Ignoring the regretful gazes of passersby and the curious individuals who wanted to inquire further, Su Cheng, along with Ah Yin, quickly departed the scene after leaving ten gold soul coins as thanks.
Next, he would seek the promotion of the Blue Silver King to Soul King.
"How have you been feeling these days, living alone in Tian Dou City?" Su Cheng asked.
Ah Yin fell silent at Su Cheng's question.
Naturally, Su Cheng didn't throw her into the world without preparation, and he had provided her with plenty of gold soul coins. However, unfortunately, it didn't take long before she was swindled clean.
In a place like Tian Dou City, aside from the elite at the top of the pyramid, no one dared to easily resort to robbery. However, those high-level powerhouses wouldn't care about a few gold soul coins. But if they couldn't steal, couldn't they deceive?
After observing for a while, some people noticed that this overly beautiful woman often spent money to help ordinary people. They noticed her frequent purchases from the slave market, buying some seemingly "pitiful" slaves and then setting them free. Thus, they came up with the guise of a "Slave Children Rescue Organization" and swindled her out of hundreds of gold soul coins. By the time she realized it, those people had vanished without a trace.
Luckily, Ah Yin didn't need to eat; she could sustain herself by instinctively absorbing the essence of plants and trees, otherwise, she might have returned to her soul state and entered the Eternal Sword long ago.
However, these events clearly took a toll on her, but she felt embarrassed to complain to Su Cheng.
With no money left, she didn't know what she could do and could only aimlessly wander the streets.
Eventually, she was taken in by a kind-hearted woman from a fruit shop who mistook her for a homeless person.
Such people were not uncommon in Tian Dou City. Every day, countless people became wealthy in this imperial city, but just as many fell into poverty overnight.
However, inadvertently, this experience turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Within this shop, she encountered numerous ordinary people and matured a lot.
"Come on, tell me what you've been through these past few days. It looks like you've faced quite a few setbacks."
Ah Yin remained silent at her prompting.
Seeing her lack of response, Su Cheng chuckled lightly. "My silly sister, I suppose you've spent all the money I gave you by now, haven't you?"
Ah Yin raised her head to speak but couldn't find the words. She realized she couldn't argue back and lowered her head again.
"Heh, money moves people's hearts," Su Cheng glanced at her and knew he was right.
However, a hundred gold soul coins meant nothing to him, regardless of the reason, he couldn't be bothered to pursue it further.
Then, he looked ahead, speaking intentionally or unintentionally, "These are just a few gold soul coins. Compared to a hundred thousand-year soul beast, how much value do you think they hold?"
Ah Yin was startled by his words, glancing at Su Cheng before turning her head away, remaining silent.
"After experiencing all this, if you were to return to wandering the world aimlessly as you did before the sacrifice ceremony, would you still dare?"
She still didn't speak.
The answer was no.
But Su Cheng wasn't ready to let her off so easily, continuing to question, "So, in your heart, what is more important: the safety of your loved ones or your dream of exploring the world? By the way, do you know how old Tang Hao was back then? Even someone of my age understands these principles, wouldn't Tang Hao?"
Then, he glanced at Ah Yin, who had been silent the whole way, adding, "But compared to your age, you're probably just a little kid, heh."
"Su Cheng!" Ah Yin glared at him indignantly.
The last sentence was a bit too much.
In the world of soul beasts, age wasn't calculated like this. After transforming, they were reborn as humans, so it was natural to calculate age in human years.
"Ah Yin, have you ever thought that Tang Hao has already gotten used to it?"
Ignoring her anger, Su Cheng continued walking and speaking.
"He's used to your adventures, your sacrifices, your silent presence following behind them?"
She still didn't respond.
"Then, when you made your final sacrifice, what were you seeking? Were you hoping for his regret? Hoping he would realize the value? Or simply hoping they would survive?"
These words stirred up a whirlwind of thoughts in Ah Yin's mind.
At that time, she hadn't thought about these things.
"Is regret after loss of any use? However, I can tell you, Tang Hao does regret deeply. He spends his days drowning in alcohol, like a broken man. Perhaps over the years, he has thought more than once that he should not have let you sacrifice yourself. Of course, maybe it's just wishful thinking."
"Please stop..." Ah Yin shook her head, her face pale, looking at Su Cheng with pleading and confusion in her eyes.
Whether it was due to heartache or fear, she didn't feel any joy, anger, or worry after hearing these words.
Su Cheng looked ahead without looking at her.
"Do you know, if I hadn't appeared, you might have had a chance to be resurrected someday. Tang Hao's 'son' is not simple; he knows a lot and would have treated you as his own parents."
