A Single Breakthrough to Level Thirty-Eight

Although Zhu Zhuqing's physique was only sufficient to absorb a Spirit Ring of around 2,500 years, one must not forget that she possessed a 30,000-year Gale Demon Wolf Spirit Bone. A 30,000-year Spirit Bone had a suppressive effect on Gale Demon Wolves, so Zhu Zhuqing should be able to absorb it successfully.

The fur marked with dark golden patterns seemed to faintly resonate with the 30,000-year Gale Demon Wolf Spirit Bone in Zhu Zhuqing's right leg.

Shen Lian turned to look at Zhu Zhuqing in his arms. Excitement flickered in the girl's silver eyes, and her slender fingers unconsciously clenched his lapel.

"Zhuqing, get ready."

Shen Lian spoke in a low voice, Soul Power gathering in his palm into a sharp blade of light as he continued:

"This Demon Wolf may be your opportunity!"

Shen Lian's Vermilion Bird Wings burned like flames, casting immense shifting shadows through the forest.

When he gently placed Zhu Zhuqing on the gnarled branch of an ancient tree, moss from the bark stained her clothes with green.

The girl held onto a horizontal branch and steadied herself. Her silver hair fluttered in the wind passing through the trees, just in time for her to see Shen Lian draw the Dragon-Slaying Blade with a backhand motion. Before the blade even left its sheath, it shook countless red leaves from the tree. Crimson Soul Power surged along the blade's patterns, forming the phantom of a roaring dragon's head at the hilt.

"Sixth Soul Skill—Dragon Flame Heaven-Burning Slash!"

Shen Lian suddenly exerted force, sweeping the Dragon-Slaying Blade in a half arc along the ground.

In an instant, a dark crimson torrent of dragon-shaped flames burst from the blade. Everywhere it passed, dozens of century-old Gale Demon Wolves, along with the rocks they had crossed, turned to ash.

The scent of burning filled the forest. Yellow and white Spirit Rings lit up one after another above the corpses, only to sizzle beneath the lingering heat of the dragon flames.

Only the three-thousand-year Demon Wolf barely managed to roll several yards away from the edge of the explosion by violently scraping its forelimbs against the ground and raising a cloud of dust. Its blue-gray fur was already covered in countless scorch marks.

"Thud."

The dull sound of the Dragon-Slaying Blade returning to its sheath startled birds from the trees.

Shen Lian withdrew his Vermilion Bird Wings. Before the flame patterns on his clothes had even faded, he walked step by step toward the Demon Wolf backed against the cliff face.

The Soul Beast's hind legs had been burned by the dragon flames. Every step it took backward dragged a trail of blood across the ground, yet it still bared its fangs and growled low.

Shen Lian's reflection appeared in its amber eyes, mixed with fear and madness. When Shen Lian lifted the fur at its neck with his blade tip, the Demon Wolf suddenly let out a piercing howl. Disregarding the opening in its abdomen, it used its ribs to take the blade wind head-on and lunged fiercely for Shen Lian's throat.

"Courting death."

Shen Lian twisted his wrist, and the blade cut into the Demon Wolf's waist and abdomen along a vicious arc.

Just as he had expected, the beast's iron head and bronze back offered no defense at its supple waist and abdomen. The three-inch blade tip, carrying scorching Soul Power, pierced straight into its internal organs.

The moment the Demon Wolf collapsed, its front claws still clung tightly to Shen Lian's trouser leg. Bloody foam gurgled from its throat, but it no longer had the strength to raise its head.

"Zhuqing, come down quickly. Your Spirit Ring is secured."

Shen Lian kicked away the wolf's claws and looked up at the canopy.

Zhu Zhuqing was sliding down the trunk. When she landed, the soles of her boots crushed several Soul Beast claws and fangs.

She stared at the dying three-thousand-year Demon Wolf on the ground, confusion filling her silver eyes.

"Brother Lian, didn't you say my body could only absorb a Spirit Ring of around 2,500 years?"

"Did you forget about this Spirit Bone?"

