BLUE SLIVER LOVE (Soul Land 1) •Rewrite•

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Chapter 14; Intuition.

Tang San’s mind churned with thoughts of the reality of his situation. Though he had been reborn into the Doulou Dalu Continent, much of it was still unfamiliar territory to him.

Thus he had learned to keep the knowledge of his past life to himself, but it didn’t stop him from piecing together new information and testing his theories whenever he could. The reactions of Xiao Wu and Ling Lixue to the mention of soul beasts only deepened his curiosity.

Sitting up straighter, he raised his hand, his eyes focused on the teacher in front. “Master Lu, I have a question,” he said with a steady yet thoughtful voice. The classroom quieted, as Master Lu nodded, gesturing for Tang San to continue.

“You mentioned that the age and type of a soul beast determines the strength of the soul ring it provides. But would be the outcome if a soul master tries to absorb a soul ring that’s too powerful for them? Is there a risk involved?”

Master Lu smiled faintly, impressed by the depth of Tang San’s question. “An excellent question, Tang San. Yes, there is significant risk. If a soul master attempts to absorb a soul ring that is too powerful for their current cultivation level, the process could not only fail but also result in serious injury or even death. The body and spirit of a soul master must be strong enough to withstand the energy outlet of the soul ring. Overreaching can have disastrous consequences.”

Tang San nodded thoughtfully, but he wasn’t finished. “And regarding soul beasts themselves—are all soul beasts inherently aggressive? Or are there certain types that are more peaceful, or perhaps even capable of forming bonds with humans?”

The room grew even quieter at this. Tang San’s question wasn’t just for Master Lu; he was testing his theory about  Xiao Wu and Ling Lixue's reaction. Something about their unease hinted at more than just a fear of soul beasts—it felt personal.

Master Lu took a moment to consider his response. “Soul beasts are generally wild and follow their natural instincts. Most of them are territorial and aggressive, especially when threatened or hunted by soul masters. However, there are rare cases where certain soul beasts, especially those with higher intelligence or longer lifespans, may form unique bonds with humans. These bonds are not intentional and the instances for it happening are rare, though, and usually occur under very specific circumstances. Mostly near life and death experiences.”

Tang San glanced at the siblings from  out of the corner of his eye. Both were tense, Xiao Wu's rabbit ears twitching even more as though the discussion was hitting too close to home.

He decided to push a little further, though carefully. “What about humanoid soul beasts? I’ve read somewhere about soul beasts that can take human form after reaching a certain age. Are those just myths, or could such a thing actually happen?”

A murmur ran through the classroom at Tang San’s question. Even Master Lu seemed taken aback, but after a brief pause, he answered.

“There are indeed fables about soul beasts that can transform into humans after reaching a certain cultivation age—typically around 100,000 years or more. These beasts are said to be exceptionally powerful but become significantly weaker once they are able to blend into human society.  But such beings are extremely rare, if they exist at all. Many believe these stories are just myths passed down through generations.”

Tang San observed Xiao Wu closely. Her hands were clenched tightly on the desk, her face pale but expression neutral. Ling Lixue shifted uncomfortably, as if trying to avoid drawing attention to himself.

His suspicions were growing stronger. There was something more to Xiao Wu and Ling Lixue, something connected to soul beasts.

For now, however, Tang San decided not to push further. He had gathered enough clues, and he would need to piece together the rest on his own without drawing unwanted attention onto his friends. “Thank you, Master Lu,” he said respectfully, sitting back down.