After a long while.
The Heavenly Dream Silkworm wriggled its plump body, and a crisp voice mixed with a hint of laziness rang out:
"Human boy, are you deeply attracted by Brother's round and charming body?"
Shen Hanyu was stunned. He looked over the Heavenly Dream Silkworm's plump body, swallowed hard, and subconsciously said:
"It feels like it would be pretty good for barbecue."
The Heavenly Dream Silkworm froze, then let out a startled cry:
"Hey, hey, hey! Brother has such a beautiful body, and you actually want to eat Brother? Human boy, Brother just saved you. Forget about being ungrateful—you even want to eat Brother!"
Shen Hanyu withdrew the Cold Heaven Spear and looked at the enormous silkworm in front of him, nodding seriously.
When he was young, he had eaten grilled silkworms before. That rich, tender, and juicy texture was simply a delicacy of the mortal world…
Then, as if realizing something was wrong, he added:
"Don't worry, I'm just saying it."
Only then did the Heavenly Dream Silkworm breathe a slight sigh of relief. It had just controlled the One-Horned Ice Demon Rhinoceros, which had already consumed a lot of its mental power. Now, facing this dazzling young man, it could only trust its instincts that he wouldn't harm it casually.
"Hey, let's introduce ourselves first. I am the embodiment of heroism and chivalry, the king among soul beasts who combines wisdom and beauty, an unrivaled powerhouse who has cultivated for nearly a million years and set the record for the longest lifespan on the Douluo Continent, the Heavenly Dream Silkworm. Hmm, you can call me Brother Heavenly Dream!"
The corner of Shen Hanyu's mouth twitched as he said:
"Then what's your current cultivation level? Why were you being chased by a thirty-thousand-year-old One-Horned Ice Demon Rhinoceros?"
The Heavenly Dream Silkworm gave an embarrassed laugh and said:
"Brother is now at nine hundred ninety thousand years of cultivation, the number one soul beast on the continent. Even that big guy in the ocean can't compare to Brother in mental power and energy…"
Pfft~
Shen Hanyu couldn't help but laugh out loud, a scrutinizing look in his eyes as he deliberately said:
"You? Nine hundred ninety thousand years of cultivation? Don't think I'm ignorant. I really haven't seen a nine-hundred-ninety-thousand-year soul beast like you, being chased by a thirty-thousand-year soul beast."
The Heavenly Dream Silkworm grew a bit angry and embarrassed. Its plump body moved, and the surrounding temperature dropped noticeably. A cool, moist aura emanated from it, and one could even feel the incredibly dense heaven-and-earth origin energy within its body.
After circling Shen Hanyu a few times, the Heavenly Dream Silkworm suddenly stopped being angry and let out a satisfied exclamation, saying:
"Kid, although your words aren't pleasant, Brother really sees potential in you. A thirteen-year-old with Soul King cultivation, Brother has lived for so many years, and this is the first time I've seen a human genius like you."
Shen Hanyu nodded and said:
"So what?"
The Heavenly Dream Silkworm suddenly became serious and said with utmost solemnity:
"Kid, do you want to become a god? Brother can selflessly help you become a god."
Shen Hanyu remained unmoved and said:
"Then what do I need to give in return?"
The Heavenly Dream Silkworm's face broke into a sleazy grin again. It moved closer to Shen Hanyu and whispered:
"Just swear on your martial soul to be loyal to the great Heavenly Dream Silkworm for life. How about it? Isn't it tempting?"
Shen Hanyu's mouth twitched. He waved his hand and said straightforwardly:
"Goodbye!"
With that, he took long strides and walked back the way he came.
Naturally, the Heavenly Dream Silkworm didn't notice the slight smile on Shen Hanyu's lips as he silently counted down from ten in his mind…
When he reached seven, the Heavenly Dream Silkworm's voice rang out:
"Wait! Boy, Brother wants to have a proper talk with you."
Shen Hanyu slowly turned around, revealing a faint smile as he said leisurely:
"What's there to talk about?"
