Li Qingshan did not explain, only gesturing for him to recall Luo Sanpao first.
When the little fellow vanished in a golden light, he raised a hand to grip Yu Xiaogang's shoulder, shrouding his outer form in a layer of Soul Power, and cautioned:
"Don't be afraid, and don't thrash around."
Just as Yu Xiaogang was about to reply, he saw the tree shadows before his eyes suddenly twist.
The next instant, a bizarre force enveloped the two of them, and the surrounding scenery vanished abruptly!
When solid ground returned beneath their feet, that ancient tree from just moments ago was already gone, replaced by a hillside blanketed in moss.
"What is the meaning of this..." Yu Xiaogang's eyes widened wide; he had not even managed to see clearly how Li Qingshan brought him over.
Li Qingshan did not linger.
To make a swift round trip, he continued to deploy the Limit Douluo's mastery over Spatial Power obtained from the system, carrying Yu Xiaogang as he swept past the tree canopy and sprinted toward the outer periphery of the forest.
The figures of the two vanished accordingly.
Woods, mountain rocks, and streams were left behind one after another, until the third spatial jump concluded, and the dense tree canopy that had blocked the light of day finally receded, revealing the path leading out of the forest once again before their eyes.
When Yu Xiaogang was set down, he still had not quite recovered his wits. "After walking for so long earlier, how did we return so fast?"
At that exact same moment, deep within the dense forest, Tang Zhen, who was pressing forward, halted his footsteps abruptly and turned his head to gaze toward the rear flank.
"Father, what is it?" Seeing this, Tang Xiao asked hurriedly.
Tang Zhen did not answer immediately, instead concentrating his senses for a moment as his brow gradually furrowed. He discovered that a spatial ripple seemed to have flashed and vanished in that direction just now.
Yet by the time he projected his Spiritual Power over, he discovered nothing at all; only a few tree leaves whipped up by the wind were drifting slowly down toward the ground.
"Rather peculiar."
The Second Elder also looked over and asked, "Eldest Brother, have you discovered that fellow's tracks?"
"Not yet certain." Tang Zhen shook his head slowly, not readily linking that ripple to Li Qingshan. "Let's keep searching."
He resumed his stride forward, unaware that the person he sought had just carried his disciple across this tract of woodland from the sky above.
Had they returned on foot along the path they came, the two sides would most likely have already collided, but these few spatial jumps caused them to narrowly miss each other instead.
Outside the forest, at a post station providing lodging for traveling Soul Masters.
Li Qingshan requested a guest room for Yu Xiaogang and left behind sufficient funds for food and lodging before leading him upstairs and saying:
"Xiao Gang, cultivate here and wait for me. Rest when you're tired, and don't venture into the forest alone."
Hearing this, Yu Xiaogang nodded slightly and said, "Master, rest assured; this disciple will wait for you right inside the room."
Only then did Li Qingshan relax slightly, before turning to leave the post station and heading straight back into the forest.
The three spatial jumps were exhausted, and he could no longer deploy them in the short term; he could only urge his Soul Power to accelerate his traveling speed.
After all, Ah Yin was still undergoing her transformation, and his round trip had already delayed them by quite a bit of time.
If it were merely letting her complete her transformation, it wouldn't matter, but with such a surging life aura, what if it draws nearby Soul Beasts or Soul Masters over...
At this thought, Li Qingshan picked up his pace even further.
On the other side of the forest.
Tang Zhen and the others crossed a mountain stream, and the Third Elder, who was originally still searching for footprints, suddenly raised his head and cried out in alarm:
"Sect Master, did you sense it?"
Tang Zhen was already gazing toward the depths of the forest, his expression far more solemn than just a moment ago.
He discovered that a colossal life aura was continuously diffusing outward from ahead, and the Blue Silver Grass, visible everywhere nearby, was actually emitting a faint blue radiance as a result.
That aura was still climbing, as if something was undergoing a transformation, and even the surrounding vegetation was drawn into it.
Tang Zhen's gaze sharpened, and he spoke in a deep voice:
"Let's go, let's head over together and take a look."
Tang Zhen hastened his steps immediately, the two elders followed closely behind, and Tang Hao and Tang Xiao hurried to keep pace as well.
The further forward they went, the more distinct that aura became.
Before long, the five of them crossed through interlacing ancient trees, only for a low-lying tract of woodland shrouded in blue light to appear before their eyes.
Large patches of Blue Silver Grass drooped toward the center, fine motes of light rising unceasingly from between the leaves before converging into the bright curtain of light at the center.
Within that curtain of light, the silhouette of a woman was faintly standing. She was still wreathed in blue-gold leaves, but those leaves were gradually dissipating and then transforming into light that merged into her body.
"This is... a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast undergoing transformation?!" Gaging the scene before him, the Second Elder halted his footsteps abruptly and cried out in shock.
Tang Zhen's expression shifted as well.
Ordinary Soul Beasts naturally could not produce such a transformation. The only ones capable of discarding a monstrous cultivation base and choosing to transform into human form were Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts!
"A hundred thousand years..." the Third Elder repeated in a low voice, his gaze already firmly nailed onto that expanse of blue light.
They had originally come to find the person who injured Tang Lie, yet who could have anticipated running into such a stroke of fortune!
The Second and Third Elders exchanged a glance, both reading an unsuppressable agitation in each other's eyes.
Both men currently possessed over Level 80 Soul Power, though there was still some distance to go before becoming Titled Douluos.
If they could bring this Soul Beast back to the sect for strict custody, and wait until they broke through to Level 90 before hunting and absorbing its Soul Ring...
"A hundred-thousand-year ninth soul ring! And a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone that is bound to appear!" Thinking of this, even the Third Elder's breathing grew somewhat hurried.
Although Tang Zhen did not speak, his gaze gradually grew blazing as well. He already possessed a ninth soul ring, but the sect still had elders, as well as Hao'er and Xiao'er.
As long as they could control this Soul Beast, they could completely discuss whom to hand it over to once they returned.
For the entire Clear Sky Sect, such an opportunity must never be let go of easily.
Yet Tang Hao and Tang Xiao, standing in the rear, were paying no attention to the expressions of their father and the elders at the moment; the lines of sight of both youths had landed squarely upon the woman within the blue light.
As the final few blue-gold leaves scattered, her features gradually grew clear.
A cascade of smooth blue hair draped down to her waist, her brows and eyes exquisite, her skin appearing glossy and fair under the illumination of the light, and her blue-gold long dress fluttering gently with the air currents.
She still kept her eyes closed, her expression serene, as if she had merged into one with the swaying grass and leaves beside her.
Tang Hao gazed in a daze, his breathing unconsciously growing lighter. Tang Xiao likewise stood frozen in place, momentarily forgetting to pull his gaze away.
The blue light continued to converge into the woman's body.
Her transformation had clearly reached its final juncture, and outside the light curtain, the two elders had quietly separated, guarding the passages on either side of the woodland respectively.
The Second Elder glanced at the blue light that was about to scatter, and lowered his voice to say: "Sect Master, this is a great fortune delivered right to our doorstep!"
"An ordinary Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast is something even Titled Douluos might not necessarily be able to take down. But since it chose to transform into human form, completing this step means it must cast away its original cultivation base and begin cultivating anew."
Before you continue