Why Were the Spirit Bones Missing?

The swirling starlight in Gu Yuena's purple eyes seemed to instantly illuminate the sleeping galaxy after Lin Xia uttered the words, "I am willing to follow you with my sword."

On her exquisitely beautiful face, that faint yet Qian Jun smile finally unfolded completely, like a fleeting epiphyllum blooming suddenly on a snowfield Ice Seal for millennia, breathtaking yet carrying a sense of relief and profound expectation.

She took a deep breath, and the invisible tide of life seemed to surge along with it, making the space at the bottom of the entire Lake of Life seem a little brighter.

This promise was more than just empty words to her.

Lin Xia, this human boy, carries too many variables and too many possibilities.

His human identity served as an excellent cover for integrating into the Divine Realm system and circumventing certain rules and barriers.

His Martial Soul, the Ivysaur, possessing an independent life form and boundless potential, is itself a powerful weapon against the Divine Realm's definition of Soul Beast.

Not to mention the marks of the two supreme dragon kings on his body, and... the fortune that is faintly watched by many gods.

Having lived for countless years, Gu Yuena knew that investing in the future, especially in a "variable" with unlimited possibilities, was far more important than clinging to current resources.

Lin Xia is a key figure she has invested in to avenge the Dragon Clan and secure a future for the Soul Beast Clan!

"Very good."

Gu Yuena's voice regained its usual coolness, but its weight pressed heavily on Lin Xia's heart.

"Remember your oath today, Lin Xia. The blood debt of the Dragon Clan, the future of the Soul Beast Clan, will one day be settled. And you will be that indispensable blade."

Her gaze swept over Ivysaur, which was still clinging to Lin Xia and providing silent support, and a barely Frisk tenderness flickered deep in her purple eyes.

The marks of ice and fire slumber within this boy, signifying that the final will of the Ice and Fire Dragon Kings has chosen him.

Winning over Lin Xia is tantamount to maintaining the last traces of those two deceased kings, which is equally significant to her.

Lin Xia sensed the solemnity and expectation in Gu Yuena's words, and the heavy sense of responsibility in her heart became even clearer.

He knew that from this moment on, his life trajectory had taken an irreversible and enormous turn.

He nodded slightly, his eyes resolute.

"Oaths made must be kept in our hearts."

However, a question that had lingered in his mind for a long time, and seemed even more abrupt after a series of dramatic changes, finally found an outlet.

He considered his words carefully, then decided to stop hesitating and ask directly.

"Your Excellency Silver Dragon King, there is still one thing I do not understand, which has puzzled me for a long time. May I ask you for your guidance?"

Gu Yuena raised an eyebrow slightly, signaling him to continue.

Lin Xia took a deep breath and met Gu Yuena's deep eyes with a calm gaze.

"It's about Spirit Bone. When I was training in the Star Dou Forest, I discovered a peculiar phenomenon. Such a vast and fertile forest, inhabited by countless powerful Soul Beast, should have accumulated a considerable number of lost Spirit Bone over the long years."

"However, whether in the outer or core areas, I have rarely heard of any Soul Master finding rare, high-age Spirit Bone here. It's as if... they've all vanished into thin air. I wonder what the reason is?"

This question clearly took Gu Yuena by surprise.

She paused for a moment, a rare hint of confusion flashing in her purple eyes that seemed to see through the mysteries of the universe.

Spirit Bone?

For an existence like her, Spirit Bone is merely another condensed form of energy and rules after Soul Beast dies. Its value is far less than that of a powerful, living Soul Beast itself, and even less than the primordial power at the core of the Lake of Life.

For most of her long life, she was either asleep recovering from her injuries or plotting her revenge; she never paid attention to these "minor details."

She paused for a moment, a barely Frisk hint of helplessness—"this question is too basic"—fleeting across her perfect face. Finally, she waved her hand lightly and said calmly:

"Such trivial matters are not my forte, Bi Ji."

As her cool voice fell, the space seemed to ripple like water.

The next instant, an elegant and graceful figure in emerald green appeared on the platform as if by teleportation.

The newcomer was none other than the Emerald Swan, ranked fourth among the Ferocious Beast Bi Ji, who wielded powerful healing and life-giving abilities.

She bowed deeply to Gu Yuena respectfully.

"My the Master."

Then he turned his gentle, spring-like gaze to Lin Xia, nodded slightly, and looked at her with concern.

"Little Lin Xia, are you fully recovered from your injuries? Are you adapting well to the nourishment from the Lake of Life?"

Bi Ji's voice is warm and pleasant, with a natural affinity that makes people feel like they are bathed in a spring breeze.

Gu Yuena pointed directly at Lin Xia.

"Bi Ji, he just asked why it's so difficult to find high-level Spirit Bone in the Star Dou Forest. You're responsible for explaining this."

Upon hearing this, a hint of understanding flashed in Bi Ji's beautiful emerald eyes. She then looked at Lin Xia, a gentle yet slightly helpless smile appearing on her face, as if to say, "So that's what it is."

She parted her lips slightly, her voice still gentle, but what she said revealed a wisdom and composure born of experience.

"Little Lin Xia, the answer to this question is actually not complicated; in fact, you could say it's so simple it goes straight to the heart of the matter."

Bi Ji's tone carried a profound and insightful understanding of the world.

"Spirit Bone are formed from the essence and fragments of laws of Soul Beast after its death. For you Soul Master, they are priceless treasures that can directly enhance your combat power and even change your aptitude."

"But for us Soul Beast ourselves, and especially for the ecology and long-term survival of the entire Star Dou Forest... it is a potentially huge hidden danger."

She paused, as if organizing her thoughts for a clearer explanation.

"Imagine if those powerful ten-thousand-year or Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast perished, their Spirit Bone scattered throughout the forest, left unattended, exposed to the wind and rain, or... discovered by treasure hunters. What consequences would that cause?"

Bi Ji's gaze deepened.

"First of all, there will be countless human soul masters who are self-reliant on their own strength and have luck in mind. They will flood into the Star Dou Forest one after another, going deep into the core area under the banner of 'exploration' and 'treasure hunting'. Their goal is no longer to simply hunt for soul rings, but for the tempting soul bones!"

"Every such 'treasure hunt' is accompanied by conflict and hunting, which disturbs the tranquility of the forest, depletes its resources, and may even trigger large-scale animal conflict. This is a huge blow to the peace of the forest."

"Secondly!"

Bi Ji's tone carried a deeper worry.

"Those Soul Master who are fortunate enough to obtain powerful Spirit Bone will experience a qualitative leap in their strength as a result."

"A Titled Douluo with Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone is a far greater threat than an ordinary Titled Douluo. These Soul Master, strengthened by their Spirit Bone, will eventually unleash even greater power upon the forest and upon us Soul Beast!"

"They hunt down more powerful Soul Beast to obtain Soul Ring, and even... covet more Spirit Bone!"

"This creates a terrible vicious cycle—the 'legacy' left behind by the deaths of our Soul Beast ultimately becomes a weapon that accelerates the extinction of our kind."