Dark Demon Evil Tiger, Spirit Ring Acquired

Three days later. Outer perimeter of the Sunset Forest.

Unlike the primitive vastness of the Star Dou Great Forest, the Sunset Forest was far more eerie and sinister. The branches of towering ancient trees twisted like ghostly claws reaching toward the gray sky. A pale purple miasma that never dispersed filled the woods, carrying the scent of decay and some strange metal. The ground was covered in thick layers of colorful fallen leaves and moss, soft beneath one's feet, concealing who knew what below. The air was unusually quiet. Even insect chirps and birdsong were scarce, leaving only the mournful howl of wind passing through the bizarre stone forest, enough to make one's hair stand on end.

A carriage made entirely of black metal, bearing no markings whatsoever, stood silently in a concealed mountain hollow. The sockets of the two fine horses pulling it flickered with ghostly blue soul flames. Clearly, they were not living creatures.

The carriage door opened, and Yang Yu and Zhu Zhuqing stepped out.

Zhu Zhuqing was still dressed in fitted black combat attire that perfectly outlined her agile figure. Her expression was cold, her gaze sharp as blades. After three days of consolidation, her thirtieth-level Soul Power had fully stabilized. Her aura was deep and steady, like a sharp sword about to leave its sheath, waiting to drink blood and reveal its edge.

Yang Yu wore simple black clothing and calmly surveyed the bizarre surroundings. Yue Guan followed behind him like a shadow, a hint of vigilance on his face.

"Your Highness, according to the intelligence, the last known location of that Dark Demon Evil Tiger remnant was deep within this Evil Eye Stone Forest," Yue Guan reported in a low voice, pinching a withered tuft of fur carrying a faint dark aura between his fingers. "This creature likes to devour metal veins and yin-fiend energy. Its nest is most likely near an abandoned mine shaft or an underground fissure. However, the magnetic field in this area is chaotic, the miasma is poisonous, and many bizarre soul beasts live here. We must be especially careful."

"It doesn't matter." Yang Yu answered blandly, then turned his gaze toward Zhu Zhuqing. "Can you feel it?"

Zhu Zhuqing closed her eyes and focused, then nodded slightly. Her Hell Spirit Cat Martial Soul was exceptionally sensitive to dark and evil auras. She could vaguely sense an elusive yet heart-chilling cold evil presence emanating from deep within the stone forest, making the Soul Power inside her stir faintly.

"Let's go." Yang Yu took the lead into the jagged stone forest shrouded in miasma. Zhu Zhuqing followed without hesitation. Yue Guan silently vanished from where he stood, as though he had merged with the shadows, taking responsibility for keeping watch and clearing away unnecessary trouble.

The deeper they went into the stone forest, the more dangerous the environment became. The moss on the ground turned slippery and viscous, and occasionally, enormous pale skeletons of unknown creatures could be seen half-buried in the soil. The twisted rocks formed a natural maze, while the miasma grew so thick it was almost tangible, obscuring their vision and severely interfering even with spiritual detection.

Screech!

A gray shadow shot out from a crack in the rocks like lightning, lunging straight for Zhu Zhuqing's throat! It was a monstrous insect with a body resembling gray stone and a vicious maw, moving at an astonishing speed!

Zhu Zhuqing's eyes turned cold. She did not even summon her Martial Soul. Her body twisted slightly as though boneless, narrowly dodging the attack. The claws on her right hand sprang out, and she slashed backhandedly with sharp Netherworld light!

Pfft!

The monster insect's hard shell was sliced open as easily as paper. Green fluid splashed everywhere as it let out a piercing shriek, fell to the ground, twitched twice, and stopped moving.

The entire process was clean and efficient, without a single unnecessary movement. Yang Yu watched and nodded slightly. The month of life-and-death special training had clearly produced remarkable results.

They continued deeper. Along the way, they encountered several more waves of attacks. There were Demon Flowers capable of spraying paralyzing poisonous mist, Iron Thread Centipedes lurking beneath fallen leaves, and even a swarm of Blood-Eyed Bats with red-glowing eyes that feared no death. Yet Zhu Zhuqing swiftly dealt with all of them through efficient and ruthless methods. Her combat experience was rapidly accumulating.

Finally, after passing through an area covered with enormous beast bones and particularly dense fiendish energy, a huge pitch-black underground fissure constantly exuding cold, evil aura appeared before the three of them.

The rocks around the fissure were an ominous purplish-black, as if they had been contaminated by some power. The heart-chilling evil aura came from deep within the crack, so dense that it was almost impossible to disperse.

"It's down there." Yang Yu stopped. "Yue Guan, guard the exit."

