Fourth Spirit Skill, Encountering Zhu Zhuqing!

Looking at the deep black soul ring before him, Jiang Yu took a deep breath and did not rush to absorb it.

Instead, he sat down cross-legged and silently circulated his soul power, recovering the energy he had expended in the battle just now.

Jiang Yu knew very well that ten-thousand-year soul rings and thousand-year soul rings were worlds apart.

Absorbing a thousand-year soul ring brought, at most, physical pain.

But when absorbing a ten-thousand-year soul ring, the most terrifying part was the soul shock powerful enough to destroy one's mind. One slight mistake could result in mental trauma at best, or turn one into a mindless idiot at worst.

However, Jiang Yu was not afraid.

The dual enhancement to his body and spirit from the immortal herbs was his greatest source of confidence.

Besides, his third soul ring had already been at the ten-thousand-year level. Absorbing a ten-thousand-year soul ring for his fourth was hardly difficult.

Once both his soul power and mental state had recovered to their peak, Jiang Yu extended his hand and used his soul power to draw the black ten-thousand-year soul ring slowly toward himself.

The instant the soul ring entered his body, an incomparably violent and terrifying energy surged into every corner of Jiang Yu's body like a flood bursting through a broken dam!

But that was not the most critical part.

Almost at the same moment the energy rushed in, an overwhelming soul impact that made it hard to breathe slammed viciously into Jiang Yu's sea of consciousness!

Countless chaotic, violent thoughts exploded in Jiang Yu's mind. They were all the negative emotions and brutal instincts accumulated by the Vampire Demon Vine over twenty-five thousand years of hunting and killing, seeking to tear apart and assimilate him, this outsider!

Any ordinary three-ring Soul Elder would have long since been reduced to an idiot under such a terrifying soul impact.

But Jiang Yu was no ordinary person. Nourished by the immortal herbs, his spirit had been greatly strengthened.

Though this violent soul impact was ferocious, it could never shake Jiang Yu's will.

Jiang Yu's will was like a reef in a raging sea. No matter how fierce the wind and waves became, it remained standing firm.

Time passed second by second.

After a full three hours, the violent soul impact finally receded like the tide, and the massive amount of soul power was completely digested and absorbed by Jiang Yu.

Jiang Yu slowly opened his eyes, a sharp gleam flashing past them.

Four soul rings silently emerged around him, pulsing with a heart-palpitating radiance.

Purple, purple, black, black!

After absorbing the immense energy of the twenty-five-thousand-year soul ring, Jiang Yu's soul power rose rapidly, directly reaching level 44!

At the same time, a brand-new soul skill appeared in Jiang Yu's mind.

Fourth soul skill: Soul Power Absorption!

Effect: Any target touched by Jiang Yu's Blue Silver Grass would have its soul power forcibly absorbed and converted for his own use.

This soul skill was simply overbearing to an unreasonable degree!

It meant that from now on, Jiang Yu could replenish himself while fighting. As one side waned while the other waxed, opponents of the same level would likely not even qualify to wage a war of attrition against him.

"The soul ring absorption succeeded!"

"It's time to settle the score with Shrek Academy!"

Jiang Yu rose to his feet, the corner of his lips curling into a cold arc.

Shrek Academy had smeared him as an evil soul master?

That move had indeed been ruthless, but it had also completely ignited Jiang Yu's fury.

I hope Shrek Academy can withstand my wrath.

Just as he was preparing to leave, Jiang Yu seemed to sense something!

"Hm? Someone's there!"

Jiang Yu's gaze abruptly shot toward the bushes on his left, his eyes turning incomparably sharp.

"Who is it?! Get out here!"

"Blue Silver Binding!"

Without any hesitation, Jiang Yu moved with a thought, and the ground beneath his feet instantly exploded!

Countless Blue Silver Grass blades gleaming with a metallic luster shot wildly toward the bushes like venomous snakes come to life!

"Ah!"

A short cry of alarm came from the bushes.

Then, Blue Silver Grass vines wrapped around a black-clad figure and hauled her out, suspending her in midair.

It was a young girl.

She looked only twelve or thirteen years old. Her fitted black clothes outlined a voluptuous figure completely at odds with her age.

"I mean no harm!"

"I... I was just passing by!"

Bound by the vines, the girl's face was filled with terror as she hurriedly tried to explain.

"Just passing by?"

Jiang Yu's gaze was icy, not believing her in the slightest.

What kind of place was the Star Dou Great Forest? Danger lurked everywhere, and soul beasts roamed freely.

A girl who did not appear particularly strong had shown up here alone, and just so happened to appear after he had hunted a soul beast. How could she merely have been passing by?

Thus, under Jiang Yu's control, the surrounding Blue Silver Grass contracted even faster, pressing in toward the girl.

"Ah! It hurts!"

"My name is Zhu Zhuqing! I came from the Star Luo Empire, and I'm going to Shrek Academy in Soto City to find someone!"

Sensing Jiang Yu's killing intent and the Blue Silver Grass relentlessly closing in around her, the girl panicked and practically spilled all her secrets.

Zhu Zhuqing felt that she had been terribly unlucky today.

In order to change her fate, Zhu Zhuqing had resolutely left the Star Luo Empire.

After entering the Heaven Dou Empire and passing through the Star Dou Great Forest, she had heard the sounds of battle nearby.

Out of curiosity, Zhu Zhuqing had gone over to investigate.

Yet she had never imagined that she would be captured.

And this person even wanted to kill her.

If she had known this would happen, Zhu Zhuqing would never have been so curious, even if it killed her.

"Zhu Zhuqing?"

Upon hearing that name, Jiang Yu's movements paused, and the Blue Silver Grass contracting around them abruptly stopped as well.

Jiang Yu examined the girl before him again. That pretty face carrying a hint of stubbornness and coolness, that distinctive figure...

No wonder she had seemed somewhat familiar. So it was her.

Information about Zhu Zhuqing surfaced in Jiang Yu's mind.

To resist her fate, Zhu Zhuqing had traveled alone over a great distance from the Star Luo Empire to the Heaven Dou Empire.

That courage and determination earned Jiang Yu's respect.

"You're going to Soto City?"

After confirming that the girl was Zhu Zhuqing, Jiang Yu waved his hand. The Blue Silver Emperor vines binding Zhu Zhuqing loosened and gently set her down on the ground.

"I happen to be heading to Soto City too. Let's go together."

Jiang Yu looked at Zhu Zhuqing and said it almost involuntarily.

"This..."

After landing, Zhu Zhuqing staggered before she managed to steady herself. She looked at Jiang Yu, her eyes filled with wariness and hesitation.

Zhu Zhuqing instinctively wanted to refuse.

The man before her was too powerful and too dangerous. That merciless strike from earlier still left her shaken.

However, seeing Jiang Yu's calm yet unquestionable gaze, she could not bring herself to say the words of refusal.

She knew very well that she had no right to refuse.

In this world where strength reigned supreme, the weak had no right to choose.

"Then... all right." Zhu Zhuqing lowered her head and answered quietly.

"Then let's go!"

"Oh, right, I almost forgot to introduce myself!"

"My name is Jiang Yu!"

Jiang Yu smiled as he spoke to Zhu Zhuqing.