Stealing the White Tiger Origin, Blood and Qi Exhausted

The White Tiger's vital energy pressed back along the spores, and Ji Yuan did not resist it head-on.

He split open the outer layer of the subsidiary spores, deliberately allowing a small piece of empty shell to be crushed by the White Tiger origin, while the true root filaments sank into the shadows of the meridians.

Dai Mubai only felt a brief tightness in his chest before it returned to normal.

He rubbed his brow and cursed, "Damn it."

The girl beside him asked softly, "Young Master Dai, should we find a healing Soul Master to take a look?"

Dai Mubai shot her a glance. "It's just a little fatigue. Why would I need a healing Soul Master?"

He did not want to admit that he had suffered at Tang San's hands just now, much less admit there was something wrong with his body.

That arrogance was exactly what Ji Yuan wanted.

The prouder someone was, the less likely they were to suspect that an extra mouth had appeared inside them.

Inside the Rose Hotel, Tang San sat by the window, the wound on his shoulder already treated.

Xiao Wu lay sprawled on the bed, swinging her feet. "That Dai Mubai said he'd see us at Shrek. Are we really going tomorrow?"

Tang San took out Yu Xiaogang's letter of introduction, then put it away again. "Teacher told us to go. He must have his reasons."

Xiao Wu rolled over. "Nothing your teacher arranges is ever easy."

Tang San smiled. "At least we're not drinking medicine this time."

Xiao Wu immediately sat up. "You still dare mention medicine? You never seem to get much better after drinking it."

Tang San's movements slowed.

That was true.

Whenever those medicines meant to replenish his vital energy and blood entered his body, they always seemed to be consumed by something first. In the end, only a faint warmth remained.

Before, he could explain it away as rejection caused by his Twin Martial Souls.

But today, when facing Dai Mubai, that feeling of his strength being hollowed out had appeared again.

Tang San lowered his head and looked at his palm. Blue Silver Grass emerged from between his fingers. Its leaves were tougher than before, but their edges carried a dark hue that did not belong to ordinary Blue Silver Grass.

When Xiao Wu saw it, her voice softened. "Are you feeling unwell again?"

Tang San withdrew his martial soul. "I'm fine."

Clinging to his meridians, Ji Yuan released a trace of soothing wood-element Soul Power.

Tang San's tense body relaxed.

That little bit of replenishment was only enough to keep him quiet, not enough to restore him.

The real prize was on the other side.

Inside Dai Mubai's body, once the White Tiger's vital energy receded, the spore root filaments emerged again.

This time, Ji Yuan did not touch the core meridians. Instead, he drew in the residual overflow left behind after the vital energy had circulated.

When the White Tiger origin entered the demon vine's body, the first sensation was heat.

Not the heat of flames, but the heat of flesh and blood so vigorous it could burst the root filaments apart.

Ji Yuan immediately drew over the Mysterious Heaven Skill's inner force that had just begun circulating within Tang San, wrapping this vital energy layer by layer.

Tang San had only just closed his eyes to cultivate when his face turned pale.

Xiao Wu had been tidying the blankets. Seeing sweat form on his forehead, she walked over and nudged his shoe with her foot. "Tang San, stop cultivating."

Tang San opened his eyes, his breathing unsteady. "I'm only regulating my breath."

"Regulating your breath until you look like this?"

Xiao Wu directly pressed his hand down. "Sleep."

Tang San still wanted to say something, but Ji Yuan deliberately amplified the hollow feeling in his chest. He could only nod. "All right."

Xiao Wu watched him lie down before returning to the other bed, still muttering, "With Grandmaster gone, you're even more of a worry."

Ji Yuan ignored her.

He was digesting the White Tiger's vital energy.

The demon vine's outer layer began to harden. Beneath its originally supple bark, fine keratinous patterns emerged.

These patterns could resist tearing, and they would also make it harder for Soul Power to shatter the root filaments when they burrowed into flesh.

Dai Mubai, this blood pack, was worth far more than expected.

On the other side, Dai Mubai lay in bed but could not fall asleep.

The emptiness inside him became increasingly apparent. His waist and abdomen felt weak and sore, while his limbs grew heavy.

With an ugly expression, he sat up and grabbed a cup of water, swallowing several mouthfuls.

The girl sat up with her clothes draped over her shoulders. "Young Master Dai, you really don't look well."

Her words struck a nerve, and his tone hardened. "Shut up. Go to sleep."

The girl did not dare ask again.

Dai Mubai rubbed his temples, feeling more humiliated the more he thought about it.

During his fight with Tang San that day, he had clearly held the upper hand. Yet after using the White Tiger Vajra Transformation, his body had let him down and suddenly gone weak.

Could it really be because he had indulged himself too much these past two days?

The more he thought about it, the darker his expression grew. At last, he set his cup down on the table and muttered, "I need to take it easy tomorrow."

Hearing that, Ji Yuan happily curled the tip of his vine.

He had already found an excuse for himself.

How convenient.

Early the next morning, Xiao Wu was awakened by the noise downstairs.

She sat up groggily and saw that Tang San was already packing his luggage. She immediately frowned. "Why are you up so early again?"

Tang San turned around. "Habit."

Xiao Wu stared at his face. "You're still pale."

Tang San touched his face. "Probably used up too much yesterday."

