Tang An felt it for a little while longer before slowly withdrawing his power.
Tang Ya's legs went weak, and she nearly collapsed to the ground. Tang An reacted quickly, catching her by the waist.
Once Tang Ya had steadied herself, her face turned as red as a ripe apple. She lowered her head, too embarrassed to look at Tang An.
"Your Martial Soul's core attribute is dark devouring."
"It's an extremely rare mutated attribute with two core traits: 'darkness' and 'devouring.'"
"The dark attribute grants the abilities of corrosion and concealment, while the devouring attribute lets you absorb life force, Soul Power, and even mental power from the outside world to strengthen yourself."
Tang Ya listened intently, her eyes growing brighter and brighter.
"The reason you've always felt your Martial Soul turning on you is that you've been going in the wrong direction."
Tang Ya froze for a moment, then suddenly understood.
"So... I'm not supposed to suppress it?"
"That's right." Tang An nodded. "You need to guide it."
Tang An paused, then continued explaining:
"Specifically, there are three things you should focus on."
"First, prioritize finding Soul Beasts with devouring or corrosive attributes. Their Soul Rings will bring out the source power of your Dark Blue Silver Grass to the greatest extent."
"Second, temper your mental power. It must be stronger than your Soul Power, so you can keep your mind clear while devouring and avoid being consumed in turn."
"Third, make use of the resonance we just created."
Tang Ya's face flushed slightly again.
"Your Dark Blue Silver Grass is highly compatible with my Martial Soul. As long as I'm by your side, your cultivation speed can increase by at least five to ten times."
"What's more, your Dark Blue Silver Grass can gradually absorb the life force in my source aura and, on the foundation of the dark attribute, open up a path of 'Dark Life.'"
"Devour all things and nourish yourself in return."
"Use darkness to command life, and life will flourish without end."
Tang Ya's whole body trembled, and an unprecedented brilliance burst from her eyes.
The fear and confusion that had weighed on her heart for so many years vanished in an instant.
Tang Ya finally knew which path she should take.
Tang Ya raised her head. Her eyes were still red, but burning within them were excitement, gratitude, admiration, and a hint of infatuation.
She took a deep breath, as if making up her mind, then dropped to one knee and pressed her right fist against her heart.
"Sect Master, I, Tang Ya, swear to follow you until death."
She looked straight into Tang An's eyes, without a trace of hesitation.
"From this day forward, everything I have belongs to the Sect Master."
Tang Ya wasn't acting on impulse, nor had gratitude gone to her head. She understood perfectly well that the person before her was the greatest hope and opportunity of her life.
Tang An watched the fire of admiration kindle in Tang Ya's red-rimmed eyes and nodded inwardly with satisfaction.
All right, I've won over little Ya. At least all that talking wasn't for nothing.
But his expression remained calm and unruffled as he waved a hand.
"Just call me by my name from now on. As for following me, that depends on how you do in the future."
With that, he turned and headed back toward Yuhao and the others.
Call him by his name? How could I do that?
Tang Ya pressed her lips together and hurried after him, her voice carrying a strange mixture of excitement and stubbornness.
"All right, Sect Master. I'll work hard."
Tang An's steps faltered slightly. He turned his head to look at Tang Ya. She met his gaze, the tips of her ears faintly flushed, but she didn't look away.
Tang An's lips curled slightly. Got her.
"Suit yourself."
Tang Ya's face bloomed into a radiant smile. She hurried to catch up, all the while thinking:
The Sect Master didn't refuse! The Sect Master is so handsome, and he smells so good, too. I really want to take a sniff.
When they returned to the group, Beibei came over. His gaze fell on Tang Ya's face. "Little Ya, why's your face so red?"
Tang Ya instinctively shifted half a step to the side, putting a little distance between them.
Tang Ya smiled awkwardly, her tone much more formal than usual.
"Beibei, I'm fine. Um... from now on, just call me Tang Ya. Since we're in the sect, we should be a little more formal."
Tang Ya's gaze drifted toward Tang An without her realizing it. The Sect Master is right there. It'd be awful if he thought Beibei and I had something going on.
