Chapter 152: Ah Yin
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After spending a little time doting on Qian Renxue, Jiang Bai left the study.
He walked slowly back to his bedchamber, pushed the door open, and casually closed it behind him.
Jiang Li’er had not followed him; she remained immersed in the eclectic assortment of storybooks and novels found within Qian Renxue’s study.
Jiang Bai sat cross-legged on the soft carpet and closed his eyes.
His consciousness sank into the world within the tower.
Light and shadow swirled around him.
When he opened his eyes again, Jiang Bai found himself standing in a world teeming with vibrant life.
A figure clad in ice-blue robes came flying toward him at high speed, landing right by his side.
The Ice Empress.
She was still clad in a long, emerald-green gown, her long hair tied back in twin ponytails; her countenance remained exquisitely beautiful, yet cool and aloof.
"Jiang Bai!"
She spoke, her voice still crisp and clear, though now tinged with a hint of familiarity: "Where on earth did you find the Blue Silver Emperor?"
The Ice Empress crossed her arms over her chest and tilted her chin toward the direction of the Eye of Ice and Fire: "Why do I get the feeling she’s never had a full meal in her life?"
Jiang Bai blinked in surprise at her words: "I picked her up in a cave. Why? What’s the matter?"
"Look."
The Ice Empress gestured with her eyes.
Jiang Bai followed her gaze.
There, beside the Eye of Ice and Fire, the Blue Silver Emperor—which had previously stood only half a person’s height—had now more than doubled in size!
The plant, which had originally reached only to a person’s waist, now towered above the height of a full-grown man. The golden veins coursing through its leaves appeared even more vivid and intense, resembling molten gold flowing within them.
Even more astonishing was the sight surrounding it: within a radius of three meters centered on the Blue Silver Emperor—an area that had previously been nothing but bare earth save for the rare immortal herbs—the ground was now completely overgrown with Blue Silver Grass!
It grew in dense, overlapping layers, swaying gently in the breeze like a vast, azure ocean.
It was a scene of surging vitality, where all forms of life vied with one another in a magnificent display of growth!
The corner of Jiang Bai’s mouth twitched slightly.
How long had he even been inside? The Ice Empress, standing to the side, spoke in a low, wistful tone: "You have no idea. When she first arrived, she was like a starving ghost reincarnated—her root system grew wildly, absorbing Soul Power with a frenzied intensity. Then, those Blue Silver Grass blades began sprouting up one after another, shooting out of the ground like bamboo shoots after a spring rain."
She paused, a hint of complex emotion in her voice: "It’s the first time I’ve ever seen a Soul Beast with such explosive growth."
Jiang Bai: "..."
He decided not to dwell on that particular issue for the moment.
"How has your cultivation been going lately?"
At his question, the expression on the Ice Empress’s face finally became a bit more animated. The corners of her lips curled upward slightly, tinged with a touch of smugness: "Very well! With Tianmeng acting as our personal ’power bank,’ our cultivation speed has increased significantly compared to before!"
She paused again, a flicker of excitement flashing in her eyes: "It won’t be long now before I should be able to break through the 500,000-year mark!"
Jiang Bai nodded and gave her a thumbs-up: "Then keep up the good work!"
In high spirits, the Ice Empress patted him on the shoulder: "Don’t worry—once I break through, I’ll definitely look out for you!"
Jiang Bai chuckled softly.
Look out for him?
He was now a newly ascended Titled Douluo, boasting eight 100,000-year Soul Rings plus a little golden dragon—did he really still need someone to look out for him?
However, he kept those thoughts to himself.
After all... he appreciated the Ice Empress’s good intentions.
"I’m going to go check on that Blue Silver Emperor now."
The Ice Empress nodded; without lingering any longer, her figure flashed, and she returned to the Snow Empress’s side.
Jiang Bai took a deep breath. With a shift of his will, his figure instantly vanished from where he stood.
The very next second, he reappeared beside that exceptionally tall and dazzling Blue Silver Emperor.
Its leaves were broad and thick, with brilliant golden patterns flowing through their veins. Every single leaf trembled slightly, as if it were breathing.
A radiant blue-gold light surged forth from within the Blue Silver Emperor!
The light was soft and warm, enveloping the entire plant like a sheer veil.
The light gradually condensed and rose upward, eventually coalescing into a figure—ethereal yet remarkably distinct.
