Evolution and Round Trip

The sky was thick with dark clouds, and bolts of lightning gathered together to form a vast sea of thunder.

A brilliant purple-gold light erupted from Su Zhen, enveloping him in a giant cocoon, with wisps of lightning patrolling the surface like armored knights.

"Great Grandfather, what exactly is happening?"

Qian Daoliu looked at the purple cocoon formed by Su Zhen with a grave expression.

"Xiao Zhen is likely undergoing Martial Soul Evolution."

"What! Martial Soul Evolution!"

Oscar was dumbfounded; it took a heaven-defying opportunity to achieve Martial Soul Evolution. One had to know that a Martial Soul was fixed from the moment of awakening; even the absorption of subsequent soul rings only served to improve the bloodline and quality of the soul, far from reaching the level of evolution.

As they spoke, a thick bolt of lightning shot down from the sea of thunder, instantly shattering the soul power barrier Qian Daoliu had condensed, and the fierce lightning struck the cocoon squarely.

The cocoon was torn apart by the lightning, revealing the figure sitting cross-legged inside.

Su Zhen's clothes had turned to ash, his originally purple long hair had become a black waterfall draped behind him, and streaks of black lightning patterns covered his body. A blood-colored scale was embedded in his chest.

Su Zhen opened his eyes, his pitch-black pupils so deep that one would be lost just by looking into them, with black lightning flickering within, refusing to dissipate.

The lightning lingering around his body intertwined with the shattered light cocoon, condensing into a giant ball of light behind Su Zhen.

A beast claw first reached out from the light, its fur as black as ink with inky lightning flickering upon it; a sturdy beast torso emerged, and where his chest had been flat, a dragon-scaled horn now grew; his body was covered in black dragon scales that shimmered with a cold light, like a suit of heavy armor; his lion mane swayed under the lashing of the gale, and his dragon head appeared even more majestic than before; two sky-piercing dragon horns replaced the single electric horn, and a streak of blood-red lightning texture appeared abruptly on his forehead, resembling a third eye.

The phantom of an inky Qilin stood behind Su Zhen, surrounded by lightning that guarded the figure sitting cross-legged in the center. The Qilin let out a roar toward the sky, shattering the surrounding thunder before slowly dissipating.

Su Zhen stood up, the sound of crackling electricity emanating from his body. Sensing the chill of the wind, he remained calm as he retrieved a robe from his ring and put it on.

The peach wood hairpin, covered in cracks and wrapped in rags, lay quietly at Su Zhen's feet. Having been nourished by Su Zhen's soul power for years, the hairpin and the rags had not turned to ash along with his clothes. Su Zhen picked them up, brushed off the dust, and placed them into the soul tool on his wrist, where they stayed with all his gold soul coins.

Clenching his fist, Su Zhen felt that he could crush his self from a few hours ago using only his physical strength.

"Xiao Zhen, how do you feel?"

Qian Daoliu approached Su Zhen to examine his drastically changed student.

"Teacher, I feel great. The Immortal Herb strengthened my physique, purified my lightning, and allowed my Thunder Prison Qilin to evolve. Furthermore, I have reached level fifty."

Su Zhen condensed black lightning in his palm; the flickering black snakes crackled, wanting to tear everything apart, and the surrounding light was swallowed and distorted. The Thunder Prison Qilin appeared behind him, the black beast standing silently, full of majesty and destruction, like a grim reaper guarding the gates of hell.

"Only now can the Thunder Prison Qilin truly live up to the name 'Prison'."

Su Zhen dissipated the lightning in his palm and joined Qian Daoliu in gazing at his reborn Martial Soul.

"Wow, Brother Zhen, you're getting cooler and cooler. If I were a girl, I'd definitely chase after you."

Oscar circled Su Zhen, his peach-blossom eyes filled with fanatical worship.

"Alright, Little Ao. I assume you've broken through as well? Let's hunt for your soul ring before we head back."

"Teacher, I'll go find a soul ring for Little Ao first."

After greeting Qian Daoliu, Su Zhen transformed into a bolt of black lightning and ran straight up the cliff, sprinting across the vertical surface as if it were flat ground, disappearing into the dense forest in the blink of an eye.

