Second Soul Ring

The bearded man's first and third Soul Rings lit up, greatly boosting his defense. He was responsible for taking the Thunder Python's attacks head-on.

Senluo and the man in formal attire attacked from both sides, while the remaining Soul Grandmasters harassed it and disrupted the Thunder Python's attack rhythm.

The group worked together seamlessly, and before long, several wounds had been carved into the Thunder Python's body.

"Hiss-roar!"

The Thunder Python let out an enraged roar, trying to swing its body and fling the bearded man away. Compared to him, though, the five Soul Grandmasters harassing it made it even angrier.

"The opportunity is here."

Senluo and the man in formal attire narrowed their eyes. The Thunder Python's agitation had exposed its weakness.

Senluo's fourth Soul Ring lit up. His already burly body became even more exaggerated, the muscles hidden beneath his fur swelling like granite as a low "woo woo" growl rumbled from his throat.

He stomped off the ground and leaped onto the Thunder Python's back, using his immense strength to pin it firmly to the ground.

The man in formal attire's third Soul Ring lit up, blooming with purple light. His slender staff transformed into a thick pillar as wide as half a person, shimmering with a violet gleam.

He raised it with both arms and smashed it fiercely toward the Thunder Python's vital point.

The Thunder Python's body was restrained by Senluo, leaving it unable to break free for the time being.

Bang! Bang!

The man in formal attire struck the Thunder Python's vital point again and again. Blood could faintly be seen at the corners of its mouth.

"Hiss!"

Its Single Horn gathered lightning, forming rings of electric current that surged across its body. It wanted to attack Senluo on its back and force him to release his hold.

But with the support of a Millennium Soul Skill, mere electricity was not enough to make him let go. Not to mention that the bearded man had now locked down the Thunder Python's tail, completely restraining it.

Still, the waves of electricity hurt badly enough to make him howl in pain.

Bang!

Another powerful blow landed on the Thunder Python's vital point, and its struggles grew weaker and weaker.

Only when its life force had become faint did everyone finally stop.

"Soul Master Tie Li, come quickly!" Senluo shouted at Tie Li, who had been hiding in the distance.

"Alright."

Tie Li could also see that the Thunder Python was nearing its end, and that he had to personally deliver the final blow.

The Thunder Python's vital point had been smashed into a bloody mess, with pale bones faintly visible beneath the mangled flesh.

"Here. Stab it through the eye. Its skull is very hard."

"Mm!"

Tie Li accepted the dagger Senluo handed him and followed his instructions, stabbing through its snake eye and destroying its brain. The Thunder Python's last trace of life vanished completely.

A yellow Soul Ring appeared before Tie Li.

A deeper yellow! It signified even more perfect attributes.

With the Senluo Soul Hunting Group guarding him, there was no need to worry about safety. Tie Li sat cross-legged on the ground and began absorbing the Soul Ring.

Seeing Tie Li devote himself to absorbing the Soul Ring, the man in formal attire finally could not hold back any longer.

"Boss, this Thunder Python seems to be around eight hundred years old."

"Hm? Why didn't you say so earlier?"

"This Thunder Python's Single Horn was damaged by another Soul Beast before. Its exact age can't be judged from the size of its horn. I could only make a rough estimate. It might also have cultivated for six hundred years," the man in formal attire said uncertainly.

"This..."

Naturally, Tie Li could not hear their conversation. All of his focus was devoted to absorbing the Soul Ring.

But why did absorbing this Soul Ring feel somewhat different from last time?

An inexplicable swelling sensation made him feel extremely uncomfortable. Every thread of Soul Power flowing through his body felt like needles piercing him.

As Tie Li struggled to endure it, the Thousand-Year Thunder Python Inner Core in his body began to spin. Strands of energy flowed from the inner core into every corner of his body, greatly easing the burning, stabbing pain.

Only after seeing Tie Li absorb the Soul Ring did the Senluo Soul Hunting Group finally breathe a sigh of relief.

"It should be six hundred years old. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to absorb it," Senluo said.

"Mm, perhaps I misjudged it."

Yet Tie Li did not wake from his meditative state for a long time, making the hearts that had just relaxed tighten once more.

The process of absorbing a Soul Ring was extremely crucial. How could they dare disturb Tie Li at a time like this? They could only pray that he would remain safe and sound.

Absorbing the Soul Ring was painful for Tie Li, but with the help of the Thunder Python Inner Core, it remained within the limits of what he could endure.

After he successfully absorbed the Soul Ring, the energy that had originally flowed from the Thunder Python Inner Core through his body to ease the pain was no longer absorbed by his body. Instead, it surged toward the Soul Ring.

This process lasted a full three hours.

The members of the Senluo Soul Hunting Group could not help wiping away cold sweat that did not exist. By then, they had all realized that something was wrong.

But there was nothing they could do about it. They could only rely on Tie Li himself.

At that moment, two Soul Rings emerged beneath Tie Li, and he awoke from his meditative state.

They carried the yellow glow unique to Hundred-Year Soul Rings, but a thin purple pattern ran across the surface of the second Soul Ring.

It looked inconspicuous, but it was undeniably real.

Seeing Tie Li awaken, Captain Senluo's eyes revealed both relief and embarrassment.

"Soul Master Tie Li, our apologies this time. The Thunder Python Horn was damaged, and we misjudged its age."

Captain Senluo took out a money pouch containing one hundred Gold Soul Coins from his robe, intending to use it as compensation.

"At least it ended without disaster. If possible, Captain Senluo, give me that damaged Thunder Python Horn as compensation instead. How about it?"

"Of course, that won't be a problem." Senluo laughed heartily.

A complete Thunder Python Horn would naturally have been valuable, but this damaged one had lost most of its worth. It was better to use it as a favor.

Tie Li stopped being polite after hearing that. He took out his dagger, pried open the Thunder Python's skull, and smoothly removed the horn.

After the Thunder Python died, all the bones in its body loosened, making them easy to remove.

He also cut a large chunk of good meat from the Thunder Python's corpse, weighing over twenty pounds. His provisions for the coming days were settled as well.

He touched the Storage Ring on his hand and stored away both the horn and the Thunder Python's flesh and blood.

Next, it was the Senluo Soul Hunting Group's turn to clean up the battlefield.

After leaving the Star Dou Great Forest and returning to town, they placed the Thunder Python's huge body onto a carriage and headed back to Dragon Prosperity City together.

After entering through the city gates, Tie Li parted ways with the Senluo Soul Hunting Group.

Having absorbed a Soul Ring beyond his limit this time, Tie Li could feel the danger involved. Without the help of the Thunder Python Inner Core, he might not have been able to hold on.

He was also fortunate to have absorbed a Soul Bone. His strengthened physique had been another crucial factor.

His Soul Power Level had also broken through to level twenty-two after absorbing the Soul Ring.

Having become a Two-Ring Soul Grandmaster, what Tie Li wanted most was to register at Spirit Hall. A Two-Ring Soul Grandmaster received a monthly stipend of ten Gold Soul Coins.

But not yet. He had become a One-Ring Soul Master only a year ago, and in just one year, he had risen by eleven levels. That rate of improvement was far too astonishing.