Third Soul Skill, Lovesick Heartbreak Red

The moment that pale-black Soul Ring enveloped Ji Xuan.

The lingering resentment left behind by the Blade Mantis after its death appeared within his Sea of Consciousness.

However, after absorbing the Immortal Herbs, Ji Xuan's current Spiritual Power had already neared the level of a Soul Emperor.

The resentment of this Ten-Thousand-Year Blade Mantis was not worth mentioning to him.

"Such a petty remnant dares to act presumptuously?"

Within Ji Xuan's Sea of Consciousness, a Golden Long Sword condensed and slashed down at the Blade Mantis!

There was no fierce confrontation, only absolute suppression.

The Blade Mantis's phantom shattered like a bubble in an instant...

The Soul Shock ended the moment it began.

A trace of approval flashed through Golden Crocodile Douluo's eyes.

He clearly sensed the aura of resentment belonging to the soul beast vanish in an instant.

Meanwhile, Ji Xuan's aura was steadily and rapidly rising.

All that remained was to naturally absorb the Soul Ring's energy.

"Xiao Xuan, what is your Third Soul Skill?"

Half an hour later, Ji Xuan successfully absorbed the Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Ring.

At that moment, his Soul Power Level had reached Level Thirty-Four.

Part of it came from the energy of the Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Ring, while even more came from the two Immortal Herbs he had refined earlier.

Ji Xuan rose to his feet, looked at Golden Crocodile Douluo, and said:

"Martial Uncle Golden Crocodile, my Third Soul Skill is called Armor-Piercing Edge."

"After activating the Soul Skill, my next attack can ignore the defenses of opponents at the same level."

"Against opponents of a higher level, the armor-piercing effect will weaken, but it will retain at least fifty percent of its effect."

"Worthy of a Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Skill." Golden Crocodile Douluo nodded in satisfaction, then changed the subject. "Then... where do you plan to go next?"

Ji Xuan pondered for a moment. "First, I'll go to Heaven Dou City to see Sister Xue and bring her an Immortal Herb while I'm at it."

"After that, I'll travel the continent and see if I can bring some factions under my control."

Golden Crocodile nodded slightly. "Let's go."

Heaven Dou City, Heaven Dou Imperial Palace.

Although the palace was currently under tight security.

With Golden Crocodile's cultivation, bringing Ji Xuan inside was like entering an empty realm.

The palace guards, the patrolling imperial troops, and even the hidden soul masters stationed in the shadows noticed nothing.

In just a few breaths, the two had landed in the courtyard of the Crown Prince's Eastern Palace.

Qian Renxue was inside the room.

The two Title Douluo, Pufferfish and Snake Lance, stood guard in the shadows outside the door.

"Who goes there?!"

Snake Lance Douluo suddenly became alert.

Porcupinefish Douluo appeared at the same time, and the two faced their visitors as if confronting a great enemy.

The intruders had completely evaded their senses.

"What? You don't recognize this old man?"

Golden Crocodile Douluo's calm yet imposing voice rang out.

His and Ji Xuan's figures appeared.

Upon seeing who had come, Snake Lance and Porcupinefish's pupils contracted sharply.

The two hurriedly bowed. "Greetings, Elder Golden Crocodile!"

Although they were both elders of Spirit Hall, they were merely ordinary elders.

Whether in strength, seniority, or status, they were worlds apart from Golden Crocodile Douluo, the Second Worship of the Worship Hall.

Before this man, they did not dare show the slightest negligence.

Just then, Qian Renxue pushed open the door and stepped outside.

Upon seeing them, she froze briefly before quickly walking over.

"Grandfather Golden Crocodile, Little Brother Ji Xuan, why are you here?"

Golden Crocodile nodded slightly. "Passing by. I came to see you while I was here."

Ji Xuan smiled. "Sister Xue, it has been a long time. I hope you've been well."

Qian Renxue turned to Pufferfish and Snake Lance. "You may withdraw first."

"Yes, Young Master."

After the two withdrew, Qian Renxue looked back at Ji Xuan and Golden Crocodile. "Let's go inside first."