"Great Grandfather, is Brother Zhen really this strong now?"

Oscar was stunned by Su Zhen's display on the cliff, and he asked Qian Daoliu in disbelief.

"This is the soul power control training Xiao Zhen has been practicing. By condensing soul power at the soles of his feet, one can run on cliffs and water, though not as fast as he is now. Weren't you by his side when he trained? How could you not know?"

Oscar scratched his head awkwardly. Could he tell Qian Daoliu that he was always meditating or sleeping while Su Zhen did this training?

After waiting for a while, Su Zhen dragged a bird-type soul beast back down.

"Little Ao, this two-thousand-year Purple Thunder Sparrow should provide you with a speed-enhancing soul skill. Absorb it."

Su Zhen threw the wingless Purple Thunder Sparrow next to Oscar.

"Brother Zhen~, you're so good to me."

After acting spoiled toward Su Zhen, Oscar took out a dagger to end the sparrow's life, then sat cross-legged to begin absorption.

"Teacher, let's go to Thunder Canyon later. Once I hunt my fifth soul ring, I will return to Martial Soul Hall."

Qian Daoliu sat cross-legged next to Oscar with Su Zhen and started a campfire. Soon, the charred, fragrant scent of bird meat drifted from the pool toward the forest above.

Hum~

A sword hum came from above, and a sharp sword qi slashed down. Just as it was about to strike the three of them, a golden barrier appeared to block the blade, and the fierce energy vanished like a stone cast into the sea, not even causing a ripple.

"Why are you friends here? Did you see something fall?"

A long sword descended carrying a figure; his white hair and white robes gave him the air of an immortal. He had seen the terrifying celestial phenomenon from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and guessed that a great treasure must have appeared in the depths of the Sunset Forest, so he rushed over. He had just arrived to see three people at the bottom of the valley, and his slash had been blocked.

"Seven Kill Chen Xin, the son of Chen Jianjun."

Hearing someone state his identity directly, Chen Xin looked toward the source of the voice, his eyes falling upon the golden-haired, gray-robed man.

"Qian, Qian Daoliu!"

"Scram!"

Chen Xin took a deep look at Qian Daoliu, then turned and stepped onto his flying sword to leave the valley floor, though his peripheral vision caught a glimpse of a green figure lying not far away.

"Teacher, why not keep him here?"

Su Zhen looked at Chen Xin's retreating back with cold eyes. Chen Xin was a key helper for Tang San in the mid-to-late stages; if he could be left here, it would further reduce the obstacles to his future revenge.

"He is still useful."

If I kill him now, who will serve as your whetstone in the future?

Qian Daoliu replied calmly, having already mapped out the final destination for Chen Xin in his mind.

After a short while, Oscar finally finished absorbing his spirit ring.

"Brother Zhen, the spirit ring you hunted for me this time is truly amazing! I want to have your babies!"

Su Zhen pushed away the excited Oscar as he lunged toward him.

"Alright, enough. Tell me what your third spirit skill is."

"My third spirit skill is Rapid Mushroom Sausage. After consuming it, I can fly at two hundred percent of my own speed for a duration of three minutes."

"Hmm, that is quite a powerful skill. For a long time to come, this skill of yours will prove to be very useful."

"What is your spirit power level now?"

"Level thirty-five. The spirit ring raised it by two levels, and the Immortal Herb raised it by three."

"Counting it up, the Eight-Petal Immortal Orchid brought you a seven-level increase in spirit power, which will save you a great deal of time in bitter cultivation."

Su Zhen was very satisfied to hear this; the stronger Oscar became, the greater the help he would be.

"Since Little Ao has finished absorbing, let us set off for Thunder Canyon. It is time for Xiao Zhen to hunt for his spirit ring as well."

"Before that, let us place some insurance on this place."

Qian Daoliu condensed a massive amount of golden spirit power and shot it into the air, where it rippled outward from the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Spring like waves.

"I have used the power of the Angel God to construct a barrier here. To the outside world, this will look like a dense forest, and the barrier will also prevent other spirit masters from entering."

After Qian Daoliu finished his explanation, he took the two of them into the high sky, transforming into a streak of golden light that vanished into the horizon.