Night fell like a velvet cloth steeped in ink, slowly covering the outline of Heaven Dou City.
In the rear courtyard of the Spirit Temple, a bonfire blazed brightly. Its dancing flames cast flickering light across everyone's faces, lending the gathering a touch of warmth.
Jiang Mo had somehow procured a plump, tender Snow Sheep and was roasting it over the fire on an iron spit. Fat dripped down its crisp, browned skin, scattering sizzling sparks over the coals. The aroma mingled with cumin and rosemary, drifting through the night breeze and whetting everyone's appetite.
"This Snow Sheep is a breed from the Far North. Crisp skin, tender meat-even tastier than Pipi Pig!"
With a smug look, Jiang Mo sliced a piece off the leg with a small knife and offered it to Qian Daoliu.
"Have a taste, big brother!"
Qian Daoliu took the meat. It was indeed fresh and tender, with a faint milky sweetness. The smoky fragrance of the charcoal had permeated the flesh, leaving a lingering savor.
Bibi Dong sat on a stone stool a little farther away. Before her was a white porcelain plate filled with vegetables Jiang Mo had specially roasted for Xiao Wu and her mother-oil-drizzled eggplant, grilled mushrooms, and roasted sweet potatoes sprinkled with honey.
Xiao Wu’s Mother speared a piece of eggplant with a silver fork and chewed slowly. A rare hint of color returned to her pale face.
Xiao Wu held half a roasted sweet potato, eating until her mouth glistened with grease. Her ruby-red eyes curved into crescents.
"Teacher Jiang Mo, this sweet potato is sweeter than the ones in the Star Dou Forest!"
"Of course it is!"
Jiang Mo thumped his chest and declared with theatrical flourish:
"These are Heaven Dou City's most famous honey sweet potatoes. I went down three whole streets before I found them!"
As everyone chatted and laughed, Qian Daoliu suddenly raised his hand. A pale golden halo shimmered in his palm.
Three Soul Bones radiating powerful Soul Power fluctuations appeared out of thin air in his hand. They floated above the bonfire, making even the surrounding air ripple.
The first to catch their eyes was a Right Arm Soul Bone glowing with an eerie blue, icy radiance. Its forty-thousand-year age lent its surface a shifting tracery of delicate frost patterns, as though the frigid winds of the Far North howled within it.
"This is an Icewind Demon Leopard's Right Arm Soul Bone, from the Far North. It excels in speed and ice attacks."
Qian Daoliu's voice rang especially clear in the night breeze.
The second was a dark golden Right Arm Soul Bone, its entire surface covered in rugged patterns like cracks in stone. Its Soul Power fluctuations carried a sense of brute, overbearing strength.
"A Raging Gorilla's Right Arm Soul Bone. Forty thousand years old, focused on strength and defense."
The final Soul Bone was wreathed in purple lightning. Even floating motionlessly, it emitted faint crackles. This was the lightning-attribute Soul Bone Yu Yuanzhen had treasured for years.
"A thirty-thousand-year Thunder Dragon Right Arm Soul Bone, focused on the power of lightning. I imagine it conflicted with his own Soul Bones, so Yu Yuanzhen intended to leave it to one of his descendants."
The moment the three Soul Bones appeared, even the surrounding temperature seemed to change abruptly. The chill of the ice bone, the restless heat of the brute-strength bone, and the sharp aura of the lightning bone intertwined, making the air feel thick.
Guang Ling and Jiang Mo were instantly captivated, their breathing unconsciously growing shallow. Golden Crocodile merely glanced at the three Soul Bones, recognized that none suited him, and paid them no further attention.
"Divide these three Soul Bones among yourselves."
Qian Daoliu's voice broke the silence.
Golden Crocodile was the first to shake his head.
"Big brother, these Soul Bones don't suit me. Leave them for someone who needs them more. They would do little to improve my strength."
Guang Ling also drew his gaze away.
"My current Soul Bones are already a fairly good fit. This Icewind Demon Leopard's Soul Bone is excellent, but I don't need it."
Jiang Mo scratched his head. His gaze lingered reluctantly on the Raging Gorilla's Soul Bone, but he forced himself to say:
"Same here! With my Coiling Dragon Staff Martial Soul, I'm still more accustomed to winning through staff techniques. A strength Soul Bone... I have no use for one just yet."
Watching the three of them decline, Qian Daoliu could not help chuckling.
"You're all so willing to yield. But resources are only spared from waste when they're put to proper use."
With a tap of his finger, the Icewind Demon Leopard's Soul Bone slowly floated toward Guang Ling.
"Ling's Light Feather Divine Bow Martial Soul already needs the support of light and ice attributes. This ice-attribute Soul Bone is a perfect fit."
