"We should wait here for a while. Once City Lord Xiao's people arrive, we'll surround the hotel."
"Then he'll have nowhere to run!"
After seeing Luo Yan disappear through the hotel entrance, Strong didn't immediately lead his people inside.
"Dean, what about Xiao Wu?"
Tang San was the one who grew anxious.
After all, Xiao Wu had followed Luo Yan into the hotel, and he was very worried that Luo Yan might harm her.
"Don't worry, Xiao San. This man probably won't do anything to Xiao Wu. Otherwise, he wouldn't have let you return to the academy unharmed!"
Strong waved a hand, unconcerned.
His thoughts were entirely occupied with the glory of killing an Evil Soul Master.
"Don't worry, Xiao San. The dean and the others will make sure Xiao Wu stays safe!"
Yu Xiaogang stepped forward to reassure Tang San.
[Tang San worried you would make a move on Xiao Wu and developed murderous intent toward you. Resentment Points +800!]
While the group waited for reinforcements, inside a hotel room,
Xiao Wu, whom Luo Yan had brought upstairs, watched him warily, afraid he coveted her Soul Ring and Soul Bone and might attack her.
Luo Yan naturally saw how tense Xiao Wu was. He poured her a glass of water without a care, set it in front of her, and then smiled.
"Xiao Wu, why are you so wary of me?"
As he spoke, he transformed into his true form, the Purple Heaven Thunder Dog, right before Xiao Wu's eyes.
"Ah!"
Seeing Luo Yan transform into a 'Soul Beast,' Xiao Wu was astonished.
"Well? You don't need to be so on guard now, do you, little sister Xiao Wu?"
"Oh, I forgot to tell you. My name is Luo Yan!" Luo Yan changed back into human form, picked up his glass, and took a sip.
Only then did Xiao Wu come back to her senses.
The wariness in her eyes had faded, replaced by a hint of confusion.
The main reason was that she didn't remember anyone named Luo Yan in the Star Dou Great Forest, and she had never seen Luo Yan's true form there, either.
Anyone who could easily transform into human form was certainly no ordinary Ferocious Beast. She had only encountered a few like that in the Star Dou Great Forest.
The lively Xiao Wu didn't hide her confusion. She asked outright.
"Brother Luo Yan, why have I never seen you in the Star Dou Great Forest?"
"I'm not from the Star Dou Great Forest. I come from the Extreme North!" Luo Yan had already prepared his explanation.
At that, Xiao Wu relaxed.
Though she had only recently left the Star Dou Great Forest, she had learned that beyond it, in the north of the Douluo Continent, there was another place called the Extreme North.
Powerful Soul Beasts lived there, too.
"I wonder why you asked me to come here tonight, Brother Luo Yan?" Xiao Wu asked, her curiosity bubbling over.
"There's something very important I wanted to tell you tonight!"
At Xiao Wu's question, Luo Yan put on a very serious expression.
Before Xiao Wu could ask anything else, Luo Yan continued. "I happened to see you on the street today, and I noticed a mark on you.
"It must have been left by someone at the Titled Douluo level or above.
"Clearly, a human Titled Douluo has set their sights on you! That's why I asked you here tonight—to warn you!
"And I can sense a strong connection between the aura on that mark and Tang San. I think whoever left it must be close to him!"
"What? Brother Luo Yan, a Titled Douluo has set their sights on me?!"
After hearing Luo Yan's words, Xiao Wu's hair stood on end.
She knew what would happen if humans discovered that she was a Soul Beast.
"Brother Luo Yan, what should I do?" In her panic, Xiao Wu grabbed his arm, her little face full of distress.
The thought of being watched by a human Titled Douluo from now on—someone who could kill her at any moment and take her Soul Ring and Soul Bone—filled Xiao Wu with dread.
Her face turned even paler, and her big eyes began to brim with tears.
Looking at Xiao Wu's pitiful expression, Luo Yan had to admit that even though the little girl hadn't fully grown up yet, she was still captivating.
"Don't cry! Don't cry!"
"Actually, this is easy to solve. You just have to stay by my side, right?"
Luo Yan felt a little awkward.
Tang San's father, Tang Hao, really was a Titled Douluo, but that so-called mark was something Luo Yan had made up.
"But... I still have to find the person who killed my mother and avenge her!"
Xiao Wu hadn't become the love-struck girl she would be in the future, so she hadn't forgotten her mission.
