Chapter 2283

According to Zhan Diting’s explanation, a single soul could spawn countless flying insects. Therefore, the insects on the water fir trees likely originated from one soul, which explained their strong cohesion.

However, these insects were fragile. A farmer spraying pesticide could kill many of them. But no one could guarantee that killing the insects would restore the soul to completeness. It was impossible.

Zhu Yanyi and Yan Aohan, led by Zhan Diting, arrived at a Soul Treatment Center.

Lao Hei and Lao Bai were already there. Inside, a Yin Messenger in a white coat was attending to medical duties for souls.

"Little sister-in-law, this is Dr. Zhang," Zhan Diting introduced. "In his past life, he was a doctor who saved many soldiers on the battlefield before sacrificing himself. He accumulated much karmic merit and became a Yin Messenger here, overseeing medical affairs."

"Zhang Jing pays respects to the Yan Emperor and the Yan Empress," Zhang Jing bowed.

Yan Aohan nodded. "Rise."

Zhu Yanyi asked, "Dr. Zhang, what is your conclusion?"

"It is the same as the previous soul," Zhang Jing answered seriously. "It has been poisoned by an unknown toxin."

Zhu Yanyi thought for a moment. "Let me see."

The soul was a young boy, about sixteen or seventeen years old. He was handsome but lay with his eyes tightly closed, in a state of soul slumber. A spot of black qi rested on his forehead. This black qi seemed alive, swaying back and forth between his eyebrows.

Zhu Yanyi did not touch her directly. She waved her hand, sending out a green aura that wrapped around the soul’s hand.

Souls have no pulse, but Zhu Yanyi used her Wood ability to probe the soul’s condition.

She saw clearly: the black qi inside was actually a thumb-sized skull deep within the soul. The skull had its mouth open, constantly absorbing the surrounding white aura. Zhu Yanyi knew this white aura was the soul’s soul qi.

Zhu Yanyi flicked her finger. A thread of green aura shot into the skull’s mouth. The skull froze, then struggled. It began to vomit, expelling both the white soul qi and the black qi.

Zhu Yanyi raised an eyebrow. She formed a hand seal, creating a green cage that covered the skull. With a gentle pull, the green cage extracted the skull from the depths of the soul’s mind, bringing it into everyone’s view.

"What is this ghost thing?" Zhan Diting asked. After all, it looked like a skull.

Zhu Yanyi shrugged slightly. "I don’t know its origin. But I saw clearly: this black skull hid deep in the soul’s mind, devouring its soul power. It fears my Wood power. Perhaps because Wood power is close to vitality, I suspect it fears the power of life but loves the power of death."

Yan Aohan reached out and grabbed the black skull. He held it in his palm. The skull tried to escape but could not. Seeing Yan Aohan, it seemed afraid. It closed its eyes and mouth tightly, pretending to be dead.

"Oh, this skull can play dead. How clever," Zhu Yanyi said, her clear eyes blinking. She released a bit of green aura and tapped the skull.

Seeing the green aura, the skull tried to dodge. But it could not escape Yan Aohan’s grip. It could only watch as the green aura hit its head. Its expression looked miserable.

Each time the green aura hit it, the skull released some white soul qi.

"So you absorb soul qi to improve your cultivation," Zhu Yanyi raised an eyebrow. "Confess honestly. What are you?"

The skull refused to speak, continuing to play dead in Yan Aohan’s palm.

Yan Aohan smiled slightly. "Ani, shall I show you a magic trick?"

Zhu Yanyi did not understand what Yan Aohan intended to do. But since he wanted to do it, he must have a purpose. She nodded. "Okay, go ahead."

Yan Aohan placed the skull on his left palm. He snapped his fingers with his right hand. A black-and-white Taiji wheel appeared and pressed down on the black skull. The skull was terrified. It could not escape. It actually cried.

The sound was a soft, cute whimpering. Consequently, its skeletal form no longer looked terrifying.

"As I thought," Yan Aohan withdrew his hand.

"What is this thing?" Zhan Diting asked curiously.

"There are three thousand laws and three thousand spirits. People say Dark Elves are messengers of darkness, creatures of the Spirit Realm. But no one knows that besides the elves you see, there is another type. Though called elves, they are more accurately called Living Spirits. Heaven and earth nurture seven types of Living Spirits: Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth, plus Sun and Night. Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth are the five basic elements of a world. Sun and Night are auxiliary Living Spirits created to support these five elements. However, Living Spirits need specific spiritual energy to survive," Yan Aohan explained.

"Then what kind of Living Spirit is this?" Everyone understood. It was a Living Spirit.

"This is a Night Living Spirit. Usually, when spiritual energy runs out, Living Spirits disappear. This one fell into our Underworld for some reason. The soul qi in the Underworld is its best nutrient, replacing spiritual energy. So it absorbs soul qi. But if it absorbs too much, we will discover it. So it resides in a soul, absorbing that soul’s power."

"Although it does this for cultivation, it harms the soul," Lao Hei frowned slightly.

Yan Aohan nodded. "The soul power in the Underworld allows it to survive. But over time, the yin energy in the soul power will affect it, causing it to lose its black-and-white heart. Therefore, the most important thing now is to return it to the embrace of the night."

Yan Aohan had not expected such a Living Spirit to hide in their Underworld. Living Spirits could not be kept as pets casually. This truly added some trouble for him.

"Then take it to our plane," Zhu Yanyi thought and said. "Day and night still exist there. Although there is no spiritual energy, the existence of night means the law exists. Perhaps it can give it a new chance at life."