Farewell, Departure, Sun Moon Empire

Xiao Xia silently placed food on the plates for the two children. Although she saw through the extraordinary and powerful nature of their martial souls, she did not believe that two children could overturn an imperial family, simply dismissing it as the momentary angry talk of two youths who had lost their mothers.

Having spent a little over a month together-whether because Lin Mo had once saved her daughter's life or simply due to the affection that had grown over time-she only hoped the two of them could grow up safely and securely.

"You two, eat more. You've indeed put on some flesh over this past month, but you're still far too thin, especially Little Yao."

"By that time, you'll become enemies of the three empires. If the Sun Moon Empire fails, your situation certainly won't be pleasant."

Xiao Sheng spoke up abruptly, his tone neither heavy nor light, his gaze drifting toward Lin Mo from time to time.

After spending a month together, he could naturally tell that Little Yao truly resembled a child of her age. Although she possessed a streak of stubbornness, it was just the usual temperament of a little kid, but Lin Mo was completely different. Clearly only a nine-year-old youth, his thoughts were as composed as a middle-aged man's, feeling as though he had lived through several lifetimes.

Therefore, when the word "revenge" was spoken from the other party's lips, Xiao Sheng was truly considering it seriously.

"Ah, we'll talk about that when the time comes. Moreover, I believe in myself, and I believe in Little Yao. Don't worry, Uncle Xiao, we won't implicate you when that time arrives."

Clashing entirely with the atmosphere at the table, Xiao Xiao nibbled on her chopsticks as she looked left and right, then leaned in close to Huo Yuyao's side.

"Little Yao, what are they talking about?"

Yet at this moment, Huo Yuyao had no way to answer her. She seemed to know a little, but then again, not very clearly.

"You..."

Xiao Sheng only said half his sentence before his hand reached into his pocket and pressed down gently.

The next second, an intangible barrier resembling an inverted porcelain bowl enveloped the entire house.

"...come from the White Tiger Duke's Mansion of the Star Luo Empire, right?"

As the words fell, all three people present were startled, save for Lin Mo, who remained entirely indifferent, only calmly gazing back at Xiao Sheng.

"Xiao Sheng, what are you talking about?"

"Dad, how did you know?"

"Uncle Xiao."

"That's right, actually, I didn't know at first either."

Xiao Sheng calmly took a sip of tea before continuing.

"But a hundred years ago, the Xiao family was also a powerful clan in Star Luo, only gradually declining as every successive emperor of Star Luo relentlessly suppressed us. Yet certain things and inheritances among the nobility never change, such as discernment."

"The place where we first met, although the outer perimeter of the Star Dou Great Forest, was a region closer to the Star Luo Empire. The storage soul tools you wore were not yours, but one thing remained unchanged: they belonged to Star Luo manufacture. On that point alone, it was already possible to deduce which country you people actually came from."

"Dad, how can you be so certain? What if they were heading this way from other countries?"

"Silly child, Little Mo and Little Yao are indeed more mature than ordinary children, but that still cannot conceal the fact that they are children just like you."

Xiao Sheng gently stroked Xiao Xiao's head, then spoke as he placed food on her plate.

"The vast land area of the Star Dou Great Forest is known to everyone. Wanting to detour from the outer perimeter of one country's Star Dou Great Forest to the outer perimeter of another country's carries an exaggerated level of difficulty. This is simply not something two children could accomplish."

"Added to that, if the family you dare not name has such immense influence in Star Luo, I'm afraid there is only one: the White Tiger Duke's Mansion, which still retains the name of a city to this day."

"It seems I guessed correctly."

Seeing the two remain silent, Xiao Sheng simply took a calm sip of the tea in his hand.

Xiao Xia furrowed her brows. She truly had not expected it to be the White Tiger Duke's family. One had to know that although the White Tiger Duke had wielded control over the imperial family three thousand years ago before ceding the throne to the Star Crown Sect, for all these years the White Tiger Duke had been regarded by the world as a loyal and righteous lineage, and the current White Tiger Duke, Dai Hao, was even hailed as the God of War, permanently guarding the Mingdou Mountain Range.

"Yes. Therefore, Little Yao and I will leave here in a couple of days. Uncle and Auntie don't need to worry about us implicating you."

With those words, a deathly stillness fell over the room. Even the lively Xiao Xiao hardly dared to speak; no matter how young she was, she understood some of the logic behind this.

Xiao Sheng sat in the main seat, silent and unmoving, as if pondering something.

After a long while, he looked toward Xiao Xiao, his expression no longer as heavy as before, instead carrying a hint of briskness.

"Xiao Xiao, would you like to go to classes together with Little Mo and Little Yao?"

"Xiao Sheng, you..."

Xiao Sheng did not answer Xiao Xia's doubt, merely watching Xiao Xiao.

"I'd love to."

Xiao Xiao did not hesitate in the slightest.

"Alright, then Xiao Xiao will go together with Little Mo and Little Yao to the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy in a couple of days."

"Wow, really, Dad? But-"

"Xiao Sheng."

