Second Thousand-Year Ring

As they ventured deeper into the Mixed Zone, the trees grew taller and denser, while the terrain became increasingly uneven and complex.

The air was thick with the damp scent of vegetation and the pungent stench of Soul Beasts. Killing intent lurked everywhere. The lingering pressure of Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts faintly permeated the ground, heavy enough to make one's heart tremble.

Yue Ling felt a little afraid and instinctively edged closer to Xuan Zi and Zhang Lexuan.

Seeing his nervousness, Xuan Zi casually summoned a layer of pale golden Soul Power into a shield that enveloped Yue Ling and protected him steadily.

"Don't be afraid. With this old man here, even the fiercest Soul Beast won't be able to hurt you. Let's go a little farther; we'll soon find one that suits you."

The three continued onward for more than forty minutes.

Suddenly, Xuan Zi and Zhang Lexuan both came to an abrupt halt, their expressions turning alert at once.

Deep within the dense forest ahead, a massive dark-golden bear lay quietly curled up. Its pressure was heavy and violent. It was the famed ferocious beast of the Star Dou Forest—the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear.

"Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear."

Xuan Zi swept it a glance and casually judged, "Four thousand years of cultivation. The age is too high. You can't withstand or absorb it yet. We'll take a detour."

Just as the two were preparing to go around it, Zhang Lexuan's gaze sharpened and she immediately warned them.

"Elder Xuan, Yue Ling, look beneath it!"

Beneath the grass where the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear was resting lay a Golden Winged Eagle with shattered wings and wounds all over its body. It was barely alive, its aura faint, on the verge of drawing its final breath.

Yue Ling's eyes instantly lit up.

"Master! That's the one! It's perfect for me!"

Xuan Zi looked more closely and immediately laughed.

"Good heavens, I almost missed it! An eleven-hundred-year Golden Winged Eagle. Wind and sharpness, with a powerful offensive attribute. Its age, aptitude, and characteristics all perfectly suit you!"

Before he had even finished speaking, Xuan Zi shot forward in an instant, not even having time to put away the wine gourd in his hand.

The four-thousand-year Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear was vicious and violent by nature. As a top-tier offensive Soul Beast, it showed no fear even before a Super Douluo. With an enraged roar, its thick massive claw carried a gale as it smashed fiercely toward Xuan Zi.

Xuan Zi could not be bothered to fight it.

The terrifying pressure of a Super Douluo exploded from his body, and an invisible force instantly suppressed the entire area.

The violent pressure slammed the enormous Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear to the ground, burying half its body in the dirt. A savage growl rumbled from its throat. Though its ferocity soared to the heavens, it could not move in the slightest.

Xuan Zi casually brought down a light palm strike.

A dull boom exploded through the forest. Every bone in the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear's body shattered inch by inch. It could not even scream before dying on the spot.

After eliminating every threat, Xuan Zi took out a roast chicken and called to Yue Ling while chewing on it.

"Brat, hurry up! If you dawdle any longer, this Golden Winged Eagle will completely die, and its Spirit Ring will dissipate!"

"I'm coming, I'm coming! Master is way too strong!"

Yue Ling hurried over, then turned to Zhang Lexuan and thanked her sincerely.

"Thank you, Sister Lexuan. If you hadn't reminded us, I definitely would have missed the Spirit Ring most suitable for me."

"No need to be polite. Hurry and absorb it." Zhang Lexuan nodded gently.

Yue Ling wasted no more time. He quickly walked to the dying Golden Winged Eagle, drew his short blade, and cleanly delivered the final blow.

Faint golden light slowly rose from the Golden Winged Eagle's corpse. A thousand-year purple Spirit Ring, rich in color and texture, quietly hovered in the air.

Yue Ling took a deep breath and suppressed the excitement in his heart.

With a thought, the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum instantly appeared in Martial Soul Possession. He sat cross-legged on the ground, focused his mind, and officially began absorbing his second thousand-year Spirit Ring.

During this time.

Xuan Zi asked Zhang Lexuan to help him dissect the great bear. After confirming that it had no Spirit Bone, she refused to do it no matter what, afraid that blood would splash onto her clothes and dirty them. She looked at the filthy Xuan Zi with undisguised disgust.

With no other choice, Xuan Zi could only do it himself.

