After putting that away, under the watchful eyes of Er Ming and Da Ming, Salas began taking his oath.
"I hereby take my oath. After I absorb the soul ring and soul bone of the two overlords, Da Ming and Er Ming, under the condition that Xiao Wu, the hundred-thousand-year-old Soft Bone Rabbit, harbors no intent to harm me, I will not harm her in any way either."
"Moreover, once she acknowledges me as her master in the future and treats me with filial respect, I will protect her safety until my dying breath. This is my oath, sworn in the name of my beloved. If I break this oath, my beloved shall suffer the same fate as Xiao Wu." Salas's sonorous voice resounded through the forest. With a righteous look on his face, he completed his vow.
Only when Salas finished swearing did Da Ming and Er Ming let out a sigh. Although they were going to die, at least they had saved their sister, Xiao Wu, in the end. But the irony was bitter— the one who had harmed them and driven them to death was also the one who would now protect their beloved sister.
Although they still had doubts about Salas's words, there was little else they could do. This was the most they could do for Xiao Wu.
"Okay. Begin..." Salas's voice brought them out of their reverie.
"Yes..." Da Ming and Er Ming looked at each other. Then they turned their gaze to their beloved Xiao Wu. Seeing her unconscious, lips half-purple, their hearts ached with fury and helplessness. But in the end, they suppressed their impulses and prepared for the sacrifice.
"Wait... Not here. We'll move to a safer place," Salas stopped them just in time.
"And... you must give me the most suitable and powerful soul skill you can offer. You, Bull Head, must give me your left arm soul bone, and you, Gorilla, must give me your right arm soul bone," Salas emphasized his needs.
His Clear Sky Hammer Martial Soul was summoned using his right hand, so like Tang San in the original story, it was best to have the Titan Giant Ape's soul bone on that arm.
It would be a waste if, by chance, they gave him leg soul bones—he didn't want to miss out on the Blue Silver Emperor leg soul bone. That one was too important.
Hearing Salas's demands, the two could only comply.
Soon, Salas and the two beasts reached the core area of the Star Dou Forest.
Salas looked toward the Lake of Life... but didn't dare to probe it with his spiritual power.
He didn't want to dip his feet into muddy waters. Those ferocious beasts lived in groups, and even if he became a god in the future, Salas wouldn't dare act recklessly.
'Alas... biting off more than I can chew is dangerous...'
'It would be wonderful to have them as soul rings or even soul bones. But I'm truly powerless against them right now. Even if I inherit the Asura God position, without reaching the Divine Realm and rising to the God King level, going up against Gu Yuena is not a game I can play,' Salas mused silently.
He was well aware that even if he inherited a first-class god or God King position, his starting level would still be at the God Officer level—Level 100.
With that strength, battling Gu Yuena and her faction wasn't realistic. Of course, if within a hundred years after becoming a god, he could advance his realm, he might start considering reaping benefits from Gu Yuena.
"Although I can't touch this muddy water... that Evil Tyrant Emperor is not among them... Once I reach Level 99, I must visit him. That Third Eye external soul bone must be mine," Salas thought, already forming plans.
But those were for the future. Sightseeing on the Sun Moon Continent would have to wait until he was strong enough to cross the sea.
"With my first soul skill in play, I don't need to fear spiritual attacks... but each reflection consumes soul power. If I run out, killing that one-eyed beast won't be easy," Salas continued to muse.
Then he shook himself out of his wandering thoughts and focused on the present.
In front of him, the two beasts awaited his word.
"You can start..." Still holding Xiao Wu in his left hand, Salas summoned his Martial Soul.
Da Ming and Er Ming exchanged one final look. Then they gazed at Xiao Wu with deep affection, barrel-sized teardrops dripping from their eyes.
Huuu___
With a mournful cry, two red pillars of light shot toward the sky. Their origin was between the brows of the two beasts.
Soon, two red domains appeared, enveloping a hundred-meter radius around them.
The sacrifice had begun. From this point onward, no one—not even the beasts themselves—could stop it.
"Human... we leave Sister Xiao Wu in your care," Da Ming and Er Ming's voices echoed in Salas's mind.
Salas nodded solemnly and sat cross-legged in a lotus position.
Red flames began to engulf Da Ming and Er Ming—not ordinary fire, but a special kind of blood flame. Within it burned their blood, their lives, and their hundred-thousand years of cultivation.
Their bodies had already begun to fade, while the blood-red pillar of light grew more intense—from light red to deep crimson. Eventually, their massive bodies turned transparent.
Er Ming was the first to fade. All the red light condensed into a massive ring, which slowly contracted, revolving around and then merging into Salas's body.
Salas could feel his soul power surging at an incredible pace, breaking through level after level. The sensation was euphoric. His body and spiritual power also improved under the nourishing effect of the sacrifice.
Soon, Er Ming's red light vanished completely, and a scarlet bone flew out, fusing effortlessly with Salas's right arm. There was no pain—only comfort.
Next came Da Ming's soul ring. Like Er Ming's, it contracted and merged into Salas's body. Then came Da Ming's blue soul bone, which turned transparent and fused with his left arm.
At that moment, Salas felt an overwhelming strength. His body, spiritual power, and soul power continued to ascend at a rapid pace.
Finally, Da Ming and Er Ming's parting words echoed in his mind:
"Human, we hope you won't tell Sister Xiao Wu that we loved her. We don't want her to suffer. Let her live happily, always. That's our final request. We believe you can do it."
Hearing that, Salas couldn't help but chuckle inwardly.
What an excellent bit of cringe... But Salas still replied—after all, he considered himself a good person.
"Don't worry. I will," he said, his voice filled with determination. He liked giving people a peaceful death—there was no harm in speaking a few comforting lies to ease their final moments, right?
With that, the two beasts' enormous bodies completely faded, leaving behind two small corpses.