Note: I don't know why but here Xiao Wu calls Tang San (Wife)
"Wife, mother!"
Xiao Wu's pupils dilated sharply, her body trembling uncontrollably. Images of her wife's death, the collection of bones, and the "ascension to god" flashed through her mind in an instant. Gradually, hatred began to fill her eyes.
She didn't understand exactly how things had unfolded, nor how Li Yu knew these details. But why would he deceive her now? She couldn't figure it out.
Her life and death were in Li Yu's hands now, and it seemed like he had no reason to lie to her.
"How do you know all this? How can I trust you? What do you want from me?" Xiao Wu finally asked, her voice cracking.
Li Yu chuckled softly and stepped closer to her. Gently, he lifted her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze.
"I don't owe you any explanations," he said. "Whether you believe me or not is up to you."
He paused for a moment, applying a little pressure on her chin, before continuing, "But right now, you have two choices."
"What choices?" Xiao Wu eyes locked onto his, trying to decipher his true intentions. But Li Yu gaze remained calm, and she couldn't get a read on him.
Her strength was currently at the level of a three-ring Soul Master, far too weak to resist. All she could do was take things step by step.
"It's simple," Li Yu continued, letting go of her chin. "First, death. If I expose your identity, you'll be sold for a good price."
"And the second?" Xiao Wu wasn't surprised. As a soul beast, her soul rings and bones were her most valuable assets, and she knew she'd fetch a high price if exposed.
"Second... still death," Li Yu said nonchalantly, as if he were discussing the weather.
Xiao Wu frowned, but didn't interrupt.
Li Yu paused again, enjoying the tension, then spoke with an eerie calmness. "Of course, the methods of dying are different."
"Huh? What's the difference?" Xiao Wu asked, intrigued despite herself.
Li Yu's eyes gleamed with a hint of amusement. "There is a difference. In the first case, you're just merchandise. In the second, you'll be allowed to fulfill your purpose. I could even help you. Like... getting revenge."
"Revenge?" Xiao Wu raised an eyebrow, then smirked sarcastically. "Are you sure you can do that? Or do you actually plan to let me go?"
Although she was weak now, Xiao Wu knew that once she returned to the Star Dou Forest, she could safely cultivate until she reached the Title Douluo level. At that point, even if she revealed herself as a soul beast, no one would notice the difference—except for Tang Hao and Li Yu, who had seen her true form before.
So, she didn't believe Li Yu would let her go that easily. She was more inclined to think he was simply toying with her. But the idea of seeking revenge on her mother's killers... that intrigued her.
"What's to stop me?" she asked, her tone almost mocking.
Li Yu eyes sparkled with pride. "If you agree, I'll let you go."
He paused before adding, "Of course, finding someone is never easy, especially for a soul beast like you. That's why I have to leave something on you. But don't worry, it's just a way for me to track you down. It won't interfere with anything else."
After he said that, Li Yu stood silently, watching her intently, confident that she would accept his offer. Revenge had nearly become Xiao Wu's obsession, and now that she knew the truth about Tang Hao and Ah Yin, her feelings for Tang San were no longer as strong.
Li Yu hadn't mentioned that Ah Yin had sacrificed herself for Tang Hao, but Xiao Wu had filled in the blanks with her own assumptions. Li Yu also had his doubts about the whole story.
Why had Ah Yin, the Blue Silver Emperor, not escaped to the forest when the Wuhun Hall came for her? Why did Tang Hao choose to take her through barren lands instead of the forests where she could easily escape?
And what about the Clear Sky Clan? Why had they allowed Tang Hao to take Ah Yin with him, knowing the consequences?
Li Yu didn't trust Tang Hao's story. He believed there was some conspiracy behind it all. But he also understood Tang San's nature—some things were set in stone, no matter how many lives a person lived.
"Alright, I agree!" Xiao Wu said after a long pause, realizing there was no better option.
As for Li Yu tracking method, she wasn't worried. Although he was powerful, he was still just a Soul Sovereign. She was confident that, at her peak, she could deal with anything he threw at her.
She wasn't afraid to agree to his terms, but in her heart, she was mocking him. The idea of a soul beast obeying a human was laughable. She would use this opportunity to become stronger, find her mother's killers, and take her revenge.
For now, though, she would play along, hoping to use Li Yu's identity to find the enemies who had wronged her.
Li Yu, pleased with her response, clapped his hands. "Very good," he said, then summoned a transparent [Elemental Cube] from thin air.
This time, however, he infused it with emerald-green soul power—[Life] attribute power!
Even Xiao Wu, watching closely, was surprised. The sight of this soul power made her feel a strange longing, as if it could transform her in some way.
The [Elemental Cube], now glowing green, began to undergo a rapid transformation. Green willow branches emerged from it, stretching and unfolding. Moments later, a massive green willow tree appeared behind Li Yu, towering ten meters high.
"What is this?" Xiao Wu gasped, unable to believe what she was seeing.
Li Yu, however, wasn't concerned with her disbelief. His focus was on the willow tree—the manifestation of his [Life] power.
The [Tree of Life] had two main abilities. The first was "Deprivation," which allowed Li Yu to control unconscious life forms, gaining access to their senses and bodily control. This ability wasn't limited to ordinary plants—Li Yu could even control plants up to a thousand years old. As his power grew, he believed he could control even more powerful life forms, like thousand-year or ten-thousand-year soul beasts.
The second ability was "The Gate of Life." This wasn't a physical gate, but a mark that Li Yu could place on others. With this mark, he could track the target's location, communicate with them, and even summon them to his side. However, this mark came with both advantages and disadvantages. While it would help her avoid detection by a Title Douluo, it also meant she would become a "free" servant to Li Yu.
Xiao Wu's gaze hardened. She was tempted by the advantages but also wary of the mark's consequences.
Li Yu's voice broke her thoughts. "I'll leave this mark on you now. Are you sure you want to accept?"
Xiao Wu hesitated for a moment. But in the end, there was no better choice. "I agree."