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It was very late by the time they finished cleaning up and returned home.
This time, Lin Yongming had also drunk a few sips of wine.
"Xiao Ming, it felt like there were two rats watching us all day today," Blue Silver Empress said slowly as they sat at home.
"I noticed them too. They must have been sent by Qian Xunji. Their concealment techniques were quite advanced, and their strength wasn't bad—but they underestimated our abilities," Lin Yongming nodded, confirming what he had observed.
"It seems Qian Xunji isn't willing to let this go. The only reason he allowed us to leave Wuhun City is probably because he couldn't find concrete evidence against you. Plus, after what happened at Sea God Island, where you saved so many people, he wouldn't dare make a direct move against you openly," Blue Silver Empress analyzed.
"So he sent people to monitor me, waiting to see if I'd make contact with any other major factions before taking action," Lin Yongming continued.
"Exactly. That's most likely his plan," Blue Silver Empress agreed.
"Let's ignore them. They don't seem to be within Thunderstorm Village's borders anymore. As long as they don't interfere with our lives, they can watch all they want," Lin Yongming shook his head dismissively.
"True. Let's get some sleep."
The next day, Lin Yongming and Blue Silver Empress noticed that the two shadow guards sent by Wuhun Palace had returned to Thunderstorm Village by ten in the morning.
Soon, they figured out the pattern of their surveillance—starting at ten in the morning and lasting until eight at night.
"Hey, Xiao Ming, the lightning-struck tree is sprouting new leaves. That means it hasn't been hit by lightning in years—how lucky," Blue Silver Empress remarked as they strolled through the village, explaining the tree's condition.
"It means the village has been blessed with good weather," Lin Yongming nodded.
Arm in arm, they continued their leisurely walk, enjoying the peaceful days.
A month later, on a quiet night, the remnant will of the Thunder God returned to Lin Yongming's side.
But it was extremely weak, its glow faint and flickering.
"Quick, let me back into the Thunder God's Heart. I've been away too long—I'm almost depleted," the remnant will urged impatiently.
Lin Yongming took out the deep-blue, hexagonal Thunder God's Heart, and the Thunder God's spirit immediately merged into it.
"Thunder God… I've troubled you," Lin Yongming said with guilt.
"It's fine. As long as you inherit my divine seat, that's the best repayment I could ask for," the remnant will replied calmly.
"Hmm… The thunder energy in the Thunder God's Heart is still dense. It seems you've been diligently replenishing it this past month, just as I instructed," the Thunder God's voice carried a note of satisfaction.
"Of course. Thunder God… is Dong'er doing alright at Wuhun Palace?" Lin Yongming asked.
"I delivered your message. Your woman is safely secluded in her courtyard, focusing on her closed-door cultivation. Don't worry," the remnant will assured him.
"That's good," Lin Yongming let out a relieved sigh. He had been worried that Bibi Dong might act impulsively.
After all, she was only eighteen—still prone to recklessness.
"Thunder God, how long will you need to stay in the Thunder God's Heart to recover?" Lin Yongming asked.
"If you keep supplying it with energy daily, about half a month."
"What, you want me to go back again?" The remnant will sounded slightly exasperated.
"Please. I don't want to take any risks," Lin Yongming pleaded.
"Fine, fine," the remnant will relented before falling silent.
Lin Yongming exhaled deeply.
"Xiao Ming, what did the Thunder God say? Is Dong'er-mei alright?"
Since the remnant will had communicated through mental transmission, Blue Silver Empress hadn't heard their exchange.
"Don't worry. The Thunder God said Dong'er is safely cultivating in her courtyard. Qian Xunji hasn't given her any trouble," Lin Yongming relayed.
"That's a relief. Now that we know she's safe, we can focus on our own training."
From then on, their days were spent strolling through the village occasionally, but mostly training.
Lin Yongming, naturally, continued his meditation on the fluctuations of light.
Two months later, while cultivating on a hill behind the village, Lin Yongming noticed something unusual—most of the surrounding spiritual energy was converging toward Blue Silver Empress.
Soon, he had to stand up and step away.
The blue silver grass around her began growing wildly, as if transforming into a legion of guards protecting her during her critical breakthrough to the Soul Sage rank. The plants coiled around her, forming a protective cocoon.
"A-Yin has finally reached level 70," Lin Yongming murmured approvingly.
About ten minutes later, a surge of soul power erupted from Blue Silver Empress—she had broken through the bottleneck.