Unlike Xiao Xiao, Xiao Xia knew what consequences this would bring. If they were merely commoners, things would naturally take their course, but although her family had declined, they were nominally still nobility, and noble treason meant only death.

"What are you blindly imagining? It's merely letting our daughter study in another country."

Seeing that her mother also tacitly consented, Xiao Xiao was so overjoyed she almost leaped out of her chair.

Looking at this family of three, Lin Mo felt a very strange taste in his heart.

After a moment of hesitation, he spoke solemnly.

"Uncle, Auntie, Xiao Xiao is going to Sun Moon, so you don't need to worry too much. I will definitely take good care of them."

"Who's taking care of who isn't certain yet."

Hearing that she was actually going to be the object of care, Xiao Xiao unhappily made a face at him.

Xiao Sheng laughed heartily, and the atmosphere finally eased.

Time thus arrived at the day of departure from Maple Leaf City.

It was early morning with the sky still shrouded in mist, and a carriage was already parked outside the city gates.

Xiao Xia carefully straightened Xiao Xiao's collar once more, then slipped a storage soul tool onto Xiao Xiao's wrist, inside which were money and some food she had prepared.

Although Maple Leaf City was not far from the borders of Sun Moon, and could even be called very close, preparations that needed to be made still had to be made.

"Mom and Dad, then I'll be leaving with Little Yao and Brother Little Mo. You must come see me soon."

Xiao Xiao bid farewell to her parents one by one. Yet the young girl felt no sorrow; on the contrary, rather than parting, she cared more about the adventure ahead. After all, this was her first time leaving her parents to go on a long journey with friends, and to another country at that.

"Understood. Once Dad and Mom finish handling business matters, we'll go see you. Cultivate diligently at school."

"When you go out, listen to Little Mo more. Don't run around blindly, and don't eat random th-"

Unlike Xiao Sheng's brief injunctions, Xiao Xia repeated every single matter over again.

"Got it, got it, Mom. You're saying too much, I'm going to get dizzy."

Xiao Xiao gave Xiao Xia a final hug, then leaped into the carriage.

"Little Mo, Little Yao, you two must also pay attention to safety."

Xiao Sheng looked at Lin Mo and spoke, retrieving a cloth pouch from his storage soul tool and handing it into Lin Mo's hands.

Lin Mo originally wanted to decline, but meeting that refusal-resistant gaze, he ultimately accepted it.

Xiao Sheng glanced at Huo Yuyao once more.

"Little Yao, your brother is still very hard-pressed, so you must take good care of him too."

"Don't worry, Uncle Xiao."

"When did I ever need a little girl like you to look after me?"

Lin Mo smiled and pinched Huo Yuyao's cheek, only to have it angrily slapped away by the other.

"Hmph hmph."

Xiao Xia also walked over at this moment, looking at Lin Mo and Huo Yuyao with a gentle gaze.

"Once we're done with things here, we'll go see you."

"Alright, Auntie Xiao."

Xiao Xia stroked Huo Yuyao's head again.

"Don't work too hard yourself, you know?"

Feeling the warmth coming from the top of her head, Huo Yuyao felt her nose sting and nodded vigorously.

"Woohoo! Set off, set off!"

Xiao Xiao inside the carriage said excitedly.

Just like that, the carriage carried the three of them as it drove farther and farther away from Maple Leaf City.

Watching the steadily departing carriage, Xiao Sheng let out a sigh, taking Xiao Xia's hand as they returned to the city.

"Sigh, will the children be alright?"

"Rest assured, that child is more composed than we think. With him by Xiao Xiao and Little Yao's side, mishaps generally won't happen."

Sitting cross-legged inside the carriage, Lin Mo's consciousness descended into the Sea of Consciousness.

"You've come, Little Mo."

Electrolux's voice resounded through the empty Sea of Consciousness. Compared to a month ago, his soul body had visibly condensed quite a bit, and his facial features and contours were much clearer. Those greyish-black eyes that radiated a gentle light were profound and serene.

"Elder Yi."

Lin Mo executed a respectful bow.

At this moment, Electrolux had just finished reading books and had already gained a preliminary understanding of this world.

"Mmm."

Electrolux's voice, though extremely aged, was steady.

"Have you finished reading the books already?"

"Yes, I've read them all."

A faint power drifted outward from his ball of light.

"Soul power, soul rings, soul bones, martial souls-they are completely different from the world I belong to, but at their root, they are actually all applications of soul and life energy."

"It is like needing to hunt soul rings every ten levels, while the source of those soul rings relies on the laws of this plane to condense the life force, bloodline origin, and soul power of fallen soul beasts into an entity of tangible items."

"As for why every ten levels requires hunting soul rings in order to advance to the next level..."

Electrolux seemed to be asking him, and seemed to be explaining to himself, yet there was also a sense of self-inquiry and self-answer.

Lin Mo was already accustomed to this appearance of Electrolux's; he knew very well this was a manifestation of the other party entering a state of contemplation.

"My thoughts lean more toward evolution. The total amount of soul power that increases with each level is like water pooled in a bucket; as the level grows higher, the volume of water representing the total sum inside the bucket will also increase until it finally overflows. If one wishes to level up further, they can only modify the bucket to be a bit larger or build it a bit higher."

