A Changed Life Path

"Uncle Peng, Uncle Yu. Next, Sister Lexuan and I will travel around the Star Luo Empire for a while. Once I break through Rank 40 and obtain a Soul Ring, we'll return directly to the Body Sect, bring Yu Tianqi before my teacher, and demand an explanation from the Heavenly Dragon Sect. You've both worked hard protecting us during this time."

Hearing Ye An's words, Jin Peng smiled and waved his hand. "Protecting the Young Sect Master and the Young Sect Master's wife—how could that be considered hard work? Besides, neither of our strengths has improved in a long time. Staying in the sect and cultivating endlessly wouldn't lead anywhere. Coming outside for a change of scenery isn't necessarily a bad thing."

Yu Bo, standing beside him, nodded in deep agreement. He was just short of saying that he felt the same.

Jin Peng's words truly resonated with him!

It was just that the Young Sect Master's wording still seemed a little too tactful. Demanding an explanation from the Heavenly Dragon Sect... what a fresh way of putting it.

By their usual way of saying things, they were going there to rob them!

The Young Sect Master had spent forty-five million three hundred thousand this trip. No matter what, they had to rob that money back, or they would be letting down the leverage the Heavenly Dragon Sect had handed them!

As they spoke, Zhang Lexuan, who had been absorbing the Soul Bone, opened her eyes and let out a long breath.

Absorbing this eighty-thousand-year Moon-Howling Suanni left leg bone had indeed brought her enormous benefits. Setting aside the Soul Skill attached to the Soul Bone, the amplification provided by the bone itself was enough to delight Zhang Lexuan.

Seeing Zhang Lexuan awaken, Ye An immediately asked with concern, "Sister Lexuan, how do you feel? Any discomfort?"

"No."

Zhang Lexuan smiled and shook her head, her voice gentle and pleasant. "Although this Soul Bone is eighty thousand years old, I didn't feel any discomfort during the fusion process. Moreover, its amplification effect is remarkable."

"After absorbing the Soul Bone, my speed has increased by one hundred percent, and my spiritual power has improved somewhat as well. Most importantly, it is extremely compatible with my Martial Soul and can increase the power of my Soul Skills by fifty percent. More importantly, this Soul Bone also comes with a Soul Skill called Moon-Howling Sonic Explosion. It is a spiritual-type Soul Skill that releases sound waves to strike the enemy's Brain. The strength of this spiritual attack depends on my spiritual power and that of the enemy."

"With my current spiritual power, even enemies at the Soul Emperor level would suffer a tremendous impact. Even Soul Saints with weaker spiritual power would be affected."

Moon-Howling Sonic Explosion?

Listening to Zhang Lexuan's explanation, Ye An nodded thoughtfully.

This Soul Bone... was worth it.

Not only was it worth it, it was an absolute bargain.

The one-hundred-percent increase to speed, the improvement to spiritual power, and the attached Soul Skill already made this Soul Bone excellent. Not to mention that it could also amplify the power of Zhang Lexuan's other Soul Skills.

This Soul Bone was even more compatible with Zhang Lexuan than he had imagined.

And the attached Soul Skill...

It sounded fairly ordinary, but in reality, it could very likely produce miraculous results in battle—after all, Zhang Lexuan did not look like a spiritual-type Soul Master at all. Once an enemy relaxed their guard during combat, this spiritual attack could deliver a decisive blow.

"Congratulations, Sister Lexuan..."

Before Ye An could finish speaking, Zhang Lexuan threw herself into his arms and hugged him tightly.

A faint fragrance instantly filled Ye An's nose, accompanied by a soft sensation against him.

Ye An's body suddenly stiffened.

Noticing this, Jin Peng and Yu Bo exchanged a glance.

Although the two Super Douluo were both lonely single men, they were tactful enough not to want to shine their light here. They quietly slipped out of the room, leaving the private space entirely to Ye An and Zhang Lexuan.

At that moment, Ye An did not notice Jin Peng and Yu Bo leaving at all. He only felt both pain and happiness.

The happiness needed no explanation. As for the pain...

He was no longer the six-year-old child he had once been. After several years of growth, judging by the age and development of Soul Masters on the Douluo Continent, he had officially entered adolescence, so...

Zhang Lexuan's sudden intimacy stirred something within him.

Fortunately, Zhang Lexuan soon realized how bold her actions had been. Her cheeks reddened slightly, and she loosened her embrace a little, though she did not pull away completely. She still held Ye An half in her arms.

"Xiao An, I should be the one thanking you."

"If you hadn't appeared that day and brought me back to the Body Sect, I might still be wandering somewhere without knowing where to go. I wouldn't have discovered the truth behind the destruction of the Wangyue Viscount Family, I wouldn't have achieved my current cultivation, and I certainly wouldn't possess an External Soul Bone or this eighty-thousand-year left leg bone."

Hearing that, Ye An's heart softened, though he also felt a faint sense of emotion.

Indeed.

Zhang Lexuan's life path had already been completely changed by him.

If he had not appeared, Zhang Lexuan might have possessed roughly the same cultivation, but she would never have learned the truth behind the destruction of the Wangyue Viscount Family. She might truly have believed that Xuan Ye Earl had joined forces with Evil Soul Masters to commit the crime. She would not have hunted the Star-Moon Twin-Headed Flood Dragon and obtained an External Soul Bone, nor would she have come to the Star Luo Empire and purchased this Soul Bone that suited her so perfectly.

She would have been brought into Shrek Academy, muddle-headedly taken revenge on the enemies responsible for her family's destruction, become Bei Bei's fiancée at Mu En's request, then watched Bei Bei fall in love with someone else and remain bound for most of her life. Even if she became the senior disciple of Shrek Academy's Inner Court and entered the Sea God Pavilion, that would be all.

In the end, she would never be able to become the Master of the Sea God Pavilion.

"I'm very fortunate that I met you on the darkest day of my life."

"Xiao An, without you as that ray of light, I truly would have been lost."

As she spoke, Zhang Lexuan's cheeks flushed crimson.

But soon, as though she had made up her mind, determination flashed through her eyes. She slowly lowered her head and planted a light kiss on Ye An's forehead.

Hiss...

Ye An seemed to be getting a little worked up.

No, no... Even if she is my fiancée, not now.

The Sword of Damocles of an ancient divine beast is still hanging over my head. At the very least, I need to grow up a little more.

As Ye An silently recited his twenty-four-character mantra, he freed one hand and gently patted Zhang Lexuan's back. His voice was warm. "Don't think about the past anymore. What matters most is that you are now my fiancée."

"So no matter what happens in the future, I will face it with you."

Zhang Lexuan firmly continued Ye An's words. At the same time, she reached out, took his other hand, and gently placed it over her heart, as if allowing him to feel what was inside her.