"She actually reached level 70… What terrifying talent. And she's only in her twenties? No wonder the Pope ordered us to monitor them."
"Her potential is frightening. After three months of observation, Lin Yongming has already reached level 68—a Soul Emperor."
The two spies sent by Qian Xunji had been lurking in Thunderstorm Village every day for the past three months.
"Xiao Ming! I've finally reached level 70! Once I obtain my seventh soul ring, I'll be a Soul Sage—able to unleash my True Form, taking my strength to an entirely new level!" Blue Silver Empress cheered, throwing her arms around Lin Yongming in excitement.
The Soul Sage realm was indeed a turning point for any soul master—the closest a human could get to their origin.
"A-Yin, you're amazing! Protect me!" Lin Yongming teased.
"Then let's go to the Star Dou Great Forest tomorrow to hunt for my soul ring!" she declared loudly—partly for the benefit of their unseen watchers.
"Alright. We'll leave first thing in the morning," Lin Yongming agreed.
The next day, after breakfast, they arrived at the village entrance. Lin Yongming held out his hand, and Blue Silver Empress stepped forward without hesitation.
"Purple Lightning Thunder Wings!"
With a flash, his external soul bone materialized, and they shot toward the Star Dou Great Forest like a streak of lightning.
Once they were gone, two black-clad figures emerged from the shadows.
"That speed… There's no way we can catch up."
"Never mind. Let's report this to Elder Ghost. They're heading to the Star Dou Great Forest—we'll just wait here for their return."
The two spies exchanged glances before giving up on pursuit.
"Guess we have no choice."
Beneath the clear sky and white clouds, a blue arc of light streaked across the horizon like a falling star.
By one in the afternoon, they landed in a village even smaller than Thunderstorm Village.
But the place was eerily silent. The paths were buried under thick layers of yellowed leaves, and many wooden houses had collapsed.
"How could this happen?" Blue Silver Empress whispered, staring at the devastation.
"Don't panic. Maybe a soul beast broke out of the forest and caused this. Let's check Sister Rou's house first," Lin Yongming suggested.
"Alright," she nodded.
They hurried to Xiao Rou's wooden home, which, though weathered, was mostly intact.
But the entire house was blanketed under layers of fallen leaves—clearly untouched for at least a year, maybe two.
"It seems Sister Rou hasn't been back in a long time," Blue Silver Empress murmured, her voice tinged with sadness.
"A-Yin, she has her own life now. And given our current situation—where we could clash with Wuhun Palace at any moment—maybe it's better not to involve her," Lin Yongming consoled her, pulling her into a gentle embrace.
"Mm. Let's go. Into the forest," she nodded.
Lin Yongming lifted her again, and they flew straight to the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest.
"Xiao Ming, fly low through the trees. We're heading straight for the inner region," Blue Silver Empress instructed.
"Got it."
With their current strength, there was no need to linger in the outer areas.
Thanks to Lin Yongming's speed, they reached the domain of ten-thousand-year soul beasts in about two hours.
Landing between a cluster of trees, Lin Yongming retracted his Purple Lightning Thunder Wings.
"A-Yin, for your seventh soul ring… do you have to hunt it yourself now?" Lin Yongming asked cautiously.
"Yes. The Soul Sage realm marks the mature stage of our human forms. Unlike our earlier years, we can't naturally condense soul rings anymore," Blue Silver Empress sighed.
"In that case, if you're uncomfortable with killing, let me handle it. What kind of soul beast do you need?" Lin Yongming offered.
"A plant-type, ten-thousand-year soul beast," she replied reluctantly.
"Understood."
After several days of searching, they finally found their target—a Netherworld Ghost Vine, a sinister plant soul beast with dark energy.
It lurked in a desolate valley, its twisted purple-black vines adorned with blood-red thorns and eerie, enchanting flowers.
"A seventy-thousand-year Netherworld Ghost Vine. This is the one," Blue Silver Empress declared the moment she saw it.
"But the Netherworld Ghost Vine is a dark-type soul beast. Is it compatible with your Blue Silver Emperor?" Lin Yongming questioned.
"It's fine. The Blue Silver Emperor's nature is all-encompassing. Strictly speaking, my attribute is the rare life element," she explained.
"Alright. You suppress its power, and I'll weaken it," Lin Yongming assigned their roles.
"Thunder Judgment Sword!"
With a flash, his martial soul manifested, and a bolt of lightning descended from the sky, electrifying the blade.
