Night gradually enveloped Star Dou Forest.
A bonfire blazed among the trees, its flames driving away the chill and darkness.
The three sat around the fire, planning their next steps.
Spirit City, Qinghui Hall's cultivation room.
Ling Xi sat cross-legged on a meditation cushion, her eyes closed.
She focused all her attention on circulating her Soul Power, trying to break through the bottleneck at level sixteen.
Ever since Ling Xiao had broken through level twenty, she had felt a sense of urgency, as if she would gradually be unable to keep up with his pace.
Boss had given her a new life and opportunities beyond anything an ordinary person could imagine.
She could only cultivate with all her might and grow quickly if she wanted to truly become Boss's right-hand woman.
Not just a maid who could only serve tea and water.
She had been meditating in seclusion for three whole days, yet she was still just a little short of breaking through to level sixteen.
Suddenly—
The Succubus Martial Soul in her Sea of Consciousness stirred!
A vast, surging force of Soul Power poured wildly from the martial soul, sweeping through every limb and bone!
"Mm~"
Ling Xi let out a muffled groan, her whole body trembling.
Instinctively, she guided the sudden surge of Soul Power through her meridians.
Though immense, the Soul Power was remarkably gentle.
Like rain after a long drought, it nourished her meridians and dantian.
Her level-sixteen bottleneck crumpled like paper before the rush of Soul Power!
Her Soul Power continued to climb.
Level sixteen, mid-stage. Level sixteen, peak.
At last, it broke through the threshold of level seventeen before its momentum began to ease.
It had taken no more than an hour.
Her Soul Power had risen directly from level fifteen, peak, to level seventeen.
A full level and a half!
Ling Xi slowly opened her eyes.
They were filled with disbelief and astonished joy.
She looked down at her hands, feeling the surging Soul Power within her.
She had already guessed where it had come from.
Boss!
Boss, far away in Star Dou Forest, had broken through!
The soul imprint bound to the Demon Fruit Tree had passed the power from Boss's breakthrough on to her.
This breakthrough of a level and a half had saved her at least several months of arduous cultivation!
Boss had not only given her a new life and the chance to cultivate.
Even when he broke through, he could help her grow alongside him.
Ling Xi sprang to her feet and turned toward Star Dou Forest.
She murmured to herself:
"Ling Xi will never betray the trust Boss has placed in her. I would gladly give my life for him, a thousand times over."
Her eyes brimmed with fervor and adoration.
She sat back down on the cushion, closed her eyes, and returned to meditation.
She had to become stronger.
Strong enough to remain by Boss's side forever, serving him and keeping him company.
The night in Star Dou Forest was darker and more mysterious than the world beyond it.
The campfire crackled.
From time to time, the wind carried the distant howls of Soul Beasts.
Hu Liena leaned against a tree beside the fire, hugging her knees as her eyelids began to droop.
A full day of travel and searching had drained her strength.
Chrysanthemum Douluo hid in the branches of a nearby tree.
His presence blended with the night as he kept watch.
At the center of the camp, Ling Xiao sat cross-legged with his eyes closed.
His consciousness sank deep into his Sea of Consciousness.
The Demon Fruit Tree stood quietly in the void of his Sea of Consciousness.
The first crimson Succubus Fruit hung from a branch as no more than a shadow, its soul connected to Ling Xi, far away in Spirit City.
Above it, an entirely new fruit had taken shape.
It pulsed faintly with each of his breaths.
The fruit was a deep blue-green all over.
Fine dragon-scale patterns covered its peel, and a pair of deer-antler-like protrusions sprouted from its crown.
Faint Azure dragon qi curled around it.
Hanging silently in the air, it radiated an immense dragon might that seemed to look down on the world.
Ling Xiao focused his consciousness on the fruit.
Information about it flooded into his mind.
Phantom Beast Species: Fish-Fish Fruit, Azure Dragon Form!
Fruit abilities: Control over Wind, thunder, and wood elemental powers; enhanced physical strength and dragon might that could shake the spirit; Super regeneration ability; offense and defense in one.
The fruit was bound to the Demon Fruit Tree. Its soul imprint could not be removed, and control of the fruit belonged to the Demon Fruit Tree's owner. The host's level could not exceed that of the tree's owner.
Lines of information flashed through his mind.
Ling Xiao couldn't help feeling stirred.
He had never expected the scant Dragon blood origin in the Dragon Blood Vine to be amplified and transformed by the Demon Fruit Tree.
In the end, it had condensed into this top-tier Phantom Beast Species fruit: the Fish-Fish Fruit, Azure Dragon Form.
It was Kaido's Demon Fruit in the original story.
The key to his standing at the pinnacle of the entire Pirate World.
It combined offense and defense, with a full range of abilities.
Compared to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon, hailed as the Continent's number one beast martial soul, it was every bit its equal!
Ling Xiao slowly opened his eyes.
He watched the flames dancing in the bonfire, lightly tapping his fingers against his knee.
His thoughts turned to who should receive this fruit and how he should arrange things afterward.
As he grew stronger, he was bound to stand against Tang San, the original story's protagonist, one day.
Tang San had Twin Martial Souls, Tang Sect Secret Arts, the backing of the Clear Sky Sect and the Upper Three Sects, and the unrivaled Protagonist Halo.
To defeat him, Ling Xiao had to plan ahead.
The abilities of this fruit were far too powerful.
Its host had to be absolutely loyal, capable of drawing out the Azure Dragon Fruit's full potential, and able to help him carry out certain plans.
One person came to mind immediately.
Yu Xuan of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.
The boy with innate level-eight Soul Power who had awakened a Trash Martial Soul and been shunned and mocked by his fellow sect members.
But according to the future events, Bibi Dong would eventually wipe out the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. It was too soon to plant a pawn in the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect.
For now, he needed a pawn beside Tang San—someone who could keep him informed about the protagonist and perhaps even replace one of the Shrek Seven Devils.
"What a headache."
Ling Xiao murmured softly.
At dawn the next day, the morning mist had yet to lift.
The three had already packed their belongings and continued toward the depths of Star Dou Forest.
"Senior Yue Guan, how much farther is Mist Valley?"
Hu Liena warily watched her surroundings as she asked Chrysanthemum Douluo, who was leading the way.
She still hadn't found a third Soul Ring, and it was hard to keep her impatience at bay.
"Saintess, we're not far. It's just ahead."
Chrysanthemum Douluo immediately turned and answered.
Ling Xiao swept his gaze over the dense woods on either side.
His spiritual power spread quietly as he kept watch for any movement around them.
The deeper they went, the more frequently they sensed high-level Soul Beasts, and the more danger thickened in the air.
They walked for half an hour.
A layer of pale white mist shrouded the valley ahead.
The mist carried Soul Power fluctuations that interfered with spiritual power.
Once inside, their five senses would also be greatly weakened.
The sound of running water echoed from within the valley.
Every now and then, it was joined by the shrill cries of foxes.
"Saintess, Lord Ling Xiao, Mist Valley is full of illusions. Please stay close to me and don't stray too far."
Chrysanthemum Douluo's expression turned serious.
His Soul Power spread quietly, forming a barrier around the three of them and blocking the mental interference within the mist.
The three slowly stepped into Mist Valley.
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