Gold Drop, Just as Expected, Ten Thousand Years!

"Commander Chen, take this Void-Splitting Magic Sound Tiger back to camp."

Dai Mobai clasped his hands together and spoke in a deep voice.

"As you command, Your Highness."

Chen Hu immediately found some vines and securely bound the barely living Void-Splitting Magic Sound Tiger.

The five White Tiger Guards exerted a little strength and lifted the entire Void-Splitting Magic Sound Tiger.

"Your Highness, we can... Where are you going?"

Just as Chen Hu was about to call for everyone to leave, he turned around and found that Dai Mobai had not followed them. Instead, he was heading in the opposite direction.

At this point, no matter how slow-witted Chen Hu was, he could tell that Dai Mobai had no intention of killing this soul beast and absorbing its Soul Ring.

He did not understand why.

This Void-Splitting Magic Sound Tiger was clearly extremely suitable as a fourth Soul Ring, whether in terms of age or species.

"I have a better choice. This soul beast will serve as a backup."

Dai Mobai did not explain further.

"Take this Void-Splitting Magic Sound Tiger back."

Chen Hu gave the White Tiger Guards an order, then looked at Dai Mobai.

"Your Highness, please allow this subordinate to accompany you."

Even though he could not understand it, he did not ask why. Carrying out orders was his duty.

Looking at Chen Hu kneeling on one knee before him, Dai Mobai shook his head.

"If you leave with me, what will happen to the camp?"

Dai Mobai's single question left Chen Hu speechless.

Although White Tiger Guards remained stationed at the camp, most of them were only Soul Elders.

This place was close to the mixed zone, where thousand-year and ten-thousand-year soul beasts were noticeably more numerous.

Thousand-year soul beasts were manageable, but if a ten-thousand-year soul beast accidentally broke in, the consequences would be unimaginable.

What was more, the Duke Mansion's two young ladies were still in camp. If anything happened to them, he could not bear the responsibility.

But likewise, he could not allow Dai Mobai to venture into danger, because his status was even more noble than that of the Zhu Family sisters.

"Commander Chen seems troubled. In that case, listen to me. All of you, take this Void-Splitting Magic Sound Tiger and return to camp."

The "all of you" he mentioned naturally included Chen Hu.

"Your Highness, absolutely not!"

Chen Hu refused without even thinking.

Even if he had ten thousand heads, he would not dare let Dai Mobai venture alone into the depths of the Star Dou Great Forest.

"Commander Chen, you are concerned about nothing more than my safety. But what if I told you that I am safer than you imagine?"

As Dai Mobai spoke, he snapped his fingers.

The crisp sound echoed through everyone's ears, leaving Chen Hu somewhat baffled.

"Commander! Behind you..."

At that moment, the shocked voice of a White Tiger Guard came from Chen Hu's side.

Chen Hu instinctively turned his head, only to feel something icy pressed against his neck.

As a veteran who had fought long on the battlefield, Chen Hu instantly understood what was held against his throat.

When did this happen?

Chen Hu's pupils suddenly contracted as turmoil surged in his heart.

He had not noticed anything at all. If the other party had wanted his life, he would already be dead.

"Commander Chen, now you should understand how safe I am, yes?"

Dai Mobai waved his hand, and Chen Hu immediately felt the weight leave his neck.

He looked behind him and found nothing there.

If not for the lingering chill on his neck, he might even have suspected that he had hallucinated it all.

"Your Highness, please..."

"I have made up my mind. Return to camp at once."

With a flick of his sleeve, Dai Mobai cut Chen Hu off.

Hearing Dai Mobai refer to himself as "I," Chen Hu understood that he could not persuade him.

"As you command."

Chen Hu answered helplessly.

"Move out."

He rose and spoke to the White Tiger Guards before turning toward the camp.

After Chen Hu and the White Tiger Guards departed, Dai Mobai slowly spread open his palm.