"Yes." Yue Guan's figure appeared beside the fissure. A faint golden chrysanthemum phantom flickered into view, sealing off the area.

Yang Yu looked at Zhu Zhuqing. "Go down. Draw it out, or... go down and kill it. This is your test."

Without any hesitation, Zhu Zhuqing took a deep breath. Her Hell Spirit Cat Martial Soul possessed her body! Two yellow and one purple Spirit Rings rose beneath her feet. The Third Spirit Ring was simulated, prepared for the absorption process. Her gaze was cold and resolute as she leaped forward, slipping soundlessly into the bottomless dark fissure like an agile black cat.

The fissure was extremely deep, and little light could penetrate it. Relying on her cat Martial Soul's night vision and affinity with darkness, Zhu Zhuqing crawled down the steep, damp rock wall like a gecko. The farther down she went, the denser the cold, evil aura became. It was also mixed with a heavy scent of blood and... rusted metal.

After descending nearly a hundred meters, her feet finally touched solid ground. This was an enormous underground cavern. Strange ores embedded in the walls emitted faint purple light, providing a little illumination. In the center of the cavern lay a mountain-like heap of various soul beast bones and rusted metal fragments. Atop that pile of bones and metal crouched a massive creature, breathing heavily.

It was a giant tiger over five meters long! Its body was covered in dark purple fur, but eerie black patterns resembling twisted human faces ran across it! Its limbs were thick and powerful, its claws curved like sickles and gleaming with metallic coldness. Most eye-catching were its eyes, one gold and one silver, like two ghostly flames filled with brutality, evil, and cunning! It was the Dark Demon Evil Tiger remnant!

It seemed to have just finished eating. Bloodied scraps of flesh and metal fragments still clung to the corners of its mouth. Powerful energy fluctuations emanated from its body; it was clearly around three thousand five hundred years old! At that moment, its demonic gold and silver pupils warily swept through the cavern. It had obviously sensed the arrival of an uninvited guest.

Zhu Zhuqing held her breath and suppressed her aura to the utmost limit. Like a true shadow, she silently circled into the giant tiger's blind spot. She was searching for a chance to kill it in one strike.

However, the Dark Demon Evil Tiger's senses far exceeded her expectations! The instant she moved to a certain angle—

ROAR!!!

A deafening tiger roar suddenly erupted! Terrifying sound waves mixed with tangible dark evil aura swept through the entire cavern like a tidal wave! Zhu Zhuqing felt as though her head had been struck by a heavy hammer. Her ears rang, her vision swam, and her concealed state was instantly broken!

The Dark Demon Evil Tiger's massive body spun around with agility utterly disproportionate to its size. Its gold and silver demonic pupils instantly locked onto Zhu Zhuqing's position! Cruel, bloodthirsty light burst from its eyes!

It suddenly reared up, and its right foreclaw came crashing down at Zhu Zhuqing with a shriek that tore through the air! Before the claw wind even arrived, the horrifying power and evil aura within it made her skin feel piercingly cold!

So fast! So strong!

Zhu Zhuqing's pupils contracted sharply. She did not dare take it head-on! Her First Spirit Ring lit up instantly! Hell Stab!

Her figure retreated like a ghost, narrowly evading that mountain-splitting, stone-shattering claw!

Boom!

The tiger claw struck the spot where Zhu Zhuqing had stood. The hard stone floor shattered like tofu, leaving behind an enormous claw mark wrapped in lingering purplish-black evil aura!

Having missed its strike, the Dark Demon Evil Tiger let out an angry roar. Its enormous body became a streak of purple lightning as it pounced at Zhu Zhuqing again! It was actually a fraction faster than Zhu Zhuqing even with Hell Stab activated!

The cavern offered too little room to maneuver! Zhu Zhuqing was instantly plunged into danger!

Her eyes remained cold, without the slightest panic. Her Second Spirit Ring lit up! Netherworld Hundred Claws!

Countless sharp, dark claw shadows swept toward the charging giant tiger like a raging storm! Clang! Clang! Clang! The claw shadows collided with its claws and fur, producing the sound of metal striking metal! They could only leave faint white marks on its fur! What terrifying defense!

The Dark Demon Evil Tiger felt pain and grew even more enraged! Its gold and silver demonic pupils suddenly lit up with strange light!

Zhu Zhuqing abruptly felt the surrounding space become thick and heavy, causing her movements to slow involuntarily by a beat! Her mind also went hazy, as if countless malicious whispers were echoing in her head!

Evil God's Gaze! Mental interference!

In that instant of delay!

The Dark Demon Evil Tiger's enormous tail swept over like a steel whip! It was so fast that it exceeded Zhu Zhuqing's reaction limit!

