A scorching sensation spread from his back. As time passed, the temperature there rose higher and higher, like a branding iron that was continually heating up against his flesh.
This frog-boiling pain was the most torturous. From what Mu Feng had learned about soul bones in Shrek Academy's theory classes, this sort of soul bone that could resonate with its host and fuse on its own was not one of the common six great soul bones, but an External Soul Bone with growth potential.
Such External Soul Bones possessed tremendous potential for growth. Correspondingly, they were also the most difficult to absorb.
The wing-shaped soul bone embedded itself firmly into Mu Feng's back, as if countless bone spurs had grown from it and pierced seamlessly into his spine.
This time, there was no help from Electrolux. It had nothing to do with the strength of a Soul Power impact, but was instead a contest of willpower.
Mu Feng's eyes were bloodshot as he let out a miserable howl. He felt as though his bones were building blocks, being picked apart and reassembled piece by piece. This transformation was undoubtedly agonizing and prolonged.
Time no longer held any meaning for Mu Feng. In his perception, there was only the thought of desperately holding on for one more second.
Xiao Hei and Little White watched Mu Feng writhe in agony. Though they knew this was a necessary part of absorbing a soul bone, they could not help worrying about his condition.
He had suffered severe injuries, absorbed a soul ring at his limit, and now was fusing with an External Soul Bone. Even a man made of iron would have been nearing his limit.
And Mu Feng truly was at his limit. His consciousness was gradually fading, and his clenched teeth were his final struggle.
Who knew how long had passed? Mu Feng had collapsed facedown on the ground, completely drained into unconsciousness, yet his back remained tense.
By then, the golden patterns had long since merged into his back. His External Soul Bone had fused successfully, but the unconscious Mu Feng could not enjoy the joy of that success.
"Water..." Mu Feng's parched throat produced a hoarse voice. When he opened his eyes, all he saw was white around him. "Where am I? Don't tell me I'm dead."
Mu Feng spoke weakly and intermittently, as if he might run out of breath at any moment.
The moment he finished speaking, a straw was placed in his mouth. With a gentle sip, warm water flowed down his throat and nourished his dried-out body.
Mu Feng closed his eyes in enjoyment, savoring the comfort of that warmth flowing into his heart. "Looks like I haven't gone to heaven yet."
"Pah!" A crisp, pleasant female voice rang out. "A bad person like you would be lucky not to go to hell."
In an instant, Mu Feng recognized the owner of that familiar voice. Di Qiuli sat properly in the chair beside the bed, concentrating on holding a cup of water in her hands.
Mu Feng turned his head and teased with a smile, "Even if I went to hell, I'd be willing to go if such a beautiful girl were there with me."
Di Qiuli froze. She had mocked Mu Feng because he had left the academy alone without saying a word to her. She had only learned from their homeroom teacher, Mu Jin, that Mu Feng had gone out to obtain a soul ring.
She had assumed he was prepared, or at the very least had a powerful expert accompanying him like last time. Yet a week later, Mu Feng had been found unconscious and covered in blood at the entrance to Shrek Academy. It was only because members of New Student Class Nine happened to pass by that he was brought back to the infirmary.
Several groups had come to visit during that time, from Class Nine students to Ning Tian, Nanmen Yun'er, Yu Tianhuang, and Mu Jin. But from beginning to end, Di Qiuli was the only one who had remained by his bedside.
It had been a full day and night since Mu Feng was sent to the infirmary. Di Qiuli had stayed watch by his bed for that entire day and night. Yu Tianhuang had suggested taking care of the unconscious Mu Feng himself so that Di Qiuli could return and rest, but she had refused outright.
Though she was clearly worried about this hateful guy who had vanished without a word, when Mu Feng truly woke up, her words came out all wrong.
Mu Feng had long grown used to Di Qiuli's sharp tongue and did not take her angry words to heart. Instead, he teased her in return.
When Di Qiuli came to her senses, the tips of her ears hidden beneath her golden hair quietly reddened. Yet she still refused to give in. "You still have the strength to talk nonsense. If someone hadn't recognized the academy uniform on you and brought you back to school, who knows which soul beast's stomach you'd be in today, serving as dinner."
Mu Feng raised an eyebrow. His memories only went as far as the final moment of absorbing the soul bone. He had no recollection at all of what happened afterward.
But Mu Feng remembered that he had not been wearing the academy uniform Di Qiuli mentioned. He pondered silently.
Looks like those two put a Shrek Academy uniform on me, then tossed me at the entrance.
At that thought, the corner of Mu Feng's mouth twitched. He had not expected those two Black and White Impermanence brothers to be so bold, actually trusting that sending his unconscious self into Shrek Academy would be fine.
But Mu Feng had truly wronged the two brothers this time. Little White had brought Mu Feng back to Shrek City and spent a fortune to hire a healing-type Soul Emperor to examine him. Only after confirming that there was nothing seriously wrong did he send someone to return Mu Feng to Shrek Academy.
Mu Feng laughed. "Isn't everything fine? I just need to rest for a few days."
Di Qiuli's delicate brows rose as she prepared to argue further, but the ward door suddenly opened. Yu Tianhuang and Nanmen Yun'er entered together. On the way over, they had decided that today they absolutely had to persuade Di Qiuli to return to her dormitory and rest. But as soon as they opened the door, they saw Mu Feng awake and leaning against the headboard.
The two cried out in delight, "Brother Mu! Big Brother Mu, you're awake!"
The moment they entered, Di Qiuli immediately fell silent. She glared at Mu Feng, while Mu Feng pretended not to notice and smiled at the two by the door. "You're here."
As Nanmen Yun'er entered, she swiftly glanced at Di Qiuli. Just as she was about to say something, Di Qiuli suddenly stuffed an apple from the table into her mouth.
"Dinner will be served soon. Yun'er, you must be hungry."
With her mouth full, Nanmen Yun'er made a muffled sound, then saw Di Qiuli's warning gaze. She immediately nodded obediently, taking bite after bite of the apple as she nodded.
At this point, even an idiot could tell that Nanmen Yun'er wanted to say something but had been stopped by Di Qiuli. Since Di Qiuli did not wish to say it, Mu Feng did not want to press the matter either. If he upset the ferocious beast ancestor beside him, the Golden-Maned Lion King's wrath would be quite troublesome.
Yu Tianhuang, standing beside Nanmen Yun'er, was exceptionally good at reading the room. Seeing that Nanmen Yun'er had been silenced, he guessed that Di Qiuli did not want the matter brought up before Mu Feng. So he obediently kept his mouth shut and instead began talking about the interesting things that had happened at the academy recently.
Still short on money, Huo Yuhao had set up his grilled fish stall at the entrance again, and business was excellent. What surprised Mu Feng, however, was that Xu Sanshi had still gone to trouble Huo Yuhao over it, and in the end, he and Bei Bei had gone to the Soul Arena.
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