Secrets of the Altar, the Light of Inheritance, and the Coming Shadow

The waterbird's wings cleaved through the mist over the lake as it slowly brought the six of them down on the shore of the island at its center. A faint, fresh scent of vegetation filled the damp air, and the earth beneath their feet was soft and springy, as though brimming with life. Milky-white mist shrouded the distant altar, leaving only a blurred outline visible, like a sleeping ancient behemoth.

"The Soul Power here is so dense..." Oscar took a deep breath and could not help marveling. "It's ten times stronger than in the Shrek Secret Realm!"

Tang San's Blue Silver Grass quietly reached out and connected with the plants on the island. Surprise flickered in his eyes. "These plants all have spiritual awareness. It's as if... they've lived for over ten thousand years."

Lin Ye circulated his Golden Crow Power, and the phantom of a Three-Legged Golden Crow flickered in and out of sight on his shoulder, letting out a clear cry. The cry pierced the mist, and the distant altar seemed to tremble slightly. An ancient echo came faintly through the fog.

"It looks like this sacred altar really is extraordinary." Lin Ye looked at the others. "Everyone, be careful and stay close to me."

The six of them watched one another warily as they headed toward the altar. The closer they drew, the thicker the mist became, until they could see less than five meters ahead. The silence around them grew ever more eerie. Even the chirping of insects and birds had vanished, leaving only their footsteps echoing through the fog.

"Wait!" Xiao Wu suddenly stopped, her rabbit Martial Soul's keen senses alerting her to something amiss. "I think there's something ahead!"

Tang San immediately released his Blue Silver Grass. Its blades spread rapidly through the mist, and soon he received a response. "They're stone statues, lots of them!"

The mist gradually dispersed, revealing an enormous plaza. An altar dozens of meters high stood in its center, surrounded by more than a hundred stone statues arranged in neat rows. They came in all forms: some human, some beasts, and others half human and half beast. Every one of them was carved so lifelike that its eyes seemed to hold ancient wisdom and majesty.

"Are these... statues of ancient Soul Beasts and Soul Masters?" Yu Xiaogang had once shown Tang San similar illustrations in ancient texts. Looking at the statue of a winged lion, Tang San could not help venturing a guess.

Lin Ye walked up to a statue of a Three-Legged Golden Crow. It was almost identical to his Martial Soul, only far larger and with a more majestic gaze. He reached out and touched its surface. A faint warmth seemed to come from beneath the cold stone, resonating with the Golden Crow Power inside him.

"Hum-"

The Three-Legged Golden Crow statue suddenly lit up with a faint golden glow, which flowed into Lin Ye through his fingertips. Lin Ye felt countless pieces of information pour into his mind-the origins of the Three-Legged Golden Crow, the true meaning of power, and the way of balance between the sun and life. Golden Crow Fire circulated wildly within him, growing more condensed and pure. Even his Soul Power Level showed faint signs of a breakthrough.

"Lin Ye!" Sensing that something was happening to him, Tang San hurried forward.

"I'm fine." Lin Ye opened his eyes, a flash of gold passing through them, excitement on his face. "This statue... is passing down its power!"

No sooner had he spoken than the statues throughout the plaza lit up one after another. A statue of the Blue Silver Emperor shone on Tang San, enveloping him in a soft green light. Blue Silver Grass danced around him, humming joyfully; a statue of a Soft Bone Charming Rabbit shone on Xiao Wu, its pink light making her Soul Power more lively; Dai Mubai corresponded to a Hell Spirit Cat statue, Tai Long to a Great Strength Gorilla statue, and Oscar to a food-type Soul Master statue...

Each of them was enveloped in the light of the corresponding statue, immersed in the inheritance.

Basking in the Blue Silver Emperor's green light, Tang San saw images of his mother, Ah Yin, flash through his mind, along with the most fundamental powers of Blue Silver Grass-inclusiveness and growth. He felt his Blue Silver Domain expand once more. Not only could he control plants, but he could also share their senses and even borrow their life force to heal himself.

Within the pink light, Xiao Wu's Soft Bone Charming Rabbit talents were fully awakened. She could teleport farther and exercise greater control over her grappling techniques. She even comprehended a new ability: she could briefly conceal her Soul Beast presence to avoid detection by high-level Soul Masters.

