What a Shame!

Bi Ji took a deep breath, gathering up the countless emotions in her eyes.

She took one last look at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, which was about to become her final resting place, then turned to Ling Xuqing and gave him an utterly tender smile.

"Young Master, Bi Ji is going now."

The instant the words left her lips, a dazzling emerald light burst from Bi Ji.

In the empty space behind her, the phantom of a colossal Emerald Swan threw back its head and cried out. There was no pain in its cry, only boundless relief and hope for the future.

"Sacrifice—begin!"

As Bi Ji murmured those words, her terrifying five-hundred-and-eighty-thousand-year cultivation burned without reserve, erupting in a blaze of power.

Her body began to turn transparent, dissolving into countless pure emerald specks of light. Like a grand rain of life, they surged toward Ling Xuqing.

"Buzz—!"

With a thought from Ling Xuqing, a dark-gold spear materialized out of thin air. It was his Martial Soul—the Golden Overlord Spear!

At that moment, two dazzling Soul Rings already encircled the Golden Overlord Spear.

The first was a brilliant platinum Soul Ring! It was a divine Soul Ring formed from the Golden Dragon King's origin power, radiating supreme, unyielding yang energy.

The second was a deep, blood-red hundred-thousand-year Soul Ring! It was the bond left behind when Xiao Wu, the Soft-Boned Demon Rabbit, had sacrificed herself without hesitation.

Now, as Bi Ji's emerald specks of light poured into it, the Golden Overlord Spear shuddered.

"Buzz—"

A third Soul Ring slowly took shape around the shaft!

It, too, was a platinum Soul Ring. Its light was not as dazzling as the first, the one formed from the Golden Dragon King's origin power, but it carried a gentle, sacred, and unendingly vast aura of life.

At the same time, an immense stream of profound information surged into Ling Xuqing's mind through the third Soul Ring.

Third Soul Skill One: [Emerald Light Wave]!

Gather pure Emerald Life Soul Power and release a large-area healing wave. Covers a battlefield-wide area capable of encompassing a hundred people, rapidly repairing severe injuries such as torn flesh and fractured bones, while replenishing stamina and Soul Power. Possesses powerful purification properties, removing poison, burns, and Soul Power disruptions while soothing mental damage. As long as an ally retains even a trace of life, it can stabilize them in a near-death state!

Third Soul Skill Two: [Emerald Life Barrier]!

Create a circular protective domain and condense a thick, gentle, emerald life shield. Absorbs and cushions enemy physical and elemental attacks, converting some of the damage into gentle life energy that continuously heals allies and nourishes their meridians. Grants steady damage reduction and weakens ordinary elemental attacks!

Third Soul Skill Three: [World-Purifying Emerald Light]!

A high-level group purification Soul Skill that releases emerald radiance capable of cleansing all things. Completely dispels every negative condition, including potent poisons, extreme cold and heat, mental corruption, illusions, inner demons, and Soul Power seals. Neutralizes extreme ice, dark demonic energy, evil curses—in one stroke, clears every abnormal condition affecting the whole team!

Third Soul Skill Four: [Life Symbiosis]!

An auxiliary Soul Skill built around a life-saving contract. Forms a temporary life-symbiosis contract with an ally, creating a channel through which life energy can flow between them. Divides the ally's grievous and fatal injuries, taking them onto oneself and using one's own life Soul Power to protect their vitality, preserving their body and the origin of their soul!

Third Soul Skill Five: [Vitality Rebirth]!

An ultimate healing Soul Skill that comes at a cost! Exhausts the Emerald Swan's origin vitality stored in the third Soul Ring, unleashing the utmost power of life's revival. Can resurrect an ally who has only just fallen, whose soul has not yet dispersed, restoring their body and healing their injuries on the spot!

"What powerful healing and purification abilities!"

Ling Xuqing felt the immense torrent of information in his mind and was filled with shock.

Just as Ling Xuqing finished absorbing the power of Bi Ji's sacrifice—

"Boom—!!!"

A deafening sonic boom suddenly rang out from outside the cavern.

"Young Master! I've brought Yan Yan!"

Dugu Bo's urgent voice echoed through the cavern.

He grabbed Dugu Yan with one hand and Ye Lingling with the other, then rushed into the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well in a green blur, frantic with haste.

But when he charged into the cavern, the sight before him stopped him dead in his tracks.

At the center of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, a huge emerald orb hovered above the water.

Inside it, Ling Xuqing sat cross-legged as Bi Ji's petite body dissolved into countless specks of light, streaming into him without end.

"This... this is..."

Dugu Bo's eyes widened in utter shock.

Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling were so startled that their faces turned pale. It was the first time they had ever witnessed such a breathtaking sight.

"Shh—"

Gu Yuena turned to the three of them and raised a finger to her lips, speaking softly.

"Don't disturb them. Wait quietly over there."

Dugu Bo hurriedly nodded and led the two girls behind a nearby boulder, not daring to breathe too loudly.

Looking at the emerald orb, Ye Lingling couldn't help asking in a small voice,

"Th-that older sister... what happened to her?"

Xiao Wu turned to Ye Lingling, whose face was full of worry, and said with a cheerful grin,

"Bi Ji's the one making the sacrifice."

"She's the Emerald Swan, with five hundred and eighty thousand years of cultivation!"

"She's a pure healing-type Soul Beast, and she commands the ultimate powers of life, light, and rebirth!"

"A s-sacrifice?!"

Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling sucked in a sharp breath.

"Then doesn't that mean Sister Bi Ji..." A trace of sorrow flickered in Ye Lingling's eyes.

"Don't worry!" Xiao Wu waved her hand with a smile. "Sister Bi Ji isn't dead!"

"She's just become Ling Xuqing's Soul Spirit in a different way."

"She'll always be by his side from now on!"

"Soul Spirit?!" Dugu Bo cried out in shock.

Before they could recover, the emerald orb at the center of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well suddenly burst into a blinding light!

"Boom—!!!"

An incredibly terrifying, wildly violent aura shot up from the orb!

Under the force of Bi Ji's five-hundred-and-eighty-thousand-year origin power, Ling Xuqing's Soul Power barrier at level thirty crumbled in an instant!

Level thirty-one!

Level thirty-two!

Level thirty-three!

His Soul Power surged like a rocket, with no sign of stopping!

Level thirty-four!

Level thirty-five!

Level thirty-six!

Level thirty-seven!

At last, when all the energy had been completely absorbed, Ling Xuqing's aura settled firmly at level thirty-eight!

"Level thirty-eight?!"

Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling stared at the boy as he slowly opened his eyes, utterly aghast.

Six years old... and level thirty-eight?!

Wh-what kind of monster was he?!

Feeling the surging sea of power within him, Ling Xuqing made a light leap, holding Bi Ji's petite body—now restored to solid form—and landed steadily on the stone bank.

Everyone hurried over to them.

Zi JI looked at Ling Xuqing, whose aura had surged once again, then glanced at herself. Suddenly, she slapped her thigh and said with a deeply regretful expression,

"What a shame!"

"If the Young Master had just gained two more levels and reached level forty, I could have made my sacrifice right now!"

At Zi JI's words, Ling Xuqing had just landed—and nearly stumbled and fell flat on his face.