Douluo Dalu 3: Legend of the White Fox

Upon witnessing Gu Yue's sorry state, a group of fearsome beasts was immediately filled with rage.

For a mere ten-year soul beast to harm their master to such an extent was simply unforgivable.

Bear Lord raised his massive hand toward Xia Yi, roaring, "A mere ten-year-old fox soul beast dares to harm our master? You shall die!"

"Hold it! Let's figure out what's going on first." Thankfully, Di Tian, the leader, remained calm and blocked Bear Lord's hand as it reached for Xia Yi.

"Figure out what? Regardless of the reason, it's just a ten-year soul beast, and it dared harm the master—it deserves death!" Bear Lord glared at Di Tian, unable to understand why he was protecting such a lowly creature.

"You just said it yourself—it's only a ten-year-old soul beast." Di Tian cast a calm glance at Bear Lord.

"Exactly, ten years... wait, what?!" Bear Lord froze as the realization dawned on him. Their master had been seriously injured by a ten-year-old soul beast.

Had they not arrived in time, she might have perished.

"This isn't entirely the master's fault." Zi Ji, dressed in a purple gown, let out a bitter laugh. She flicked her fingers, sending a dark purple beam of light toward a nearby tree.

"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!" A series of sharp, whistling sounds filled the air as a dozen finely sharpened wooden arrows shot toward them.

With a flick of her hand—so quick it was imperceptible—Zi Ji caught all the incoming arrows in an instant, despite their myriad angles of attack.

"Look at these. Does this seem like the work of a ten-year-old soul beast?" Zi Ji presented the arrows to the other fearsome beasts, then turned her gaze to Xia Yi, who was still lying atop Gu Yue's chest.

The killing intent in her eyes had given way to astonishment.

"I reckon the master didn't see this coming and fell into his trap." Bi Ji also gave a wry smile as she gently lifted Xia Yi off Gu Yue. With a soft flap of her emerald swan wings, she sent beams of light brimming with life essence cascading over Gu Yue, enveloping her completely.

In mere moments, Gu Yue's wounds healed visibly, leaving no scars behind.

"I... I'm still alive!" Gu Yue sat up abruptly, instinctively touching her neck, relieved to find that the wound there had completely disappeared.

Though she had been unconscious, her formidable mental strength allowed her to vaguely remember Xia Yi biting at her neck.

"What's going on? Was I dreaming?" Gu Yue was still in a daze, struggling to believe she had nearly died at the hands of a mere ten-year-old soul beast.

"Master!" Di Tian immediately knelt in salute upon seeing Gu Yue regain consciousness.

"Di Tian... Ah!" Gu Yue began to instruct Di Tian to rise, but as soon as she looked up and saw Xia Yi in Bi Ji's arms, she let out a startled cry.

After a long moment, she gathered herself, her face reddening as she asked the surrounding beasts, "Was it you who saved me just now?"

At that moment, Gu Yue wished she could find a hole to crawl into. As the leader of all soul beasts, she had nearly perished at the hands of a mere ten-year-old soul beast.

And worse yet, her subordinates had witnessed it. How could she continue to command their respect?

Sensing her embarrassment, Bear Lord quickly attempted to comfort her. "Master, this isn't your fault. It's this little fox soul beast—it's too clever. Please, look."

As he spoke, Bear Lord imitated Zi Ji's earlier action, flicking his fingers toward a nearby tree. With a rustling sound, a large net made of vines fell from the treetop.

As fearsome beasts with extraordinary mental power, they could easily see through the traps Xia Yi had painstakingly set up.

Gu Yue's face flushed even redder. Bear Lord's words praising Xia Yi's cleverness felt like veiled criticism of her own foolishness.

"If you can't say anything nice, don't speak!" Bi Ji glared at Bear Lord before bowing to Gu Yue. "Master, I believe this little fox mistook you for a human and attacked you. Please show mercy."

"Forget it. Let him go." Gu Yue took a deep breath. Though she wanted nothing more than to kill Xia Yi a thousand times over, she knew that acting against a mere ten-year soul beast in front of her subordinates would make her appear petty.

Besides, Xia Yi's existence represented a significant milestone for soul beasts.

If every soul beast were as cunning as Xia Yi, their species would surely grow much stronger.

As the leader of all soul beasts, it was her duty to protect such exceptional individuals.

Bi Ji nodded and gently placed Xia Yi into a nearby bush without waking him.

"We're leaving. Bear Lord and Bi Ji, stay behind. Bear Lord, restore the traps you destroyed so the little fox doesn't notice our presence. Bi Ji, stay in secret to observe him and see if you can uncover his secrets." Gu Yue's voice was steady as she issued her orders. She, too, was curious about how Xia Yi, with only ten years of cultivation, had managed to outwit even her.

Using a charm offensive, striking at the perfect moment, and luring her step by step into his traps—his combat intuition and techniques rivaled any human she had ever encountered.

Gu Yue was determined to uncover the truth about Xia Yi.

"Zi Ji, Myriad Demon King, and Scarlet King, search the rest of the Star Dou Forest to see if there are any other soul beasts like him," Gu Yue continued. Though the odds were slim, she had to try.

"Yes, Master!" The fearsome beasts obeyed and departed, leaving Di Tian to escort Gu Yue back to the Lake of Life.

Half a day later, Zi Ji, Myriad Demon King, and Scarlet King returned empty-handed, confirming that Xia Yi was one of a kind in the Star Dou Forest.

"Hmm…" Meanwhile, Xia Yi was in pain, groaning softly in his unconscious state.

Observing from the shadows, Bi Ji noticed that Xia Yi's once snow-white fur had turned semi-transparent silver, each strand gleaming with an exquisite texture.

Her keen eyes saw through the surface; Xia Yi's fur remained white, but silver radiance emanating from his pores made it appear silver.

Even more astonishingly, the silver glow poured from Xia Yi's mouth, nose, ears, and even his eyes.

"This is the master's blood. He can't absorb it. Now, the divine energy in the blood is rebounding, trying to escape his body. If this continues, he'll explode," Bi Ji muttered, quickly realizing the situation.

"Looks like the master left me here to save your life." Bi Ji placed a finger on Xia Yi's forehead, attempting to guide Gu Yue's bloodline out of his body.

But just then, a faint green light flashed across Xia Yi's body.

In the next moment, his pores sealed shut, and even his mouth, eyes, nose, and ears were internally sealed.

"You're trying to refine the master's bloodline? This is suicide! Do you have any idea how terrifying the power in her blood is? Even we can't refine it!" Bi Ji exclaimed, her voice trembling with urgency. She poured emerald light over Xia Yi, trying to force the blood out, but his sealed body rendered her efforts futile.

Bi Ji furrowed her brows. Forcing him open might harm him, so she decided to wait. "Let's see what you're capable of."

Xia Yi's groans grew louder as the silver dragon bloodline inside him roared and clashed violently within his body. But his internal seals trapped even the bloodline's immense energy, leaving it no escape.

Suddenly, the sound of a dragon's final, sorrowful cry echoed from Xia Yi's body. Bi Ji was shocked to find she could no longer sense the presence of the silver dragon bloodline within him.

Unconvinced, she carefully examined him again. No matter how she tried, the bloodline's energy was gone.

"Did you really refine it?" Bi Ji whispered, astonished. Then she noticed something: a fluffy white tail was slowly growing where Xia Yi's body had been bare.

"You've evolved. You really refined the master's bloodline." Bi Ji swallowed hard, finally believing what had happened.

Yet she couldn't fathom how Xia Yi, with his meager cultivation, had accomplished such a feat.