This soul beast's soul ring was somewhat different.
Lin Xiao could feel a chilling power within the soul ring, similar to that of the Evil Emperor he had just encountered, though much weaker.
He knew this was the power contained in the Evil Emperor's bloodline, the very power that all evil soul masters coveted. No wonder Zhongli Wu had said the soul beasts of the Evil Demon Forest were the most suitable for evil soul masters.
No matter what kind of martial soul one had, as long as it was related to evil soul masters, it could benefit from the Evil Emperor's bloodline.
Deep within the soul ring, there was another peculiar aura. Lin Xiao couldn't quite describe what it felt like, but he didn't find it repulsive, nor did it cause him any discomfort.
A low, guttural hiss sounded, as if it came from nearby or perhaps from deep within his mind. Having absorbed ten-thousand-year soul rings before, Lin Xiao knew this was the lingering consciousness of the soul beast within the ring.
But in the next moment, as a shadowy figure emerged from his body, the soul beast's voice quickly faded away.
Lin Xiao didn't open his eyes, but a faint smile curved his lips. He hadn't expected this to have such a remarkable effect.
His breathing gradually steadied, and the room fell silent, save for the vibrant Higanbana flowers blooming vividly on the soul beast's corpse…
The scorching summer sun poured down on the earth, yet many figures were still busy in the fields. It was the busy harvest season, and despite the intense heat, the crops had to be gathered.
Several adults bent over, their sickles swinging relentlessly, cutting down mature wheat stalks one by one. Behind them, a few young children followed, picking up scattered wheat ears.
Though it was hot, there was a hint of joy in the conversations among the group. Even the young children, who didn't yet fully understand, grinned widely, letting sweat drip from their foreheads.
"Grandpa—Ah Xiao—come quick—"
A voice called out from afar as a small figure ran along the path between the fields.
The rustling of wheat stalks drowned out the distant shout, and only the children at the back heard something.
"Grandpa, someone's calling you!" a child shouted, running a few steps to reach an elderly man.
The old man seemed to react only then, straightening up and gazing into the distance.
"What's that?" he called out.
"There are soul masters in the village!" the child's voice rang out loudly.
The shout was loud enough that several other adults nearby seemed to hear it, standing up one after another.
"Soul masters?" The old man's face showed a mix of surprise and doubt. "How could soul masters come to a remote place like ours?"
Though he was skeptical, the eyes of the children behind him lit up.
"Huff—huff—" The child from afar finally reached them, panting heavily. "Grandpa, hurry back to the village. The two soul masters are at the entrance, saying they're here to awaken martial souls for kids with talent."
"No rush, take your time," the old man said, patting the child's head and letting out a soft sigh. "Even if soul masters are passing through, how could people like us have the talent to become soul masters?"
As he spoke, the old man suddenly turned to look at a child behind him. "Right, Ah Xiao, you're not from the village. Maybe you really do have the talent to become a soul master. Want to give it a try?"
"I…" The child the old man was looking at froze for a moment before nodding eagerly.
"Sir, we were busy in the fields and came late."
"No matter."
At the village entrance, the two soul masters sat in the shade, hosted by the villagers. Two bowls of water sat on the table, but with no good tea available, the villagers had added some home-raised honey to give the water a bit of flavor.
The soul masters didn't even glance at the bowls. Some children watched from a distance, swallowing hard.
"We were just passing through and saw there was a village here, so we thought we'd check if there were any children with talent," one of the soul masters said.
"You're too kind, sir. Our ancestors here never had any talent. How could there suddenly be a child capable of becoming a soul master?" the old man said, bowing slightly with a polite smile.
"Who can say? Even a phoenix can rise from a chicken's nest," one of the soul masters said, glancing at the children behind the old man. "Is this the only child of suitable age?"
"Sir," the old man hurriedly pulled the child forward, "if there's any child in the village with a chance of becoming a soul master, it's him."
"Hm… what's his name?"
"Sir, his name is Lin Xiao."
"Hmph." The soul master in front of Lin Xiao suddenly let out a cold snort. For some reason, Lin Xiao sensed a trace of chill in the man's smile, and his heart trembled as if a voice were urging him to flee.
But as a five-year-old child, where could he run?
"Well, not bad," the soul master said.
The other soul master beside him stood up. "Elder, should we take him back?"
"Take him to headquarters. He seems quite spirited. Lord Holy Emperor will like him."
Elder, headquarters, Holy Emperor…
The terms spoken by the two men stirred another memory in Lin Xiao's mind.
When he realized what kind of world he had come to, he had been eagerly awaiting a chance to meet soul masters from the outside. As his sixth birthday approached, his desire to leave grew stronger.
But the soul masters he wanted to meet were definitely not like these.
"Elder, what about… the others?"
The soul master in front of Lin Xiao stood up, scanning the surroundings. "This place is so remote, you might not see outsiders for years."
"Yes, the village is quite isolated," the old man agreed, echoing the soul master.
"Don't worry, you'll all be free soon."
"Grandpa!" Lin Xiao sensed something and turned to run, but in the next moment, his body was lifted into the air, carried skyward by the soul master…
"Huff—"
Lin Xiao's eyes snapped open. The soul beast's corpse in front of him suddenly exploded, blood splattering across the stone room, yet leaving no stains. Only Higanbana flowers bloomed vividly throughout the room.
A faint, elegant fragrance reached his nose, and Lin Xiao's breathing gradually steadied.
Around him, six black ten-thousand-year soul rings pulsed rhythmically.
But Lin Xiao's thoughts weren't on the soul rings. He was slightly lost in thought.
Since breaking the restriction left by Nightmare Douluo, how long had it been since he last had a nightmare?
It had been quite some time. Without that restriction, Nightmare Douluo seemed unable to influence his dreams, and the memories he preferred not to recall had gradually been buried deep within him.
But now, those scenes resurfaced. Had he unknowingly been affected by Nightmare Douluo again? Or had seeing those people used as sacrifices stirred his memories…?