When the Bet Was Fulfilled

"Well--!"

The moment the medicine slid down his throat, Lin Xiao tensed up completely.

Pain. A dull ache erupted from the depths Origin his Soul Power, like a red-hot hook churning inside his internal organs. He gritted his teeth, veins bulged on his forehead, and sweat instantly soaked through his undershirt.

Lu Yuan placed his hand on his back, his Blue Silver Soul Power as steady as a mountain. "The medicinal power is protecting you. The pain is because you've hit the 'door'."

"Door?"

"The connection point between the Martial Soul Origin and the Soul Power cycle," Lu Yuan said in a low voice, each word clear, "Your cultivation method has built walls around these 'doors,' leaving only a few designated gaps. Now, tear down the walls, open the doors, and connect to our own path."

Lin Xiao understood.

He pressed his tongue against his palate, forcing his consciousness to focus. In his inner vision, three gray-black stubborn stones blocked his vital points, their surfaces covered with rough marks—all traces forcibly carved by his family's martial arts techniques.

The Soul Power threads he condensed, as thin as spider silk, trembled as they reached out towards one of them.

Touch.

Boom!

A sharp pain exploded, and his vision went black. A violent resistance came from the depths of his Martial Soul, as if a caged beast was roaring. Lin Xiao felt a sweet taste in his throat and turned his head to spit out a mouthful of dark red blood.

"Don't confront it head-on." Lu Yuan's command was cold and precise. "Shift three points to the left, bypassing the area with the strongest surface resistance, and find the weak point."

Lin Xiao gritted his teeth and did as instructed.

The silk threads, like swimming fish, slipped through crevices and wound their way to the back of the stubborn rock. The texture changed—warm and smooth, with a faint pulsation.

This is the real "door".

"Apply it, don't rush to break it." Lu Yuan's Soul Power transmitted a gentle pushing force. "Use Natural Breathing Technique to feel its rhythm, and then... synchronize."

Lin Xiao closed his eyes, forcibly ignoring the pain throughout his body, and recalled the rhythm Qingzhu had taught him. Inhale, long and deep; exhale, gentle and slow. His consciousness sank into that warm and gentle place.

At first, it was chaotic. The barrier throbbed rapidly and urgently, filled with panic.

But gradually, I began to follow his rhythm.

One, two...

"Good." Lu Yuan's voice held a hint of approval. "The rhythm of the first 'door' has been captured. Now, 'brand' the ends of the Soul Power threads onto it, leaving a mark of the new path. Be steady, be precise."

Lin Xiao held his breath.

The silk threads gently touched the barrier, like the tip of a brush touching rice paper. He controlled his Soul Power and slowly "drawn" the circuit symbols designed by Lu Yuan —a mark representing the starting point of a brand new network.

In that instant, the stubborn rock in my heart trembled violently!

Click.

A faint cracking sound came from the depths of the Soul Power. It wasn't destruction, but rather a crack being pried open in some kind of restraint. Immediately afterward, a surging yet gentle torrent of Soul Power rushed out from that crack and merged into the newly formed cycle.

Lin Xiao grunted, and the fluctuations of his Soul Power surged suddenly.

Level 34.

Breaking through two levels in a row.

But he didn't stop. A second strand of Soul Power split off and reached towards his brow.

Even more troublesome.

This is the intersection of spiritual and Martial Soul perception. Not only is the "gate" blocked, but a large amount of stagnant and accumulated Soul Power residue is also lurking around it. As soon as the silk thread gets close, it's like sinking into Mire, making it impossible to move an inch.

Lu Yuan frowned.

The vertical pupils of the phantom cat in Lin Xiao's palm were somewhat unfocused, a sign of excessive mental exertion.

"The medicinal power of the Clear Heart Jade Marrow Lotus is slightly weaker for nourishing the area between the eyebrows," he quickly assessed. "We can't force our way through. Spread the threads out into a thin mist, and glide along the surface of the residue. Find an opening."

Lin Xiao did as instructed.

The threads of Soul Power struggled to disperse and spread, transforming into a thin purple mist. This operation required an absurdly high level of control; his temples throbbed, and his vision blurred.

But it works.

The mist clung to the edges of the debris, seeping forward little by little. Like mercury spilling onto the ground, it penetrated everywhere. Its speed was agonizingly slow, yet it avoided the most direct conflict.

Lu Yuan remained silent, focusing intently on sensing every change within his body, offering only the briefest corrections at crucial moments.

"There's a seam in the upper right corner."

"The residue in the lower left corner is flowing; avoid it."

Time was slowly crushed.

