The Azure Glow Source

The Azure Glow Jellyfish let out a silent scream. Its bell could be seen trembling violently, while the silver patterns on it instantly dimmed, and the viscous seawater around it returned to normal.

Jiang Zhen seized the opportunity and once again circulated his Soul Power. The Water Dragon suddenly exerted its strength, tearing the Azure Glow Jellyfish's bell apart.

Without the bell's protection, the Azure Glow Jellyfish's core was exposed—a pale cyan bead containing rich Soul Beast energy.

Its tentacles drooped limply, and its body began turning transparent. It had clearly lost its vitality.

Jiang Zhen slowly descended beside the corpse of the Azure Glow Jellyfish. He dispersed the Water Dragon around him and let out a long breath.

He did not rush to absorb the Spirit Ring. Instead, he first circulated the Profound Water Clear Mind Art to recover his Soul Power.

Using Spirit Skills consecutively and controlling such a large amount of Water Element Energy had consumed nearly seventy percent of his Soul Power.

Pale-blue Soul Power flowed through his body, while the surrounding Water Element Energy continuously surged into him, replenishing the Soul Power he had expended.

After a while, some of his Soul Power had recovered, and his spirits had also lifted.

"Let's begin absorbing it."

Jiang Zhen sat cross-legged in the seawater as the Water Condensation Shield wrapped around him, isolating him from the surrounding water.

He circulated the Profound Water Clear Mind Art while guiding the Soul Beast's Spirit Ring.

A deep-purple Spirit Ring tinged with black slowly rose from the corpse of the Azure Glow Jellyfish, carrying rich Water Element Energy.

This Spirit Ring was a full size larger than Jiang Zhen's first Spirit Ring. Its light was gentler, yet it contained energy far beyond that of his first Spirit Ring.

Jiang Zhen took a deep breath and guided the Spirit Ring toward his body.

The instant the Spirit Ring touched Jiang Zhen's body, a massive surge of energy poured into him.

The energy of the 9,400-year Spirit Ring was far more violent than he had imagined. Even with his greatly strengthened physique, he felt a wave of Sharp Pain, as though something were battering his body.

"Hold on!" Jiang Zhen gritted his teeth and circulated the Profound Water Clear Mind Art, guiding the energy pouring into his body toward his Dantian.

Two hours later, Jiang Zhen finally finished absorbing the Azure Glow Jellyfish's Spirit Ring.

Jiang Zhen could feel his Soul Power growing at a speed visible to the naked eye. His Soul Power, which had originally remained at the peak of Rank 20, began breaking through continuously.

"Boom!"

A soft sound rang out as the Soul Power bottleneck was instantly shattered. An even more powerful Soul Power radiated from his body, sending a ring of ripples through the surrounding seawater.

He slowly opened his eyes, a sharp glint flashing within them. The Water Element around his body gently fluctuated along with his thoughts.

He stood up and stretched his limbs. He could feel that his body was filled with strength, while his Soul Power had also become much denser than before.

Jiang Zhen now felt completely Refreshed!

He could clearly sense that not only had his Soul Power broken through considerably, his control over the Water Element had also risen to another level.

Previously, he could only control the Water Element within a range of several dozen zhang. Now, he could faintly sense the flow of Water Element within a hundred zhang;

Before, he could only condense several dozen Water Condensation Blades. Now, he could condense over a hundred, and their power was even greater.

At the same time, the remaining energy of the Azure Glow Jellyfish's Spirit Ring continued pouring into his body, consolidating his Rank 27 Soul Power.

Jiang Zhen circulated the Profound Water Clear Mind Art, completely absorbing this energy and transforming it into his own Soul Power.

"Rank 27, and I even obtained such a perfectly compatible Spirit Ring."

A smile rose at the Corner of Jiang Zhen's Mouth. He could sense that the Azure Glow Jellyfish's Spirit Skill would raise his strength by an entire level.

He could feel that this Spirit Ring had not only brought him a breakthrough in rank, but also an excellent Spirit Skill.

Azure Glow Source!

Once activated, it formed a miniature energy vortex core Inside the Body.

Soul Power recovery speed increased by 50%, All Attributes increased by 100%, and the Soul Power consumption of all Spirit Skills decreased by 30%.

