An Old Friend of Your Sister

Sunset Forest lay about fifty li northeast of Heaven Dou City and was the second-largest Soul Beast forest on the continent after Star Dou Forest.

Although its area was nowhere near as vast as Star Dou Forest, and it did not contain as many Soul Beasts either,

it had the advantage of being close to Heaven Dou City and easily accessible.

Thus, it had become the preferred place for Tiandou Empire Soul Masters to obtain Soul Rings.

Ancient trees towered throughout Sunset Forest, and the vegetation was lush.

Sunlight filtered through layer upon layer of canopy, casting mottled patterns of light and shadow across the ground.

The air was filled with the fragrance of grass and trees mingled with the scent of soil, while the occasional beastly roar echoed through the forest.

Bo Saixi walked through the forest with Na'er.

She led the way with unhurried steps, her gaze sweeping the surroundings as her spiritual power spread like an invisible net over a vast area.

Na'er followed behind her, her long silver hair drifting gently in the forest breeze.

Her amethyst-like eyes curiously surveyed everything around her.

"Na'er!"

As she walked, Bo Saixi asked in an apparently casual manner, "Do you remember where you came from?"

She asked it lightly, as though they were merely chatting.

Yet beneath those calm eyes lay a trace of probing intent.

Hearing the question, Na'er tilted her little head and thought for a moment before replying timidly, "I don't remember... I only know it was a great forest. As for where exactly it was or what it was called, I don't know."

"A great forest?" Bo Saixi's steps paused slightly, and a blue glint flashed through her eyes.

She had come from deep within a great forest?

Could she truly be a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast that had taken human form?

Thoughts raced through Bo Saixi's mind.

As the High Priest of Sea God Island, she had seen countless Soul Beasts and slain countless Soul Beasts. Her understanding of them far surpassed that of ordinary people.

She knew that after Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts transformed into humans, they retained certain characteristics of Soul Beasts.

And before completely becoming human, they could not obtain Soul Rings by hunting Soul Beasts.

Their Soul Rings would form automatically and gradually unlock as their cultivation rose.

In other words, as long as Na'er tried to absorb a Soul Ring, they could determine whether or not she was a transformed Soul Beast.

If she could absorb it, then she was not.

But if she could not...

The corners of Bo Saixi's lips lifted slightly, and a dangerous glint flashed in her eyes.

Then sorry, but Na'er could only become Li Changqing's Soul Ring.

A hundred-thousand-year Soul Ring plus a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone was no small gain.

Having made up her mind, Bo Saixi asked no more questions and continued leading Na'er through the forest in search of a suitable Soul Beast.

Sunset Forest contained a wide variety of Soul Beasts, from ten-year Soul Beasts to ten-thousand-year Soul Beasts.

Bo Saixi's spiritual power covered an extremely broad area, and she soon locked onto a Soul Beast suitable for Na'er.

It was a Sky-Supporting Giant Ape with roughly five hundred years of cultivation.

Sky-Supporting Giant Apes were assault-type Soul Beasts with formidable offensive abilities.

Its Soul Ring could provide Na'er with an attack boost.

For Na'er's Silver Dragon Spear, attack was an exceptionally important attribute.

When Bo Saixi made a move, capturing it was effortless.

She did not even summon her martial soul. With a casual wave of her hand, an invisible force knocked the Sky-Supporting Giant Ape unconscious, and she carried it over to Na'er.

"Come on. Kill it and absorb its Soul Ring." Bo Saixi handed Na'er a dagger, her tone calm.

Na'er accepted the dagger and looked at the unconscious Sky-Supporting Giant Ape on the ground. A trace of reluctance flashed through her amethyst-like eyes.

But she still gritted her teeth, closed her eyes, and plunged the blade down.

The Sky-Supporting Giant Ape let out a mournful cry. Its body twitched a few times before it completely lost its life.

The next moment, a yellow Soul Ring slowly rose from the Sky-Supporting Giant Ape's corpse.

Following Bo Saixi's instructions, Na'er sat down cross-legged, circulated her Soul Power, and guided the yellow Soul Ring into her body.

Bo Saixi stood to one side, her gaze fixed closely on Na'er as she observed every movement.

The Soul Ring slowly merged into Na'er's body. A faint silver radiance spread from her, and her aura remained steady and smooth.

There was no obstruction throughout the entire process, no rejection whatsoever. It was as natural as drinking water.

About two hours later, Na'er opened her eyes. The yellow Soul Ring had settled firmly around her body.

She had successfully absorbed the Soul Ring.

Watching this, Bo Saixi could not help but sigh inwardly in relief, though she also felt a little regret.

Being able to absorb a Soul Ring meant Na'er was not a transformed Soul Beast, but a genuine human.

In other words, her wish of picking up a hundred-thousand-year Soul Ring and Soul Bone for free had fallen through.

"Ah..."

Seeing this, Bo Saixi sighed softly, shook her head, and murmured, "I thought I could get a hundred-thousand-year Soul Ring and Soul Bone for free. Seems I was overthinking it."

She crouched down, looked into Na'er's bright amethyst eyes, and reached out to ruffle her hair. "Let's go. It's getting dark. We'll find somewhere to rest for the night and return tomorrow."

Na'er nodded obediently, rose to her feet, and followed Bo Saixi toward the edge of the forest.

The afterglow of the setting sun streamed through gaps in the leaves, stretching two long shadows behind them.

Meanwhile, Heaven Dou Royal Academy, private dormitory.

The night was deep, and moonlight flowed like water across the quiet courtyard.

Li Changqing yawned and was about to return to his room to sleep.

Bo Saixi had taken Na'er to Sunset Forest, leaving him alone in the courtyard. It was rather peaceful.

He reached the door and extended his hand, about to push it open...

Suddenly, he stopped.

Because a figure had appeared out of thin air in the courtyard behind him.

There had been no warning and no fluctuation of aura. The figure had simply appeared abruptly.

It was as though he had always been standing there, and Li Changqing simply had not noticed him before.

Li Changqing slowly turned around and looked at the uninvited guest.

It was a middle-aged man who appeared to be around forty or fifty.

He was handsome and refined, with long golden hair draped over his shoulders and a gray robe covering his body.

He stood with his hands clasped behind his back, seeming to blend completely into the night.

He was clearly right before Li Changqing, yet he gave the illusion of being impossibly distant.

His gaze rested on Li Changqing. Within those golden eyes was a trace of scrutiny, a trace of curiosity, and an indescribably complicated emotion.

Alarm bells rang loudly in Li Changqing's heart.

But his expression remained calm.

Coming here so late and not using the front gate—no matter how he looked at it, this man did not seem like a good person.

He spoke, his voice far too composed for a six-year-old child. "Who are you?"

As he asked, he considered whether he should take out Qian Renxue's token or Xue Qinghe's proof of identity.

The middle-aged man looked at him and fell silent for a moment.

Then he slowly spoke, his voice gentle and low. "I am an old friend of your sister."