He paused, turning to gaze at Ah Yin's bewildered and helpless eyes.
"Ah Yin, if mistakes could be rectified, could they be forgiven?"
Ah Yin's face was pale, her lips devoid of color.
"Everyone makes mistakes; it's not shameful. But sometimes, the reasons for the mistakes are shameful."
Su Cheng said lightly, "Ask yourself these questions; I can't provide the answers."
After leaving the city, Su Cheng looked at Ah Yin.
"Let's go, find the Blue Silver King, and don't forget your promise."
Ah Yin sighed silently, temporarily setting aside her jumbled thoughts.
The calm sea in her heart, which had finally settled down these past few days, was once again stirred up by Su Cheng's words.
After thinking for a moment, she pointed in a direction.
Then she spoke softly, "If you can't succeed, you can't hurt them either."
She knew Su Cheng's purpose for this journey, but she wasn't optimistic.
This wasn't underestimating Su Cheng.
To be honest, Ah Yin, aside from Su Cheng himself, understood his true strength the most.
But she also understood the situation of the Blue Silver Grass clan.
For someone like Su Cheng, who possessed a sword martial soul, the Blue Silver Grass Forest couldn't possibly be of much help, even with the Five Elements Domain.
"Don't worry, there are plenty of soul beasts in the world, and I don't need to focus on a single Blue Silver Grass." Su Cheng said frankly.
But seeing Ah Yin's worried expression, he couldn't help but sneer.
"However, your mentality of all soul beasts being one family is a bit laughable.
"Humans hunting soul beasts is just like wolves hunting rabbits or sheep eating grass; it's the law of the jungle, survival of the fittest. Even among soul beasts, there's no peace; territorial disputes, strength competitions, and struggles for food are common.
"Don't talk as if there are only two factions in the world: humans and soul beasts. Even among your soul beasts, don't herbivorous Soft Boned Rabbits feed on your Blue Silver Grass?
"If we have to categorize, it's more accurate to say that creatures with consciousness and true self-awareness belong to one faction."
Ah Yin was stunned, looking at Su Cheng with amazement.
It was the first time she had heard such a view.
"But I never pity soul beasts, and if a transformed soul beast deserves to be killed, I will kill it without hesitation."
Su Cheng grinned, revealing his gleaming white teeth.
A chill ran down Ah Yin's spine.
Su Cheng continued, "However, ask yourself, these are questions I can't answer."
Immediately, he turned back with a furious look and shouted, "Then why did you just say those pompous words?"
"Joke, why did you come to ask me about this?" Su Cheng smirked, a cruel light flashing in his eyes.
"This world is like this. Do you think I want to obtain soul rings by hunting soul beasts? This method of promotion disgusts me.
"I don't even want to eat Spirit Grass. If it weren't for the bottleneck in leveling up, why would I bother hunting soul beasts to help myself advance?
"This has nothing to do with factions.
"To be honest with you, if the way for soul masters to advance was to kill and take rings, I would still not hesitate to do what needs to be done."
"... " This speech left A Yin standing dumbfounded, speechless for a moment.
Su Cheng snorted coldly, "In my opinion, the way people rely on soul beasts and soul rings for advancement is not reasonable.
"The relationship between the two is not a normal cycle of nature, but rather seems like some special will imposed on this world's rules. But for me now, resisting is futile.
"You'd better pray that this time I can succeed and find a way to advance naturally without hunting soul beasts."
Upon hearing this, Ah Yin felt a shiver of fear and asked in a hoarse voice, "Is this why you want to go to the Blue Silver Grass Forest, not just to condense the fifth soul ring?"
"What do you think?" Su Cheng turned around and headed in the direction Ah Yin had just pointed to.
Watching his figure, Ah Yin couldn't help but mutter softly in her heart, "Su Cheng, what kind of person are you..."
Several hours later, Su Cheng followed Ah Yin to an unknown forest.
Before Ah Yin could speak, he keenly sensed the strange and harmonious environment around him.
Like a domain, but higher than a domain.
If one had to describe it, it was like a fragmentary alternative world.
Su Cheng immediately closed his eyes.
The Five Elements Domain spread out, the vertical lines on his forehead flickering.
Blue Silver Grass, a plant as common as weeds in the Douluo Continent, was abundant here, with no other common weeds in sight.
As Su Cheng gradually immersed himself in this world, the dormant Blue Silver Emperor soul bone in his right leg suddenly began to emit a faint blue light.
Standing beside him, Ah Yin also took a deep breath.
Her feelings at this moment were much deeper than Su Cheng's, her gentle eyes filled with nostalgia and affection.
