Chapter 47: The White Tiger King’s Sacrifice

"You've come to the Star Dou Forest to obtain a soul ring, haven't you? To break through your limits."

The White Tiger looked at Dai Mubai, its gaze deep and profound. It could clearly sense that his strength was at the threshold of Rank 40.

As a hundred-thousand-year soul beast, its insight was naturally extraordinary.

Before Dai Mubai could reply, the White Tiger continued speaking on its own.

"Instead of hiding and scraping by like this, let me aid you."

"One day, the Sacred King will return!"

"I believe… that day is not far away!"

Dai Mubai: "…"

I'm really not the reincarnation of the White Tiger Sacred King! Why won't you listen to me? Wait… what are you doing?!

Golden light erupted from the White Tiger's body, and in the next instant, its entire form began to burn.

"Sacred King, I entrust the future of the Tiger Clan to you!"

"Sacrifice?!"

Dai Mubai was stunned. Before he could react, the sacrificial process had already begun.

A terrifying wave of soul power exploded from the heart of the Star Dou Forest, sending weaker soul beasts trembling to the ground, too afraid to move.

In the deepest part of the forest, a place known as the Land of Ferocious Beasts, a black dragon slowly opened its eyes.

Its deep gaze flickered with confusion and surprise.

Since when did the Tiger Clan have another hundred-thousand-year soul beast?

However, after pondering for a brief moment, it closed its eyes again.

The White Tiger was sacrificing itself—whatever the reason, it was already dead. There was no need to investigate further.

The powerful fluctuations of soul power lasted for nearly an hour before finally fading.

The White Tiger was gone. It had given everything—leaving nothing behind.

Dai Mubai stood there, silent, his eyes falling on his fourth soul ring and his right arm.

A crimson soul ring—the mark of a hundred-thousand-year soul beast.

And on his right arm, the soul bone the White Tiger had bestowed.

For a long time, Dai Mubai didn't move. A wave of inexplicable sorrow washed over him as he tilted his head back, trying to keep the tears from falling.

If he had a choice, he would have never accepted this hundred-thousand-year soul ring.

After a moment, a thought struck Dai Mubai, and he turned his gaze to the soul rings circling his body.

Yellow, yellow, purple, red—this was their original appearance.

But as faint golden light flickered across Dai Mubai's body, the soul rings began to transform.

Yellow, yellow, yellow, yellow.

White, white, white, white.

And finally, crimson.

It was not related to any specific soul skills—just a unique application of light-attribute power.

It was somewhat reminiscent of Simulation, the second soul skill of his distant descendant, Huo Yuhao (or Dai Yuhao).

"Tsk. It's just an application of light energy, yet that brat was tricked into getting an unnecessary soul ring," Dai Mubai muttered to himself with a faint smirk.

Well, that's still thousands of years in the future anyway.

The White Tiger's sacrifice provided Dai Mubai's White Tiger Sacred King martial soul with two powerful new soul skills.

In addition, the soul bone it bestowed granted him two equally powerful abilities.

Four skills in total—more than all his previous soul skills combined.

But the burden… it felt too heavy.

"Sigh. I'll just take it one step at a time," Dai Mubai murmured, shaking his head.

"Wait… Did I forget something?"

Flender and Zhao Wuji: "…"

By the time Dai Mubai carried Flender and Zhao Wuji out of the Star Dou Forest, it was already around seven or eight o'clock in the evening.

This trip to the forest had been nothing short of harrowing—life and death hanging in the balance.

While Flender had fared slightly better, Zhao Wuji had been particularly unlucky. His wounds had barely healed, and now he was once again critically injured.

Back at the inn, everyone was stunned when they saw the state of Flender and Zhao Wuji.

These were two high-ranking Soul Sages!

How had they both ended up in this state?

And more importantly, how had Dai Mubai brought them back alive?

"Mubai, what… what happened?"

Zhu Zhuqing's voice trembled, her expression filled with worry and disbelief.

Dai Mubai's clothes were clearly not the same ones he'd been wearing when they left.

"It's no big deal…"

Dai Mubai waved his hand nonchalantly.

"We ran into a hundred-thousand-year soul beast."

The moment he said this, the entire room erupted in shock.

"A hundred-thousand-year soul beast?!"

Xiao Wu's pink eyes widened in alarm as she stared at Dai Mubai.

Could it have been Er Ming?

Even Tang San trembled at the words, his eyes widening in disbelief.

A hundred-thousand-year soul beast was a legendary existence.

Not even most Title Douluo could stand against such a creature.

The fact that Dai Mubai had returned alive—with two critically injured Soul Sages in tow—was nothing short of miraculous.

"Yes," Dai Mubai continued solemnly. "It was a White Tiger…"

"Luckily, after injuring Teacher Zhao and Dean Flender, it didn't attack further. That's how I was able to bring them back."

Dai Mubai's voice was tinged with sadness, his acting impeccable.

"Cough, cough…"

At that moment, Zhao Wuji stirred, coughing weakly.

"Huh? I… I'm not dead?"

Zhao Wuji glanced around in confusion, disbelief written all over his face.

How could they have survived that encounter?

But the sharp pain coursing through his body quickly reminded him that he was, in fact, still alive.

"M-Mubai… What… happened? Weren't we… facing a hundred-thousand-year… cough, cough…"

Before Zhao Wuji could finish, Dai Mubai quickly interjected.

"Teacher Zhao, let's wait until you and the Dean have recovered. I'll explain everything then."

"Fine…" Zhao Wuji mumbled weakly, his energy spent.

Having his Martial Soul True Body shattered had left him grievously wounded.

He recalled the White Tiger's claw—it had pierced his defenses as if they didn't exist. Had it not been for that, he might have lasted a few seconds longer.

Flender had fared even worse. His Martial Soul True Body had nearly been destroyed outright.

At this point, no one questioned how Dai Mubai had managed to bring them back alive.

The fact that they were still breathing was miracle enough.

Zhao Wuji had never expected to survive the encounter.

"This kid is too rebellious," Zhao Wuji muttered to himself.

I told him to run, yet he stayed behind…

Unbeknownst to everyone, Dai Mubai's soul power had skyrocketed during the White Tiger's sacrifice.

From Rank 40, he had leapt straight to Rank 50.

Yes, he was now on the brink of becoming a Soul King.

All he needed was a fifth soul ring.

(End of Chapter)