"Dark Thunder Domain!"
A blackish-purple energy field expanded around him, crackling with sporadic bolts of lightning. This upgraded version of his domain had been renamed Dark Thunder Domain.
The Netherworld Ghost Vine sensed danger and lashed out with countless thorned tendrils.
As it attacked, the eerie flowers released a cloud of crimson pollen—a potent paralyzing toxin.
But when Lin Yongming inhaled the pollen, aside from a strange floral scent, he felt no ill effects.
"Blue Silver Emperor—Vast Forest Domain!"
Blue Silver Empress stood nearby, activating her own domain.
The Vast Forest Domain exerted a suppressive effect on all plant-type martial souls and soul beasts.
Initially, it weakened the target's attributes and soul power by 10%, but the longer they remained within the domain, the stronger the suppression grew.
"Sixth Soul Skill—Heavenly Thunder Wave Sword!"
Lin Yongming unleashed his technique, sending serpentine arcs of lightning slicing through the vines.
Boom! Boom!
The tendrils shattered like brittle wood, piling up in heaps around him.
"Xiao Ming, the core of the Netherworld Ghost Vine is hidden in a crevice fifty meters ahead. Its main root is the fatal point," Blue Silver Empress guided him.
"Got it. Time to finish this!"
With agile steps, Lin Yongming scaled the rocky terrain, closing in on the soul beast's heart.
True to her words, the vine's main body furiously sprouted more tendrils in a desperate defense.
But now that Lin Yongming had stepped into the Gate of Lightning, every strike carried devastating thunderforce.
The vines stood no chance—they were severed like paper.
"First Soul Skill—Thunderlight Slash!"
Two razor-sharp arcs of lightning struck the core, carving deep into its flesh.
"Fifth Soul Skill—Blue Silver Overlord Spear!"
Blue Silver Empress followed up, driving her spear straight through the vine's heart. Thick, dark-green sap oozed out like blood.
Minutes later, a black ten-thousand-year soul ring materialized above the corpse.
After exchanging a nod, Blue Silver Empress sat down to absorb it.
Lin Yongming kept his Thunder Judgment Sword drawn, scanning the surroundings with his Mind's Eye in case any other soul beasts intruded.
Fortunately, the absorption process went smoothly.
When Blue Silver Empress finally opened her eyes, an enormous Blue Silver Emperor True Form materialized behind her—a towering, twenty-meter-tall manifestation of her original plant body.
Its trunk split into a triangular base, resembling an ancient pine tree. This was her Martial Soul True Body—the form she had taken before her human incarnation.
"That's one massive blue silver grass!" Lin Yongming marveled.
Only when she retracted her martial soul did the colossal apparition fade.
"Whew… After twenty-two years in human form, I've finally regained most of my strength," Blue Silver Empress exhaled, her blue eyes shimmering with joy.
"Congratulations, A-Yin!" Lin Yongming smiled, dismissing his sword.
"Thank you, Xiao Ming!" Overwhelmed, she pulled him into a deep kiss.
"Don't mention it. After all we've been through together, there's no 'you' or 'me' anymore—just 'us,'" he murmured when they finally parted.
"Hehe. Guess what? My Blue Silver Domain has evolved again! This is the fourth upgrade—Ocean Embraces All Rivers. I wonder if it can evolve further," she gushed.
"Another evolution? What's the new ability?"
"Ocean Embraces All Rivers is the ultimate stage of the Blue Silver Domain. In any place where blue silver grass grows, the domain can convert their life force into any form of energy I need—whether it's vitality, soul power, or even mental strength. As long as blue silver grass exists, my energy will never deplete."
"That's… ridiculously powerful," Lin Yongming gasped.
"It's decent. But you know, ever since I consumed the Love God's Tear, my Blue Silver Emperor has transcended its limits, becoming a god-grade martial soul. So I feel like this 'ultimate' domain might still have room to grow. But I don't know what lies beyond—maybe divinity itself?"
"Still, after seeing that million-year-old Deep Sea Demon Whale King fail to ascend… I'm starting to doubt myself," she admitted, recalling the beast's overwhelming power.
"Don't worry, A-Yin. Keep moving forward. When you reach a mountain, there will be a path; when you sail to a bridge, it will straighten."
Note: So far this story is published up to chapter 290 on my patreon, go check it out and remember that if we reach the goal of 40 power stones I will publish the next chapter.