If not for that rule, these races would have long since beaten each other's brains out.
In their eyes, humanity was not even considered a major threat, even when humans hunted high-level Spirit Beasts.
A hundred-thousand-year Spirit Beast that entered human society might still remember its original race and loyalties, but it absolutely would not become hostile toward other hundred-thousand-year Spirit Beasts or Spirit Beast races simply because it had reincarnated as a human.
No matter how racially biased a hundred-thousand-year Spirit Beast might have been before transforming, after taking human form it would inevitably possess a dual identity—that of both its original race and humanity.
A transformed Spirit Beast had no choice but to depend on humans, draw close to humans, and eventually become one of them.
The biggest reason humans hunted transformed Spirit Beasts wasn't because of "those not of our race must have different hearts." After all, conflict among humans had never been rare in this era either.
Humans hunted transformed Spirit Beasts simply because Spirit Beasts in the transformation stage had not yet matured. They no longer possessed the combat power of a hundred-thousand-year Spirit Beast, yet killing them could still yield a precious hundred-thousand-year Spirit Ring and Spirit Bone. Compared to directly hunting a true hundred-thousand-year Spirit Beast, the risk was far lower.
If transformed Spirit Beasts no longer produced Spirit Rings or Spirit Bones when killed, and only possessed their bloodline, then humans would probably welcome them with open arms, hoping they would leave their bloodlines within humanity and produce even more human Spirit Masters.
After hearing Chen Ming's explanation, Xiao Wu scratched her head in confusion. She only felt like the huge empty space beneath her skull was itching, as though something was about to grow there.
Even though she didn't fully understand it, she at least felt like she probably wasn't going to die anymore.
Still, Xiao Wu blushed red.
"Y-you… could it be that you've taken a liking to Sister Xiao Wu's bloodline? Even if you're outstanding, if you try to force me, I absolutely won't agree!"
Although she acted like a shameless hooligan rabbit with her sharp tongue, in reality, whether before or after transforming, Xiao Wu was actually very innocent.
She possessed the theoretical knowledge, but had absolutely no practical experience.
There was one thing that needed to be clarified. Although in the original story Xiao Wu registered herself in the Grand Spirit Arena under the title "Soft Bone Charm Rabbit," her actual Martial Soul was not some Soft Bone Rabbit at all.
It was the Jade Rabbit.
She simply didn't like bringing it up too much.
While her mother didn't possess any especially powerful bloodline, Xiao Wu's father had been a genuine ferocious beast—a sovereign among rabbit-types who possessed the Jade Rabbit bloodline.
It was precisely because she inherited the Jade Rabbit bloodline that Xiao Wu had been able to reach the cultivation of a hundred-thousand-year Spirit Beast almost at the same time as her mother.
Xiao Wu had also said more than once that if her father were still alive, then even if Bibi Dong had personally led people to hunt her mother, nothing would have happened to them.
Unfortunately, this sovereign among rabbit Spirit Beasts ultimately died while exploring the deepest secrets of the Star Dou Forest.
That was how he left behind this helpless widowed mother and orphan daughter…
No, wait. Considering this family consisted of four hundred-thousand-year Spirit Beasts, calling them a helpless widow and orphan really wasn't accurate.
It was more like an underworld boss challenging the rules set by the top kingpin of the industry, only to get eliminated after the matter was exposed—leaving behind his wife, daughter, and two adopted sons (enforcers).
It was also because of the Jade Rabbit Emperor's strength and the way he spoiled Xiao Wu that, even after living to a hundred thousand years old, Xiao Wu still had the personality of a child who had never truly grown up.
In short, although she was a rabbit, Xiao Wu was completely different from ordinary rabbits.
Her upbringing had actually been extremely strict. From a very young age, she had been raised with a complete and rigorous set of rabbit-life values.
Although Chen Ming's talent and strength were indeed impressive, and he was definitely her type appearance-wise, Xiao Wu still wanted revenge. She didn't want to become the sort of person who could only go "Oohhhhhh—hah hah hah," with her head full of weird thoughts all day long.
Even if… mm… even if something like that really were to happen, then at the very least it should wait until after she got her revenge…
"Has it ever occurred to you that you might be overthinking things a little too much? Has it ever occurred to you that my Martial Soul might actually be stronger than yours?"
Seeing Xiao Wu's face flushed completely red, and noticing that beneath her resistance there was somehow even a trace of anticipation in her expression, Chen Ming truly didn't know what to say.
"Anyway, what I actually want is for you to cooperate with my research. The characteristics and knowledge possessed by a hundred-thousand-year transformed Spirit Beast like you are extremely useful to me—far more useful than a simple hundred-thousand-year Spirit Ring or Spirit Bone."
"As long as you stay with me, I guarantee nothing will happen to you."
"I don't believe you. Aren't you planning to keep me by your side and do all sorts of things to me while preparing to absorb a hundred-thousand-year Spirit Ring?"
"And after you become capable of absorbing one, you'll do even more things to me and then absorb my Spirit Ring?"
"We've known each other for several years already. Do you really think my character is that terrible?"
"You're a good person, but I still don't believe any human could resist being tempted by my hundred-thousand-year Spirit Ring and Spirit Bone."
Chen Ming realized he had fallen into a self-proof trap. No matter what he did, Xiao Wu would keep doubting him.
So he decided to use a special method.
He rummaged through his storage soul tool and pulled out a collar originally meant for restraining Spirit Beasts, though he'd never had a chance to use it.
Then, under Xiao Wu's stunned gaze, he walked up to her and fastened the collar around her neck.
"You—!"
Xiao Wu's face instantly turned crimson. She wanted nothing more than to leap up and crush Chen Ming's head between her legs.
"Xiao Wu, you wouldn't want other people finding out that you're a hundred-thousand-year Spirit Beast in human form, would you?"
"I might not necessarily do anything terrible to you. But if your identity gets exposed, then someone else definitely will."
"So, are you going to gamble on my character, or gamble on the character of strangers you don't even know?"
"You!"
Xiao Wu puffed up angrily, but there was absolutely nothing she could do.
There was no helping it—the gap in strength between them was simply too huge. Even if she desperately tried to self-destruct, in front of a Titled Douluo, she wouldn't even have the chance.
Not to mention that, as a poor student, Xiao Wu honestly didn't even know how she was supposed to self-destruct now that she no longer possessed a Spirit Core.
As for running away?
If she had a way to escape, she would've run long ago. Why would she have stayed to eat a "last meal"?
At this point, Xiao Wu truly had no options left at all.
Touching the collar around her neck, Xiao Wu felt utterly humiliated, yet completely powerless.
In the end, she could only sit down in the chair with an angry huff. But because she was both furious and so overstuffed that the food in her stomach felt lodged in her throat, the more she fumed, the more her stomach churned.
Finally, she clutched the wall and started vomiting.
Dugu Bo, who had watched the entire scene unfold, felt that absolutely none of this made any sense whatsoever.
...
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