Soon, the final month passed. Everyone else's Soul Power Level had stopped advancing, but Jiang Huai's kept rising. He also regularly ate the hamburgers made with his own hamburger Martial Soul Skill.
As a result, Jiang Huai had accumulated a great deal of Soul Power. He entered the academy's secluded cultivation area and began a retreat to break through.
Jiang Huai's Soul Power Level had now reached level forty-nine. He trained hard in the cultivation room, hoping to break through within three days.
The opening ceremony of the Continental Advanced Spirit Master Elite Tournament would take place one week from then. According to the rules, none of the participating academy teams could be absent from the ceremony. In other words, Jiang Huai had to break through to level fifty within three days and absorb a second ten-thousand-year Soul Ring.
Those who didn't need to go into seclusion were preparing themselves mentally for the upcoming competition. Dai Mubai was still rather nervous about it. If they made it through the Heaven Dou Competition Zone and went to Spirit City for the finals, he would definitely run into his eldest brother. Dai Mubai was very afraid of him. Zhu Zhuqing wasn't particularly afraid of her older sister, but she was worried that Dai Mubai might panic and make a mistake when they met. If that happened, they'd be done for.
While Jiang Huai was in seclusion in the cultivation room, Gu Yue waited outside. She had prepared some fine fabric and was sewing a new mask.
She embroidered the character "江" across the entire mask, then encircled it with loops of her own silvery-white hair. It was her way of showing that she had Jiang Huai's heart firmly in her grasp.
Time passed second by second. Jiang Huai had already spent an entire day in the cultivation room. Xiao Wu came over to comfort Gu Yue. "Gu Yue, don't worry. Brother Huai is so strong—he'll definitely cut those three days down to two. Then we'll see him as a Soul King."
Gu Yue nodded. "Thank you, Xiao Wu. It's getting late, so you should head back. I'll wait here for him."
Seeing how determined Gu Yue was, Xiao Wu reluctantly left. The only ones left were Jiang Huai, cultivating inside the room, and Gu Yue, keeping watch outside.
The next day, just as the sun began to peek over the horizon, Jiang Huai successfully broke through the level-fifty threshold. As soon as he stepped out of the cultivation room, he saw Gu Yue asleep on the ground, curled up against the doorway.
Jiang Huai shook his head, crouched down, and gathered her into his arms. Sensing his presence, Gu Yue snuggled closer against his chest.
He carried Gu Yue to the dormitory, laid her on the bed, and tucked her in. Then he poured a cup of warm water and set it on the bedside table, leaving a note: "Silly girl, don't sleep outside again next time. Have some honey water when you wake up. I made it myself."
Jiang Huai returned to his own room, lay down, and fell asleep. He didn't wake until breakfast time.
The moment Jiang Huai stepped outside, Gu Yue threw her arms around him. Xiao Wu, Ning Rongrong, and the others were standing nearby.
Yu Xiaogang came over to congratulate him. "Congratulations, Jiang Huai. You've successfully broken through to Soul King. Now you need to think about hunting your fifth Soul Ring."
Jiang Huai patted Gu Yue on the back. "All right, all right. I've successfully reached the Soul King level. Once I get back, I'll have the strength to protect you."
Gu Yue gave him a light smack. "You're so annoying. I don't need you to protect me."
Everyone burst out laughing. Dai Mubai stiffly took Zhu Zhuqing's hand. Her body trembled, but in the end she said nothing.
Before long, Liu Erlong and Flender took Jiang Huai to the Far North. Jiang Huai had said that the fifth Soul Ring he wanted to absorb would come from a ten-thousand-year Smoked Fox.
The ten-thousand-year Smoked Fox lived on the outskirts of the Far North Ice Plains. Its fur produced sharpening energy when it burned, and its Soul Ring granted the "Armor-Piercing" attribute, corresponding to the "crispy, sharp" texture of hamburger bacon.