Ji Yuan had just drawn away twenty percent of his internal energy, and now returned a little wood-element vitality to him.

Tang San felt his spirits recover slightly, which only made him more certain that it was battle exhaustion.

When the two went downstairs to check out, the receptionist's gaze toward them had already changed.

"Guests, did you rest well last night?"

Xiao Wu slapped the key onto the counter. "The bed was nice. There were just too many people here trying to snatch rooms."

The receptionist gave an awkward smile and did not dare reply.

Tang San asked, "How do we get to Shrek Academy?"

The receptionist froze. "You two are going there to enroll?"

Tang San nodded.

The receptionist pointed out the direction. "Leave through the south gate and head toward the village. It's not exactly close, but quite a few people should be going there today."

At the mention of a village, Xiao Wu's face fell. "The academy is in a village?"

Tang San was surprised as well.

Yu Xiaogang had only said that Shrek Academy was special. He had not said it was so special that it was outside the city.

Before leaving the hotel, Ji Yuan left a faint strand of perception in a gap in the carpet.

If Dai Mubai returned here, he would sense it immediately.

Yet they had barely reached the street corner when Dai Mubai emerged from an alley on the other side.

He had changed clothes. His face still carried that same arrogance, but he could not hide the dark circles beneath his eyes.

Xiao Wu spotted him at once and snorted. "Oh, the room snatcher."

Dai Mubai halted.

When he saw Tang San, his expression became slightly unnatural, but he quickly recovered. "Going to Shrek?"

Tang San nodded. "You too?"

Dai Mubai looked at him, his tone much more restrained than it had been the night before. "I'll be waiting for you there."

Xiao Wu folded her arms. "Who asked you to wait?"

Dai Mubai did not argue with her. Instead, he looked at Tang San. "You didn't use your full strength yesterday."

Tang San met his gaze. "Neither did you."

Dai Mubai gave a short laugh. "We'll meet at the entrance assessment. I hope you won't disappoint me."

With that, he turned and left.

But after only a few steps, his legs visibly gave out beneath him. Though he quickly steadied himself, he could not escape Ji Yuan's perception.

The White Tiger spores took another bite from within his body.

This one was deeper.

With his back to Tang San, Dai Mubai's face turned grim and ugly.

Xiao Wu lowered her voice. "Are his legs weak?"

Tang San coughed lightly. "Don't say nonsense."

Xiao Wu snorted. "He was so arrogant yesterday, but today he's practically floating when he walks."

Tang San was puzzled as well.

With Dai Mubai's physique, he should not have weakened so badly overnight.

But he could not think of a reason, so he could only suppress his doubts.

Meanwhile, deep within the soles of his shoes, Ji Yuan refined the second mouthful of White Tiger essence.

The Demon Vine's hardened layer continued to expand, and the bases of its barbs became thicker and tougher.

He could even feel that, after a few more absorptions, his vines would be able to withstand the bites of ordinary beast martial souls head-on.

Tang San and Xiao Wu left Suotuo City and followed the small road outside the southern gate.

There were gradually fewer pedestrians on the road, but more and more finely dressed young men and women appeared.

Looking at the crowd lined up ahead, Xiao Wu finally could not help asking, "This rundown village entrance is really an academy?"

Tang San took out the letter of introduction and compared it with the sign.

A wooden plaque hung crookedly, bearing the words Shrek Academy.

The parents waiting at the entrance all looked unhappy.

Some were arguing, some were demanding refunds, and an old man sat behind a desk, too lazy even to raise his eyes.

Ji Yuan's perception spread out along the soles of Tang San's shoes.

Beneath the shabby village entrance, many young soul masters' auras were mixed together.

Two of them stood out the most.

One was noble and clear, carrying the flavor of a boost to the rules.

The other carried the scent of food. Its Soul Power was soft and gentle, yet its sense of life was strong.

Having just finished digesting the roots infused with White Tiger blood and vitality, Ji Yuan grew excited again.

Shrek truly did not disappoint him.

The White Tiger blood pack had only been an appetizer.

There was more here.

At the front of the line, the old man in charge of registration suddenly raised a hand. A Dragon-Pattern Staff landed in his palm, and the oppressive force of Soul Emperor-level Soul Power spread outward, silencing all the noisy parents.

Tang San's expression turned solemn.

Xiao Wu also put away her teasing smile.

Ji Yuan immediately shrank his main body into withered thorns, burying every dark-red pattern in the deepest recesses.

A strong opponent.

He could not be careless.

Just then, Dai Mubai walked out from the academy and stood beside the registration area.

His gaze swept over Tang San, carrying the fighting spirit that had yet to fade from the previous night.

At the same time, however, the White Tiger spore within Ji Yuan sent back a fluctuation.

Dai Mubai's blood and vitality had begun recovering again.

Ji Yuan coldly spread his roots.

The faster he recovered, the more suitable he was for long-term harvesting.

A noble young girl standing ahead of Tang San suddenly turned around. Her gaze swept over Tang San and Xiao Wu before finally falling at Tang San's feet, her brows knitting slightly.

When Ji Yuan's perception touched the glazed aura around her, a child spore had already formed at the tip of his vine.

But the next moment, the girl actually raised a hand to cover her chest and murmured, "Strange... it felt like something was watching me just now..."