Chapter 558: Chapter 349: Three Souls Linked Together
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The two girls didn’t answer. They just stood there, smiling at him, waiting for him to say something about what had happened to him. Both of them believed he held the answers they truly wanted to hear, and they were right. These two women, Lan Feng and the Werewolf, had long figured out what had transpired, but it was something Yan Xiaobao wished to keep to himself. Though they looked at him expectantly, he kept his mouth shut.
Within his Dantian Cave, both the wolf and bird agreed with his decision. They grew increasingly silent, offering him only the simplest explanation of what had occurred. Truth be told, even Yan Xiaobao was waiting for the full story. He knew they wouldn’t tell him unless he was alone in his room without disturbances.
Wan Qiao noted his silence and nodded in agreement. If it were her, she wouldn’t say anything either. Transforming into a giant bird, she grabbed Li Meilin in one claw, placing her on her back. Wearing an expression of distaste, she turned to Yan Xiaobao.
"Find your way home. Don’t even think about being late. I’ll give you one week. If you don’t return within the week, I’ll personally make sure you never walk back into the world outside again."
Hearing this, Li Meilin was stunned once more. Listening to this strange beast boy talk about wanting to leave the Divine Domain right before her, she was utterly baffled.
But before Li Meilin had time to think further, the great eagle soared into the sky. In mere moments, the two figures vanished into the distant horizon, leaving behind a young man with a furrowed brow.
Before his consciousness entered his Dantian Cave, Yan Xiaobao once again sat on the grassy field, crossing his legs. The three souls finally connected as one.
"What is this about?" Yan Xiaobao curiously asked upon seeing the wolf after glancing at the bird. "I know it has something to do with the Werewolf, but I don’t know why or how."
"I’m not called Wolf," the wolf said gruffly. "If you want my insight, then learn to be a bit more respectful."
Hearing the growl, Yan Xiaobao shrugged, not paying it too much attention. He and the wolf were the same being, merely different reincarnations. Though they were alike, Yan Xiaobao couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling that he was missing something important in their relationship.
Thinking this, Yan Xiaobao sighed and shifted his focus to the bird, waiting for Lan Feng to explain so they could begin making their way back to the capital.
"When he passed away, you became the wolf of a divine spirit," Lan Feng began explaining. "As you may have already sensed, when you channel the wolf’s power, your physical strength rises by an entire level. That’s because of the higher rank he held upon his death."
"That’s also why what happened today transpired. As a god, the energy he wielded belonged to the World Power of the Ancestors. When you take the beast’s form, a portion of that God-level essence lingers within it. The battle, where you exhausted all your energy, triggered a reaction from your beast core, drawing the energy it required. The beast core within your Dantian Cave is undoubtedly divine, the rarest core in existence. A core so valuable it couldn’t be bought with mere money."
"You possess one such core yourself, which means in certain scenarios, you can control the World Power of the Ancestors and martial power. This truly is a blessing!"
"I can control the World Power of the Ancestors and martial power?" Yan Xiaobao asked, stunned. His entire body suddenly tensed, for this was the most remarkable news he had ever heard. If he controlled martial power, he could easily defeat the other kings he had fought against. But before he could savor this revelation, his brow furrowed. "How does he control the World Power of the Ancestors and martial power?" Yan Xiaobao abruptly asked.
"I’m sure only Divine Beasts can generate martial power," Yan Xiaobao recalled a past conversation with the Phoenix. He remembered it perfectly.
"That’s for normal beasts," Lan Feng scoffed, "Any beast that ascends to the divine rank automatically becomes a Divine Beast."
"Oh," was all Yan Xiaobao could mutter in response as he looked at the wolf in the Dantian Cave. The wolf certainly appeared powerful, yet Yan Xiaobao still felt as though something was lacking—whether it came from himself or the wolf. Both felt somewhat out of sync when facing each other.
Shaking his head, Yan Xiaobao resolved not to take any further action; instead, he focused inward on his own sensations. His spiritual energy had already soared to the final star of the Duke Level, slightly unsettling the balance of his cultivation base. Returning to the capital wasn’t a bad idea, as it would allow him to challenge beasts and stabilize his cultivation base. Determined, Yan Xiaobao managed to make his way back to the capital on time. He dashed to the city’s central palace, where Wan Qiao was waiting for him. Knowing she awaited, he hurried as quickly as he could, recalling the greetings they had exchanged during their very first meeting at the palace. The memory of her firm slap still stung his mind.
Wan Qiao had just finished meeting with a delegation sent by the Siban Empire, a group that included Saints, and now had much paperwork to deal with. She had lost many guards whose families needed this mournful news, along with the financial aid to sustain them now that their livelihoods were gone.
While some received tragic news, others who had excelled in battle were promoted or rewarded for their outstanding performance. Wan Qiao’s task was to ensure these warriors were properly compensated while assisting those who would never see their loved ones again.