Soul Land: Xiao Yan Reincarnates as Huo Yuhao

"What's this? How dare you speak to me that way? And call me a bug!" Tianmeng Ice Silkworm looked to the sky, irritation flashing in its beady eyes.

The space before the Ice Silkworm rippled, and a spectral figure emerged—a white-robed elder, his sleeves billowing and his face marked by age and wisdom, though tinged with fatigue.

"Quite the unwise cub you are! You're nothing but a worm with negligible combat strength. Anger me, and I might just pinch you to pieces, splattering your insides everywhere." The elder's voice thundered, echoing through Xiao Yan's spiritual sea, and the immense soul pressure forced Tianmeng to visibly flinch.

Even the once-dormant gray sphere shuddered in response, evidently wary of Yao Lao's presence.

Looking at his familiar and comforting face, Xiao Yan cupped his fists in respect, bowing. "Teacher, you came too?"

"Worried for you, naturally. These two forcibly entered your body, and I had to enter your spiritual realm to ensure your safety," Yao Lao explained, his gaze shifting to the Ice Silkworm and the floating gray sphere.

"You… I recognize you. You're Xiao Yan's mysterious teacher." Pulling from Xiao Yan's memories, Tianmeng's voice softened, revealing a hint of fear.

"Esteemed elder… I-I mean, sir," it stammered. "I'm Tianmeng Ice Silkworm. You can just call me Tianmeng. I really meant no harm; I already explained everything to Xiao Yan."

Hearing this, Yao Lao's tone softened slightly. "I heard your conversation with Xiao Yan, but I warn you—harbor any ill intentions, and your fate will be miserable."

The Ice Silkworm nodded emphatically, looking as docile as it could manage.

"Xiao Yan, see that gray sphere up there?" Yao Lao gestured toward the object, his voice low.

"Yes," Xiao Yan nodded, glancing at the gray sphere with a slight frown. "Teacher, it seems like it was drawn in by the surge of spirit energy when Tianmeng was merging with me. It feels like it's a soul remnant, albeit a powerful one."

"Do you think leaving it within me might cause some trouble in the future?"

Yao Lao replied, "Trouble? I can't say. While it's weak, its quality is extremely high. Given its presence in your spiritual sea and my weakened soul strength, I can't deal with it for now."

"But rest assured, if it ever tries anything, I'll protect you."

With that, Yao Lao's right hand turned, and the bone-white flame surged, compressing until it was the size of a thumb. Within this tiny white crystal, a faint, eerie flame flickered.

"Xiao Yan, I'll leave a shard of the Bone Spirit Cold Fire in your spiritual sea. It will remain dormant unless something threatens you, but if necessary, I can activate it to attack anything in here," Yao Lao said, glancing at the gray sphere.

As if hearing Yao Lao's words, the gray sphere began to shift and morphed into a ghostly figure of an elder. Dressed in a luxurious black robe adorned with golden runes, the figure was draped in a white cape. In his right hand was a staff, two meters taller than himself, composed of intertwined black, white, and gold metals. The top of the staff was crowned with a crystal carved into a skull, glistening white.

"I don't belong to this world. I vaguely remember dying, yet my soul was too powerful, and it tore through space at the last moment, allowing a remnant to survive and land in this realm. The surge of spirit energy from this big worm's fusion with you drew me here."

"To continue existing, I had to enter your spiritual sea. I mean you no harm. Over time, I hope to restore my memories, but for now, I recall only one thing: 'With hands that grasp the sun and moon, and the power to pluck stars, there is none like me in this world.'

"I think… my name was… Necromancer Sage, the Plague of the Undead, Elekse. Hahaha!"

With his laughter, the gray aura receded, like a tide, and the ghostly figure dissolved, leaving only the gray sphere floating in mid-air as everything returned to normal.

"With hands that grasp the sun and moon, and the power to pluck stars—what a bold declaration," Yao Lao murmured, stroking his beard thoughtfully, his mind briefly adrift. "This old fellow's story seems oddly familiar…"

"Teacher, this elder doesn't seem to have any ill intentions," Xiao Yan's voice broke into Yao Lao's thoughts.

"Xiao Yan, someone's approaching, likely for you. I'll return to the ring for now, and we can discuss this later." With a gentle pat on Xiao Yan's shoulder, Yao Lao turned into a wisp of white light, leaving the spiritual sea and returning to the ring.

The world around Xiao Yan grew blurry, and he felt himself spiraling into darkness, as if he were being pulled into a vast vortex.

…

"He's still not waking up?!" Tang Ya patted Xiao Yan's cheek, casting a questioning glance at Bei Bei.

Bei Bei chuckled softly. "I've checked his body; he's fine. His vital signs and soul energy are stable, and his power has even increased quite a bit since we last saw him. I'd say he successfully absorbed the Wind Baboon's spirit ring."

He glanced briefly at the fallen Wind Baboon's body.

"Really? The Wind Baboon? That ten-year spirit beast?" Tang Ya sighed, a little disappointed. "I was hoping this little brother might be a good fit for Tang Sect…"

At that moment, Xiao Yan groaned faintly, his eyes fluttering open.