Chapter 223: I Have Something That’s Been Treasured for Over a Decade…

Shi Nian froze for a moment.

My disciples… plotting to kill me?

The revelation hit harder than any blade could. The betrayal of his protégés was far more agonizing than the prospect of death itself.

After a long pause, Shi Nian let out a bitter laugh.

"Ungrateful wretches… Let them do whatever they want!"

He turned to Li Si, his expression darkening.

"Honored one, I refuse to simply wait here for my death!"

Two yellow, three purple, and two black rings rose around Shi Nian as he unleashed his spirit. His martial soul, Residual Dream, had no physical form, existing instead as a manifestation of spiritual energy.

Perhaps due to the lack of proper guidance in his youth, Shi Nian's Residual Dream martial soul had never reached its full potential.

"Seventh Soul Skill: Nightmare!"

Unlike most spirit masters, Shi Nian's seventh soul skill did not grant him a physical Spirit Avatar. Instead, it created a more potent and terrifying illusion—a true nightmare.

For Shi Nian, this nightmare realm was his Spirit Avatar.

Confident in his ability, Shi Nian prepared to gauge Li Si's reaction.

He knew that even against a Titled Douluo, his illusion might buy him precious seconds—perhaps enough to attempt an escape.

But Shi Nian had gravely underestimated his opponent.

Not only was Li Si immune to the illusion, but he also wasn't even a Titled Douluo!

Before Shi Nian could react, he felt a sharp pain in his chest.

Looking down, he saw a golden dragon claw lodged in his torso, piercing his heart.

"You weren't on my kill list," Li Si murmured, his voice calm. "But you've gone out of your way to deliver yourself to me."

Withdrawing his claw, Li Si stepped back, unfazed by the blood splattered on his arm.

Shi Nian staggered, coughing up blood as his vision blurred.

"You…" he gasped, unwilling to accept his fate.

When Shi Nian had hunted down budding geniuses in the past, he had never considered that karma might come for him.

Now, staring into the void, his thoughts were consumed with bitterness.

Is this retribution?

As his consciousness faded, Li Si bent down to retrieve the shimmering multicolored headpiece spirit bone from Shi Nian's remains.

His movements were methodical, devoid of hesitation. To him, the strong thrived while the weak perished—such was the law of the soul master world.

Shi Nian, who had reveled in the slaughter of the young and talented, had met the inevitable consequence of his own actions.

After securing the spirit bone, Li Si poured some liquid from the Icefire Yin Yang Well onto Shi Nian's body, ensuring a clean disposal.

Gu Yuena and Xiao Wu watched in silence. Though their expressions betrayed discomfort, neither spoke.

The cruelty of the world was undeniable. Both had long since understood that ideals and reality rarely aligned.

Over the past year and a half, Li Si had often shared stories of other worlds with Gu Yuena—places where the rules differed from those of Douluo.

For instance, he mentioned the concept of relocating soul beasts to another planet, an idea that eventually became reality in Soul Land IV.

This act would dismantle the soul master system, especially before the advent of artificial soul rings.

But such radical change would require extraordinary strength—far beyond that of an ordinary god. Only someone at the level of the Dragon God could truly oppose the Divine Realm's laws.

To Li Si, the soul master system's demise was inconsequential if it meant ensuring Gu Yuena's happiness.

With Shi Nian dealt with, Li Si turned to Gu Yuena and Xiao Wu, who both stood in quiet contemplation.

Gu Yuena stepped forward, pulling out a pristine white cloth and a bottle of water from seemingly nowhere. Gently, she began to clean the blood from Li Si's arm, her movements slow and deliberate.

Xiao Wu froze.

Gu Yuena's actions were elegant, thoughtful, and tender—almost too tender.

"Is she playing innocent while only caring for Li Si?"

Xiao Wu couldn't help but feel outmaneuvered. Her new rival was not just beautiful but also adept at capturing Li Si's attention.

"Thank you, Yue Na," Li Si said with a smile.

Her kindness was yet another reason he found himself increasingly enamored with her.

Gu Yuena smiled, her expression radiating warmth.

"You and I don't need to say thank you."

"True," Li Si replied with a grin. "How about I give you something good instead?"

"What is it?"

"I've got something I've been treasuring for over a decade—would you like it?"

Gu Yuena blinked, her cheeks turning slightly pink as she realized the meaning behind his words.

Xiao Wu: "…"

Her molars ground together as she fought the urge to scream.

Why, oh why, did I agree to enter the Star Dou Forest with Li Si a year and a half ago?

If we hadn't gone, this meddling Gu Yuena wouldn't have entered the picture!

"Let's head back to Heaven Dou City," Xiao Wu interrupted, puffing her cheeks in frustration.

"I'm getting hungry!"

She couldn't stand to let them keep flirting. Who knew what would happen next?

"Yue Na, what do you feel like eating?" Li Si asked with a smile.

Xiao Wu: "???"

Her exasperation mounted as she tugged at Li Si's sleeve.

"Hey!" she huffed.

Li Si chuckled, ruffling Xiao Wu's hair.

"Okay, okay, Xiao Wu. What do you want to eat?"

"Carrots," she grumbled, crossing her arms.

"Carrots it is!"

With that, the trio began their walk back to the city, laughing and chatting along the way.

Unbeknownst to them, Snake Lance Douluo She Long was hidden nearby, watching intently.

"To take down a Soul Saint is one thing. But to do it so effortlessly…"

She Long sucked in a sharp breath.

"That man and the silver-haired woman—they must've noticed me ages ago. Yet they didn't act. It's as if… they don't even see me as a threat."

The thought sent a chill down his spine.

(End of Chapter)