Phantom Beast Species: Azure Dragon Fruit!

Night gradually enveloped the Star Dou Forest.

A bonfire was lit in the woods, its flames dispelling the chill and darkness.

The three of them sat around the bonfire, planning their next steps.

Martial Soul City, Qinghui Hall cultivation room.

Ling Xi sat cross-legged on a meditation cushion, her eyes tightly shut.

She was concentrating all her attention on circulating her soul power, attempting to break through the level sixteen barrier.

Ever since Ling Xiao broke through to level twenty, she had felt a sense of urgency, a feeling that she would slowly fall behind Ling Xiao's pace.

The Boss had given her a new life, an opportunity beyond what ordinary people could imagine.

She could only cultivate with all her might, growing rapidly, to truly become the Boss's right-hand woman.

Not just a maid who only served tea and poured water.

She had been in seclusion meditating for a full three days, but breaking through to level sixteen was always just a little bit short.

Suddenly.

In her sea of consciousness, the Succubus Martial Soul suddenly stirred!

A surge of majestic and vast soul power erupted from the martial soul, sweeping through her limbs and bones!

"Mmm~"

Ling Xi let out a soft groan, her body trembling.

She subconsciously guided this sudden surge of soul power to circulate through her meridians.

Although the soul power was immense, it was incredibly gentle.

Like timely rain after a long drought, it nourished her meridians and dantian.

Her level sixteen barrier, like paper, was instantly shattered by this surge of soul power!

The soul power continued to climb.

Mid-level sixteen, peak level sixteen.

Finally, it broke through the threshold of level seventeen before slowing down.

It took less than an hour.

Her soul power had gone from peak level fifteen directly to level seventeen.

A full level and a half increase!

Ling Xi slowly opened her eyes.

Her eyes were filled with disbelief, shock, and ecstasy.

She looked down at her hands, feeling the surging soul power within her body.

She had already guessed where this soul power came from.

It was the Boss!

It was the Boss, far away in the Star Dou Forest, who had broken through!

The soul imprint formed with the Demon Fruit Tree had fed back the power from the Boss's breakthrough to her.

This level and a half breakthrough in soul power had saved her at least several months of arduous cultivation!

The Boss had not only given her a new life and the opportunity to cultivate.

He could even bring her along as he grew stronger.

Ling Xi suddenly stood up, looking in the direction of the Star Dou Forest.

She murmured to herself:

"Ling Xi will never fail the Boss's trust in this life. I would shatter my body and die ten thousand times for him."

Her eyes were filled with fervor and adoration.

She sat back down on the meditation cushion, closed her eyes, and entered a meditative state once more.

She wanted to become stronger.

Strong enough to always stand behind the Boss, serve him, and accompany him.

The night in the Star Dou Forest was even deeper than outside.

The bonfire at the camp crackled.

Occasionally, the roars of soul beasts could be heard from afar, carried by the wind.

Hu Liena leaned against a tree trunk by the bonfire, hugging her knees, her eyelids starting to droop.

A full day of travel and searching had exhausted her energy.

Chrysanthemum Douluo hid behind a tree trunk to the side.

His aura blended with the night, keeping watch.

In the center of the camp, Ling Xiao sat cross-legged with his eyes tightly shut.

His consciousness sank into the depths of his spiritual sea.

The Demon Fruit Tree stood silently in the void of his spiritual sea.

The first crimson Succubus Fruit hung from a branch as a mere phantom, connected to the soul of Ling Xi, who was far away in Martial Soul City.

Above it, a brand-new fruit had already taken shape.

It pulsed slightly in rhythm with his breathing.

The fruit was a deep, profound azure-gold.

Its skin was covered in fine dragon scale patterns, with deer antler-like protrusions growing from the top.

A faint azure dragon qi swirled around its body.

It hung there quietly, radiating a majestic dragon might that looked down upon the world.

Ling Xiao's consciousness settled upon the fruit.

Information regarding the fruit flooded into his mind.

Phantom Beast Species: Fish-Fish Fruit, Azure Dragon Form!

Fruit abilities: Control over wind, thunder, and wood elemental powers; physical enhancement and mental suppression via dragon might; possession of super regeneration ability; integrated offense and defense.

The fruit is bound to the Demon Fruit Tree; the soul imprint cannot be removed. Control of the fruit belongs to the holder of the Demon Fruit Tree, and the host's level cannot exceed that of the tree's holder.

Lines of information flashed through his mind.

Ling Xiao's heart could not help but surge with excitement.

He had not expected that the thin origin of dragon blood contained within the Dragon Blood Vine would be amplified and evolved by the Demon Fruit Tree.

It had ultimately condensed into this top-tier Phantom Beast Species: Fish-Fish Fruit, Azure Dragon Form.

This was the very Demon Fruit belonging to Kaido from the original work.

It was the key to his standing at the pinnacle of the entire Pirate World.

With integrated offense and defense, its abilities were comprehensive.

Compared to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon, known as the continent's number one beast martial soul, it was not a whit inferior!

Ling Xiao slowly opened his eyes.

He watched the flickering flames of the campfire, his fingertips tapping lightly against his knees.

In his mind, he began to deduce the ownership of this fruit and his subsequent plans.

As he grew step by step, he would inevitably stand in opposition to the original protagonist, Tang San.

Tang San possessed Twin Martial Souls, Tang Sect techniques, the backing of the Clear Sky Sect and the Upper Three Sects, and unparalleled protagonist luck.

To defeat him, he had to lay his plans in advance.

The abilities of this fruit were too powerful.

Its host had to be absolutely loyal, capable of perfectly unleashing the potential of the Azure Dragon Fruit, and able to help him execute his schemes.

A person came to his mind immediately.

Yu Xuan of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.

That youth who possessed innate level eight spirit power but awakened a trash martial soul, only to be isolated and mocked by his peers in the clan.

However, according to future plot developments, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan would eventually be annihilated by Bibi Dong; it was not yet time to plant a piece into the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.

For now, he needed to place a piece by Tang San's side to stay informed of the protagonist's situation at all times, or even to replace one of the Shrek Seven Devils.

"What a headache."

Ling Xiao murmured in a low voice.

The next day, just as the sky was beginning to brighten and the morning mist had yet to disperse.

The three of them packed their gear and continued to head toward the depths of the Star Dou Forest.

"Senior Yue Guan, how much further is this Mist Valley you spoke of?"

Hu Liena asked Chrysanthemum Douluo, who was clearing the path ahead, while vigilantly observing the movements around them.

Her third spirit ring had yet to be secured, so she was inevitably feeling somewhat anxious.

"Replying to the Saintess, it is not far now, just ahead."

Chrysanthemum Douluo immediately turned around to answer.

Ling Xiao's gaze swept across the dense, impenetrable forest on both sides.

His spiritual power quietly spread out, remaining alert to the movements in the surroundings.

The deeper they went, the more frequent the presence of high-level spirit beasts became, and the more intense the scent of danger in the air grew.

After walking for half an hour.

The valley before them was shrouded in a layer of faint white mist.

The mist carried fluctuations of soul power that interfered with spiritual perception.

Upon entering, one's five senses would also be significantly dulled.

The sound of a flowing stream drifted from within the valley.

Occasionally, it was punctuated by the sharp cries of foxes.

"Lady Saintess, Lord Ling Xiao, the Mist Valley is filled with layers of illusions. I ask that you both stay close to me and do not stray too far."

Chrysanthemum Douluo's expression turned solemn.

His soul power quietly radiated outward, forming a barrier that shielded the three of them, insulating them from the mental interference within the mist.

The trio stepped slowly into the Mist Valley.