Shout-out to Nalin Bhan
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***
A few dozen kilometers away from the Dragon Rising City, close to a giant crater with all the evidence of the disastrous battle swept by the swift gales on the dusty ground, many illustrious figures could be seen observing the area. A battle related to a Titled Douluo was simply too interesting to not be scouted later. Almost three hours had passed since the giant but silent explosion that marked the end of the greatest excitement Ja Sun even felt in his life.
Aside from the Clear Sky Twin Stars, there was the City Lord of the Dragon Rising City, the group sent for Ja Sun and his group by the Hell Civet Clan was also present alongside the remaining hunters from the Wind Sword Sect. Every faction kept to themselves.
"Look," Tang Xiao happened to be the one with the highest cultivation as a Spirit Douluo. He gazed at the sight with a frown and beckoned Tang Hao before compressing his voice with spirit energy, "Ground Devil used almost all his strength. We could feel it even in the city so there must be a Titled Douluo with Bibi Dong's group all along. Our meeting is tomorrow so... be a little courteous."
"If we could feel Ground Devil Douluo, why didn't we feel the fluctuations of his opponent?" Tang Hao frowned, "Something doesn't feel right. Even if the opponent must be an expert in hiding, he must have used almost all his strength, too, to match with Ground Devil. But... there's nothing. And look there," Tang Hao signaled Tang Xiao with his eyes at the spot where Bibi Dong was pushed away, Ja Sun lost his arm, and Ground Devil lost his life. "That place... there's something more in that location. It is faint but every time I gaze in that direction, my Clear Sky Hammer feels stifled. It feels like the Deathgod Domain... but a bit different, too."
Tang Xiao listened patiently. When it comes to matters of smithing and battling, Tang Hao is a genius through and through. His instincts in these two areas are always fruitful. Of course, his sensitivity from other matters happened to be wildly withdrawn to achieve such zenith in combat.
"There's a forest a little away from this site that leads to the Star Dou Great Forest. But we haven't been able to find anything yet."
"We?" Tang Hao inquired curiously.
"I let our men from the Speed Clan scout ahead. Till now, nothing."
---
"Amazing, that's the third time that guy in white, those from Speed Clan, have passed us. We aren't even using anything to hide ourselves with aside from Little Yin's domain!" Xie Xan mumbled with an awed expression. This was the first time the effect of Ah Yin's domain in concealment was applicable, after all.
"Mmgh," A low grunt caught Xie Xan's attention and he quickly pulled his head back into the tent as Bibi Dong slowly sat up. Hu Lana was by her side, one hand on Bibi Dong's back to support her as Liu Erlong sat with a dazed expression. The sight of Ja Sun's one-armed charred body was a tough one to swallow. The fact that he could breathe was already a miracle in their eyes but while Hu Lana and Xie Xan were only saddened by the news, Ah Yin and Liu Erlong seemed to have taken a greater hit. Ah Yin still hadn't come out from the other tent where she continued to heal Ja Sun while Liu Erlong sat next to Bibi Dong silently.
"Where...?" Bibi Dong mumbled and looked around. Her hair rightfully disheveled and the soot from Ja Sun lunging his arm onto her and the act of hugging his charred body covered her clothes. It also brought a strange, burnt scent that she couldn't keep off. Memories flashed and she quickly looked around.
"Where's Ka-ul?" Her tone anxious as Hu Lana softly answered everything. How Ja Sun's clone handed their bodies to them before disappearing, how Ah Yin set up her domain to heal Ja Sun, and how they have been within this tent for almost three hours now with no reply from Ah Yin's side.
Hearing all of it, Bibi Dong's mood settled for a moment. Sometimes, hearing no news is also equivalent to good news and just like Erlong, she withdrew herself from her surroundings and turned silent and quiet. Too many thoughts flashed in her head. Emotions that were hard to process by her always rational mind continued to rampage and her desire to murder anything and everything was turning harder and harder to keep in control with. Sadness, anger, annoyance, and even hope made her feel complicated.
"I'm worried for Ah Yin," Hu Lana whispered as she grew close to Xie Xan.
"Yeah..." He mumbled softly.
---
"I don't want to do it," Deadpanned, Ah Yin replied with a cold grunt, "The fact that I'm even letting you stay on my lap is a... well, only because of your condition."
"Come on," Ja Sun frowned, "Stop being a baby!"