Soul Power enveloped his hands, and with a few cracking motions, he completely dismantled the bear and stored it in his storage Soul Tool.

Once everything was prepared, the two stood guard as Yue Ling absorbed the thousand-year Spirit Ring.

Sure enough, the gap between a hundred-year Spirit Ring and a thousand-year Spirit Ring was like a chasm.

The power of an ordinary hundred-year Spirit Ring was gentle, but the Soul Power of a thousand-year Spirit Ring was as violent as a flood. Pain stabbed through Yue Ling's limbs and meridians. His body tensed, veins bulged across his skin, and he trembled violently.

Xuan Zi silently watched his newly accepted disciple, even slowing the pace at which he ate his chicken leg.

After a while.

The Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum Martial Soul began to shake violently out of control, its light flickering between bright and dim. His own Soul Power collided and tore against the foreign Soul Power until the Soul Power vortex in his dantian became unstable and his Soul Power fell completely into chaos. Only then did Zhang Lexuan and Xuan Zi's expressions change.

"This is bad! He can't withstand a thousand-year Spirit Ring!"

Xuan Zi stepped forward, preparing to forcibly interrupt the process, but Zhang Lexuan immediately stopped him.

"No! Forcibly interrupting the absorption could cripple his Martial Soul at best, or cause his body to explode on the spot at worst!"

"Ah, this old man was foolish. I shouldn't have let this brat have his way."

Xuan Zi's eyes were filled with anxiety as he punched the tree beside him hard.

Even so, he continued staring expectantly in Yue Ling's direction, silently praying for his newly accepted disciple.

At that moment, the immense tearing pain caused blood to seep from Yue Ling's body. His mind was also locked in a standoff against the violent Soul Power, neither side willing to yield.

Yue Ling's meridians were too fragile. Although he had consumed a Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum, a single herb could not turn the foundation of his flesh into something Indestructible Diamond.

Having only an empty shell without the tempering to match it was no different from wearing a thick outer casing.

Xuan Zi paced back and forth without stopping, while Zhang Lexuan furrowed her brows tightly, her palms sweating.

Yue Ling closed his eyes and struggled against the thousand-year Spirit Ring.

He had overestimated himself. Without training his physique or nourishing his body, he had wanted to exceed the age limit and absorb a thousand-year Spirit Ring after consuming only one Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum. It was far too difficult!

His meridians were swollen from the strain, and the savage Soul Power of the purple Spirit Ring battered his sea of consciousness.

Give up. You can't hold on much longer...

Yue Ling gritted his teeth. Whenever he thought of his parents, of the massacre at Hundred Flowers Village, and of those damned Evil Soul Masters, a will gripped him tightly and kept him from losing consciousness, forcing him to endure.

The stalemate continued for an hour.

The embryonic form of Indestructible Diamond slowly channeled the Soul Power through him. As the violent Soul Power gradually became subdued, the pain in his body eased. Yet Yue Ling remained weak all over, his mind utterly exhausted.

The second Spirit Ring was complete!

"Good! Good...!"

Xuan Zi beat his chest and stamped his feet, while Zhang Lexuan at his side also let out a breath of relief.

"His aura is restrained and his Soul Power is stable. It should have succeeded."

"That was terrifying. He nearly died from his body exploding just now."

At that moment, the purple Spirit Ring slowly merged into his body. A pale purple radiance swirled around him, while the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum shone brilliantly. One yellow and one purple Spirit Ring appeared before them.

"I've never seen a plant-type Spirit Master whose second Spirit Ring was a thousand-year Spirit Ring. What a little monster."

Xuan Zi chuckled and took a huge swig of wine.

"Yes. Plant-type Martial Souls do not possess the powerful physiques of beast Martial Souls. Yue Ling was dragged back and forth along the edge of death. How strong must his will be..." A trace of admiration showed in Zhang Lexuan's eyes.

After calming his Soul Power.

Yue Ling was mentally exhausted and physically limp, without the slightest strength.

"Teacher, Sister Lexuan, I did not disgrace your expectations..."

With that, he collapsed unconscious, only to be gently caught by Zhang Lexuan as he fell.

"Let's go. This brat absorbed a thousand-year Spirit Ring beyond his level. His body needs spiritual medicine to recover. We'll return to Shrek first!"

"Yes, Elder Xuan!"

Zhang Lexuan carried Yue Ling and flew with Xuan Zi toward Shrek.