Simulating a God-Given Soul Ring, Zhu Zhuqing Breaks Through to Level 36

Early the next morning, Lin Chen was awakened by a knock at the door.

He opened his eyes. It was already bright outside, sunlight streaming through the gap in the curtains and casting a golden strip across the floor. He rubbed his eyes and got up to open the door.

The moment the door opened, Lin Chen froze.

Zhu Zhuqing stood outside.

She wore a fitted black combat outfit today, her long hair draped over her shoulders. She looked much the same as yesterday, but Lin Chen immediately saw that she was different.

Her skin had become even fairer and smoother, like a peeled egg, carrying a faint sheen beneath the morning light.

Her features also seemed more refined. The exhaustion and weariness that had lingered between her brows from her long journey had vanished, replaced by a clarity that radiated from within. Most noticeable of all was her temperament.

Before, she had been like a little wildcat constantly on guard, giving off an aura that kept strangers away.

But now, standing there, she seemed as though she had been washed clean by pure water. She was still cool and aloof, but that coldness was no longer one of wariness and rejection. It was a serene, composed kind of aloofness.

The effects of the Narcissus Jade Muscle Bone were even better than she had imagined.

"Morning," Zhu Zhuqing said. Her voice was clearer than before as well.

"Morning." Lin Chen looked her over and nodded in satisfaction. "Looks like that immortal herb worked well."

"Mm." Zhu Zhuqing nodded. "My Soul Power has risen from level twenty-seven to level thirty. My physical condition has improved greatly too. Both my speed and strength have increased noticeably."

She spoke calmly, but Lin Chen caught the irrepressible joy deep in her eyes.

"Level thirty? Then it's time to obtain a Soul Ring." Lin Chen considered it, then suddenly had an idea. "Wait a moment. Let me try a new method."

He raised his right hand, and a gray mark appeared on his palm. His fourth Soul Ring lit up—the Life Law.

A gentle green glow flowed from his palm, gradually condensing into a sphere of light that floated above it. It radiated dense life energy, like a beating heart brimming with vitality.

Lin Chen closed his eyes and carefully controlled the power of the Life Law.

He tried to simulate the structure of a Soul Ring, compressing, shaping, and solidifying life energy into a stable Soul Ring form.

The process was far more difficult than he had expected. Forming a Soul Ring involved countless energy conversions and structural constructions; one small mistake would cause it to collapse.

Fine beads of sweat formed on Lin Chen's forehead, but he did not give up, continuously adjusting the flow and distribution of energy.

After roughly fifteen minutes, the sphere of light in his hand finally stabilized.

The light faded, revealing a gleaming black Soul Ring floating in his palm.

A ten-thousand-year Soul Ring.

Lin Chen opened his eyes and looked at the slowly spinning black Soul Ring in his palm, somewhat astonished himself. He had only meant to give it a try, yet he had actually succeeded.

The Life Law could not only heal injuries and stimulate vitality; it could also simulate the effect of a god-given Soul Ring, directly creating a perfectly compatible Soul Ring.

"Come, try this." Lin Chen pushed the Soul Ring toward Zhu Zhuqing.

Zhu Zhuqing stared at the black Soul Ring hovering in the air and hesitated. "This is... a ten-thousand-year Soul Ring?"

"Mm. I simulated it using my Life Law. It should perfectly suit your Martial Soul," Lin Chen said. "Absorb it, and you'll be able to break through level thirty."

Zhu Zhuqing looked at the Soul Ring, then at Lin Chen. Without asking further, she sat cross-legged, closed her eyes, and guided the Soul Ring into her body.

Black light slowly enveloped her.

Lin Chen stood to one side, silently guarding her.

About half an hour later, Zhu Zhuqing opened her eyes.

Her aura was clearly far stronger than before. Her Soul Power fluctuations had risen from level thirty to level thirty-six. The boost brought by the ten-thousand-year Soul Ring had allowed her to directly cross the threshold of two levels.

The immortal herb raised her to level 34; the Soul Ring provided an additional two levels.

She raised her right hand, and a mass of jet-black light appeared in her palm.

The light danced in her hand, sometimes gathering into the shape of sharp claws, sometimes dispersing into a cloud of black mist.

"Third Soul Skill, Netherworld Soul-Shattering Slash," Zhu Zhuqing said softly, unable to hide the excitement in her voice.

"It strikes both the body and the mind. A target hit by it will not only suffer physical damage, but their mind will also be impacted."

Lin Chen's eyes lit up.

A dual strike against both body and mind was an exceptionally rare Soul Skill effect.

Ordinary Soul Skills could only inflict physical or energy damage. Soul Skills capable of attacking the mind and body at the same time were exceedingly scarce across the entire continent.

With this Soul Skill, Zhu Zhuqing's combat ability had taken a tremendous leap forward.

"How does it feel?" Lin Chen asked.

"Very good." Zhu Zhuqing rose to her feet and clenched her fist, feeling the brand-new power within her. "Better than ever."

She raised her head and looked at Lin Chen, her eyes carrying a radiance he had never seen on her face before.

Then she did something Lin Chen had never expected.

She stepped forward, opened her arms, and gently hugged him.

Her movements were light, like a cautious cat testing its way closer. Her body was soft and warm, carrying a faint narcissus fragrance.

It was the lingering scent of the Narcissus Jade Muscle Bone. She rested her face against Lin Chen's shoulder in silence for several seconds, then tilted her head slightly and gently kissed his cheek.

It was over the instant it began.

Then she took a step back and lowered her head, the tips of her ears turning so red they seemed ready to bleed. Her hands unconsciously gripped the corners of her clothes as she stood there like a statue, even holding her breath.

Lin Chen stood frozen, touching the cheek she had kissed, unable to react for a moment.

The room fell silent for several seconds.

"...Um," Lin Chen broke the silence first, amusement in his voice. "Is this a thank-you gift?"

Zhu Zhuqing said nothing, but her ears grew even redder.

"...Mm." After a long while, she finally forced out an almost inaudible sound from her throat.

Seeing how she looked as though she wished she could crawl into a crack in the ground, Lin Chen stopped teasing her and said with a smile, "All right, I've accepted the gift. Let's go have breakfast. Xiao Wu should be awake too."

Zhu Zhuqing still kept her head lowered and nodded lightly.

She followed Lin Chen out of the room, maintaining a subtle distance from him the whole time.

A little closer than before, yet not daring to get too close.

Morning light fell over them, stretching two long shadows across the ground.

Zhu Zhuqing walked half a step behind Lin Chen. Looking at his upright back, then down at the black light still not fully dispersed in her palm, the corners of her lips lifted faintly on their own.

She quickened her pace and walked beside him.

This time, she did not fall half a step behind.