"Of course!"
She grew even more pleased with herself and leaned over to tug at Su Yu's sleeve.
"Is that External Soul Bone powerful? Is it stronger than ordinary Soul Bones?"
"An External Soul Bone is second only to a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone in value. And unlike those six categories of Soul Bones, External Soul Bones come in far more varied forms."
Su Yu lightly tapped beside the glowing Vertical Eye on the Golden-Eyed Tiger's forehead with his fingertip and continued:
"Wings, palm bones, tails, even eyes-any of these can become External Soul Bones."
"Look at that glowing spot on the Golden-Eyed Tiger's forehead. Most likely, it's an External Soul Bone formed from its Vertical Eye."
Hu Liena nodded as though she had suddenly understood, her little face all but saying, "So that's how it works." Then her eyes widened again as she pressed:
"Then, Brother Su Yu, can External Soul Bones have any especially powerful abilities?"
"Want to know?"
Su Yu deliberately drew out his words, a mischievous smile playing around his eyes and brows.
"Yes!"
Hu Liena immediately nodded hard, curiosity practically spilling from her eyes.
Su Yu suddenly frowned slightly and raised a hand to rub his shoulder, sounding somewhat "casual" as he sighed:
"Oh dear, I built up a bit of strength during that fight, and now my shoulder's suddenly a little sore..."
Hu Liena caught on at once. Her eyes darted, and she grinned as she moved behind Su Yu.
Her little fists gently pounded his shoulders, neither too hard nor too softly, with a touch of deliberately ingratiating obedience:
"Brother Su Yu~ Does that feel better? I'll massage your shoulders, so hurry up and tell me~"
Her palms were soft, and there was a childlike earnestness to her movements.
As she moved, strands of her hair brushed lightly against Su Yu's neck, tickling him a little.
Amused by her behavior, Su Yu deliberately kept a straight face and gave a hum:
"Hmm... A little harder on the left."
"All right!"
Hu Liena immediately adjusted her strength, urging him on even as she continued pounding.
"Can you tell me now? Just what powerful abilities do External Soul Bones have?"
"Can they freeze someone in place with a single glance, like in the storybooks?"
Enjoying her "service," Su Yu spoke at a leisurely pace:
"That depends on the particular External Soul Bone."
"For example, wing types can give someone the ability to fly. As for eye types... they might really be able to do what you said."
"But that still depends on the Soul Beast's own abilities. Most External Soul Bone abilities are related to the abilities of the Soul Beast itself!"
"Then do you know why External Soul Bones are second only to Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bones in value?"
"No!"
"I'll tell you. The key is that-External Soul Bones can evolve!"
"Evolve?"
"That's right."
There was a measure of certainty in Su Yu's voice.
"Everyone knows that once an ordinary Soul Bone takes shape, its power is fixed. After that, it's difficult for it to grow even a little."
He paused, swept his gaze across everyone's curious faces, and continued:
"But External Soul Bones are different."
"The stronger the Soul Master becomes, the stronger they can become along with them, and there's no end to that growth!"
"And that's not all!"
His fingertip tapped at the air, as though tracing the path of some kind of power.
"External Soul Bones can also actively absorb the power of Soul Beasts of the same origin and combine it with the energy of other powerful Soul Beasts to temper themselves."
"It's precisely this potential for growth and adaptability that makes External Soul Bones treasures second only to Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bones!"
Listening to Su Yu, Hu Liena swallowed, her sparkling eyes fixed on the glowing spot as though she were looking at some priceless rarity:
"Then... then this one's Vertical Eye Soul Bone must be especially precious, right?"
"Naturally."
Su Yu stood and brushed the dust from his clothes.
"External Soul Bones are rare to begin with. We're lucky to have encountered one today."
"Nana, step aside a little. I'll take this External Soul Bone out!"
"Okay!"
Hu Liena moved aside, and Su Yu mobilized the Soul Power within him to draw out that purple light.
Before long, the purple light left the space between the Golden-Eyed Tiger's brows and came straight into Su Yu's palm.
Hu Liena hurried over to examine the External Soul Bone carefully.
"Brother Su Yu, this External Soul Bone looks like an eye!"
Just then, a figure slowly emerged from the shadows of the dense forest. It was Xiao Yi.
With a measure of approval on his face, he looked at Su Yu and Hu Liena and said:
"Your Highnesses, you have completed this trial. I deliberately lured this Golden-Eyed Tiger here to test you."
Hu Liena froze at his words, then understood. "So you arranged it, Lord Xiao Yi?"
She looked at the Golden-Eyed Tiger's corpse on the ground, still feeling a lingering fear as she recalled the danger earlier.
Xiao Yi's gaze fell on the glowing third eye on the Golden-Eyed Tiger's forehead, a trace of surprise in his voice:
"I never expected that, instead of testing you, this Golden-Eyed Tiger would deliver an External Soul Bone to you."
Something stirred in Su Yu's heart. External Soul Bones were exceedingly rare; he had never expected this Golden-Eyed Tiger to conceal such an opportunity.
He looked at Xiao Yi. "Lord Xiao Yi, did you already know it had an External Soul Bone?"
Xiao Yi shook his head. "I only knew this Golden-Eyed Tiger was a thousand-year mutated Soul Beast with considerable strength."
"I thought its age was suitable, so I made it the final stage of the trial. I never expected it to have an External Soul Bone hidden inside it."
"It seems I underestimated both its uniqueness and Your Highnesses' strength."
He paused, then added, "This External Soul Bone was destined for you. Since you killed it together, you may decide what to do with it."
Hu Liena's eyes lit up, and she turned to Su Yu, her gaze filled with excitement.
The value of an External Soul Bone went without saying. It could provide tremendous help in improving a Soul Master's strength.
Soul Bones from mutated Soul Beasts in particular often came with special abilities.
If Brother Su Yu absorbed it, he would surely grow stronger and stronger!
Looking at the third eye, which still radiated purple light, Su Yu said thoughtfully:
"The energy contained in this Soul Bone isn't weak. It needs to be handled properly."
Seeing how composed the two were, Xiao Yi nodded inwardly.
"Since the trial is over, let's head back first. Her Holiness the Pope is still waiting for news."
Su Yu and Hu Liena exchanged a glance and both nodded.
Su Yu carefully placed the External Soul Bone into a specially made jade box.
With Xiao Yi leading the way, the three headed back along the path they had taken.
Light and shadow filtered through the branches and leaves of the dense forest, stretching their silhouettes long.
An unexpected trial finally drew to a close with gains far beyond expectations.
Two hours later, inside Pope Hall-
Bibi Dong lightly brushed her fingertips over the faintly glowing External Soul Bone in the jade box, a slight smile curling her lips.
"Xiao Yi."
She spoke, her voice cool and clear as jade striking jade.
"How have Little Yu and Nana performed in their trials these past few days?"
Standing below, Xiao Yi bowed slightly, his tone respectful and steady:
"Your Holiness, the two young Highnesses performed far beyond expectations."
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