Accumulation and Breakthrough! Eighteen to Twenty!

In the blink of an eye, two more months had passed.

Shrek Academy, the playground.

Before the sky had even brightened, a lone figure was already training in the morning mist.

Fu Wen was shirtless, revealing lean, powerful muscle definition.

Bronze-colored patterns snaked from his arms up to his shoulders, flickering in and out of sight under the morning light.

He stood in a horse stance with his arms extended horizontally, heavy iron blocks bound to his fists.

These were no ordinary iron blocks; they had been custom-forged at Flender's request, ten pounds each, totaling twenty pounds.

Fu Wen held them there, motionless.

Sweat streamed down his cheeks, dripping onto the ground and soaking a small patch of earth.

Yet his breathing remained steady, and his arms did not tremble in the slightest.

"Brother Wen, up so early again?"

Ma Hongjun rubbed his eyes as he walked out of the dormitory. Seeing Fu Wen already training, he instantly woke up.

"The early bird catches the worm."

Fu Wen did not look at him, continuing to hold the iron blocks.

"But you're a crocodile, and crocodiles don't eat worms."

Ma Hongjun scratched his head.

Fu Wen glanced at him but said nothing.

Ma Hongjun chuckled, not daring to banter further, and hurried off to warm up.

Over these past two months, he had been thoroughly whipped into shape by Fu Wen.

Don't let Brother Wen's usual silence fool you; when he threw a punch, he didn't hold back at all.

One hit, and he would be in pain for half the day.

Two hours later, the sun had risen.

Flender stood under a tree in the courtyard, watching the three children train while holding a cup of tea, taking a sip from time to time.

"Dean, what level is Xiao Wen's soul power at?"

Zhao Wuji walked over, arms crossed over his chest.

"Level 19 peak, he could break through to level 20 at any moment."

Flender spoke with a calm tone, but the pride in his eyes could not be hidden.

"It hasn't even been half a year since his awakening, right?"

Zhao Wuji sighed, "From level 10 to level 19 peak—that's a nine-level jump. An average of one and a half levels per month. At this speed, even in Martial Soul Hall, he would be a genius among geniuses."

"Don't forget whose son he is."

Flender adjusted his glasses.

Zhao Wuji rolled his eyes, not bothering to respond.

Fu Wen's cultivation was never just about soul power.

The Innate Divine Crocodile Art cultivated soul power, physical body, and spirit all at once.

Therefore, his level 19 peak was far stronger than that of an ordinary soul master.

Zhao Wuji had once told Flender in private, "Xiao Wen's current physical strength is no worse than an average two-ring soul master. I even suspect he could absorb a thousand-year soul ring right now."

Flender hadn't said anything at the time, but he had taken those words to heart.

He had already gathered information on a nine-hundred-year Iron-Spine Giant Crocodile.

He was just waiting for Fu Wen to break through to level 20 before taking him to the Star Dou Great Forest.

Three days later.

At night.

Fu Wen sat cross-legged on his bed, eyes closed.

Under the guidance of the Innate Divine Crocodile Art, his soul power circulated in cycle after cycle.

Ever since reaching level 19 peak, he could clearly feel that barrier right before him.

It was like a thin membrane, ready to burst with a single poke.

Yet, this very membrane had held him back for three whole days.

Fu Wen was not in a rush.

The Innate Divine Crocodile Art taught him that in the path of cultivation, the greatest taboo is a restless and impetuous heart.

When the water arrives, the channel is naturally formed.

Tonight, however, seemed different.

As his soul power completed its ninth cycle, Fu Wen felt a low, muffled thud resonate from within his body.

It was not a sound, but rather a form of vibration.

It felt as if something had exploded inside him, or perhaps as if something had awakened.

The barrier that had held him back for three days shattered.

His soul power surged like a burst dam, roaring through his body, piercing every meridian and every acupoint.

Fu Wen's face flushed red, and fine beads of sweat seeped from his forehead.

Yet, his breathing remained steady, and his hands did not tremble.

The Innate Divine Crocodile Art operated automatically, guiding that violent surge of soul power to coalesce and flow into his dantian.

Hum!

A low hum emanated from Fu Wen's body.

Blue light erupted from him, illuminating the entire room.

Ma Hongjun was startled awake, rubbing his eyes as he sat up.

"Brother Wen? You've broken through again?"

Fu Wen opened his eyes and exhaled a breath of stale air.

The breath remained condensed, like a white arrow, shooting out three feet before dissipating.

"Level twenty."

He said in a low voice.

Early the next morning, Flender learned the news.

It wasn't Fu Wen who told him; it was Ma Hongjun.

The little fatty's mouth was faster than his brain, and while eating breakfast, he blurted out, "Master, Brother Wen reached level twenty last night," shocking everyone at the table.

"Level twenty?"

Flender set down his bowl and chopsticks, looking at Fu Wen.

"Yes."

