent emerald-green wings behind her back, now slowly folding away.

She stood barefoot on the soft grass by the lake, her delicate ankles exquisitely slender and alluring.

Bi Ji, the leader of the Emerald Swan Clan, was the strongest healing-type soul beast in the core region of the Star Dou Forest, a being with five hundred thousand years of cultivation.

Her calm gaze swept over the strange combination of three dragons and one human. A trace of surprise flickered in her emerald eyes before they returned to calm.

"You—" Bi Ji spoke, her voice gentle and pleasant. "Why are you saving this human?"

There was no hostility in her tone, only pure curiosity.

As the leader of the Emerald Swan Clan, Bi Ji's personality was considered an anomaly among soul beasts.

She was kind and gentle, with an innate compassion for life.

Though she knew of the conflict and hatred between humans and soul beasts, she was not so extreme as to hold deep malice toward every human.

Wind Dragon stepped forward, lowered his head, and explained through spiritual power.

"—Ababa—"

"6"

",,"

"—Therefore, we did not willingly form a contract with a human. Rather, it was a special connection created after our master's Martial Soul mutated."

Wind Dragon concluded.

"Our souls have already become one with our master's. If he dies, we will vanish with him. We beg you, Senior, to lend us your aid. We are willing to pay any price."

Bi Ji listened quietly, thoughtful glimmers appearing in her emerald eyes from time to time.

When she heard that Jiang Bai's Martial Soul was a mutated Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda capable of housing soul beast souls through Spirit Rings and forming a symbiotic relationship, clear interest appeared in her eyes.

"So that's how it is..." she murmured softly. "Human Martial Souls... they truly are wondrous. I have lived for so long, yet I have never heard of such a mutation."

She slowly walked over to Jiang Bai, crouched down, and extended her jade-white hand, hovering it gently above his chest.

Emerald-green light flowed from her palm. It was purer and richer than the healing light of the previous Emerald Swan.

The light slowly seeped into Jiang Bai's body.

The purple-black, sinister aura inside Jiang Bai surged out again in an attempt to resist, but before Bi Ji's power, it was like ice and snow meeting the blazing sun, rapidly melting and scattering.

Wherever the emerald-green light passed, necrotic tissue was gently stripped away. New flesh buds grew and connected at a visible speed, while fractured bones were precisely aligned and healed.

A while later, when Bi Ji withdrew her hand, the savage wounds covering Jiang Bai's body had completely vanished. His skin had returned to its original smoothness, leaving behind only a few faint pink marks of new flesh.

His breathing became steady and strong. Though his complexion was still somewhat pale, it no longer carried the pallor of death.

Bi Ji did not rise immediately. Instead, she gently pressed her hand against Jiang Bai's forehead and closed her eyes.

An even more delicate and gentle stream of Soul Power entered Jiang Bai's body, carefully inspecting every meridian and every internal organ.

A moment later, she opened her eyes, understanding flashing through them.

"His physical injuries have mostly recovered." Bi Ji stood and looked at the three dragon beasts watching her anxiously.

"But his soul still seems to be in a deep slumber. It will need time to recover slowly. External forces can hardly intervene directly."

She paused, then continued.

"You may remain near the outer edge of the lakes for a few days and wait for him to awaken naturally. During that time, do not disturb the lives of the other clansmen, and do not leave this area. The depths of the Star Dou Forest are not friendly to outsiders like you. Especially humans!"

"Thank you, Senior, for saving his life!"

The three dragons lowered their heads at once, their voices full of sincere gratitude.

Bi Ji nodded slightly. Just as she was about to turn and leave, rustling suddenly came from the woods by the lake. Immediately afterward, a golden figure darted out like lightning!

It was a peculiar soul beast.

It was over a meter long and roughly three feet tall at the shoulder, its entire body covered in brilliant golden fur.

Its overall form resembled a lion's, but its four claws were as sharp as dragon claws, and beneath each claw flickered a ball of golden flame.

Most unusual of all, it had three eyes, with a third vertical eye growing on its forehead!

Its two ordinary eyes shone a dazzling gold, while the vertical eye in the center was a deep blood-red.

It ran with astonishing speed, reaching Bi Ji's side in the blink of an eye.

"Big Sister Bi Ji~~"

A crisp, childish female voice rang out.

Three-Eyed Golden Lion affectionately rubbed her head against Bi Ji's fair, slender legs.

A trace of indulgence flashed through Bi Ji's eyes as she reached out and rubbed Three-Eyed Golden Lion's fluffy head.

"You little rascal, why did you come running over here? Where's Scarlet King?"

Three-Eyed Golden Lion narrowed all three eyes comfortably and spoke in a muffled voice.

"Uncle Scarlet King said he wanted to rest for a few days, so he told me to come play with Big Sister Bi Ji!"

As she spoke, she curiously turned her head to examine her surroundings.

Her gaze swept over the respectfully bowed Emerald Swans, then over the three dragon beasts, and then—

It froze on Jiang Bai lying on the ground.

All three of Three-Eyed Golden Lion's eyes widened at once.

A human?

Why was there a human here?

And—Big Sister Bi Ji was actually treating a human?

A bold, gossip-filled thought instantly took shape in her mind.

Three-Eyed Golden Lion raised a front paw, pointed at Jiang Bai, then at Bi Ji, a teasing smile in her voice.

"Big Sister Bi Ji, why is there a human here? Don't tell me you like—"

"Ow!"

Before she could finish, Bi Ji had already curled a finger and lightly flicked her fluffy forehead.

Bi Ji placed her hands on her hips and stared at Three-Eyed Golden Lion with her emerald eyes, her tone carrying helplessness and mild reproach.

"You little rascal, what are you thinking about all day? Do you think that's possible?"

Three-Eyed Golden Lion rubbed the spot she had been flicked with her front paw, all three eyes rolling around.

She looked at Bi Ji's breathtakingly beautiful yet stern face, then at the unconscious, handsome youth on the ground. Tilting her head, she thought for two seconds before slowly uttering two words.

"Hard to say."

""

""

Bang—bang—!!