Yu Yi's Transformation

"How do I use it?" Xiao Yu held a vial resembling a test tube, filled with pale red liquid. It was the "Primary Leader Bloodline Secret Medicine."

[Drink it directly.]

Xiao Yu nodded and looked at Yu Yi. "Come here."

Yu Yi approached, puzzled.

"This can help you become stronger. Give it a try." As he spoke, Xiao Yu opened the vial and held it out.

Yu Yi trusted Xiao Yu completely. Hearing that this could make him stronger, he quickly opened his beak and let Xiao Yu pour the liquid into his mouth.

As the liquid flowed into his body, Yu Yi's feathers suddenly stood on end. Blue-green spirals of light burst from beneath his blue-gray plumage.

Yu Yi closed his eyes and focused on the sensation. His body grew steadily amid the white light, his blue-gray feathers changing color as a breeze stirred among them.

His beak grew sharp and long, but the most astonishing change was in his wings—their span nearly doubled, and translucent blades of wind elemental energy formed along their edges!

"Looks pretty good." Delight flashed in Xiao Yu's eyes.

When Yu Yi hovered with a beat of his wings, the immense pressure made Yu Er through Yu Wu instinctively step back. They lowered their heads even further—submitting to a bloodline superior to their own!

But a moment later, Yu Er and the others excitedly gathered around Xiao Yu. They couldn't believe their "king" could produce such a divine treasure.

"Don't rush, don't rush. I only have one bottle right now. If I get more later, I'll give them to you." Seeing the Soul Beasts crowd around him, Xiao Yu quickly explained.

As for Yu Yi, once he landed, his eyes were no longer as clouded as before. Deep within them, a glimmer of blue light—the sign of intelligence—had appeared.

It seemed that the "Primary Leader Bloodline Secret Medicine" could also help Soul Beasts awaken their intelligence.

"All right, time to get down to business." The Soul Beasts watched Yu Yi with some envy as they left. Xiao Yu chuckled wryly, shook his head, and spoke to them.

What he meant, of course, was his house. It still wasn't finished; at most, they'd only laid the foundation.

Yu Yi and the others responded at once.

Heaven Dou Imperial Palace.

Xue Qinghe looked at the various fruits carefully selected and piled high in the carriage. His guilt and urgency over yesterday's farce with Xue Beng only grew.

He had deliberately picked several kinds of fruit that the mysterious Soul Beast loved, and even added a few rare berries from the Star Dou Forest, hoping to mend the rift.

"Your Highness, everything is ready," a trusted guard reported quietly.

"Good. Let's go." Xue Qinghe took a deep breath and put on his gentlest expression. "Remember, be respectful. We're there to apologize."

"Yes!"

The carriage entered the Royal Soul Beast Forest, and Xue Qinghe and the others traveled until they reached the area near the giant tree clearing.

With two guards accompanying him, Xue Qinghe personally carried the finest basket of fruit and walked toward the clearing at an unhurried pace.

He deliberately kept a humble posture, hoping to convey his goodwill.

But the moment they stepped onto the edge of the clearing—

"Caw—!!!"

A piercing cry, sharp enough to split stone and laden with warning and murderous intent, suddenly rang out from high above!

The shrill sound carried a fierce pressure. The two guards' scalps prickled, and they instinctively activated their Martial Souls. Four Soul Rings—yellow, yellow, purple, and purple—lit up at once!

"Your Highness, be careful!" the guards cried, shielding Xue Qinghe behind them.

Xue Qinghe jerked his head up, his heart nearly missing a beat!

From the shadows beneath the canopy, a massive blue-green figure plunged down like an arrow loosed from a bow, its descent accompanied by a scream that seemed to tear through the air!

Its wings stretched wide, their feathered edges solidifying into translucent blades that glinted with a chilling light!

Yu Yi hovered in midair, the wind blades between his feathers humming as his keen eagle eyes fixed on the three of them.

He didn't recognize Xue Qinghe and the others. His task was to keep anyone from approaching his "king's" home.

Now that Xue Qinghe and his group had arrived, Yu Yi naturally regarded them with hostility.

"Stop! We mean no harm!" Xue Qinghe called out, forcing himself to stay calm and suppressing his shock.

Although he didn't recognize this Soul Beast, he could tell it was trying to drive them away—and this was the territory of that mysterious little beast.

He wasn't familiar with this Soul Beast, but he could vaguely identify its kind and tell that it was only two or three thousand years old.

Based on Xiao Yu's performance yesterday, a Soul Beast like this wouldn't be strong enough to defeat him. Most likely, it had some connection to the mysterious little beast.

He gestured for the guards to gently set the fruit basket on the ground, then slowly took a step back to show he meant no harm.

However, Yu Yi couldn't understand human speech—or rather, his wariness and hostility overwhelmed everything else.

All he saw was a human carrying something into his king's territory! His king's orders were absolute! He followed orders, not people!

"Caw!" Yu Yi let out an even louder, more piercing cry and beat his wings. Several concentrated, translucent wind blades tore through the air with shrill whistles, shooting precisely at the ground beneath Xue Qinghe and the two guards!

This time, the wind blades cut deeper into the earth, sending stones flying higher! It was a more severe warning!

"Protect His Highness!" The guards were alarmed and immediately raised a defensive Soul Skill, a shield of Soul Power shining around them.

Xue Qinghe furrowed his brow slightly. This Soul Beast wouldn't listen to a word they said. What should they do now?

Just then—

"Ao—"

A clear, commanding cry rang out from the sky.

Xue Qinghe and the others couldn't help looking up. They all shuddered. Hundreds of bird-type Soul Beasts had appeared overhead, circling in the sky.

Among them were even several thousand-year Soul Beasts. With so many of them, even a Soul Emperor might accidentally get caught up in their attack. But why had so many bird-type Soul Beasts suddenly appeared?

Xue Qinghe's astonished gaze fell on the Soul Beast at the center of the flock. It was unfamiliar yet familiar to him, looking remarkably like the mysterious little beast—as if that little beast had simply... grown up.

At the sound of this command, Yu Yi instantly halted, though he had been poised to attack again.

He turned his raised head toward the voice. The ferocity vanished from his keen eagle eyes, replaced by utter reverence and obedience.

He gave a short, respectful cry, folded his wings, and circled lower until he hovered in midair. He showed no sign of attacking, merely keeping a wary watch on the humans below.

"Him again? Why is he back?" Xiao Yu recognized Xue Qinghe and the two guards and was puzzled. After what had happened yesterday, he'd thought they wouldn't come again. It was a little disappointing that he wouldn't get to eat all that fruit.

But now he ruled over this whole area, so he wasn't worried about finding food. He hadn't really dwelled on it.

Still, these humans were far too familiar. After what had happened, they'd come back anyway.

Xue Qinghe and his guards were completely stunned.