Shen Lian pointed to the faint glow of the Spirit Bone on Zhu Zhuqing's right leg, then continued:

"A 30,000-year Gale Demon Wolf right leg bone naturally suppresses Soul Beasts of the same attribute."

Shen Lian crouched down and used his blade tip to lift the Demon Wolf's ear. Sure enough, there was a small patch of dark golden markings with the same origin as the Spirit Bone. He continued speaking to Zhu Zhuqing:

"Just as the alpha wolf in a pack can suppress its cubs, this Spirit Bone will help you suppress the backlash from the Spirit Ring."

After hearing this, Zhu Zhuqing nodded and silently activated Martial Soul Possession.

When the phantom of the Hell Spirit Cat appeared behind her, the wind in the forest suddenly turned bitterly cold.

She slowly walked toward the Demon Wolf. The sound of her boots crushing fallen leaves made the dying Soul Beast abruptly raise its head.

At the instant Zhu Zhuqing raised her claws, Shen Lian clearly saw a trace of humanlike fear flash through the Demon Wolf's eyes. It was the instinctive trembling of one beneath a superior bloodline.

"Squish."

The sound of the claws piercing the Demon Wolf's brow was as soft as a dry branch snapping.

A purple three-thousand-year Spirit Ring rose from the Gale Demon Wolf's corpse.

The instant Zhu Zhuqing sat down cross-legged, the Spirit Bone in her right leg suddenly began to hum. The golden patterns on the Spirit Ring moved like living things, actually taking the initiative to resonate with the Spirit Bone.

Shen Lian stood at her side, standing guard as he watched the violent Soul Power be subdued one strand at a time by the Spirit Bone, finally transforming into a gentle stream of light that flowed into Zhu Zhuqing's body.

Dappled light and shadows filled the forest. As time slowly passed, Shen Lian stood beside Zhu Zhuqing like a statue, his gaze constantly sweeping the surroundings with vigilance while occasionally turning toward Zhu Zhuqing as she absorbed the Spirit Ring.

At last, the purple glow of the Spirit Ring surrounding Zhu Zhuqing gradually receded. The previously restless Soul Power, like a tamed wild horse, began to stabilize.

The surrounding air no longer trembled violently. Only the breeze brushed through the leaves with a soft rustle, as if it too were holding its breath in anticipation of this moment.

Finally, Zhu Zhuqing's eyelashes trembled lightly, and she slowly opened her eyes.

She pushed herself up from the ground, her posture straight as a pine tree.

After stretching her limbs, faint sounds of bones rubbing together came from within her body, as though every cell were cheering with joy.

Feeling the surging Soul Power within her, Zhu Zhuqing's silver eyes widened instantly, her face filled with disbelief.

She circulated her Soul Power in disbelief and found that it was fuller and more powerful than ever before. What shocked her even more was the rise in her Soul Power Level, because Zhu Zhuqing discovered that her Soul Power had actually reached level thirty-eight!

Unable to suppress the excitement in her heart, Zhu Zhuqing hurried to Shen Lian's side. Excitement and confusion mingled in her eyes, while her voice trembled with obvious disbelief as she said:

"Brother Lian, my Soul Power has actually reached level thirty-eight. Are Immortal Herbs really this powerful?"

Zhu Zhuqing stared intently at Shen Lian, eager to receive an answer from him.

Seeing how excited Zhu Zhuqing was, Shen Lian's lips curved into a gratified smile.

He nodded lightly, his eyes full of certainty, and said to Zhu Zhuqing:

"Of course. The power of Immortal Herbs is beyond imagination. These Immortal Herbs can not only cleanse the body and improve one's physique, but also greatly accelerate the growth of Soul Power. And now, your cultivation speed is no weaker than those with Innate Full Soul Power."

Shen Lian's voice was steady and powerful, every word filled with expectations for Zhu Zhuqing's future, as he continued:

"Given enough time, I believe you will be able to control your own destiny."

A warm current rose in Zhu Zhuqing's heart as she listened to Shen Lian's words.

She secretly clenched her fists, and her gaze became increasingly resolute.

With such powerful support, she was full of confidence in her future path of cultivation and looked forward even more to the day when she could control her own destiny.