At first, Ye Qiu was so excited that he nearly shouted out loud—
but he quickly forced himself to calm down.
After instructing Tiger to stand guard over the anaconda's corpse, he sat cross-legged atop its massive head.
The Mysterious Heaven Technique began circulating.
Streams of energy poured from the sacrificial python into Ye Qiu's body, violet light surging and permeating his meridians as his aura steadily rose.
Tiger prowled around vigilantly, alert to any approaching humans or spirit beasts.
Unnoticed by Ye Qiu—
A burly figure slowly climbed up the canyon wall.
Its round eyes burned with ferocity, hatred… and a trace of lingering fear.
---
Nottingham City — Carving Workshop
Xiao Wu had already arrived.
She pushed the door open recklessly.
Bang!
The sudden noise nearly made Grandpa Jerry drop his carving knife.
"Why are you always so rude, you wild girl?" he scolded instinctively.
Before he could say more, Grandma Tom—who had been sitting beside him, fanning gently—spoke first.
Xiao Wu didn't argue this time.
Her face was pale and distressed.
"Have you seen Xiao Qiu?" she asked, voice trembling. "I… I can't find him."
Her eyes were swollen red, tears threatening to spill at any moment.
Grandma Tom was startled. With her years of experience, she immediately sensed that something was wrong.
"He said he was going to hunt souls a few days ago," Xiao Wu continued, wiping her eyes. "But he still hasn't come back…"
"Sigh…" Grandma Tom sighed softly. "Being a Soul Master is never easy."
"We did see him a few days ago," Grandpa Jerry admitted honestly. "He even stayed here for one night."
"Really?!" Xiao Wu's eyes lit up. "Where is he now? Please tell me!"
Faced with her hopeful gaze, Grandpa Jerry hesitated and looked toward his wife.
"He left a letter," Grandma Tom said gently. "He said that if he didn't return within three days, we were to give it to you."
"Where is it? Let me see it!" Xiao Wu grabbed her sleeve urgently.
Grandma Tom shook her head.
"Not now. Some things are better said face to face. You must trust him."
---
Xiao Wu left alone.
She prayed that Ye Qiu would return tomorrow.
She didn't want a letter.
She wanted him to come back in person—
So she could hug him tightly and never let go.
Tears slid silently down her cheeks.
---
Soul Hunting Forest
The anaconda's sacrifice neared completion.
Its corpse dulled, losing all vitality, while the violet light surrounding Ye Qiu gradually faded.
A purple soul ring condensed and rose beneath him.
At the same time, his soul power surged—
Level 11…
12…
13…
14…
Until it finally stabilized at Level 17.
Years of accumulation, combined with the thousand-year sacrifice, had pushed him forward by seven levels in one leap.
Ye Qiu smiled faintly, savoring the overwhelming power filling his body.
Then—
A faint disturbance came from above.
Whoosh!
A massive shadow descended from the sky.
Ye Qiu didn't even flinch.
The Violent Ape King—still haunted by the agony of its previous injuries—had launched a desperate sneak attack.
Ye Qiu slowly raised his head.
As his eyes opened, a thin line of blood traced down from the corner.
The three tomoe spun rapidly—
Then merged.
When they unfolded again, a six-pointed star bloomed in his crimson pupils.
Boom!
The ape's crushing blow passed straight through Ye Qiu—
And smashed into the ground beside him.
The shockwave sent Tiger tumbling away.
-------
The Violent Ape King landed heavily, dust exploding outward.
Ye Qiu's body appeared unreal, as though half-transparent.
"As expected," he said calmly. "You never learn."
"ROAR!"
The ape immediately entered a berserk state and attacked again—
Every blow struck empty air.
Ye Qiu stood motionless.
"Had enough?"
He lunged forward and delivered a brutal kick straight into its vital point.
Pfft!
No mercy this time.
The ape collapsed, convulsing in agony.
Ye Qiu glanced around uneasily. The earlier explosions were too loud—someone might already be on their way.
He called Tiger and prepared to leave.
Then—
"Hm?"
A flicker of purple light caught his eye.
Ye Qiu flashed forward using Ghostly Shadow Steps, snatching the object midair.
It shimmered like flexible armor, soft and hollow, glowing faintly purple.
"A soul bone?" he muttered. "A torso bone…? No—this feels different."
Sudden realization struck him.
"An external soul bone?!"
Ye Qiu's breath quickened.
Forcing a soul beast to sacrifice itself using his Sharingan had actually produced an external soul bone—one of the rarest treasures in existence.
His luck was terrifying.
Not daring to linger, Ye Qiu kicked the ape one last time—ensuring it would never threaten anyone again.
Activating his Sharingan, space warped like a vortex, swallowing the external soul bone whole.
It vanished without a trace.
Ye Qiu mounted Tiger and sped away.
---
Along the way, his Sharingan helped him avoid countless dangers.
Suddenly—
"Another Gale Wolf."
Ye Qiu smiled.
"Perfect. Let's test my left eye."
The six-pointed star flared.
"Divine Might."
The wolf howled—
And space twisted violently.
Its body split cleanly in half, entrails spilling onto the forest floor.
Ye Qiu exhaled sharply.
"Instant kill on a six-hundred-year soul beast… not bad."
He dismounted and left Tiger behind with its reward.
At last, free from control, the tiger devoured the remains ravenously.
Finally… a full meal.
---
Ye Qiu leapt through the forest, wiping the dried blood from his face.
His smile was impossible to suppress.
"This was a complete success."
"A thousand-year purple ring. Level seventeen soul power. Xuan Tian Gong—second layer."
"And an external soul bone."
But more than anything—
His Sharingan had awakened Dual Divine Might.
The Mangekyō Sharingan.
Left Eye — Spatial distortion, remote teleportation, annihilation.
Right Eye — Intangibility, evasion, space marking, long-range teleportation.
Survival. Escape. Assassination. Storage.
Perfect.
As he accelerated toward the forest exit, Ye Qiu remembered the letter he had entrusted to Grandpa Jerry.
He needed to retrieve it.
Now—
Even if he couldn't defeat Tang Hao…
Escaping?
That should no longer be a problem.
---