The God-Condensed Soul Ring Appears

The disciples nodded, warmth rising in their hearts.

"Let's leave that aside for now. Zhuqing, do you want to absorb your Soul Ring now, or wait until tomorrow?"

The time was just right, and there was no one around, so it was a perfect opportunity to absorb a Soul Ring.

Zhu Zhuqing froze. Absorb a Soul Ring? One right now?

Ning Rongrong and Luo Xiaoshi were just as dumbfounded.

Where was the Soul Beast? Where was the Soul Ring? They all looked at Chen An, wondering if their master was about to pull a Soul Ring out of his backpack.

"Why are you so surprised? Oh, right. You don't know about it."

Chen An suddenly realized that he seemed to have forgotten to tell them what was going on.

He reached into thin air with his right hand and pulled out a dark-colored bead. In the night, it was even harder to see.

The aura it gave off was remarkably similar to the one Zhu Zhuqing had when she used Martial Soul Possession.

"This is called a God-Condensed Soul Ring. When you reach the level limit, it can help a cultivator obtain a Soul Ring..."

Chen An briefly explained what it was. In fact, it had another name: the God-Bestowed Soul Bead.

The two were essentially much the same. Chen An simply disliked the name God-Bestowed Soul Ring and had changed it to God-Condensed Soul Ring.

The biggest difference was that this thing was much easier to absorb than a God-Bestowed Soul Ring, and it changed according to the user.

Chen An then explained that he had only just developed it.

He didn't want Luo Xiaoshi to think he was playing favorites and let that drive a wedge between them.

But clearly, he'd been overthinking it. When Luo Xiaoshi saw the bead, his first thought was:

"My senior sister can become even stronger! I'm so happy. I have to work harder and reach level 30 soon, so I can use a God-Condensed Soul Ring too."

After explaining its effects, Chen An asked again whether she wanted to do it now or tomorrow.

"Master, I'll absorb it tonight."

Faced with such temptation, Zhu Zhuqing knew she couldn't resist. She answered with earnest determination.

Seeing her serious expression, Chen An felt reassured. He'd better be a little more serious himself, then.

"All right. I'll protect you in a moment."

He placed two pills and a bottle of spiritual liquid in Zhu Zhuqing's hands.

"Before you absorb the Soul Ring, drink the spiritual liquid. Wait until I tell you to take these pills, then absorb the Soul Ring afterward."

Chen An intended to oversee everything personally, just in case something went wrong.

He told Ning Rongrong and Luo Xiaoshi to step back a few paces so they wouldn't interfere with the Soul Ring absorption.

This time, there was no need to draw a spirit array. He planned to guide the moonlight down to bathe her instead.

"Okay."

They found a relatively open spot where the moonlight could reach, and she began absorbing the Soul Ring.

"Take the pills!"

Seeing that Zhu Zhuqing's condition had changed enough, Chen An called out.

At the same time, moonlight bathed Zhu Zhuqing.

Chen An continued guiding her. This was the final step, and he couldn't help reminding her aloud:

"Hang in there. The quality of your Soul Ring depends on how long you can hold on."

With two top-grade pills as a foundation and the spiritual liquid protecting her, as long as she didn't give up midway, she should be able to push Zhu Zhuqing to the ten-thousand-year level.

He believed his disciple's will couldn't be that fragile.

When she finished, he stepped back a few paces, though his eyes never left Zhu Zhuqing.

It was his first time using this on someone else, and he felt a little uneasy. He was ready to step in at any moment.

"Don't worry. You'll all get God-Condensed Soul Rings someday, too."

While keeping an eye on Zhu Zhuqing, he glanced at the two kids and said this.

He meant it. If he'd been able to do this back then, he would have given Xiaoshi a God-Condensed Soul Ring for his second one.

The two nodded, then turned their attention back to Zhu Zhuqing.

"Whoosh, whoosh."

Zhu Zhuqing's breathing was steady. The Nine Nether Profound Technique was circulating without pause, seemingly holding its own against the Soul Ring.

With the miraculous pills and medicine helping her, they were evenly matched for the moment.

Her mind was perfectly clear, even clearer than usual.

She couldn't explain the changes in her body. She only knew that as her cultivation technique circulated, her efficiency at absorbing spiritual energy kept increasing.

"The spiritual energy's getting denser... Mm, keep your mind steady."

Zhu Zhuqing couldn't help letting her focus slip when she felt the spiritual energy around her grow denser. The impact within the Soul Ring had no consciousness; it didn't take turns.

Pain stabbed through her at once.

Zhu Zhuqing decisively cast aside all distractions and focused again. She couldn't afford to pay attention to the changes inside her body now.

Once a breach had been opened, continuing the absorption became many times harder.

She wasn't like Chen An, with his wealth of experience and formidable strength. She could only use the most primitive, clumsy method—endure it head-on.

"I can't give up!"

She didn't know how long she'd endured. At times like this, the thought of giving up always crept into her mind.

But when she thought of her family's troubles and her master's care, she kept going.

When she reached her limit, she broke through it again. Only when she felt an energy disperse the remaining force did she open her eyes. The sky was gray, and dawn was about to break.

"Master, I can keep going."

She didn't finish her sentence before she passed out.

If Chen An hadn't been watching, she could have damaged her foundation at best, or put her life in danger at worst.

"This girl, honestly... Sigh."

She'd endured even more than he expected. He'd underestimated Zhu Zhuqing's resolve.

After checking her over and confirming she was all right, he used Soul Power to regulate her breathing, then lifted her into his arms in a bridal carry.

He called Ning Rongrong over and took Zhu Zhuqing to the dormitory. He also prepared a tub of medicinal bathwater, then said:

"Rongrong, help your senior sister into the tub. Remember to take off her clothes."

With that, he left the room.

To Chen An, Zhu Zhuqing was a child, but she was also growing up.

She deserved her own privacy.

Ning Rongrong nodded, promising to do as he said, then awkwardly got to work.

After staying up all night, she finished and leaned over the edge of the tub, closing her eyes for a little nap.

"Mm... Huh? Ah?"

More than half a day passed before Zhu Zhuqing woke up.

This time, Chen An had used high-grade medicinal herbs. Their effects were potent and fast-acting, and he'd also used Soul Power to guide the disordered spiritual energy in Zhu Zhuqing's body.

That was why she woke so quickly.

"Senior sister, you're awake."

Ning Rongrong had woken earlier and had even gone to get some food. It was all nutritious fare Chen An had specially prepared.

"What happened to me?"

Zhu Zhuqing's ears turned red, and her cheeks flushed as her mind remained foggy.

"Senior sister, it went like this..."

For the first time, Ning Rongrong patiently explained what had happened, and for the first time, she was so patient with someone else.

After hearing the whole story, Zhu Zhuqing's ears grew even redder. She asked in a soft, sweet voice,

"Junior sister, could you bring me my clothes?"

She'd been brought up properly and felt embarrassed to be seen like this, even by another girl.

Her embarrassment had reached its peak.

"Um... Could you turn around?"

As a straight girl, she found it hard to accept getting dressed in front of someone else. Of course, it had nothing to do with being straight; most people would feel awkward about it.

Ning Rongrong obediently turned around, polite enough not to sneak a peek.