Beibei froze. He'd keenly noticed that Tang Ya had glanced at Tang An while saying that.
He opened his mouth as if to say something, but in the end, he only smiled gently and nodded. "All right, Tang Ya. As you wish."
But inside, he felt uneasy.
Although Tang Ya had never agreed to become his girlfriend, she had always treated him with easy familiarity. Now, all at once, she was being formal, as if drawing an invisible line between them.
Maybe she's just embarrassed because there are so many people around, Beibei thought. His gaze unconsciously settled on Tang An's back, and his brows furrowed almost imperceptibly.
Tang An paid no attention to the little exchange behind him. He closed his eyes, and Life Perception Resonance silently spread outward.
A moment later, he opened his eyes.
"Northeast, two thousand meters. There's a Soul Beast suitable for Tang Ya in a crevice in the cliff."
The group followed Tang An through the dense forest until they reached a steep cliff.
A crevice several feet wide split the cliff face. Deep inside, dark mist churned faintly. Within a ten-zhang radius, not a blade of grass grew, and even the soil was scorched black.
"It's in the crevice." Tang An raised a hand and pointed.
As soon as he spoke, a rustling sound came from deep inside the crack.
A pitch-black vine slowly emerged from between the rocks. Its stem was about as thick as an adult's arm, and its surface was densely covered in fine, scale-like patterns. Each scale slowly opened and closed.
At its tip grew a black flower the size of a washbasin. A mass of swirling black mist filled its heart, swallowing the surrounding light with every pulse.
The black flower turned to face the group, as if sizing up its prey.
Beibei's expression changed drastically, and he cried out in alarm.
"Spirit-Devouring Demon Vine! Judging by its size and the flower, it's at least two thousand five hundred years old!"
Beibei whipped around to look at Tang An, his brows tightly furrowed as he challenged him:
"Brother Tang An, this Soul Beast is beyond Ya... Tang Ya's limit! And it has a devouring attribute, too. Are you sure it's suitable for her?"
Before Tang An could answer, Tang Ya stepped forward first.
She strode in front of Beibei, planted her hands on her hips, and glared at him.
"Beibei, what are you talking about? I know my own Martial Soul. This Spirit-Devouring Demon Vine is highly compatible with it. I can feel it! My Martial Soul is a little special, and you don't understand it. Don't rush to question the Sect Master."
Watching Tang Ya defend Tang An, Beibei's heart filled with bitterness.
After a moment's silence, he nodded and said gently, "All right. If you think it's suitable, let me test it first."
Tang Ya gave Beibei a grateful smile. "Thank you."
That "thank you" was both polite and sincere. Yet hearing it made Beibei feel awful. Tang Ya had never been so formal with him before.
Beibei pushed down the strange feeling in his heart and stepped forward. His Martial Soul instantly manifested, blue lightning tyrant dragon scales covering his arms as crackling lightning flashed.
"Thunder Dragon Claw!"
Beibei moved like a bolt of lightning, his dragon claw blazing with dazzling lightning as it struck straight for the Spirit-Devouring Demon Vine's roots.
Sensing the threat, dozens of vines shot out like venomous snakes. Their black scales spread open, and a flood of devouring light surged toward Beibei.
Under the black light's corrosive assault, Beibei's lightning armor began to melt away at astonishing speed. His heart tightened, but he gritted his teeth and tore through the vines' blockade, slamming a claw into the Demon Vine's roots.
But the Spirit-Devouring Demon Vine reacted faster. Its roots abruptly tore free from the soil, and its entire body sprang onto the cliff. Three of its thickest vines burst from the earth behind Beibei, their sharp tips stabbing straight toward his back.
Beibei hastily spun around to block. His dragon claw collided with the vines in a thunderous crash, lightning and black light intertwining.
The impact sent him staggering backward several steps. Some of the dragon scales on his arm had been torn away, and blood seeped from the wounds. His breathing turned ragged.
Yet the Spirit-Devouring Demon Vine remained completely unharmed, its vines whipping about with even greater force.
"You beast..." Beibei gritted his teeth. He was about to unleash his full power and charge in again.
A hand landed on his shoulder.
"I'll take over."
Before you continue