Successfully Absorbing the Ten Thousand Year Fourth Soul Ring!

At last, red light flared, illuminating Li Yue's tear-streaked face as she wept with joy.

It was working.

Dense streams of blood energy flowed out from the Void-Splitting Magic Sound Tiger's mountain-like body and poured into Dai Mobai like young swallows returning to their nest.

As the blood energy entered his body, Dai Mobai was infused with renewed vitality.

Blood no longer flowed from his body, the cracks across his skin gradually healed, and even his trembling body steadied.

Within his spiritual world, Dai Mobai's consciousness, which had been struggling to sustain his life force, suddenly trembled.

He felt an endless stream of blood energy continuously pouring into his body.

The new blood energy filled the last remaining gap in Dai Mobai's body, stabilizing his body on the verge of collapse.

What came next was much simpler.

Dai Mobai released his spiritual power without restraint, and in an instant, it spread throughout every meridian in his body.

Under the cover of his spiritual power, the Soul Power that had been rampaging wildly became docile, circulating according to a specific pattern under his precise control.

Another half hour passed, and the pitch-black Soul Ring above Dai Mobai's head trembled, sending ripples through the air.

Li Yue's heartbeat seemed to skip a beat, and she unconsciously softened her breathing.

Fortunately, nothing went wrong this time.

Under Li Yue's anxious gaze, the black Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring gradually descended until it finally hovered beneath Dai Mobai.

"Huu—"

A heavy exhale sounded, and the blood crust encasing Dai Mobai's body trembled.

"Crack—"

The next second, a crisp sound reached Li Yue's ears, instantly drawing her attention.

Then came the ceaseless sound of shattering glass.

Three breaths later, the blood crust that wrapped Dai Mobai like a cocoon exploded with a bang.

Amid the flying fragments, Dai Mobai's cross-legged figure came into Li Yue's view.

His skin had become somewhat fairer, and he had grown a little taller.

But most importantly, he was unharmed.

Li Yue wanted to smile, but her tears fell first.

Dai Mobai slowly opened his eyes. Before he could speak, Li Yue's tall figure threw herself into his arms.

She said nothing, only hugged Dai Mobai tightly with tremendous force.

Feeling the dampness against his shoulder, Dai Mobai stiffened for half a moment before reaching out and wrapping an arm around Li Yue's slender waist.

Neither of them spoke. In the quiet forest, only the sound of their heartbeats remained, gradually falling into the same rhythm.

After roughly three hundred heartbeats, Li Yue pulled herself free from Dai Mobai's embrace.

By the light of the Soul Ring, Dai Mobai saw a flush of embarrassment on her lovely face, still marked by tear tracks.

"It's getting late. We... should head back."

Li Yue no longer had the courage she had shown earlier. After hurriedly saying that, her body turned transparent.

Watching Li Yue vanish before his eyes, Dai Mobai chuckled and shook his head. He took a new set of fine clothes from his storage Soul Tool and changed into them.

On the way back to camp, neither of them spoke. Yet it was undeniable that the relationship between master and servant had somehow changed.

--

"Big Sister, isn't Brother Crown Prince back yet? I miss him."

Inside the tent, Zhu Zhuqing looked up at her sister beside her, her bright, watery eyes filled with longing for Dai Mobai.

"Soon. His Highness will be back very soon."

Zhu Zhuyun gently stroked Zhu Zhuqing's glossy black hair, a faint smile on her lips.

"That's what Big Sister said an hour ago, but I still haven't seen Brother Crown Prince."

Zhu Zhuqing puffed out her cheeks, her pretty face showing a trace of dissatisfaction.

"How about this? Big Sister will ask Commander Chen. He might know when His Highness will return."

Zhu Zhuyun rose, intending to ask Chen Hu.

"I'll go with Big Sister."

Zhu Zhuqing stood as well, linking her arm through her sister's.

In the camp, bonfires blazed brightly, driving away the chill of the night while illuminating the entire camp.

"Why hasn't His Highness returned yet?"

Under the firelight, Chen Hu paced back and forth, his expression grim.

"Commander."

A White Tiger Guard hurried over, his expression somewhat unsightly.

"What is it?"

Chen Hu frowned at him.

"That Void-Splitting Magic Sound Tiger... is dead."

The White Tiger Guard paused for half a breath before delivering words that made Chen Hu's heart tighten.

"Quickly, bury it at once."

The decisive order left his mouth, laden with urgency.

"Yes."

The White Tiger Guard accepted the order and hurried away.

"I hope there's still time."

Chen Hu swept his gaze over the pitch-black bushes surrounding the camp and murmured quietly.

He knew all too well how dangerous the Star Dou Great Forest was at night.

Moreover, they were currently in a mixed zone inhabited by thousand-year and ten-thousand-year soul beasts.

Most crucially, they had a fresh soul beast corpse here. To some nocturnal soul beasts, it was like a brightly burning candle in the darkness.

Thousand-year soul beasts were manageable, but if they encountered a powerful ten-thousand-year soul beast, even as a six-ring Soul Emperor, he did not dare guarantee their absolute safety.

All he could do now was pray that the White Tiger Guards moved quickly enough to conceal the scent of blood as much as possible.

"Commander Chen."

A youthful yet alluring voice sounded behind Chen Hu.

"Miss Zhu."

Chen Hu turned around. Upon seeing Zhu Zhuyun and Zhu Zhuqing, he immediately prepared to bow.

"No need for formalities. His Highness still hasn't returned?"

Zhu Zhuyun waved a hand to stop him and asked softly.

"Not yet."

Chen Hu shook his head.

"Then does Commander Chen know the direction His Highness went? Could you send someone to look for him?"

Seeing Chen Hu shake his head, the hope on Zhu Zhuyun and Zhu Zhuqing's faces dimmed somewhat.

But Zhu Zhuyun quickly composed herself and asked again.

"I know the direction His Highness went, but I do not know where exactly he went. As for sending people to search for him, that might have been possible during the day, but sending them out now would be no different from sending them to their deaths."

"Then what if Commander Chen goes to search for him?"

Zhu Zhuyun's eyes brightened as she looked directly at Chen Hu.

"I could, but I cannot leave. Before His Highness departed, he ordered me to protect the two young ladies."

Zhu Zhuyun's eyes lit up. It was clear that she had only heard the words "I could."

"Then go look for His Highness now."

Without even thinking, she spoke at once.

"No, Eldest Miss. I must ensure the safety of you and Third Miss."

Chen Hu refused without hesitation.

"You must, whether you want to or not. With His Highness absent, I, the duke's daughter, hold the highest status here. I order you to go and find His Highness."

Zhu Zhuyun's expression turned serious, allowing no refusal.

"Awooo—"

Yet just as her words fell, a wolf howl barged forcefully into the camp.

Chen Hu's expression instantly became ugly.

"Now, even if I wanted to search for His Highness, I have no way to do so."

With a sigh, Chen Hu's expression returned to one of iron-blooded resolve.

"White Tiger Guard, assemble!"

As Chen Hu's voice fell, the sounds of armor clashing rang out one after another. In less than ten breaths, all fifty White Tiger Guards had assembled.

"Form the Copper Coin Formation. Protect the two young ladies."

With a sweep of Chen Hu's hand, the White Tiger Guards moved. Their figures crisscrossed as they shielded the Zhu sisters in the very center.

At the same time, rustling sounds came from the woods around the camp. Something was rapidly approaching, and there were many of them.