Bang!

Zhu Zhuqing only had time to cross her arms in front of herself before her whole body was struck like she had been hit by a speeding carriage, smashing violently into the rock wall behind her! Sweetness rose in her throat, and blood sprayed from her mouth! It felt as though her internal organs had shifted out of place, while excruciating pain flooded her entire body in an instant!

"Roar!" The Dark Demon Evil Tiger pressed its advantage without mercy. It opened its bloody maw and bit down at the injured Zhu Zhuqing amid a foul-smelling gale, intending to swallow her whole!

The shadow of death descended in an instant!

At that critical moment!

Not only was there no fear in Zhu Zhuqing's eyes, but a trace of cold madness and determination flashed through them! This was exactly the opportunity she had been waiting for!

Suppressing the agonizing pain, she slid half a step sideways along the rock wall as though boneless, narrowly avoiding the fatal bite! At the same time, her Third Soul Skill, the simulated one she had been holding in reserve, suddenly lit up! Yet what it released was not an offensive Soul Skill, but an extremely faint yet exceptionally pure Netherworld aura. Like bait, it instantly entered the comparatively vulnerable throat exposed by the Dark Demon Evil Tiger as it bit down!

This aura was a thread of pure Hell Spirit Cat origin aura that Yang Yu had extracted in advance and sealed within her simulated Spirit Ring! To a dark soul beast such as the Dark Demon Evil Tiger, it was an irresistible temptation!

Sure enough!

The Dark Demon Evil Tiger's movements suddenly froze! Confusion and greed flashed through its gold and silver demonic pupils! It instinctively wanted to devour that thread of pure dark aura!

Now!

Zhu Zhuqing's First Spirit Ring lit up again! Hell Stab! But rather than retreating, she advanced! She condensed all her Soul Power, all her will, and all her ruthlessness into this strike! Her body and arm seemed to become an indestructible dark blade, stabbing straight toward the Dark Demon Evil Tiger's golden demonic eye, exposed by that momentary stiffness!

Fast! Ruthless! Precise!

Pfft!

A teeth-grating sound rang out, like a ripe fruit being punctured!

Dark green, foul-smelling fluid mixed with pieces of eyeball exploded outward!

"Awooo—!!!"

The Dark Demon Evil Tiger released an earth-shaking, miserable howl! Its enormous body twisted wildly, while its remaining silver demonic eye instantly turned blood-red, full of endless pain and madness! It flailed its claws wildly and struck all around it, tearing chunks from the rock walls and sending shattered stones flying!

The instant her strike landed, Zhu Zhuqing had already used the rebound force to retreat far away. She panted heavily, her face pale, but her gaze remained as cold as ever. Trading injury for its life was the most effective tactic!

Having lost one eye, the Dark Demon Evil Tiger fell completely into madness. It destroyed everything in the cavern, but because of the agonizing pain and its impaired vision, it could not find Zhu Zhuqing's position for the moment.

Like the most patient hunter, Zhu Zhuqing hid in the shadows, silently recovering her Soul Power as she waited for the next opportunity.

The mad destruction continued for the time it took to burn an incense stick before the Dark Demon Evil Tiger's movements gradually weakened. Its aura also became feeble. Excessive blood loss and agonizing pain had drained a tremendous amount of its strength.

Now!

Cold light flashed through Zhu Zhuqing's eyes as she attacked once more! It was still Hell Stab combined with Netherworld Hundred Claws! She targeted its wounded eye socket and comparatively soft abdomen!

The Dark Demon Evil Tiger retaliated madly, but its obstructed vision distorted its movements and greatly weakened its power. Instead, Zhu Zhuqing's attacks, clinging to it like maggots to bone, continuously added new wounds to its body!

The battle became one of attrition. Zhu Zhuqing pushed guerrilla tactics to their limit, never meeting it head-on. She struck once and immediately retreated, constantly drawing blood and wearing it down.

Time passed bit by bit. The Dark Demon Evil Tiger's roars grew weaker and weaker, its movements slower and slower. Finally, it crashed to the ground. Its huge body twitched faintly, with only breath leaving its body and none entering. Its remaining silver eye was filled with unwillingness and venomous hatred.

Zhu Zhuqing had also nearly reached her limit. Her Soul Power was exhausted, and she had injuries all over her body. She was only standing through sheer willpower. Walking to the giant tiger's corpse, she watched as a Spirit Ring slowly condensed above it. It was as deep as a black-purple crystal, with wisps of silver evil aura winding around its surface. At last, relief flashed through her eyes.

