Chapter 172: Absorb This Soul Bone

The empty stone chamber gradually settled into silence. Ye Lingling gazed at Cheng Xiao with concern, watching him remain motionless alongside the Blue Silver Emperor. She worried whether his actions might provoke danger, yet she dared not wake him at such a crucial moment. After all, she had no way of predicting the consequences.

Suddenly, the scene before her changed. The leaf of the Blue Silver Emperor that Cheng Xiao was touching began to darken at a visible speed, and soon, a woman's figure emerged from the plant itself.

She appeared to be in her early thirties, draped in a flowing blue-gold gown that radiated elegance and nobility. Her breathtaking beauty seemed almost otherworldly, and her deep sapphire eyes shone like flawless crystals. Golden ribbons curled around the hem of her dress, swaying gently with an ethereal fragrance lingering in the air.

Ye Lingling stared in shock at the graceful woman before her. She had never imagined that the hundred-thousand-year-old Blue Silver Emperor would be capable of taking human form.

Yet what followed was even more astonishing. The woman's blue-gold gown swiftly darkened into a deep blue hue, as wisps of black mist curled around her body. Her sapphire eyes shifted into a dark purple shade, and her brilliant blue hair darkened into a profound black, resembling an embodiment of the shadows themselves.

"Congratulations on regaining your human form."

Moments after Ah Yin transformed into a shadow soldier, Cheng Xiao rose from his crouched position. He looked at the woman before him with genuine sincerity.

"This... is your power," Ah Yin murmured in disbelief. She found it hard to comprehend that a mere Soul Ancestor-level youth had not only pulled her back from the brink of death but had also restored her to her former human form. What kind of power was this? The energy within him exuded the aura of death, a force feared by all living beings. Yet, paradoxically, despite being reborn through his power, she felt a profound sense of gratitude toward him.

"My King, is that how I should address you?" Ah Yin hesitated before voicing the title that had surfaced in her mind the moment she was transformed. The words seemed natural, as though they were the only way to express her newfound loyalty.

"That's fine," Cheng Xiao responded indifferently, waving a hand dismissively. "Titles don't matter much to me. Call me 'My King' if you prefer, or just use my name."

"Thank you," Ah Yin said sincerely.

"Cheng Xiao, should we leave now?" Ye Lingling asked hesitantly after listening to their conversation. A sense of relief filled her heart, but she remained uncertain about what to do next.

"Yes, our objective here is complete. It's time to go," Cheng Xiao nodded.

"My King, wait a moment." Just as Cheng Xiao was about to leave with Ye Lingling, Ah Yin spoke up. She activated the Blue Silver Emperor, and in an instant, several thick vines extended toward a specific section of the stone wall.

The vines brushed against a small protrusion on the wall and pressed down gently. With a deep grinding sound, an unseen mechanism was triggered within the chamber.

Clang!

A dark, heavy object fell from above, landing right in front of Cheng Xiao, kicking up a cloud of dust.

It was a black box, about five feet long and a foot wide, without any visible locks.

"This is…" Cheng Xiao's pupils contracted. He had almost forgotten about the existence of soul bones.

"My King, allow me." Ah Yin controlled the Blue Silver Emperor's vines, wrapping them around the black box and lifting it carefully. Then, she opened the lid in front of Cheng Xiao.

As soon as the box was uncovered, Ye Lingling gasped in shock. An immense wave of life energy burst forth, so powerful that it made their blood feel as if it were boiling.

"A soul bone!" Ye Lingling's voice trembled as she stared in disbelief at the radiant blue-gold right leg bone resting inside the box. She was overwhelmed by an indescribable sense of awe.

If Ah Yin had been a hundred-thousand-year-old soul beast, then this soul bone… it had to be a hundred-thousand-year soul bone! Such bones were legendary, their strength unparalleled. Though this particular soul bone wasn't an offensive type, as a support-type soul bone, it was undoubtedly a priceless treasure. Most remarkable was the sensation it emitted—it felt alive, as though it possessed a consciousness of its own.

Meanwhile, in a distant, secluded tavern within Heaven Dou City…

A man drowning in alcohol suddenly snapped his eyes open. The previous haze of despair vanished, replaced by a sharp, bloodthirsty gleam.

Tang Hao's instincts screamed at him—his soul imprint on the box had been broken. Someone had discovered the hidden location… and the soul bone along with it.

"Damn it! Could it be Spirit Hall? Have they found Ah Yin?" Tang Hao clenched his fists. "I need to check. The soul bone I left for Xiao San… it has to be there."

Fury and urgency overtook him. Without hesitation, he summoned his formidable soul power and shot toward his destination like a comet streaking through the night.

…

"My King, this is the hundred-thousand-year right leg bone I left behind. Please, take it and absorb it," Ah Yin said gently, lifting the Blue Silver Emperor right leg bone and placing it into Cheng Xiao's hands.

"Can you not reabsorb this soul bone yourself?" Cheng Xiao asked, hesitating to accept it.

"I'm sorry, My King," Ah Yin said softly, shaking her head. "A soul beast cannot reabsorb its own soul bone once it has been extracted. It is simply not possible."

"I did not come here seeking a soul bone," Cheng Xiao stated firmly.

"I know." Ah Yin gazed at him warmly. "From your power, I sense more than just death."

"My King, why not give this soul bone to Miss Ye Lingling instead? Her Nine-Hearts Begonia is a plant-type martial spirit, making her the most suitable candidate. With me here, she won't feel any pain during the absorption process."

"That's too precious," Ye Lingling immediately protested, shaking her head. Any other soul master would have seized such a treasure without hesitation, but she could not bring herself to do so. This soul bone did not belong to her—it was meant for Cheng Xiao, not her.

"Take it." Cheng Xiao smiled. "Lingling, this soul bone is incredible, but it doesn't suit me. Ah Yin is right—you're the best match for it."

After a moment of hesitation, Ye Lingling reached out and accepted the soul bone, nodding gratefully.

"Thank you, Cheng Xiao. Thank you, Sister Ah Yin."

Following Ah Yin's guidance, she sat cross-legged and placed the blue-gold soul bone against her right leg.

A gentle hum filled the air. Ye Lingling felt a cool sensation spreading through her right leg as the soul bone dissolved into shimmering streams of blue-gold energy, seamlessly merging into her body. There was no pain, only a deep, soothing comfort. The absorption process went smoothly, and she soon found herself immersed in a dreamlike state, surrounded by an endless forest of Blue Silver Grass. Her soul power pulsed in rhythm with the energy, rapidly elevating her cultivation to level forty.

Hours later, Ye Lingling slowly opened her eyes. Her right leg still tingled with residual energy. Nearby, Cheng Xiao sat comfortably on a vine-woven chair, while Ah Yin stood respectfully behind him, watching her king with gentle admiration.

"You're awake?" Cheng Xiao smiled. "It's getting late. Now that you've finished absorbing it, we should head back."

"Mm." Without hesitation, Ye Lingling nodded, rising to follow Cheng Xiao out of the cavern.