Confession to Xiao Wu

The Man Faced Demon Spider was dead, its eight legs pointing toward the sky. Five of them were broken, and its abdomen was covered in wounds, leaking dark green blood.

The white human face on its back seemed to be weeping tears of blood.

It had died a miserable death.

It was not peaceful.

"Sisi!"

"Shoo! Shoo!"

"Roar!!"

Three soul beasts circled the Man Faced Demon Spider, celebrating a victory that had been a total rout.

Hearing the commotion, the Jade Green Bird and the White Tiger had rushed over, joining forces with the Datura Snake.

Three soul beasts, each nearly four thousand years old, had surrounded and attacked a two-thousand-year-old soul beast.

It had been like child's play.

The White Tiger slapped the creature's face—or rather, its abdomen—repeatedly, as if venting its anger.

They had been searching for nearly half a year; although they had rested often, they were still exhausted.

Make you so rare!

Make you so hard to find!

Xia Yan said, "Time is tight, let's not delay."

He stored the corpse of the Man Faced Demon Spider into the White Tiger Space.

"Help me extract the Spirit Bone."

The White Tiger roared in response.

"Good, you all return first."

The figures of the three soul beasts vanished in an instant. This part of the Star Dou Great Forest held no more novelty for them; they had searched it over and over again in the past.

Xia Yan had finally obtained the Eight Spider Lances, and the weight in his heart lifted. With this, the Blue Silver Emperor, the Blue Silver Emperor Spirit Bone, and the Eight Spider Lances—all the top-tier assistance he could obtain in the early stages—were now in his possession.

Once he reached level forty, he would be able to contract the Blue Silver Emperor. The Blue Silver Domain was a top-tier domain soul skill, integrating perception, control, recovery, suppression, disguise, and concealment into one.

He would absorb the Eight Spider Lances after leaving Shrek.

He would evolve them bit by bit.

As for the Blue Silver Emperor Spirit Bone... he would keep it for now. Its two most important abilities—flight was unnecessary, as he was faster with the Jade Green Bird now and would be able to fly on his own in the future; and its self-healing ability was strong, but Xia Yan might seek out a specialized healing-type soul beast in the future, whose healing capabilities would surely be superior.

If he were unable to contract soul beasts and his soul rings could not grow, he would certainly absorb the Blue Silver Emperor Spirit Bone. But now that his soul beasts could grow, their age might far exceed Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast status.

At that point, the Blue Silver Emperor Spirit Bone would seem like a useless trinket.

He would keep it for now and decide later.

He continued to advance deeper into the forest.

After traveling about ten miles, under the moonlight, Xia Yan happened to see Xiao Wu rushing back.

Xiao Wu stood under a tree and saw him too, staring blankly at the approaching figure, unable to believe her eyes.

Under the fear of a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast... Xia Yan... had come to chase after her...

The moment their eyes met, Xiao Wu's beautiful eyes reddened.

Everything they had experienced together and all the memories of the past rushed into her heart instantly.

Xiao Wu had once thought that after four years, Xia Yan had changed.

She hadn't known how to face him.

But now, She knew, she was certain—Xia Yan had not changed. He was still himself!

He was still the Xia Yan of the past!

Xia Yan saw that Xiao Wu's clothes were torn in several places; her figure was more developed, and her temperament seemed more mature.

She had already condensed her Third Soul Ring.

One always experiences a sudden growth spurt after absorbing a soul ring.

Without waiting for Xia Yan to speak, Xiao Wu could no longer hold back. Tears surged, and in an instant, she crossed twenty meters and threw herself into Xia Yan's arms.

"Xia Yan!"

She had finally embraced Xia Yan! She could finally feel Xia Yan's warmth!

She couldn't even begin to imagine how much courage it must have taken for Xia Yan to overcome his fear of a Hundred Thousand Year Titan Giant Ape and chase after her!

"You love me!"

"You love me!"

"I knew it!"

All the hope, loneliness, and grievances of the past six years, the emotions suppressed for so long, erupted completely.

Hot tears rolled down, "Why won't you accept me?!"

