Golden Tree

After examining him closely, Zhao Wuji revealed a shocked expression. "How can your body be this strong? You're clearly only a Quasi-Soul Grandmaster, yet you're already no weaker than some level 27 or 28 Soul Grandmasters!"

"But it's still extremely dangerous for you to absorb a Thousand-Year Spirit Ring."

Zhao Wuji frowned.

Lu Fan smiled when he heard that. "Don't worry, Teacher Zhao. I know my limits. Just let me try..."

Zhao Wuji considered it, then nodded. "Fine. But if you can't hold on, I'll intervene and interrupt it. Though by then, there's a good chance you'll become crippled."

Lu Fan nodded. "Then I'll be relying on you, Teacher Zhao."

Zhao Wuji nodded. "However, I won't be helping with hunting the Spirit Ring. You four can handle it yourselves."

After saying that, Zhao Wuji stepped aside.

Ma Hongjun and Oscar merely smiled at this. "Since you want its Spirit Ring, your brothers won't back down either."

"I, your father, have a big sausage!"

Ma Hongjun activated Phoenix Possession, his fighting spirit blazing.

Oscar produced three sausages at the side and handed one to each of the two, keeping one for himself.

Lu Fan nodded. "Thanks."

Then Lu Fan directed them, "The Golden Tree has some resistance to flames and high temperatures, but that doesn't mean it isn't afraid of fire. Fatty, burn it from a distance."

Ma Hongjun nodded. "Understood."

He immediately moved toward the Golden Tree from the left.

Then he unleashed his first soul skill, Phoenix Fire Line.

Meanwhile, Lu Fan held his axe and waited for the right opportunity.

He needed to wait until the Golden Tree was nearly done for before stepping in to finish it off.

As Ma Hongjun attacked, the Golden Tree cried out in pain and launched an even fiercer counterattack.

Ma Hongjun had no real defensive methods.

Lu Fan decisively rushed toward Ma Hongjun to shield him from the damage.

An hour later.

Under the continuous depletion of Ma Hongjun's Evil Fire.

The Golden Tree was now barely clinging to life.

Its crown had also become sparse, with only a few leaves remaining.

Seizing the chance, Lu Fan stepped forward and repeatedly hacked at the Golden Tree with his axe.

Until he severed it at the waist.

A purple Spirit Ring rose into view.

After stepping forward to sense it, Zhao Wuji said, "It only broke through a thousand years not long ago. With your body, you can indeed give it a try, but I still have to remind you."

Lu Fan waved his hand aside, sat down directly, and began absorbing the Spirit Ring.

Seeing this, Zhao Wuji could not help cursing. "You little brat, nothing better happen to you. Otherwise, that old bastard Flender will skin me alive."

If it had been Shrek's second-in-command ten thousand years later who had brought him to hunt Spirit Rings.

Lu Fan would never have dared to absorb a Spirit Ring beyond his limit.

But this was ten thousand years ago, so he did not need to worry about that person's evil buff interfering.

Still, absorbing a Thousand-Year Spirit Ring was indeed quite difficult.

It felt completely different from the first time Lu Fan had absorbed a Spirit Ring.

He only felt as though his entire body had sunk into a deep sea.

Every inch of his body seemed to be constantly squeezed by seawater.

"Mmgh~"

Lu Fan could not help letting out a muffled groan.

Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.

The people outside were startled at the sight.

"Teacher Zhao, Brother Fan won't have any problems, right?"

Oscar looked at Zhao Wuji with great concern.

Of the three of them, he was the closest to Lu Fan.

Zhao Wuji merely shook his head grimly. "For now, there's no major problem. But if he starts bleeding from all seven orifices, we'll have to stop it."

Fortunately, the scene everyone feared never appeared.

As time passed, Lu Fan's aura gradually calmed.

Seeing this, joy appeared on Zhao Wuji's face as well. "He succeeded. He's already passed the most dangerous stage."

Two full hours passed.

The purple Spirit Ring finally settled completely beneath Lu Fan's feet.

His body also began to change.

From a child who had originally looked around ten years old, he grew to look around twelve.

The most noticeable change was that he had reached a height of 1.6 meters.

Lu Fan opened his eyes, only to see Zhao Wuji and the others coming forward and feeling around his body.

After confirming that there was nothing wrong with Lu Fan's body, Zhao Wuji smiled and patted him. "Well, well, truly worthy of being Shrek's little monster. You're practically a monster among monsters."

"Hehe, when we get back, who knows what expressions those old brothers will make when they see your Thousand-Year second ring."

Zhao Wuji chuckled.

"By the way, Brother Fan, what is your second soul skill?"

Oscar looked at Lu Fan curiously.

The others also revealed curious expressions.

Lu Fan smiled at the sight. "It's a very good soul skill."

As he spoke, he summoned his Martial Soul. His second Spirit Ring flashed beneath his feet, golden radiance wrapped around his body, and the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum in his hand began transforming toward metal.

"This is my second soul skill, Golden Power. Aside from enhancing my defense, it also gives me offensive capabilities."

"My Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum can condense petals with Soul Power and throw them out, just like that Golden Tree did earlier."

"Furthermore, my Martial Soul itself becomes highly offensive in this state."

Holding the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum, Lu Fan effortlessly cut a huge tree beside him in half, one that required two people to wrap their arms around it.

"Also, my Soul Power has directly broken through to level 23. I can even feel that I'm not far from level 24."

Ma Hongjun and Oscar looked at Lu Fan with immense envy.

Oscar was doing all right; he was close to breaking through to Soul Grandmaster himself.

But Ma Hongjun was only level 16.

After Lu Fan absorbed this Spirit Ring, the gap between them had widened by quite a bit again.

He was a full seven levels ahead of him.

He would soon be eight levels ahead of him.

Back when they had first entered school, Lu Fan had only been one level higher than him.

The stark contrast inevitably made Ma Hongjun feel a trace of distress.

Seeing through Ma Hongjun's thoughts, Lu Fan stepped forward and patted his shoulder in comfort. "Nothing is impossible in this world. One day, we'll find a way to solve your Martial Soul problem."

As he spoke, Lu Fan turned his gaze toward Oscar.

Oscar nodded.