Once he confirmed the method truly worked, Yu Yan selected eight Spirit Ancestors willing to serve him, along with the mercenary leader who remained—the Spirit King Wu Chen.
Watching each of them swear a divine oath with the technique, Yu Yan marveled at the god's generosity while trying to guess the deity's name.
After dispelling the cold energy sealing their spirit power and restoring circulation, Yu Yan laid out his rules.
The rules were simple: hurt no innocent commoners. With no idea what a god truly was, the ten who had sworn the oath saw no reason to resist.
"Yu Yan, I'm done. Eighty-six of them want to go home; the rest have nowhere to return to."
As Yu Yan finished his arrangements, Xiao Wu led forward those who wished to leave.
Glancing at the forlorn group, Yu Yan called, "Wu Chen, pick four Spirit Ancestors and some guards. Escort them to the nearest town in the Starlight Duchy, then rendezvous near the Black Scorpion Band at the border."
"Understood."
Their lives were in his hands; whatever he said went. Besides, escorting people to a frontier town wasn't exactly a perilous task.
Wu Chen chose four Spirit Ancestors and twenty competent guards, then set off.
He moved quickly, partly on orders, partly to put distance between himself and the two monsters so he could clear his head.
"What about the homeless ones? Which city in the Heaven Dou Empire would they like?"
After arranging the homeward-bound group, Yu Yan asked Xiao Wu about the rest.
"They don't know the Heaven Dou Empire and aren't sure where to settle. They want to follow us—what do you think?"
Xiao Wu voiced her headache over the matter.
"Out of the question. We don't even have a fixed home ourselves; we can't drag them around."
"Pick a representative. Let's talk and choose a place for them."
Yu Yan rejected the idea outright. If they wouldn't choose, he would.
Xiao Wu agreed; letting them tag along was impossible.
After talking with their representative, Yu Yan settled them near Ice Soul City in the Hagendas Kingdom.
The bandits of Ice Soul Grassland had been wiped out, and a top Spirit Master academy nearby meant relative safety.
Yu Yan had enough pull at Exotic Beast Academy to secure their settlement without issue.
The representative nodded in acceptance.
Making demands after being rescued was already presumptuous; pushing further would only invite disgust.
"You Shang, take them to the academy. I'll write a letter; give it to Vice Dean Jiang Jing. She'll arrange their stay near Ice Soul City."
"As for you and the Spirit Ancestors you pick—stay in that village. Don't leave unless necessary."
Handing over the letter, Yu Yan assigned You Shang his fate. The specter's name was stained with innocent blood.
You Shang voiced no objection; staying out of Yu Yan and Xiao Wu's sight suited him fine.
Grateful to be alive, he reorganized the caravan with the four Spirit Ancestors and headed toward Heaven Dou Empire.
"Oh, one more thing—a special case. I didn't let her go with the others."
After two hectic hours, Xiao Wu watched the caravan depart and brought up the final loose end.
"The girl with Dark Snow? Tell me about her."
Yu Yan had noticed the child beside Dark Snow but hadn't had time to look closer.
"She's extremely rare—an Awakening failure who still retains clear Spirit traits."
Xiao Wu didn't need to finish; Yu Yan understood. The girl couldn't travel with the others.
On Douluo Continent, such powerless yet unique individuals often end up as star auction items.
"Let her stay with us for now."
With no better idea, Yu Yan sighed and let the girl tag along.
"I was hoping you'd say that. Great minds think alike, hehe…"
Xiao Wu brightened at their shared thought.
She'd changed a girl's fate—and agreed with Yu Yan.
When the girl approached, Yu Yan saw cat ears, feline eyes, and paws—clear Spirit Possession traits.
No wonder Xiao Wu wanted to keep her; left alone she'd be coveted by many.
Yu Yan left the girl in Xiao Wu's care and dragged his ice-chained captives toward the Black Scorpion hideout.
He needed to turn these precious test subjects into data.
When finished, it would be time to return to Exotic Beast Academy.
Two months away and another task dumped on Jiang Jing—staying away any longer would be rude.
Besides, New Year was near, and Yu Yan wanted to visit Old Man Yu in Yu Village.