Having completely fused with the Soul Skill, Ye Tian felt a wave of indescribable comfort wash over his soul. At that moment, Zhang Xinlan also fully regained consciousness.
"Ye Tian, what just happened? That was so scary!"
Zhang Xinlan looked at Ye Tian, her heart still pounding with fear. Her Cultivation was a stage higher than Ye Tian's, but when danger had struck, he was the one who had kept her safe.
"It's nothing. It's all over now. We're safe and sound, and we can leave this place."
Ye Tian patted Zhang Xinlan's shoulder and said reassuringly.
However, just as Ye Tian was about to leave, a strange voice spoke directly to his soul. He was startled, realizing it wasn't Ye Rou communicating with him, but a completely unfamiliar voice.
"Who's there?!"
Ye Tian looked around warily. 'Could there be someone else here?'
But he didn't find anyone. Instead, a completely transparent pearl gradually materialized before his eyes.
"Stop looking around. I'm the one speaking to you. Young man, you are quite impressive."
The voice carried a commanding authority. It wasn't feigned, but seemed innateāthe attitude of a superior being accustomed to looking down upon mortals as if they were ants.
Ye Tian couldn't comprehend how this pearl could be speaking to him. 'Is it a Divine Sense left behind by some powerful expert?'
He had barely finished the thought when the strange pearl spoke again. "Stop letting your mind wander. I am not some Divine Sense. I am a Soul Consciousness!"
'Soul Consciousness?!'
'What in the world is that?' Ye Tian had never heard of such a thing. 'And this pearl is terrifying... it actually knows what I'm thinking?'
"Boy, I told you to stop overthinking it. You won't figure it out anyway, so you're just wasting time. I am speaking to you for one reason: you have potential. The fact that you were able to make it here proves you are blessed by fate. This Soul Consciousness of mine cannot exist for much longer, so if you have questions, ask them now."
There was a hint of impatience in the Soul Consciousness's voice, but Ye Tian understood one thing clearly: he could communicate with it at will!
Ye Tian wasted no time asking, "Senior, I'd like to know what exactly you are. You must have a reason for suddenly appearing and speaking to me, right? And what's the story behind the Seven Extremes Soul Slash Soul Skill and this nameless pearl?"
"You're a clever boy. Not bad. I do indeed have a purpose for seeking you out. However, this is no nameless pearl. It is my life-bound Soul Artifact, called the Soul Refining Pearl! As for meā¦ you are not yet qualified to know my name. Perhaps you will be in the future, but for now, I will not tell you who I am. You need only know that I created this Seven Extremes Soul Slash. Since you have fused with the Soul Skill, you can be considered my half-disciple. Call me 'Master' now, and I will tell you more!"
The Soul Refining Pearl floated and bobbed in the air, and as the voice spoke, faint blue streams of light flickered within it.
Upon hearing the voice from the Soul Refining Pearl, Ye Tian was not pleased.
'What's the meaning of this? To put it nicely, you have a "purpose" for seeking me out. To put it bluntly, you need my help, don't you? I don't care how badass you used to be, right now you're just a Soul Consciousness that can only speak to me through this Soul Refining Pearl. If you're so powerful, then just destroy me. Fucking trying to order me around? Not a chance!'
"Call you Master? And why should I? I obtained this Soul Skill on my own merit. What does it have to do with you? I couldn't care less about anything else you have to say. Take it or leave it. I'm out!"
After saying this, Ye Tian didn't even glance at the Soul Refining Pearl, grabbed Zhang Xinlan's hand, and prepared to call Ye Rou to leave with them.
At this, the Soul Refining Pearl suddenly grew anxious. "Boy, I am showing you favor! Don't you know what's good for you?!"
But Ye Tian was as stubborn as a mule. 'As if I need your approval!'
"Heh, Senior, you and I have no quarrel, correct? Since you're the one who sought me out, just get straight to the point. Don't beat around the bush and act all mysterious. I, Ye Tian, am not an ungrateful man. I have fused with your Soul Skill, and I acknowledge that debt. But if you intend to use it as leverage against me, then know that I, Ye Tian, am not afraid of you in the slightest!"
Ye Tian glared, an immense aura erupting from him. Who was he? He was the possessor of the War Dragon Bloodline! A true King among dragons, the only one with the chance to evolve his bloodline into that of the Ancestral Dragon!
"Hahaha! You boy, you're getting more and more interesting. Very well, I might as well be straight with you! This Soul Skill was left here to await someone with destiny. Now that you have obtained it, there can be no other."
Hearing Ye Tian's words, the voice in the Soul Refining Pearl was pleased rather than angered, and continued, "The Soul Refining Pearl and the Seven Extremes Soul Slash complement each other. To master the Seven Extremes Soul Slash, both are indispensable. Since you have fused with the Seven Extremes Soul Skill, this Soul Refining Pearl is destined to be yours. However, before that, you must satisfy one condition: call me 'Master'!"
'This condition again?' A surge of revulsion welled up in Ye Tian. But just as he was about to refuse, his soul was suddenly struck by a tremendous power. This potent Soul Power was no weaker than the force Ye Rou had exerted on him earlierāin fact, it was several times stronger!
The only difference was that the Soul Power Ye Rou had previously released was purely oppressive. While not an attack, it had still made him extremely uncomfortable.
But this new, powerful Soul Power came with no sense of rejection; it could merge completely with Ye Tian's own soul!
Ye Tian was staggered, and cold sweat beaded on his forehead. He didn't feel the slightest pain. On the contrary, he could tangibly feel his soul strengthening, and his Divine Sense Power multiplied in an instant. For dozens of miles in every direction, not a single blade of grass, flower, or insect could escape his perception. He could even see Zhang Xinlan's Cultivationāthe Early Six Veins Realmāwith perfect clarity!
However, a wave of exhaustion washed over him just as suddenly, and that omniscient feeling of perceiving all of creation vanished.
"Boy, don't be reckless. You haven't cultivated a Soul Fire yet, so you can't handle the strain of rashly using the Power of Soul Origin. But don't worry. Once you form a bond with the Soul Refining Pearl, you can begin cultivating your Soul Fire. Soon enough, you'll be able to use the Power of Soul Origin as you please."
The voice from the Soul Refining Pearl rang out once more, and at the same time, the pleasant sensation in Ye Tian's soul completely vanished.
"This is a fortuitous opportunity I am giving you. Now, asking you to call me 'Master' isn't too much, is it? Hahahaha!"
As the voice boomed with laughter, Ye Tian's soul was once again rocked by a tremendous shock.
'How terrifying!'
'So this strange power is called the Power of Soul Origin? It's a power that transcends even Soul Power and Divine Sense. If I could master it completely, that would be completely overpowered.'
Ye Tian looked at the Soul Refining Pearl and said with excitement, "Fine! I'll call you Master. But you have to tell meāwho exactly are you, Senior? You wouldn't give me all these benefits for no reason, would you?"