Bi Ji possessed a stunning oval face, with long emerald-green hair cascading down her back.
She wore a verdant gown and thigh-high black stockings, her figure graceful and full of charm.
Yet her beauty was not merely superficial; her most striking feature was her snow-white, swan-like neck, slender as if carved by a knife, which complemented her exquisite face perfectly.
Beside her stood Zi Ji, tall and slender with full, rounded breasts and long, straight legs. Above her chest, her snow-white shoulders and a deep, enticing cleavage were exposed.
Her purple-black hair flowed freely behind her, swaying naturally without wind. Her face was bewitchingly gorgeous—deep purple eyes contrasted with vivid purple lips, while a pitch-black scale on her forehead rippled with layered violet light, streaming down from her crown.
Together, they were the most beautiful among the core region's soul beasts. Yet, to the male beasts, their allure held no appeal.
"Humans have returned," Bi Ji gazed toward the outskirts of the core zone. Despite the distance, she could discern Tang Yin's group, including a humanoid Blue Silver Emperor. "A humanoid Blue Silver Emperor travels with them, likely seeking soul rings."
"A humanoid Blue Silver Emperor?" Zi Ji strained her senses to observe the periphery. Indeed, a transformed Blue Silver Emperor accompanied the humans.
Bi Ji turned to Di Tian, seated ahead. "Shall I drive them away?"
Di Tian replied, "Ignore them unless they enter the core zone."
Bi Ji and Zi Ji nodded, ceasing their watch over Tang Yin's group.
After an unfruitful search for a suitable fifth soul ring, Tang Yin reluctantly gave up. He knew the core zone housed numerous hundred-thousand-year soul beasts, but he wasn't foolish enough to challenge Di Tian's faction. Thus, he, Ah Yin, Liu Er Long, and Zhu Qing prepared to leave—until an unexpected figure appeared.
It was Xiao Wu.
Earlier, sensing Tang Yin's group near the core zone, Xiao Wu had wrestled with hesitation. Fear for their safety finally drove her to seek them out. Though facing Tang Yin—the man she could never forget—was painful, Zhu Qing was her closest friend, and Tang Yin was the father of her child. She had to protect them.
"Xiao Wu?! Why are you here?" Zhu Qing stared in disbelief, then rushed to embrace her. "You left so suddenly without explanation! You said you were going home—why are you in Star Dou Forest?"
"Because this is her home," Tang Yin answered calmly, stepping forward. "Right, Xiao Wu?"
Zhu Qing looked puzzled. She hadn't known Xiao Wu was a shape-shifting soul beast.
"She is," Ah Yin stated plainly. "A transformed soul beast."
Zhu Qing's eyes widened in shock. Xiao Wu nodded. "I'm sorry, Zhu Qing. I lied. I am a soul beast, and Star Dou Forest is my home. But that's irrelevant now. Follow me—it's dangerous here."
At Tang Yin's agreeing nod, Zhu Qing followed Xiao Wu away from the core zone.
If I can persuade them, Tang Yin mused, could the Sky Azure Bull Python and Titan Giant Ape become my fifth and sixth soul rings? Their skills would be invaluable.
Soon, Xiao Wu led them to her dwelling—a cave furnished simply but completely. As they settled inside, the lake's surface churned. A massive bull's head emerged—the Sky Azure Bull Python, "Da Ming." Moments later, the ground trembled, and the Titan Giant Ape, "Er Ming," thundered from the forest.
"Sister Xiao Wu, are these your friends?" Da Ming's gaze fixed on Ah Yin. "You… you're also transformed?"
"I am Ah Yin, the sole Blue Silver Emperor of the Blue Silver Forest," she declared.
Though unfamiliar with Blue Silver Forest, Da Ming bowed respectfully to a fellow monarch soul beast. Liu Er Long and Zhu Qing stared at Tang Yin—they hadn't known Ah Yin's true identity.
"She's my adoptive mother," Tang Yin said simply. "That's all that matters."
The two women nodded. They'd long accepted Ah Yin as family.
"Da Ming, Er Ming, leave us," Xiao Wu ordered.
"Call if you need us," Da Ming replied, swallowing unasked questions about Xiao Wu's pregnancy before submerging. Er Ming lingered by the lake, scooping water lazily.
Inside, Xiao Wu faced her friends. "I left because I'm pregnant," she confessed to Zhu Qing.