With no other choice, Liu Erlong and Flender took Jiang Huai flying to the icy plains of the Far North. Back at the academy, Gu Yue prayed that Jiang Huai would obtain an even better Soul Ring.
Suddenly, the Goddess of Life in the Divine Realm bestowed a bond through the Life God Test, directly defying the God of Destruction's opposition. Gu Yue, too, now carried the divine will of the Goddess of Life. Although Gu Yuena despised the God of Destruction, what she truly hated was the hypocrisy of both him and the Asura God.
As for the God of Destruction bestowing a divine test on Jiang Huai, that was better still. Once Jiang Huai became the new God of Destruction, there would be no need for her to keep holding on to her grudge against the old one.
Before long, Flender, Liu Erlong, and Jiang Huai reached the edge of the Far North. It was the second-largest gathering place for Soul Beasts on the Douluo Continent, and far larger than the Star Dou Forest. But the Star Dou Forest had abundant spiritual energy, making it a suitable home for Soul Beasts. The Far North was different: Soul Beasts without ice attributes couldn't survive there, and even some ice-attribute Soul Beasts could freeze to death. That was why the Far North was known as a forbidden zone on the continent.
Liu Erlong melted the ice crystals clinging to Jiang Huai with her flames, then thoughtfully took out a fur coat and draped it over him. She added gently, "Jiang Huai, even though you haven't accepted me as your mother, I'm still willing to raise you like my own son."
Jiang Huai felt a little awkward but didn't say anything. Nearby, Flender released his spiritual power to search for the Smoked Fox, paying little attention to the strange atmosphere between them.
Suddenly, Flender spread his wings and shot into the sky, locking onto an ice forest. Then he dived down at tremendous speed, like a falcon.
A fox soon darted out of the ice forest. Liu Erlong stepped in front of Jiang Huai and threw a punch. Her fist struck the Smoked Fox right in the mouth.
The Smoked Fox's jaw shattered, but it didn't give up on escaping. It immediately slashed at her with a sharp claw.
Liu Erlong unleashed a defensive Soul Skill, but the attack triggered the Armor-Piercing effect. The Smoked Fox's claws cut her wrist.
With a pained cry, Liu Erlong backed away and looked at the three claw marks on her wrist. Jiang Huai stepped forward to examine the wound, then took out some medicinal herbs and applied them to it.
Liu Erlong was touched by the gesture. But while the two of them were sharing a tender moment, the Smoked Fox launched a second attack. Jiang Huai shoved Liu Erlong aside, and they both dodged in time.
Flender flew out of the ice forest and spat, "Damn fox."
With that, Flender plunged down and slashed the Smoked Fox across the back with his claws. Jiang Huai drew Jiang Ling and charged forward, slicing off one of the fox's ears.
The Smoked Fox let out an angry roar and charged again. Jiang Huai nimbly dodged its attacks, all the while leaving several cuts on its body.
The Smoked Fox was soon covered in wounds of all sizes. Blood ran from them, and the pain nearly left it unable to stand.
Jiang Huai approached with his sword. "It's over. Don't suffer any longer."
Hearing this, the Smoked Fox closed its eyes and awaited death. Jiang Huai drove his sword into it without hesitation.
Before long, Jiang Huai began absorbing the Soul Ring while Flender and Liu Erlong stood guard nearby.
The Smoked Fox's soul was drawn into Jiang Huai's brow. Once inside his Sea of Consciousness, it gazed around curiously.
Then the Sword God's statue spoke to it. "Little fox, you're no longer a Soul Beast. I'll give you two choices: become my descendant's spirit beast—his spirit pet—or become a Soul Ring and lose all awareness."
Hearing this, the Smoked Fox bent its front legs and knelt before the Sword God's statue. The Sword God laughed. "Good. This is a contract. Sign it, and you'll become my descendant's spirit beast."
The Smoked Fox bit its paw and let a drop of blood fall onto the contract. It could now speak, though only Jiang Huai could hear it.
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