Zhu Zhuqing's Goal

Squandering half the clan's resources is already a grave sin, but what followed was unforgivable; even a tiger does not devour its own cubs. He pondered whether this could be the result of some Evil God's bewitchment.

One must know that although Martial Soul Hall governs well and prevents Evil Soul Masters from rearing their heads, such things still exist. Furthermore, some gods are known to guide mortals in exactly this manner.

"What a complete pervert."

Chen An checked thoroughly and found no traces of the aforementioned influence, so only this possibility remained, leading him to mutter in annoyance.

He looked at the scraps in the Long-Armed Ape's hands, then at the large Long-Armed Ape he had beaten into the shape of a pig's head.

His entire face practically screamed: If you had such scraps on hand, why didn't you say so earlier? We wouldn't have had to go searching for them.

If that great ape knew Chen An's thoughts, it would surely retort, You didn't say so earlier either.

"Little Stone, come here."

Hearing this, the great ape obediently placed the scraps on the ground and silently retreated a few steps.

"Teacher, if I absorb this Soul Ring, will my personality be affected by it?"

Luo Xiaoshi did not stop his hands, delivering one heavy blow after another until the already half-dead wretch was beyond saving.

A yellow Soul Ring floated up, its color exceptionally vivid, further highlighting the fact that its age was quite high.

"If I tell you to absorb it, then absorb it. So much nonsense—don't you trust me when I'm here?"

Little Stone subconsciously wanted to nod, but he restrained himself, especially after seeing the miserable state of the great ape. It was better not to court death.

"Rest assured, this thing is definitely dead through and through."

Chen An took a medicinal pill and a spirit herb from his Storage Ring and handed them to Luo Xiaoshi.

"Absorb these two things first, then the Soul Ring. If you encounter danger, think back to the image you saw earlier."

Little Stone obediently took the spirit pill and herb and immediately sat cross-legged; it was necessary to keep his mind steady while absorbing such things.

Once this began, there was nothing to do but wait. Chen An roughly estimated the entire process would take about forty minutes, provided everything went smoothly.

"Master, why haven't those two run away yet?"

Zhu Zhuqing approached at this moment; it was strange that the two Long-Armed Apes hadn't taken the opportunity to flee.

Chen An looked up. Both Long-Armed Apes were staring at Little Stone; the small one seemed to be worshipping him, while the large one was deep in thought, its eyes suggesting it was confirming something.

"I don't know, but it's fine. They wouldn't dare act recklessly."

He recalled the cultivation technique Little Stone practiced; although he hadn't yet condensed a Dharma Form, he was already tainted with a trace of that aura.

That explained the current behavior of the two Long-Armed Apes.

"Then Master, what kind of Soul Ring should I absorb at level 30? A thousand-year one?"

For her, the idea of a third Soul Ring reaching the ten-thousand-year level was unimaginable; such thinking was far too advanced.

"Be bolder. Ten thousand years."

Zhu Zhuqing, previously spurred on by Luo Xiaoshi, had gone into seclusion for a period and improved slightly; she was now at level 28, touching the threshold of level 29.

However, it would still take some time to reach level 30.

Chen An estimated that by the time they returned, she would reach level 30 soon—likely after the enrollment period. He sensed that Zhu Zhuqing had a tendency to suppress her own level.

Unless little Zhu turned into a little pig and changed her mindset to prioritize speed over quality, she wouldn't advance much faster.

"Alright then, that shall be my goal."

Zhu Zhuqing was filled with anticipation. If she truly succeeded, she would be unprecedented—the first Soul Master to reach the ten-thousand-year level with a third Soul Ring.

Chen An smiled in response to her expectations, though his mind was constantly turning.

He understood his own Dao now: as long as he accepted students and taught them, he could grow stronger.

Just helping Little Stone reach level 20 had loosened his own level again. He figured that once he completed his mission—the new semester's enrollment—he would likely break through level 90.

Thinking of this, he felt inclined to use a God-Condensed Soul Ring for Zhu Zhuqing's third ring. When the time came, Chen An would intervene and give her a hand; after all, she was his eldest disciple, and he had to help her reach the ten-thousand-year tier.

"Roar roar (This aura! Such oppression!! Why do I feel like kneeling and bowing!!!)"

