"So that's how it works…"
Unlike Yan, Aether merely gave a slight nod after listening to Yue Guan's explanation.
This Spirit Marrow certainly sounded like a rare treasure—its mysterious uses for the martial soul seemed comparable to the elemental power he could freely condense. Still, its actual effects remained to be seen.
With that thought in mind, Aether's grip on the stone tightened slightly. The rock crumbled like flour, dispersing into dust and revealing the Spirit Marrow hidden within.
"This… This is already a partially-formed Spirit Marrow!"
Even Yue Guan, a Titled Douluo, couldn't keep his composure. His eyes lit up as he stared at the crescent-shaped, faintly glowing marrow in Aether's hand.
Typical Spirit Marrow resembled a droplet of water and required special containers to prevent its energy from dissipating into the air—wasting such a treasure would be a tragedy.
But what Aether held… glowed with an innate aura, its surface covered in a protective membrane-like shell. Even without a special container, not a wisp of energy leaked from it.
If left to slowly absorb the ambient spiritual energy over time, this could even evolve into Divine Marrow—a legendary treasure said to aid even the gods!
"My lord, please take good care of that Spirit Marrow. Do not let the aura layer rupture—it's a treasure rarely seen in this world!"
Yue Guan warned urgently.
He was envious—how could he not be? But he also knew exactly who stood before him. Trying to snatch something from this person would be pure lunacy.
"Keke, Zhuqing. Come here."
Aether nodded and beckoned to Yu Keke and Zhu Zhuqing.
The two obediently walked up. Without hesitation, Aether poked a small hole in the glowing aura. A thick, crystalline drop of Spirit Marrow oozed out, suspended in his palm.
"Uh… how do you even use this?"
He tilted his head. The glowing drop hovered over his hand, and only now did Aether realize he had no idea how to apply it. Naturally, he looked back at Yue Guan.
"…!!!"
When Aether punctured the aura, Yue Guan had instinctively reached out to stop him. But his hand froze midair as he watched the marrow drip out—like a dagger cutting straight into his heart.
"My lord, you… ah…"
His lips twitched. He wanted to say more, but ultimately, it wasn't his place. This treasure belonged to Aether. He could use—or waste—it however he pleased.
"My lord, Spirit Marrow is generally used on the martial soul. Just drip it onto the soul itself."
Despite the aching pain in his heart at seeing this partially-formed Divine Marrow squandered, Yue Guan still explained its use.
"Here—you two try it."
Aether drew out another two drops from the aura and handed them to Yu Keke and Zhu Zhuqing.
The two girls had heard Yue Guan's explanation. They immediately activated their martial souls.
Zhu Zhuqing summoned her Nether Spirit Cat, while Yu Keke's body martial soul activated within herself, without external manifestation.
Zhu Zhuqing dripped the Spirit Marrow onto her martial soul. Her summoned cat twitched—its deep, mysterious eyes suddenly filled with hunger.
It opened Its small mouth and gulped the droplet down in one bite.
Hum~
Zhu Zhuqing's soul rings surged upward uncontrollably—yellow, yellow, and purple. Her martial soul vanished from her hands and instead merged into her body.
A whirl of soul power burst around her. The phenomenon immediately drew attention, but the head guard reacted instantly.
Without delay, he summoned two teams of guards, encircling them and securing the area.
Hoo…
Moments later, Zhu Zhuqing's soul power settled. Though no visible changes had occurred, she could feel it—her martial soul was on the verge of metamorphosis.
She just needed a tiny nudge… one final push.
"This girl's soul power increased by two full ranks just from a single drop of Spirit Marrow. And that's only the visible part—the hidden gains are even greater…"
Yue Guan's lips twitched as he glanced at Zhu Zhuqing, eyes tinged with envy.
Yan, who'd been silently watching, stared at the marrow in Aether's hand like it was pure gold—that could've been mine!
"Lord Aether, I've already reached level forty-one!"
Zhu Zhuqing quickly shared her experience and advancement, then looked at Yu Keke with a reassuring smile.
"Not bad. Looks like this stuff actually works. Keke, your turn."
Aether nodded and dropped another glimmering bead of marrow onto Yu Keke's forehead.
Hum—
The marrow sank into her body, and her two soul rings erupted in brilliant violet light.
"!!"
"P-purple soul rings! Both of them are purple!"
As Yu Keke's rings emerged, Yue Guan, Hu Liena, and Yan all widened their eyes in disbelief.
They'd seen purple rings before—of course they had.
But both the first and second rings being purple?! That was insane!
This adorable little loli… how did she even absorb rings like that?!
"She's a damn monster…"
Yan muttered, stunned by the sight of her dual purple rings.
"You still want to challenge that man?"
Hu Liena's eyes flickered as she glanced secretly at Aether, then casually stabbed another verbal dagger into Yan's heart.
"N-Nana, what do you mean?"
Yan's mind was still reeling.
"That girl—Yu Keke—do you think she's strong?"
"…I don't want to admit it, but she's the most gifted soul master I've ever seen. Not even close. Her first and second rings are purple—who knows what she'll become if she matures properly…"
"Then let me tell you—she only has that kind of potential because she followed him. Do you get it now?"
"…"
Hu Liena's voice was soft, but her words landed like a mountain crashing down on Yan's heart.
Thinking back to how Elder Chrysanthemum had treated Aether with overwhelming respect, and what Hu Liena just said, even the dimmest fool could now grasp the truth.
To raise someone like that… just what kind of terrifying being was this seemingly soul-less youth?
Everything clicked. Yan's throat went dry. As he looked at the boy—whom even the venerable Elder Chrysanthemum deferred to—cold sweat poured down his forehead.
No wonder Nana called him an idiot. Without even realizing it, he'd already walked several steps through the gates of death…
He subconsciously took two steps back, trying to hide behind Yue Guan's broad frame.
Only then did the suffocating fear in his heart ease—just a little.
_
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