Second Soul Skill! Killing Demon Pattern!

Yue Guan looked at his smile, and his heart struggled for a moment.

In the end, he let out a soft sigh.

Forget it.

Though this child was a little sinister, his nature was not bad.

For now, it was better to finish hunting this soul ring first. He could slowly guide him later.

At that moment, the energy Venom fed back after eating the brain arrived.

Ning Yuan could clearly feel that this burst of energy far surpassed the previous few times, and the increase in his body's strength was even more obvious.

At the same time, the panel that only he could see popped up as well.

[Symbiote Template Energy: 89%.]

This nearly ten-thousand-year soul beast had actually pushed the progress bar up by almost 50%.

And because Venom was still digesting it, the progress bar was still slowly moving forward.

There was no time to lose.

Ning Yuan sat cross-legged and guided that deep purple soul ring into his body.

Yue Guan stood to the side, his gaze locked tightly on Ning Yuan's condition, ready to step in and save him at any moment.

After all, his martial soul was Chrysanthemum Sky-Piercing Velvet, which had the effects of stabilizing qi and blood and locking down one's origin.

At that moment, the instant the soul ring entered Ning Yuan's body, he felt extreme pain.

Although his physique had become much stronger, a soul ring of over nine thousand years was still at his limit. This time was even more painful than when he had absorbed his first soul ring.

This power carried sinister, penetrating traits, rampaging through the meridians inside his body.

Under the frenzied effect of this energy, his meridians, flesh, and bones began to show slight fractures.

Immediately afterward, the energy fed back by Venom surged up. Destruction and repair cycled endlessly, and without him realizing it, Ning Yuan's body grew even stronger.

One reason Ning Yuan dared absorb a soul ring with such a high age limit was that ordinary soul masters could only rely on themselves to endure the backlash of soul ring absorption, while he could share this energy with Venom.

Just like that, time passed second by second.

Yue Guan watched Ning Yuan's expression from the side. One moment it was pained, the next it was... still pained the entire time.

Several times, he wanted to step in and help, but he held himself back each time. He sensed that Ning Yuan was still holding on.

Finally, six hours later, Ning Yuan abruptly opened his eyes, and an astonishing aura erupted from his body.

It blew the surrounding Blue Silver Grass flat.

Second soul ring, successfully absorbed!

Ning Yuan stood up, and two purple soul rings rose beneath his feet. The second one was even deeper in color than the first.

Yue Guan, standing to the side, had not expected that this kid would actually succeed in absorbing it.

He had endured the entire process on his own, without Yue Guan helping at all. This child's talent was indeed extraordinary.

At that moment, Venom also ran out. Just like last time, it had two purple soul rings perched on its head and was playing with them to its heart's content.

Even Yue Guan, who had lived for so long, had never seen such a scene before. Ning Yuan had no choice but to laugh it off awkwardly with an embarrassed chuckle.

Never mind Venom. Let that silly child play by himself.

After standing up, Ning Yuan immediately thanked Yue Guan for protecting him.

Yue Guan said happily, "Congratulations on obtaining your second soul ring."

"What is your second soul skill?"

"My second soul skill is called 'Killing Demon Pattern.'"

As he spoke, Ning Yuan began explaining it to Yue Guan.

"Its effect is that it can release an attack similar to a spiderweb, trapping the opponent. The web itself is extremely tough, and once it wraps around someone, it's very hard to break free."

"Also, when the spiderweb makes contact, it releases the toxin of the Human-Faced Demon Spider. It's a soul skill that combines both control and attack."

Hearing this introduction, Yue Guan quickly analyzed it in his heart.

With his realm as a Titled Douluo, he immediately saw what was powerful about Ning Yuan's soul skill.

"Not bad, not bad. This soul skill is very good. It suits you well."

"Come, use your soul skill on this old man."

At this moment, Yue Guan's interest was piqued as well. A second soul skill at nearly the ten-thousand-year level—he wanted to see for himself just what level such a soul skill had reached.

Ning Yuan had not expected Yue Guan to make such a request.

He said somewhat embarrassedly, "That doesn't seem very appropriate, does it?"

Yue Guan waved his hand. "Don't worry. This old man is a Titled Douluo, after all. How could a two-ring Soul Grandmaster like you possibly injure me?"

"In that case, this junior will be offending you."

Ning Yuan wasted no more words. He immediately summoned his soul ring and unleashed his second soul skill, Co-Slaughter: Demon Pattern.

