Demon Eye Demon Tree Head Spirit Bone

Elder Wu.

First, following the Vice Sect Master's instructions, he delivered the Demon Soul Great White Shark Right Leg Bone to the home of Elder Zhu, who had died in battle.

Facing Elder Zhu's son,

Elder Wu offered gentle words of comfort at the grateful gaze within his grief, assuring him that the sect would properly care for his surviving family.

However, after stepping outside,

as he looked at the two remaining treasures in his hands, his once-firm gaze could not help but flicker and waver.

A thought flashed through his mind, growing clearer and harder to resist:

Long Zhanye's Martial Soul was now shattered, his heart meridians severely damaged, and he had only three years left to cling miserably to life. Calling him a useless man waiting to die would not be an exaggeration...

Using such a precious Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone on someone destined to die... how could that be anything but wasteful?

It was simply squandering a priceless treasure, casting pearls before swine, a tremendous desecration of sect resources!

Rather than burying such a treasure with a dying man, why not...

give it to someone with true potential, a future, someone who could bring greater returns to the sect?

His gaze drifted involuntarily toward the courtyard of his personal disciple, Vina.

Vina, princess of the Heaven Dou Empire, a genius with Twin Martial Souls.

Though the potential of her second Martial Soul might not rival Long Zhanye's Heavenly Eye, she was intelligent, diligent in cultivation, and backed by a powerful background.

More importantly—she was healthy!

She had a bright future! Furthermore, her first Martial Soul was the Brain, an exceptionally powerful spiritual-type Body Martial Soul!

Elder Wu's gaze finally locked onto the Demon Eye Demon Tree Skull.

The Demon Eye Demon Tree possessed three attributes: wood, poison, and spiritual power.

Its Spirit Bones often contained potent spiritual attributes. At the hundred-thousand-year level especially, their enhancement of spiritual power was astonishing!

It was simply a match made in heaven for Vina's Brain Martial Soul!

"Yes... that's right." Elder Wu muttered under his breath, a flicker of guilt passing through his eyes.

But he was quickly persuaded by reasons such as "making the best use of resources" and "considering the sect's future."

"Long Zhanye already has an Immortal Herb to keep him alive. That is already an immense gift from the sect. This Spirit Bone... should belong to someone of greater value."

He did not hesitate.

Picking up the Demon Eye Demon Tree Skull, he turned and headed straight for Vina's residence.

As for the Ten Thousand Year Crystal Blood Dragon Ginseng, he coveted it as well.

But it would help meet Long Zhanye's current need to preserve his life, and Great Elder Golden Roc had explicitly designated it for him, so Elder Wu found it difficult to entertain further thoughts.

Vina was somewhat surprised when her teacher suddenly came to visit.

But the moment Elder Wu took out the dark green skull and explained his purpose, the clever Vina understood at once.

The matter of the sect's expedition against Shrek and forcing them to pay compensation had long since spread.

The two Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bones and an Immortal Herb offered as reparations were no secret either.

Combined with her teacher's actions now, the origin of this Spirit Bone was self-evident.

"Teacher!" Vina's pretty face flushed red. She instinctively took a step back, her tone filled with incredulous resistance.

"This... this Spirit Bone, if your disciple has guessed correctly, should be... should be compensation the sect secured for Junior Brother, shouldn't it?"

"This belongs to him! Your disciple cannot accept it!"

Her voice trembled slightly, but her eyes were clear and resolute.

Elder Wu's face darkened, and his tone became stern. "Vina!!"

"In the past, he was a favored genius. The sect poured every resource into him, and I, as his teacher, had no objections!"

"But times have changed! His Martial Soul is ruined, his heart meridians are gravely injured, and he has only three years of life left. He is already... a useless person!"

When he spoke the words "useless person," he felt some guilt, but he said them in the end.

He stepped forward, staring intensely at his beloved disciple. "And you!"

"You possess Twin Martial Souls and are the future hope of our Body Sect!"

