In the world of Soul Masters, the great fame of External Soul Bones was known to all.
Because of their unique ability to evolve alongside their host's growth, their true value did not pale in the slightest compared to the legendary Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bones!
More importantly, the chance of such a treasure dropping was infinitesimal, and it could only appear with an extremely small probability when a Soul Master absorbed a Soul Ring.
And now, this External Soul Bone had only initially manifested and had not yet completely connected with its host's bloodline and bones.
This was also the only perfect opportunity for an outsider to forcibly seize it for themselves!
As Salas stared at the dazzling Six-Winged Purple Light Wings behind Lin Nuo, his breathing instantly grew heavy.
His Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed frantically, and his aged eyes involuntarily widened into a fixed stare.
This was the most primitive instinct and greed of a Soul Master when faced with a supreme treasure.
However, when his gaze rose and swept over Lin Nuo's cool face, which seemed carved from the same mold as Pope Bibi Dong's, Salas felt as though someone had splashed a bucket of ice-cold water directly in his face. His entire body jolted, and he instantly came fully to his senses.
Seize the External Soul Bone dropped by this "young master"?
The moment that dangerous thought surfaced, Salas felt his World-Shocking Wisdom frantically sounding an air-raid alarm.
Way of Seeking Death warning!
"Cough, cough..."
Salas suddenly coughed twice, forcefully cutting off that rebellious greed in his heart. In an instant, he put on the expression of a kind and benevolent elder.
"Little friend Lin Nuo, your luck truly defies the heavens.
"This is an External Soul Bone, incomparably precious.
"If nurtured properly in the future, it may even evolve with you all the way to the Hundred Thousand Year level!"
"However, it has only initially manifested and has not yet fully fused with your spine.
"If you do not use this opportunity to perfectly fuse it with your body, it could easily leave behind hidden dangers.
"Come, calm your mind and focus your spirit. This old man will now use Soul Power pressure to lend you a hand and completely refine it!"
Naturally, Lin Nuo had no objection.
He immediately sat cross-legged again, closed his eyes, and concentrated his mind.
Salas's expression turned solemn. The pressure of an eighty-plus-level Spirit Douluo was no longer restrained. Like an invisible mountain, it bore down upon Lin Nuo from every direction without reservation.
Under the stimulation of this immense external pressure, the Six-Winged Purple Light Wings on Lin Nuo's back immediately trembled violently, as though they sensed an enormous threat.
"Steady your mind! Guide your Soul Power into your spine!"
Salas shouted in a low voice.
Lin Nuo clenched his teeth and, against the crushing pressure that nearly suffocated him, guided the abundant Soul Power within him, which had just broken through level twenty-five, to violently scour the connection between the wings on his back and his flesh.
Outside, the pressure of a Spirit Douluo hammered down like a heavy mallet; inside, his Soul Power burned and smelted like blazing fire.
Accompanied by waves of piercing pain and numbness as bone and flesh fused, fine beads of sweat seeped from Lin Nuo's forehead, yet he did not utter a single sound.
Gradually, the radiance of those purple crystal wings, which had seemed forcibly grafted onto his back, began to withdraw inward.
The roots of the purple wings gradually embedded themselves deep into his spine, while web-like veins completely connected with his nerves and meridians.
As the final ray of purple light merged into his marrow, the six Purple Light Wings, thin as cicada wings, opened and closed slightly as though breathing.
Then, with a swish, they withdrew into his body, leaving only six faint purple demonic patterns on Lin Nuo's back.
With a slight thought from Lin Nuo, the Six-Winged Purple Light Wings behind him smoothly unfolded and folded like a natural part of his body, completely as effortless to control as his own arms.
The stiff, sluggish sensation from when they had first formed had now vanished completely.
"Thank you for your trouble, Lord Bishop."
Lin Nuo contentedly put away his wings, stepped forward with a smile, and naturally cupped his hands in salute toward Salas.
Yet at the sight, Salas seemed to have oil beneath his feet. His body imperceptibly slid half a step sideways, forcibly avoiding the direction of Lin Nuo's direct salute.
Was this a joke?
The "young master" was offering him a formal bow?
Salas still wanted to live a few more years. He absolutely dared not accept such courtesy!
Although this trip to Sunset Forest to hunt Soul Beasts had been extremely brief, Lin Nuo's gains were terrifyingly immense.
Not only had his Soul Power leapt five levels to reach level twenty-five, obtaining a top-tier two-thousand-year second Soul Ring and a divine skill with tremendous destructive power, but he had even acquired a growth-type External Soul Bone.
This wave was truly Qin Shi Huang touching an electric wire—he had won big.
Since the Soul Beast hunt had ended perfectly, there was naturally no reason for the old man and the youth to keep choking on dust amid the poisonous miasma.
The two soon returned along the same route, boarded the luxurious carriage parked at the forest's edge, and once again sped toward Heaven Dou City.
Inside the carriage, the atmosphere was even more harmonious than it had been on the way there.
Salas personally poured Lin Nuo a cup of hot tea. After carefully considering his wording for a moment, he smilingly opened the conversation. "Little friend Lin Nuo, this old man already had someone arrange your enrollment at Heaven Dou Royal Academy.
"However..."
At this point, Salas paused, his tone becoming somewhat more solemn.
"The nominal highest authority of Heaven Dou Royal Academy is His Highness the Crown Prince of the Heaven Dou Empire, Xue Qinghe."
"His Highness the Crown Prince has always thirsted for talent and treated worthy people with courtesy.
"When this old man handled your recommendation procedures, I casually revealed a little of your reputation as an 'unparalleled genius' to the Eastern Palace.
"After hearing of it, His Highness the Crown Prince became deeply curious about you and specially sent word that he wished to find a time to meet with you privately."
Salas spoke in lofty, proper terms. On the surface, he was introducing the empire's crown prince, but in truth, he was cautiously carrying out the task Qian Renxue had assigned him.
At the mention of the name "Xue Qinghe," Lin Nuo's hand holding the teacup paused slightly.
Outwardly, he remained calm, but inwardly, he was already overjoyed.
What crown prince thirsting for talent?
Clearly, the cross-dressing Angel Young Master in the Eastern Palace could no longer hold herself back and was impatient to meet him, her "convenient little brother" who was suspected to be the Pope's illegitimate son!
During the time from Nuoding City to Heaven Dou City, that Angel Young Master had probably already read his life history until it fell apart.
Besides, he felt that this Platinum Bishop was not professional at all.
He was now a Spirit Hall genius, so how could he possibly be recommended to someone from the imperial family?
Still, he would soon be meeting his "foolish elder sister." He truly was looking forward to it.
With that thought, Lin Nuo set down his teacup. His expression was perfectly measured, neither overly ingratiating nor arrogantly aloof. He smiled and nodded.
"His Highness the Crown Prince has invited me personally. That is this junior's honor.
"Please inform His Highness, Lord Bishop. I shall naturally follow my host's arrangements and have no objections."
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