Beyond-the-Limit Soul Ring Absorption

"Everyone, take a break." After finding an open area and checking the surroundings, Flender spoke to the group.

"Whew, we can finally rest for a while." Oscar was practically exhausted. Between supplying sausages and running, he had little Soul Power left.

Luo Chuan took several bright red fruits from his Soul Tool and bit into one with a crunch. They were sweet and delicious.

Having eaten sausages all the way here, everyone's eyes lit up when they saw that Luo Chuan had secretly stashed away fruit.

However, they soon realized something was off. Why did those bright red fruits look so familiar?

"Are those the fruits from that Plant Soul Beast we passed, the one covered in fruit?"

Tang San was the first to remember.

Seizing the chance, Grandmaster immediately rebuked Luo Chuan. "Luo Chuan, how can you casually eat fruits from the Star Dou Great Forest? What if they're poisonous? You wouldn't even know how you died."

Luo Chuan glanced at Grandmaster, then handed several fruits from his arms to Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong. "I picked quite a lot. Do you want some?"

Luo Chuan took out several more, eating as he distributed them.

Zhu Zhuqing glanced at Luo Chuan, then took out a handkerchief and wiped each fruit clean before eating without hesitation.

"Zhuqing, you're joining him in this nonsense too!" Grandmaster was furious. His already stern face bore not the slightest hint of a smile.

"I trust him." Zhu Zhuqing's answer was simple. After a brief hesitation, Ning Rongrong also took a crunchy bite.

The moment the flesh of the fruit entered her mouth, Ning Rongrong's gemlike eyes curved into crescents. "Mmm~ Delicious!"

Ning Rongrong no longer cared whether it was poisonous. Holding one fruit in each hand, both cleaned by Zhu Zhuqing, she began munching away.

"You... you all!" Having been ignored repeatedly, Grandmaster sprang to his feet and pointed angrily at Luo Chuan.

Luo Chuan frowned. "If I'm eating it, then naturally I'm sure it isn't poisonous! If you don't believe me, don't eat it. Stop trying to draw attention to yourself here."

Flender looked at the fruit in his hand. After hesitating briefly, he took two bites as well. "It seems... it really isn't poisonous. Xiao Gang, haven't you seen anything in the books about edible fruits in the Star Dou Great Forest?"

"How could anyone have recorded something like that?" Yu Xiaogang replied irritably.

"That's because they weren't hungry enough!" Luo Chuan shot back. No one spoke after that. Only the few who trusted Luo Chuan happily continued eating the fruit.

Xiao Wu also got two fruits from Ning Rongrong and quietly said to Tang San, "Xiao San, this really is edible. I ate it when I was little."

Tang San looked at Xiao Wu in surprise, then accepted a fruit. After glancing at Grandmaster's gloomy expression, he immediately lowered his voice. "You eat it. I won't."

Xiao Wu glanced at Grandmaster, curled her lips, and began taking small bites.

Fruit was far better than Oscar's sausages or dry rations.

After eating a little, everyone rested.

Luo Chuan climbed onto a branch and reclined against it. His eyes closed, and before long, steady breathing could be heard.

Zhu Zhuqing sat leaning against the tree below. Listening to the breathing not far above her, she somehow began to feel a little sleepy.

After an unknown amount of time, Luo Chuan's eyes suddenly opened, and he sat upright.

"Something's here!"

"A Soul Beast is approaching!"

The two voices came from Luo Chuan and Flender one after the other. Flender gave Luo Chuan a surprised look, then shouted in a low voice, "Everyone, stay alert! Something is approaching!"

Flender and Zhao Wuji stood before the group, one on the left and one on the right. Luo Chuan took two steps back and moved beside Ning Rongrong and Oscar.

"Hehe, with Xiao Chuan here, my little heart immediately feels much calmer." Oscar did not forget to clown around. Ning Rongrong gave an unhappy snort. "Luo Chuan is here to protect me."

Luo Chuan sighed helplessly and rubbed Ning Rongrong's head with his large hand. "Behave."

