Six years flew by.
On the outskirts of Star Dou Great Forest.
A freshly slain Mandala Snake lay on the ground.
Chen Jie stood beneath an ancient tree, three cauldron phantoms floating quietly around him.
He gazed into the boundless woods around him and grumbled inwardly, Fuck, where's Huo Yuhao? How can he run so far?
Earlier, Chen Jie had deliberately traveled to Star Luo City to intercept Huo Yuhao. Yet after wandering around for several days without catching so much as a glimpse of him, he had ultimately been forced to give up.
The martial soul contract established six years earlier was still in effect. Jiang Nannan had already gone to study at Shrek Academy, but even thousands of miles apart, the contract mark on her had not faded. Their connection of mutual perception and shared potential remained intact.
Chen Jie gathered his thoughts and willed it to appear.
Ding!
The system panel unfolded directly in his mind.
[Host: Chen Jie] [Personal martial soul: Forced Contract (tattoo martial soul)] [Martial souls available for shared use: Xiao Xiao-Three-Life Soul-Suppressing Cauldron Xiao Xiao-Nine-Phoenix Ceremonial Flute Jiang Nannan-Taiyin Jade Rabbit] [Soul power level: Level 30 Soul Elder] [Contract uses: 1/3] [Contract targets: Jiang Nannan, Xiao Xiao] [Jiang Nannan's affection: 100] [Xiao Xiao's affection: 100] [Jiang's Mother's affection: 95] [Bond effects: Mutual perception, mutual potential sharing, mutual fortune linkage, permanently extremely high initial affection from targets, 100% access to all contracted targets' martial souls, soul skills, and physical talents] [Item: Fortune-Stealing Die (Energy: 80/100)] [Special supreme treasure: Sumeru Micro-World (Expandable, time flow ratio 1:1)]
The mere thought of Huo Yuhao's two great opportunities set Chen Jie's heart ablaze with covetous desire.
As for you, Huo Yuhao, I can only apologize. I'll put your opportunities to good use for you.
Hehehe!!!
If it's worth snatching, snatch it. As the protagonist, he's bound to have more opportunities later. One more won't make him rich, and one less won't leave him poor.
Just then, two figures walked slowly toward him through the nearby woods.
Chen Jie looked toward the sound. Leading the way was a lovely young woman of around twenty. Her smooth black hair was tied in a simple high ponytail, giving her a look both brisk and gentle. A fitted light-blue combat outfit outlined her graceful, well-proportioned figure. Her bright, lively eyes and fresh, spirited bearing had shed their youthful awkwardness, leaving her poised and fully grown. She was Tang Ya.
The young man following her was tall and slender, likewise around twenty. His long, deep-blue hair flowed softly, and his handsome features carried a naturally steady composure. Yet a measure of vigilance remained concealed about him at all times. He was Bei Bei.
Bei Bei coughed twice beside her, looking somewhat helpless.
Steady by nature, Chen Jie merely gave them a passing glance before looking away.
As they came face-to-face, Tang Ya turned toward Bei Bei, a teasing smile curling her lips.
"Bei Bei, don't tell me you're jealous? You're still on probation, you know."
A low beastly growl came from a nearby thicket.
Bei Bei's expression sharpened, and he instantly rose to shield Tang Ya.
Chen Jie looked toward the source of the growl, a flash of understanding crossing his eyes. He could sense that the soul beast's aura was perfectly suited to Tang Ya's blue silver grass martial soul.
A thick-bodied Mandala Snake shot out of the bushes, its scarlet tongue flickering incessantly. Its cold gaze locked onto the three of them as a foul-smelling gust struck their faces.
"It's a Mandala Snake! A perfect match for my blue silver grass!" Delight flashed in Tang Ya's eyes.
"Watch out!" Bei Bei shouted. Blue light surged around him as his blue lightning tyrant dragon martial soul instantly possessed his body. Dragon scales appeared on his arms, lightning crackled, and thunderous power swirled around him as he charged straight at the Mandala Snake.