This tent was smaller and although it was covered with blades of Blue Silver Grass, all of them seemed quite dispirited. They were just a shy away from all their vitality absorbed to heal Ja Sun's body. At least, recover his skin and pull him out of the critical condition. Right now, his new skin looked quite tender and white, revealing its need of being tempered a little under harsh conditions once again. He lied on the mat naked. Waist down, his body was covered by a thin sheet that made Ah Yin uncomfortable because she didn't want to keep glancing at the... well, the noticeable shape of the bulge a bit lower than the waist.
But Ja Sun seemed all too oblivious to it.
"If you cannot touch this naked head, how will you handle my other naked head?" He questioned and Ah Yin finally snapped. Her hand moved swiftly.
*Pah*
And she slapped Ja Sun's absolutely bald head.
"You look disgusting and now your words match your looks. I don't want to touch your bald head, and that's final!"
"Ow... I don't know what hurts more. My feelings, or my head."
"Speak foolishly and what will hurt the most will be the source of all disgust," She eyed Ja Sun's lower buddy with a cold smile and his lips twitched.
"I'm rock... I don't feel pain. I welcome it. Slap away," Ja Sun mumbled and sighed.
"How does it feel?" Ah Yin inquired, "I don't suppose that being without one arm would feel comfortable."
She gazed at the stump over Ja Sun's left shoulder and her blue eyes finally turned gentle. A hint of profound sadness filled her for a moment but it was Ja Sun's chuckle that broke it, "It feels normal, I guess? You will have to lose your arm to actually get what I'm saying... although, I could use a hand in some other stuff. Like when I'm peeing, I usually—"
"I don't need to hear it, do I?" Ah Yin cut him off and placed both of her hands on his cheeks while looking down, "Are you really fine with this? I still cannot regrow limbs. But maybe, if I'm strong enough, I could regrow it in the future."
"I just killed a Titled Douluo with the price only being an arm," Ja Sun smiled. Not a hint of sadness remained on his face. He was simply thrilled to even walk after such disastrous injuries!
"And thanks, Ah Yin. I really cannot survive without you."
"A point I made sufficiently clear when I saved your life... oh wait, oh so many times," Ah Yin finally smiled.
"Now, it's time to train you to touch the other head without—"
*Pah!*
"Ow... but you will help me dress up, right? I cannot wear my clothes easily."
"... fine. But you don't speak a word about it to anyone," Ah Yin mumbled. She could at least do this much. Ja Sun did lose an arm, after all.
However, the duo did not move yet. Ja Sun still needed a lot of time to heal and after an hour, Ah Yin increased her domain and used her ability to once again attract life force of plenty of blades of Blue Silver Grass to infuse it into Ja Sun and heal his internal organs.
Ja Sun's injuries this time wouldn't heal in a day or two, but at most, she needed a week with a daily three-hour session of constant healing. After all, the injuries left behind by Ground Devil had shaken Ja Sun's spiritual and physical foundations. If there was anything that even remained solid and benefitted from this battle, then it would only be Ja Sun's mental strength.
Speaking of mental strength, the mental core— Life-Death Spirit Cauldron— seemed to be sending wisps of pure life energy into Ja Sun's body and healing him ever so slightly. But it clearly wasn't enough and without Ah Yin, Ja Sun would have lost his life.
Finally, when Ja Sun was fully clothed after another healing session that continued for three more hours, he asked for some privacy and began meditating instead of leaving the tent while asking Ah Yin to keep the aura of his tent especially concealed. Even Ja Sun didn't know what he might gain from the trait. And there was also Ground Devil's body.
A 100000-year-old beast always leaves a spirit bone and this is a Beasttaken. And the fact that the explosion seemed too sudden to be a spirit skill, chances are that Ground Devil must have an absorbed spirit bone with an explosive type skill. But Ja Sun wasn't intending on dissecting Ground Devil's body just yet. The major reason why he even got the chance to kill Ground Devil was because of Bibi Dong's certainly evil-attributed second martial soul that affected Ground Devil. Without her, this chance was lost, so, at least, Ground Devil's corpse would be defaced in her presence alone.
As for the question of how to split the loot?
Nobody can take his benefits without his permission. At least, he first needed to see if the benefits obtained from Ground Devil were even advantageous to him or not.
'There is still a few hours left before the time limit of five days is completed... and I just had a bloody battle and a miraculous recovery. Nobody will question a patient if he also happened to break through once again, right?'
Ja Sun smiled and took out one of the few items his body actually thirsted over.
