Chapter 546

Shu Han finally recovered somewhat. Still filled with dread, she said with lingering fear, "Why couldn't I move just now?"

Meng Anwen said, "Because you used the Detection Spell on the Soul-Devouring Beast, a connection was established between you and it. Your soul was locked onto by it, which is why you couldn't move."

"Furthermore, it utilized that connection to open a unique soul channel, thereby breaking free from my binding."

"If Lin Moyu hadn't killed it with a soul attack, you might have already been possessed by it."

"What would happen if I were possessed by it?"

Medicine God Shu said in a low voice, "There could be many outcomes. For instance, Gao Yang's half-dead state is one of them. If there is a better host, it might kill you and switch to another soul. Or, if it finds you suitable, it might devour your soul and take your place."

Shu Han gasped, her delicate body trembling slightly.

She had almost ended up like Gao Yang. That would truly be a fate worse than death.

Lin Moyu said, "I felt that it was very weak, but it definitely shouldn't be this weak. What on earth is it?"

If it were truly that weak, it wouldn't warrant such wariness from Meng Anwen, let alone be described as a catastrophic disaster.

Meng Anwen said, "Over a thousand years ago, before our Shenxia Empire was founded, a Soul-Devouring Beast disaster broke out. That time, it almost brought about the doom of the entire human race."

"Very little information from that time has been preserved. Perhaps the royal family might know a bit more."

"The Soul-Devouring Beast itself has no physical body and is extremely fragile before finding a host."

"But once it possesses someone, it is very difficult to eliminate. It hides within the host's soul, absorbing everything from them—vitality, blood, soul power—it can consume anything."

"The reason Gao Yang has managed to survive until now is probably because the Soul-Devouring Beast couldn't find a more suitable host. Or perhaps it felt that even if it devoured Gao Yang, it wouldn't gain much from it."

This was entirely possible. After all, Gao Yang was still very weak, so devouring his soul wouldn't bring much benefit.

The soul was the most mysterious existence, something ordinary people could not access at all.

Lin Moyu had only come into contact with the soul because of his Soul Fire skill.

If the Soul-Devouring Beast hid within the soul, it would indeed be extremely well-concealed.

"Is there no way to eliminate it?"

Meng Anwen shook his head. "There must be. I need to go to the royal family to look through their records. Perhaps I'll find something."

The last Soul-Devouring Beast disaster broke out before the founding of the Shenxia Empire.

Very little information from that time circulated in the outside world, and even Meng Anwen only knew a tiny bit.

Only the royal family might still retain more detailed records.

Meng Anwen pointed his finger, and the Shenxia Tower shone its light upon Gao Yang once more.

Gao Yang's soul flew out of the Shenxia Tower and returned to his body.

At this moment, Medicine God Shu took out another bottle of medicine and poured it down Gao Yang's throat.

The soul returning to the body and the administration of the medicine—the two coordinated with perfect chemistry, completing both actions almost simultaneously.

Meng Anwen cast another beam of light onto Gao Yang.

Gao Yang's vitality quickly recovered by a significant amount.

This time, it did not weaken again, and Gao Yang's complexion turned rosy.

Lin Moyu breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that Gao Yang was now out of danger.

As long as the root of the problem was resolved, physical injuries like severed limbs were not an issue.

Meng Anwen said, "I will leave Gao Yang in your hands, Elder Shu. I'm going to make a trip to the imperial palace."

Lin Moyu followed up, "I'll go with you."

He was also very curious about the Soul-Devouring Beast.

What kind of species was it that could almost drive the human race to extinction?

A thousand years ago, although the human race was not strong, it wasn't as if there were no god-grade powerhouses.

Shu Han whispered, "I'll go along too."

Medicine God Shu waved his hand. "Go ahead. Just leave Gao Yang to me. I'll find someone to heal him."

Lin Moyu thanked Medicine God Shu, "Thank you, Senior Medicine God. If you need anything in the future, please do not hesitate to ask."

