Breaking Through Level 35, Returning to Shrek

What was an Evil Soul Master?

Slaughtering civilians, ravaging living beings, devouring souls and refining spirits—such crimes defied all human morality. They were worse than beasts.

But was Su Ling one? Judging by his Martial Soul, he was indeed an Evil Soul Master, and among the most evil of them.

Yet he had never done anything cruel or wicked. Even the horrific scene when he first encountered Su Ling had not been caused by him intentionally.

Xuan Zi guessed that it had likely been caused by his other Martial Soul losing control. The reason Su Ling had lied to him was probably just to survive.

Deep down, Xuan Zi knew that if Su Ling had confessed at the time, he would most likely have killed him with a single palm strike. No amount of talent would have mattered.

Xuan Zi understood the principle that whether a snake was venomous or not, it had to be killed with thunderous force.

But now, he would not do that—not because he could not bear to, but more because he did not dare to.

"If I hadn't been so careless, Su Ling wouldn't have taken the initiative to reveal his other Martial Soul, would he?"

He recalled what his master had once taught him.

'Xuan Zi, power itself is neither good nor evil; it depends on the human heart. Even a fierce and vicious-looking person can be a benevolent healer, while a gentle and refined man may be a hypocrite who secretly harms living beings.'

"Su Ling used his evil Martial Soul to save Lexuan, to save those five children. He even controlled the evil aura so it wouldn't leak out. How much must he have trusted me to reveal himself before me, the vice-captain of the Shrek Inspection Team... But... I actually entertained such thoughts for an instant. I... am worse than a beast!!"

Xuan Zi slapped himself hard across the face. His eyes were bloodshot as he looked at Su Ling, filled with guilt.

Over here, Zhang Lexuan and the five Inner Court disciples gradually regained some color in their faces. Their vitality had merely been badly depleted; after a good sleep, they would probably recover for the most part.

"Su Ling..."

Xuan Zi stepped forward, wanting to speak but hesitating. He did not know how to begin. Was he supposed to say that he had seen nothing just now?

Wouldn't that just be deceiving himself?

"Elder Xuan, where's the soul beast?" Su Ling took the initiative to speak, as though he knew nothing about what had just happened.

Upon hearing that, Xuan Zi smacked his forehead repeatedly. He immediately put on his usual muffled tone and turned to point at a Double-Headed Sub-Dragon that had been knocked unconscious not far away.

"Hey, hey, I almost forgot. Su Ling, it's right here. This is a Double-Headed Shadow Wyvern that has just advanced to ten thousand years. Its bloodline is above average among dragon soul beasts, and it even possesses the godly ability of physical shadow clones. It's more than suitable to serve as your third Soul Ring."

Su Ling nodded lightly, and with a thought—

[Current Strategy Points: 740]

"Help me find all recovery items."

[Ding, filtering for the host...]

[Soul-Body Immortal Healing Pill]: A top-tier pill that restores physical wounds. Within five breaths, it will fully restore the body. Price: 300 Strategy Points.

[Soul-Restoring Green Spirit Pill]: A short-term Soul Power recovery pill. Restores fifty percent Soul Power within half an hour. Price: 100 Strategy Points.

[All-Purpose Pill]: Restores sixty percent of one's health and Soul Power within five minutes. Repeated consumption within one hour causes its effect to halve. Price: 200 Strategy Points.

...

After looking through them, Su Ling ultimately chose the All-Purpose Pill. He planned to restore himself first before absorbing the Soul Ring.

[Ding, exchanging for 'All-Purpose Pill' has cost 200 Strategy Points. Remaining: 540.]

Su Ling did not hesitate. He stuffed it into his mouth and swallowed it on the spot, then sat cross-legged and began circulating his Soul Power.

The fluctuations of his Soul Power gradually intensified, while the small wounds on his body itched as fresh flesh grew over them. Before long, he had recovered fifty to sixty percent of both his injuries and Soul Power.

Xuan Zi inwardly marveled at the sight, then withdrew his gaze. He set up a wide-range barrier and sat nearby, voluntarily standing guard for him.