While Chen An was lost in thought, the large Long-Armed Ape began scratching its ears and cheeks, shouting and screaming. It was clearly agitated, jumping up and down in a panic.

The commotion interrupted Chen An's thoughts. It was nothing, really; he would just let things take their natural course.

Instead, he felt a sense of anticipation for what Little Stone's second soul skill would be, and by extension, what little Zhu's third soul skill would become.

"Hmm??"

He turned his gaze back to Luo Xiaoshi. The process was nearing its end; Little Stone's forehead was covered in cold sweat, and his body was faintly radiating an aura similar to the Great Sage.

Could such a thing really have evaded my detection?

Chen An frowned slightly, but he had a thought: could an accident have triggered a mutation?

It was possible, but since Luo Xiaoshi wasn't emitting black smoke or showing signs of a deteriorating expression, it was better not to interfere.

He retracted the foot he had slightly raised.

"It's almost over."

Things were unexpectedly smooth. There were no further complications, and the Long-Armed Apes had bowed down, seemingly submitting to Luo Xiaoshi.

"This kid has some luck. Could it be that his fortune changed after meeting me? That must be it."

Luck is something intangible and invisible, but since he joined the sect, it has been clear that Luo Xiaoshi's fortune is quite good.

Before joining, his life was pitch black; after joining, he first obtained the monkey's cultivation technique, then managed to draw out spiritual resonance upon breaking through level 20. After this round, there should be a martial soul mutation phase, and even the submission of a soul beast.

Seeing that Luo Xiaoshi had finished absorbing the ring and was out of danger, the two Long-Armed Apes let out a couple of meaningless roars before slipping away.

Before leaving, they thanked Chen An for sparing their lives and implored him to come by when Luo Xiaoshi reached level 70, promising that their clan was willing to gift him a stroke of fortune.

Chen An thought it over and agreed to tell Luo Xiaoshi, though he made no guarantees that they would actually come.

The Long-Armed Apes were helpless, but they still agreed and offered their thanks once more.

"A stroke of fortune from the Long-Armed Apes? The Long-Armed Ape-Monkey? How did he suddenly get involved with that side?"

There was clearly no answer to that for now. Seeing that Luo Xiaoshi was fine, merely briefly unconscious, Chen An hoisted him onto his shoulder.

"Zhuqing, let's go, back to the academy."

"Coming."

Chen An had no desire to spend the night in the Star Dou Forest. Setting aside the attacks from soul beasts, anyone who has spent a night in this primeval forest knows just how miserable it is.

By the time they emerged, it wasn't quite dark yet. They found the carriage driver they had hired earlier and set off on their journey.

"You're awake."

Inside the carriage, Chen An and Zhuqing were eating the rye bread they had packed. Seeing Little Stone wake up, Chen An tossed him a piece of bread as he spoke.

Little Stone caught the bread and began to gnaw on it; it took three whole pieces of rye bread before he felt even slightly full.

"Stop eating so much bread. I'll take you two to eat meat once we stop for the night. Little Stone, how are your second soul skill and your martial soul?"

Luo Xiaoshi swallowed the bread in his mouth, wiped his lips, and spoke.

Though he felt a bit surprised, he was completely relieved when he recalled the solid red soul ring he had seen earlier.

"My second soul ring is Limit Burst. Its ability is that upon activation, for three minutes, all my attributes increase by 150 percent, pain is masked, and I remain clear-headed throughout."

Looking at it this way, it seems to be a Berserker-style skill set, which is quite fitting. The only thing is that this ability should have an upper limit; the effect will likely weaken as he progresses further.

But that isn't a problem. Once the effects start to wane, Chen An will step in.

Little Stone continued, "My martial soul did indeed undergo a mutation. It's no longer called a Stone Monkey; it's now called a Spirit Stone Monkey."

Chen An nodded, acting as if it were all within his expectations, while shouting internally.

It's got that flavor! It's really got that flavor!

If things continue down this path, Little Stone's martial soul might actually turn into that Great Sage, Equal to Heaven, from the Water Curtain Cave of Flower Fruit Mountain, the special envoy designated by the Tathagata Buddha, the Jade Emperor, and the Bodhisattva Guanyin to retrieve the scriptures.

Thinking about it made him a little excited.