As Guang Ling watched the Soul Bone drift before him, a flicker of emotion crossed his ice-blue eyes.
He could clearly sense the chill of the Far North contained within it, faintly resonating with his own ice Soul Power.
"Thank you, big brother."
He declined no further and reached out to take the Soul Bone into his palm. As he circulated his Soul Power, it merged into his right arm. A pale blue frost pattern flashed at his cuff and vanished.
"Jiang Mo."
Qian Daoliu pointed to the Raging Gorilla's Soul Bone next.
"You wield the Coiling Dragon Staff. Strength is your foundation. This Soul Bone will give your staff techniques greater explosive power. Don't waste it."
Jiang Mo grinned, dropped the pretense, and grabbed the Soul Bone.
"Hehe, then I'd be rude to refuse!"
He sat cross-legged and pressed the Soul Bone against his right arm. Dark golden Soul Power instantly blended with its patterns, producing a deep hum. Even the ground around him began to tremble faintly.
Only the Soul Bone wreathed in lightning remained.
Qian Daoliu looked at it, his brows drawing together slightly.
"This lightning Soul Bone has a special attribute. None of your Martial Souls are a particularly good match."
His fingertips brushed its surface, and purple lightning danced several times in his palm.
"I'll keep it for now. Perhaps it'll come in useful later."
With that, he stored the Soul Bone in his Space Ring.
"Golden Crocodile, guard them while they absorb their Soul Bones. I'm heading back to my room."
Qian Daoliu rose and brushed the dust from his clothes.
"Rest assured, big brother."
Golden Crocodile nodded, scanning their surroundings vigilantly. His Soul Power spread silently, enveloping the entire courtyard in an invisible barrier.
Bibi Dong helped Xiao Wu’s Mother to her feet.
"Teacher, we'll head back as well."
Xiao Wu’s Mother nodded, her gaze toward Qian Daoliu carrying a measure of gratitude. Had he not intervened, she and Xiao Wu would likely have long since perished in the jaws of the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger, let alone been able to sit there in peace.
By the time Qian Daoliu returned to his room, the night was deep.
He first took out an incense burner and lit a stick of Mind-Calming Incense. Wisps of bluish smoke dispersed through the air, carrying a faint sandalwood fragrance that gradually soothed his mind.
Then he removed his outer robe and stepped into the bath barrel that had already been prepared.
He burned incense and bathed.
The barrel was scattered with Mind-Calming Herb selected from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's resources. Amid the steam rising from the hot water, pale green leaves slowly unfurled, releasing gentle Soul Power that nourished his meridians.
Eleven lucky draws...
Qian Daoliu leaned against the rim of the barrel, his fingertips lightly tracing the water's surface. An expectant smile tugged at his lips.
His previous lucky draw had earned him the Nine-Yang Divine Skill.
This time, his eleven draws were the most he had accumulated yet.
Bibi Dong's breakthrough to Soul Saint had rewarded him with seven; her one-level increase in Soul Power after absorbing a Soul Ring had rewarded him with one, and completing the mission had earned him another three.
He closed his eyes, imagining all sorts of possible rewards. Perhaps a purifying power that could completely cleanse the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger's evil energy?
Perhaps a method to unlock the Chaos Bell's seal?
Or perhaps a secret art that could rapidly increase Bibi Dong's and Xiao Wu's Soul Power?
Could there even be a divine medicine that would directly restore him to his peak strength?
The more he thought, the faster Qian Daoliu's heart beat.
But he quickly steadied his mind and drew a deep breath, allowing the Soul Power in the bath barrel to seep through his pores and wash away the fatigue of the past several days.
The lucky draw mattered, but his state of mind mattered even more.
He had no desire to miss out on something good through impatience.
An hour later, Qian Daoliu dried himself, changed into a clean robe, and sat on the meditation cushion beside the window.
Outside, the bonfire still danced. Golden Crocodile's steady presence, Jiang Mo's muffled grunts as he absorbed his Soul Bone, and the soft sounds of Guang Ling's flowing ice Soul Power all reached his ears clearly. Everything was proceeding in perfect order.
He swept his hand, and the candles in the room abruptly went out, leaving only the faint moonlight spilling through the window.
Qian Daoliu closed his eyes and spoke silently in his mind:
System, prepare the lucky draw.
[Lucky draws remaining: 11; begin lucky draw?]
A confident smile curved Qian Daoliu's lips. His voice was low and firm.
"Begin."
In an instant, an enormous wheel seemed to appear in his mind.
Countless prizes glittering with golden light spun rapidly within it, each radiating an enticing aura.
Qian Daoliu took a deep breath and waited for his destined opportunity to arrive.
This was destined to be a sleepless night.
Before you continue