He took out a spirit bone from his treasury. Pitch-black and complete from shoulder joint to the last claw. Unlike the other lower-level arm bones, this one was in a class of its own. And once again, the very familiar thirst for the spirit bone emerged from his body. Unlike the silent Evil Title, the Three-eyed Silver Lion was much more responsive in regards to its desire. Ja Sun has had contact with many things and even the Life Gold couldn't bring out such a great reaction from his Martial Soul. And it is also because of this reason why Ja Sun's desire for 'strong' spirit bones had greatly fallen and his desire for 'compatible' spirit bone grew to its peak.
A Spirit Bone's function is to provide an additional spirit skill and enhance the area of absorption. If Ja Sun had absorbed the left arm spirit bone, then he might not have lost his arm. Or, he might have lost his arm then lost his life because that's what the loss of an absorbed spirit bone signified: Death.
Ja Sun's vessels and qi pathways were still damaged. But he decided to depend on Ah Yin. If she could pull him from the depths of hell, then she can surely deal with a few minor additional injuries all over again and, at least, that way, his good arm would be more functional and responsive.
Within waiting further, Ja Sun pushed the significantly shorter arm-shaped black claw bone to his right arm using his spirit energy and began absorbing the spirit bone silently.
The battle had been exciting, but now, it was time to lick his wounds.
*Spurt*
A vessel popped open due to the sudden infusion of a large volume of spirit energy and his body was barely alright.
"Maybe I'll lick my wounds after this, literally."
---
"So... Ground Devil died. My personal disciple was present right in the middle of the battle, almost dying to Ground Devil's revenge, and my father easily understood that I was the one behind Ground Devil finding Ka-ul," Qian Xunji wasn't present in his study. Instead, he met with Redstar in a forest surrounding the Spirit City. From afar, the Spirit City's hexagonal walls looked sturdy and mighty, filling the viewers with awe and admiration.
Just like Qian Daoliu, Qian Xunji seemed to be at ease.
Sighing softly, Xunji leaned against the tree, "I remember when Ground Devil came here for his title. If it wasn't for that moment, I might not have been able to persuade him into your group, allowing you to gain a hefty source of knowledge within the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan. Now, the Seven Treasure's defenses will be to the extreme and the remaining three title douluos are rather hard to persuade. The Bone, Sword, and Star Sword, was it?"
"Yes, a father-son Titled Douluo team and the other one's life was saved by Patriarch Ning," Redstar nodded. He clearly left out many bits but what he reported was still the truth.
"Do you want me to send someone else after Ka-ul?"
"Why?" Xunji looked a little confused and inquired.
"He... killed Ground Devil, that's why? Your reason for removing Ka-ul seemed to be centered on the fact that he is quite unscrupulous and his nature matches his combat prowess. The death of Ground Devil proves it further."
Xunji looked amused and chuckled, "Ka-ul was certainly an uncontrollable factor. But he brought the ire of the Star Luo Empire with his actions. The benefit of a single Ka-ul could never compete with the disadvantage of the Spirit City being against the entire Empire. At that point, it wasn't worth it.
But look at the situation now. He already has disguise ability that can fool a brutish Titled Douluo with considerably average mental strength, he had a great fatal tactic using his clones that can assassinate a Titled Douluo. Not only that, father will surely gift Ka-ul and Ah Yin a considerable inheritance. After all, the fact that Ka-ul still lives is due to Ah Yin's efforts. This will only increase their benefit. And Bibi Dong must have gotten quite an impression of Ka-ul by now. He saved her life, too. In the future, if nothing too drastic occur then he can be the pillar on which Dong'er can lay a sturdy foundation."
With a smile, Xunji turned around, "I'd say that at the life of a Titled Douluo and an arm that will serve to restrict Ka-ul's future, this event has been a massive success. For now, no need to bother Dong'er's training. Keep at the beasttakens ravaging the Star Luo Empire's defenses."
Qian Xunji slowly walked away. Redstar finally sighed. The angelica father-son pair was way too erratic. One looked at everything with a gaze so rational that enemies and friends never existed in his terms, only benefits and losses did. Meanwhile, the older one was equally tolerable, easily thinking of the future instead of wallowing on the actions already taken.
But...
'What would you think if you ever found out that I changed Ground Devil with a 100000-year-old mutated Duskgold Dreadclaw Beartaken and delivered his spirit bone and the spirit bone he had absorbed to Ka-ul?'