Dai Mubai's Nether Civet Martial Soul was tempered in the shadows, becoming faster and better at stealth; Tai Long's Great Strength Gorilla Martial Soul grew more ferocious, its strength increase far surpassing what it had been before; Oscar gained another sausage Soul Skill, "Memory Sausage," which could briefly copy one of another person's non-offensive Soul Skills.

When the light of all the statues gradually faded, the presence of all six had undergone a qualitative leap. Not only had their Soul Power Levels risen by one, but their understanding of their own Martial Souls had also deepened. It was as though they had shed their mortal shells and transformed.

"Is this the sacred altar's true power...?" Oscar stared, dumbfounded, at the Memory Sausage that had appeared out of nowhere in his hand.

Tang San walked up to the altar. Its steps were densely engraved with ancient writing, and with the knowledge from the Blue Silver Emperor's inheritance, he could just make out some of it: "...Source of Soul Bones... Heaven and Earth newly opened... beasts and Soul Masters... coexistence... later, war arose... Soul Bones separated... scattered in all directions... the sacred altar guards one..."

"Soul Bone!" Lin Ye and Tang San looked at each other at once, shock flashing in their eyes. The Soul Bone Flender had mentioned really was hidden in the sacred altar!

Just then, a crack suddenly opened at the top of the altar, and a brilliant beam shot from it, straight into the sky. Within the light, a palm-sized bone shimmering with seven-colored radiance slowly rose and hovered above the center of the altar, emitting Soul Power fluctuations that made their hearts tremble.

"Is this... a Soul Bone?" Xiao Wu gazed at the seven-colored Soul Bone, her eyes full of curiosity.

Tang San, however, frowned as the Blue Silver Grass sent him a powerful warning. "This is bad! The light is too dazzling. It'll draw enemies here!"

Before he had finished speaking, a rapid succession of sounds came from the distance as dozens of dark figures hurtled through the air, bursting from the mist like crows and landing at the edge of the plaza. At their head was an elderly man in golden robes, with a sinister face and a golden chrysanthemum in his hand. It was none other than Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan! Ling stood beside him, along with several black-clad Soul Masters with powerful presences, evidently elders of Spirit Hall.

"So it really was here." Yue Guan gazed at the seven-colored Soul Bone above the altar, a greedy gleam flashing in his eyes. "That old thing Flender thought he could keep it hidden, but he didn't know the light of this Soul Bone's emergence could be seen from a thousand miles away."

"Yue Guan!" Lin Ye stepped forward, Golden Crow Fire blazing around him. "You dare defy Senior Flender's warning?"

Yue Guan sneered. "Flender? He can hardly protect himself right now. Her Holiness the Pope has already personally led people to surround and eliminate him, so don't count on him to come to your rescue."

Everyone's expressions changed drastically. They had never expected Spirit Hall to make such a grand move, sending even the Pope herself.

"Hand over the Soul Bone and that hundred-thousand-year-old Soft Bone Charming Rabbit, and I can give you a quick death." Yue Guan advanced step by step, the golden chrysanthemum spinning in his hand and giving off a strange fragrance.

"Dream on!" Dai Mubai roared. Possessed by his Hell Spirit Cat Martial Soul, he was the first to charge.

"You don't know the meaning of death." Yue Guan casually waved a hand, sending golden petals flying like blades. They forced Dai Mubai back in an instant, grazing his arm and leaving several wounds deep enough to expose bone.

"The strength of a Titled Douluo..." Tang San's heart sank. Yue Guan's Soul Power was more than a single tier above Ling's. The six of them alone were no match for him.

"Tang San, take Xiao Wu and the Soul Bone and go first!" Lin Ye shouted. The phantom of the Three-Legged Golden Crow spread fully open, and golden flames formed a wall of fire across Yue Guan's path. "Dai Mubai and the others and I will hold them off!"

"No! If we go, we go together!" Xiao Wu said stubbornly.

"There's no time to argue!" Tang San made a snap decision. His Blue Silver Grass scooped up Xiao Wu while more of it reached out to entwine the seven-colored Soul Bone. "Cover me! I'll see if I can take the Soul Bone!"

