Grueling Absorption! Mu En's Mark Lends a Hand! Successful Absorption! Ten Thousand Year Second Ring!

As the sun set and the moon rose, another night passed.

When the Bright Moon climbed to the center of the sky, moonlight poured down like silk, bathing the entire hillside in silver light. Then, the Ancient Spirit Tree suddenly changed.

The pale gold patterns on its trunk lit up abruptly. Its branches and leaves rustled pleasantly despite the lack of wind.

At the crown of the tree, a strand of nearly tangible moonlight was drawn down into the trunk. The entire ancient tree seemed to come alive, its Life Aura steadily rising.

Huang Fei opened his eyes, knowing the time had come.

He rose to his feet and took three Calming Spirit Pills from his robes. He placed one beneath his tongue and held the remaining two in his palm.

Then he strode toward the ancient tree.

Ten Zhang, eight Zhang, five Zhang...

When he entered the range of three Zhang, the Ancient Spirit Tree seemed to sense something. Its branches and leaves trembled faintly, and its Life Energy rippled slightly, yet it showed no sign of attacking.

Huang Fei stopped and bowed respectfully to the ancient tree.

When he straightened, a fierce glint flashed through his eyes. He raised two fingers of his right hand like a blade, gathering Soul Power at their tips until it formed a jade-green blade of light.

"Forgive me."

As his words fell, the blade of light tore through the air and slashed directly at a point seven inches into the trunk.

That was where the system had marked its life core.

Splat!

The blade of light sank three parts into the wood.

The Ancient Spirit Tree shuddered violently, its branches and leaves rustling loudly. Vast Life Energy surged forth like a tide, yet it carried not the slightest aggression. Instead, it held a trace of sorrow and relief.

Huang Fei felt a faint ache in his heart, but he did not stop.

He poured in more Soul Power, driving the blade of light completely inside.

The ancient tree's trembling gradually ceased. Its branches and leaves slowly drooped, while its Life Aura ebbed away like a receding tide.

In the end, the entire tree dissolved into specks of jade-green light that drifted through the air.

Only a pitch-black Soul Ring remained, floating silently where it had stood.

A Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring!

Even though he had been prepared, Huang Fei's heart still shook violently when he saw this Soul Ring, pitch black like ink and pulsing with Soul Power as vast as the sea.

He took a deep breath, suppressed his distracting thoughts, and sat down cross-legged.

The Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul emerged from his right hand. Its grass leaves were broader and sturdier than before, silver patterns extending all the way to the leaf tips and faintly gleaming with pale gold light.

"Come."

"Let us become one!"

"Become my strength!"

"Bear witness to my path to godhood!"

With a thought, Huang Fei guided the black Soul Ring toward the Blue Silver Grass.

The instant the Soul Ring touched his body—

Boom!!!

It was as though a massive hammer had smashed viciously into his soul!

Huang Fei's vision went dark, his ears rang, and his entire body felt as if he had fallen into an Ice Cellar—then been thrown into a furnace. Ice and fire intertwined, bringing agony beyond endurance.

The Soul Shock had begun.

So strong!

This was only a Ten Thousand Year Soul Beast with no offensive abilities.

If it had been one of those Soul Beasts with powerful attack methods, just how terrifying would the Soul Shock it created be?

That was why anyone capable of absorbing a Soul Ring beyond their level was a true monster.

In the First Book, when Tang San absorbed a Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring for his fourth Soul Ring, he would have exploded and died long ago if he had not first consumed the Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew to enhance his Purple Demon Eye, along with the support of the Mysterious Heaven Skill.

He clenched his teeth. The Calming Spirit Pill beneath his tongue dissolved, and a cool medicinal force rushed into his mind, barely protecting his consciousness from scattering.

The Wood Breathing Technique circulated frantically, trying to soothe the violent Life Energy.

But the energy of a Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring was simply too immense.

Even though the Ancient Spirit Tree's nature was gentle, and even though Huang Fei's foundation was solid, he was still like a small boat caught in a raging storm, liable to capsize at any moment.

Soul Power rampaged through his meridians, making them swell with pain as though they were about to burst.

His Spiritual Power teetered on the brink beneath the Soul Shock, and his awareness gradually blurred.

It hurts so much...

So this is the power of a Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring...

I want to die...

No... I can't die...

I can't pass out... If I pass out, it's over...