The Heavenly Dream Silkworm slowly approached Shen Hanyu, staring straight into his eyes, and said:
"Brother wants to become your soul ring, the first intelligent soul ring in the history of the Douluo Continent."
Shen Hanyu nodded, looking at the nine golden patterns on its body, and said:
"You can temporarily reside in my spiritual sea. After I break through to Soul Sage, you can sacrifice yourself to me and become my seventh soul ring."
The Heavenly Dream Silkworm was stunned, then said in surprise:
"Aren't you shocked? Aren't you happy? Don't you feel moved at all? Brother is a nine-hundred-ninety-thousand-year super soul beast—how come in your eyes, I seem like an ordinary commodity?"
Shen Hanyu smiled, gazing at the distant, cold, and clear sky, and slowly said:
"All encounters are fated. Since I met you, it means we are destined to be connected. What's there to be shocked about? Come on, I promise you won't regret it."
The Heavenly Dream Silkworm was clearly stunned for a moment after hearing this, then nodded and said seriously to Shen Hanyu:
"Brother is going to start. Don't worry, Brother will be gentle. You hold on and don't scream, okay."
Shen Hanyu had no mood to banter with the Heavenly Dream Silkworm now and simply nodded faintly.
As their foreheads touched, the energy in the Heavenly Dream Silkworm's body began to surge. The nine golden patterns glowed brilliantly, as if coming to life, slowly enveloping Shen Hanyu's body from top to bottom.
An extremely freezing aura assaulted him. Shen Hanyu barely maintained consciousness, clearly feeling something trying to enter his mind.
Sensing the goodwill emanating from it, Shen Hanyu unconsciously relaxed his mental defenses, allowing it to enter his spiritual sea unimpeded.
With a formless and terrifying mental fluctuation sweeping across a hundred li, many powerful soul beasts were alarmed, looking toward the distance in shock and fear.
As the mental power gradually retracted, Shen Hanyu's consciousness slowly regained clarity. The Heavenly Dream Silkworm's voice was already screaming wildly in his mind:
"Amazing! Amazing! Brother's luck is too good! Hanyu, your physical constitution is so strong, your mental power is so outstanding, and your martial soul—its ice attribute is almost catching up to Bingbing! Brother really struck gold! Woohoo, woohoo, we're taking off."
Shen Hanyu rubbed his slightly aching head and said irritably:
"Your mental origin is too powerful. Seal ninety percent of it first and leave a portion for me to absorb. Also, the energy and heaven-and-earth origin power in your body is too vast; seal them up as well, leaving a few seals. Let the overflowing energy be used to increase my cultivation and strengthen my physical body."
Only then did the Heavenly Dream Silkworm react. It quickly sealed its energy, and the overflowing energy, under the guidance of its vast mental power, was slowly absorbed by the body.
His soul power also broke through a level at an extremely fast speed, directly reaching level fifty-three.
Only then did Shen Hanyu's expression ease a bit. After letting out a long breath, he said irritably:
"Are you trying to burst me? Use your brain. If I die now, you won't end up well either."
The Heavenly Dream Silkworm gave an embarrassed laugh but still responded seriously.
It also knew how dangerous it had been just now. It had been too excited and happy about finding a good host. If Shen Hanyu hadn't been calm enough, he wouldn't have burst to death, but he would have at least suffered internal injuries that would take days to heal.
Just as Shen Hanyu was about to head back to properly regulate his body, Heavenly Dream hurriedly said:
"Hanyu, don't rush off. This One-Horned Ice Demon Rhinoceros has its right leg…"
Shen Hanyu paused, then used the Cold Heaven Spear to pry open the right leg of the ice-bound One-Horned Demon Rhinoceros. A complete leg bone, white as jade, slowly came into Shen Hanyu's hand, emanating a thick and violent aura. Undoubtedly, this was a top-tier leg bone.
Then Shen Hanyu left directly. The mental fluctuation just now had likely disturbed many terrifying existences. This wasn't the place to marvel at his good luck…