Soul-Seizing Hook of the Gods

Don't underestimate Xie Yue and Yan's attacks. Their spirits were top-tier to begin with, so they had nothing to fear against a late-stage Soul Ancestor, especially with Duanyu Fan's support.

Forget a mere Variegated Bewitching Butterfly that was three or four thousand years old—even one ten or twenty thousand years old might not have been able to withstand the attacks of Xie Yue and Yan's Third Soul Skills.

Duanyu Fan's second soul skill, Courage Blessing, now provided a full 100% attack boost. Its base enhancement was 30%, with another 40% added by Duanyu Fan's rank 40 Soul Ancestor cultivation, plus the passive effect of the Seraphim Spirit. The passive Seraphim's Light increased active support skill enhancements by 30%.

The Seraphim Spirit also had another passive ability: Devout Faith, which increased Strength.

Thus, under Duanyu Fan's enhancement, the attacks of Xie Yue and Yan's Third Soul Skills were fully comparable to a Soul King's Fifth Soul Skill.

Although the Variegated Bewitching Butterflies reacted quickly and sensed the danger, Xie Yue and Yan's attacks still killed two of the slower butterflies. One of them was also burned by Yan's flames.

"Screech..." Seeing this, the remaining three Variegated Bewitching Butterflies no longer dared to pursue them. They hurriedly retreated from the woods and returned to the air above the patch of wildflowers and weeds.

"Don't chase them! Variegated Bewitching Butterflies are quite rare soul beasts. Leave a few alive—they probably won't chase us anymore. It wouldn't be good if they went extinct." Seeing that Xie Yue and Yan were still planning to chase after them, Duanyu Fan quickly stopped the two.

"Wow! Milk Dad, your second soul skill is amazing! It actually made my Third Soul Skill no weaker than a Soul King's Fifth Soul Skill." Yan withdrew his Flame Lord Spirit and exclaimed exaggeratedly.

"Yeah, yeah! That was awesome! And that fourth soul ring is ten thousand years old—you hid it really well." Xie Yue also retreated, though he still held his Moon Blade Spirit in hand.

Xie Yue, Yan, and Hu Liena had never experienced Duanyu Fan's second soul skill, Courage Blessing, before. Back at the Academy, Duanyu Fan had never had the chance to use his second soul skill; he had always used his First Soul Skill to heal others.

"Hidden? I only got it a few days ago. This was also my first time revealing my fourth soul ring. Then I came with you to Star Dou Forest—we went from Sunset to Spirit Hall, then to Star Dou Forest. Do you know how much walking I had to do? I've suffered so much!" Duanyu Fan began jokingly complaining again.

"No, I need another bottle of milk." With that, Duanyu Fan took out some milk and started drinking.

"Uh, Demon Fox! Hurry up and finish it off." Xie Yue and Yan both broke into a sweat, then turned toward Hu Liena.

"Hehe." Hu Liena chuckled and drew her dagger, stabbing it toward the Variegated Bewitching Butterfly.

With its wings and legs broken, and after being struck by one of Yan's soul skills, the Variegated Bewitching Butterfly had long since lost all ability to resist.

Naturally, Hu Liena showed no mercy and took the Variegated Bewitching Butterfly's final life, helplessly accepting the soul ring from its seven-thousand-year cultivation.

Watching the purple soul ring rise, Hu Liena sat cross-legged and began guiding it into her body for absorption.

"I really wonder what kind of soul skill a Variegated Bewitching Butterfly soul beast will produce when paired with the Demon Fox Spirit." Seeing that Hu Liena had begun absorbing the soul ring, Yan turned to Xie Yue and quietly spoke.

"The Variegated Bewitching Butterfly can confuse the mind, and the Demon Fox has that ability too. That's definitely Strength upon Strength. She might even be able to confuse Soul Kings." Hearing Yan's words, Duanyu Fan hurriedly leaned toward them and quietly guessed.

"That's what I think too! But if she can confuse Soul Kings, won't I be even less able to beat my little sister?" Xie Yue joked.

"Oh! You're actually thinking about fighting my Senior Sister? You're finished. When Senior Sister wakes up, I'll tell her you wanted to fight her. Right, Yan?" Duanyu Fan looked at Xie Yue in astonishment.

"No, no, no, I was joking! If she finds out, who knows how she'll torment me. The past two years have been too hard." The moment Xie Yue heard that, his face fell miserably.