He glanced at the Azure Glow Jellyfish's corpse, which had been reduced to an empty shell, and did not linger. The deep sea was filled with danger, and remaining there too long could easily attract other Soul Beasts.

Jiang Zhen circulated his Soul Power. The Water Condensation Shield covering his body glowed with a pale-blue light as he kicked off with both legs and swam toward the surface.

His figure grew faster and faster in the water, soon vanishing into the dim Deep Sea Trench.

The pale-blue Water Condensation Shield cut through the water, leaving behind fine ripples. Jiang Zhen gradually slowed down—the seawater above him was already suffused with hazy light, and shimmering reflections spilled down from above. Clearly, he was only a few dozen meters from the surface.

"In a little while, I'll be ashore."

A smile played at the Corner of Jiang Zhen's Mouth. He was just about to circulate his Soul Power and accelerate upward when the pale-blue Soul Power flowing through his body suddenly became slightly sluggish.

The surrounding Water Element seemed to have been disturbed by something. Its originally steady flow abruptly became irregular, even carrying a faint "tremble."

Jiang Zhen instantly used Conceal aura, pressing his body against the coral reef below as his sharp gaze swept across the open waters around him.

The next second, a gray-black figure slowly emerged from the water ahead and to the side. It was thirteen or fourteen meters long—not as large as an adult Evil Spirit Orca, which could reach dozens of meters, but more robust than any marine Soul Beast Jiang Zhen had ever seen.

Its gray-black skin, covered in coarse folds, reflected a Cold and hard sheen. Its thick trunk possessed none of the beauty of a streamlined form. Only its every movement revealed an overwhelming sense of crushing power.

The most unnerving feature was its head. Its exceptionally massive skull turned slightly to the side, while its Dark red eyes, like two clusters of burning ghost fire, locked firmly onto Jiang Zhen.

Whenever its enormous mouth opened and closed, two rows of sharp teeth resembling refined steel blades gleamed coldly. Even from a distance of seven or eight zhang, Jiang Zhen could clearly feel the murderous aura rushing toward him, as though he would be torn apart and swallowed the next second.

"Evil Spirit Orca?"

Jiang Zhen's heart sank as he instantly recalled this Soul Beast's traits—

A top-level marine predator, naturally gregarious, with individual strength surpassing that of the Demon Soul Great White Shark. Even the Deep Sea Demonic Whale King had to fear them when they acted as a group.

But the one before him was clearly a juvenile—and it was... alone?

He circulated his Soul Power and carefully sensed it. The other party's Soul Power fluctuations were roughly at the level of a 4,500-year Soul Beast, considerably lower than the Azure Glow Jellyfish's 9,400 years.

Yet the "ferocity" contained in the Soul Beast's aura was far beyond that of the latter.

What made him even more vigilant was that Evil Spirit Orcas had a minimum cultivation of ten thousand years. This 4,500-year-old juvenile should have been growing under the protection of its clan, so how had it appeared here alone?

As if sensing Jiang Zhen's scrutiny, the small Evil Spirit Orca emitted a low hum from its throat.

The surrounding seawater immediately rippled finely. This was its Ripple Detection covering a range of ten li, completely locking onto Jiang Zhen's aura.

The next second, its thick tail fin suddenly swept out. Its body charged toward Jiang Zhen like an enormous runaway ship, forcing the seawater along its path into howling currents. Even the light seemed distorted by its brute force.

Jiang Zhen did not dare to take it head-on. His Soul Power surged as the Water Element within a hundred zhang around him instantly condensed. Dozens of pale-blue Water Condensation Blades interwove into a net before him, while the Water Condensation Shield thickened several times, becoming a transparent blue barrier.

"Boom!"

The net of Water Condensation Blades struck the Evil Spirit Orca's head, but only left a few shallow white marks on its coarse skin before being shattered into countless Water Beads by the tremendous force.

The shockwave slammed into him. Jiang Zhen felt his chest tighten and was forced back several zhang before stabilizing himself. Even the Soul Power in his palm had become slightly disordered.

"What incredible defense!" he thought in shock.

Yet as he retreated, his gaze caught the crucial detail—the small Evil Spirit Orca had a wound deep enough to expose bone beneath its left side fin!

Faint blood seeped from beneath its gray-black skin, spreading into thin red strands in the seawater. It had clearly been injured not long ago.

So that's how it is. It was separated from its clan after being injured?