"I know who killed your mother, and I know where that person is." Luo Yan had thought Xiao Wu was reluctant to leave her third brother behind.
If that was all, it wouldn't be difficult for him to handle.
But then Luo Yan remembered that the system wanted him to turn Xiao Wu into a true demon beast. Xiao Wu was already a Soul Beast, though, and even if she gave up on her cultivation and rebirth, she would simply become a Soul Beast again.
He couldn't think of any way to help Xiao Wu become a demon beast.
So Luo Yan asked inwardly, "System, how can I help Xiao Wu become a true demon beast?"
"The host only needs to feed Xiao Wu one drop of the host's blood essence."
At that, Luo Yan felt a little more at ease.
"Brother Luo Yan, you know who killed my mother?!"
As she heard Luo Yan's words, Xiao Wu's eyes turned red, whether from crying or hatred, he couldn't tell.
"Enough, don't cry. I believe that one day you'll be strong enough to kill your enemy with your own hands. When that day comes, I'll take you to find her myself!"
"But you're not her match yet. You won't have a chance unless you become a Titled Douluo!"
Luo Yan took out a sheet of paper and gently wiped Xiao Wu's tears.
Even if you reached the Titled Douluo level, or even became a Peerless Douluo, revenge would still be difficult. In the end, you'd have to rely on me, big brother!
Luo Yan gave a wicked chuckle to himself.
Others might not know, but as a transmigrator familiar with the story, he remembered that the one who killed Xiao Wu's mother was the current Pope, Bibi Dong.
Bibi Dong's Soul Power should have already reached Level 99. Even if she could only bring out the power of Level 98 right now, Xiao Wu still wouldn't stand a chance against her.
"A Titled Douluo..."
Sure enough, when Luo Yan said that her enemy was a Titled Douluo, Xiao Wu's eyes dimmed.
As long as they were careful, Titled Douluo could make a circuit of the Star Dou Great Forest, let alone the Titled Douluo in human cities.
She had no idea how many years it would take her to reach that level.
"Xiao Wu, don't lose heart. If you're willing, I have a way to help you grow stronger quickly. One day, you'll definitely be able to kill your enemy with your own hands!"
Luo Yan glanced at Xiao Wu's expression and knew what she was thinking.
Without hesitation, he circulated his spiritual power, drew out one of the few drops of blood essence in his body, and held it out to Xiao Wu.
"What is this?"
Xiao Wu looked at the blood essence Luo Yan had offered her, her eyes full of confusion.
For some reason, though, the drop seemed incredibly tempting. If it hadn't belonged to Luo Yan, she would have wanted to swallow it in one gulp.
"Swallow it. It'll make you stronger!"
Luo Yan didn't explain much. He simply gestured for Xiao Wu to swallow it.
Xiao Wu hesitated as she looked at Luo Yan.
But between her desire and Luo Yan's words, she didn't waste any more time. She opened her cherry-red lips and swallowed the drop of blood essence.
As soon as it entered her mouth, Xiao Wu felt a warm current spread through her, flowing from her mouth to every limb and bone.
"So comfortable..."
She murmured, then promptly fainted and fell toward the floor.
Luo Yan reacted quickly and caught her in his arms, keeping her from hitting the ground.
Not knowing what was happening, Luo Yan could only ask the system inwardly, "System, what's going on?"
"Don't worry, host. Just like when you underwent your first evolution, she'll wake up after some time!"
The system's answer was brief, offering no further explanation.
At the same time, the system's notification rang out.
"Ding! Congratulations, host. You've completed the task and received the Breath Concealment Art and Bloodline Soul Guide ×1!"
"System, I only turned Xiao Wu into a demon beast. I haven't made her my subordinate yet, have I?"
Luo Yan was happy to see the task completed, but he still felt puzzled.
He couldn't believe that a mere drop of blood essence could make Xiao Wu submit to him and follow him willingly.
"Anyone who absorbs the host's blood essence and transforms into a demon beast will have a contract formed in their bloodline. They will instinctively be loyal to the host."
"Of course, if they feel intense hatred toward the host, they may be able to break this contract!"
At that, Luo Yan understood.
He glanced at Xiao Wu in his arms and felt that her body was rather hot.
But Luo Yan had undergone a bloodline evolution himself, so he knew this was a good sign for Xiao Wu.
Just as Luo Yan was about to keep observing Xiao Wu for other changes, the door to the room was suddenly kicked open.
Before you continue