Ning Yuan raised a hand, and a mass of black fluid shot out from his palm. It rapidly spread out in midair, forming something like a gigantic spiderweb as it shot swiftly toward Yue Guan.

Faced with the attack, Yue Guan released his soul power to envelop himself.

Very quickly, Ning Yuan's soul skill struck Yue Guan's protective soul power and instantly wrapped around it, giving off a sizzling sound.

This was precisely the Venom from the Human-Faced Demon Spider contained within the soul skill, now attempting to corrode Yue Guan's protective soul power.

Shrouded within it, Yue Guan revealed an approving smile.

Then he tried to pull at the spiderweb, but to his surprise, it was exceptionally tough.

Even with his Titled Douluo-level strength, he could not easily break free.

Once he had sensed enough, Yue Guan withdrew his soul power and cast the spiderweb aside.

"Mm!"

"Not bad. It's fast enough, and the area covered by the soul skill is large enough, making it very difficult to escape."

"And the poison attached to it would be hard for even four-ring or five-ring soul masters to withstand."

"Whether this move is used to trap an enemy head-on or to launch a sneak attack from behind, it can produce excellent results."

After hearing that evaluation, Ning Yuan had a rough idea in his heart.

Overall, this soul skill was very strong.

Not only that, after absorbing the soul ring, Ning Yuan's accumulated foundation erupted, and his level soared to twenty-five.

He only needed to advance five more levels before he could obtain his third soul ring.

"Let's go," Yue Guan's voice came from ahead. "We're heading back."

Since the matter here was settled, they still needed to hurry back and report.

Ning Yuan answered, gave one last look toward the depths of Star Dou Forest, then turned and followed Yue Guan.

On the way back, Ning Yuan took stock of the gains from this trip.

All in all, it had been extremely successful.

A second soul ring close to ten thousand years old, and a soul skill whose power had received a Titled Douluo's approval.

His physique, soul power, and other aspects had all made tremendous progress.

And the Symbiote Template's energy was almost full as well.

He looked again and saw it was just a little short of one hundred percent.

Ning Yuan felt somewhat regretful.

But it was fine. Once he returned to Spirit Hall, he could find an opportunity to take on some missions, or exchange resources for something with high energy. He should be able to make up the difference very soon.

He was somewhat looking forward to what would be unlocked once the energy was full.

The only regret was that this Human-Faced Demon Spider had not been like the one Tang San killed, dropping an external soul bone or something for him.

It seemed his luck was still no match for Tang San, that child of destiny.

At the same time, beside a pool of water in the core circle of Star Dou Forest, two enormous soul beasts appeared.

One had the head of an ox and the body of a snake, while the other looked like an enlarged silverback gorilla.

They both raised their heads at the same time and looked toward a certain direction.

They had sensed the aura of human soul masters on the outskirts of Star Dou Forest.

The moment Er Ming sensed that aura, he flew into a towering rage.

"Human soul masters again! And I'm very familiar with his aura. Back then, on the day Sister Xiao Wu's mother died miserably, this person's aura was among those human soul masters. I'm going to avenge Auntie right now!"

As he spoke, the irritable Er Ming pounded his chest several times with loud thuds, and the dull booms sent soul beasts within several hundred meters flying.

Da Ming, however, stretched out his long tail and struck him hard on the skull.

"Are you stupid? By the time you get there, they'll have long since run off."

Er Ming was somewhat anxious. "Then are we just going to let it go?"

Da Ming's tone was cold and grim. "Of course we can't just let it go. What we need to do now is seize the time to cultivate and increase our strength."

At this point, Er Ming began to complain, "Sister Xiao Wu only left a while ago. She should have already reached the human world by now, right? I wonder if she's doing well, and if anyone is bullying her."

"No, I have to transform. I'm going to the human world too, to protect Sister Xiao Wu!"

Da Ming struck him on the skull with another knuckle. "Are you stupid? Why do you act on whatever pops into your head?"

"When soul beasts transform, they have to start cultivating from zero. When the time comes, will you be protecting Sister Xiao Wu, or will Sister Xiao Wu be protecting you? With that brainless head of yours, wouldn't you just cause trouble for her if you went?"

"You're always hitting my head. If I'm stupid, it's because you knocked me stupid."

Er Ming clutched his head and muttered quietly.

After returning to Spirit City, Yue Guan immediately took Ning Yuan to report back.

Inside Pope Palace, Bibi Dong sat upright on the main seat and listened to Yue Guan's detailed report.

