Blue Silver Forest

At noon the next day, Bai Yu moved through the forest, blinking forward like a ghost.

A golden pouch hung from his waist, with a glistening stalk of Blue Silver Grass poking out of it and swaying from side to side as though observing its surroundings.

"Your Excellency, do you need me to guide you?"

Ah Yin's gentle voice sounded beside Bai Yu's ear.

"Don't meddle. I know where your branch's territory is!"

Hearing Ah Yin's question, Bai Yu answered coldly, thinking to himself:

What's going on? It should be nearby. But if I'm this close, I should be able to sense it, shouldn't I?

Hearing Bai Yu continue to put on a brave front, Ah Yin was nearly unable to hold back her laughter.

"Ahem, but Your Excellency, you ran past it. My territory is to your left and behind you."

"Meddler!" Bai Yu's eye twitched. Damn it, this is fucking embarrassing. He quickly turned around and ran back.

As he neared the Blue Silver Forest, Bai Yu felt the emotions emanating from within.

They were like cheers welcoming their emperor, like the yearning affection of children calling for their mother.

"Your Majesty! You have finally returned, our emperor!"

As an aged voice rang out, the entire Blue Silver Forest glowed with blue light. Stalk after stalk of Blue Silver Grass stretched out from the ground, waving their leaves.

Ah Yin drifted out of the Soul Tool. A phantom figure appeared, and a somewhat bitter smile crossed her face before she spoke softly.

"My people, I have returned!"

Through the Blue Silver Domain, Ah Yin carried her voice throughout the entire forest.

"Your Majesty! Come in quickly. Your people have been awaiting your return!"

The aged voice sounded again. As Ah Yin's voice echoed through the forest, the blue radiance grew even more brilliant, turning the forest into a sea of blue.

Ah Yin turned to look at Bai Yu. With a wave of his hand, he lifted her true body onto his palm and walked into the forest.

At the center of the forest, an enormous Blue Silver King appeared before Bai Yu, making him click his tongue inwardly.

"Your Majesty, you have grown weaker. But it's all right. With us here, you will recover soon."

A human face appeared on the Blue Silver King's massive body as it spoke kindly to the phantom Ah Yin.

"Elder, I'm back. I missed you so much!"

Hearing the hint of tears in Ah Yin's voice, Bai Yu grinned. It seemed the past few days had dealt her quite a blow. He then said, "You two talk first. I'll take a look around outside. I'll come tell you when it's time to leave."

Ah Yin looked at Bai Yu, her expression changing several times before she agreed.

"Thank you for bringing me home, Your Excellency. Please make yourself at ease, but be sure to inform Ah Yin before you leave."

"Got it."

Bai Yu waved his hand and walked off into the distance, taking in the sea of blue. It was quite beautiful.

He then found a small cave, took out several small pieces of Fine Gold and Deep Sea Silver, and began carving formation patterns into them. He muttered, "I'm level seventy now. I'll make myself a Spirit Ring. I filled Ah Yin to the brim before, so I'm familiar with it beyond measure. A Blue Silver Emperor Spirit Ring is just right for my Martial Soul Avatar."

"Too bad I can't make a Nine-Level one. Otherwise, I'd be a Soul Saint with a red ring too. An Eight-Level one won't do either; my Spirit Power can't sustain it for long. It would take at least half a year."

"I wanted to try condensing a ring myself before, but that requires gathering a huge amount of Soul Power in a short time, then shaping it and imprinting a soul skill. It'd take so much effort, and it might not even work. Forget it!"

In the blink of an eye, five days passed. Aside from posting a few insults about Scum in the Chronicle of Time every day, Bai Yu spent nearly all his time creating this Seven-Level Soul Gathering Seal.

"Finally finished! High-level stuff really is delicate. Once I can make Nine-Level Soul Gathering Seals in the future, this will become a complete system."

"More than two years have passed. I wonder how far those studying the Soul Tool materials I sent back to Spirit City have progressed. Maybe I should hand the research on Soul Gathering Seals over to them."

Bai Yu stood and left the cave. His short hair was a mess, and with the two dark circles beneath his eyes, he looked completely drained.

When he reached the center of the forest, he saw Ah Yin's enormous true body breathing out blue radiance as she restored her cultivation.

Bai Yu's arrival caused Ah Yin to stop cultivating. She condensed her phantom form and looked at Bai Yu's disheveled appearance in surprise.

"What have you been doing? Are we leaving now?"

Bai Yu nodded. "That's right. I'm leaving. I came to tell you."

Ah Yin's expression changed. Then, gritting her teeth, she made a request of Bai Yu.

"Can I leave with you? I want to go out and find someone."

Bai Yu narrowed his eyes. I knew you wouldn't be able to hold back. His voice deliberately turned cold.

"What? Do you want to defy my orders and have your entire branch exterminated?"

As Bai Yu spoke, the massive Blue Silver King began to tremble. A giant human face appeared upon it, looking at Bai Yu.

Bai Yu glanced at the Blue Silver King, then turned to Ah Yin. "You think it can back you up?"

Ah Yin shook her head and turned to the Blue Silver King. "Elder, don't worry. I will resolve this."

She then spoke to Bai Yu.

"I know you are strong, but you will not kill us. You are a human, yet you disguised yourself with the aura of a Spirit Beast and brought me back to my people. That means you will not act against us."

The corner of Bai Yu's mouth curled up. He looked at Ah Yin and chuckled.

"Heh. When did you figure that out? And do you know why I brought you back?"

Ah Yin shook her head.

"I knew when you helped me recover. You carry the aura of Blue Silver Grass, but only the emperor can reach one hundred thousand years and take human form, and the Blue Silver Grass clan has only one emperor."

"Therefore, the Blue Silver Grass aura on you can only come from your Martial Soul. As for why you brought me back, I don't know."

Bai Yu laughed heartily. That sounds like a pretty proper reason. She must have spent these past few days thinking about this, huh?

He then said, "Then let me tell you. Tang Hao and I have a grudge. I brought you back deliberately to disgust him. Do you still want to come with me?"

Ah Yin's expression changed again and again. She had not expected Bai Yu to say that, but she had no choice. Only by going with Bai Yu could she find Tang Hao as soon as possible.

Just as Ah Yin did not know what to do, Bai Yu abruptly changed his tone.

"If you want me to take you with me so you can find Tang Hao, fine. But agree to one condition: tell your people that no humans may enter the Blue Silver Forest in the future, especially humans with Blue Silver Emperor bloodlines!"

Ah Yin froze, looking at Bai Yu helplessly.

She had not even confirmed whether Tang San was truly her child. If Bai Yu was deceiving her, what would happen to her child?

After thinking for a while, Ah Yin decided she still had to go out and find him first, so she agreed to Bai Yu's condition.

"Fine, I agree! Elder, you heard him too. Do as he says!"

The Blue Silver King looked at Ah Yin. "Your command shall be obeyed, my emperor. If life outside does not treat you well, come back."

"Thank you, Elder. Ah Yin understands!"

Ah Yin looked at the Blue Silver King, and reluctance flashed through her eyes.

Seeing Ah Yin agree to his terms, Bai Yu smiled.

"Since you agreed, I'll take you with me. But let's be clear first: outside, you listen to me!"