Xiao Wu and Erming Meet

Zhu Zhuqing turned her gaze toward Lin Yi.

This guy was still maintaining his previous posture, sleeping with such peace of mind.

For some reason, she suddenly felt like laughing.

One had to know that when Lin Yi had just laid down, he was still calculating how to slip away the moment Xiao Wu left.

And the result?

In just half an hour, he was sleeping like a log.

This mindset was truly...

Zhu Zhuqing did not know what to say.

She had seen many people.

The scheming nobles in the Star Luo Imperial Palace, the clansmen of the Zhu Family who were friendly on the surface but plotted against each other in secret, and those soul masters who would stop at nothing to fight for resources.

Everyone kept a string pulled tight, calculating and guarding against others every single moment.

But Lin Yi was different.

This guy clearly harbored so many secrets, knew so many things, and was potentially being watched at any moment, yet he could sleep so soundly in this kind of environment.

If one called him thick-skinned, he certainly was.

If one called him foolish, he was more clear-headed than anyone else.

Zhu Zhuqing shook her head to herself, then withdrew her gaze and closed her eyes once more.

On the other side.

In a clearing within a dense forest about five miles from the cave.

In the center of the clearing, Xiao Wu stood on a blue stone, arms crossed over her chest, looking at the mountain-like figure before her.

"Erming, you're quite good at hiding."

Her tone carried a hint of reproach, but it was mostly the joy of seeing an old friend.

The Titan Giant Ape lowered its head, its golden beastly eyes filled with gentleness.

"Sister Xiao Wu, I wasn't hiding, it's just..."

"Just what?" Xiao Wu jumped off the stone, walked up to it, and reached out to pat its thick arm. "You sensed I was back, yet instead of coming to find me immediately, you hid and peeked?"

Erming scratched its head, letting out a low, rumbling sound.

It didn't know how to explain.

It couldn't exactly say that it had been startled by that human boy's inner voice, could it?

Xiao Wu looked at its expression and suddenly laughed.

"Alright, I know what you're thinking."

She stepped back twice and sat down on a flat rock, her legs swinging.

"Can you hear Lin Yi's inner voice too?"

Erming nodded.

"That guy..." Xiao Wu looked up at the moonlight above, her tone carrying a hint of complexity. "His inner voice is truly special, isn't it?"

Erming nodded again.

"So you've been watching from the sidelines?" Xiao Wu looked at it. "Wanting to see what exactly is going on with this human?"

Erming nodded, pondered for a moment, and then asked, "That human, why does he know so much about me? He knows you are a soul beast in human form, so why doesn't he expose you? Why does he keep trying to ditch you?"

Xiao Wu was silent for a moment, then took a crystal from her bosom.

Under the moonlight, the liquid-like luster flowing inside the crystal was remarkably eye-catching.

"This is a Breath-Hiding Stone," Xiao Wu said softly. "Lin Yi's father gave it to me."

Erming's golden beastly eyes suddenly constricted.

It stared at the crystal, its massive body leaning forward slightly, its nostrils flaring as it carefully sensed something.

Then, it froze.

The soul beast aura on Sister Xiao Wu was completely exposed the moment the crystal left her body.

Yet, after Sister Xiao Wu put the red crystal back on, the aura vanished again, as if she were truly just an ordinary human soul master.

"Lin Yi's father?" Erming let out a low roar.

Xiao Wu nodded. "Lin Yi's father is named Lin Yuan, and his strength is... unfathomable. He can hear Lin Yi's inner voice and knows my identity, but he didn't harm me; instead, he gave me this Breath-Hiding Stone."

She paused, then continued, "He said he hopes I can motivate Lin Yi so he stops slacking off."

Erming was silent for a long time.

Although it was a soul beast, its intelligence was no less than that of a human.

From Xiao Wu's words, it caught two layers of meaning.

First, that human powerhouse named Lin Yuan held no malice toward them; one could even say he was friendly.

Second, he held extremely high expectations for his son.

"Sister Xiao Wu, what do you plan to do?" Erming asked.

Xiao Wu raised her head, as if considering something.

A moment later, she said firmly, "I intend to keep following him. It's been five years. Although at first I only wanted to change my fate and escape the ending of being sacrificed, now..."

She paused, her voice softening slightly, "Things are different now."

Erming looked at her without speaking.

"Besides, his father is right. That guy Lin Yi is indeed too lazy. He clearly has the talent and potential, yet he always thinks about living a low-key life."

"Since I've taken things from them, I have to help them get things done, right?"

As Xiao Wu spoke, she suddenly smiled.

There was no calculation or ulterior motive in that smile, only a pure sense of joy.

Erming scratched its head, letting out a low rumble.

Although it didn't quite understand these human complexities, as long as Sister Xiao Wu was happy, that was enough.

"Right," Xiao Wu suddenly remembered something. "Help me guard. I'm about to break through, and it's time to condense my third Soul Ring."

Erming nodded, its massive body retreating a few steps before sitting down at the edge of the clearing.

Xiao Wu sat cross-legged on a bluestone and closed her eyes.

As a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast in human form, her cultivation method was different from that of human Soul Masters.

Human Soul Masters needed to hunt Soul Beasts to obtain Soul Rings, while she only needed to rely on her own power to condense a Soul Ring when breaking through levels.

This process required absolute safety and could not be interrupted.

Xiao Wu circulated her soul power, which flowed through her body like a gentle stream.

The bottleneck at level twenty-nine had already shown signs of loosening during their travels over the past few days, especially after Lin Yi's Starlight Charge; that barrier had been pried open just a crack.

Now, she was going to push that crack wide open.

Her soul power circulated through her meridians, round after round, faster and faster.

Xiao Wu's brows furrowed slightly, and fine beads of sweat seeped from her forehead.

Erming sat not far away, its golden beast eyes fixed on her without blinking, its muscles slightly tense, ready to deal with any unexpected situation at any moment.

Time ticked away, second by second.

I don't know how much time passed, but the aura around Xiao Wu suddenly changed.

An invisible ripple spread out from her, causing the surrounding grass and trees to sway slightly.

Above her head, a pale purple Soul Ring was slowly taking shape.

A Thousand-Year Soul Ring.

A flash of gratification crossed Erming's eyes.

Sister Xiao Wu had become stronger again.

After about another quarter of an hour, the pale purple Soul Ring stabilized completely, slowly descending to settle around Xiao Wu.

Xiao Wu opened her eyes and let out a long, turbid breath.

She stood up, stretched her limbs, and a smile appeared on her face.

"Success."

Erming patted its chest, seemingly expressing its congratulations.

Xiao Wu walked up to it and reached out to pat its thick arm.

"Thank you for guarding me."

Erming shook its head and rumbled, "Sister Xiao Wu, are you going back now?"

Xiao Wu nodded, "I have to go back, otherwise that guy Lin Yi will wake up."

She paused, suddenly remembering something, and urged, "Right, you two should come out less often from now on. Also, remember to tell Daming when you go back that Sister Xiao Wu is doing very well, so don't worry."

Erming nodded, "Understood, Sister Xiao Wu."

Only then did Xiao Wu smile with satisfaction, turning to walk in the direction she had come from.