As dawn broke, the sword light outside the Sunset Forest gradually subsided.
Chen Xin sheathed his sword and stood there. His white robes were covered with sword marks and torn at the corners, making him look somewhat disheveled. However, he wore a carefree smile on his face, and his sharp eyes sparkled with an excitement he hadn't felt in a long time.
Ji Juechen, who was opposite him, also slowly sheathed his Judgment Sword. A rare, stiff smile appeared on his usually cold face.
"Happy!"
Chen Xin laughed loudly, his voice echoing across the desolate wilderness. "How many years has it been since I've had such a satisfying fight with a swordsman of equal caliber? Your swordsmanship is truly formidable."
Ji Juechen nodded slightly, his voice calm:
" The Seven Kill Sword lives up to its name."
This swordsmanship duel, which lasted all night, ended in a draw. Neither of them used their full strength or unleashed their strongest killing moves; it was purely a swordsmanship exchange. Even so, they had already gained a general understanding of each other's strength.
They are roughly equal.
Not far away, Ning Fengzhi strode over. He looked at the rare, genuine smile on Chen Xin's face, and then at Ji Juechen, who stood calmly to the side, and couldn't help but think of recruiting him.
If such a powerful swordsman, whose talent is no less than that of Chen Xin, could join the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, the overall strength of the school would surely rise to a new level.
But before he could speak, Dugu Bo stepped in front of Ji Juechen, his face full of vigilance:
" Sect Master Ning, don't even think about poaching him. You can't possibly recruit this kid!"
Ning Fengzhi smiled helplessly, not pressuring him. He turned to Ji Juechen, his tone sincere:
"Mr. Ji, if you have the time in the future, you are welcome to visit the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect School at any time. The gates of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect are always open for you."
Ji Juechen nodded, saying nothing more than:
"I will go."
After saying their goodbyes, Dugu Bo led Ji Juechen back to the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well.
On the way, Dugu Bo couldn't help but ask, "How was it? Did you gain anything after fighting Chen Xin?"
Ji Juechen's eyes lit up. "Yes, there's still room for improvement in my swordsmanship. After I've settled down for a while, I'll fight him again next time!"
Dugu Bo sighed in exasperation.
"You really are a complete Sword Obsessive."
Ji Juechen didn't answer, but instead touched the Judgment Sword at his waist, his eyes shining even brighter.
Meanwhile, deep within the Star Dou Forest.
Qian Renxue quietly waited by Xiao Xiao's side.
Before Xiao Xiao lay the corpse of a massive Spirit Beast —a jet-black Black Water Turtle, its shell as thick as a mountain, radiating a rich water-attribute energy. This was a top-tier Defense System Spirit Beast, approximately 1,100 years old.
Above Xiao Xiao's martial soul, the " Three-Life Soul-Suppressing Cauldron," a pale purple Spirit Ring was slowly rotating and continuously merging into the cauldron.
At this point, three incense sticks' worth of time had passed since Xiao Xiao began absorbing the Spirit Ring.
Qian Renxue's eyes never left Xiao Xiao. If it weren't for her mental energy constantly locking onto Xiao Xiao to confirm that her physical condition was normal, Qian Renxue would have thought that this absorption was going to go wrong.
Finally, as the sun rose higher and its rays fully illuminated the forest—
Buzz!
The purple Spirit Ring completely merged into the Three-Life Soul-Suppressing Cauldron, settling steadily on its body. At the same time, Xiao Xiao's soul power surged dramatically, only slowing down at level fifteen.
After a while, Xiao Xiao slowly opened her eyes.
She stared at the Three-Life Soul-Suppressing Cauldron floating in her hand, at the pale purple Thousand-Year Spirit Ring around its surface, and remained stunned for a full three seconds before finally jumping up excitedly:
"Master's wife! I did it! I did it!"
Qian Renxue smiled and gently patted her head, her voice soft:
"Well done, Xiao Xiao. What is your first Soul Skill?"