There was a smirk on Redstar's face as he disappeared. The fact that Qian Xunji had sent Yue Guan to oversee the development of Hint of Evil in the Star Luo Empire's side already meant that Xunji didn't completely believe him. Good thing that Redstar also took appropriate measures to cover as much truth as possible in the city using his own subordinates. Although Redstar cannot escape his fate, at least, he didn't wish to give Qian Xunji too many benefits.
Meanwhile, Qian Xunji returned to his study and called a bishop to direct his orders.
"Start taking our men to remove the Beasttakens in the Star Luo's border. Be sure to advertise our act in number but discreetly. Ghost Douluo will be overseeing everything in case any complications arise. Also send a word to Star Luo Emperor to retake his bounty or the support from the Spirit Hall will be cut-off, too."
---
"Yeah, I need my other arm, too," Ja Sun opened his eyes. It took him four hours to absorb the 80000-year-old spirit bone but after the initial round of bloodbath, his body was strengthened and the energy actually began healing his wounds. Right now, he was in a better condition than he was before absorbing the spirit bone. He looked at his Vajra Gauntlet. The sleek dark-golden translucent crystal-like gauntlet with the plate-like pattern within now showed the plates, that could eject as sharp and lethal needles, as a darker shade. As if they were dark stripes.
Tiger stripes.
Clearly, the spirit bone had quite the advantage to his body and his Blood Artifact. His martial soul also revealed a positive feedback. But there was a long way before he can accumulate enough quantitative benefits and then convert them into a qualitative advancement of his Martial Soul.
His spirit rank had climbed to Rank 56 at once and finally stabilized at its peak. Only needing a slight push and due diligence to reach rank 57.
But why would Ja Sun need another arm aside from obvious reasons?
The reason was the spirit skill from the spirit bone.
It was a fusion-type skill called: Sage Tiger Summoning.
Fusion-type skills come in a little variety.
First, the Spirit Fusion skill that Hu Lana and Xie Xan could achieve was the fusion of two or more martial souls. The strength of the ability revealed depends on the fusion rate of the martial souls. The greater the percentage, the better the skill.
Second, a spirit skill fusion. A type of ingenious fusion of two or more 'spirit skills' of the same type to achieve a greater variation of the skill. This method is equally uncommon but its chances of being created and achieved is a little better than Spirit Fusion.
Now, this.
A skill that can only be achieved using the fusion of two particular spirit bones.
Sage Tiger Summoning: The ability to summon an Evil-eyed White Tiger Sage's phantom that protects the user and can be appropriately controlled. This ability can only be launched using the Hell Black and Hell White Tiger Spirit Bone.
What is the Evil-eyed White Tiger Sage? Questions for later. But what Ja Sun did know was that the combination of the spirit bone would produce a skill equivalent to a Titled Douluos true might!
[A/N: My idea for this is based on the manhua (comic) of the first part of the series. There have been two fusion skills by now from the White Tiger Clan. The Hell White Tiger from Dai Mubai and Hell Black Tiger from his elder brother's side. And in the manhua, there is also an actual god on the side of the Imperial family. So, I thought of making a hierarchy. The lowest are the hell civet and white tigers. Then, in the distant past, there were Hell White Tigers and Hell Black Tigers as their ancestors and finally, the only Evil-eyed White Tiger Sage that was an actual god. The two spirit bones should have been the only way to 'pray' the god but now Ja Sun has another set of copy. Who's the one with the original?]
Ja Sun lied down once again and touched his bald head.
"Man, it really feels freaky... lost my eyebrows, too... to think that my nuts were roasted, too... I really deserve a good sleep," he groaned.
At this point, he felt a certain part of himself rising.
Opening his eyes, he gazed at the screen of his trait and smiled.
"I'll sleep in five minutes, I guess," he snickered and sat up. His left shoulder didn't even hurt now.
[Objective: Kill pursuers after your group's bounty and rob them.
Optional Objectives:
1) Accomplish objective without the said members remaining unscathed by any pursuer.
Mission Rank: S-S
Mission Rewards: 50000 Gold Coins, Asura's Sight Technique, 10th Grade Myriad Blood Mango—Rakshasa Soul Devouring Technique.
Time Limit: Five Days.]
Ja Sun gazed at the rewards. Soon, five large pouches of coins, a bloody booklet, a fist-sized crimson mango, and a purple jade were created in front of him.