"This Spirit Bone contains spiritual attributes and perfectly complements your Brain Martial Soul."

"If you can absorb it, it will bring immeasurable benefits to your future path of cultivation!"

"This is not merely for your sake, but for the sect's future as well! Resources should be used where they matter most!"

As he spoke,

he ignored Vina's resistance and forcibly pressed the dark green skull, cold to the touch, into her hands.

"Take it! This is your teacher's order, and it is also... for the sect!" Elder Wu's tone allowed no argument.

Vina held this supreme treasure, yet it felt like she was holding a red-hot branding iron. There was not the slightest joy in her heart, only a crushing sense of guilt.

Looking at her teacher's unquestionable gaze, she knew that refusing again would be futile and might instead anger him.

She pressed her lips tightly together, her eyes slightly red. In the end, she could only lower her head and say in a voice as faint as a mosquito's, "...Yes, Teacher."

Seeing that she had accepted it,

Elder Wu's expression eased slightly. After giving her several more instructions regarding the precautions for absorbing a Spirit Bone and the need for secrecy, he turned and left.

Vina remained alone in the room, looking at the Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone that had been "obtained improperly" in her hands. The confusion in her eyes nearly overflowed.

She had always regarded Long Zhanye, so gifted yet suddenly struck by disaster, as a younger brother and felt deeply sympathetic toward him.

Now, the compensation that should have been his had been taken away because of his "uselessness" and given to her instead...

How could she possibly accept it with a clear conscience?!

For several days in a row, Vina remained restless.

She carefully stored away the Demon Eye Demon Tree Skull. She had not even taken it out for a proper look, much less considered absorbing it.

She could not get past the hurdle in her own heart.

At last, late one night, Vina made up her mind.

She changed into dark casual clothing and silently made her way to the secluded side room where Long Zhanye now lived.

She lightly knocked on the door.

Soon, Long Zhanye opened it. His face was still pale, but his eyes seemed to hold a little more vitality.

Seeing Vina, he was somewhat surprised. "Senior Sister Vina? Why have you come so late?"

Vina slipped inside and quickly shut the door. Looking at Long Zhanye, she took a deep breath, her face filled with guilt.

"Junior Brother Zhanye, I... I have something I must tell you..." Vina's voice trembled slightly, while her movements were somewhat nervous and constrained.

She told him everything exactly as it had happened: how Elder Wu had forcibly given her the Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone that should have belonged to him, and what she herself thought about it.

"...That's what happened." After Vina finished speaking, she took out the Demon Eye Demon Tree Skull and gently placed it on the table.

"This Spirit Bone should have been yours from the beginning. Senior Sister cannot, and does not want to, take advantage of you like this. I am returning it to you now."

Long Zhanye listened quietly, but his face did not show the shock, anger, or sorrow Vina had expected.

Instead, he seemed unexpectedly calm, even carrying a trace of understanding.

After hearing Vina's words and looking at the Spirit Bone on the table, he fell silent for a moment.

"Senior Sister Vina," Long Zhanye said calmly.

"I appreciate your intentions. This Spirit Bone truly was something the sect... paid for in blood. Elder Wu... perhaps he has his own considerations."

He paused, then looked at Vina with concern in his eyes. "But Senior Sister, if you return it to me, how will you explain yourself to Elder Wu?"

"Since he forcibly gave you the Spirit Bone, he surely does not want this matter publicized, much less will he permit you to return it."

"If you conceal it, perhaps nothing will happen for a short while, but whether a Spirit Bone has been absorbed or not, its aura will eventually differ."

"If enough time passes, I fear it will be difficult to hide it from Elder Wu."

"When that time comes, Senior Sister, you..."

Vina bit her lip and said stubbornly, "As long as I am careful and do not absorb it for now, I should be able to hide it."

"If it truly comes to that... I will say that the Spirit Bone's attributes are not completely compatible with mine, so I have temporarily sealed it away."