Setting out for Heaven Dou City

As its name suggested, the Martial Soul Evolution Set made a martial soul evolve. Xiao Wu's martial soul had evolved from a Soft Bone Rabbit into a Soft Bone Charm Rabbit.

Aside from the martial soul's feedback to her physique, the greatest change lay in her soul skills.

In the original story, Xiao Wu's first six naturally generated soul skills were very well-rounded.

Whether it was her strength-boosting first soul skill, Waist Bow, her mind-controlling second soul skill, Charm, or the practically bugged Teleportation, Golden Body, Soft Bone Lock, and Nothingness, each was a skill that could hold its own.

But being well-rounded sometimes meant being mediocre. Her six innate soul skills formed no coherent system and could basically only fight their own battles.

Had Xiao Wu not relied on her superior physical talents to develop soft techniques that linked them together, they would have struggled to reach their full potential.

After evolving into a Soft Bone Charm Rabbit, however, one aspect of Xiao Wu had received an epic-tier boost: her spiritual power.

Take her first soul skill, Waist Bow, for example.

Now, Xiao Wu's attacks enhanced by Waist Bow had two parts. One was the original physical attack, while the other was a spiritual attack, which could likewise receive the soul skill's amplification, just like Waist Bow.

Her other soul skills had also incorporated aspects of spiritual power while retaining their own characteristics.

Aside from that, the Soft Bone Charm Rabbit had gained an ability the Soft Bone Rabbit lacked.

That was "Pseudo-Sacrifice."

Cultivation terminology seemed more fitting to describe it: offering herself up as a cultivation cauldron to help the other party with power that did not belong to them.

A long while later, Xiao Wu lay in Xiao Yao's arms.

"Brother Xiao Yao, why did you do something so dangerous? If it hadn't been for me, something definitely would've happened to you."

Xiao Yao kissed her peach-like cheek.

"An accident, purely an accident. But things turned out well, didn't they?"

"Of course they turned out well for you. I gave you everything."

"Were you thinking of giving it to someone else?" Xiao Yao chuckled. "Xiao Wu, I'll always treat you well. Marry me when you grow up."

"Mm," Xiao Wu hummed through her nose. "We'll have lots and lots of children together, lots and lots of little rabbits."

"All right."

After a bout of lovey-dovey affection, the two checked their gains.

Xiao Wu's soul power had risen to rank twenty-five. Some of Xiao Yao's soul power had inexplicably been absorbed by the Heavenly Book martial soul, but he had still reached rank twenty-two. However, it would only become apparent after he signed a second contract and condensed his second soul ring.

But compared to his increased soul power, Xiao Yao was happier about the great improvement in his control over flames.

Just then, for instance, he shaped the flames into a longsword one moment and a bow and arrow the next.

Finally, he settled on a long whip of flame. Imagine that whip lashing Bibi Dong.

That sight... hehehe...

The Heavenly Book's contracts required the other party's soul power to be no more than ten ranks above Xiao Yao's, meaning soul masters at rank twenty-nine or below.

There was also a hidden condition: Xiao Yao and his contracted partner could share each other's cultivation speed.

So naturally, the more talented the girl, the better she was for him.

Thinking it over carefully, the girls mentioned in the original story who met the conditions at this point seemed to all be in Heaven Dou City and Spirit City.

There was also Zhu Zhuyun in Star Luo City, but it was simply too far away. There was no need.

After weighing his options, Xiao Yao settled on Heaven Dou City as their next destination.

The distance from Nuoding City to Heaven Dou City was considerable. On foot, it would take several months.

Xiao Yao simply bought a horse-drawn carriage and set off toward Heaven Dou City with Xiao Wu.

Xiao Wu stepped out of the carriage. By then, she had returned to her usual short-skirted outfit.

The "Martial Soul Evolution Set: Tender Allure Bunny Girl" was an existence similar to a soul bone. Normally, it could be hidden inside her body, and her martial soul would remain an ordinary Soft Bone Rabbit.

Once she summoned it, her martial soul would evolve into a Soft Bone Charm Rabbit, allowing her to catch an opponent off guard.

Reluctance showed on Xiao Wu's face. This place held her precious first time.

"Brother Xiao Yao, will we come back?"

Xiao Yao lowered his head and kissed her forehead.

"Of course. Whenever you want, we can come back. I've already bought that little courtyard house. Everything inside is arranged just as it was when we left."

"Really?" Xiao Wu grew excited. "Then I'll come back often. I still have friends in Star Dou Great Forest, and it's especially convenient to go back there from here."

"Whatever you want."

The two spent their journey wrapped in sweet, tender affection, as carefree as could be.

That day, as usual, Xiao Yao drove the carriage up front while Xiao Wu caught up on sleep inside.

Who knew how Xiao Yao had so much stamina? He could stay awake all night, nap for just two hours at dawn, and still be so full of spirit.

Suddenly, an explosion rang out in the distance. Xiao Yao only managed to soothe the injured horse with considerable effort. Xiao Wu was startled awake as well and poked her head out of the carriage.

"What happened?"

Xiao Yao looked toward the explosion. The map seemed to indicate a soul beast forest there, one of a fairly high level.

He said uncertainly, "There must be a fight going on."

"Then let's hurry over and look!" Xiao Wu's eyes instantly lit up.

These days in the carriage had been utterly boring. How could she pass up the rare chance to join in the excitement?

"Sure, but you need to put your clothes on." Xiao Yao wore a half-smile.

Xiao Wu's little face flushed, and she instantly turned into a steaming maiden.

She had completely forgotten. Since she hadn't been getting out of the carriage these past few days, she hadn't been wearing clothes, for convenience.

The horse was frightened and refused to go any closer, so they could only proceed on foot.

Perhaps because the fighting was too fierce, the two encountered no soul beasts blocking their way.

As they neared the depths, the explosions still hadn't stopped, but their force was dwindling. Presumably, the battle was nearing its end.

"Brother Xiao Yao, hurry! We're going to miss the show!" Growing anxious, Xiao Wu summoned her Martial Soul Evolution Set.

After her martial soul evolved, her attributes had improved across the board, including her stamina and leg strength.

Xiao Yao circulated his soul power as well and matched her speed.

Suddenly, after a dazzling flash of holy light, the explosions stopped dead.

Xiao Yao caught hold of Xiao Wu and gestured for her to put away her Martial Soul Evolution Set.

Then, holding her hand, he carefully moved forward.

Finally, they approached the site of the earlier battle.

All around them were snapped trees and overturned earth. Every one of those trees had a radius of more than a meter.

Yet in the face of a battle like this, they had still been broken without offering the slightest resistance.

It was easy to imagine how fierce the battle here had been.

Xiao Wu's face was flushed with the thrill and excitement, as well as a little fear.

"Brother Xiao Yao, are we still going forward?"

Xiao Yao rolled his eyes. We've come this far, and now you're asking whether we should keep going?

The two continued onward and finally reached the battlefield.

Both sides of the battle appeared before them.

One was a pure-white soul beast lying on the ground, clearly no longer breathing.

The other was a beautiful girl in palace attire, sitting cross-legged on the ground.

Four soul rings circled her, and a fifth was slowly taking shape.

What was even more frightening was that the fifth soul ring was black...