Medicine God Shu chuckled. "General Lin, you are too polite. The Venomous Flood Dragon spinal cord you had Little Han'er bring back is an invaluable treasure. This trivial matter is nothing in comparison."

Meng Anwen formed a hand seal. The Shenxia Tower instantly enveloped the three of them, teleporting them directly to the gates of the imperial palace.

Then, Meng Anwen's voice rang out clearly, echoing throughout the palace, "Meng Anwen takes the liberty of visiting. I request Sovereign Dongfang to come out for a meeting."

Meng Anwen's voice was neither loud nor soft, yet it layered densely, completely enveloping the entire imperial palace.

Everyone in the palace heard it loud and clear; even those in deep sleep could hear Meng Anwen's voice.

Just a few seconds later, a figure flew out from within the palace and landed directly in front of Meng Anwen.

"Dongfang Yi greets God An and General Lin."

"Meng greets Sovereign Dongfang."

"Lin Moyu greets Sovereign Dongfang."

The three exchanged greetings.

Sovereign Dongfang Yi knew that Meng Anwen's sudden late-night arrival meant there must be an urgent matter. "Is there something I can help with, God An? Please, feel free to command."

Meng Anwen immediately explained the matter of the Soul-Devouring Beast.

"Forgive my ignorance, but I have never heard of this Soul-Devouring Beast," Sovereign Dongfang Yi said, looking bewildered.

However, for it to make Meng Anwen so tense, it was definitely no small matter.

Meng Anwen said straightforwardly, "I know your royal family has a Secret Vault. I want to look up information regarding the Soul-Devouring Beast."

The Secret Vault Meng Anwen referred to was not the one Lin Moyu had visited before.

Those were just surface-level archives; they could be considered somewhat hidden, but they certainly did not qualify as highly confidential.

What Meng Anwen was referring to now were the most confidential records.

Chapter 516: Blessings and Disasters Intertwined, Perhaps Also an Opportunity

Sovereign Dongfang Yi did not dare to directly refuse Meng Anwen's request.

However, wanting to view the royal family's most confidential records was a matter of great import; even he did not dare to agree rashly.

Sovereign Dongfang Yi said, "My clan uncle, Dongfang Li, oversees the Secret Vault. I will go ask him if he knows anything about the Soul-Devouring Beast."

Meng Anwen nodded. "Then I shall trouble the Sovereign."

"It is only right!" Sovereign Dongfang Yi said politely, showing no air of superiority.

Sovereign Dongfang Yi led them to a guest parlor, had his servants serve the finest tea, and then headed to the Secret Vault himself.

After a short while, Princess Dongfang Yao walked over.

She and Shu Han were close friends, and they immediately began chatting upon meeting.

Hearing Shu Han recount what had just happened, even Dongfang Yao was startled.

"Sister Han, is this Soul-Devouring Beast really that terrifying?" Dongfang Yao asked, feeling a wave of tension as if she had experienced it herself.

Shu Han nodded. "It must be extremely terrifying. My grandfather's face completely changed at the time, and he was incredibly tense. God An was much the same. Fortunately, General Lin was there; he was the one who saved me."

To this moment, Shu Han still had lingering fear, unable to fully recover from that helpless terror.

The crucial point was that the Detection Spell hadn't yielded any useful information and had almost cost her life.

She couldn't fathom how something as terrifying as the Soul-Devouring Beast could exist in this world.

Dongfang Yao cast a subtle glance at Lin Moyu, then let out a soft huff that only she could hear.

She certainly wouldn't forget how Lin Moyu had refused to lend her his skeletons.

Although Lin Moyu had agreed to save her mother, and she herself had almost gotten Lin Moyu killed,

one thing was one thing, and another was another. A girl's mind was something outsiders could never truly understand.

In fact, sometimes she didn't even understand it herself.