"How is it, Little Mo? Is my view correct?"

He stated his own deduction and inquired about Lin Mo's thoughts.

"One can understand it that way, Elder Yi."

"Regarding the point of soul rings, I still have some incomprehension. If it is said that soul beasts must be hunted to acquire soul rings, yet the total volume of soul beasts is only so large while the number of human soul masters is vastly immense-even those with low talent will acquire one or two soul rings-over time, hundred-year soul beasts will become increasingly scarce. If one proceeds from this line of thinking, future soul beasts will easily plunge into extinction, and once soul beasts are extinct, soul masters will naturally be unable to progress any further."

"Following such a trajectory, the laws of heaven and earth would appear exceptionally abnormal, actually setting down a path doomed to extinction."

"Ah, wait, wait, how did it lead to soul rings so quickly?"

Lin Mo was somewhat dazed. He indeed had thoughts of bringing forth the Soul Spirit Method sooner rather than later, but he had not expected to start discussing this so early. If this were truly the case...

"Hehe, then the Ice Empress can directly turn into a soul spirit, the Snow Empress can also turn into a soul spirit, and she could even provide Little Yao with a seven-hundred-thousand-year soul bone..."

Originally, he had intended to wait until the timing matured before slowly introducing the Soul Spirit Method from the original work, but he had not anticipated that Electrolux, having just touched the knowledge system of this world, would push the issue straight to its core.

"Little Mo, you seem quite excited."

"Cough cough."

Lin Mo gave a somewhat awkward, light cough.

"Apologies."

"Indeed, this is also why the relationship between soul beasts and humans has become increasingly tense today. Elder Yi, what insights do you have?"

"As for this... within my memories, my world should have possessed a form known as a contract, binding souls together through both parties. Although the effects and other aspects differ, at their core, they are the same."

"However, modifications are required."

Electrolux looked down at the youth whose eyes were shining, and spoke in an indifferent tone.

"Little Mo, you are interested?"

"Indeed. To be honest, the resentment between humans and soul beasts is growing deeper. If there is any method to alleviate it, I naturally wish to try."

"Why?"

Electrolux's tone remained flat and waveless, yet it seemed to probe as much as it weighed.

"Just as you said, the relationship between soul beasts and humans in this world is already extremely hostile. As a human, why would you choose this sort of idea?"

"Just like Big Sister Tian Meng in Little Yao's Sea of Consciousness-although her goal was to survive, she ultimately became Little Yao's first soul ring, and their relationship is no longer that of hunter and hunted. Therefore, I believe there must be a better way."

Lin Mo naturally spoke the thoughts on his mind without carrying the slightest trace of hypocrisy. This left Electrolux somewhat surprised, but he ultimately nodded.

"Very well. Since that is so, I shall take you as my disciple and impart the magic system of my world to you."

"Thank you, Teacher!"

Saying this, Lin Mo bowed without the slightest hesitation, only this time executing the formal rite of master and disciple.

"Alright, you should go busy yourself first as well. I still understand far too little regarding the matters of this world; once I comprehend more, I will gradually impart it to you."

"Understood, Teacher. This student takes his leave."

With that, Lin Mo respectfully bowed once more, then opened his eyes with some excitement from his meditative state.

Joy filled his brow and eyes, clear enough for even Huo Yuyao and the other to see.

"Eh, Brother Xiao Mo, what happened? Why do you seem so happy?"

Just as Lin Mo was about to speak out, he remembered that Xiao Xiao was also present, and forcefully swallowed back the words that had just reached his lips, waving his hand.

"It's nothing. In any case, it's good news, and a future that is good for all of us, but I can't tell you yet."

Seeing this, Little Yao did not press further. She understood her brother's temperament; the other party generally wouldn't keep things from her, but since he deliberately concealed it, it meant her brother had his own thoughts.

She believed in her brother.

Although Xiao Xiao was also very curious, seeing that Lin Mo hadn't even told Little Yao, there was a high probability he wouldn't tell her either, so she didn't ask further.

Because Maple Leaf City itself was located at the border between the two countries, within two days the three of them had already arrived inside the territory of the Sun Moon Empire, and another day later successfully reached the capital of the Sun Moon Empire-Mingdu.

The three of them poked their heads out of the carriage windows, looking at this giant city that was a hundred times more massive than Maple Leaf City, their eyes filled with a hint of curiosity.

Lin Mo's heart also involuntarily tightened.

Because the honey milk bottle had not yet been researched, the Mingdu before him was not exaggeratedly grand like the magnificent giant cities in animation; it gave him more of a feeling reminiscent of money, akin to the late-century style of the planet he came from, where technology was somewhat popularized, but not extensively.

This also inexplicably made him feel a trace of familiarity.

Following closely as they drew nearer were several large characters.

Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy.

Gazing at the few large characters branded upon the imposing gates, Lin Mo felt a mixture of countless emotions in his heart.

"Has it finally arrived? The original storyline will completely veer in another direction right here. Come on, Tang San-let's see whether I, this time traveler, am more formidable, or you, this former time traveler, are more formidable."