Buzz!
Specks of light began to gather above the Iron-Spine Giant Crocodile's corpse.
The light grew brighter and denser, eventually converging into a deep-yellow soul ring.
Nine hundred years old, deep yellow.
Fu Wen's second soul ring.
"That color is really deep."
Oscar said.
"That color's really pretty."
Ma Hongjun's eyes widened too.
"Xiao Wen, sit cross-legged and absorb the soul ring."
A trace of tension crept into Flender's voice.
Fu Wen didn't hesitate. He sat cross-legged and summoned his China Divine Crocodile Martial Soul.
A yellow soul ring rose from beneath his feet. The deep-yellow second soul ring slowly floated up and settled around the Divine Crocodile Phantom.
Then the soul ring transformed into a surging torrent of energy and poured into Fu Wen's body.
Fu Wen's body jolted, and his face flushed red.
The energy of a nine-hundred-year soul ring was more than twice as powerful as that of a four-hundred-year one.
That energy rampaged through his body, as if it would burst his meridians.
Fu Wen gritted his teeth and didn't make a sound.
He circulated the Innate Divine Crocodile Art at full force, guiding the violent energy through every limb and bone, deep into his muscles and bones.
One cycle, two cycles, three cycles...
Sweat ran down his cheeks. The clothes on his back were soon soaked through.
But his breathing stayed steady, and his hands didn't tremble.
Flender stood beside him, fists clenched with worry.
Zhao Wuji furrowed his brow too.
"Old Zhao, do you think he can do it?"
Flender asked in a low voice.
"He can."
Zhao Wuji answered without hesitation. "That kid's physical strength is more than a level above that of an ordinary two-ring Soul Master. Nine hundred years is within what he can handle."
Time passed, second by second.
Fu Wen's face turned red, then pale. Sweat dripped from his body and dampened a small patch of ground.
But he never cried out.
He only gritted his teeth and endured.
No one knew how long had passed.
Buzz!
A powerful light suddenly burst from Fu Wen's body.
It wasn't ordinary light, but a dusky yellow glow tinged with bronze.
That was the power of the China Divine Crocodile.
The light grew brighter and more intense.
The Divine Crocodile Phantom behind Fu Wen became more solid and more enormous.
Its golden-yellow, slit-pupil eyes seemed to come alive, gazing coldly ahead.
Then the light slowly faded.
Fu Wen opened his eyes.
A flash of golden-yellow light passed through his pupils.
"I did it."
Fu Wen's voice was a little weak, but his tone brimmed with excitement.
Flender crouched down and looked Fu Wen over, then burst into hearty laughter.
"Good! Wonderful!"
"Your second soul ring, a nine-hundred-year Iron-Spine Giant Crocodile!"
"A deep-yellow soul ring!"
"Xiao Wen, you're a true two-ring Soul Master now!"
Fu Wen stood up and rolled his shoulders.
Crack, crack.
His bones made crisp popping sounds.
He clenched his fist, feeling the strength surging through his body.
He was at least twice as strong as he'd been with one ring.
"Dad, my Soul Power has increased."
"How much?"
Fu Wen closed his eyes and sensed it, then opened them again.
"Three levels. From level twenty to level twenty-three."
"Good!"
Flender clapped his hands. "A three-level increase means this soul ring has excellent compatibility with your Martial Soul!"
"Come on, release your second Soul Skill and let us see what it is!"
Fu Wen took a deep breath and nodded.
He walked to the riverbank, turned his back to the water, and faced the others.
"Martial Soul Possession!"
The phantom of the China Divine Crocodile appeared behind him.
Two yellow soul rings rose from beneath his feet.
"Second Soul Skill: Flow-Severing!"
Fu Wen turned and swung his tail.
The enormous tail of the Divine Crocodile Phantom behind him swept out with tremendous force!
It wasn't aimed at the others, but at the river behind him.
Boom!
The tail swept through, and the river erupted!
The enormous waves were cleaved apart by brute force, exposing the riverbed!
The current was cut off for a full three breaths before the waters flowed together again.
Flender's eyes widened.
Zhao Wuji sucked in a sharp breath.
Oscar and Ma Hongjun gaped, their mouths hanging open.
"W-what kind of Soul Skill is that?"
Flender's voice trembled.
"Flow-Severing."
Fu Wen recalled his Martial Soul, his expression calm.
"One sweep of my tail can cut off a current. If it hits an enemy, it can deal massive physical damage and forcibly interrupt the flow of their Soul Power."
"Interrupt the flow of Soul Power?!"
Zhao Wuji's pupils contracted. "You mean that if your tail hits them, their Soul Skills will be interrupted?"
"That's right."
Fu Wen nodded. "For three breaths."
"For those three breaths, their Soul Power won't circulate normally, and they won't be able to release any Soul Skills."
The entire group fell silent.
Flender and Zhao Wuji exchanged a glance, each seeing the shock in the other's eyes.
A second-ring Soul Skill that could interrupt an opponent's Soul Power.
What did that mean?
It meant that Fu Wen was practically invincible in a fight against someone of the same level.
If his opponent released a Soul Skill, he could sweep his tail at them and interrupt it outright.
Then, while their Soul Power was in disarray for those three breaths, he could charge in and finish the fight with Primordial Bite.
First ring for crowd control, second to interrupt, third to finish them off.
Perfect.
"Good! Wonderful!"
Flender was so excited his hands trembled. "Xiao Wen, you picked the perfect second Soul Skill!"
"Flow-Severing! One sweep of your tail, and you sever rivers!"
"Now that's worthy of the Mutated Sea Crocodile!"
"All right, all right, calm down."
"Xiao Wen, would the interrupting effect of your Soul Skill work on opponents with higher Soul Power Levels than yours?"
Zhao Wuji patted Flender on the shoulder, though his own voice was a little strained.
Fu Wen thought it over before answering. "It would work, but the effect would be weaker. If their Soul Power is much higher than mine, the interruption might not last as long. It might even last only an instant."
"That's still terrifying."
Zhao Wuji drew a deep breath. "When experts fight, a single instant can decide life or death. If your Flow-Severing can interrupt an opponent's Soul Skill, even for just one breath, that's enough to turn the tide."
Flender nodded in agreement, then looked at Oscar and Ma Hongjun.
"What happened today stays between us. Neither of you is to breathe a word of it to anyone."
"If outsiders learn what Xiao Wen's Soul Skill can do, his enemies will be prepared for it in the future."
"Understood!"
Oscar and Ma Hongjun nodded together, their expressions solemn.
Flender looked back at Fu Wen. "Xiao Wen, try to hold back the effects of Flow-Severing when you're in a real fight. Avoid using it if you can, and if you do use it, don't let your opponent see what it can do."
"I know."
Fu Wen nodded.
You don't flaunt your wealth, and you certainly don't reveal your trump cards.
That was basic survival sense for a transmigrator.
"All right, it's getting late. We should head back."
Flender clapped his hands. "Xiao Ao, Flying Sausages. One for each of us, and we'll fly back."
"Coming right up!"
Oscar immediately released his Martial Soul. Five Flying Sausages glowing with blue light appeared in his palm.
They each took one.
Ma Hongjun took a bite. Blue Light Wings unfurled behind him, and he bounced excitedly in place twice.
"Here I go!"
He leaped into the air, wobbling as he shot skyward.
"Xiao Pang, slow down!"
Zhao Wuji leaped after him, keeping close at his side.
Flender spread his wings and flew at the rear, his eyes never leaving Fu Wen.
That boy kept surprising him more and more.
Before you continue