Ye Tian grew even more confused after hearing the War Dragon Remnant Soul's words. 'Zhang Xinlan's identity is unusual too? Then who is she, really? She knows all my secrets, so why would she hide her own from me? Is it simply because she's from the Holy Land?'
'If even the War Dragon Remnant Soul can't be sure of her identity, then it must be something extraordinary.' Ye Tian suspected that Zhang Xinlan might even possess the bloodline of a Qilin or a White Tiger, but it was impossible to know since it hadn't awakened yet.
After a long moment, Ye Tian finally said, "I understand, Senior. In this world where the strong prey on the weak, I'll learn to protect myself. I was too reckless before and didn't think things through. From now on, I'll be more careful."
"It's good that you understand. Don't put too much pressure on yourself; just proceed step by step. You should understand the principle that more haste means less speed. However, you still need to work hard. To become a true expert, effort alone isn't enough—opportunity is also essential. And opportunity won't just wait for you; you have to go out and seize it for yourself.
"I've been in your body for some time now, and it's about time I went out to take a look around. My main goal is to find the entrance to the Phoenix Race's Barrier for you. Only by obtaining the Fire Phoenix Robe can you fully awaken your bloodline. Consider it the last thing I'll do for you," the War Dragon Remnant Soul said.
"The last thing? Senior, does that mean you won't be looking after me anymore? Are you planning to leave me?" Ye Tian asked anxiously. He had a bad feeling about this.
"You should understand. I am only a remnant soul. Over tens of thousands of years, I have grown as weak as I can possibly be. It's only because of you that I've been able to last this long. As long as I remain in your body, you will never be able to truly master your own power. You will always, to some degree, be dependent on me.
"To become a true expert, you cannot rely on others. Only the weak do that. Therefore, if you want to grow stronger, my leaving you is the best way.
"Furthermore, this remnant soul of mine could disappear at any moment. However, I will hold on until I find the entrance to the Phoenix Race for you. Once your power reaches a certain level, you will be able to sense the entrance's location. I will leave a special message from the Dragon Race there," said the War Dragon Remnant Soul.
Panic seized Ye Tian's heart. The War Dragon Remnant Soul's words meant he might perish completely. Without him, Ye Tian would still be the family's good-for-nothing, a worthless disciple. It was no exaggeration to say that the War Dragon Remnant Soul had changed his entire destiny.
He had given him the chance to become a true expert. The debt of gratitude was indescribable. Now that he might perish, Ye Tian would not, under any circumstances, allow such a thing to happen.
"Senior, is there any way for your remnant soul to survive? The Demon Dragon isn't dead yet; you can't leave before she does! I believe there must be a way, even if it's incredibly difficult. But no matter how difficult or dangerous it is, I will accomplish it," Ye Tian said with grave seriousness.
After he spoke, Ye Tian expected the War Dragon Remnant Soul to tell him the method. But a long time passed in silence. This made him extremely anxious, and beads of sweat began to form on his forehead, startling Ye Feifei, who stood opposite him, unsure of what to do.
"Brother Tian, what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?" Ye Feifei asked Ye Tian.
Ye Tian snapped back to reality. He glanced at Ye Feifei and said, "It's nothing. Have you been waiting long?"
"You've been standing here for over two hours without moving a muscle. It was terrifying! Now you're dripping with sweat, which is even more worrying. What exactly happened? I am your woman; I have a right to know," Ye Feifei said.
"I'll tell you later. I need to go back into Meditation; there's something I need to take care of," Ye Tian said.
Ye Feifei was slightly taken aback. 'I think I know what's going on,' she thought. A voice often appeared inside her own body, and when she conversed with it, she also entered a state of Meditation. Seeing Ye Tian's condition, he was probably also talking to a soul within his body.
A jolt of shock went through her at the thought. 'Ye Tian has the War Dragon Pearl... so could that soul be the War Dragon? Who is the War Dragon? Only the most powerful expert in the world!'
She stared at Ye Tian without blinking, her heart filled with joy that he possessed something so Heaven-defying within him.
Meanwhile, Ye Tian continued to ask, "Senior, please, tell me the method! I'll do everything I can to help you! Also, what was that vision I saw back when I obtained the Three-leaf Golden Ganoderma?"
"The woman you saw was the Demon Dragon, and the ones fighting her were the patriarchs and matriarchs of several Divine Beast clans. The Demon Dragon wasn't inherently evil; her temperament changed because she practiced the Dark Heaven-Swallowing Technique. In the end, she turned against us, which led to that great war," the War Dragon Remnant Soul's voice explained.
"Senior, were you and the Demon Dragon lovers back then?" Ye Tian suddenly blurted out.
"Our relationship back then was very complicated. You could say the Demon Dragon and I were a couple. However, the matriarch of the Phoenix Race was also deeply in love with me at the time, but my heart belonged only to the Demon Dragon, so I never accepted her feelings.
"But after the Demon Dragon changed, I gradually grew distant from her and grew closer to the Phoenix. This infuriated her even more. Perhaps it was because of me that she became so bloodthirsty, ultimately leading to that great war," said the War Dragon Remnant Soul.
"Wow, Senior, you were quite the catch back in the day, having so many beautiful women in love with you. So did you end up with the Phoenix? And how can I save your soul?" Ye Tian asked.
But as soon as the words left his mouth, he realized his first question was redundant. 'If they had ended up together, the great war probably wouldn't have happened.' He just didn't know if the Phoenix had also perished in the end.
"There are some things I cannot tell you yet. You need to find the answers for yourself. One day, when you do, you will understand why I am helping you like this, and why I chose you to be the holder of the Dragon Pearl.
"However, I need you to promise me one thing. No matter what, you must not make an enemy of the Phoenix Race. Otherwise, when you learn the truth in the future, you will regret it.
"As for saving my soul... the hope is incredibly slim. There is a type of Soul Medicine in this world that is immensely powerful, but it's nearly impossible to obtain. It takes one hundred thousand years to blossom and another one hundred thousand years to bear fruit. The fruit only stays ripe for three days, meaning it will fall from the plant on its own after that.
"Then, one must wait another hundred thousand years for it to blossom and bear fruit again. Back in my time, I searched everywhere for it and never found it. It's simply impossible for you to find this Soul Medicine.
"Besides, this type of Soul Medicine is a natural treasure with a spirit of its own. I'm already content to have found you! Don't trouble yourself over my affairs. It's more important that you focus on improving your own strength.
"Don't forget the incredibly important mission you carry. I believe you can do it!" said the War Dragon Remnant Soul.
Ye Tian broke out in a cold sweat. 'There's such a bizarre herb in the world?' To obtain it truly came down to sheer luck—it was even harder than stumbling upon a Celestial-tier Martial Skill on the street.
"Senior, what is this Soul Medicine called?" Ye Tian asked.
"The Divine Soul Spirit Fruit!" said the War Dragon Remnant Soul.