Mu Rong used all his strength and shouted at the top of his lungs.
"Attack its belly! The third Spirit Fragment is there! That's where its Spirit Compass is!"
Mu Bei's voice trembled with excitement, but by then he had already made his choice.
In a flash, he dodged the Giant Python's attack. It twisted violently, sending leaves flying as it crashed to the ground beneath the python.
The Giant Python towered above them. It opened its huge jaws, revealing a pale, poisonous ball of light that rapidly gathered in its mouth.
That was its innate soul skill!
Mu Bei said nothing. He trusted Mu Rong's judgment.
He concentrated all his soul power and every trace of his anger and killing intent at the tip of his spear.
"Third Soul Skill: Thunderstrike!"
A thousand-year-old Spirit Seed glowed purple, its brilliant light shining from the spear tip. A layer of crackling thunder wrapped around the long spear.
Seizing the tiny opening, Mu Bei poured all his strength into his arm and drove the spear into the python.
"Roar—!"
This time, it wasn't the sound of weapons clashing.
It was the sound of a blade piercing flesh!
The spear plunged deep inside, its shaft nearly disappearing into the wound.
"Crash—!"
The Giant Python let out a shrill, unfamiliar hiss. Its huge head spat out a mouthful of blood as the ball of pale light in its mouth abruptly dispersed.
Its enormous body twisted and thrashed violently, knocking down the surrounding trees.
Mu Bei was sent flying by the force of its tail. He hit the ground and spat out a large mouthful of blood.
He struggled to prop himself up with his broken spear, staring in disbelief at the enormous creature as it writhed in its death throes.
Pale blue blood stained the damp ground. The Giant Python's thrashing grew weaker and weaker.
At last, its massive head dropped to the ground, sending up a cloud of dust.
In its reptilian eyes, the light of life was fading fast.
They'd won...
Mu Bei's legs gave way. He collapsed onto the ground, panting heavily.
Mu Rong emerged from behind the boulder. He looked at the enormous creature lying in a pool of blood, then at the old tree and the monkey lying motionless nearby, before finally turning to Mu Bei, who stood there looking utterly exhausted.
This was the world of soul beasts.
Cruel, yet straightforward.
Mu Bei took a deep breath and looked at the seven-year-old boy in front of him, his expression grave.
"Young Master... it... it's yours."
Mu Rong walked silently over to the three of them. He glanced at the old tree lying on the ground and the monkey whose hands had already begun turning black.
A vague sense of unease welled up inside him, like a tide surging into his heart.
If it weren't for him, Mu Bei wouldn't have had to risk his life in this battle.
He looked at Mu Bei, then bowed deeply to the two of them.
"Mu Bei, I'm sorry."
"Don't worry, Young Master. I, Mu Bei, swear that I'll repay the kindness of the Spirit Seed. I'll definitely give you an answer."
Mu Bei waved his hand weakly and smiled bitterly.
"Young Master, don't say that. It was my duty."
He took a breath and urged him on.
"Hurry up and absorb that Giant Python's Spirit Fragment. The aura here is too strong. It might attract other soul beasts, and it won't be safe."
"It's better to absorb it while it's still fresh. The Spirit Seed's energy is at its fullest now."
"I've already got the strength to hunt down a second Spirit Fragment for you, one suited to your first soul ring."
"All right."
Mu Rong didn't argue. He knew Mu Bei wasn't just trying to be kind.
He pulled a dagger from his leg and walked up to the Giant Python's huge head. He stared into its eyes, now devoid of life, then drove the dagger in.
A final trace of vitality vanished.
"Hiss—!"
A dark Spirit Fragment slowly rose from the Giant Python's body, carrying an aura far more powerful than an ordinary hundred-year Spirit Fragment.
Mu Rong knelt and sat down at once. His spiritual power reached out, gently drawing the Spirit Fragment toward him as he began to absorb it.
In the dense forest, a figure crouched atop a tree, hidden among its branches. It was the head steward of the Seven Treasures Trading House.
Cold sweat trickled down his palms.
The python was at least twelve meters long. According to what was commonly known in the world of Spirit Fragments, every meter of its length represented a hundred years of age. With a body this huge, it was probably nearly eight hundred years old.
A seven-year-old child was trying to absorb a Spirit Fragment that was nearly eight hundred years old?
Could that really work?
Even the most talented core disciples of the great clans usually only dared to absorb Spirit Fragments of around three hundred years for their first soul ring.
That boy was a monster—or perhaps a fool.
The head steward shook his head.
Damn it. His only mission was to protect them in secret and make sure no outside force interfered.
Whether Mu Rong died trying to absorb a Spirit Fragment beyond his ability was his own choice. It had nothing to do with him.
The moment Mu Rong began absorbing the Spirit Seed, he realized he had overestimated himself.
The pain of having his bones and every inch of his flesh torn apart, combined with the strain on his muscles and various organs, was far beyond what he could withstand.
All Mu Bei had taught him was a little speed and strength.
A huge sense of resentment, mixed with all the Giant Python's anguish and fury as it died, erupted into his mind and tore at his soul.
It was as though countless venomous snakes were biting and tearing into his spirit.
At the same time, an icy force surged through his fragile body, like a raging flood crashing against a crumbling embankment.
The pain of his heart and lungs being torn apart swept through his entire body in an instant.
Every inch of flesh and every bone felt as if they were being ripped apart and crushed by that force.
"Ugh..."
Mu Rong struggled to hold back a cry of pain. Beads of sweat the size of beans rolled down his forehead. His whole body shook uncontrollably, and his delicate features twisted with agony.
Mu Bei, who had been resting nearby, had recovered some of his soul power. He noticed Mu Rong's abnormal condition.
He turned to look at him. Seeing him in such pain, he couldn't help but feel worried.
It didn't make sense.
With Young Master's innate six-talent soul power, absorbing a hundred-year Spirit Fragment shouldn't be this painful.
Could it be that his ancestor's blessing had fallen upon that enormous python's Spirit Fragment? His heart gave a sudden thump.
No way...
Before he had time to think, the Giant Python's body began to glow. Its enormous form was now at least a full circle larger than the damp, twelve-meter python they had seen before.
That was definitely not a nearly eight-hundred-year-old Spirit Fragment!
Mu Bei's eyes widened in horror.
It was over!
His heart screamed in panic.
Young Master, you said a thousand listens could make a monster, but I didn't think you'd become one right in front of me!
My brothers and I are all under your command. Every last one of us is counting on you!
If Mu Rong died here, the city lord would tear him limb from limb!
Time crawled by, one second at a time.
After seven hours, the first rays of morning light pierced through the thick forest and shone down on Mu Rong. The violent energy around him finally settled.
The absorption of the Spirit Fragment had also reached its end.
"Phew..."
Mu Rong slowly breathed out a cloud of icy mist and opened his eyes.
He'd made it!
He could clearly feel that his soul power was like a bucket filled to the brim. It had broken straight through the eleventh level and stopped at the twelfth. He was only one step away from reaching level thirteen.
After another three or four months of cultivation, he would be able to break through to level thirteen.
He stood up and stretched, but felt that his hands and feet were strangely slim and small. It seemed that as he absorbed the Spirit Fragment, his body had also grown much stronger—and taller.
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