Parting? A Powerful Profession

Darkness encroached as the straight blade descended.

"Squelch!"

Blood sprayed, and the cold, ultimate dark soul power churned within the Titan Giant Ape's brain. In an instant, the Titan Giant Ape's face twisted in agony, but a moment later, the light in its earthy-yellow eyes faded away.

Seeing this, Jiang Xiu pulled out his dark straight blade and leaped downward. The Dark Night Raven swooped in, catching Jiang Xiu steadily.

"Thud!"

"Thud!"

With two crisp sounds, Jiang Xiu and Na'er landed one after the other, one wielding a spear, the other a blade.

"Snap!"

Na'er extended her fair hand, her purple eyes tracking the time. The moment her crisp finger-snap echoed, a dull thud sounded behind them; the Titan Giant Ape's massive body collapsed, startling the birds and beasts in the forest.

Na'er looked back at the Titan Giant Ape, a hint of satisfaction flashing in her beautiful eyes. She brushed off her white dress and stowed away the Silver Dragon Spear.

She, Na'er, had a speck of dust on her hem.

The Titan Giant Ape lay on the ground, turning into mist.

"Let's go, time to absorb the energy. Why are you just standing there?"

Jiang Xiu calmed the churning soul power in his body, called out to Na'er, who was rooted to the spot, and walked toward the Titan Giant Ape.

"Oh, coming, coming."

Na'er dropped her master-expert demeanor, answered, and trotted after Jiang Xiu.

By now, the Titan Giant Ape had slowly transformed into a large mass of pure, earthy-yellow energy, drifting toward Jiang Xiu.

"My first soul ring age has reached 1,930 years. After absorbing this energy, it should hit the 2,000-year limit."

Jiang Xiu pondered silently, splitting off a portion of the energy drifting toward him for Na'er beside him.

"Once we finish absorbing this, we can consider this a perfect wrap-up."

Jiang Xiu chuckled, feeling his soul ring age increase, while the Dark Night Raven on his shoulder grew slightly larger.

As the soul ring age increases, the soul spirit also strengthens. Some powerhouses even possess soul spirits that each have the strength of a Title Douluo, capable of standing on their own.

"Are there any more thousand-year Soul Beast energy bodies like this in the Spirit Ascension Platform?"

Na'er's purple eyes flickered as she suddenly asked.

"There are. According to the information Leng Yaozhu gave us earlier, there are nine more thousand-year Soul Beast energy bodies of this level in this Spirit Ascension Platform."

Jiang Xiu replied while absorbing the energy.

The Spirit Pagoda headquarters' Spirit Ascension Platform was certainly superior to the branches; the Soul Beast energy bodies here were purer and of higher quality.

"Alright, then when are you coming next time? Let's team up for spirit ascension again."

Na'er looked thoughtful, her purple eyes fixed on Jiang Xiu as she asked softly.

"After we get out, I'm going to follow my master to train. I might not come to the Spirit Pagoda headquarters for the next spirit ascension."

Jiang Xiu said, lost in thought. He figured his master would take him to the East Sea to find his senior apprentice brother, A Ruheng, whom he had never met.

"You're leaving? Fine, then."

Hearing this, Na'er's purple eyes shifted slightly. She feigned indifference, though there was a hint of discomfort in the depths of her gaze.

"Alright, it's time to go back. Of course, if I have time in the future, I'll come find you. After all, I am your boss."

After absorbing the energy and feeling his soul ring rise to 2,000 years, Jiang Xiu stretched his limbs and pressed the red button on his arm. His entire body instantly turned into light and shadow, vanishing from the spot.

"Mm..."

Na'er nodded slightly, took one last deep look at the light scene behind her, and then slowly pressed her button, disappearing as well.

Inside the circular metal room.

"Click! Click!"

The sound of metal switches echoed. The silvery-white metal walls split open, and two soul guidance pods slid out. The cabin doors opened, the circular suction cups attached to them detached, and Jiang Xiu and Na'er slowly opened their eyes.