Ning Rongrong stuck out her little tongue, her beautiful eyes curiously fixed on the front.

The rustling sounds grew clearer and clearer. Then, a powerfully built azure ox entered their field of vision.

"Rongrong's luck is pretty good." Luo Chuan spoke, and Ning Rongrong's eyes immediately lit up. She had recognized the Soul Beast before them as well.

A Hidden Soul Azure Ox!

This was a relatively gentle Soul Beast, beloved by the vast majority of auxiliary-system Soul Masters. Especially for possessors of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda, a Hidden Soul Azure Ox was practically one of the essential Soul Rings.

Hidden Soul—just as the name implied, it concealed Soul Power in preparation for an explosive release.

"I can finally give you a Soul Power boost!" Ning Rongrong said excitedly, hopping in place.

But as soon as Ning Rongrong finished speaking, someone came to pour cold water on her excitement.

"This Hidden Soul Azure Ox is over two thousand eight hundred years old, nearly three thousand. The absorption limit for a Soul Master's third ring is one thousand seven hundred and sixty-four years. This Hidden Soul Azure Ox is unsuitable for you." Grandmaster's tone allowed no doubt. This was the result of his many years of research, and he would not permit anyone to challenge it.

"That's right, Rongrong. This Soul Beast isn't suitable for you." Tang San nodded as well, affirming Grandmaster's judgment.

Ning Rongrong froze at his words. She had seen Hidden Soul Azure Oxen before, but she did not know how to distinguish their ages. Subconsciously, she looked toward Luo Chuan. Seeing this, Luo Chuan smiled faintly. "My third ring is ten thousand years old. Are you really afraid of a Soul Ring that's less than three thousand years old?"

Hearing Luo Chuan's words, Ning Rongrong's eyes curved again, though she still looked somewhat worried. "I-I don't know. But I heard that ordinary Soul Masters can't break that limit."

"I'll help you." Luo Chuan spoke. Ning Rongrong giggled and nodded heavily. "Mm."

Ning Rongrong clenched her small fists. She wanted to give it a try. Luo Chuan had accomplished too many things she once would never have dared to believe, so this time, she believed he would succeed too.

The Hidden Soul Azure Ox was fleeing in panic, its body covered in wounds of varying sizes. Several of them were so deep that bone could be seen.

"There's more behind it. Xiao Chuan, this azure ox is yours." Flender spoke. Luo Chuan did not decline and immediately made his move.

A black lotus appeared, and his second soul skill immediately locked the Azure Ox inside.

Even a ten-thousand-year soul beast needed some time to break through Luo Chuan's Obliteration Cage, let alone a thousand-year soul beast that did not excel at attacking.

"Moo—"

The Hidden Soul Azure Ox anxiously rammed against the Obliteration Cage while staring fearfully in the direction behind it.

"Roar—"

A tiger's roar rang out, and a massive black-and-gray tiger entered everyone's view.

"Dark Demon Tiger!" Grandmaster immediately spoke, then added, "What a pity. It's already over three thousand years old."

Grandmaster had not taken Luo Chuan's earlier words to heart at all. He did not know what method Luo Chuan had used to absorb a soul ring beyond the limit, but Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing certainly could not casually absorb soul rings beyond their limits.

"Obliteration Cage!" Luo Chuan struck again. A thousand-year soul beast was simply too easy for him to deal with.

Though this Dark Demon Tiger had formidable attack power, it was at most comparable to a ten-thousand-year soul beast.

"Red Lotus Fire Array!"

The Karma Fire Red Lotus ignited. The newly trapped Dark Demon Tiger frantically slammed into the Obliteration Cage. But it had no chance to gather its strength, so it naturally could not break through the cage and could only struggle within.

"Luo Chuan, what are you doing?!" Hearing the Dark Demon Tiger's weakening roars from inside the Obliteration Cage, Grandmaster could not help but demand.

Snap!

Luo Chuan snapped his fingers. The fire array dispersed, and the dying Dark Demon Tiger lay sprawled within the Obliteration Cage, its skin marked with faint scorch marks.