***
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***
The coins were stored. And so was the 10th Grade Myriad Blood Mango. In fact, Ja Sun knew about this fruit. For any immortal herb, 10th grade represents the quality of the 100000-years of cultivation. But this mango only happened to have one ability and that was the fact in a special circumstance where a spirit master or spirit beast may be in contact with another bloodline, it can be absorbed with one already within the body without any conflict and improve upon both of them without any issue. A truly majestic fruit but its use was not present at the moment.
His trait rewarded him based on his actions. The coins represented the loot he obtained from the dead. One round of skimming through the Asura Sight Technique made him realize that this technique was the reward of bloodshed, and the 10th Grade Myriad Blood Mango Immortal Fruit was the reward for taking out probably the only 100000-year-old Beartaken with the stunning mutation of a Duskgold Dreadclaw Bear from the looks of it. Ground Devil was truly a sight of nature that Ja Sun put down for his benefit. But it didn't matter to him.
The purple jade with a technique engraved on it, the Rakshasa Soul Devouring Technique...
Ja Sun read it once. Then he read it again. The more he read it, the more startled he felt.
One of the greatest marvels of cultivation, quite possibly at the same level as Ground Devil— Violet and her cultivation problem...
Well, this technique left by an individual who penned himself as Rakshasa seemed to be the final result of what Violet faced. This jade held extremely tiny words and contained knowledge worth a tome. It detailed one particular aspect of cultivation— Soul Origin, and how to devour it.
This was a technique... too wild.
But Ja Sun can only consider this technique too imaginative and hopeful. It was a result of hope. To ponder on one of the vaguest aspects of cultivation and creating a new path out of it. While Ja Sun personally was only stranded on the idea, this technique... this technique filled his gaps of knowledge. But this technique couldn't be used without a specific martial soul: Rakshasa Scythe.
Although a bummer, Ja Sun didn't mind it. He would be reading and pondering on this technique for a long time to come. After all, he had lost an arm, there wasn't too much he can do besides acting like a hurt patient to get his teammates to continuously do chores for him.
'But... the only notable action in the optional objective was saving Bibi Dong from Ground Devil. This is clearly related to her, but how?' Ja Sun thought silently for the rest of the night before going to sleep. But his consciousness was still alert.
After all, Death Astral Combatant didn't need sleep. It was a strange state, but not uncomfortable. Not with Ah Yin silently slipping in to prop his head over her laps once again, this time, with obviously much less condescension and disgust on her face as she held his bald wonder... the head. The top... the source of all knowledge?
Ja Sun liked to call it many things in his free time.
---
The next day, Ah Yin silently slipped out while Ja Sun woke up with a yawn and then glanced at the pillow left under his head with quite a bit of hollow feeling.
'This pillow, I don't need it anymore!'
With that, he stretched a little. Rotating his right arm, rotating his right wrist, moving his right shoulder... he already missed his left arm. Adjusting his pants a little with difficulty, Ja Sun buttoned his shirt with the left sleeve swaying down.
Since there was nothing left to do within the tent while a few things remained incomplete inside the Dragon Rising City. Once everything was done, they could move on finally. With such great benefits, especially the Rakshasa Soul Devouring Technique that opened a new possible path of cultivation should Ja Sun really ponder on its metaphysical advancement, he walked out with expectations for his future adventures rising high.
The sun had risen and his bald head reflected the shine of it perfectly. As if waiting for his emergence... there was no one. After all, he hadn't specified the time he would emerge. The other tent was silent. With a sigh, Ja Sun took small and slow steps. His body didn't hurt anymore, but he wasn't into rushing things at the moment. Pushing open the entrance of the tent, Ja Sun's arrival startled everyone.
Bald, without any eyebrows or eyelashes and a calm stare that... creeped everyone out. Half of his head still outside reflected handsomely and the lack of left arm gave Ja Sun a certain charm. He only lacked an empty tin bowl or can and he could enter a whole new profession.
The moment he entered the tent, letting everybody silently absorb what fashion truly looks like, he was tackled into a hug and thrown out of the tent with a rather bulky body against him as he slid through the ground. It was Liu Erlong who had remained silent until now.
"Well, this is a good time for getting your revenge, I assume," Ja Sun mumbled as scratched his head while Liu Erlong silently laid on him. Her shoulders trembling while he felt something warm beginning to soak his shirt.
"You're a fucking idiot..." She whispered, "And you should have died but... I'm so glad that you're not..." her hug tightened as Ja Sun grew silent. He didn't wish to find some snarky comeback to have the last laugh. Not this time anyway. Maybe when Liu Erlong is injured to the point of death, he will just tackle her to the ground and spit on her top to soak it... that ought to teach her, right?