Huang Fei roared inwardly, forcibly gathering his will and circulating the Breathing Technique again and again.

Time seemed to stretch endlessly.

Every breath felt like a year.

At that moment, he truly understood what it meant for every day to feel like a year.

No, this was even more absurd. Every second felt like a year!

Amid the hazy strain tearing at his mind,

he did not know how long had passed when, just as Huang Fei was about to collapse, a sudden change occurred.

A warm golden light quietly lit up between his brows.

It was the Soul Power Mark Gifted by Mu En!

The golden light spread, forming a thin film that protected Huang Fei's heart and sea of consciousness.

The pressure dropped sharply.

Huang Fei's spirits surged. Seizing the opportunity, he guided his Soul Power forward and struck the final barrier.

Crack!

It was as though shackles had shattered within his body.

His Soul Power Level soared from Level 20!

The process was like riding a rocket!

Level 21!

Level 22!

Level 23!

Finally, it stabilized firmly at Level 23!

Most of the remaining power was used to nourish Huang Fei's Martial Soul, improve his physique, and raise his Innate Soul Power.

His Innate Soul Power had previously been Level 3. Now, it had risen to Level 6!

His cultivation speed would also undergo a qualitative improvement.

For him, this was undoubtedly excellent news.

The black Soul Ring also completely merged into the Blue Silver Grass, becoming his second Soul Ring and quietly circling around it.

He had succeeded!

Huang Fei was overjoyed, yet he did not dare relax. He continued circulating his Soul Power to stabilize his realm.

At that moment, the system notification sounded:

[Second Soul Ring successfully absorbed!]

[Soul Ring age: 10,300 years]

[Soul skill generating...]

[Soul skill: Life's Praise]

[Effect: Consume 30% Soul Power to bestow "Life Blessing" upon one or multiple targets, removing all negative conditions, instantly healing all injuries, and restoring all expended Soul Power, physical strength, and Spiritual Power to their peak states!]

[Additional effect: When used on oneself, Wood Affinity can be temporarily raised to 50%. As long as Soul Power remains, the effect can be maintained indefinitely.]

[Notice: When combined with the Wood Breathing Technique and Wood Affinity, there will be no Soul Power consumption whatsoever! A must-have Divine Artifact for prolonged battles!]

Huang Fei opened his eyes. Green light flowed through them, deep as a pool.

With a thought, his Second Black Soul Ring lit up.

A warm jade-green radiance flowed from his palm and entered his body.

In an instant, the injuries across his body healed at a visible rate. His Soul Power rapidly recovered, and even his mental exhaustion was swept away.

What delighted him even more was that the surrounding Wood Attribute Spiritual Energy surged toward him like young swallows returning to their nest, blending seamlessly with his Soul Power and obeying his control as easily as his own limbs.

"What a powerful Soul Skill..."

Huang Fei took a deep breath and withdrew his Soul Rings.

He was now Level 23, with a Thousand Year first ring and a Ten Thousand Year second ring.

Across the entire continent, there was likely no second person like him.

He stood and bowed once more in the direction where the Ancient Spirit Tree had vanished.

Then he turned and headed toward the entrance of the Valley.

Moonlight spilled down, stretching his shadow long behind him.

Outside the Valley, Song Yunzhi stood with her hands behind her back. When she sensed Huang Fei emerge with a steady aura, a trace of relief flashed through her eyes.

"How did it go?" Song Yunzhi had been worried the entire time.

Now that she saw Huang Fei was unharmed, she immediately let out a breath of relief.

"Very well. The absorption was successful."

Huang Fei nodded.

The next moment, Blue Silver Grass appeared. A purple Thousand Year Soul Ring and a black Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring rose from beneath his feet.

The Blue Silver Grass had also become more full of vitality than before. Its leaves were larger, while its roots and stems were thicker and broader.

It could contain even more Soul Power.

It was obvious that it had undergone a tremendous qualitative transformation.

This was the Blue Silver Grass's second evolution through life ascension!

It further proved that Huang Fei had not chosen the wrong path.

"Very good!" Song Yunzhi nodded in satisfaction.

As for his Soul Skill, she did not ask.

She would see it later.

"Let's go. We're returning to the academy."

"Yes, Teacher."

The two figures disappeared into the night, quietly departing.

Only Moonflower Valley remained tranquil.