Fu Wen nodded, his expression calm. "I broke through last night."

"Good!"

Flender slapped the table and laughed heartily.

"Level twenty at the first ring! In less than half a year!"

"Xiao Wen, your speed is a full three months faster than Xiao Ao was back then!"

Oscar sat opposite them, his mouth stuffed with a bun, muttering indistinctly, "Old man, can you stop comparing me to others? Don't I have any face?"

"What face do you need?"

Flender glared at him. "How long did it take you to go from level ten to twenty? Eight months! Xiao Wen did it in less than half a year! A gap is a gap; why shouldn't it be mentioned?"

Oscar rolled his eyes and continued eating his bun.

Zhao Wuji set down his chopsticks and looked Fu Wen up and down.

"Xiao Wen, how do you feel now? Is there any discomfort in your body?"

"None."

Fu Wen shook his head. "I feel great."

"That's good."

Zhao Wuji nodded. "You've built a solid foundation over these past six months; breaking through to level twenty was only a matter of time."

"Next, it's time for your second soul ring."

Flender took over the conversation. "Don't worry about the second soul ring. I've already inquired about it; there is an Iron-Spine Giant Crocodile in the outer perimeter of the Star Dou Great Forest. It's nine hundred years old and perfectly suited for you."

"Iron-Spine Giant Crocodile?"

Fu Wen raised an eyebrow.

He had read about this soul beast in books.

The Iron-Spine Giant Crocodile is a Sub-Dragon Species and a strength-type soul beast.

It has a massive physique, with iron-gray bone plates protruding from its spine and extremely well-developed tail muscles.

A single strike can snap a river surface and whip up waves a zhang high.

The nine-hundred-year-old Iron-Spine Giant Crocodile possessed strength comparable to an ordinary thousand-year soul beast.

However, if its soul ring could be absorbed, the resulting soul skill would undoubtedly be formidable.

"Nine hundred years—can you absorb that?"

Li Yusong pushed up his glasses, looking somewhat worried.

"I can."

Fu Wen did not hesitate.

He knew his own physical constitution better than anyone.

For an ordinary two-ring soul master, absorbing a nine-hundred-year soul ring was indeed risky.

But he was no ordinary two-ring soul master.

Having practiced the Innate Divine Crocodile Art for half a year, his body was leagues ahead of his peers.

Nine hundred years was well within his tolerance.

Flender looked at Fu Wen, remained silent for a moment, and then nodded.

"Fine! It's settled then."

"We depart in three days for the Star Dou Great Forest!"

"Old Zhao, you're coming with me."

"Agreed."

Zhao Wuji nodded.

"Xiao Ao, Xiao Pang, you two are coming as well."

Flender looked at Oscar and Ma Hongjun. "Consider it training."

"Yes!"

Ma Hongjun was the first to cheer.

Oscar smiled as well, though his expression carried a hint of nervousness.

The Star Dou Great Forest was a true primeval wilderness.

The soul beasts within were not comparable to the captive specimens found in the Soul Hunting Forest.

Fu Wen sat there with a calm expression, but a flicker of anticipation crossed his eyes.

Iron-Spine Giant Crocodile, nine hundred years.

He had been waiting a long time for his second soul ring.

At night.

Fu Wen lay in bed with his eyes closed, but he was not asleep.

He was thinking about his second soul ring.

For an Iron-Spine Giant Crocodile, the soul skill would most likely be related to strength or its tail.

If it were a strength-based soul skill, combined with his first soul skill, Primordial Bite, his close-quarters combat would become even more terrifying.

If it were a tail-based soul skill, it would compensate for his lack of mid-range attacks.

Either way, it would be highly practical.

However, Flender was right.

Choosing the soul ring was only the first step; the process of absorption was far more critical.

The energy of a nine-hundred-year soul ring was more than double that of a four-hundred-year one.

When absorbing it, the body's endurance was the key.

His body was strong, but he could not afford to be careless.

"Brother Wen, are you nervous?"

Ma Hongjun's voice drifted over from the side.

"Not nervous."

Fu Wen opened his eyes.

"I am," Ma Hongjun said. "I heard there are ten-thousand-year soul beasts in the Star Dou Great Forest that can swallow a person in one bite."

"You aren't going into the core area, so what are you afraid of?"

Fu Wen rolled his eyes.

"What if?"

"There is no 'what if'."

Fu Wen said, "Dad and Teacher Zhao are both seven-ring Soul Saints, so we have nothing to fear even if a ten-thousand-year soul beast shows up."

Ma Hongjun thought about it, found the logic sound, and closed his eyes in peace.

Beside them, Oscar rolled over and muttered, "Stop chatting, you two. We have training tomorrow..."

A faint smile tugged at the corner of Fu Wen's mouth as he closed his eyes as well.

Three days later, Star Dou Great Forest.

Iron-Spine Giant Crocodile, nine-hundred-year cultivation.

He was looking forward to it.