"Big Sis Xiao Wu, you..." Da Ming's deep voice rang out, filled with confusion.
Its gaze fell on Xiao Wu, keenly sensing the solidity and difference in her Soul Power. This was especially apparent when Xiao Wu released her Soul Rings to show them off: a configuration beyond the norm—yellow, purple, purple.
Even the well-informed Sky Azure Bull Python was shaken by this.
A thousand-year second ring?
How had she managed that?
Xiao Wu understood their questions, but merely smiled and shook her head without explaining.
She turned her gaze to Zhao Linchuan, as if asking for his permission. He gave a slight nod.
With his approval, Xiao Wu walked over and sat cross-legged on a smooth boulder beside the Lake of Life. Facing the rippling water, she slowly closed her eyes.
Three Soul Rings—yellow, purple, and purple—pulsed gently around her.
Then she adjusted her breathing and began drawing on her origin power to condense her fourth Soul Ring.
Time passed slowly. After about half an hour, the aura around Xiao Wu reached its peak, then gradually settled.
A phantom black Soul Ring began to take shape around her, growing from faint to deep, from illusory to solid.
"Phew—" A moment later, Xiao Wu let out a long breath and slowly opened her eyes. A flash of pink light glimmered in them, and her whole bearing seemed to have changed in some subtle way.
She broke into a radiant smile, like a spring flower in bloom, and looked excitedly at Zhao Linchuan.
"Young Master, I did it!"
"Congratulations..." Zhao Linchuan replied with a smile and a nod, his eyes full of approval.
Who knew how much time had passed? Elsewhere in the Star Dou Great Forest, far from the core region, lay a mixed zone on its outer reaches.
The "good luck" of Tang San and the others didn't seem to last long.
After successfully surrounding and killing the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent, Tang San had also broken through to level thirty after his fight with Meng Yiran.
Without the scene from the original story in which Tang Hao secretly "advised" Zhao Wuji to invoke the name of the Grandmaster and intimidate Dragon Duke,
Zhao Wuji was now completely unable to stand against the combined pressure of Dragon Duke Meng Shu, a Soul Douluo, and Snake Matriarch Chao Tianxiang, a Soul Emperor.
With no other choice, and hoping to save his own skin as well as secure the Soul Ring from the Man Faced Demon Spider, Tang San could only agree to Meng Shu's terms under Zhao Wuji's bitter gaze.
He would join their family and serve it in the future.
Only then did Meng Shu and Chao Tianxiang turn their anger to joy. They even looked at Tang San with much greater warmth.
The two sides "became friends instead of enemies," and Dragon Duke and Snake Matriarch even volunteered to guard him as he absorbed the Soul Ring.
In the shadows beneath the crown of a towering tree not far away, Zhao Linchuan and the others quietly appeared.
At almost the same time, the system's familiar notification rang softly in his mind—
[Key plot point detected: 'External Soul Bone: Eight Spider Lances.' In the original timeline, this item was an indispensable source of support for the Shrek Seven Devils. It accompanied Tang San throughout his growth and eventually evolved into the Sea God's Eight Wings, becoming an important part of his strength and fortune.] [Choice task triggered:] [Choice One: With an opportunity right in front of you, how could you not take it? If Heaven gives and you refuse, you'll bring trouble upon yourself. (Seize the Eight Spider Lances)] [Reward: 1 Growth-Type Left Leg Bone, Divine Artifact—Cassia Shadow Light Dance (from Honor Continent, Ailin), Character Summoning Card—First Batulu (Guaerjia Oboi), 200,000 System Points.] [Choice Two: Fair trade. I am a person of fairness and righteousness. (Exchange something of 'equal value')] [Reward: 1 Growth-Type Left Leg Bone, 1 Tears of the Empty City (Mysterious Gem), Character Summoning Card—First Batulu (You little rascal, the hall is filled with heroes today), 200,000 System Points.] [Tears of the Empty City: When worn, increases the wearer's total Stamina, Strength, Mental Power, and Soul Power, as well as their recovery speed, by 150%. (Note: Only regret remains in the old homeland; the old king's tears leave no trace.)]
Zhao Linchuan's gaze quickly swept over the rewards for the two choices.
Batulu and the other First Batulu aside, Cassia Shadow Light Dance—the Elf Bow? From Ailin?
A few unpleasant memories instantly surfaced in his mind. In his previous life, he'd had a friend who, after a terrible accident, had been left almost entirely unable to move anything but his brain.
Even so, relying on sheer willpower and the faint signals of his remaining nerves, he controlled the hero Ailin in the game and rampaged across the battlefield, nearly reaching the top of the peak ranking.
If it hadn't been for his friend who loved playing Kai, who'd ended up on the opposing team in the final match of the ranking season, he might really have become the number one player...
There was something a little strange about the idea of holding that bow.
As for "Tears of the Empty City"... Seeing the name and its description, Zhao Linchuan sighed silently, a trace of nostalgia and wistfulness passing through his heart.
Only regret remains in the old homeland; the old king's tears leave no trace...
Let it be a small tribute to those long-blurred days gone by, the memories that still occasionally stirred the surface of his heart.
He silently thought, System, I choose two.
[...The rewards will be issued automatically.]
Time passed quietly. The fluctuations of Soul Power around Tang San gradually steadied. The fine beads of blood stopped seeping from the surface of his skin, his tightly furrowed brow slowly relaxed, and his hurried breathing became even and deep.
A pale blue light flowed naturally from within him like rippling water. It was faint, but clearly signaled one thing: he was about to successfully absorb that third Soul Ring, which had an age of two thousand years!
Dragon Duke Meng Shu and Snake Matriarch Chao Tianxiang exchanged a glance, both smiling with satisfaction.
A young man who could absorb a two-thousand-year Soul Ring at level thirty had outstanding talent, perseverance, and character. His future potential was immense, making him an excellent addition to their family.
Meng Yiran, too, now looked at Tang San with admiration, her initial reluctance replaced by a hint of awe.
Zhao Wuji, Dai Mubai, and the others also breathed a sigh of relief, their taut nerves relaxing slightly.
As long as Tang San succeeded, this trip to the Star Dou Great Forest would have yielded a decent result, despite its extremely rough start.
However, just as everyone thought the outcome was settled and waited for Tang San to complete the final stage of absorption—
Something unexpected happened!
Tang San, sitting cross-legged, suddenly jolted violently!
Then his upper body arched backward as if an invisible force were pulling it, his spine emitting a grating series of cracks!
"Xiao San!" "Tang San!" Zhao Wuji, Dai Mubai, and the others cried out in shock.
Before they could rush forward to examine him or react in any way—
Pfft! Pfft! Pfft!...
A string of dull, skin-crawling sounds rang out, as if blades were piercing leather!
Eight hideous spider legs, dark purple all over and sharp-edged as knives, burst from Tang San's back like bamboo shoots after spring rain!
Before you continue