Chapter 246: The Soul Beast's Dilemma

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Leaving the room arranged for Ning Rongrong, Tang San spotted Gu Yuena eavesdropping in the corner, her head full of dark thoughts. "What are you doing here?" he asked.

Caught, Gu Yuena showed no embarrassment. Instead, she replied confidently, "Eavesdropping!"

Tang San was speechless, contemplating whether to expose her true identity. Their interactions were far from what one would expect between a fourteen-year-old boy and a six-year-old girl. Yet, considering her genius status, it was somewhat understandable that she had an eccentric personality and unconventional ways of speaking.

"Really?" Gu Yuena puffed up her chest with pride but then showed a hint of puzzlement. "Why did you suddenly give up?"

If this were the Soul Beast world, Gu Yuena was certain that no male soul beast could resist mating with a female soul beast if given the chance. Weaker males would even take advantage of a powerful male's absence or exhaustion to spread their own seed and continue their lineage.

When she was imprisoned at the auction house, she witnessed some human males forcibly take advantage of low-priced female slaves.

Tang San's restraint was indeed peculiar, especially given how close he was to succumbing. "Because of hypocrisy, perhaps," Tang San blurted out, then added thoughtfully, "and a small remnant of conscience?"

"Mostly, it's about controlling desire."

Tang San pointed to his head, explaining to Gu Yuena, "This is wisdom—the ability to control one's instincts and desires."

"Controlling desire is wisdom?" Gu Yuena pondered, recalling the few fierce beasts like Di Tian and Ice Emperor who could control their hunting urges. Others, like Xiong Jun, would consume numerous lesser soul beasts daily, not for cultivation but merely for appetite.

Despite being capable of sustaining themselves with the world's energy and even increasing their cultivation, these fierce beasts continued to hunt purely for pleasure.

Soul beasts over 100,000 years old were as wise as humans, if not more so, yet they couldn't surpass humans. Was it because they couldn't control their desires?

"Indeed, controlling desire is a sign of wisdom," Tang San continued, "Desires are necessary, but when they become excessive and deeply rooted, they cloud wisdom. Controlled desires become dreams, and if these dreams are for others, they become ideals."

Gu Yuena didn't fully understand but felt an inexplicable shock—this was humanity. Compared to humans, soul beasts, despite their physical and extraordinary strengths, lacked in many aspects.

How could soul beasts control their desires? Soul beasts under 100,000 years old were mostly simple-minded and couldn't possibly restrain their desires for hunting or reproduction.

For those over 100,000 years old, they didn't need to hunt to survive but still struggled to overcome their instincts after so many years.

At that moment, Gu Yuena saw the fate of soul beasts clearly—they were destined to be the nourishment for humans. This was the difference in wisdom!

How could soul beasts become the rulers of this world? Gu Yuena thought deeply and devised two plans.

First, destroy the God Realm. Although her body was still recovering from severe injuries, destroying a race without god-level strength wouldn't be too difficult. But how could she fight the God Realm? She had to create this avatar and hide her aura to avoid detection by the God Realm's divine forces.

Thus, this plan depended on the misfortune of the God Realm encountering some temporal disturbance. Otherwise, the God Realm's Asura God might descend to enforce the law and eradicate the fierce beasts of the Star Dou Forest.

Second, transform into a human. Even the Silver Dragon King had to admit that only by becoming human could soul beasts shed their beastly nature. The Soft Boned Rabbit Xiao Wu was a recent example of this.

However, a transformed soul beast was no longer a soul beast but a human with 100,000 years of cultivation. If they died before reaching maturity, they would still produce a 100,000-year soul ring and soul bone.

"Hey, what are you daydreaming about?" Seeing Gu Yuena's cute, serious face, Tang San waved his hand in front of her eyes. He then took her hand, led her to the room, changed her into pajamas, and tucked her into bed. "Time to sleep. Tomorrow, I'll teach you how to train."

"Wait." As Tang San was about to leave, Gu Yuena suddenly grabbed his finger. "Tell me a story, or I can't fall asleep."

"How did you fall asleep yesterday?" Tang San asked curiously.

"I read a story," Gu Yuena said, her large violet eyes crystal clear, making Tang San feel uneasy.

"Alright, I'll tell you the story of the Ugly Duckling," Tang San said, recalling a tale and adapting it for Gu Yuena. He narrated the story of a young, unattractive creature that grew up to become a beautiful jade swan.