It was a woman. She appeared to be roughly thirty years of age, tall and slender, with a gentle and refined demeanor.
A cascade of long, blue-gold hair tumbled down like a waterfall, its tips adorned with faint specks of golden starlight.
Her face was exquisitely beautiful, yet devoid of any harshness; instead, it radiated a soothing blend of tenderness and tranquility.
Her deep-blue eyes, like the purest of sapphires, were utterly flawless—without a single trace of impurity.
She gazed at Jiang Bai, her eyes holding a mix of curiosity, wariness, and a certain... indescribable complexity.
A long, blue-gold gown draped over her entire form, its hem embroidered with golden threads that shimmered like a flowing river of stars.
Ah Yin.
The soul form of the Blue Silver Emperor following her transformation into human guise.
She possessed no physical body—only a soul. Yet, even as a mere soul form, her beauty was breathtaking.
That gentle, fluid grace of a young matron—combined with the serenity and resilience born of having weathered the storms of life—imbued her entire being with a unique and captivating aura.
Jiang Bai cast a glance at her.
Hmm, she really is quite beautiful.
Then, his gaze lingered upon her; he took a few extra moments to admire her.
It wasn’t that he was lecherous—it was simply... an appreciation for beautiful things. That, after all, is only human nature.
For a beauty of Ah Yin’s caliber was a rarity indeed—a true phoenix among hens—even across the vast expanse of the Douluo Continent.
That gentle, fluid grace—that serenity and resilience born of life’s hardships—was enough to stir a sense of tender protectiveness in the heart of any man.
Ah Yin, too, was sizing up Jiang Bai.
The young man who had forcibly transplanted her here now stood directly before her, his gaze lingering upon her form with utterly undisguised intent.
Lecherous.
That was Ah Yin’s very first impression of him.
At the same time, she was rapidly assessing her current predicament.
This place... it truly was a wonderful spot.
The spiritual energy here was so incredibly dense as to be almost unreal.
In this environment, her roots could stretch out unhindered, and her leaves could unfurl to their heart’s content.
No longer was she forced to huddle within that dark, damp cave, waiting day after day for a person who might never appear.
And yet...
She had been transplanted here by force!
Moreover, the man standing before her had even taken her Soul Bone!
The very Soul Bone she had intended to leave to her son!
Although she did not know where her son was now, or whether he was doing well, that Soul Bone was the only thing she could leave to him—the sole memento left to her, an unfit mother.
But now, the Soul Bone was gone.
And the man standing before her... didn’t look like the type who would voluntarily return it.
Ah Yin sighed inwardly.
Brother Hao... where are you right now? Do you know that Ah Yin has been captured? Do you know that Ah Yin’s Soul Bone has been taken?
Will you... still come looking for me?
She didn’t know; the only thing she knew was that, for now, she had to rely on herself.
After a long silence, Ah Yin finally spoke first.
Her voice was gentle and clear, like spring water flowing through a mountain stream, carrying a soothing softness that put one at ease: "I am the Blue Silver Emperor... You may call me Ah Yin."
She paused, then asked, "How should I address you?"
"Jiang Bai."
Ah Yin nodded and continued, "I heard those seniors mention... that this place—is it the world contained within your Martial Soul?"
"Mm."
The corner of Ah Yin’s eye twitched slightly.
This man... was he stingy with his words?
She took a deep breath, suppressing the complex emotions swirling within her, and decided to cut straight to the chase.
She asked, "Do you... know Tang Hao of the Clear Sky Sect?"
Jiang Bai nodded.
Seeing this, Ah Yin’s beautiful eyes instantly lit up!
On her gentle face, an irrepressible joy surfaced: "That’s wonderful!"
Her voice grew noticeably lighter: "You might not believe it, but although I am a Soul Beast, I am actually... his wife. I know that unions between humans and Soul Beasts are not accepted on this continent, but I..."
Jiang Bai looked at her, his expression calm: "I believe you."
Ah Yin was slightly taken aback.
She had prepared a whole host of explanations, but she had barely begun when those two simple words cut her off.
"You... You believe me?"
Jiang Bai nodded, his tone as flat as if he were remarking on the pleasant weather: "Are you hoping I can help you find Tang Hao?"
Ah Yin nodded blankly.
She couldn’t shake the feeling that... something wasn’t quite right.
Yet, she couldn’t quite put her finger on what it was.
...