It was a good thing that Su Ling had secrets. He would not dig to the bottom of them. When the time was right, Su Ling would naturally tell him.

Just like Su Ling's other evil... mysterious Martial Soul. Revealing it before him was, in its own way, progress in their relationship, wasn't it?

"Hehe, even Martial Uncle and those old fellows have been kept in the dark. Only this old man knows. Does that count as a little secret between Su Ling and me?"

The more Xuan Zi thought about it, the happier he became. He felt that he held a special place in Su Ling's heart. On a whim, he subconsciously reached for the gourd at his waist to take a swig of old wine.

But his outstretched hand suddenly stopped. Looking at Su Ling, he muttered, "Drinking causes trouble. Su Ling still needs to absorb a Soul Ring later. I need to stay completely focused and guard him!"

Several minutes later.

Su Ling opened his eyes and rose to his feet. He had recovered almost completely, then walked over to the Double-Headed Shadow Wyvern that Xuan Zi had knocked unconscious.

Watching it sleep like a baby, he transformed his right hand into the Qilin Claw and plunged it heavily into its chest.

Without another word, a faint black Soul Ring rose up.

"Su Ling, are you sure you can do this?"

Xuan Zi walked over at that moment. Looking at the Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring, his expression was somewhat worried.

"Yes. Don't worry, Elder Xuan. With my two Qilin Emperors in the Sea of Spirit, the soul shock of a ten-thousand-year soul beast is insignificant."

Only then did Xuan Zi relax and retreat to the side.

No matter which Qilin it was, it would send a powerful sense of oppression surging into his heart. Not to mention that two of them resided in Su Ling's Sea of Spirit.

"Hehe, this sub-dragon is going to suffer."

Su Ling sat down cross-legged again and guided the Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring into himself.

As expected, the resentment of the Double-Headed Shadow Wyvern was suppressed and dispersed by the two Qilin Emperors the instant it entered his Sea of Spirit.

It was killed the moment it showed itself.

A short while later.

Su Ling stood before Xuan Zi. Purple, purple, and black Soul Rings circled beneath his feet, while his Soul Power had directly advanced to level 35, only half a step away from level 36.

The Soul Skill's effect had perfectly inherited the Double-Headed Shadow Wyvern's divine clone ability.

Third Soul Skill—Thunder Shadow Manifestation: Summons a physical lightning-element clone possessing sixty percent of the original body's power. It can use some of the original body's Soul Skills. This Soul Skill can advance as Soul Power increases.

After learning about Su Ling's third Soul Skill, Xuan Zi stroked his beard and laughed heartily, giving Su Ling a thumbs-up. "A third Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring—unprecedented! And it's a rare physical clone capable of assisting in battle. This old man can be considered a witness to history!"

As he spoke, Xuan Zi lifted the five Inner Court disciples with his Soul Power and turned to Su Ling. "Hehe, now that this matter is settled, Su Ling, it's time for us to return to Shrek."

Su Ling withdrew his Martial Soul and nodded.

He walked over to Zhang Lexuan and bent down, slipping one hand beneath the crook of her knees and the other around her back, gently lifting her up.

Supported by Xuan Zi's Soul Power, the group swiftly flew toward Shrek City.

The dawn light gradually rose.

Above Shrek.

Xuan Zi, Su Ling, and the others streaked through the sky. The Soul Power of a Super Douluo was completely undisguised, and the morning wind whipped their robes about them.

At that moment, a Soul Douluo teacher responsible for patrolling the academy's security noticed someone flying rapidly overhead.

"Hmm? Who is so bold as to fly so recklessly above Shrek?"

After all, Shrek had an unspoken rule: within the academy, the height limit for flight was five meters. Even Shrek's higher-ups followed it. (The original work seemingly never explicitly mentioned this; it was Tian Luo's personal setting, so please don't roast me, honored readers.)

A pair of eagle wings spread behind the Soul Douluo teacher's back. He then shot into the sky, intending to intercept Xuan Zi and the others.