Here, all of this had once been her people, and they all regarded themselves as a mother.
Even though her body no longer possessed the true bloodline of the Blue Silver Emperor, she still felt the connection as if blood were flowing.
The forest exuded a strong sense of attachment.
Like a wanderer who had been away from home for many years, finally returning to the embrace of his mother.
Resentment, gratitude, surprise, nostalgia...
Countless emotions silently poured out to her.
With the help of Ah Yin, one of the axes of the Five Elements Domain, Su Cheng soon merged with this small world.
At this moment, a voice suddenly rang out in his mind without warning.
"King, great King, is it really you? You have finally come to me, thank the heavens..."
These words were addressed to Su Cheng but also to Ah Yin standing beside him.
In the previously peaceful and distant small world, there suddenly arose a strong spiritual force entangling with Su Cheng.
"King, please come to me. Can you?" The voice seemed even more eager, tinged with intense longing.
Su Cheng didn't hesitate, he got up and rushed directly into the forest.
Ah Yin was surprised at this moment.
She thought that she needed to be the link between them to connect their spiritual forces, but she didn't expect Su Cheng to directly sense the call of the Blue Silver King.
Entering the forest, Su Cheng leaped up and quickly moved forward in the direction of the spiritual pull.
Wherever he passed, the Blue Silver Grass on the ground seemed to cheer excitedly, swaying rhythmically as if dancing happily for his arrival.
The size of the forest was not large, but the plants here looked very ancient, as if they had experienced countless years.
Towering ancient trees pierced the sky, and even the sun's rays had difficulty penetrating through the dense vegetation.
After a half-hour of rapid travel, the spiritual force connected to him became exceptionally clear.
"King, I'm here." The spiritual call appeared again, with excitement mixed with a hint of nervousness.
Passing through two ancient trees that required several people to hug, the enormous Blue Silver King's main body appeared in front of Su Cheng.
Long vines climbed up, tangled until about ten meters high, seeming to be composed of countless vines. Each vine was as thick as a human waist, with a diameter of over a foot.
It shimmered with a crystal-clear blue light, and the Blue Silver Grass around it grew exceptionally lush.
In the center of the vines, there was even a face-like mark, showing a clear smile.
An extremely powerful aura was released without reservation. From the center of that face, a strong spiritual fluctuation spewed out, swirling around Su Cheng's body in a joyful rhythm.
"Blue Silver King?" Su Cheng stared at the huge vine in front of him.
"King, you've finally come." The face in the center of the vines opened its mouth, speaking human words.
"Your Majesty is here."
He seemed somewhat incredulous at the scene before him.
Before, Ah Yin's aura seemed uncertain, but now, it sensed a very clear Blue Silver Emperor aura from Su Cheng.
But after careful sensing, two drops of blue liquid flowed from the eyes of the face.
Immediately, extreme anger followed.
A high and painful roar pierced the sky.
Even though it was as gentle as it, it also had an untouchable scale!
"Who?! Who made you suffer such hardship!"
Su Cheng felt the terrifying mental pressure beside him, his expression slightly solemn.
Although this strong and condensed hostility was not directed at him, the feeling of being against the world, even with just a slight touch, was uncomfortable.
But he didn't feel too much fear in his heart.
It wasn't because he trusted Ah Yin, but because he was confident that he could break free from here.
In this small world, the Blue Silver King's strength was indeed far superior to his.
But to keep him here was still far from enough.
The Blue Silver King's killing methods were limited, strong in spiritual power and restraint.
However, these were precisely restrained by his True Sight Pupil, which could help him break through the encirclement.
Watching the tears drop from the Blue Silver King's eyes and the extreme anger on its face, Ah Yin also felt touched.
Perhaps she had been too narrow-minded in the past.
Trapped in human emotions, she completely forgot her identity and responsibilities, forgetting the loyal subjects who always missed her.
Shaking her head, she said softly, "All that has passed, you don't have to worry about it, and I have let it go. Besides, Su Cheng will help me truly revive in the future."
Then she turned to Su Cheng, "Isn't that right?"
Ah Yin's gaze was as sincere as a child's, without any hint of threat.
She was never the type to threaten others.
Although they had spent a considerable amount of time together, the experiences during this period were vivid in her mind. During these days, Su Cheng had never deceived her.
Upon hearing this, Su Cheng turned to look at Ah Yin.
His eyes flickered slightly, and after a moment, he said in a deep voice, "I cannot guarantee. But I will try my best."
"That's enough." A smile appeared on Ah Yin's face.
Turning back to the enormous Blue Silver King in front of her, she said solemnly, "Help him undergo the awakening ceremony."