Second Soul Ring!

The Bloodvine's main trunk trembled violently.

It simply could not understand why this Soul Master on the verge of death could still unleash such terrifying strength.

"Now it's my turn."

A flash of purple light passed through Tang San's eyes. Blue Silver Grass wrapped around his right fist, forming a dark purple gauntlet as he threw a "plain and unadorned" straight punch at the main trunk.

Bang!

A dull impact rang out. With the fivefold boost, Tang San's punch directly shattered the Bloodvine's defenses, leaving a hole in its trunk as dark red sap sprayed out like ketchup.

Tang San froze for a moment and looked down at his fist.

After all that kiting with hidden weapons and footwork, was it still not as effective as one boosted punch?

"Stop staring. Finish it quickly," Jiang Chen's voice came from behind him.

Hearing this, Tang San snapped back to his senses. Without further hesitation, he rushed forward with several heavy punches, supplementing them with hidden weapons. Before long, he completely finished off the Thousand-Year Soul Beast.

A deep purple Soul Ring slowly rose from the main trunk, its light flowing as it radiated powerful energy fluctuations.

"It really is a Thousand-Year Soul Ring."

Excitement flashed through Tang San's eyes, but he soon hesitated. "Brother Chen, can I really absorb it?"

"Stop talking nonsense and sit down already."

Jiang Chen walked over and casually patted his shoulder. "With me here, it won't be easy for you to die even if you want to."

Tang San nodded and sat cross-legged. The Mysterious Heaven Skill began to circulate as he started drawing in the Soul Ring.

The instant the purple radiance enveloped his body, Tang San shuddered violently. His face turned pale at once, and fine beads of sweat seeped from his forehead.

"Hiss... what a powerful impact..."

The Thousand-Year Soul Ring's energy surged into his body like a flood, madly scouring his meridians.

Even with the Mysterious Heaven Skill protecting him, Tang San still felt as though his body were about to explode.

Just as he was about to reach his limit, a gentle emerald-green light descended over him from the side.

The Glazed Green Lotus in Jiang Chen's palm had turned emerald green. Its soft healing power continuously flowed into Tang San's body, repairing the meridians damaged by the impact of Soul Power.

"Focus on absorbing it. Don't get distracted," Jiang Chen said steadily.

Tang San's heart settled. Clenching his teeth, he continued circulating the Mysterious Heaven Skill and guided the Soul Power into himself.

At the side, Xiao Wu looked worriedly at Tang San, then noticed the Bloodvine's corpse nearby. A complicated expression crossed her face.

Jiang Chen noticed her expression and frowned slightly, but he did not offer any comfort.

Time passed bit by bit.

Two hours later, the Soul Power fluctuations around Tang San gradually stabilized, and the purple Soul Ring slowly merged into his body.

He opened his eyes and let out a long breath. A faint dark red glint flashed through his gaze.

"Did you succeed?" Jiang Chen stepped forward and asked.

"Mm."

Tang San stood up, feeling the surging Soul Power within him. He said excitedly, "This Bloodvine was around nineteen hundred years old. After absorbing it, my Soul Power directly broke through to level twenty-two. And my Blue Silver Grass seems to have undergone some kind of evolution, though I'll need to test it before I know the exact effect."

When Jiang Chen heard the age of Tang San's Soul Ring, delight rose in his heart.

"Nineteen hundred years, Triple Return... wouldn't that make mine close to six thousand?"

"A six-thousand-year Second Soul Ring..."

Though he was thrilled inside, Jiang Chen maintained a stern expression. "It's barely about the same age as my first Soul Ring. You still need to keep working hard."

Tang San had originally felt somewhat proud, but when he remembered that Brother Chen's first Soul Ring had already been a Thousand-Year Soul Ring, the little joy in his heart was quickly washed away.

That was right. Brother Chen had never relaxed in the slightest despite having a Thousand-Year Soul Ring as his first ring, yet he had started becoming complacent just because his Second Soul Ring had reached the thousand-year level!

Tang San, Tang San, are you worthy of Brother Chen's and Father's expectations if you act like this?

