Yuan Bai

Another year passed. Yan Chihuo and Yuan Qian had been practicing the Soul-Seizing Seal all this time. The Soul-Seizing Seal was more than twice as complex as the Soul Snatch move. Even with Soul Snatch as his foundation, and even as he and Yuan Qian sparred and learned from each other, Yan Chihuo had only just glimpsed the path to mastery. Fortunately, Yuan He had already passed the entire Soul-Seizing Seal formula on to the two of them. All they needed was diligent practice in the days ahead.

Yet there was still no news from Heavenly Fork Cave. As for advancing to the Tribulation Stage, who knew what year or month that would have to wait for? Instead, Yuan Qian comforted him. "Since you can't advance yet, why not thoroughly temper your spiritual power? That way, when you do advance, you'll have a little more certainty—and be that much stronger."

In truth, Yuan Qian was doing the same. Her cultivation could have advanced to the Tribulation Stage as well, but she was still unsatisfied. She continued to cultivate bitterly, hoping to climb another step after reaching the top of the hundred-foot pole.

That day, Yan Chihuo was about to practice the Soul-Seizing Seal with Yuan Qian when a rough voice rang out from afar. "Yuan Qian, I'm back."

As the voice fell, a White Ape approached. Yan Chihuo took a closer look and secretly marveled. This was actually an Earth Divine Ape as well. Earth Divine Apes were generally black-furred, with a rare few being purple or gray. This was the first time Yan Chihuo had ever seen one covered in white fur.

Upon seeing the ape, Yuan Qian merely gave a cool grunt.

The White Ape was not angered. Turning to Yan Chihuo, it said, "I've just returned and