"I'm alive, aren't I? And if you're going to cry, at least, let me see it."
To make detailed fun of it later.
"I don't cry... it's just drool," Erlong's voice remained a bit muffled with her head buried into his chest.
"Pft— Hahahahahahahahaha!"
A loud, unbridled laugher broke as Xie Xan walked out with tears in his eyes. Holding his stomach, he continued to laugh.
"Look at his face, Nana! God damn! That's a scary ass—"
His ear was instantly pulled fiercely, making him scowl in pain and he looked back to find the slightly red-eyed Bibi Dong calmly glancing at him, making him feel a certain chill. Ah Yin coldly gazed at him before looking away with a scoff and Hu Lana, who had tears in her eyes for an entirely different reason twisted Xie Xan's ear.
"Bastard! You can still laugh? Let me teach you a lesson!"
She pulled Xie Xan back into the tent.
'And my day is made,' Ja Sun felt unimaginable relief bursting through his veins. Oh, wait, pain, too.
"I would have cheered you up with a magic trick but it needs two hands so... that's a lost cause," Ja Sun chuckled as he patted Erlong's back with his remaining arm
His words finally making her chuckle a bit herself as she looked up. Marks of tears were evident on her face as her smile looked a bit ugly but it was genuine in Ja Sun's eyes.
"I don't think I can die easily. And given the fact that I pulled through and broke into rank 56, leaving you far in the dust, by the way, I suggest you stop being lazy and work hard. Maybe that will lower your weight a little."
Erlong hurriedly cleaned her face before standing up, "You got it!" She didn't scoff or gave a twisted reply either. Not this time, at least.
As she turned around with a smile, her expression froze the moment she looked at Ah Yin and Bibi Dong and with a cough, she moved past them and entered the tent.
"Can you at least help me up? It's hard to move with one arm!" Ja Sun called out and Bibi Dong spoke up, "I have some matters to discuss with him. Could I get some privacy?" She looked at Ah Yin. Ordinarily, Ah Yin would have agreed but right now, she felt like refusing the request but before she could do it, a hand had already pulled Ja Sun up and he looked at the grey-haired handsome middle-aged man with surprise, "Master? Right on time! Do you have any way to quickly make my hair grow?"
Of course, with Ja Sun's knowledge of immortal herbs, he knew a few remedies but... where would he even find an immortal herb related to this matter?
Qian Daoliu looked at the trio before his gaze settled on Ja Sun. A wide smile covered his face. This was an expression Bibi Dong saw for the first time and Qian Daoliu patted Ja Sun's shoulder.
"Dong'er, everyone. Go inside. I will talk to all of you inside."
Xie Xan was the most grateful to see Qian Daoliu since his beating was cut short by the emotional Hu Lana who finally decided to let go of him for the moment.
Inside the tent, Qian Daoliu looked at everyone. He was certain by now that in this charade of a competition that Xunji created for his personal goals, this team was the best. Even without Ja Sun and Bibi Dong, the others could surpass their ordinary levels of strength because of Ja Sun's wild presence itself. The effect was already prominent: Xie Xan made an effort to break past his limits of spirit ring configuration and if one individual grows stronger, the others will try to keep up or else they will feel inferior by the lack of effort and even may end up being left behind.
"You absorbed a spirit bone. And it looks compatible, too," Qian Daoliu looked at Liu Erlong and then at Ja Sun. While Liu Erlong nodded, Ja Sun shrugged, "I thought I only have one arm left. Might spoil this darling as much as I can."
Since he was exposed so quickly, why bother hiding?
Qian Daoliu calmly nodded.
"I promised you a reward if you provide adequate assistance in this particular confrontation. That you did. Although it only proves your absolute healing capabilities, I have something that might balance the situation."
Qian Daoliu once left notes on the rooms of both of his disciples rooms. While Ja Sun's note only contained his lack of support in this matter, Ah Yin's stated a substantial inheritance should she prove her value.
Saying that, he flipped his palm and took out a spirit bone. It didn't look like a bone exactly but the spiritual fluctuations were too familiar. It was leg-shaped item that seemed to be made of dark-yellow vines intertwined without any hint of disarray. The size of the spirit bone wasn't as large as an actual human bone but its shape looked similar to an actual leg. From the thigh bone to the toes.
"This is the only plant-type spirit bone in the history of Spirit Hall. It is yours now. Its name is the Devil's Bark Left Foot. Hehe, you will certainly find its ability useful."