Finally, the mist net touched the more hidden and stronger "door" between his eyebrows. The branding process was more difficult than that at his heart, and the consumption of Soul Power increased exponentially. Lin Xiao's face was frighteningly pale, and his breathing was as heavy as a broken bellows.

But he held on.

When the second mark was completed, a clear ringing sound came from between the eyebrows, as if a thin membrane had been pierced. The senses suddenly became clear, the illusory image of the Martial Soul solidified by three parts, and silver light flowed in the vertical pupils.

Only one place remains.

Dantian (lower abdomen).

This is the core of Soul Power storage and transformation, and also the place where the family's cultivation techniques are most strictly controlled and deeply imprinted. That "door" is as thick as an iron wall, and its surface patterns are so complex that they make one's scalp tingle.

Lin Xiao's Soul Power was nearly exhausted.

He was panting heavily as he looked at Lu Yuan.

Lu Yuan didn't speak, but instead transferred the last bit of Blue Silver Soul Power from his palm to Lu Yuan without reservation. The Soul Power was weak, but it carried a strange guiding quality, like a firefly in the dark night.

"Follow it," Lu Yuan's voice was a little hoarse, "And do only one thing—continue our journey."

Lin Xiao nodded and closed his eyes.

The last thread of Soul Power, drawing Lu Yuan's Blue Silver firefly, slowly reached towards the iron wall of his dantian.

The moment I touched her, there was no violent resistance as I had expected.

The iron wall remained silent, cold and heavy.

Lin Xiao steeled his heart, poured all his Soul Power into it, and the tip of the silk thread suddenly sharpened, piercing fiercely into the most complex pattern node in the center of the iron wall!

Buzz--

A deep rumble exploded from the depths of his dantian. The iron wall trembled, and the patterns on its surface flickered wildly, trying to repel the intruder. But at that very moment, the Blue Silver fireflies seeped into the gaps in the patterns, gently yet stubbornly creating a sliver of space.

Now!

Lin Xiao's Soul Power slipped through the gap and quickly outlined the third mark.

Complete in an instant--

Rumble!

The stone chamber trembled violently.

Lin Xiao's body shone with a brilliant purple light, and the phantom of the Hell Spirit Cat roared to the sky, its sound waves solid and tangible, crashing into the stone wall and causing dust to fall. His Soul Power fluctuations rose steadily, reaching level thirty-five, level thirty-six... and finally settling steadily at the peak of level thirty-six.

The feeling of stagnation vanished.

His Martial Soul aura was smooth and harmonious, carrying the unique, unrestrained arrogance of nocturnal beasts.

Lu Yuan withdrew his hand, staggered back a step, and steadied himself by holding onto the stone platform. His face was pale, but his eyes shone with an uncontainable light.

It was a success.

However--

Before the echo of the long howl had faded, a sharp Soul Power signal pierced the night sky and exploded from somewhere on the outskirts of the valley!

It's been exposed.

The moment the signal exploded, Seventh Master Lin's figure had already swept across the hundred-foot-high mountain forest.

So fast that only a blur remained.

He completely ignored the "rats" peeking around outside, unleashing his full Soul Power and rushing straight into the depths of the valley. His silver hair stretched into a straight line in the night wind, his purple patterned robe fluttered in the wind, and lightning crackled all around him.

The old man's mind was in turmoil.

That surge of Soul Power just now... level thirty-six? And it was as stable as soil that had been compacted three times!

What's even stranger is that the feeling of stiffness is gone. Not a single trace remains.

How is that possible?

The old folks in the family have been tinkering for years, and the conclusion is always the same: the inherent defects of Mutated Martial Soul can only be alleviated, not eradicated.

Now things are really messed up.

Three months? No, how many days have passed? Only a month and a half!

That kid surnamed Lu...

Seventh Master Lin's eyes grew even fiercer, and he slammed his toes down on the branches of the ancient pine tree, causing his body to swell once more.

It must be confirmed with my own eyes.

Almost at the same moment.

On the outskirts of the valley, three dark figures darted out from different directions.

No longer hidden.

The fluctuations of Soul Power were cold and sharp, carrying the metallic scraping sensation unique to the Hundred Refinements Pavilion's hunting team. The leader was a tall, thin man whose face was covered by a mask, revealing only a pair of hawk-like eyes. His Soul Saint aura spread out without any concealment.

"Location confirmed." His voice was hoarse. "Northeast, 320 zhang, underground stone chamber. Target two, both are there."

The two people behind him nodded silently, and their Soul Ring quietly appeared.

Yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black.

Standard formula, concentrated killing intent.

"The Pavilion Master orders," the tall, thin Soul Saint said coldly, "Lin Xiao, capture him alive. The other one... try to capture him alive. If you can't capture him, execute him on the spot, and bring his head back with you."