Xiao Xiao closed her eyes, carefully sensing the information transmitted by her martial spirit. After a moment, she opened her eyes and said:
"It's ' The Cauldron Shakes the Four Directions.' Its effect is to shake the space, causing absolute dizziness."
"A very good control Soul Skill." Qian Renxue nodded. "Are there any limitations?"
"Yes," Xiao Xiao replied seriously, "If the opponent's soul power is much greater than mine, the stun duration will be greatly shortened. If it's more than two major realms higher... the stun effect will only last for about a breath."
Qian Renxue nodded, already having made her judgment.
This Soul Skill is quite powerful. With Xiao Xiao's current level 15 soul power, she is basically unable to resist Spirit Master of the same level. Even a level 20+ Soul Grandmaster would be severely affected. As for higher-level opponents... Xiao Xiao wouldn't be foolish enough to confront them head-on.
"Let's go, it's time to go back." Qian Renxue picked up Xiao Xiao, and six black wings slowly unfolded on her back. "Your master is still waiting."
With a flap of their wings, the two soared into the sky and flew towards the Fate Defying Valley of Fate.
When the two returned to the Fate Defying Valley, it was already evening.
Luo Can was checking on the growth of the Immortal Herb on the Lake Heart Island when he saw Qian Renxue and Xiao Xiao return, and immediately went to greet them.
"Master! Look!"
Xiao Xiao excitedly ran to Luo Can and eagerly released her martial soul. The Three-Life Soul-Suppressing Cauldron hovered above her palm, its ancient and heavy body exuding a calm aura. But what was most eye-catching was the purple Spirit Ring that slowly rotated on the cauldron.
The first ring in a millennium.
"Not bad." Luo Can's eyes showed satisfaction. "Come on, show us your Soul Skill."
"Um!"
Xiao Xiao nodded vigorously, and the Three-Life Soul-Suppressing Cauldron in her hand instantly enlarged, transforming into a giant cauldron half the height of a person. A pale purple Spirit Ring suddenly lit up on the surface of the cauldron—
"First Soul Skill: Cauldron Shakes the Four Directions!"
As the Soul Skill was released, the Three-Life Soul-Suppressing Cauldron trembled slightly.
Buzz--!
Invisible ripples spread outwards from the center of the cauldron. Wherever the ripples passed, visible ripples appeared in the air, spreading outwards like layers of water. The ripples covered an area of about three meters, within which the space seemed to freeze, and all movements became slow and stagnant.
The more crucial effect is that soul-stirring "dizziness"—though for Luo Can it was practically nonexistent.
"The range is three meters, the core effect of stun lasts for about eight seconds, and the edge effect of slowing lasts for five seconds." Luo Can quickly determined the specific parameters of the Soul Skill, "And it can interfere with the flow of soul power... a very practical control Soul Skill."
He ruffled Xiao Xiao's hair and smiled:
"With this, combined with your Thunderclap Bombardment Fist, most enemies of the same level will be rendered useless when they encounter you. Control followed by burst damage, a classic combination."
"Hehe!" Xiao Xiao proudly raised her little face, "I'm going to try it out with A-Chou later! With this first Soul Skill, I'm sure I can defeat it!"
A-Chou was the nickname Xiao Xiao gave to Ghost Tiger —because she thought the markings on Ghost Tiger's face were "ugly-cute."
Just then--
call out!
A figure swooped down from the clouds and landed steadily in front of them. It was Ju Zi; she held a brand-new metal disc in her hand, her face full of excitement.
" A-Can! A-Can! The final version of the Thunder-Resistant Soul Tool is finished!" she shouted excitedly, her eyes shining brightly. "I optimized the soul tool circuit, and this version has now reached the level of Level 8 Soul Tool! It should be able to help Xiao Bingbing withstand the Hundred Thousand Years Heavenly Tribulation!"
She had barely finished speaking—
Swish!
A white figure rushed from the Lake Heart Island, circled the Ju Zi twice, and its crystal-clear eyes were filled with excitement:
"Really? Does that mean I can undergo tribulation now?!"