Since these were inheritances once used in the past, their abilities weren't unknown to Qian Daoliu. He didn't expose its ability and left it to Ah Yin to explore it on her own as she stored the Spirit Bone.
"As for you... I have something that is far more valuable than the act of killing a... Titled Douluo," Qian Daoliu smiled, "So, you will need to compensate for it a bit."
"What is it?" Ja Sun inquired curiously.
Qian Daoliu took out a small parchment. It was quite old and yellowed as he controlled his spirit energy to make the folded parchment float over to Ja Sun who carefully opened it. Ja Sun's eyes widened and he looked at Qian Daoliu before looking back at the parchment. A smile formed on his lips and he inquired, "Master, I was led to believe that... only Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan has the most instructive knowledge on this profession."
"They do. Spirit Hall consists of spirit masters with potent combat potential. Only a guy like you who loves to chew stuff that he cannot swallow would even think of diverting his attention to his... whims. I have many more of these. But as I said, just the achievement of a Titled Douluos head isn't enough. As your master, I could give you a discount."
Ja Sun looked at the parchment in his hand once again. Unknown to Qian Daoliu, this level of inheritance had even more benefit to Ja Sun and he smiled, a little unwilling to just give up his treasures.
"As a master, shouldn't you gift it to me? Like you gifted that Spirit Bone to Ah Yin..."
"I have gifted this parchment to you," Qian Daoliu nodded, "But what I am presenting to you is not only the... technicalities, but also the origin of this particular profession and its theoretical knowledge to help you on a foundational level."
Ja Sun looked at others and then frowned slightly. Of course, without his brows, it was just the fold of his skin that made even the most emotional Hu Lana purse her lips in subconscious disgust and she dodged his gaze.
"Master... I'm just a poor fellow. Without an arm—"
"Oh, boohoo, I'm more than 120 years old. One crippled and one old. I say that we are on an equal level of a bargain."
Ja Sun's lips twitched. His master was a bit too stubborn.
"But... I just went through a traumatic experience," Ja Sun sighed and shook his head, "I still see that fat bastard in my dreams—"
"It happened yesterday." Qian Daoliu countered.
"That's what makes it so traumatic!" Ja Sun sighed.
"I will take the 27000-year-old Purple Demon Illusion Wolf Left Arm bone," Qian Daoliu spoke and Hu Lana's body twitched for a moment. Their agreement with Ja Sun was rather clear. They would be able to trade for a spirit bone that is compatible with them from Ja Sun for an equal value and this spirit bone was what Hu Lana eyed. Ja Sun thought for a moment and nodded. He can get spirit bones. If he can kill one 100000-year-old spirit beast then in the future he can hunt down more and given the large numbers of spirit beasts, there shouldn't be a shortage of such spirit beasts yet.
Seeing the somewhat complete left arm spirit bone reaching Qian Daoliu's hand and then Qian Daoliu taking out a small storage ring for it and handing it to Ja Sun, Hu Lana sighed softly. This was bad luck is what it is.
'Tch... who needs that spirit bone... I'll find a better one—'
"Hu Lana, this is for you," Qian Daoliu spoke and looked at Hu Lana with the spirit bone, making her shoot up, "Yes!" She stated hastily.
Qian Daoliu smiled and gave the Spirit Bone to Hu Lana. Finally, Qian Daoliu looked at Bibi Dong as she remained seated silently. The usual barely hidden fervent expression not present and seeing this, Qian Daoliu's gaze turned gentle and benevolent.
"You have many gifts from Xunji. You don't mind me not bringing anything for you but a word of advice, right?"
"Please, guide me, Grandmaster," Bibi Dong nodded calmly while Ja Sun looked at the Spirit Bone handed to Hu Lana, unable to understand what was going on. This wasn't a simple gifting ceremony, he began to slowly realize.
"You are on the right path. Spirit Bones surely provide great benefits. But as a spirit master, it is within your right to be more selfish. More demanding," Qian Daoliu's words seemed to resonate with everyone as they nodded. It wasn't just about the spirit bones. Qian Daoliu meant this for everything. "Liu Erlong has absorbed her first spirit bone which is compatible for her, so will Ah Yin. Ka-ul, you have this benefit and so does Bibi Dong. There is no reason to give in to momentary benefit. Each Spirit Bone is a permanent change. Even if it is the greatest treasure, think twice before taking action. Observe if it is even beneficial to you or not."
