Palm Bone Evolution

"Absorb it here."

A dark green gleam appeared at Bibi Dong's fingertips, forming dark green Soul Devouring Demon Spiders that crawled in every direction. She then released a layer of dark green light that covered a ten-meter radius, sealing it off from the outside world.

Ji Wushuang sat cross-legged and began absorbing the Spirit Ring. He could not wait to see what kind of improvement this Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear's Spirit Ring would bring him. In particular, he wondered whether its claws might produce a Spirit Bone.

Bibi Dong sat nearby, quietly watching Ji Wushuang absorb the Spirit Ring. The image of Ji Wushuang touching the spider leg surfaced in her mind without her realizing it.

Three hours later.

Ji Wushuang opened his eyes. Five Spirit Rings pulsed around him with an unceasing hum. A fierce sword aura abruptly erupted from the twelve Treasure Swords, then shot into the sky, trailing twelve long arcs of different colors.

"How was it?" Bibi Dong slowly approached.

Watching Bibi Dong walk toward him, Ji Wushuang rose and stepped forward. "The improvement was considerable, and the Spirit Skill is quite good too. It suits my Martial Soul very well."

"Mm."

Bibi Dong gently placed her delicate hand on Ji Wushuang's shoulder. After examining him closely, a smile appeared on her lovely face.

"Level fifty-two."

"When I was your age, even I wasn't this strong. You've truly surpassed your master."

Ji Wushuang smiled sheepishly, then said, "Teacher, please take a look."

He held out both hands.

The pair of External Soul Bones he had obtained from the Titan Giant Ape began to emerge. Dark red light enveloped his hands, presenting them before her eyes. Unlike before, irregular golden patterns flowed across the surface of the External Soul Bones, and his fingertips had become sharper.

Bibi Dong said in surprise, "The External Soul Bones have changed. Was it because of the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear?"

"That's right! My External Soul Bones can now not only enhance my strength, but also be used as weapons!"

Ji Wushuang casually picked up a rock and crushed it into powder with only a slight exertion of strength.

Ji Wushuang looked toward the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear's corpse, especially its forepaws. "Teacher, have you examined the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear's body? Did you find any Spirit Bones?"

"Not yet. Check it yourself," Bibi Dong said.

With a wave of Ji Wushuang's hand, all twelve swords of the Peerless Sword Casket flew from their sheaths, and the newly absorbed fifth Spirit Ring lit up as well.

In an instant, the blades of all twelve swords were covered in a faint dark golden glow.

"Teacher."

"This is my fifth Spirit Skill: Break."

"Attack power increases by three hundred percent, and penetrating power increases by one hundred percent."

"Even a pure defense-type Soul Master of the same level as me might not be able to withstand a single strike from me."

The twelve flying swords carried an unstoppable, razor-sharp sword intent. In moments, they dismembered the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear until only its skeleton remained.

"No Spirit Bone. What a pity."

Ji Wushuang sheathed his swords and stored several of the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear's best cuts in the Storage Soul Tool as well.

"It would be such a waste not to take these."

At that.

Bibi Dong did not know what to say.

"When has Spirit City ever lacked food for you?"

Ji Wushuang smiled awkwardly.

Bibi Dong suddenly thought of something and asked, "Wushuang, do you want some honey?"

Ji Wushuang paused, then smiled. "Of course!"

Before returning to Spirit City.

Bibi Dong had taken the opportunity to snatch a large jar of Crimson Flame Bee King Honey from the Crimson Flame Beehive.

Paired with this Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear paw.

Tsk, tsk!

Spirit City.

In the rear courtyard of the Pope's Palace, a faint fragrance drifted through the air. The various prepared cuts of the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear were neatly arranged behind Ji Wushuang. In front of him stood a grill, where the meat sizzled and dripped with fat.

Not far away.

Bibi Dong lounged lazily on a bench, holding a sketchbook as she read at leisure. From time to time, she raised her eyes to check on Ji Wushuang.

Seeing Ji Wushuang staring pensively at the grill as though considering the next step, Bibi Dong helplessly shook her head and said, "Go help him."

"Yes—"

The two maids walked straight over to Ji Wushuang and spoke in unison. "His Highness Wushuang, please let us handle it."

Ji Wushuang smiled. "No need, no need. Trust my cooking. Just go attend to Teacher."

"It's only grilled meat. You just cook it, then sprinkle on some seasoning!"

"No problem!"

"..."

The two maids looked back at Bibi Dong, caught in a difficult position.

Bibi Dong sighed softly. "Wushuang, come make your master a cup of tea."

Ji Wushuang glanced back at her. "But... Teacher, you haven't finished the tea in your cup yet!"

"Make a fresh cup." Bibi Dong directly poured out the tea in her cup, gave it a shake, and motioned for Ji Wushuang to look.

"All right..."

Ji Wushuang took out the Ten-Thousand-Year Bee King Honey he had taken from the Crimson Flame Bees, preparing to add some to it.

As one of the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear's staple foods, Ten-Thousand-Year Bee King Honey had excellent body-strengthening effects and was extremely nutritious.

Seeing this, the two maids took over Ji Wushuang's grill.

"Some matters can be left to others. You needn't do everything yourself," Bibi Dong said calmly.

Ji Wushuang glanced back at the two maids and smiled. "I only wanted Teacher to taste my cooking."

Bibi Dong chuckled. "It's only grilled meat. What cooking skill can that possibly show?"

Ji Wushuang said solemnly, "Teacher, you don't understand. Grilling meat is what truly reveals the fundamentals of one's cooking skill."

Bibi Dong smiled. "Very well. Then I'll see just how good your cooking is."

"Teacher, your tea." Ji Wushuang smiled faintly and walked toward the two maids. "Leave this to me. You should go attend to Teacher instead."

The two women had heard their conversation and immediately stepped aside.

Dark red radiance appeared around Ji Wushuang's right hand, threaded with flowing golden lines. Five streaks of sword aura suddenly burst from his sharp fingertips, then merged into one and sliced the grilled meat into evenly sized pieces.

He then used the Sword Control Technique to manipulate the chunks of meat as they roasted in the blazing fire.

"Using the Sword Control Technique to control grilled meat?"

"Hehehe~ You really are something."

Bibi Dong covered her mouth and laughed softly.

"Teacher, this is no longer merely the Sword Control Technique. It is the Object Control Technique."

Ji Wushuang smiled faintly.

A short while later.

Bibi Dong held a jade plate carrying more than ten evenly sized pieces of grilled meat, as well as half a Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear paw.

Ji Wushuang said with complete confidence, "Teacher, hurry and try it!"

Bibi Dong picked up a piece of grilled meat, placed it in her mouth, and chewed gently. Her beautiful eyes narrowed slightly.

"How is it?" Ji Wushuang asked eagerly.

"It's too tough," Bibi Dong said.

"That must be because your teeth aren't good enough. This way, it has more chew," Ji Wushuang said.

Bibi Dong said flatly, "Don't force your master to slap you while I'm still in a good mood."

Ji Wushuang's eye twitched. "Teacher, keep eating. I'll bring some over for Yan and the others to try."

Before Bibi Dong could speak, he fled toward Spirit Hall Academy as though escaping disaster.

Bibi Dong glanced at Ji Wushuang's retreating figure and rolled her eyes. "Showing off with cooking like that? You two, grill it again."

"Yes—"

One of them asked, "Your Excellency the Pope, shall we throw this away for you?"

"No." Bibi Dong picked up another piece and put it into her mouth, chewing it carefully.