Tai Long roared as he transformed into a Great Strength Gorilla and charged the black-clad Soul Masters, buying Tang San time; Oscar kept throwing out sausages to buff everyone; Dai Mubai used his speed to harass Yue Guan, keeping him from approaching Tang San.

Lin Ye's Golden Crow Fire clashed with Yue Guan's chrysanthemum Soul Power. Golden flames and golden petals intertwined in the air and annihilated one another with piercing blasts. Lin Ye fought with all his might, but Yue Guan still suppressed him, and blood kept spilling from the corners of his mouth.

"With so little power, you dare stand in my way?" Impatience flashed in Yue Guan's eyes. His Soul Power suddenly erupted, and the golden chrysanthemum grew to an enormous size, bearing down on Lin Ye to crush him.

"Lin Ye!" Tang San's eyes nearly split with anxiety. His Blue Silver Grass had already wrapped around the seven-colored Soul Bone, but he discovered it was extraordinarily heavy. He could not move it at all.

At that critical moment, the statues in the plaza suddenly lit up again. The eyes of more than a hundred statues opened at once, shooting out fierce beams of light that converged into an enormous shield in front of Lin Ye.

"Boom!"

The golden chrysanthemum struck the shield with an earth-shaking crash. The shield shuddered violently, but it did not break.

Yue Guan's expression changed drastically. "Is this... the Ancient Guardian Grand Formation? How could it still be activated?!"

Tang San seized the chance to inject more Soul Power into his Blue Silver Grass, forging a deeper connection with the Soul Bone. Suddenly, he sensed a consciousness coming from within it, as though it were choosing a new master.

Choose me! Tang San cried out in his heart. I need power-the power to protect my companions and fight Spirit Hall!

The seven-colored Soul Bone trembled slightly, its radiance growing brighter. It slowly flew toward Tang San and merged into his body.

"No!" Yue Guan roared, attacking the shield of light madly. "That belongs to Her Holiness the Pope!"

Cracks gradually appeared in the shield under Yue Guan's frenzied assault, and the statues' light grew dimmer and dimmer.

"Go, quickly!" Lin Ye coughed up a mouthful of blood, and his Golden Crow Fire surged once more. "The statues won't hold out much longer!"

Tang San hesitated no longer. His Blue Silver Grass scooped up Xiao Wu, and he shouted to Dai Mubai, Tai Long, and Oscar, "Follow me!"

The four immediately followed. Controlling his Blue Silver Grass, Tang San carried everyone through the air toward the lakeshore.

"Trying to run?" Yue Guan shattered the shield and roared as he gave chase, golden petals shooting toward their retreating figures like a torrential downpour.

Lin Ye turned, gathered the last trace of Soul Power in his body into a golden ball of flame, and hurled it fiercely at Yue Guan. "Golden Crow Burns the Heavens!"

The enormous fireball blocked Yue Guan's path, buying everyone precious time. By the time the flames dissipated, Tang San and the others had boarded the waterbird and vanished into the mist over the lake.

"After them! Go after them!" Yue Guan trembled all over with rage, his golden robes stirring without a breeze.

Lin Ye watched his companions disappear into the distance, a faint, relieved smile appearing on his face. Then his vision went black, and he collapsed in the plaza. Before he lost consciousness, he dimly saw Yue Guan's icy smile and the statues' light going out completely.

In the mist over the lake, Tang San looked back. All he could see was the golden light coming from the direction of the sacred altar and the golden figure lying in the plaza.

"Lin Ye!" Tears welled in Tang San's eyes, but all he could do was grit his teeth and urge the waterbird to leave faster.

He knew Lin Ye had stayed behind to cover their escape. He had to get the Soul Bone and Xiao Wu away safely, or Lin Ye's sacrifice would be in vain.

Shadow completely engulfed the island at the heart of the lake. Yue Guan looked at Lin Ye lying on the ground, a cruel smile curling his lips. "A Three-Legged Golden Crow? Just as well. Her Holiness the Pope needs a new Soul Ring."

In the distant sky, dark clouds gathered, and a greater storm was brewing.