By the time Luo Chen crawled out through the crack in the cave, the sky was already bright.
He had spent the entire night in the cave beneath the lake. Zhao and Xi had willingly formed contracts, the Soul Beasts had all evolved, and the Evil Emperor had fallen asleep. One thing after another had happened, and he had nearly lost track of time.
By the time he found the exit and crawled out, the sun was already high overhead.
"I'd better hurry back."
He summoned the Ice Feather Eagle, swung onto its back, and flew toward Sunset Forest. The Ice Feather Eagle had a six-meter wingspan; with a single beat of its wings, it soared across several miles of forested mountains. But the distance from Star Dou Great Forest to Sunset Forest was considerable. Even at the Ice Feather Eagle's speed, the journey would take a full day.
What he didn't know was that the lake he had fallen into was home to Da Ming, the Sky Azure Bull Python. If he had fallen straight into the lake, he would probably have ended up in the snake's belly!
But even if he had known, it wouldn't have mattered. He had already set his sights on the two current kings of Star Dou Great Forest, Da Ming and Er Ming.
At dawn the next day, Luo Chen finally saw the outline of Sunset Forest. Morning mist shrouded the valley where Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well lay, and Dugu Bo's poison array silently revolved ahead. Luo Chen leaped down from the eagle's back and walked through the dense forest, finally returning to Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
In the valley, the icy and fiery energies slowly swirled above Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. Dugu Bo leaned against an old tree with his eyes closed, holding half a cup of cold tea. He heard the footsteps but didn't open his eyes.
"You're back?"
"I'm back."
Luo An'an was curled up on the bed in her room, fast asleep. Luo Chen crouched down and gently lifted her from the bed. The little girl nestled softly in his arms, her small hand unconsciously clutching his collar. She mumbled, "Big brother," then sank back into deep sleep.
Luo Chen carried her to the spring and sat down on a rock. The red and blue light of Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well reflected on the siblings. He lowered his head and looked at his little sister in his arms, feeling completely at peace.
Luo An'an slept in Luo Chen's arms for a while. When she woke, it was already afternoon.
The little girl rubbed her eyes, realized her brother was still holding her, and grinned.
She slid out of Luo Chen's arms and stretched on the ground. Then she suddenly let out a soft "Huh?" and looked down at her hands.
"Big brother, I feel like... there are two things inside me."
Luo Chen froze. "Two? An'an, could it be that you've awakened your Martial Soul?"
"Mm. One is black, and one is bright." Luo An'an tilted her head, thinking. "The black one seems really hungry. It wants to eat. The bright one is soft and warm, like the little blanket Mom used to cover me with."
Dugu Bo rose from beneath the old tree and hurried over, his eyes fixed intently on Luo An'an.
"Bring both of them out. Let this old man have a look."
Luo An'an held out her left hand, palm up. Black light welled from her palm and coalesced into a black jar about the size of a fist. It wasn't large, and its entire surface was pitch-black, without a single marking, like a hollowed-out black hole. It swallowed all the light around it, and even the surrounding air seemed to warp slightly—this was the Heaven-Swallowing Demon Jar.
Then she held out her right hand, palm up. Silvery-white light welled from her palm, gentle and warm, like moonlight condensed in her hand. A miniature garment emerged from the light, silvery-white and as light as a cicada's wing. Fine patterns flowed across its surface, like the weave of cloth or the tracks of stars. The garment hovered above her palm, drifting gently and radiating a soothing aura. This was the Dream-Weaving Immortal Garment.
Dugu Bo's eyes went wide. In all his years, he had never seen Twin Martial Souls, much less two such unusual ones. One was devouring, the other protective—one dark, one bright, keeping each other in check.
"Well, I'll be." Dugu Bo murmured, "I've certainly seen something new today."
Luo Chen crouched down and carefully examined the two Martial Souls in his sister's palms. The Heaven-Swallowing Demon Jar hovered quietly, like a sleeping little beast. The Dream-Weaving Immortal Garment drifted gently, its silvery-white light falling across Luo An'an's face and making her look like a little fairy.
"An'an, can you put these two Martial Souls away?"
Luo An'an nodded. She clenched her left hand, and the Heaven-Swallowing Demon Jar disappeared. Then she clenched her right hand, and the Dream-Weaving Immortal Garment disappeared too. She clapped her hands and looked up at Luo Chen, asking in her childish voice, "Big brother, is An'an really amazing?"
"An'an is super amazing! Even more amazing than big brother!"
"What are they called?"
Luo An'an answered, "The black one is called the Heaven-Swallowing Demon Hang! But he's ugly, and An'an doesn't like him. An'an likes pretty clothes, so that one is called the Dream-Weaving Immortal Garment!"
Heaven-Swallowing Demon Hang? No, it should be Heaven-Swallowing Demon Jar!
Luo Chen asked again, "An'an, have you felt anything unusual? Why did the two of them suddenly appear?"
Luo An'an thought carefully, then said, "The little black ball often feels really hungry. I see it eating lots of tiny dots in the air. Sometimes An'an feels really uncomfortable, but then the pretty clothes protect me, and An'an feels much better."
Luo Chen understood. The spiritual energy around Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well was too dense, and the Heaven-Swallowing Demon Jar had absorbed it on its own. But Luo An'an couldn't absorb that much energy all at once. Thankfully, the Dream-Weaving Immortal Garment had protected her.
She made it sound so simple, but the more he thought about it, the more terrifying it seemed. Luo Chen broke out in a cold sweat!
That meant Luo An'an had actually been in grave danger during all the days he'd been away! He couldn't help but hug her tighter. Fortunately, she had finally awakened her Martial Souls.
He took a Soul Power testing crystal ball from his ring and held it in front of Luo An'an, asking her to put her hand on it. But to his surprise, after flaring with an intense light, the crystal ball exploded!
Luo Chen and Dugu Bo were both stunned. Then the two of them separately checked Luo An'an's Soul Power. Her Innate Soul Power was level twenty!
Luo Chen pondered. Qian Renxue's Six-Winged Angel Martial Soul also came with innate level twenty Soul Power. A divine Martial Soul!
Dugu Bo clasped his hands behind his back and walked back to the old tree. He sat down and picked up his teacup. He didn't drink, only gazed at the tea and sat in silence for a long while before suddenly speaking. "Kid, what do you plan to do about your sister's two Martial Souls? Twin Martial Souls—such a genius comes along once in a thousand years! And with Innate Soul Power at level twenty, she's a genius who comes along once in ten thousand years!"
Luo Chen walked over and sat beside him. After thinking it over, he said, "The Heaven-Swallowing Demon Jar's devouring nature is too overbearing. She's still young, so there's no need to use it just yet. The Dream-Weaving Immortal Garment is a support-type Martial Soul, so she can start practicing with it. It's gentler, at least."
Dugu Bo nodded. "You're clearheaded, at least. A devouring-type Martial Soul can turn on its wielder if it goes out of control, or even hurt innocent people. That devouring power is simply too overbearing. Your sister needs someone watching over her at all times." He paused. "I have a suggestion."
"Please, go ahead, Senior."
"Why not have her take me as her master? I'll teach her properly and guarantee her safety." As Dugu Bo said this, he gazed into the distance, his tone as casual as if he were commenting on the weather.
Luo Chen glanced at him, unsure what Dugu Bo was up to, but still nodded. "Thank you, Senior. When An'an is a little older, I'll consider finding her a master. For now, I believe I can teach her myself."
Dugu Bo snorted and said nothing more.
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