Shu Han noticed Dongfang Yao's subtle expression. "Don't blame General Lin. As long as he has the ability, he will definitely help. This time, General Lin even brought two drops of the Venomous Flood Dragon spinal cord, which can neutralize poison, hoping Grandfather can formulate a medicine to see if it can resolve the Corpse Poison."

"That is the spinal cord of a Level 85 World Boss, an invaluable treasure."

Dongfang Yao whispered, "Really?"

Shu Han nodded. "Why would I lie to you? Of course it's true."

Meanwhile, Lin Moyu was also speaking with Meng Anwen.

"Teacher, do you think the royal family will have records on the Soul-Devouring Beast?"

Meng Anwen said, "The Shenxia royal family has been passed down for over a thousand years. Through all the trials and tribulations of the millennium, various clans have risen and fallen, yet only the royal family remains standing."

"If even they do not have records on the Soul-Devouring Beast, then no other family will."

"Furthermore, to deal with the Soul-Devouring Beast this time, we must also employ the power of the royal family."

Lin Moyu understood Meng Anwen's meaning.

To seal off provinces and lock down cities, besides the military's strength, they also needed the power of local administrations.

These administrative powers were entirely in the hands of the royal family.

Without the royal family issuing the orders, even if they could lock down a province or city, it would surely result in great chaos.

Lin Moyu murmured, "Everything has its counter in nature; there must be a solution. If the royal family doesn't have the records, I can go ask it."

"It?" Meng Anwen was startled. "Are you referring to the one in the Core Area?"

Lin Moyu gave an affirmative grunt. "It has lived for untold ages, so it should know something about the Soul-Devouring Beast."

Meng Anwen nodded. "Although I have never spoken with it, I know some of the legends about it. It is said to be omniscient."

Lin Moyu chuckled softly. "Well, not entirely."

Footsteps echoed as Sovereign Dongfang Yi and Dongfang Li walked over side by side.

Dongfang Li was in charge of the royal Secret Vault, and he had read almost all the records within it.

Meng Anwen asked directly, "How is it?"

Dongfang Li took out an extremely ancient book. "Here is all the information regarding the Soul-Devouring Beast."

"The records on the Soul-Devouring Beast were too ancient and incredibly disorganized. Our royal family made a revision eight hundred years ago, compiling all the information about the Soul-Devouring Beast together."

Meng Anwen flipped through it rapidly. With his abilities, having a photographic memory was child's play.

After he finished reading, the book was handed to Lin Moyu.

At this moment, Dongfang Li asked, "God An, are you absolutely certain it is a Soul-Devouring Beast?"

Meng Anwen nodded. "It is undoubtedly a Soul-Devouring Beast. It matches the records in the book perfectly."

Sovereign Dongfang Yi furrowed his brows deeply. "This is a major catastrophe. God An, what do you plan to do?"

Meng Anwen said, "I have already thought of a countermeasure just now, but I still need to discuss it with Sovereign Dongfang. I originally thought this would be a major disaster. But now, after reading the records, I find that it might actually be a great opportunity."

Sovereign Dongfang Yi raised an eyebrow.

A great opportunity? How so?

He hadn't read the records himself, only hearing about the terror of the Soul-Devouring Beast from Dongfang Li.

Could there be something different recorded in the files?

Dongfang Li had read this information before, but he hadn't seen any great opportunity in it.

"Please elaborate, God An!" Sovereign Dongfang Yi asked urgently.

Lin Moyu had also finished reading the book by now. He let out a soft breath. "Blessings and disasters are intertwined; perhaps it truly will be an opportunity."

Meng Anwen's words were already convincing enough, and now that Lin Moyu said so as well, it was basically set in stone.

Sovereign Dongfang Yi also flipped through the records on the Soul-Devouring Beast, but he couldn't see anything of the sort.

Dongfang Li said in a deep voice, "I have also read the records on the Soul-Devouring Beast before and found nothing. I wonder how God An and General Lin determined that this would be an opportunity."

Meng Anwen glanced at Lin Moyu. "Lin Moyu, you explain."