At that thought, Tang San's fighting spirit ignited once more. "Brother Chen's lesson is right. I still need to work harder."

"Good. It's enough that you have that resolve."

Jiang Chen nodded, then turned and walked toward the woods nearby.

"Brother Chen, where are you going?"

"You two stay here and consolidate your gains. I'm going somewhere to take a leak. I've been holding it in for ages."

Tang San was just about to say something when Jiang Chen slipped into the bushes in just a few steps, his figure quickly swallowed by the branches and leaves.

He did not think much of it. After all, Brother Chen had kept watch for so long. It was normal for him to need to relieve himself.

Meanwhile, Jiang Chen went behind a small dirt slope some distance away, sat cross-legged, and sank his consciousness into the system.

Sure enough, the notification sounded right on time.

[Ding! Detected that the linked target has absorbed its Second Soul Ring: Bloodvine (approximately 1900 years)]

[Triple Return activated. Host has obtained Second Soul Ring: Karma Fire Red Lotus (5700 years) (directly bestowed; host can absorb it perfectly)]

[Absorb now?]

"Absorb."

The moment he spoke, a scorching yet nonviolent force surged from his dantian and swiftly spread throughout his limbs and body.

Jiang Chen felt his Soul Power rising steadily. A faint crimson glow appeared over his skin, and even the air around him warped slightly from the heat.

Within a few breaths, his level shot directly from twenty to twenty-three. His entire body felt warm and comfortable, as if he were soaking in a hot spring.

[Ding! Soul Ring absorption successful. Obtained Second Soul Skill: Green Lotus: Red Lotus Karma Fire!]

[Green Lotus: Red Lotus Karma Fire: The Glazed Green Lotus transforms into Red Lotus form, unleashing extreme fire to burn all things. It can temper allies' bodies and remove negative statuses; against enemies, it deals continuous burning damage and applies "Karma Mark" (fire damage received by marked targets increases by 50%!)]

Seeing the Soul Skill's description, Jiang Chen could not help drawing in a cold breath.

The Red Lotus Karma Fire Soul Skill was simply a perfect fit for what he needed right now.

The lack of offensive methods caused by his inability to use the Purple Sky Dragon Spear had been perfectly resolved.

Not only that, it could temper the body and remove negative statuses. It gave him a poison-immunity buff while also increasing the strength of those around him.

He had been worrying about how to let Tang San absorb higher-year Soul Rings.

Now, with this Soul Skill, everything had been easily resolved. He could even use the extreme fire to temper Whale Rubber...

"This Soul Skill is way too absurd."

The more Jiang Chen analyzed it, the more he could feel how terrifying the Red Lotus Karma Fire Soul Skill was.

"I should head back. If I stay too long, they might worry."

Jiang Chen got up, patted the dust from his clothes, and returned the way he had come.

The moment he stepped out of the bushes, he saw Tang San and Xiao Wu staring eagerly in his direction.

"Brother Chen, you're back!"

Tang San hurried over, his gaze sweeping over Jiang Chen's body before suddenly stopping. "Huh? Brother Chen, you seem to have... gotten taller again?"

Xiao Wu, who had adjusted her mood, also came over. Standing on tiptoe, she compared their heights. "You really did! You're a few centimeters taller than before you went in, aren't you? You even grow taller when you go to the bathroom?"

Jiang Chen had already shot up to one meter seventy-two over the past two and a half years, and after absorbing the Soul Ring, he had grown a little more.

Jiang Chen's expression did not change. "I squatted for too long just now, so my legs went numb. When I stood up, I cramped a little. Maybe I grew then."

Xiao Wu: "...?"

Tang San: "...Brother Chen, you used that excuse once two years ago."

"Did I? Then I'll use another one."

Jiang Chen rubbed his chin. "Actually, I saw a Soul Beast on the verge of death in the bushes and absorbed its Soul Ring."

Xiao Wu rolled her eyes. "Keep making things up. Go on."

This guy always treated them like fools. He could not even come up with a proper excuse.

But the next moment, Xiao Wu suddenly widened her eyes, as though she had seen something unbelievable.