However, Golden Crocodile Douluo shook his head slightly. "Xiao Xue, you young people can talk. This old man won't go in."

"All right." Qian Renxue took Ji Xuan's hand. "Little Brother Ji Xuan, come inside with your sister."

Ji Xuan let her lead him into the room.

Watching their retreating backs, Golden Crocodile's lips curled into a meaningful smile.

After entering the room, Qian Renxue brushed a hand over her face and returned to her original appearance.

Within the palace, she usually maintained Xue Qinghe's appearance.

"Little Brother Ji Xuan, after two years apart, you've grown as tall as your sister."

Qian Renxue walked up to Ji Xuan. She had originally wanted to tease him as she used to, but found that the boy before her had already grown up.

"Sister Xue, I came to find you this time because there is something important."

"Oh? What is it?" Qian Renxue asked curiously.

Ji Xuan took a white flower from his Hundred Treasures Pouch.

The flower looked exceptionally ordinary, only palm-sized and shaped like a peony. It had no leaves, while its stem was connected below to a large, pitch-black stone.

Several startling blood-red patches marked the white flower.

"What is this? Are you giving me flowers?"

"This is an Immortal Herb."

"It is called Lovesick Heartbreak Red, a divine-grade treasure among Immortal Herbs. Consuming it can increase Soul Power, completely transform the body, and greatly improve one's cultivation talent."

"What?!" Qian Renxue cried out. "You... are you telling the truth?"

"Of course. Martial Uncle Golden Crocodile broke through his bottleneck after consuming an Immortal Herb."

"Good little brother, your sister loves you. Give it to me quickly." Qian Renxue held out her hand.

"Well..." Ji Xuan smiled at the corner of his lips and raised a hand to tap his cheek. "Give me a kiss, and I'll give it to you."

Remembering what had happened two years ago, Ji Xuan wanted to tease her a little.

"You! What did you say?!" Qian Renxue's beautiful eyes widened instantly.

She raised a jade-like hand and grabbed Ji Xuan's ear. "You've grown up, have you? You dare flirt with your sister now?"

Ji Xuan hurriedly grabbed her wrist. "Ow, ow, ow... I was joking. Let go already."

"Hmph!" The tips of Qian Renxue's ears reddened slightly as she hurriedly released him. "Give it to me, now!"

"Sister Xue, this flower has a story. Would you like to hear it first?"

"What story?"

"Legend says that long ago, there was a youth who loved flowers to the point of obsession. His sincerity moved the Flower Fairy of the God Realm, and she secretly descended to the mortal world to marry him. But the heavenly gods discovered them. Immortals and mortals could not be together, and in their fury, the gods summoned the Flower Fairy back to the God Realm."

"Having lost his beloved, the youth spent his days in despair and no longer had the heart to tend to flowers and plants."

"Until one day, a white-haired elder told him that the white peony in his garden was the incarnation of his beloved. As long as he destroyed it, the Flower Fairy would become mortal and return to the human world."

"But how could the youth bear to hurt it? He could only drink and weep before it every day. In the end, he died of heartbreak from longing, and before his death, a mouthful of blood splattered onto the petals."

Ji Xuan picked up Lovesick Heartbreak Red and pointed at its petals.

"The several blood-red patches on it are the youth's heart's blood."

Ji Xuan paused, then continued:

"Therefore, this flower is no ordinary treasure. To pluck it, one must think of their beloved and spit out a mouthful of blood onto its petals. If one's heart is divided, then even if one vomits blood to death, they will be unable to pluck it."

"But once it is plucked, it will recognize its master and never wither."

"I never expected such an unforgettable story to lie behind this seemingly ordinary flower..." Qian Renxue murmured softly.

"Sister Xue... do you still want to try?"

Ji Xuan held the Immortal Herb out before Qian Renxue.

A moment later.

"Let me try..."

Qian Renxue took a deep breath and accepted the Immortal Herb.

She herself did not know what kind of feelings she truly had for Ji Xuan...