"Hehe!" Yan seemed to recall something and immediately burst out laughing.

"Keep it down! You've got the nerve to laugh?" Xie Yue hurriedly covered Yan's mouth.

"Oh! So there's something fun here?" Duanyu Fan said with a gossipy expression.

"I'll tell you. It was actually nothing much. Once, Demon Fox bewitched him, and Moon Blade hugged an animal, kissing it and whispering sweet nothings. He nearly married it right there. It was too horrible to look at. After he woke up, he even killed the animal with one slash. So brutal." Yan grinned as he quietly told Duanyu Fan.

"Damn it, Yan! Don't bring up my embarrassing past! Besides, I was only ten back then. Didn't that Variegated Bewitching Butterfly just bewitch you too? You nearly put your own head into its mouth, and you were standing there grinning like an idiot." Xie Yue shot back at Yan.

"Right! Yan, what did you see when you were bewitched just now? Why were you smiling so stupidly?" Duanyu Fan immediately turned to ask Yan.

"Uh, that... it's not worth mentioning. I'll recover the Soul Power I just used first." Yan stammered, then immediately closed his eyes and sat on the ground, pretending to recover his Soul Power.

"Damn, Yan's such a closet flirt." After being left speechless, Xie Yue also began recovering his Soul Power.

"Uh, never mind. I haven't finished my milk yet." Duanyu Fan started drinking again.

"But it seems my First Soul Skill can restore Soul Power too, so why meditate? Ah! After more than a year of treating villagers, I forgot that my First Soul Skill could restore Soul Power as well. This skill really is divine." Remembering something, Duanyu Fan muttered to himself.

Thirty minutes later, Hu Liena finally completed the absorption of her fourth soul ring and became a Soul Ancestor with the optimal ring configuration.

"Huh? Why are those two sitting down too?" Hu Liena stood up and looked at Xie Yue and Yan.

"They're recovering Soul Power. Forget it, I'll give them a hand. First Soul Skill, Healing Prayer." Duanyu Fan used his First Soul Skill twice in succession, restoring both of their Soul Power.

"Huh? Why is my Soul Power suddenly full?" Xie Yue opened his eyes and said.

"Mine too." Yan opened his eyes as well.

"I forgot about the effect of my First Soul Skill. Did you two forget too?" Duanyu Fan was speechless.

"Hehe!" The two laughed awkwardly.

"Oh! Demon Fox is awake. How was it? What's the effect of your soul skill?" Xie Yue immediately changed the subject.

Xie Yue's words drew the attention of Duanyu Fan and Yan.

"Haha! Not bad! Who wants to test my soul skill?" Hu Liena mischievously said.

"Let your brother do it. He was just saying he wanted to bully you, right, Yan?" Duanyu Fan hurriedly pushed Xie Yue forward.

"Yes, I heard it. Moon Blade, didn't you want to bully your little sister? We're giving you the chance." Yan shuddered and quickly followed Duanyu Fan's lead.

"Oh? Is that so, my dear brother?" Pink light shimmered in Hu Liena's eyes as she locked gazes with Xie Yue.

Xie Yue was bewitched in an instant, but Duanyu Fan used his First Soul Skill to remove Hu Liena's bewitchment.

"Hehe, I was just testing whether I could remove control effects like bewitchment." Seeing Hu Liena looking at him, Duanyu Fan hurriedly explained.

"My dear little sister, I was wrong. Hurry and tell us what it does." After waking up, Xie Yue said with lingering fear.

"My Fourth Soul Skill is called Soul-Seizing Hook of the Gods. It can probably bewitch people up to two realms above me, and it can also use spiritual power to attack Soul Kings." Hu Liena gave a simple introduction.

"The name Soul-Seizing Hook of the Gods is really nice. You can tell it's powerful just by hearing it." Duanyu Fan chimed in.

"All right! I've obtained my Fourth Soul Ring. Next, it's your turn." Hu Liena said.

"Haha! We're pretty lucky too. It won't take us more than a few days to get our Fourth Soul Rings." Yan said happily.

The four of them readied themselves and continued searching for soul beasts.

"Sigh! Xiao Fan hasn't been by my side for five days now. It really feels a little strange."

Bibi Dong sat in the empty Pope Palace and sighed.

If there are any typos or missing words, please let me know. Sometimes I hit the wrong keys while typing...

Thank you all for continuing to follow the story.