Sacrifice

Hoo~

Ye Yan drew a deep breath and glanced around. After making sure no one was watching, he scooped Xiao Wu up around the waist and carried her back to the cave.

The first thing he did upon entering was truss her up with rope. Then he began sealing off the cave.

A ring of vines concealed the entrance on the outside. Behind them were thick wooden boards and waterproof sheeting, reinforced with the earth he had stockpiled beforehand.

It took nearly an hour of work to finish everything. He did not know whether any of it would help, but where there was a will, there was a way.

Ye Yan looked at Xiao Wu, bound on the bed, and gently stroked her face. If this were not the Soul Master World, if she were not a hundred-thousand-year soul beast, if there were no Tang San or Old Haozi, he really would have been reluctant to kill her.

Unfortunately, there were no ifs. Cultivation meant wrestling with heaven for one's life...

After he patted her awake, Xiao Wu opened her eyes to find her entire body limp and powerless. She tried to get up, only to discover that she was tightly bound.

She looked at Ye Yan beside her, his expression conflicted, and her voice trembled.

"X-Xu Xiaoyan, what are you doing? Hurry up and untie Sister Xiao Wu."

Ye Yan chuckled and leaned close to her ear.

"Sister Xiao Wu~ I've actually known for ages that you're a transformed hundred-thousand-year soul beast."

Her body instantly went rigid. How was that possible? Didn't they say only human Titled Douluos could recognize transformed soul beasts?

"Don't rush to deny it, Sister Xiao Wu. Not only do I know you're a hundred-thousand-year transformed soul beast, I also know your mother died at the hands of Spirit Hall's Supreme Pontiff, Bibi Dong."

At the mention of Bibi Dong, Xiao Wu's eyes reddened. Had she not transformed and entered the human world precisely to grow stronger and avenge her mother?

At that moment, Ye Yan summoned his Blue Silver Grass and Bamboo Cloudswarm Swords.

"Sister Xiao Wu, I have twin martial souls, and I've already planned out my future path. The Heaven Dou Imperial Family has a treasure called the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud. It's the token of the Sea God's inheritance, but activating it requires exceptional talent.

"I swear on my martial souls that if you're willing to lend me a hand, I'll not only avenge you, but also resurrect both you and your mother after I become a god."

As for how he would avenge her? A couple of smacks on Dong'er's backside would do. After all, humans hunting soul beasts was only natural.

"Twin martial souls? The Sea God Inheritance!"

Xiao Wu was shocked. Even as a hundred-thousand-year soul beast, she knew how terrifying twin martial souls could be. That Supreme Pontiff Bibi Dong was an excellent example.

But more than any of that, she wanted to live. She tried to struggle again, but Ye Yan cut off her escape outright.

"Sister Xiao Wu, I won't beat around the bush. If you refuse to sacrifice yourself, I'll simply kill you and take your soul bone. At worst, I'll give up this Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring."

Xiao Wu fell silent for a long time, her face clouded. She had never imagined she would die so soon after transforming. Still, if there was hope of avenging her mother, perhaps that was not so bad.

It was just... she really could not bear to let go. Da Ming, Er Ming, I won't be able to come and play with you anymore...

A few tears trickled from the corners of Xiao Wu's eyes. As for inheriting a god's power and being resurrected, that was far too nebulous for her to place any hope in it.

Looking at the scoundrel beside her, she spoke in a slightly hoarse voice.

"Xu Xiaoyan, bring your hand over."

Ye Yan extended his right hand toward her, vaguely guessing what she intended.

Chomp!

Xiao Wu bit down hard on his right arm, making him bare his teeth in pain. Only after a few drops of blood entered her mouth did she slowly let go.

Ye Yan looked at the deep tooth marks on his arm and smiled helplessly. A cornered rabbit really would bite.

"Hmph, you villain! You deserved that. Remember what you said today, or I won't let you off even as a ghost!"

Xiao Wu shook her head and gave him one final look. Her body began to glow, and powerful soul power enveloped Ye Yan.

The sacrifice had begun.

Blazing soul light swirled around him, forming an enormous scarlet soul ring. The Soft Bone Rabbit Left Leg Bone fused with him at the same time.

The soul power fluctuations produced by the sacrifice were far too powerful. All his preparations proved useless, and a blood-red domain dozens of meters high shone dazzlingly in the night.

Although the city's soul masters lacked the knowledge to identify exactly what it was, curiosity was human instinct, and they began converging on the spot.

Once Ye Yan finished absorbing it, he picked up Xiao Wu's original body and used teleportation to flee. The commotion was too great. If he did not run now, it would be too late!

Ye Yan darted left and right as he made his way deep into the wild forest, finally stopping beneath the surface of a pool.

Only then did he appreciate the power of a hundred-thousand-year soul ring and soul bone. He had been running for four to six hours straight, yet he was only slightly out of breath. Before, they could have been laying out his funeral feast by now.

Taking advantage of this respite, he began examining his newly acquired soul skills. The soul ring had granted him Void and Moon of the Nine Heavens, while the soul bone had given him Teleportation and Invincible Golden Body.

The difference from the original story was probably because Tang San had already died when he received the sacrifice. Most of the energy had gone toward resurrecting him, leaving him with the largely useless Explosive Eight-Stage Throw.

After familiarizing himself with the soul skills, Ye Yan hugged the little bunny in his arms and showered her with kisses. Sister Xiao Wu, you're absolutely amazing~

He could hardly imagine how badly he would frighten an opponent by revealing a hundred-thousand-year first soul ring in a duel. Still, he could not show off until he had latched onto his little angel's coattails.

Although this had not been the most domineering form of soul sacrifice, Xiao Wu had still lost her memories. As he smothered her with affection, she instinctively kicked her legs in protest.

Meow?

Ye Yan tilted his head. It looked like he needed to seize the crystal blood dragon ginseng as soon as possible. As Tang San's great-uncle, Old White Bird was inherently an evildoer whose accounts needed settling. Besides, leaving such a treasure in his hands was surely letting a precious pearl gather dust.

After gently stroking Xiao Wu's head to soothe her, he prepared to return to Nuoding City. Now that he had her soul ring, Yu Xiaogang, that little prison ass with his two farting soul skills, was nothing more than some roadside nobody.

Three days later, Ye Yan slipped over the academy wall under the moonlight. The teacher on watch had grown lax after years of peace and was resting in the duty room.

Although Nodino Academy was only a junior academy in a small city, with its strongest member merely a Soul Ancestor, that did not mean it was cramped or dilapidated.

The academy's buildings were predominantly in the classic European Gothic style. Arcades branched in every direction, connecting the teaching buildings, dormitories, and dining hall, with carefully trimmed flower beds on either side. Even the ground was paved with neatly laid ivory flagstones, entirely different from the blue stone bricks outside.

This first encounter with the world of soul masters left Ye Yan clicking his tongue in wonder. Those lofty soul master lords certainly knew how to live. Even penniless students could earn money cleaning, and ten Copper Soul Coins a day covered their meals with a little left over.

Fortunately, he was now a distinguished Lord Soul Master himself. Otherwise, he would have had to fiercely condemn these fellows who fed on the people's fat and marrow.

Finding Yu Xiaogang was troublesome, though. The academy was too large, and he could not afford to beat the grass and startle the snake. He could only perch quietly on windowsills and peek inside. Along the way, plenty of eye-searing scenes sullied his tender young soul.

City folk really did know how to have fun (ˆつ⩊⊂ˆ)੭