After Xīrán firmed her resolve in silence, Itachi came to a halt. She was startled from her thoughts and instinctively turned her gaze forward.
There, standing a short distance ahead, were two elderly men accompanied by a young girl, about the same age as her. The girl wore noble garments dyed in emerald green, and her finely-kept brown hair shimmered in the sunlight. She looked every bit the noble heiress: composed, dignified... and filled with arrogance. Her condescending gaze swept over Xīrán with poorly concealed disdain.
One of the elders, middle-aged in appearance yet with eyes sharp from experience, took a step forward. His gaze briefly settled on Itachi, but finding nothing readable in the man's cold demeanor, he turned instead toward Xīrán, whose simple clothes clearly marked her as a commoner.
The difference between the two was stark—Xīrán appeared unremarkable, while Itachi exuded a dangerous, invisible pressure that immediately discouraged the elder from saying anything discourteous.
The man finally spoke with practiced civility.
"Greetings, little friend. Are you here to assist a relative in obtaining their soul ring?"
Despite his respectful tone, his expression betrayed an air of condescension that never quite left his features.
Itachi said nothing in return, offering only a silent nod. Though minimal, the gesture was more than sufficient. Yet even that left the elder, Gu Rong, somewhat dissatisfied, and the same went for Chen Xin and the young girl, Ning Rongrong.
But Itachi cared little for the sentiment of bystanders who, in his eyes, were mere background characters. Not even Gu Rong or Chen Xin both renowned elders of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, were worth more than a passing thought. After all, neither had ever surpassed level 99. In his eyes, they were glorified stepping stones in someone else's story.
Without sparing them a word, Itachi gestured for Xīrán to follow. She obeyed without hesitation, leaving behind three faces darkened by the perceived insult.
Still, the elders were not here to teach manners—they had come for their granddaughter's first soul ring. Stirring up unnecessary conflict would only disturb the surrounding beasts and complicate their hunt.
"Grandpa Bone," Ning Rongrong huffed, "why didn't you stop them? They just ignored you like that!"
Chen Xin, who had been watching her with a faint smile, responded patiently.
"We're here for your soul ring, Rongrong. If we pick a fight now, all the soul beasts nearby will scatter, and it will be harder to find a suitable one for you."
Though displeased, she recognized the logic and grumbled her acceptance. Gu Rong said nothing, but quietly shook his head before following.
Meanwhile, deeper in the forest, Itachi walked in silence beside Xīrán. His Sharingan spun lazily in his eyes as he surveyed the terrain with vigilance. Then, without turning his head, he asked:
"Do you have any questions before we begin?"
Xīrán nodded, having prepared her thoughts in advance.
"Yes. What kind of soul ring are we looking for? And... how do we determine which one is right for me?"
Itachi gave a quiet hmm, then turned to meet her eyes. His gaze was sharp but calm as he explained.
"From what I've heard, your original martial soul was Blue Silver Grass. However, after consuming the Martial Soul Evolution Pill, it changed, something darker. You now possess a mutated soul spirit resembling a lotus, correct?"
Xīrán nodded.
"Yes. It's called Black Thorn Lotus. Its thorns form blades that float around me like swords."
"How many swords can you control?"
"I have twelve, but I can only control two right now. My soul power isn't strong enough. Still... the blades are incredibly durable. I once struck a stone with one and split it in two, but the sword didn't have a single scratch and even it does scratch or broken, my lotus will repair the sword."
Itachi narrowed his eyes, falling into thought.
"So you possess both offensive potential and latent support capabilities... Interesting. If developed properly, this martial soul could dominate the battlefield. It's a dual-type, rare and highly versatile."
He continued after a pause.
"For your first soul ring, plant-type beasts will yield the best results. Your swords, after all, are extensions of thorned lotus leaves. The affinity is natural. That said, you must decide, what do you want from your first ring? Attack? Support? Or perhaps... control?"
Xīrán blinked, visibly confused.
"Control?"
Itachi nodded.
"Soul masters fall into many categories, Attack, Support, Speed, Defense... and Control. You exhibit traits of both Attack and Support, but if you wish, you can lean into Control. With a proper crowd-control ability, your limited sword count won't be a hindrance. Immobilize your enemies, then finish them. Efficient. Ruthless."
Xīrán hesitated.
"Isn't that... cowardly?"
Itachi's expression darkened. His voice dropped to a cold murmur.
"Does it matter? Tell me, was what happened to your sister fair?"
Xīrán froze.
"They used her weakness against her. And she died. That wasn't honor. That wasn't justice. It was reality."
He turned and locked eyes with her, his tone like ice scraping metal.
"There is no such thing as a coward's path, only survival and death. Remember, you're a member of Black Lotus now. You do what it takes to live. To protect what's yours. Even if it means killing without hesitation."
Itachi exhaled slowly, then turned his gaze to Xīrán and shifted his attention to a towering tree to their right. The tree stood nearly twenty meters tall, its thick trunk encircled by long, coiled vines that gently swayed in the air. The aura it radiated was one of silent menace.
"You're in luck," Itachi said calmly, "If you truly intend to add your first ring of control-type, then this might be the opportunity you were waiting for."
He extended his hand and pointed toward the tree.
"That is an Elm Viper Tree. Its vines mimic the speed and striking patterns of vipers. They're swift, relentless, and difficult to evade once they sense movement. Beyond that, their whip-like strikes make them ideal for entanglement and suppression. It's a plant-type beast, well-suited to your Black Thorn Lotus. This one is roughly three thousand years old. For your current constitution and soul power, it is just on the edge of what you can endure."
Xīrán studied the massive tree. The vines hung down like serpents waiting to strike, coiling and twisting slightly in the wind. She could already imagine what kind of control they offered: precision, flexibility, and strangling power. Her decision had already been made.
She turned toward Itachi, eyes steady. He met her gaze and gave a slow nod of approval.
"Remember," he said coldly, his tone sharp as steel, "I will not intervene unless you're on the brink of death. You've chosen this path, walk it to the end. Your life is in your own hands now."
Xīrán took a deep breath and closed her eyes. When they opened again, all hesitation had vanished.
She raised her hand.
A black lotus unfurled in her palm, then floated upward to hover just above her head. Twelve emerald-green blades bloomed from its thorny petals, each sword hovering around her in a wide arc. She grasped one blade in her right hand, the others shifting subtly behind her, connected by her spirit's will.
Without looking back, Xīrán stepped forward.
She was no longer the helpless girl crying behind a door. She was a soul master now, and this was her first battle, one she would face alone.