Gu Yuena listened intently and remembered the appearance of young jade swans. Indeed, they were not as elegant and beautiful as adults. Reflecting on the day's lessons from others at the Silver Blue Manor, she asked, "Does this story mean that if we have confidence and aren't affected by others' words, we can stand out and become beautiful swans?"

"No, the story means you shouldn't worry about others or mock them. Just live your own life well," Tang San said, tucking Gu Yuena in again. "After all, a jade swan is born a jade swan."

"That makes so much sense..." Gu Yuena was stunned, feeling something was off but unable to pinpoint what. After all, Tang San wasn't wrong; a jade swan is born a jade swan, not a duck.

"Sleep now!"

Tucking her in one last time, Tang San wished her "Good night" and warned her not to eavesdrop outside his room again before returning to his study.

Before delving into the study of the Path of Blood and Qi with Xiao Wu and Guang Ling, he wanted to use the time before midnight to organize the information he had obtained from Fan Niu and Fan Ma's martial souls. He aimed to refine the details of the Jade Bone and Golden Skin Divine Technique.

Tang San then circulated his Qi and blood, causing the energy from his five organs to rise to his chest, spread throughout his body, and converge at his head, forming a protective canopy that shielded him from all harm.

Meanwhile, the energy from his six intestines sank to his feet, gathering into a black, swirling vortex that seemed capable of swallowing everything.

This gave Tang San a majestic presence, with the heavens above his head and the cycle of reincarnation beneath his feet.

"The five Qi protecting the body, forming an umbrella or bell shape, can be called the Five Emperors Canopy; the six Qi condensing and swallowing the void, forming the power of reincarnation, can be named the Six Paths of Reincarnation."

Having officially named these two divine abilities, Tang San thought, "However, for these abilities to truly live up to their names, I need to enhance my soul power and develop methods to harness the Qi of the five organs and six intestines."

The five Qi of the five organs correspond to the Five Emperors and Five Elements, which could evolve into five great divine abilities in the future!

The six Qi of the six intestines correspond to the Six Paths of Reincarnation, potentially evolving into true reincarnation divine abilities!

Unfortunately, while the ideas are beautiful, creating them will require a lot of time, possibly even hundreds or thousands of years. These abilities can't be conjured just by snapping my fingers, unlike the exaggerated skills in novels such as the "Five Emperors Great Magic" or "Six Paths of Reincarnation Fist."

Those novels never detailed the exact training methods either! Therefore, Tang San could only continue countless attempts in the future, possibly drawing on the collective wisdom of all beings to create similar divine techniques...

...

The next day, Tang San rose from bed and, after freshening up with Xiao Wu and Guang Ling, began their usual training and research.

Meanwhile, Ning Rongrong was yawning, her face full of resentment.

Last night, she had tossed and turned, unable to sleep. Eventually, she went to find Tang San, only to hear scandalous sounds of revelry from outside his room.

She hadn't expected Tang San to be telling the truth! However, this was something she could only think about in her head or complain about privately with Tang San. In a crowd, she would be too embarrassed to mention it.

After breakfast, Ning Rongrong announced she wouldn't leave immediately and planned to stay until Tang San went to Spirit City. Her reasons were to get more training advice from Tang San and Guang Ling, avoid her father's sect duties, and find a secondary occupation she truly enjoyed.

Tang San had no objections, and neither did Xiao Wu or Guang Ling. Lan Yinzi sighed inwardly, thinking she would have another daughter-in-law.

"Tang San, you said you'd teach me how to train," Gu Yuena approached Tang San's study as everyone began their tasks, tugging at his writing hand with a sweet, coaxing voice.

"Did I say that yesterday?" Tang San looked puzzled.

"You did!" Gu Yuena's big, watery eyes fixed on him, as if she would start crying if he refused.

"Alright, let's go practice in the backyard," Tang San said with a smile, standing up and calling Ling Meng, who was helping grind ink and organize the bookshelf.

The manor's backyard was a large open space, where many servants were trimming the lawn, watering, and fertilizing shrubs and flowers.

"Greetings, Lord Count!" The servants spoke in unison, clearly well-trained by the time they were sent by Emperor Xue Ye.

"Carry on with your work," Tang San nodded, leading Gu Yuena and Ling Meng to a nearby artificial lake...

(End of Chapter)