A wisp of needle-shaped blood energy flew from his palm. After circling Dai Mobai several times, its tip pointed straight southwest and flew away.

This was a blood-energy needle Dai Mobai had condensed using the Void-Splitting Magic Sound Tiger's blood energy. It could precisely sense blood energy belonging to the same kind, allowing Dai Mobai to trace the Void-Splitting Magic Sound Tiger's route back.

Whether I at least get a gold drop all depends on this.

Watching the blood needle's flight path, Soul Power surged through Dai Mobai's body.

"Li Yue, let's go."

As soon as he spoke, Dai Mobai leaped into the air and rushed after the blood needle.

Half an hour later, Dai Mobai's swift steps came to a halt.

Before him hovered the motionless blood needle.

Putting away the blood needle, Dai Mobai looked toward the area not far ahead.

It was a lush valley, surrounded by mountains on three sides. Standing still, he could faintly hear the rumbling sound of water.

Having confirmed his target, Dai Mobai entered the valley without the slightest hesitation.

The instant he stepped into the valley, Dai Mobai sensed something strange.

Quiet. Far too quiet.

It was not that there was no sound at all. Rather, aside from the sounds of nature, Dai Mobai could not hear even the slightest sound related to soul beasts—not even insects chirping.

Walking through such a silent place, every sound was infinitely magnified. Dai Mobai could clearly hear his own footsteps and steady heartbeat.

After walking for about the time it took to drink a cup of tea, Dai Mobai suddenly stopped.

Then Li Yue's slightly grave voice rang out in his mind.

"It's here."

"Whoosh—"

A vicious gust suddenly swept through the forest, blowing tree trunks as thick as thighs wildly askew.

"Roar—"

A tiger's roar rang through the mountains and forest. The trees beside Dai Mobai collapsed to either side like building blocks, and amid a nauseating stench, a Void-Splitting Magic Sound Tiger nearly ten meters long and nearly five meters tall at the shoulder charged directly at him.

Its raised tiger claw cast a vast shadow, engulfing Dai Mobai completely.

Li Yue instinctively wanted to act, but recalling Dai Mobai's earlier instructions, she slowly released the hand that had already gripped her sword hilt.

The tiger claw drew ever closer to Dai Mobai's head.

Five feet... three feet... one foot!

The golden hair before Dai Mobai's forehead was blown upward, and he could even smell the foul stench coming from the tiger claw.

Yet his expression remained unchanged. He even laughed.

"Gold drop. Just as expected, ten thousand years."

As soon as he spoke, Dai Mobai moved.

His golden pupils lit up, and his golden hair turned silvery white.

Light wings unfolded behind his back as the Holy Light White Tiger martial soul silently possessed him.

"Second Soul Skill—White Tiger Holy Armor!"

The second Soul Ring beneath his feet lit up, and brilliant golden Soul Power rose from Dai Mobai's body like flames.

The golden flames gathered and formed tiger-striped golden armor that enveloped Dai Mobai entirely.

At the same time, the Void-Splitting Magic Sound Tiger's claw slammed into Dai Mobai.

The instant its claw landed on Dai Mobai, the savagery in the Void-Splitting Magic Sound Tiger's eyes froze for a moment.

This doesn't feel right!

It let out a low growl and was just about to raise its claw to inspect it when a powerful force suddenly struck its paw.

Its front claw, which had been pressing down halfway, was forcibly lifted little by little.

"Get up!"

A furious roar rang out. The Void-Splitting Magic Sound Tiger's front claw was violently flung aside, and under that tremendous force, its mountain-like body staggered and toppled to the side.

At the same time, a burst of blood flames flared from Dai Mobai's palm. A speck of black appeared at the back of his head, spreading like ink and dyeing his silvery white hair black.

The golden flames and shattered golden armor dissipated together, and Dai Mobai slowly raised his lowered eyes.

When he looked at the Void-Splitting Magic Sound Tiger again, his eyes were completely blood-red.

Second martial soul, Blood Prison Demon Tiger—possess!