Wei Yang was comfortably lying on a rock outside his cave dwelling, basking in the sun.
Suddenly, he remembered something. «Right.»
With a flip of his hand, a simple black iron scroll appeared in his palm.
This was something he had exchanged for from a female mercenary when he first arrived in the Tagor Desert.
At that time, Wei Yang felt that the seemingly ordinary black iron scroll was quite mysterious, as it could devour soul power. He paid a considerable price to acquire it.
For this, Wei Yang even exchanged some low-level Xuan class techniques and Dou Skills he obtained from Mu She.
Some people criticized him for being wasteful and expressed their strong opinions about it.
Back then, Wei Yang had just broken through to Dou Ling, and his soul power was only comparable to an average Dou Huang. Despite expending a large portion of his soul power, he couldn't uncover the secrets within the black iron scroll, leading to it gathering dust in his storage ring for a long time.
Now, he had reached the rank of Dou Wang, and his soul power had also broken through to the late Mortal Realm.
Time to give it another try!
Wei Yang held the black iron scroll, his expression becoming serious.
A torrent of vast and majestic soul power surged from his brow, causing his clothes and long hair to flutter without wind.
The soul power flowed along his arm and into the black iron scroll in his palm.
A familiar feeling immediately came over him.
It was as if his soul power was being swallowed like a clay ox into the sea, disappearing without a trace into a bottomless abyss.
As time passed, Wei Yang's face turned somewhat pale.
Eventually, he had to stop the attempt reluctantly.
Looking down at the black iron scroll in his hand, his pitch-black eyes were filled with astonishment.
«Even the soul power of the late Mortal Realm is not enough?»
Such a vast amount of soul power poured into it, yet he couldn't reach its bottom.
He couldn't fathom the scroll's limits.
«Don't tell me it requires soul power at the Spiritual Realm?» Wei Yang murmured.
Then, he let out a long breath, shook his head helplessly, and put away the black iron scroll.
He decided to try again at the peak of the Mortal Realm. If that didn't work, he'd attempt it at the Spiritual Realm.
He refused to believe he couldn't open it.
…
Three days later.
A powerful aura fluctuation emanated from the closed room where Xian'er was in seclusion.
Wei Yang, who was reading a book outside the cave, immediately looked up.
«Xian'er, is she breaking through to Dou Wang?»
A smile appeared on Wei Yang's lips, and he couldn't help but feel a bit emotional.
The little girl from over three years ago was now about to become a Dou Wang.
The terrifying potential of the 'Disaster Poison Body.'
This was with Wei Yang constantly suppressing her, preventing her from breaking through too quickly. Otherwise, she might have reached Dou Zong by now.
A day later, the fluctuations gradually subsided.
Another three days passed, and there was no movement from the closed room. Xian'er still hadn't come out.
«Could something have gone wrong?» Wei Yang frowned, standing up and walking to the stone door of the closed room. He listened closely.
It was silent inside, with no sound at all.
«Xian'er?» Wei Yang knocked on the stone door.
«Ah~» A startled cry came from inside, followed by silence.
After a moment, a muffled voice, tinged with nervousness and sobbing, came from within, «Brother Yang, I-I'm fine. Don't come in.»
Wei Yang's frown deepened. Not going in? Nonsense!
Only a fool wouldn't go in at this moment.
Wei Yang pushed open the stone door and hurriedly stepped into the closed room.
«Xian'er.» With a sweep of his senses, Wei Yang knew her location and immediately looked over.
On a large mat, a small figure was curled up, wrapped entirely in a thin blanket.
Xian'er's trembling voice, filled with panic, came from under the blanket, «Brother Yang, don't come over.»
Wei Yang walked forward, squatted down, and gently patted the shivering figure under the blanket. Feeling her body tremble, he softly asked, «Xian'er, what's wrong?»
He carefully sensed her aura. She had indeed reached Dou Wang, and her aura was stable and restrained, without any signs of instability. It seemed her breakthrough hadn't gone wrong.
This reassured Wei Yang. As long as there was no problem with her breakthrough, it was fine.
He gently patted the trembling figure under the blanket and softly said, «Xian'er, what's wrong? Tell me.»
«Brother Yang, I… I look ugly now.» Xian'er's muffled voice, tinged with sobs, came from under the blanket.
«What???» Wei Yang was puzzled, his mind filled with question marks.
In the original work, the 'Disaster Poison Body' didn't make one ugly.
He reached out and lifted the blanket.
Instantly, snow-white hair cascaded down like a waterfall, reflecting in Wei Yang's eyes.
Xian'er looked up, her tear-streaked face looking pitifully at Wei Yang.
The snow-white hair added an unusual beauty to her already delicate features.
Wei Yang was momentarily stunned, then he smiled and said, «Xian'er, you haven't become ugly. In fact, you look even more beautiful.»
«R-really?» Xian'er's face brightened a bit, looking somewhat uncertain.
«Of course, I wouldn't lie to you.»
Wei Yang smiled, sat beside her, and pulled her into his arms, gently stroking her hair. He looked into her eyes and said, «You look beautiful. Where is the ugliness?»
Her fair skin and snow-white hair complemented each other perfectly.
Not only did it not detract from her looks, but it also added to her charm.
Seeing that Wei Yang was not lying, Xian'er's mood improved significantly.
Her biggest fear was Wei Yang finding her repulsive.
Blushing, Xian'er held a strand of her hair and whispered, «After breaking through to Dou Wang, I found my hair turned completely white. I can't change it back.»
«Silly girl, hair color isn't something you can change back at will. It has to do with your physique.»
Wei Yang explained, holding her hand and carefully sensing her condition. He asked, «How do you feel? Is your Dou Qi under control?»
After checking, he was relieved that there was no sign of the poison energy leaking from her body, indicating she was in control.
«My Dou Qi is fine. I can control it well.» Xian'er shook her head, frowning slightly, «It's just that my hair looks ugly. I hate it.»
Wei Yang patted her back and laughed, «How could it be ugly? You look great. To me, you are always the most beautiful.»
«Really?» Xian'er looked up with joy in her eyes, gazing at Wei Yang with a watery look.
No girl can resist the praise of her beloved.
The next moment, Wei Yang leaned in and kissed her lips.
«Mmm~» Her body trembled, tensing up, and then softened.
After a long while, they parted.
«Now do you believe me?» Wei Yang asked.
«Mm…» She nodded, snuggling into his arms.
…
Late at night.
At the old place on the mountaintop behind the Xiao family.
Wei Yang, shrouded in a black robe, stood straight with his hands behind his back, looking up at the bright moon in the night sky.
The cool night breeze blew, causing the tree branches to sway gently and making a rustling sound. It also lifted the hem of Wei Yang's robe slightly.
At this moment.
An old, transparent, and illusory figure, holding an ancient black ring, slowly floated over.
«Wei Yang, what do you need from this old man at such a late hour?» The old figure floated to Wei Yang's side and stopped, standing shoulder to shoulder with him.
He also looked up at the bright moon in the night sky, his eyes somewhat lost in thought, not knowing what he was thinking.
Moonlight poured down like water, covering both the old and young figures in a layer of pale silver.
Wei Yang remained silent, and the two of them quietly gazed at the bright moon.
(Chapter End)