Sunset Forest, Star Bamboo

As they spoke, Bai Shu and the other two arrived deep within the bamboo forest.

However, Xiao Wu found it curious that there were no outstanding plant-type spirit beasts around.

"What's going on? Did you make a mistake? I don't see any rare spirit beasts, just a ten-year Lone Bamboo."

Bai Shu nodded and took a dagger from Xie Biyan. Since they didn't have storage spirit tools, many of their belongings were kept in Xie Biyan's storage ring.

"That's right, it's that ten-year Lone Bamboo. Don't you think it's strange for it to be in the core of the bamboo forest?"

Hearing this, Xiao Wu looked closely at the motionless bamboo again. Even with her ten-thousand-year spirit beast vision, she couldn't detect anything unusual.

Bai Shu didn't explain. In fact, if it weren't for his spirit soul's abnormal perception of life force, he wouldn't have seen through its disguise.

As far as Bai Shu knew, the only spirit beasts on the Douluo Continent with such realistic disguise abilities were the Ice Silkworms from the far north and the Mirror Beasts.

Xiao Wu, who had lived in the Star Dou Forest all her life, wouldn't know about these two spirit beasts.

As Bai Shu approached, the 'ten-year Lone Bamboo' finally realized its disguise had been seen through and immediately dispelled its camouflage skill.

The next moment, a purplish-gold bamboo, only a little over three meters tall, with broad leaves and shimmering starlight scattered across its body, appeared before them.

"This is... Star Bamboo?" Xiao Wu asked uncertainly.

Although she hadn't studied much at Notting Academy, she recognized most of the spirit beasts in the Star Dou Forest.

Bai Shu nodded and confirmed, "Yes, it's Star Bamboo, but it must have mutated. Normal Star Bamboo is light purple or bluish-purple. I've never heard of a purplish-gold one."

Star Bamboo itself was a very rare spirit beast because it was one of the few that could harness the power of the stars. They converted stellar energy into the life force needed for their growth, greatly accelerating their development.

At this moment, Bai Shu had already reached within three meters of the Star Bamboo. Sensing the ill intent of the approaching figure, the Star Bamboo could no longer hold back and launched an attack.

Whoosh!

A purplish-gold bamboo leaf instantly hardened like a blade, whistling sharply as it shot towards Bai Shu.

The starlight on the leaf's edge flowed, subtly drawing in the spirit energy in the air. Its power was so great that even an ordinary two-ring Great Spirit Master would be pierced if caught off guard!

However, Bai Shu's expression remained unchanged, his steps not faltering in the slightest as he continued to advance calmly.

The next moment, the pressure of a Titled Douluo descended. The air in the entire area seemed to turn into thick mud. Xiao Wu felt a weight on her shoulders, making it difficult to breathe. The rapidly shooting bamboo leaf was pinned in mid-air by this terrifying aura, unable to move an inch further!

Xie Biyan stood behind Bai Shu, unmoved. With just his aura, he completely restrained the mutated Star Bamboo, stripping it of all ability to resist.

Bai Shu walked up to the Star Bamboo and smiled with satisfaction as he looked at the beautiful starlight on its body. He raised his dagger, aimed at its base, and swung it down fiercely.

Clang!

This dagger was crafted by the best blacksmith in Notting City and was exceptionally sharp. With a single strike, it cut a deep notch at the base of the bamboo.

Bai Shu didn't stop. With a flick of his wrist, he made several more swift cuts. With a crisp snapping sound, the purplish-gold Star Bamboo slowly toppled.

As the bamboo body fell to the ground, a deep and noble light purple spirit ring slowly rose from its base.

"A purple spirit ring!" Xiao Wu exclaimed upon seeing the color of the spirit ring and rushed forward to examine it. She then noticed that the starlight spots on the Star Bamboo numbered twelve, indicating it had at least twelve hundred years of cultivation!

"Bai Shu, you killed the wrong one. This Star Bamboo has reached twelve hundred years. You can't absorb it."

Bai Shu ignored her exclamation and directly sat cross-legged before the purple spirit ring, saying calmly, "I didn't kill the wrong one. My target has always been a thousand-year spirit ring."

"A thousand-year second ring? Are you crazy! How is that possible? You'll explode!" Xiao Wu became anxious upon hearing Bai Shu's words. Why wouldn't this person listen to advice?

In her panic, Xiao Wu instinctively reached out to pull Bai Shu back and stop his reckless actions. However, a withered arm blocked her path, stopping her directly.

"No need to worry, the young master knows what he's doing." Xie Biyan's hoarse voice carried an almost blind confidence, a confidence in Bai Shu.

With this delay, it was too late for Xiao Wu to intervene.

Bai Shu had already extended his hand and began to draw in the purple spirit ring emitting powerful energy. The spirit ring, drawn by the force, instantly enveloped the Chaos Green Lotus. Even though Xiao Wu was stamping her feet in anxiety, it was too late. She could only watch from the side, silently praying for Bai Shu's safety.

In reality, absorbing the spirit ring was easier than Bai Shu had imagined. The twelve-hundred-year spirit ring was still far from his tolerance limit.

For over a year, Bai Shu had been strengthening his body daily with the Chaos Green Lotus, and his physique had improved considerably through accumulation.

Moreover, to ensure everything went smoothly, Bai Shu had also purchased five thousand years of whale jelly through Xiao Chenyu's father, the City Lord.

With both factors combined, a thousand-year second ring was naturally a simple matter.

Because of his robust physique, the absorption process this time was very fast. In just half an hour, the thousand-year spirit ring had completely merged into Bai Shu's body.

Just as Bai Shu closed his eyes to sort out the last bit of spirit energy in his meridians, Xie Biyan, who had been guarding him with closed eyes, suddenly opened his cloudy old eyes. Two tangible killing intents shot directly towards a towering ancient tree not far away!

The next moment, Xie Biyan moved without hesitation. His withered right hand shot out, his palm glowing with purple light. A ferocious ghost claw condensed from poisonous spirit energy materialized out of thin air, emitting a corrosive "hissing" sound as it tore through the air, heading straight for the tree!

It was one of his most proficient combat skills, Corrosive Poison Claw.

"Coward hiding in the shadows, get out here!"

After Xie Biyan switched his cultivation system, many of his combat skills were converted into spirit skills tied to his spirit rings. However, since he already knew how to use these skills, apart from the few spirit skills the system granted him based on his spirit soul's characteristics, he could still use his old combat skills without activating his spirit soul.

It could be said that in terms of self-created spirit skills, Xie Biyan would be second to none. It was just that all his abilities were poison-attribute, which Bai Shu couldn't use.

However, Xiao Wu had learned a secret technique for concealing her aura from him during their travels these past few days.

As the poison claw flew out, the figure behind the tree clearly felt the deadly threat it contained and dared not meet it head-on. It turned and attempted to flee.

A sinister cold smile spread across Xie Biyan's lips, and he said in a chilling voice, "Heh heh, a mere Level 91 Titled Douluo thinks he can escape from me? Truly overestimating himself."

His words still echoed in Xiao Wu's ears as Xie Biyan's figure vanished like a ghost from his original spot. The next moment, he had appeared behind the fleeing figure!

"Damn it, how can he be so strong?"