Bonus chapter for 100 Powerstones
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Thanks to the experience with Shi Hao, Shi Batian picked up a crystal ball capable of measuring up to rank 30 soul power and handed it to Shi Yi for testing.
"Channel your soul power into this."
Second Gourd, or rather, Shi Yi, obediently did as he was told.
The moment the crystal ball touched his hand, it burst into dazzling light, and the mysterious glow from his four pupils was utterly mesmerizing. Shi Batian was overjoyed by the sight.
Innate rank-30 soul power!
Just as he'd guessed, Shi Yi was another once-in-a-generation soul genius!
"A genius… another absolute genius! And I—Shi Batian—am blessed enough to have not one, but two such children. If Xiaoxue could see this, she'd be so proud…"
Shi Batian's heart surged with excitement.
He still didn't know exactly what the Dual Pupils were capable of, but with that soul power talent and the miraculous effects of the gourd shell, there was no doubt—it was no weaker than Supreme Bone!
As the crystal ball blazed, Shi Batian could feel his own soul power subtly rising again.
He'd already broken through to Soul King a few days ago, but now… he had reached rank 54!
The speed was nothing short of terrifying!
Shi Batian had guessed correctly—the soul power of each gourd child also fed back into him.
"Second Gourd, you're incredible!" Shi Batian hugged him tightly, pride radiating from his eyes.
He knew that Shi Yi's future was bound to be even more dazzling than he could imagine.
"Dad… what does 'incredible' mean?" Shi Yi blinked his big eyes, his face full of innocent curiosity.
"It means you're amazing!" Shi Batian chuckled, overflowing with love.
"Hehe… If I'm amazing, does that mean I get to go rescue Mom and Big Bro?!"
"You're still too young. Rescuing them is your Dad's job, not yours, little Yi." Shi Batian gently ruffled his hair.
He didn't want Shi Yi to carry the same heavy burden as Shi Hao.
"And now, Dad finally has the strength to protect you all. Trust me, okay?" Shi Batian added, booping his son's tiny nose with a smile.
Shi Yi had been secretly planning to sneak away and save his mother and brother, just like Shi Hao once did. But Shi Batian, having learned his lesson, now rarely left Shi Yi's side.
The pain of losing Shi Hao once was more than enough—he couldn't bear to go through it again.
Yet time didn't dull Shi Yi's resolve. The little gourds hanging from the vine constantly reminded him of his mission.
"Second Brother, go save Mom already! What are you waiting for?"
"Yeah! She's still trapped. You need to hurry!"
"Save Big Bro! Save Mom!" came the baby voice of the youngest purple gourd.
Shi Yi furrowed his brows, frustrated. His tiny face scrunched into a pout.
"I want to go to Spirit Hall and save them… but Dad never leaves me alone. I can't even sneak out."
Shi Yi added, "Besides, I don't want to make Dad angry either."
The gourds fell silent—they had no answer for that. Shi Batian's watchful eye made sneaking off nearly impossible.
Then Third Gourd, the yellow gourd, suddenly spoke up.
"Why not just talk to Dad about it? I bet he'll understand."
Shi Yi fell silent for a moment, then nodded slowly.
"Alright… but you all have to help me plead my case!"
He'd been out of the gourd for quite a while now, and he really did want to see the outside world.
…
For the past few days, Shi Batian had been in low spirits. Was it because of Qian Renxue being taken? Or Shi Hao's disappearance? Or maybe… because he knew Shi Yi would leave soon too.
Shi Batian could easily see what Shi Yi was thinking—his intentions were written all over his face.
But how could he let a child storm into Spirit Hall to save people?
What if Shi Yi got captured too?
"Sigh… In the end, I'm still too weak."
Seven days passed, and thanks to the gourd shell's nourishment, Shi Yi's soul power had already reached Soul Sage level. Shi Batian himself had advanced to Soul Emperor, but even that… still wasn't enough.
To Spirit Hall, a Soul Emperor was nothing. And the Seven-Star Gourd Vine wasn't suited for battle either.
Just then, a flurry of childish voices, like surround sound, rang in Shi Batian's ears.
"Dad… what are you thinking about?"
"Don't be sad, okay?"
"Let Second Brother go save Mom and Big Bro. Please~"
"Yeah, Dad! Let him go!"
"Second Brother's smart! He won't get caught by Spirit Hall!"
"You want Mom and Big Bro back too, right?"
The gourd babies all spoke up one after another, even the youngest purple one chiming in with a whimpery little voice.
Shi Batian could only sigh.
"Alright… Dad knows you're all good kids. But it's not time yet. You need to grow strong enough to protect yourselves and me. Then you can go find your Mom and big brother."
"But Dad, I've already grown up!" Shi Yi argued, puffing up his tiny chest.
"Yeah! Second Brother's totally ready!" said the yellow gourd child.
"You always told us, don't back down when things get hard!" the green gourd chimed in.
"That's right! Are we supposed to just give up because Spirit Hall is tough?" the blue gourd added.
"And you said to always believe in our strength!" Shi Yi's golden eyes gleamed with conviction.
"Ugh…" Shi Batian was momentarily speechless. What could he say to that?
Suddenly, the tiny purple gourd clung to his leg and pleaded in the softest, most pitiful voice, "Dad~ please let Second Brother go~"
The rest instantly followed suit, chanting in unison, "Dad~ please let Second Brother go~"
Ah, daughters. Shi Batian's ultimate weakness. He had no chance.
Looking at their adorable, mischievous faces, his heart melted completely. He sighed, defeated.
"Alright, alright… if you insist that much, then Second Brother can go."
But then his expression grew stern.
"However—only tomorrow. And only after I finish explaining Spirit Hall's dangers and everything you might encounter on this continent. Got it?"
"Got it, Dad!!" the gourd babies chorused joyfully, their tiny forms swaying gently in the wind.
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