"Yes."

Before the words were even finished, the three of them suddenly sprang up, transforming into three black streaks that hurtled straight into the heart of the valley.

A sudden gust of wind swept through the night.

In the herb garden, the hand holding the Qingzhu walking stick paused slightly.

Beneath his white eyebrows, a glint of light flashed in his usually half-closed eyes. His left hand moved swiftly, forming a hand seal, and a verdant bamboo talisman silently shattered from his sleeve.

Buzz--

Centered on the herb garden, countless slender, vine-like light patterns suddenly lit up the ground within a radius of a hundred feet!

The light patterns grew wildly.

Real vines sprouted wildly from the soil, cracks in the rocks, and trees, as thick as a child's arm, with barbs, and in the blink of an eye, they intertwined to form an impenetrable green cage. At the same time, pale blue mist rose from the ground, quickly spreading and drastically reducing visibility.

The Qingzhu formation has been activated.

The old man coughed twice, stood still with his cane, and looked into the dark depths of the forest.

"We didn't catch all the mice, but we've attracted wolves instead," he muttered to himself. "That stubborn old mule from the Lin Clan, he's quick on his feet..."

That being said...

He listened intently to any sounds coming from the direction of the stone chamber.

Those two kids inside should come out soon enough.

Inside the stone chamber.

The echo of his long howl seemed to still reverberate between the stone walls.

Lin Xiao slowly withdrew his stance, and the illusory image of the Hell Spirit Cat in his palm crouched and dissipated. He opened his eyes, and his amber vertical pupils were exceptionally clear in the dim light, surging with the sharpness of a newly broken through, which was not yet fully tamed.

It really happened.

Soul Power flowed smoothly through his meridians, faster than ever before. Those "walls" that had been blocked for over a decade were all blasted open.

He clenched his fist, his knuckles cracking slightly.

The sense of power is overflowing.

Lu Yuan steadied himself on the stone platform, his face still pale, but the light in his eyes was undeniable. He quickly glanced at Lin Xiao's condition—the fluctuations in his Soul Power had stabilized after a surge, his Martial Soul aura was harmonious, and the stagnation had completely disappeared.

The hardest part of the bet is over.

But there's no time to celebrate right now.

Outside the cave, the sharp Soul Power signal still seemed to pierce his ears. Immediately afterward, several undisguised and hostile Soul Power fluctuations rapidly approached. Then, there was a slight tremor from the ground, and the rustling sound of vines growing wildly and mist rising.

The Qingzhu formation has been triggered.

The pursuers have arrived.

Lin Xiao heard it too. He turned his head, his vertical pupils contracting, his tongue unconsciously licking his canine teeth. "Scrap from the Hundred Refinements Pavilion," he said in a low voice, his voice hoarse and menacing after his breakthrough, "... a persistent ghost."

"Not only that," Lu Yuan said.

He has a more refined sense of perception.

Besides those few chilling strands of the Hundred Refinements Pavilion Soul Power, there was also a fierce, violent, and incredibly fast aura sweeping in from another direction of the valley.

Seventh Master Lin.

Both the internal and external sides arrived almost simultaneously.

Lu Yuan breath, forcing himself to calm down. Several options flashed through his mind, and finally his gaze fell on the simple wooden door of the stone chamber.

"Get out," Lu Yuan said.

Lin Xiao was taken aback. "Now? Outside—"

"That's precisely why we need to go out," Lu Yuan interrupted him, his tone steady. "Seventh Master Lin has arrived. The people from the Hundred Refinements Pavilion have also arrived. A clash between the two sides is inevitable. If we hide inside, we'll only be at a disadvantage."

He looked at Lin Xiao.

"You have fulfilled the conditions of the bet. Now, it is time for the Lin Clan's 'witness' to personally acknowledge the result."

Lin Xiao understood.

He grinned, the claw mark on his face looking somewhat ferocious in the dim light.

"OK."

Without further delay, Lu Yuan grabbed the stack of papers filled with data and path diagrams and stuffed them into his pocket. Lin Xiao stretched his neck, his Soul Power surging slightly, forcibly suppressing the slight sense of unease he felt after his breakthrough.

Push the door open.

The scene outside was more chaotic than expected.

A thick, pale blue fog enveloped the surrounding area, reducing visibility to less than five zhang. Countless thick vines wriggled and intertwined within the fog, forming an ever-changing labyrinth. From the depths of the fog, the sounds of metal clashing and Soul Power colliding echoed.

A fight broke out.

Lu Yuan's gaze swept quickly across the area. Deep within the vine maze, three dark figures were dashing left and right, their Soul Skill exploding continuously. They were the three from the Hundred Refinements Pavilion.