"Soul guidance technology is truly developing rapidly. The next step must be automation."

Feeling his first soul ring truly reach the thousand-year level, Jiang Xiu couldn't help but sigh with emotion. In the process, even his mental power had increased significantly.

"Welcome back. You don't feel any discomfort, do you?"

Watching the two emerge from the soul guidance pods, Leng Yaozhu stepped forward on her long, straight legs, asking with concern.

"Many thanks for your concern, Tower Master Leng. No discomfort."

"Same here."

Na'er echoed, though her expression remained somewhat quiet.

"Not bad. You performed very well in there, disciple. Of course, your coordination with Na'er was excellent as well."

Mu Ye patted Jiang Xiu on the shoulder, praising him.

Although this was Jiang Xiu's first time entering the Spirit Ascension Platform, he reacted swiftly to the various Soul Beasts he encountered, and his strikes were exceptionally ruthless—a trait that sat very well with Mu Ye.

After all, the various combat techniques of their Body Sect were techniques meant for killing; the most elite among them were designed not just to determine superiority, but to decide life and death, making a ruthless approach absolutely essential.

"Since the spirit ascension is over, we shall take our leave."

After carefully inspecting Jiang Xiu, Mu Ye spoke to Leng Yaozhu.

"Very well. I hope we can cooperate for mutual benefit in the future. If you have any needs, feel free to speak to this Pagoda Master."

Leng Yaozhu nodded slightly and chuckled softly.

"I understand. The strong lead the way for the latecomers. Once our Body Sect regains its momentum, we certainly won't forget the Phoenix Clan."

Mu Ye said with clear understanding, his tone remarkably earnest.

Meanwhile, Na'er, standing beside Leng Yaozhu, seemed somewhat dispirited, even the silver ahoge atop her head drooping down.

"Let's go. Your Grand-Uncle-Master is coming with us this time."

Mu Ye held the land deed in his hand, the light in his eyes intensifying; soon, their Body Sect would finally have its own sect grounds.

After drifting for who knows how many years, they finally had a fixed foundation.

"Grand-Uncle-Master is coming too? Does that mean Grand-Uncle-Master is leaving the Spirit Pagoda?"

Jiang Xiu was stunned upon hearing this, feeling somewhat puzzled.

Although Na'er's eyes were fixed on her master, her ears had already pricked up.

"Our Body Sect's sect grounds will be right here in Shrek City from now on. Today is the first day of establishing the sect, so your Grand-Uncle-Master wants to come along and see it."

Mu Ye said as if it were only natural.

Staying in Shrek City? Oh no! If that happens, won't the Body Sect and Shrek Academy take flight together in the future?

Upon hearing this, Jiang Xiu felt a sense of impending disaster; those two Level 12 Fixed Soul Guidance Shells would engulf the entire Shrek City in their blast.

However, he couldn't bring it up directly; after all, his master was in high spirits, and besides, nothing had truly happened yet.

"In Shrek City? Hehe! Doesn't that mean it's very close to the Spirit Pagoda?"

When Na'er heard this, her ahoge instantly stood upright, and her beautiful eyes brightened.

"By the way, Sect Master Mu, what profession do you intend for Xiao Xiu to choose next?"

Watching Mu Ye prepare to leave, Leng Yaozhu suddenly asked.

Jiang Xiu's gaze flickered slightly at these words. In this era, cultivation was not the only path for a Soul Master to become stronger; to reach greater heights, one had to choose their profession wisely.

With the amplification of Battle Armor, a Battle Armor Master at the Soul Saint level could even cross ranks to defeat a Soul Douluo or even a Title Douluo who lacked Battle Armor.

In this era, being a Battle Armor Master was a simple yet powerful existence.

However, a Battle Armor Master was not a single profession, but rather one composed of four subordinate professions, all of which were closely linked to Battle Armor...