She had succeeded. Alone, she had killed a top-tier three-thousand-five-hundred-year soul beast beyond her level!

She did not absorb it immediately. Instead, she looked up toward the top of the fissure.

A moment later, Yang Yu and Yue Guan slowly descended.

Yang Yu glanced over the savage aftermath of the battle and Zhu Zhuqing's bedraggled yet upright figure, then nodded. "Passable."

A trace of surprise flashed through Yue Guan's eyes, and he clicked his tongue in amazement. "Defeating a three-thousand-five-hundred-year Dark Demon Evil Tiger remnant alone with thirtieth-level Soul Power—this achievement is enough to look down upon her peers. His Highness the Holy Son has taught her well."

Zhu Zhuqing said nothing and merely adjusted her breathing in silence.

Yang Yu walked to the Dark Demon Evil Tiger's corpse. His gaze fell on its gold and silver demonic eyes, and suddenly, he extended a finger and made a grasping motion toward its remaining silver eye!

Pfft!

That silver eyeball was forcibly gouged out through the air and dropped into his palm. Once separated from the corpse, it quickly solidified into a pigeon-egg-sized gemstone emitting cold, eerie silver radiance.

"The Evil Eye Silver Pupil contains a trace of mental attack and illusion power. It's a decent material for a Soul Tool." Yang Yu casually put it away, then looked toward Zhu Zhuqing. "Begin. Guard your mind. Its remnant soul's resentment is extremely strong, and it will resist with all its strength. Remember: you are the hunter, and it is the prey. Devour it. Command it."

Zhu Zhuqing nodded heavily. She sat cross-legged before the black-purple Spirit Ring, took a deep breath, released her Martial Soul, and guided the Spirit Ring down upon herself.

Boom!

The deep black-purple Spirit Ring instantly settled around her! Far more violent, colder, and filled with evil resentment than when she had absorbed her First Spirit Ring, the energy surged fiercely into Zhu Zhuqing's body like a burst dam!

"Urgh!" Zhu Zhuqing let out a muffled groan. Her body trembled violently, and her face instantly turned pale! Strange purplish-black patterns appeared across her skin, as if countless malicious whispers and cold evil thoughts were madly assaulting her Sea of Consciousness! The Dark Demon Evil Tiger's remnant soul was making its final counterattack!

She clenched her teeth tightly, blood seeping from the corners of her mouth, but an unyielding cold fire burned in her eyes! Following Yang Yu's guidance, she circulated her Soul Power with all her strength. Using her own Netherworld Power as the foundation, she ground away and devoured the foreign evil energy and remnant soul's will bit by bit like a millstone!

It was a painful and lengthy process.

Yang Yu and Yue Guan stood silently nearby, guarding her.

Time flowed on. The purplish-black patterns on Zhu Zhuqing's body gradually faded. Though her aura still fluctuated intensely, it slowly stabilized, then continued rising at an astonishing rate as she grew stronger!

Finally, when the last trace of evil energy was completely devoured and refined, Zhu Zhuqing abruptly opened her eyes!

Whoosh!

Two concentrated beams of light carrying faint, eerie silver glints shot from her eyes! Beneath her feet, the deep black-purple Spirit Ring perfectly condensed and slowly pulsed! An aura far stronger than before erupted from her body! Her Soul Power Level surged directly to level thirty-three!

Her Third Spirit Ring had been successfully absorbed!

Zhu Zhuqing slowly rose to her feet. Feeling the surging power within her body and the new ability granted by the Spirit Ring, shock and delight finally appeared uncontrollably on her cold face.

She raised a hand. Dark Soul Power condensed at her fingertips, where faint silver-black arcs of electricity could be seen flowing, emitting strange fluctuations capable of tearing at souls and corroding defenses!

Dark Demon Evil Tiger Soul Skill—Netherworld Soul Devouring Slash!

Not only was it vastly more powerful than Netherworld Hundred Claws, but it also carried terrifying mental and soul damage, as well as a continuous corrosive effect! It was practically a divine skill!

"How does it feel?" Yang Yu asked blandly.

Zhu Zhuqing clenched her fist, sensing the powerful force within it. Her cold voice carried a trace of restrained excitement. "Better than ever before."

Yang Yu nodded. "Let's return. Familiarize yourself with your new power. Your path has only just begun."

With that, he turned and headed toward the top of the fissure.

Zhu Zhuqing watched his back, then looked at her palm wrapped in silver-black lightning. For the first time, the reflection of that man appeared clearly in her cold eyes.

Powerful, mysterious, cold-hearted, yet seemingly capable of controlling everything.

Perhaps... following him truly is my only way out.

She no longer hesitated and quickly followed after him.