As Hu Liena suddenly took the initiative, a fragrant breeze hit Ye Yu's face, followed by the soft warmth of her lips.
Ye Yu was momentarily stunned.
But only for a moment.
Since Hu Liena had taken the initiative, if he didn't respond in kind—would he still be a man?
"Don't speak. Let me kiss you?"
No need for her to say it—he would act on his own.
Ye Yu pulled Hu Liena tightly into his arms and kissed her deeply in return.
Behind him, his Blue Silver Jade Tree Martial Soul materialized.
Its blue crystal-like roots began to grow rapidly, soon forming a platform along the Hell Road. Thick roots extended down both sides of the platform, intertwining into four translucent blue crystal pillars, plunging deep into the river of blood and anchoring the platform.
Even more roots sprouted upward from the edges, curling inward like giant blue crystal petals, forming a giant flower bud of shimmering blue crystal.
Inside the bud, starlight dots, crescent moons, miniature suns, crimson phoenix patterns, icy-blue streaks, and dark purple thunder veins shimmered and pulsed.
Within this crystalline cocoon, Ye Yu and Hu Liena continued their "intimate exchange."
Though it was unclear if night had fallen in the outside world, within the eternal darkness of the Hell Road, the night... was still very long.
Time passed unknowably.
When Hu Liena finally awoke, she felt sore all over—inside and out. Her throat was parched.
"Water… water..."
"Nana, you're awake?" Ye Yu asked with concern, handing her a cup of fresh water. "How do you feel?"
Realizing she was lying in Ye Yu's arms—and recalling how she had boldly made the first move—Hu Liena's charming, beautiful face flushed crimson. She had no idea what to say.
After a long pause, she lowered her head, speaking hesitantly.
"An Lan… I'm sorry. Just now, I didn't mean to. I just… couldn't control myself."
Ye Yu laughed softly and hugged her tighter.
"No need to apologize. If anything, I gained the most from this."
"From now on, you're my woman."
"Mmm~"
Hearing Ye Yu's bold declaration, Hu Liena blushed even deeper, but her heart overflowed with sweetness and happiness.
She decided to come clean.
"An Lan, I'm actually from Spirit Hall. Our current Pontiff is my teacher."
"Since you're a commoner Spirit Master, why don't you come back with me and join Spirit Hall? My teacher will definitely value your talent."
Her jade-like hands wrapped around Ye Yu's neck. Thinking of their future together, she asked with excitement and hope.
But Ye Yu couldn't agree.
In fact, he didn't even want to reveal his true identity yet.
"Nana, the Hell Road is perfect for my cultivation. I'm not planning to leave just yet."
"Otherwise, I would've taken you out with me when I knocked you unconscious earlier."
"So for now, I can't leave with you or join Spirit Hall."
After a pause, he sighed softly.
However, Ye Yu hadn't refused outright.
Hu Liena was slightly stunned, but the blood river beside the Hell Road reminded her—
After Ye Yu had slaughtered Fallen Spirit Masters in the Hell Slaughter Arena, he'd revealed an unknown Soul Bone that could devour their flesh and accelerate cultivation.
She instantly understood.
Although disappointed, she knew that the stronger Ye Yu became, the more her teacher would respect him.
Leaning reluctantly into his arms, Hu Liena murmured,
"I understand, An Lan…"
She'd wanted to stay longer.
But the hellish environment of the Hell Road was unbearable for her.
In the end, she had to leave.
At the far end of the Hell Road, the river of blood curved and pooled into a wide blood lake.
The surface was over twenty meters wide.
With Hu Liena's strength, she couldn't cross it on her own.
Naturally, Ye Yu picked her up and activated his self-created Spirit Ability, Thunderburst Step, using electromagnetic repulsion to counteract gravity and leap across.
He soared over the lake and landed at the far cliff wall, stabbing his Thunderous Hell Prison Spear into the cliff to anchor himself.
"An Lan!"
"When you come out, you better come to Spirit City to find me!"
Giving him one final kiss and a reluctant look, Hu Liena launched herself upward.
Activating her External Sprit Bone: Fox Tail, she drove it into the cliff like a mace to propel herself forward.
Soon, she passed through a shimmering white curtain of light—
And vanished.
After seeing Hu Liena off, Ye Yu no longer needed to conceal himself.
He flew back onto the Hell Road, summoning his Blue Silver Jade Tree Martial Soul to form a wide platform.
Sitting cross-legged atop it, he sighed with relief.
That narrow cliff path really wasn't a great place to sit.
He began channeling the Blue Silver Jade Tree Martial Soul, letting its roots devour the river of blood, converting it into Spirit Power and life force to nourish his body.
At the same time, he pulled out all of the External Sprit Bone: Deom Willow Fluff he could still use, placing them on the platform formed from his Martial Soul's roots in the blood river.
He activated them, letting them also devour the blood river's energy.
Time passed.
Nearly half a year later…
Within this isolated Hell Road realm, with the help of the blood river—formed over countless tens of thousands of years—Ye Yu continued:
Devouring Yu Xiaogang's Luo Sanpao Martial Soul three times a day,
Using his new method to accelerate the materialization of the Blue Silver Jade Tree Martial Soul,
And using the abundant Spirit Power and life force in the blood river to hasten the process.
Finally—his Blue Silver Jade Tree Martial Soul had fully materialized!
And once materialized, it truly resembled a plant-type Spirit Beast.
With that material form, intelligence began to develop naturally.
Though it couldn't speak yet, Ye Yu could feel it:
His Martial Soul now had a soul—childlike, innocent, full of curiosity… and filled with admiration for its Spirit Master.
Now that it had gained awareness, Ye Yu eagerly turned his attention to testing the effect of Blue Silver Decree.
Would it change, as he suspected?
Blue Silver Decree was a power born from when Ye Yu forced Ah Yin to sacrifice herself and become its seventh Spirit Ring
It resembled a domain ability:
Without using spiritual power or entering an Inner Core Technique state,
He could sense the emotions and thoughts of surrounding Blue Silver Grass.
He could boost their growth and cultivation.
He could influence them to evolve toward the form of the Blue Silver Jade Tree.
Years ago, when Ye Yu had first begun experimenting with devouring Luo Sanpao, he'd hypothesized:
If the Blue Silver Jade Tree Martial Soul gained material form and intelligence...
Then, under the effect of Blue Silver Decree, the Blue Silver Grass around it should evolve more quickly in spirit and intellect.
Wouldn't that mean—
They'd become stronger, smarter, and more spiritual beings?
And all of them... would be his believers.