Tang Ya and Bei Bei

At that, Dai Yutong stumbled and fell flat on level ground.

"But from everything you've told me, Sister Tian Meng, does that mean, um..."

Dai Yutong looked at the little silkworm before her, her face utterly serious.

"From the day you were born until now, you've never killed a single enemy?"

The Sky Dream Ice Silkworm looked ready to cry. He launched into an explanation, making eight hundred gestures a second.

"Oh, no, no, no! Don't say it! Don't say it!"

"I was just asleep the whole time."

"And I kept holding back..."

"I knew you'd mind something like that, but I... I really am powerful!"

The Sky Dream Ice Silkworm spoke again, his face full of gloom.

"You wretched girl, you little brat! You have no idea what a powerful future I've brought you!"

"Even if I've never..."

Seeing how close he was to sinking into despair, Dai Yutong hurried to explain.

"Sister Tian Meng, I was just saying it offhand. I didn't mean anything by it."

At that, the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm collapsed flat on the ground, looking even gloomier than before.

"All right... the truth is, it bothers me too..."

"But I've already become your Soul Ring, you little brat."

"Even if you look down on me, there's no changing that."

"Waaaaah."

"Hmph. Go ahead and laugh at me in your head, you little brat."

Dai Yutong immediately protested.

"Stop talking nonsense. I don't look down on you at all, Sister Tian Meng."

"What bothers you doesn't bother me in the slightest."

"Because I've always been weak too..."

"Brother Tianming was always the one protecting me before..."

"So I know the strength it takes to endure when you're weak. People who were born powerful, with sharp fangs and claws, could never understand that kind of strength!"

"Sister Tian Meng, you endured for a whole ten thousand years! That's more incredible than anything any human has ever done!"

"I think you're amazing, Sister Tian Meng."

The Sky Dream Ice Silkworm's eyes filled with tears as he looked at Dai Yutong.

"Little Yutong, do you really mean that?"

"This must be fate! Meeting you was an incredible stroke of fate!"

"But right now, I'm worried about that gray ball of light."

The Sky Dream Ice Silkworm looked toward a gray ball of light in the Sea of Consciousness and spoke helplessly.

"It seems to have fallen asleep for now. It looks like a fragment of a soul. It's very faint, but its level is extraordinarily high."

"Even I can't do anything about him."

At that, the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm regained his confidence.

"But don't worry, little Yutong. No matter when he wakes up, I'll protect you!"

"Don't worry, Sister Tian Meng. I'll work hard to become stronger."

"And Brother Tianming will help me too!"

The Sky Dream Ice Silkworm gave Dai Yutong a look of disdain.

"Eugh."

I wonder how my dear Bingbing is doing...

The Sky Dream Ice Silkworm turned back to Dai Yutong.

"All right, time for you to go."

"Behold my Million-Year Soul Skill!"

"Sky Dream Flying Kick!"

In an instant, the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm's massive body slammed Dai Yutong straight out of the Sea of Consciousness.

"Sister Tian Meng, wait aaaaaah!"

Dai Yutong, lying on the bluestone slabs, cried out loud.

Ye Tianming looked at her in alarm and asked cautiously,

"Yutong, what happened? Are you all right?"

Dai Yutong slowly shook her head.

"Brother Tianming, I'm fine."

Ye Tianming let out a long breath of relief, then said,

"Good. Why don't you see what your first Soul Skill is like?"

Dai Yutong nodded excitedly and activated her first Soul Skill.

A Yellow Soul Ring slowly lit up beneath her feet.

The next instant, every blade of grass, every tree, every insect and bird within thirty meters of Dai Yutong became part of an astonishingly clear three-dimensional image.

Dai Yutong instinctively took Ye Tianming's hand and activated Spiritual Sharing.

Ye Tianming shuddered. Everything within thirty meters appeared in his mind, even the veins on the back of a leaf perfectly clear.

Ye Tianming swallowed. Spiritual Detection and Spiritual Sharing—these were the skills that had made Huo Yuhao the most irreplaceable member of his entire team in the original story.

With the Soul Ring secured, the two wasted no more time and headed toward the edge of the forest as planned.

All along the way, Dai Yutong experimented with her Soul Skill. The three-dimensional image spread through her mind, drew back, then spread out again.

As they walked, nothing around her remained hidden from her eyes.

At noon, Dai Yutong used her Spirit Eyes Martial Soul to spear several plump fish.

After about ten minutes of roasting, the smell of grilled fish drifted through the nearby forest.

Just then, two figures crept up behind them.

Ye Tianming heard them, spun around, and barked,

"Who's there? Come out!"

A figure in purple and another in pink gradually emerged from the bushes.

"Hey, little brother, no need to get so worked up. We smelled grilled fish and came over to take a look."

The girl in pink spoke.

When Ye Tianming saw who they were, he slowly lowered his guard.

They were none other than Bei Bei and Tang Ya, who had brought Huo Yuhao into the Tang Sect and Shrek in the original story.

Tang Ya's eyes sparkled as she stared at the grilled fish in Dai Yutong's hand. She swallowed and asked cautiously,

"Um... could I have a bite?"

Dai Yutong relaxed at once and offered the freshly grilled fish to the girl in pink.

"Then don't mind if I do!"

Tang Ya took the fish, sat beside the campfire, and began eating in great mouthfuls.

Ye Tianming and Bei Bei walked over. Both pressed a hand to their foreheads and sighed.

"Yutong, how many times have I told you? Be more careful around strangers!"

"Teacher Xiao Ya, show a little restraint."

They spoke at the same time.

"We know!"

The four of them settled around the campfire. Dai Yutong grilled fish while Bei Bei and Ye Tianming fed wood into the fire.

As for Tang Ya, she held a grilled fish and nibbled at it like a kitten.

"So good!"

An hour later, all four had eaten and drunk their fill.

Dai Yutong then asked,

"Sister Tang Ya, Brother Bei Bei, did you come to hunt for a Soul Ring too?"

Tang Ya nodded and smiled.

"Of course!"

The moment she finished speaking, a tail lashed straight toward Tang Ya as she rose to her feet.