With the Sun and Moon in My Grasp, I Pluck the Stars-None in This World Can Compare to Me

"We don't need to hunt Hundred-Year Soul Beasts or even thousand-year ones. There's no need for you to help, sir. I'm a Five-Ring Soul King." Xu Yanli said casually.

"Little brother, how old are you this year? A Five-Ring Soul King?" Tang Ya asked, unable to believe it.

"Twelve." Xu Yanli continued munching on his fish.

"Um, my name is Tang Ya, and he's Bei Bei. We're from the Tang Sect. Would you be willing to join our sect?" Tang Ya asked, stepping forward with a flattering smile.

Xu Yanli shook his head and quietly rolled his eyes. "Sorry, I'm with Xiaoyao Pavilion."

A golden glint flashed in Bei Bei's eyes, and he smiled politely. "I've long heard of Xiaoyao Pavilion's reputation. These days, Xiaoyao Pavilion must be wealthy enough to rival a nation, wouldn't you say?"

Xu Yanli took a fan from his Storage Soul Tool. The words "Xiaoyao" were written on it. He waved it back and forth as he said, "Not at all, not at all. Xiaoyao Pavilion has indeed made quite a bit of money over the years, but how could we possibly compare to those sects with millennia of history?"

"Ah, so you're actually from Xiaoyao Pavilion. Could you clear something up for me? The Sun Moon Empire's Soul Tools are more advanced, so where did Xiaoyao Pavilion get all its advanced Soul Tools?" Bei Bei asked with a smile that didn't reach his eyes.

Xu Yanli fanned himself. "I merely gathered some Soul Engineers who were rejected by the Sun Moon Empire's mainstream. After all, their research institutes are looking for military designs, while the people I took in specialize in civilian ones."

"I see. So they're considered citizens of the Heaven Dou Empire now?" Bei Bei said, his eyes gleaming.

"Of course." Xu Yanli smiled as he snapped his fan shut, then turned to Huo Yuhao. "Yuhao, are their fish ready?"

"Ready, ready." Huo Yuhao quickly handed the grilled fish to the two of them, then swiftly cleaned up the grill and put it away.

Xu Yanli put away his fan and apologized to them. "We won't take the money, either. We're going to hunt Soul Beasts. Farewell."

With that, Xu Yanli took Huo Yuhao and Ye Guyi and headed into the woods.

"Fifty li ahead lies the boundary of the Star Dou Great Forest. Soul Beasts have been sighted. Proceed with caution."

Xu Yanli's gaze was drawn to the sign. If he remembered correctly, they would probably soon encounter that God-slaying ten-year baboon.

A flash of excitement crossed Xu Yanli's eyes. It looked like he'd soon get to witness history.

It was a pity, though, that his Martial Soul didn't have a Mental Attribute. Otherwise, he'd have gladly accepted that million-year Soul Beast.

Xu Yanli continued onward. The farther they went into the Star Dou Great Forest, the more oppressive it felt, as though it would swallow everything outside.

Xu Yanli couldn't help but marvel. He'd thought the Jingyang Mountain Range was already the height of grandeur, but only when he stood before the Star Dou Great Forest did he realize it was like the untouched primeval forest he'd seen in documentaries.

Xu Yanli noticed that Huo Yuhao's breathing beside him had grown labored. He seemed a little nervous.

Ye Guyi, meanwhile, looked excited, glancing all around.

Suddenly, a black figure lunged at them. Xu Yanli dodged, intending to release his Martial Soul and finish it in one move, but Ye Guyi was even faster and released hers first.

A golden Angel slowly appeared behind Ye Guyi. Her two golden wings unfurled, and a glittering golden longsword appeared in her hand.

"Second Soul Skill: Holy Spirit Slash!" Ye Guyi shouted.

A golden sword-light, brimming with sacred energy, swept past. The black baboon was instantly cleaved in two.

Blood sprayed out the instant its body split open.

Without hesitation, Xu Yanli pressed the bracelet on his wrist. A transparent protective barrier appeared around him.

Ye Guyi took a few steps back. Huo Yuhao had reacted in time, but couldn't get away, and ended up drenched in blood...

Xu Yanli stood to the side and rubbed his forehead in exasperation. Ye Guyi's movements had been a little too quick—and a little too clumsy.

Huo Yuhao stood there awkwardly. Xu Yanli tossed him a set of clothes from his Storage Soul Tool. "Go change behind those bushes."

"Thank you, teacher," Huo Yuhao said respectfully. He took the clothes and ran to a corner behind a tree, where he rustled around as he changed.

The instant he'd finished changing, a terrifying wave of spiritual power swept toward them.

Without hesitation, Xu Yanli released his Sun Moon Holy Prayer Angel Martial Soul. Its dense sacred power, combined with the sun's radiance, instantly blocked the terrifying pressure.

Of course, it might also have been because the other party's spiritual power wasn't particularly offensive, and wasn't targeting them.

Xu Yanli paused, then slowly walked over to Huo Yuhao.

"What a pity. Why don't you have a Mental Attribute?" the Big Worm said, wriggling its body. "Don't look at me. Even if you do, I can't offer myself to you as a sacrifice."

"I'm not looking at you. I'm looking at my disciple," Xu Yanli said casually. "Offer yourself as a sacrifice."

Xu Yanli was quite tempted by the Big Worm's spiritual power, but since he already had a Godhood as a fallback, there was no need to waste one of his Martial Soul's Soul Ring slots.

The Sky Dream Ice Silkworm's Soul Skills seemed impressive, but in practice, they were nothing special. To him, they were neither useful nor worth having. Better to give it to Huo Yuhao, then bring Huo Yuhao over to his side.

A glimmer passed through Xu Yanli's eyes. Tang San already had plenty of people working for him, after all. Xu Yanli needed people of his own, too.

Who knew whether the God of Destruction's subordinates would submit to him?

What if things got as awkward as they were with Lie Yan and Ji Dong? Though, logically speaking, that shouldn't happen...

Xu Yanli's eyes gleamed. He'd let Huo Yuhao have the Big Worm, but he wouldn't give up Electrolux.

Seeing that Xu Yanli wasn't trying to force a deal, the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm immediately offered itself as a sacrifice to Huo Yuhao.

A vast surge of energy rushed toward them. Two strange lights flickered between Xu Yanli's brows.

Everyone else had clearly lost the ability to think, but Xu Yanli hadn't.

Xu Yanli slowly raised his head and looked up at the sky.

The sky, which had been clear just moments before, instantly darkened. Thunderous booms rang out overhead.

A stream of gray energy descended from the sky, as though drawn down by an immense force.

It was heading toward Huo Yuhao, but the next moment, it sensed an aura beside him that was steadily drawing it in.

It shifted its course slightly and plunged straight into Xu Yanli's body.

Xu Yanli felt something indescribable slowly flow into him, just as it had before.

The next moment, an indistinct figure appeared behind Xu Yanli. An aged voice rang out, carrying an indescribable majesty: "With the sun and moon in my grasp, I pluck the stars—none in this world can compare to me."

Xu Yanli smiled and thought, It worked.