So that was it! Long Zhanye suddenly understood.
The three of them held their breath and focused, staring intently at the groups of Cyclopes emerging from within.
Most traveled in groups, with as few as three or five and as many as several dozen. Very few moved alone.
Time passed little by little, and most of the groups that had gone out to forage had already vanished into the forest's darkness.
Just as Long Zhanye thought they would return empty-handed again, Old Man Gu's seemingly cloudy eyes suddenly lit up, instantly locking onto prey!
"Do you see that over there?" Old Man Gu pointed toward the distant front right, at a small group lagging behind, its movements seemingly somewhat sluggish.
"That one! It's slightly smaller than its companions, and its steps are a little unsteady. It may have only recently reached adulthood, or perhaps it suffered a minor injury."
"Its cultivation... is around eighteen thousand years! It's perfect for your First Soul Ring!"
Following the direction he pointed, Long Zhanye indeed spotted a Cyclops trailing at the back of the group, seemingly unable to keep up with its companions.
It was clumsily chasing after the ones ahead. Long Zhanye's heart leaped with joy, and he was just about to act.
"Don't move!" Old Man Gu pressed a hand onto his shoulder, then turned to Zhua Yun, who had been silently standing by.
A hint of testing flashed through his eyes. "Zhua Yun, let Master see whether you've slacked off these past three years."
"Yes, Master!" Zhua Yun answered in a deep voice, a sharp gleam flashing in his eyes.
Without any hesitation, his body shot out from their hiding place like a released arrow!
Rather than charging straight at the target, he used the dense trees and terrain as cover, silently and swiftly closing in on the lone Cyclops!
The instant Zhua Yun moved, bronze light suddenly flared around his body!
Beneath his feet, six Soul Rings rose in sequence: yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black!
The five fingers of his right hand instantly turned as though cast from bronze, his nails extending and glinting with razor-sharp cold light.
His Martial Soul was the five fingers of his right hand!
At that moment, bronze radiance covered his entire body. This was the Body Martial Soul Secondary Awakening—Bronze Level Awakening!
Though he possessed only the cultivation of a Soul Emperor, under the enhancement of Bronze Level Awakening—
His aura, speed, and strength surged explosively, instantly approaching the level of a Soul Saint!
Against a Soul Beast barely over ten thousand years old, his chances were extremely high!
The lone Cyclops seemed to have sensed something.
Its enormous body abruptly froze, and its massive head twisted around. The huge single eye on its forehead suddenly opened!
A murky gray beam, as though capable of warping light itself, shot toward Zhua Yun's approach!
Zhua Yun was, after all, a disciple of the Body Sect. His combat experience was abundant, and his reactions were incredibly swift!
Facing the sudden attack, his body made an eerie twist in midair, skimming past the edge of the gray light.
His speed did not diminish—instead, it increased, instantly narrowing the distance between him and the Cyclops!
Before the Cyclops could roar and summon its companions after missing its attack, Zhua Yun had already closed in at its side!
The five fingers of his bronze right hand suddenly spread wide, Soul Power gathering into an incomparably fierce claw shadow!
With a piercing shriek that tore through the air, it struck with perfect precision at the area behind the Cyclops's thick neck!
Squelch!
A sickening, ripping muffled sound rang out!
A huge chunk of flesh, blood, and sinew was violently torn from the back of the Cyclops's neck.
Blood immediately gushed out!
"Awooo—!!!"
The Cyclops let out a shrill, agonized howl. The intense pain instantly drove it into a berserk rage!
It wildly swung its thick arms and stomped its feet violently into the ground, trying to crush the tiny enemy beside it!
Just as the Cyclops's howl was about to carry outward, Long Zhanye detonated another Mental Interference Bomb without hesitation!
Silver-gray ripples spread soundlessly, temporarily severing this small area's spiritual connection with the outside world!
At the same time, Zhua Yun faced the berserk counterattack with eyes as cold and calm as ice.
The five bronze fingers on his right palm blazed brightly as Soul Power surged madly.
They instantly condensed in the air into the solid phantom of a giant bronze claw several meters wide!
Carrying an unstoppable aura, the giant claw came down viciously upon the Cyclops's massive head as though swatting a fly!
Crack—!!!
The crisp, ear-piercing sound of breaking bone rang out, especially clear in the silent night!
The Cyclops's hard skull caved in beneath the giant claw's strike like a shattered watermelon!
Its body convulsed violently a few times, and the savage light in its single eye rapidly faded.
In the end, it crashed to the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust, never to move again.
From beginning to end, the battle had lasted only a dozen or so breaths—clean and decisive!
Zhua Yun took a breath and calmed his churning Soul Power.
Then he stepped forward, dragged the Cyclops's corpse, and swiftly returned to where Old Man Gu and Long Zhanye were hiding.
Watching Zhua Yun's swift and efficient kill, along with Long Zhanye's timely interference, Old Man Gu nodded in satisfaction.
"Mm, not bad. Zhua Yun, your Green-Splitting Claw has become increasingly refined. Zhanye, your timing was excellent as well."
He then gestured to Long Zhanye. "That's the one. Go absorb this Ten-Thousand Year Soul Ring."
Long Zhanye stepped forward and first sincerely thanked Zhua Yun. "Thank you for your help, Senior Brother!"
Then he took a deep breath, sat cross-legged beside the Cyclops's corpse, and prepared to absorb this First Soul Ring.
After three years of tempering by medicinal power and the repair of his heart meridians, his physique had long surpassed that of Spirit Masters at the same level and was exceptionally resilient.
Although he was absorbing a Ten-Thousand Year Soul Ring in one go, both his Soul Power Level and physical condition met the requirements.
Three hours quietly passed.
Long Zhanye's tightly shut eyes suddenly opened!
A strange glimmer carrying the colors of Chaos flashed briefly at the Heavenly Eye on his forehead!
He slowly rose to his feet. With a thought, the Heavenly Eye on his forehead slowly opened a sliver, and an indescribable aura spread outward.
At the same time, a black Soul Ring silently rose from beneath his feet and circled his body!
And that was not all.
After successfully absorbing the Soul Ring, his Soul Power, originally at level forty-nine, broke through as naturally as water flowing into a channel, directly advancing to level fifty!
Feeling the replenished Soul Power within him, along with the unprecedentedly clear perception and strange sense of power transmitted by the Heavenly Eye Martial Soul—
A long-lost, heartfelt smile of exhilaration appeared on Long Zhanye's face.
Seeing that he had successfully absorbed it and even gained another level of Soul Power, a faint smile appeared on Old Man Gu's wrinkled face as well.
"Good! The first step is done! We'll continue and strive to make up all the Soul Rings you're missing over the next few days!"
After succeeding.
Old Man Gu's cloudy eyes kept flickering in the night. He gave Long Zhanye and Zhua Yun a hand signal.
He said softly, "Follow me. Don't make too much noise."
With that, he took the lead.
In a posture completely unlike his earlier sickly, shuffling appearance—somewhat furtive yet remarkably nimble—
He quietly crossed the outer perimeter of the Cyclops territory and infiltrated the basin's inner habitat...
Before you continue