**Chapter 84 The Transformation of the 100,000-Year-Old Soul Beast is Confirmed**
A fully innate soul power but with a reluctance to participate in the Soul Master Competition—the first thought that came to Gu Ziyi's mind was a 100,000-year-old Soul Beast choosing to transform into a human.
If a 100,000-year-old Soul Beast decided to follow the path of human transformation, it would be nearly impossible for it to take part in any Soul Master Competitions.
Only someone like Xiao Wu would be so foolish; even knowing she might get exposed, she would still go through with such a risky plan.
Usually, a Soul Beast with a 100,000-year cultivation that chooses the path of human transformation would avoid strong humans as much as possible before reaching maturity in their human form.
Any strong Title Douluo could see through their appearance with just a glance.
Of course, this doesn't include the nearly blind Dugu Bo from the original story.
Perhaps his vision was almost ruined by his own poison!
After developing some suspicions, Gu Ziyi immediately prepared to investigate.
If not, it would just be a waste of time. But if the other party was indeed a 100,000-year-old Soul Beast in human form, then he couldn't afford to miss the opportunity.
Even if a 100,000-year-old Soul Beast decided to become human, in essence, they were still Soul Beasts.
When they see human Soul Masters hunting Soul Beasts, their initial reaction would be one of anger.
In their hearts, deep down, humans were still outsiders.
One shouldn't be misled by how Ah Yin and Xiao Wu seem to like humans in the original story, mistakenly thinking they consider humans as equals. No, they only acknowledge the humans they like or are close to.
Therefore, in Gu Ziyi's mind, he didn't treat 100,000-year-old Soul Beasts as part of the same species, even those that opted for transformation.
In his eyes, a 100,000-year-old Soul Beast that chose to become human was a kind of treasure, nature's creation meant for those lucky enough to receive it.
Even if his group currently had no need for the Soul Ring of such beasts, a 100,000-year-old soul bone that every 100,000-year-old Soul Beast possessed was invaluable for everyone in his group.
Especially for Gu Ziyi, who didn't need any Soul Rings from Soul Beasts, the soul bone would be highly useful for crafting personalized talismans.
If, however, she turned out to be beautiful in her human form and shared the same loving mentality as Ah Yin and Xiao Wu, then even if she were a 100,000-year-old Soul Beast, it would be a good choice to bring her into his household.
Not only would it satisfy his curiosity about cross-species relationships, but he would also gain additional help.
"Big Sister, let's go to the Botanical Academy!"
After returning to Bibi Dong, Gu Ziyi spoke to her directly.
"What? You want to meet this Xiao Tao from the Botanical Team?"
"You're interested in this person? Just from hearing about her?"
Upon hearing Gu Ziyi's words, Bibi Dong suddenly glared at him in annoyance.
She had overheard her younger brother's conversation with those strangers a moment ago.
Since discovering her past this time, Bibi Dong discovered a different side of her younger brother, one that made her quite unhappy.
She found out that Gu Ziyi was as lustful as any other man.
He not only had a romantic relationship since his early years but was also close friends with his beautiful cousin.
While he watched the competition, Gu Ziyi paid more attention to the beautiful girls competing.
This discovery left her quite upset, but she had no valid reason to be angry with him. Gu Ziyi didn't belong to her.
Now hearing about a girl who seemed very promising, and he already wanted to meet her.
It seemed he didn't pay her any attention at all!
Isn't she beautiful? Isn't she enough for him?
She wanted to confront him, not believing Gu Ziyi couldn't feel her affection toward him.
Did she have to make the first move?
How could that happen!
"What are you thinking?"
Gu Ziyi smiled and patted Bibi Dong's head, then explained his intentions: "I suspect the student they were discussing is a 100,000-year-old Soul Beast who decided to transform into a human."
"What? A 100,000..."
The somewhat angry Bibi Dong nearly shouted in surprise upon hearing Gu Ziyi's words but managed to cover her mouth just in time.
Her beautiful eyes, however, remained wide open as she looked at him.
"She was born with full innate soul power but refused to participate in the Soul Master Competition. Why do you think that would happen?"