On the other side--

Boom!

A fist shadow Entanglement blinding lightning brutally shattered a large section of the vine wall, even tearing a gap in the mist.

Seventh Master Lin strode out.

His silver hair bristled, his purple robe billowed, and electric snakes crackled around him. He unleashed his full power as a Soul Douluo, slowing down even the vines around him. He didn't even glance at the three from the Hundred Refinements Pavilion; his tiger-like eyes were fixed on Lu Yuan and Lin Xiao, who had just stepped out of the stone chamber.

Their gazes first fell on Lin Xiao.

pause.

Scan up and down.

The old man's facial muscles twitched.

It really is level 36. The fluctuations in Soul Power are frighteningly stable. The aura of the Martial Soul... that stagnation that had plagued the family for over a decade seemed to have never existed.

A muffled syllable rolled out of his throat.

But the next moment, this complex emotion was suppressed. Seventh Master Lin turned to the three from the Hundred Refinements Pavilion, his tiger-like eyes widening, and his furious roar boomed like thunder:

"Trash from the Hundred Refinements Pavilion!"

The sound waves, imbued with Soul Power, shook the mist, causing it to churn.

"How dare you touch anyone from my Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan?!"

The tall, thin Soul Saint had just parted a clump of vines when he heard the sound and turned his head sharply. When he saw Seventh Master Lin, his pupils shrank.

This is troublesome.

Lei Qingyue, an elder of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan and a Soul Douluo Lei Qingyue. What's this old monster doing here?

But he didn't back down.

His face, taut beneath the mask, gave a hoarse voice. "Elder Lei." He clasped his hands in a gesture of respect, his posture humbled, but his tone hardened. "These two are serious criminals of our Hundred Refinements Pavilion. The Pavilion Master personally ordered their capture. Please... grant us this favor."

"Convenient?" Seventh Master Lin scoffed, taking a step forward.

His body crackled and popped with electricity.

"I don't care about any orders from your sect leader. These two are now under the jurisdiction of the Lin Clan." He waved his hand dismissively. "Get lost."

The tall, thin Soul Saint didn't move.

The two Soul Emperor behind them slowly approached, forming a triangular formation with their Soul Power subtly connected. Although they did not attack again, their resistance was evident.

The atmosphere suddenly became tense.

Tensions were high.

In this tense silence—

Lu Yuan took two steps forward.

His face was pale, and his steps were unsteady, but his back was ramrod straight. He stopped three steps in front of Seventh Master Lin.

He looked up at the angry old man with silver hair.

The sound wasn't loud, but it pierced through the fog with clarity.

"Senior."

Seventh Master Lin frowned.

Lu Yuan met his gaze, his face expressionless. Only his index finger unconsciously tapped lightly on the side of his thigh.

Then he opened his mouth.

"The three-month period hasn't ended yet," he said, pausing for a moment, "But the conditions have been met."

He stepped aside, giving way half a step, revealing Lin Xiao standing silently behind him.

"Soul Power level 36, all stagnation eradicated, leaving no hidden dangers."

The words had barely left his mouth.

The fog seemed to freeze for a moment.

Seventh Master Lin stared at him, then looked at Lin Xiao. The old man's nasolabial folds were so deep they looked like they were carved by a knife, and his eyes were incredibly complex—there was shock, scrutiny, anger, and a very faint hint of admiration.

He remained silent for three breaths.

In those three breaths, the three from the Hundred Refinements Pavilion had their eyes flickering, and the tall, thin Soul Saint secretly pressed his hand towards the Soul Tool at his waist.

Deep within the maze of vines, the figure of a man with Qingzhu staff appears and disappears in the mist.

Lin Xiao licked his canine teeth, his vertical pupils contracted, and his Soul Power began to flow silently.

Lu Yuan didn't urge him.

He simply looked at Seventh Master Lin, waiting for an answer.

finally--

Seventh Master Lin snorted heavily.

Instead of answering directly, he abruptly turned his head, glared at the tall, thin Soul Saint of the Hundred Refinements Pavilion, and roared like thunder:

"Did you hear me?! My family!"

The tall, thin Soul Saint's expression changed.

The moment Seventh Master Lin's roar rang out, the light in Lu Yuan's eyes completely faded away.

He knew.

You won the bet.

But this won "freedom" and "recognition" are now tightly enveloped by three forces, countless vines, and this thick fog.

The crisis is far from over.

That being said...

He glanced at the hands of the three from the Hundred Refinements Pavilion as they pressed their fingers towards their Soul Tool, then glimpsed the figure of the Qingzhu faintly visible in the mist.

The next round has begun.