Darkness swept in, and the straight blade plunged down.
"Splurt!"
Blood sprayed as ice-cold, utterly dark Soul Power surged through the Titan Giant Ape's head. In an instant, pain twisted its face. A moment later, the light gradually faded from its ocher eyes.
Seeing this, Jiang Xiu pulled out his dark straight blade and leaped down. Dark Night Raven darted out in a surprise attack and caught him securely.
"Thud!"
"Thud!"
Two soft impacts rang out as Jiang Xiu and Na'er landed one after the other, one holding a spear, the other a blade.
"Snap!"
Na'er raised her delicate hand, her violet eyes silently counting the seconds. The instant her fingers snapped, a muffled crash sounded behind them. The Titan Giant Ape's massive body toppled to the ground, startling the birds and beasts in the forest.
Na'er glanced back at the Titan Giant Ape, a hint of satisfaction passing through her lovely eyes. She brushed at her white skirt and put away the Silver Dragon Spear.
Na'er had a little dirt on her hem.
The Titan Giant Ape fell, its lungs clouding the air.
"Come on, let's absorb the energy. Why are you just standing there?"
Jiang Xiu steadied the surging Soul Power inside him, called out to Na'er, who was still rooted to the spot, and walked toward the Titan Giant Ape.
"Oh, coming, coming."
Na'er dropped her air of a Grandmaster and hurried after Jiang Xiu.
By then, the Titan Giant Ape had slowly transformed into a large mass of pure, ocher energy, drifting toward Jiang Xiu.
"My First Soul Ring is already up to 1,930 years. Once I absorb this energy, it'll reach the 2,000-year limit."
Jiang Xiu considered this silently. He divided off some of the energy drifting toward him and gave it to Na'er beside him.
"Once we absorb this, we can call this trip a perfect ending."
Jiang Xiu chuckled softly as he felt his Soul Ring's age increase. Dark Night Raven, perched on his shoulder, quietly grew a little larger.
As a Soul Ring's age increased, its Soul Spirit grew stronger too. Some powerful Soul Masters even had Soul Spirits with the strength of Titled Douluo, capable of standing on their own.
"Are there other thousand-year Soul Beast energy forms like this in the Spirit Ascension Platform?"
Na'er's violet eyes shifted as she suddenly asked.
"There are. According to the information Tower Master Leng gave us earlier, there are nine more thousand-year Soul Beast energy forms of the Titan Giant Ape's level in this Spirit Ascension Platform."
Jiang Xiu answered as he absorbed the energy.
The Spirit Ascension Platform at the Spirit Pagoda's headquarters was certainly stronger than those at its branches outside. The Soul Beast energy forms here were purer, and their quality was higher.
"All right. Then next time, tell me when you're coming, and we can team up to ascend together."
Na'er seemed to be pondering something. Her violet eyes fixed intently on Jiang Xiu as she asked softly.
"After we leave this time, I'm going to train with my master. I might not come to the Spirit Pagoda headquarters for my next ascension."
Jiang Xiu thought it over as he spoke. His master would probably take him to the East Sea to meet his eldest senior brother, A Ruheng, whom he had never met.
"You're leaving, then? All right."
At his words, Na'er's violet eyes flickered. She pretended not to care, but a trace of unease showed in their depths.
"All right, we should head back. Of course, I'll come find you when I have time in the future. After all, I'm your boss."
After absorbing the energy and sensing his Soul Ring reach 2,000 years, Jiang Xiu stretched his limbs and pressed the Red Button on his arm. His whole body instantly dissolved into light and vanished.
"Mm..."
Na'er gave a slight nod, then turned back for one last, lingering look at the light-filled world behind her. After that, she slowly pressed the button and disappeared.
Inside the circular metal room.
"Ka-chunk! Ka-chunk!"
Metal switches clicked, and the silver-white walls split open. Two Soul Guidance Pods slid out, then their doors opened. The round suction cups attached to them disengaged, and Jiang Xiu and Na'er slowly opened their eyes inside.
"Soul Guidance Technology really is advancing rapidly. Automation must be the next step."
Feeling that his First Soul Ring had indeed risen to the thousand-year level, Jiang Xiu couldn't help sighing to himself. Even his spiritual power had increased considerably in the process.
"Welcome back. You aren't feeling any discomfort, are you?"
Leng Yaozhu walked toward the two as they emerged from the Soul Guidance Pods, her long, straight legs carrying her forward. She asked with concern.
"Thank you for your concern, Tower Master Leng. I feel fine."
"Me too."
Na'er echoed him, though her expression remained a little subdued.
"Good. Disciple, you did very well in there. And you and Na'er worked together wonderfully."
Mu Ye patted Jiang Xiu on the shoulder and praised him.
Although this had been Jiang Xiu's first time entering the Spirit Ascension Platform, he had reacted quickly to every Soul Beast he encountered, and his strikes had been ruthless. That suited Mu Ye perfectly.
After all, the Body Sect's various combat techniques were all killing arts. Their top techniques were the kind that decided not only victory or defeat but life or death, so ruthlessness was essential.
"Now that the ascension is over, we'll be on our way."
After giving Jiang Xiu a careful check, Mu Ye turned to Leng Yaozhu.
"All right. I hope we can work together and help each other succeed in the future. If you need anything, you can tell me."
Leng Yaozhu nodded slightly and smiled.
"I understand. The strong will lift up those who come after them. Once the Body Sect has regained its strength, we certainly won't forget the Phoenix Clan."
Mu Ye replied earnestly, fully understanding.
Beside Leng Yaozhu, Na'er seemed rather downcast. Even the silver cowlick on top of her head had drooped.
"Let's go. Your grand-aunt is coming with us this time."
Holding the land deed in his hand, Mu Ye's eyes brightened. Their Body Sect would soon have a home of its own.
After years of drifting, they would finally have a firm foundation.
"Grand-aunt is coming too? Is she planning to leave the Spirit Pagoda?"
Jiang Xiu was taken aback, a little puzzled.
Na'er kept her eyes on her master, but her ears had already perked up.
"Our Body Sect's home will be in Shrek City from now on. Today is the first day of our sect's founding, so your grand-aunt wants to come along and have a look."
Mu Ye said this as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
"Staying in Shrek City? Oh no! Then the Body Sect might end up taking to the skies along with Shrek Academy in the future."
At that, Jiang Xiu immediately sensed trouble. Two Level 12 Fixed Soul Guidance Shells would engulf Shrek City in their blast radius.
But he couldn't raise the issue outright just now. His master was caught up in the excitement, and besides, none of it had actually happened yet.
"In Shrek City? Heh! Then it won't be far from the Spirit Pagoda, will it?"
Na'er's cowlick sprang upright, and her lovely eyes lit up.
"By the way, Sect Master Mu, what profession are you planning to have Xiao Xiu choose?"
As Mu Ye prepared to leave, Leng Yaozhu suddenly asked.
Jiang Xiu's gaze shifted slightly. In this era, cultivation wasn't the only path to becoming stronger for a Soul Master. To grow stronger, you had to choose your profession well.
With the boost from Battle Armor, even a Soul Saint could cross ranks to defeat a Soul Douluo without Battle Armor, or even a Titled Douluo.
In this era, Battle Armor Masters were a straightforward yet powerful force.
But being a Battle Armor Master wasn't itself a profession. It was made up of four subordinate professions, all closely connected to Battle Armor...
Before you continue