She sobbed, her voice choked with emotion as she held Xia Yan tightly.

"I've waited for six years!"

"If you can come find me now, why can't you accept me?!"

She cried, her face streaked with tears like rain, pouring out all the grievances of the past years.

Xia Yan simply held her quietly, letting her cry.

A long while passed, until Xiao Wu cried until her tears ran dry, leaving visible tear tracks on her pretty face.

She sniffled, pouting in grievance as she looked into Xia Yan's eyes, tiny, unfallen droplets of moisture clinging to her eyelashes.

"Why, exactly..."

She was still sobbing.

Xia Yan held her. "Xiao Wu, are you human?"

"?!"

In Xia Yan's arms, Xiao Wu's petite body shuddered, and her aggrieved expression froze instantly on her face.

Her eyelashes trembled, and she forced a smile onto her tear-streaked face:

"Wh... what are you saying?"

"How could I possibly be a Soul Beast?"

Soul Beasts and humans were forever at odds, slaughtering each other; her transformation into human form was her greatest secret.

She wiped away her tears:

"Let's not talk about this, it's too dangerous here, we need to leave quickly."

Xia Yan spoke to himself, Xiao Wu, I have always known that you like me. You are so beautiful, you love me so much, and you have only me in your heart... It's impossible for me not to feel something.

Xiao Wu's heart skipped a beat, her beautiful eyes blank. She didn't know why Xia Yan was suddenly saying this, and she didn't know what expression she should show. She didn't know whether she should be happy or afraid.

Xia Yan continued, One day, a man in a Black Robe appeared before me. He had nine Soul Rings, one of which was a Blood Red color I had never seen before... He was a Titled Douluo, right there in Notting City.

Xiao Wu's pupils constricted, her face turning deathly pale. She felt as if she had fallen into an ice cellar, shivering from a bone-deep chill.

A Titled Douluo?!

"His attitude was gentle, and he walked over with a smile, telling me to stay away from you..."

"But that expression was a cold threat."

"At the time, I didn't know why he was threatening me, nor did I know who he was, and I couldn't ask. Later, I read many books and learned a lot. Over ninety percent of those who have appeared on the continent with Innate Full Soul Power have parents who are at least Soul Saint level powerhouses. Therefore, Innate Full Soul Power is almost always backed by a strong individual. At first, I thought it was someone from your family."

"But, until today..."

Xia Yan looked into those trembling eyes:

"Xiao Wu, why did the Titan Giant Ape, which should inhabit the core area of the Star Dou Great Forest, come to the edge of the Mixed Zone? Why did it specifically snatch you away, and why were you able to return safely?"

"..."

He felt the trembling of the girl in his arms and held her close:

"But I don't care who Xiao Wu is. Whether you are human or a Soul Beast, it doesn't matter. I only know that you are a girl who likes me, who gets angry because of me, who jumps for joy because of me, and who feels aggrieved because of me..."

Xiao Wu bit her lip, trying hard to hold back her tears, but her mouth still trembled, and tears flowed down silently, soaking the chests of both her and Xia Yan.

In the moonlit night, the two embraced, the silence broken only by the sound of the wind.

A long silence passed.

Xiao Wu lifted her face from Xia Yan's chest, her reddened eyes filled with delicate pity.

"Xia... I... I'm sorry..."

She held him tightly, terrified that he might vanish the very next moment, her face twisted in the pain and struggle of a final farewell.

"I... I'm sorry."

"I cannot go back with you..."

That Titled Douluo was surely after her Soul Ring and Spirit Bone; there was no way for her to return.

"Don't worry, once I reach my Maturity Period, I will come find you. Level sixty—it won't take long..."

Xia Yan shook his head.

"I have traveled across the continent for years and visited many places, specifically searching for records regarding transformed spirit beasts."

"After a spirit beast transforms, it must enter the human world. Otherwise, its cultivation will be extremely slow, or even grind to a halt."

"Without cultivation, one's lifespan is barely over a hundred years..."

Xiao Wu knew this, but she had no choice left.

How could she possibly face a Titled Douluo?