With everyone working together, the Three-Eyed Demon Fox let out a despairing wail. Its body convulsed a few times, then finally went completely still.
A deep purple Soul Ring, so dark it was almost black, slowly emerged from its corpse.
They had won!
All four of them let out a simultaneous sigh of relief and sank to the ground, panting heavily. Those few short minutes of intense combat had nearly drained them of all their strength and Soul Power.
Ning Xiaochun especially had pushed himself to the limit, using the Martial Soul Fusion Skill twice in a row. It had taken a tremendous toll on both his mind and his Soul Power. His little face was pale as paper, and his vision kept going dark, but he still managed to force out a faint smile.
"Phew... Finally... We did it..."
He looked at the Soul Ring belonging to the Three-Eyed Demon Fox, which was close to the ten-thousand-year level, then at the two Soul Rings nearby belonging to the Ice Demon Bird and the Lightning Demon Snake. His heart filled with relief at having survived the ordeal and joy at their bountiful harvest.
The process had been thrilling and dangerous, far beyond what he had expected from his "cautious" approach, but the result... seemed pretty good?
But using the Martial Soul Fusion Skill twice in a row, especially "Ring Elevation," had drained his mind and Soul Power tremendously. His vision kept darkening, and his limbs felt weak and limp, as if his body had been hollowed out.
"Xiaochun!" Shui Bing'er immediately crouched beside him. Her icy blue eyes were full of concern as she carefully supported his shoulder, her voice edged with urgency. "How are you? What's bothering you?"
"I'm... I'm fine..." Ning Xiaochun managed to squeeze out a smile. "I'm just a little exhausted... I'll be fine after some rest."
Dugu Yan came over too, astonishment and lingering fear in her green eyes.
"You brat, you scared me half to death just now! You actually dared to use a skill like that! But... it was incredible! For that one moment, I really felt like I'd become a three-ring Soul Elder! That feeling of power coursing through me... It was amazing!"
As she spoke, her expression turned wistful. The experience of being empowered by "Ring Elevation" had been utterly wonderful.
It was as if a powerful force had appeared out of nowhere inside her, making her feel like she could do anything.
Although that force had now receded like the tide, the sensation had been etched deep into her memory.
"Indeed..." A slightly hoarse voice, still naturally alluring, rang out.
At some point, Hu Liena had returned as well. She hadn't left right away; instead, she stood a short distance away, her charming, almond-shaped eyes fixed on Ning Xiaochun with an extraordinarily complicated look.
A trace of flushed color still lingered on her face, the afterglow of the excitement and exhilaration brought on by the sudden surge in power.
"To gain an additional Soul Ring outright... I've never heard of or seen an auxiliary ability like that."
Hu Liena's voice held a note of incredulous admiration, and even a hint of fascination that she herself hadn't noticed.
"That feeling... It was as if... my whole being had been elevated. My Soul Power flowed freely, as though that Soul Ring had always been a part of me... It's unbelievable."
As she spoke, she unconsciously extended the tip of her tongue and lightly moistened her slightly dry red lips. Her gaze on Ning Xiaochun grew even more fervent and... meaningful.
"After experiencing it once, I'm afraid... it'll be hard to forget." She spoke softly, her voice carrying a faint, subtle allure.
Under her gaze, Ning Xiaochun felt a little creeped out and instinctively edged closer to Shui Bing'er. Why did this woman seem even more dangerous than that Three-Eyed Demon Fox?
Shui Bing'er's brow furrowed even more. She shot Hu Liena a cold glare and shifted to block most of her view, her tone hostile.
"Had enough staring? If you have, then please leave. We still need to absorb our Soul Rings."
Hu Liena didn't get angry. She merely smiled, looking past Shui Bing'er toward Ning Xiaochun.
"Little brother, thank you for today. I, Hu Liena, will remember this favor. If you ever get the chance to visit Spirit City, just give them my name. Big sister will show you around."
Without waiting for Ning Xiaochun to answer, she turned and looked at the deep purple Soul Ring belonging to the Three-Eyed Demon Fox, which was close to the ten-thousand-year level. A flicker of eager anticipation passed through her eyes.
"I'll take this Soul Ring, then." With a light laugh, she walked gracefully over to the Three-Eyed Demon Fox's corpse and sat cross-legged. She circulated her Soul Power and began guiding the Soul Ring into her body.
Seeing this, Shui Bing'er and Dugu Yan didn't waste any more time.
Each of them went to her own Soul Ring: Shui Bing'er's was the four-thousand-year Soul Ring of the Ice Demon Bird, while Dugu Yan's was the three-thousand-year Soul Ring of the Lightning Demon Snake. They, too, sat cross-legged, calmed their minds, and began absorbing them.
Ning Xiaochun, meanwhile, forced his exhausted body to stay upright and stood guard over the three women.
Although he was in terrible shape, they were in the danger-ridden Sunset Forest, after all. No one knew whether another "oriole" might appear. He had to remain on full alert.
Time passed second by second.
Dugu Yan was the first to finish absorbing her Soul Ring.
The dark green light of Soul Power around her suddenly drew inward, and a denser, more ferocious aura burst from within her!
She abruptly opened her eyes. Her eerie green pupils shone brightly, brimming with excitement and delight!
"Success! Thirty-third level! And... I feel like my Martial Soul has changed again! It seems... there's a hint of nimbleness from wind attribute!"
Feeling the surging Soul Power within her and the thrill radiating from her Martial Soul, Dugu Yan leapt to her feet in excitement.
The Lightning Demon Snake's Soul Ring had not only greatly increased her Soul Power, but also granted her the speed boost she had long dreamed of! It would be a tremendous addition to her fighting style in the future!
Right after that, an even fiercer, purer chill spread outward like a tide!
It was Shui Bing'er!
The icy blue light around her had grown rich and intense. Behind her, the Ice Phoenix's phantom raised its head and cried out to the sky. Its cry was filled with nobility and majesty, as well as an... ancient, primeval vastness!
The chill radiating from her was even more bone-piercing than before, as if it could freeze the very air!
She slowly opened her eyes. Her icy blue eyes now seemed to contain an icefield that had never thawed in ten thousand years—deep and cold, yet possessing an indescribable elegance and beauty.
"Thirty-sixth level."
Shui Bing'er softly uttered four words. Her voice was cool, but held a hint of satisfaction that was difficult to detect.
The effects of the two Immortal Herbs, combined with the perfect compatibility of this four-thousand-year Ice Demon Bird Soul Ring, had allowed her Soul Power to break through to the thirty-sixth level in one go!
What was more, after absorbing this Soul Ring, her Ice Phoenix Martial Soul seemed to have become more solid, and its ice attribute purer. She had faintly touched upon a higher realm!
Last was Hu Liena.
The pink-gold light around her pulsed like breathing, and the nine tails of the Demon Fox phantom behind her seemed even more nimble and graceful.
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