Ja Sun and Bibi Dong realized that Qian Daoliu meant this for the Ground Devil's corpse. But then Qian Daoliu gazed at Xie Xan, "Little one, don't you worry so much about a Spirit Bone. This continent is a large place and the entire world is still larger. Keep looking, right?"
"Yes, Grandmaster," Xie Xan nodded. In reality, among the spirit bones in Ja Sun's collection, nothing was compatible with Xie Xan. He was already jubilant that Hu Lana got a spirit bone for some strange reason. After all, even if Qian Daoliu has acted somewhat of an informal instructor to them, he never directly provided them with certain advantages that come alongside acquiring a powerful master.
"As for you..." Qian Daoliu looked at Ja Sun. Finally, everyone saw untainted pride flickering in Qian Daoliu's gaze as he spoke up, "Even if, with help, you did something everyone believed impossible. What was it like? Right, killing a Martial Soul, yes? Now you have the right to boast another fact that no Titled Douluo could ever achieve: Assassinating a Titled Douluo while being a Spirit King. You lost your arm, that is something you cannot and shouldn't feel regret over. You're young. Lost vitality can be cultivated. And also, you have the benefit of having the favor of my lovely disciple that can bring you from the dead."
"So, if I'm bald, I'm not lovely anymore—" Ja Sun frowned and Qian Daoliu frowned himself, "Don't interrupt."
Then, with a soothing smile, he spoke up, "Once again, I have laid important hints to all of you just now. Mull it over. Well, even if you don't understand my intentions, use every benefit to building yourself similar to a fortress. And Hu Lana," Qian Daoliu gazed at her, "Be more disciplined in your martial training. Your muscles still aren't quite good yet."
Hu Lana nodded and Qian Daoliu continued to impart some more instructions to everyone. By now, everyone realized that this was out of the ordinary. After Qian Daoliu left, they all remained silent until Ja Sun questioned, "What was all that about?"
"I don't care, hehe," Hu Lana broke into a smile. She got a spirit bone, too!
Now, in their group, only Xie Xan remained without one.
---
"So? Let's start dividing up Ground Devil," Ja Sun smiled. There was still a little time left before their meeting with Tang Siblings as it was set for nightfall.
"Before that," Bibi Dong gazed at Ja Sun. Her eyes swept over his entire form and when she looked at the armless sleeve on his left side, once again, she felt complicated.
"I want you to know, I'm grateful. Even if teacher and students... no, even if teammates, it takes a lot of courage, and madness, to willingly give up an arm for someone else. What I'm about to say will sound a little discourteous but I need you to keep in mind that no matter what my circumstances are, I am grateful."
Ja Sun nodded. She better be grateful. He got bald because of... no, he only lost the arm because of her. He got bald because of that disastrous explosion.
"You should have understood a little more about me. No need to speak it out loud. Keep it hidden, even the words that Ground Devil screamed before dying... please," Bibi Dong looked down and whispered, "But I wouldn't have died. I want you to understand this fact. Next time, if a situation arises where my life is in danger and you have a matter of extreme importance in front of you, my life isn't what you need to worry about. Not by anyone under rank 99, at least."
Ja Sun nodded once again. This was fair enough. She already asked him not to take this the wrong way so she might truly have some special treasure or advantage that can preserve her life.
"I will keep that in mind," Ja Sun smiled.
"As for Ground Devil, I only pulled him out of the ground. You are the one who exhausted him. You are also the one who cornered him and forced him to use that explosion. And you are the one who ended him. Consider my share as a price for... keeping my secrets."
"Thank you," Ja Sun shrugged. Spirit Bones might not be useable to him but he can at least see what else Ground Devil has, right? Especially his storage essence tool!
Bibi Dong then grew silent before fidgeting. She looked at the borders of the tent and then her eyes landed on the small shelf set aside. The duo remained silent for a few minutes until Ja Sun spoke up, "Did you understand what Master meant?"
Bibi Dong's gaze brightened and she nodded. Silently, she scooched forward before holding Ja Sun's hand and then leaned forward to hug him.
"Thank you... again," Bibi Dong whispered as her body wrapped around a confused Ja Sun tightly.
'Did he leave the hint for Bibi Dong to like bald men?' He silently wrapped his good arm around Bibi Dong and simply accepted this more personal reward for playing a hero.
But there was more.
Before pulling back, Bibi Dong made sure to peck Ja Sun's lips and she quickly stood up before walking out.
No hero has been left dry without a kiss, right?
***
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