At the Lake of Life—
Azure Luan gazed at the small, frail Ah Yin and couldn't help but feel pity. "I can sense the once immense vitality, but it seems she suffered a grave injury, destroying her foundation. My Lord is kind, wasting a slot to save you, so do cherish it, and don't let down his compassion."
Buzz…
Ah Yin seemed to sense that the 'ruler' of this world was the majestic bird before her. Small vines slowly rose, and silver-edged, pale green leaves gently touched Azure Luan's beak, doing her best to convey goodwill.
"With the earth's hidden Life Gold here, and the contract master made will automatically heal your injuries, you needn't worry about old wounds. Just work hard on your cultivation—don't drag us back…" Azure Luan said lightly.
Ah Yin nodded.
Her remaining consciousness was filled with shock.
Such rich life force! With every breath, endless vitality poured in. With her roots soaking in the lake, her rhizome visibly lengthened, and her once-dull silver hue grew brighter.
My Lord? Is that the young man?
…
"Her consciousness is severely damaged… This must be the most primitive kind of sacrifice," Snow Empress frowned deeply.
As a fellow soul beast, she felt the anger even more deeply.
Still, anger aside, this was her first time seeing a millennium-old sacrifice. In the past, it was just a soul ring—the entire lifetime's cultivation given to a human, the soul suffering and returning to the body, causing this scene.
In later eras, soul beasts learned to seal their strength and merge their souls into the human's sea of spirit during the sacrifice…
"With such severe damage, can she really recover? I mean, even if 'Ah Yin' regains her strength, will she still be herself?" Big Eye asked.
"Hard to say. If recovered by another method, maybe. But now that my lord has intervened and formed a contract, who knows—it might be an entirely new 'Ah Yin'." Snow Empress shook her head.
"But that's a good thing too. Leave all the filth of the past behind and start anew."
"..."
Su Wen paused, saying nothing, studying Snow Empress's face with suspicion.
"What? Is there something on my face?" Snow Empress asked coolly.
"You just… called me 'my lord'?!" Su Wen was dumbfounded.
Ever since the "sacrifice," Snow Empress had only ever called him 'Xiao Wen' or 'hey.'
Though the two were both mentor and friend, Su Wen had always been nonchalant about it. But today, hearing her call him 'my lord' left him totally baffled.
"Ehhh~~"
Big Eye, sensing the weird tension, immediately retreated into the Pokéball, not wanting to get involved.
"What, my lord~? You don't like it?" Snow Empress laughed softly, her stunning features curving into a smile like a blossoming snow lotus. The sound made Su Wen's bones go numb, and he shivered.
An empress suddenly calling you 'my lord'—the feeling could no longer be described as bittersweet.
"Why the sudden change?" Su Wen secretly enjoyed it for three seconds, but couldn't help but ask.
"You gave me new life, calling you 'my lord' is only right," Snow Empress said softly. "I figured it out. That wasn't my sacrifice—it was your rescue."
Seeing Su Wen still skeptical, she pinched his ear, lips close as she whispered, "Or would you rather I called you 'Daddy'?"
Su Wen blushed.
"Actually… I wouldn't mind?"
…
"So strange, so strange…" Su Wen smacked his lips, still unable to figure it out.
Could it be that seeing Ah Yin's miserable state made Snow Empress feel sad, thinking that if she hadn't met him, she'd have ended up just as abused by humanity?
"Women…" Su Wen sighed.
Ah Yin's fate wasn't actually that bad.
But honestly, that was all thanks to Tang San. Without him and his cheat all the way to Godhood, how could she have been resurrected?
If it had been another sacrificed soul beast who encountered Tang Hao, it would have been true hell from the start…
Revive? Dream on.
Deeply affectionate Tang Hao would show you what 'loving your wife' really means—
Lock her up, ultimate torment.
Still, this trip got him some favorability points with Snow Empress at Tang Hao's expense. Not bad.
…
"Ahhhhh! My Ah Yin!!"
A voice shook the whole valley, arriving before its owner.
A massive, pitch-black hammer etched with golden patterns crashed down, blasting out a shockwave that flattened all the flowers and grass.
Su Wen, who had just exited the cave, calmly watched the approaching, vagrant-like middle-aged man.
His clothes could rival Elder Xuan's—beggar style—but a bit more rugged, with a leather jacket.
Tang Hao hovered in midair, eyes blood-red, staring daggers at Su Wen outside the cave.
Ah Yin's aura had vanished!
That meant this person had most likely stolen Ah Yin!
"Hand over Ah Yin!" Tang Hao's eyes narrowed, black soul power surging around him in waves. This young man's talent wasn't weak—already a Soul Sage in his twenties. Whoever he was, even if he was the heir of some great clan on a training trip, if he dared provoke Tang Hao, even the heavens couldn't save him!
"Tsk, such a racket…" Su Wen dug his ears, raising an eyebrow.
"So, you're Tang Hao, right? Back then, Qian Xunji died chasing you, I remember you." Su Wen sighed, as if recalling something. "I told him not to chase an enemy to the death for a mere hundred-thousand-year soul beast, but alas…"
Buzz!
Midair, Tang Hao's palm opened. The fallen Clear Sky Hammer on the ground trembled and shot back into his hand. His eyes narrowed in shock.
That tone…
This guy was no ordinary person!
Qian Xunji was a man more than ten years older than him. If he were still alive, he'd be in his fifties or sixties—already a Titled Douluo, head of Spirit Hall.
To call him 'Xunji' directly, this man must have been a peer in both era and cultivation.
"Who exactly are you?!" Tang Hao gripped the Clear Sky Hammer tightly, eyes never leaving Su Wen, trying to find a flaw.
"Tsk, the mighty are forgetful…" Su Wen shook his head with a hint of sadness.
"When Qian Xunji hunted you, I was there too. Have you forgotten?"
"Hm?" Tang Hao froze.
He didn't recall Su Wen, but the man's confidence made him hesitate. That silhouette… it did seem a bit familiar, but he hadn't paid attention back then.
"Truly, the mighty forget many things… Let me help you remember." Su Wen flicked his feather fan, shaking his head regretfully.
"No!"
Tang Hao's pupils shrank.
He abruptly retreated.
In the next instant, a rain of sharp ice spikes filled the air where he had just been, like a volley of arrows, their power terrifying…