Tang Ya immediately activated her martial soul as well. Stalks of blue silver grass grew wildly from the ground, coiling and binding to restrict the Mandala Snake's movements and support Bei Bei.
The Mandala Snake's savage nature erupted. Its tail lashed viciously, venom dripping continuously from its fangs as it attacked ferociously.
Seeing that Bei Bei could not fully suppress the soul beast for the moment, Chen Jie willed the three phantoms of ancient cauldrons to rise abruptly into the air.
"Three-Life Soul-Suppressing Cauldron!"
"Cauldron's Tremor!"
The three cauldron phantoms descended from above, slamming down over the Mandala Snake. Powerful gravity and restraining force instantly locked down its limbs. The snake struggled violently, but could not escape the cauldrons' suppression.
Bei Bei seized the opening and drove a fist wrapped in raging lightning into the Mandala Snake's vital point, seven inches below its head.
Gravely wounded, the Mandala Snake convulsed violently. Yet a sliver of life remained, and it still tried to struggle free and counterattack.
Tang Ya's gaze hardened. The blue silver grass in her hands immediately tightened, its leaf edges gleaming with a cold, sharp light as they slashed viciously across the Mandala Snake's neck, delivering the finishing blow.
The Mandala Snake let out a piercing, miserable hiss and crashed heavily to the ground, finally falling still. A purple soul ring slowly rose above its corpse.
Tang Ya stared at the gently floating Thousand-Year Soul Ring, her face brimming with excitement.
Bei Bei withdrew his martial soul and praised him sincerely. "Little brother, your control came at exactly the right moment! We only managed this so smoothly because your Soul-Suppressing Cauldron pinned that soul beast down."
Tang Ya nodded repeatedly and thanked him. "Exactly! Thank you so much! Without your precise battlefield control, I wouldn't have had a chance to deliver the finishing blow safely."
Chen Jie smiled faintly. "It was hardly any trouble."
Tang Ya's gaze settled on Chen Jie, and the more she looked, the more tempted she became. She thought to herself, He's handsome, powerful, and his potential is unfathomable. He's practically destined for our Tang Sect.
She spoke at once, a hint of anticipation in her eyes. "Chen Jie, would you be interested in joining our Tang Sect?"
A gleam flashed in Chen Jie's eyes, and his voice carried a touch of excitement. "The Tang Sect? The legendary sect Tang San founded ten thousand years ago? I'd love to join! No one could understand how deeply I admire Brother San."
A trace of sadness crossed Tang Ya's eyes at his words, and she nodded gently. "That's right. The peerless Tang Sect that once shook the continent. Unfortunately, times have changed, and the Tang Sect has long since fallen into decline. Of that vast sect, I'm now the only one left struggling to keep it alive."
Chen Jie paused slightly, surprise appearing on his face. "So the Tang Sect has already declined?"
Tang Ya looked downcast. Lightly biting her lower lip, she nodded and said:
"Yes, it's true. Its glory is long past. Most of the sect's texts and inherited arts have been lost. Apart from me, a descendant of the Tang Sect, there are no other members."
Bei Bei added from beside her, "Xiaoya has been trying to revive the Tang Sect all these years, but doing it alone is simply too difficult."
"That's wonderful."
Tang Ya and Bei Bei both froze, staring at him in utter bewilderment.
Chen Jie was just about to explain his admiration for Tang Three-Spoons when a faint yet unmistakably clear spiritual fluctuation suddenly swept through the woods.
His figure had already blurred into an afterimage. Under cover of darkness and the sound of the wind, he sped toward the source of the spiritual fluctuation.
Only after leaving the two far behind did Chen Jie stop. He concealed every trace of his presence and hid behind an ancient tree deep in the woods. A cold, eerie smile slowly curled his lips.
"Hehehe... Sky Dream Ice Silkworm, Huo Yuhao... you've finally appeared. You certainly made me search hard."
Before you continue