"A nine-thousand-year Human-Faced Demon Spider... as his second soul ring?" Bibi Dong's gaze narrowed slightly, unconcealed astonishment in her voice. "He truly absorbed it successfully?"

Yue Guan bowed and replied, "Reporting to Your Holiness, it is absolutely true. This subordinate saw it with my own eyes. Ning Yuan successfully absorbed that Human-Faced Demon Spider's soul ring and obtained his second soul skill, 'Killing Demon Pattern.' His soul power also rose to rank twenty-five."

Bibi Dong fell silent for a moment, her fingertips lightly tapping the armrest.

Absorbing a soul ring close to ten thousand years old with only two rings was simply unheard of in the soul master world.

Even Bibi Dong herself had not managed such a thing back when she obtained her second soul ring.

This child was indeed even more special than she had expected.

"Very good."

Bibi Dong slowly spoke, the corners of her lips curving with a trace of satisfaction.

"A god-level martial soul, innate full soul power at rank twenty, and now he has broken the age limit as well... It seems I was not wrong about him."

But immediately after, Yue Guan changed the subject, his expression turning somewhat grave. After struggling with it for a while, he decided to speak about Venom devouring soul beasts.

"Your Holiness, this subordinate has one more matter to report."

"Speak."

"Ning Yuan's martial soul..." Yue Guan weighed his words. "It seems to possess the ability to devour soul beast corpses. After hunting a soul beast, Ning Yuan has his martial soul directly gnaw on the soul beast's brain, and claims that this allows it to absorb the essence of flesh and blood to nourish himself in return. This subordinate... is worried that this path is somewhat too sinister."

After Bibi Dong listened, she did not immediately show surprise or concern.

She pondered for a moment, her gaze deep.

"Yue Guan, do you think he resembles an evil soul master?"

"This subordinate does not dare make such a claim, but that method of feeding is indeed..."

"There is no need to worry."

Bibi Dong interrupted him, her tone calm yet carrying unquestionable certainty.

"He can control the will of his martial soul, rather than being controlled by it. That point is far more important than you imagine."

She rose and walked to the window, looking toward the distant sky.

"Besides, why do you think those so-called evil soul masters walked down that path?"

"Because they lacked the strength to bear it, yet craved power they should never have had."

"As for Ning Yuan... his path is his own to walk."

"As long as he does not slaughter the innocent or cross the bottom line, what does it matter if his martial soul is a little special?"

After Yue Guan heard this, he bowed and replied, "This subordinate understands."

"Enough. You worked hard this time."

"Next, let him develop normally. Let him attend classes and cultivate as he should. When he reaches rank thirty, report to me again."

After that day's matters were settled, the new students also began school.

Ning Yuan's life suddenly became regular, moving between the same three points every day.

During the day, he attended classes at Spirit Hall Academy. Theory classes and practical combat classes filled his schedule to the brim.

After school, he went to Yue Guan's place to borrow those notes and classics about immortal herb knowledge.

Yue Guan had previously promised to introduce him to identifying immortal herbs, and now he could be considered to have fulfilled that promise.

Although most of his time was spent reading, taking notes, and identifying illustrations, dull to the extreme, Ning Yuan knew that this knowledge would be hard currency in the later stages. If he could learn it, there was no reason not to.

Just like that, several steady days passed.

His contribution points were saved and untouched, his cultivation progressed in an orderly manner, and his template energy was stuck at 90%, neither rising nor falling.

Ning Yuan started feeling restless.

Relying only on burying his head in cultivation was too slow.

Besides, Venom kept shouting that it was hungry every few days, clamoring to go out for a snack.

After thinking it over, he decided to accept a suitable mission from the academy. He could earn contribution points, find an opportunity to feed Venom, and see if he could fill up the template energy along the way.

That day, Ning Yuan walked out of the academy gates and headed toward Mission Hall.

[Going to work again?]

Venom poked half its head out from his shoulder, its tone full of disdain.

[I thought you were taking me out for a feast, but it turns out we're going to farm contribution points. Capitalist!]

[Shut up. If we don't eat, there's no money. If there's no money, there are no brains to eat.]

[...You're the boss, so you call the shots. But we agreed, if this mission runs into a soul beast over a thousand years old, you have to let me take the first bite. Just one bite! Something like that spider last time would do.]

[You'd better get some sense. If Yue Guan Douluo hadn't helped with that spider, just relying on the two of us? It wouldn't have taken four hours before we both turned into its excrement.]

As Ning Yuan replied, he quickened his pace.

In the distance, the three gilded characters "Mission Hall" gleamed under the sunlight.