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"Ho ho, as the top martial soul master of this continent, how could I possibly overlook this issue?"
Ye Wen spoke with absolute confidence.
"Under normal circumstances, it's indeed impossible. But according to my research, when a spirit beast reaches a certain level after ten thousand years of cultivation, it can utilize the rules of the world to perform something called a 'sacrifice.' This ability not only allows a soul master to absorb a spirit beast's soul ring beyond their level but also guarantees the dropping of a soul bone."
Ah Yin was startled. She had never mentioned the concept of sacrifice to Ye Wen before.
She naturally knew what sacrifice was—it was an ancient legend passed down among spirit beasts. When she reached 100,000 years of cultivation, she truly mastered this ability. However, spirit beasts and human soul masters were mortal enemies—how could such an ability be used to empower humans? Over time, this ability gradually became a legend on the Douluo Continent.
(A/N: Sacrifice doesn't necessarily require 100,000 years of cultivation. Wang Qiuer in Douluo 2, who was essentially only around 20,000 to 30,000 years old, still managed to sacrifice herself for Yu Hao. Therefore, it's speculated that this ability is closely related to spiritual intelligence. For example, Ye Wen's third soul ring came from a 5,000-year-old Ice Silkworm's sacrifice. This is a secondary interpretation—if you don't like it, please don't criticize.)
Although almost every subsequent installment of the Douluo series features some form of sacrifice, the most puzzling aspect is why these spirit beasts who transform into humans don't focus on cultivation. Instead, they recklessly adventure with minimal cultivation and end up sacrificing themselves to the protagonist. What are they thinking?
"You mean to have the Ten-Thousand Sword Willow King sacrifice itself to me? But it doesn't look like it's nearing death—it wouldn't willingly sacrifice itself to me, would it?" A Yin asked.
To this, Ye Wen replied confidently:
"Under normal circumstances, it indeed wouldn't. But don't forget your identity, Ah Yin.
As a 100,000-year Blue Silver Emperor, your status far surpasses its own. Moreover, as a plant-type spirit beast, you should know that the Sword Willow lacks the same mental aptitude as your Blue Silver Grass. It has likely grown here alone for tens of thousands of years. If there's an opportunity to ascend to godhood and see the world, do you think the Ten-Thousand Sword Willow King would refuse?
And even if it fails, there's no real loss. I've already marked several alternatives. One of them will surely agree."
Finally, Ye Wen smirked mischievously. The key to everything was in trying. If one didn't dare to attempt, they deserved to remain a failure.
Ah Yin nodded in agreement. Life as a plant-type spirit beast was truly tragic—they couldn't move, and once they grew to a certain age, they could be treated as rare treasures. Many spirit beasts that thrived on consuming such treasures weren't uncommon.
Things were better in Douluo 1. In Douluo 2, Tang San's meddling caused a leap in the continent's use of medicinal herbs, leading to the creation of various pills that boosted cultivation and improved aptitude. The materials for these pills undoubtedly came from plant-type spirit beasts.
At this moment, Ah Yin took a half-step forward. Since no grass or plants grew around the Ten-Thousand Sword Willow King, she couldn't use her weak Blue Silver Grass to establish mental communication.
Instead, she expanded her Blue Silver Domain, attempting to connect with the spirit of the Ten-Thousand Sword Willow King.
Sensing an unfamiliar spiritual presence approaching, the Ten-Thousand Sword Willow King instinctively launched an attack. Tens of thousands of sword qi shot out instantly, targeting Ye Wen and Ah Yin.
"Fourth Soul Skill: Inner Void." The thin veil of the Void Platform enveloped the two, rendering them intangible.
Physical attacks of this caliber no longer posed a threat to Ye Wen. Moreover, his fourth soul skill was a growth-type ability. At his current Soul Sage level, the Inner Void could now last for seven seconds.
In his past life, someone with fast hand speed could click their fingers 70 times within seven seconds—a seemingly long duration.
The *Inner Void* was specifically acquired to counter overwhelmingly powerful physical attacks.
After all, even the strongest physical attack was meaningless if it couldn't hit its target.
However, the forest behind them suffered greatly. Faced with tens of thousands of sword qi, it was shredded into fragments.
As an 80,000-year-old Ten-Thousand Sword Willow King, its raw power even surpassed A Lan's. After all, the Blue Silver Grass family's combat talents were mainly focused on entanglement and control, while the Sword Willow family excelled in sword qi mastery.
"Please stop attacking, King of the Sword Willow Clan."
After five full seconds of relentless attacks with no effect, Ah Yin finally succeeded in establishing mental communication with the Ten-Thousand Sword Willow King. The previously frenzied attacks abruptly ceased as it sensed no trace of hostility or killing intent in this foreign spirit. Moreover, the essence carried by this spirit wasn't ordinary human soul power—it bore some resemblance to itself.
It seemed the spirit merely wished to communicate.
Plant-type spirit beasts lacked the advantage of animal-type spirit beasts, who could rapidly grow by consuming rare treasures. However, once they matured, their spiritual power far exceeded that of ordinary spirit beasts—this was the accumulation of time.
An 80,000-year-old Ten-Thousand Sword Willow King possessed intelligence comparable to a 100,000-year spirit beast.
"Who are you, and what brings you here~?"
The voice transmitted through the spirit was gender-neutral but carried the characteristic sluggishness of plant-type beings.
Ye Wen watched, utterly baffled. He indeed had no way to communicate with spirit beasts. Even in these remote mountains, intelligent spirit beasts that hadn't systematically learned language couldn't communicate. Only someone like Ah Yin, born from a 100,000-year spirit beast, had a unique method of communication.
As for telepathic communication in science fiction novels, that required the complete merging of souls—but how could hostile soul masters and spirit beasts ever open their souls entirely to communicate through consciousness?
After a long while, Ah Yin opened her bright eyes and gazed silently at the Ten-Thousand Sword Willow King. Ye Wen didn't know whether the negotiation had succeeded or failed.
The Ten-Thousand Sword Willow King seemed to fall into deep thought. All its willow branches fell silent, making it appear like an ancient, ordinary willow tree.
Finally, the Ten-Thousand Sword Willow King made a decision. One by one, the willow branches attached to its trunk fell to the ground. The once vibrant Ten-Thousand Sword Willow King seemed to transform into a lifeless tree in an instant.
Ye Wen was utterly perplexed. This wasn't how a sacrifice was supposed to look.
Ah Yin, however, smiled with delight and beckoned Ye Wen to help her gather the fallen willow branches.
Each branch was over eight meters long, thick and sturdy, about the size of an adult's arm.
Ye Wen seemed to understand something. Though he wasn't an expert in botany, he did have some knowledge of willow trees, as willow bark was used in traditional Chinese medicine.
{T/N: Fun fact: Aspirin is derived from willow bark, and the ancient Chinese used it to relieve pain and fevers.}
"If you try to plant flowers intentionally, they won't bloom; if you casually stick a willow branch in the ground, it will flourish."
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