Sacrifice—a special method used by soul beasts, where… well, the details are complex (yada yada).
The key point is: this isn't a method soul beasts typically use. Still, it comes with real benefits. If Li Chang'an eventually becomes a god, then so long as he wills it, he can reshape Thousand Morph's body and restore his freedom!
"Why sacrifice yourself? Give me one good reason." Li Chang'an raised his Pangu Axe slightly, tone calm but firm.
"Heh, I'm not stupid. You're already at Rank 50 at such a young age, and you've even mastered space-breaking techniques. You're the most promising person I've ever seen when it comes to reaching godhood. So whether I think about my future or look at the current situation, sacrifice is the best choice. This way, everyone gets something out of it. Isn't that great?" Thousand Morph replied weakly, his tone faint but sincere.
That voice… why did it sound so much like one of those lovesick bootlickers from his past life? And the worst part? He actually did a good job of it—made Li Chang'an feel pretty damn good.
Li Chang'an couldn't help but think that to himself. After all, it was rare for anyone to praise him so earnestly. And coming from an ancient soul beast lineage? Even rarer. Most people just complimented his looks, but Li Chang'an never intended to rely on his face alone.
"Alright then. I promise—once I hit Rank 100 and ascend, I'll restore your freedom," he replied, a sincere pledge in return for Thousand Morph's faith.
"Great. Then sit down and enter meditation. I'll begin the sacrifice," Thousand Morph said with a touch of relief.
There was no way back now. This was his only path forward, and it was best to face it decisively.
Bibi Dong stood quietly nearby, saying nothing. With her around, there was no risk of trickery. Even though Thousand Morph had many tricks up his sleeve, in a direct fight, he was no match for Bibi Dong.
As Li Chang'an entered meditation, Thousand Morph's form shifted—no longer the Demonic Emerald Bird, he transformed into a chameleon-like lizard, about a meter tall. He cast a deep, lingering gaze at the land beneath him, then looked at Bibi Dong standing nearby with her cold, watchful eyes, and let out a soft sigh.
Such is fate.
Then his body began to fade, growing more transparent by the second. His already fragile life force quickly dissipated into the air, and an aura of mystery—ethereal and sacred—spread outward.
It wasn't the same as a soul beast's death cry, nor was it a mere release of soul power. It felt like an elder bidding farewell to the world… a profound moment of spiritual connection with the heavens.
As his body fully dissolved, Thousand Morph turned into countless golden motes of light. The light particles gathered and slowly merged into Li Chang'an's body.
Left behind where Thousand Morph had stood was a crystal-clear head soul bone, glittering with dense energy.
Bibi Dong stepped forward and picked it up without hesitation. Though a 100,000-year soul bone was incredibly tempting, she had no intention of keeping what rightfully belonged to Li Chang'an.
The sacrifice went smoothly. Li Chang'an's absorption process was also seamless, so it didn't take long. When the system's crisp chime echoed in his mind, Li Chang'an had successfully stepped into the realm of the spirit King!
But reaching the spirit King came with its own troubles. First of all, his cultivation from now on would be ten times more difficult than when he was a spirit Ancestor. And thanks to his soul core, his soul power requirements were double that of an average Spirit King.
Fortunately, the system wasn't entirely heartless. Alongside the previously introduced High-Grade Soul Power Fruit, it now offered Supreme Soul Power Fruit, Supreme Soul Ring Fruit, Supreme Luck Fruit, and Supreme Mental Power Fruit!
The cheapest one—the Supreme Soul Power Fruit—cost a hefty 50,000 points but granted around 500,000 soul power units. That meant Li Chang'an could level up by one rank with just two or three of them.
The Supreme Soul Ring Fruit was even more astonishing. Starting at 500,000 points, it could instantly add 50,000 years to a soul ring's age!
As for the Supreme Mental Power Fruit, it cost a jaw-dropping 1,000,000 points. Even the Supreme Luck Fruit came in at 100,000, but the boost it provided was undeniably massive.
Sigh… The supreme-tier items were amazing, no doubt, but for now, Li Chang'an figured the high-grade versions were more within reach. He'd save the premium goods for later, when he had more points to spare.
Still, what thrilled him most was this: even with a soul core making breakthroughs tougher, the sacrifice of a 100,000-year soul beast like Thousand Morph had pushed him forward three full ranks, elevating him straight to Rank 53 Spirit King!
"Chang'an, don't get up yet. Go ahead and absorb this head soul bone too." Bibi Dong's gentle voice drifted to his ears.
When he opened his eyes, he saw her stunning figure crouched beside him, holding a soul bone radiating powerful energy waves.
"Teacher, maybe I shouldn't. After all, you helped me get it. I should give it to you," he said hesitantly.
His eyes drifted slightly upward… and happened to catch a glimpse of the snowy-white skin hidden beneath her robes…
"What are you saying? Do I look like I need your soul bone?" Bibi Dong frowned and shoved the soul bone into his hand. "Hurry up and absorb it."
Yes, she was the Pope. But she was also a thoughtful woman. Forget a mere soul bone—Bibi Dong would give him anything if she felt it was worth it.
"…Alright. Then I'll trouble you to protect me again, Teacher." Li Chang'an stopped hesitating. Internally, he gave a silent thumbs-up to her. He refocused, calmed his mind, and began absorbing the 100,000-year soul bone.
To be honest, this was his first time absorbing a soul bone. He'd had chances before, but the quality just wasn't good enough. A 100,000-year soul bone like this, though? Now that was something he could get excited about.
The absorption process wasn't complicated. Since it came from a soul beast that had willingly sacrificed itself, there was no rejection. The soul bone harmonized perfectly with Li Chang'an's aura, fusing with him smoothly and naturally.
That was the true benefit of a sacrifice. He didn't need to waste energy resisting the spiritual backlash of a 100,000-year-old soul beast, nor worry about compatibility issues. That let him fully unleash the soul bone's potential!
Once the soul bone was fully absorbed, his soul power increased by another rank and a half. Under Bibi Dong's suggestion, he took the next half-day to stabilize his cultivation using both Mental power and his soul core.
This dual-approach stabilization method worked wonders. After just a few hours, his aura became calm and restrained—like a peerless sword waiting to be unsheathed.
"Chang'an, how are you feeling?" Bibi Dong asked gently, seeing that he'd opened his eyes.
Li Chang'an didn't respond. He just smiled.
This gain… it was the perfect foundation for the life he planned to lead—hidden in the shadows, wandering the world.
A ripple of soul power burst from his body—and then, right before Bibi Dong's eyes, Li Chang'an's entire appearance began to shift.
His clothes stayed the same, but his body transformed until he looked exactly like Bibi Dong. Not a single feature was off.
"Teacher, this is the ability of my soul bone. And this… is just the beginning."
The voice that came out of his mouth was also identical to Bibi Dong's—causing her to gasp in shock!
__
🎉 Shoutout to Jose Torres! 🎉
A huge thank you to Jose Torres for joining my Patreon and supporting the translation journey! Your support means a lot and helps keep the chapters coming faster. Welcome to the VIP club! 🙌✨