As Yu Keke activated her spirit and began channeling her soul power into the black soul ring of the Lightning Mink, everyone around fell silent, consciously refraining from speaking too loudly out of fear of disturbing her.
Aether sat quietly by the campfire, two aged and elegant boxes placed in front of him.
"Traveler, what's inside those boxes?"
Paimon leaned over, eyes full of curiosity about what that mysterious, fairy-like woman had given to the Traveler.
Zhu Zhuqing's beautiful eyes also drifted toward the boxes in Aether's hands. As for Yueguan and Gui Mei, they seemed to deliberately sit far away, as if trying to avoid suspicion.
Even though they had no intention of prying into the contents, the moment Aether opened one of the boxes, they all sensed a familiar wave of soul power.
"This is… a soul bone?"
Zhu Zhuqing gasped in surprise.
Though she had only seen one before—when Tang San absorbed the soul bone dropped by that thousand-year Human-Face Demon Spider—it didn't dull the keen instincts of someone born and raised in this world. Any soul master could instantly recognize the unique energy signature of a soul bone.
Resting quietly inside the opened box was a faintly glowing soul bone, shaped like the leg bone of a soul beast.
Aether reached in and touched it, and in the next instant, all the information about it flowed directly into his mind.
"This is a right leg bone, from the Hundred-Thousand-Year soul beast: the Violet-Eyed Demon Tiger."
"A hundred-thousand-year soul bone?!"
Zhu Zhuqing's mouth hung open in astonishment. That mysterious woman—though elusive and hard to read—had claimed this was the price for sparing the lives of those two soul beasts. She hadn't expected it to be something this insane!
Aether weighed the soul bone in his hand. Honestly, it held little value for him beyond being a collector's item.
Paimon's disappointed expression said it all…
If it had been a box of desserts or treats, she would've been thrilled. But a bone with no meat? Just thinking about chewing on it felt like it'd crack her teeth~
"Hmm~ You can have this."
Since it was useless to him, he figured he might as well give it to someone who could benefit from it.
He casually tossed the soul bone box toward Zhu Zhuqing. She instinctively caught it and then stared at it in disbelief, her eyes darting back to Aether.
"Y-Your Excellency… you mean this soul bone… is for me?"
She could hardly believe it. A hundred-thousand-year soul bone—something she wouldn't have even dared to dream about—was now suddenly hers?
"Yeah. Your spirit is a beast-type, right? Cats and tigers have been closely related since ancient times. This bone should bring out its full value with you. If I keep it, it's just a decoration~"
"Decoration…"
He actually called a hundred-thousand-year soul bone… a decoration?
The word wasn't wrong in isolation, but using it to describe something of this caliber—was His Excellency always this casually unconventional?
Zhu Zhuqing bit her lip, her bright eyes filled with emotion as she looked at Aether. Gratitude was practically overflowing from her gaze.
She would be lying if she said her heart wasn't moved. Any soul master knew exactly what a hundred-thousand-year soul bone meant.
And yet, what overwhelmed her wasn't the value of the gift, but the kindness behind it.
"Your Excellency, I… I'll definitely train hard!"
She couldn't find the right words to thank him properly. But this act of kindness—she carved it deep into her heart.
He'd treated her so well. She couldn't let him down. She would dedicate herself to becoming stronger, to helping shoulder his burdens in the future!
"Heh, good. Do your best, Zhuqing."
Aether chuckled lightly and gave her an encouraging smile.
This little cat girl looked so adorably moved~
"Go Zhuqing!"
Paimon joined in the cheering. The stronger her companions, the safer she felt. That was a lesson she'd long since learned in Teyvat.
"Mm~"
Zhu Zhuqing hugged the box tightly to her chest and nodded with firm resolve.
"My goodness~ if other soul masters find out that a rank-forty-something soul master has a hundred-thousand-year soul bone, even a Titled Douluo might get tempted~"
Yue Guan and Gui Mei sat nearby. Although they kept their eyes averted from Aether, they clearly heard everything.
Gui Mei lowered his head and murmured to Yue Guan beside him.
He couldn't lie—even he had a momentary flash of desire when he heard "hundred-thousand-year soul bone."
"Temptation is inevitable. But if anyone acts on it… whether they get the bone or not is one thing. What is guaranteed is that they'll lose their life."
Yue Guan gestured subtly toward Aether, who sat beside Zhu Zhuqing.
With someone like that present, even if it were a million-year soul bone, you'd need more than just desire—you'd need the ability to survive using it.
"R-right, I was out of line…"
Gui Mei nodded vigorously in agreement.
Wanting the bone was just about boosting one's combat strength.
But dying for it? What's the point of getting stronger if you're not even alive to use it?
"Huh? This one's a soul bone too."
Paimon's disappointed voice rang out again, catching their attention once more.
"Yeah, it's a skull—Medusa's."
Aether responded, gazing into the other box at the soul bone inside. A Medusa skull…
Where had he heard that before?
He tried hard to remember, but couldn't pin down anything specific from the scattered remnants of his memories.
Still, he was certain of one thing: the Medusa skull he had heard of before wasn't this one.
This one was another soul bone over a hundred thousand years old.
"Zhuqing, this one—"
Aether toyed with it for a moment but found it a bit boring, so he offered it toward Zhu Zhuqing as well.
But she immediately waved her hands and shook her head with respectful urgency.
"Your Excellency, I can't accept this one. I already have a soul bone. Keke doesn't have one yet—give it to her instead!"
"It's the same no matter who gets it."
"No, it's not. This one has to go to Keke…"
No matter what Aether said, Zhu Zhuqing refused.
Keke was still in the middle of absorbing her soul ring, but Zhu Zhuqing knew—there were only two soul bones. If she took them both, what would that make her?
Honestly, she felt even the one she had taken should've gone to Keke. After all, Keke held a far more special place in His Excellency's heart—far beyond what she could compare to.
But… he had given it to her. Forget it! Might as well accept it thick-skinned and be content with just one. She already felt guilty enough as it was—she couldn't take both!
"Alright then, let's leave this one for Keke."
Seeing Zhu Zhuqing's adamant refusal, Aether decided to hold onto it for Yu Keke.
"These soul bones are useless to me anyway. If I come across another in the future, I'll give it to you."
"Okay!"
Zhu Zhuqing chirped sweetly. She never doubted a word Aether said.
"Soul bones don't seem to have any restrictions based on soul power level. Since we've got time, why don't you go ahead and absorb the one you have? I heard soul bones even grant soul skills—I'm a bit curious to see that."
Aether recalled that soul bones offered massive benefits to soul masters. Since she already had one, it made no sense to delay.
And as far as he remembered, soul masters could absorb soul bones regardless of rank. Whether it was a thousand-year or a hundred-thousand-year bone, as long as you were a soul master, you could absorb it regardless of quality.
"Alright."
Zhu Zhuqing didn't hesitate. She took the box and moved to an open spot nearby. Sitting cross-legged, she calmed her mind and focused her spirit, adjusting herself into peak condition.
Then, she opened the box, took out the soul bone, activated her martial soul, and began guiding the bone's power into herself.
_
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