"Unless the person didn't dare to come, there's no Soul Master on the Douluo Continent who wouldn't want to participate in the Soul Master Competition." (N/E: Someone who didn't want to participate a few chapters ago is now saying this; it's quite contradictory.)
Gu Ziyi explained to Bibi Dong. She didn't respond but kept looking him straight in the eyes.
He knew she was hinting at him! (N/E: Even she noticed the contradiction.)
Isn't there someone like that standing right in front of you?
"…"
"Just tell me if my suspicion is justified."
Gu Ziyi ignored Bibi Dong's look and continued.
"Is it impossible to be born with fully innate soul power?"
Bibi Dong blinked. Although she thought his guess was plausible, she still couldn't quite believe it.
100,000-year-old Soul Beasts are indeed extremely rare and precious across the Douluo Continent.
On the other hand, one or two geniuses with completely full innate soul power occasionally appear among the general population.
"If that's a possibility, we can go take a look without any real loss!"
"If you don't want to go, you can stay and keep watching the matches. Senior Yu Long and I can go by ourselves."
Gu Ziyi said directly.
"Of course I want to go!"
Upon hearing her younger brother's words, Bibi Dong quickly changed her tone.
If Gu Ziyi's guess was true, then finding a human transformed from a 100,000-year-old Soul Beast would be far more interesting than watching these matches.
"Then let's hurry; the sooner, the better!"
Gu Ziyi immediately took Bibi Dong out of the Soul Master Competition arena and then signaled to Li Chanfei and Yu Long, who were protecting them in secret, to come directly to them.
When they arrived, he began explaining his suspicion to Li Chanfei and Yu Long, who were also surprised by his bold guess.
Though Gu Ziyi's suspicion seemed reasonable, both had the same reaction as Bibi Dong, finding it hard to believe it could be true.
Yet, wherever the two disciples of the Pope went, they had to follow.
The Botanical Academy wasn't a dangerous place.
No matter if it was true or not, their primary mission was to protect Gu Ziyi and Bibi Dong.
Three days later, Gu Ziyi's group arrived at the Botanical Academy without any issues; the academy only recruited students with plant-based martial souls.
He then asked Li Chanfei to discreetly enter and locate the person they were searching for.
Outsiders were not permitted into the Botanical Academy, so they had to sneak in.
With Gu Ziyi's Invisibility Talisman, he and Li Chanfei entered the academy effortlessly, moving stealthily.
As long as they didn't use soul abilities or exert much soul power at once, they would remain invisible due to the talisman's effect.
After some searching, they finally encountered the girl named Xiao Tao on the Botanical Academy campus.
She had dark red hair tied up in twin tails, which was quite attractive.
Buzz—
Upon seeing his target, Gu Ziyi didn't focus much on her appearance. He only noticed that she was beautiful.
Instead, he concentrated his mental power, guiding it toward his eyes.
After absorbing the immortal herb "Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew," Gu Ziyi realized his eyes had evolved, though he wasn't sure if he could see through the true form of a 100,000-year-old Soul Beast in human form.
He just wanted to test it out.
If he couldn't see through her, he would need to confirm her identity by other methods.
That would be more troublesome, or he could simply ask a Title Douluo to come and verify his suspicions.
But in the next moment, as Gu Ziyi focused on examining the girl intently, he knew he wouldn't have to worry.
Because, through his eyes, the girl named Xiao Tao had taken on a different appearance.
Gu Ziyi could vaguely see the shadow of a peach tree overlaying her human form—a peach tree called the "Flame Heart Peach Tree."
'Indeed, she's a transformed 100,000-year-old Soul Beast!'
Gu Ziyi's heart surged with shock at the confirmation.
…
(End of chapter)
N/E: My dear readers, you have noticed for some time now that I have not been responding to your comments. I want to apologize for my rudeness, but my schedule is so busy that I have little time to respond. And I am often lazy, so I apologize for not responding, but I am always reading your comments, so I really appreciate your comments and don't worry about what you comment, thank you for understanding.
--