Fourth Soul Skill, Nature Control

After living in the Star Dou Great Forest for a full month, Qi Lin finally remembered why he had come to the Star Dou Great Forest in the first place.

He was here to obtain a soul ring. How had he somehow gotten used to living here?

Qi Lin immediately explained to the Titan Giant Ape and Sky Azure Bull Python that he needed to obtain a soul ring.

His plan for his fourth soul ring was simple. Since his martial soul was plant-based, all he needed to do was stack vitality.

Azure Vine, Sunflower, Ink Cloud Bamboo—any of them would do. An age between ten thousand and twenty thousand years would be fine; he was not particular.

Of course, what Qi Lin wanted most was a Tree of Life.

The Tree of Life was one of the highest-tier plant soul beasts. Its vitality, in particular, was immensely powerful.

In the original Peerless Tang Sect, Shrek Academy's Golden Ancient Tree had mutated after Ah Yin fused with it.

Naturally, Trees of Life were also exceptionally rare.

Trying to find a Life Ancient Tree in the Star Dou Great Forest was no easier than looking for a needle in a haystack.

Yet the next day, while Qi Lin rode the Titan Giant Ape through the forest in search of a suitable soul beast, he "happened" to notice an ancient tree amid a sea of trees. It stood dozens of meters tall, its canopy covered the sky, and its bark was as Jade Green as jade.

The shape of that ancient tree instantly reminded Qi Lin of Di Tian's description.

A Tree of Life!

He had actually found one!

And judging by its age, it was just between fifteen thousand and twenty thousand years old.

Was this fate's guidance?

"Er Ming, run over there. That tree." Qi Lin pointed at the Tree of Life ahead, excitement written across his face.

Following Qi Lin's directions, the Titan Giant Ape broke into a sprint toward the Tree of Life.

The Tree of Life noticed the two uninvited guests. The next second, dozens of roots as thick as water buckets burst out of the ground and lashed toward the Titan Giant Ape.

Unfortunately, the Titan Giant Ape merely grabbed and tugged, instantly ripping apart a whole cluster of roots.

They were not even on the same level.

"Roar!"

The Titan Giant Ape let out a low roar, completely ignoring the Tree of Life's root attacks. Reaching it, he punched the jade-like trunk.

That punch nearly snapped the Tree of Life in two.

After quite some time, once Qi Lin had pulled out all the Tree of Life's roots, a black soul ring appeared above his head.

Qi Lin's eyes lit up at the sight.

It seemed this was probably the most normal soul ring he had obtained so far.

With that thought, Qi Lin immediately sat down and began absorbing the Tree of Life's soul ring.

Only half an hour later, Qi Lin opened his eyes and scratched his head in confusion.

No matter how he looked at it, the effect of this soul skill did not seem like something a ten-thousand-year soul ring could provide.

Fourth Soul Skill: Nature Control!

Soul Skill Effect: Forms a special area with a radius of one li around the user. Within this area, the user can control any plant regardless of cultivation-level differences.

Furthermore, this is a growth-type soul skill. As Soul Power increases, its range will gradually expand.

Tang San: Holy shit, doesn't this completely counter me?

At that moment, Qi Lin released all four of his soul rings.

The black soul ring that should have belonged to the Tree of Life had actually turned Jade Green.

Uh... what?

"Ugh!" Qi Lin let out a long sigh.

Good luck, good luck—you were making me cheat way too obviously.

Try to be a little more restrained next time!

At this rate, he was genuinely afraid he would get banned!

No sooner had that thought arisen than Qi Lin discovered something glowing with a deep green radiance within the Tree of Life's trunk.

This was...

A Spirit Bone!

At the Lake of Life, Xiao Wu and the Sky Azure Bull Python both had looks of astonishment on their faces after hearing such an absurd story.

Fortunately, too many strange things had already happened to Qi Lin. This was hardly the first.

Three more days passed, and Qi Lin and Xiao Wu formally bid farewell to the Titan Giant Ape, Sky Azure Bull Python, Di Tian, and the Silver Dragon King.

Inside the Crystal Palace!

Qi Lin looked at the enormous body of the Silver Dragon King before him and waved goodbye with a smile.

"Xiao Wu and I will be leaving soon. I've really enjoyed this time together. I'll come visit you again when I have the chance."

"Goodbye!" The Silver Dragon King's voice remained utterly calm, without the slightest emotional fluctuation.

Still, Qi Lin felt that she was probably a little reluctant to see them go. After all, no one usually chatted with her.

Her status in the eyes of Di Tian and the others was far too high, making it difficult for them to communicate with her as equals.

After Qi Lin left, the Silver Dragon King looked at the empty Crystal Palace, and a sense of loneliness suddenly rose in her heart.

A thought suddenly sprang to mind!

Meanwhile, after Qi Lin and Xiao Wu returned to the shores of the Lake of Life and bid farewell to the Titan Giant Ape and the Sky Azure Bull Python, Di Tian made his move.

Grabbing one in each hand, he delivered them to the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest in no time.

"Alright, you can walk the rest of the way yourselves!"

With a wave of his hand, several enormous scales appeared before Qi Lin.

"Kid, these are the materials. Don't forget to bring me my Treasure Armor the next time we meet."

Qi Lin shook his head with a smile. "Alright. The next time I come to the Star Dou Great Forest, I'll bring it to you. I guarantee you'll be satisfied."

Only then did Di Tian nod in satisfaction.

The next second, he vanished from the two's sight.

"He just left like that? It would've been great if he'd sent us all the way back," Xiao Wu muttered quietly.

Qi Lin looked at her and said with a smile, "You should stop complaining too. We may have to walk a little farther, but we'll also get to enjoy more scenery along the way."

"Isn't that right?"

"Fine!" After hearing Qi Lin's words, Xiao Wu puffed out her cheeks, feeling that this was not entirely unacceptable.

Half a month later!

Looking at the familiar academy before them and hearing the passing students respectfully call her Sister Xiao Wu, Xiao Wu said with a grin, "We're finally back."

Qi Lin rubbed Xiao Wu's head and said, "Alright, come report to the director with me. We can't just come back without a word and not even greet him."

"Mm-hmm!" Xiao Wu nodded repeatedly.

On their way back after checking in, a voice suddenly called out to them.

"Qi Lin, Xiao Wu, you're back."

The two turned around and saw that it was Tang San.

Tang San was the same age as them, but he looked slightly shorter than Qi Lin. He wore a fitted blue outfit, with a belt inlaid with twenty-four gemstones wrapped around his waist.

Though he was not as handsome and striking as Qi Lin, he was still above average.

In any case, he was definitely far better-looking than Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang!

Xiao Wu greeted him casually. "Xiao San, long time no see!"

When facing Xiao Wu, a smile could not help appearing on Tang San's face. "Yes, it's been a long time."

"By the way, did something happen at home? You two took leave a while back."

Xiao Wu giggled. "Then you guessed wrong. We went to the Star Dou Great Forest to hunt soul beasts."

Tang San's pupils abruptly contracted at those words.

"Which of you broke through?"

He hoped more that it had been Xiao Wu.

Although Qi Lin was also his friend, instinctively, he did not want to believe it or see Qi Lin surpass him by too much.

Seeing Tang San's shocked expression, Xiao Wu proudly raised her fair little chin.

"Of course, both Brother Qi Lin and I broke through!"

"Xiao San, it looks like you'll have to work even harder!"

That was right. Xiao Wu had already broken through to level thirty at the Lake of Life and condensed her third soul ring herself.

She was now a level thirty-one Soul Elder.