Phantom Bird Moon Dance Slash

While Chen Xi absorbed the spirit ring, Yang Wushuang kept a close watch on her condition. At the first sign of anything going wrong, he planned to intervene and interrupt the process, then find Chen Xi a spirit ring with a slightly lower age.

Chen Xi, meanwhile, remained remarkably calm throughout the absorption process. Though this Second Spirit Skill ring was somewhat older than usual, her physique, enhanced by the Narcissus Jade Bone, could fully withstand the immense energy contained within it.

Time passed bit by bit.

The morning sun rose.

The horizon gradually turned pale.

Chen Xi slowly opened her eyes. Looking at the purple spirit ring around her, a lovely curve gradually formed at the corners of her lips.

Her Soul Power Level had reached level twenty-six.

Before absorbing the Mystic Herb, Chen Xi's Soul Power had been level fourteen. The Mystic Herb had raised it by ten levels, while absorbing the thousand-year spirit ring had increased it by another two.

Chen Xi's Second Spirit Skill was called: Phantom Bird Moon Dance Slash.

*Phantom Bird Moon Dance Slash*—When activated, the user entered an intangible state. During this period, fifty percent of all attacks received were negated. It also consumed Mental Power to form Moon Dance Slashes, inflicting continuous mental attacks upon enemies.

Although her Second Spirit Skill differed somewhat from what Chen Xi had expected, it was still a rare skill that balanced offense and defense. Overall, Chen Xi was quite satisfied with it.

After all, when absorbing a spirit ring, how much of a soul beast's original abilities one obtained depended entirely on luck.

With good luck, the resulting spirit skill might completely inherit the soul beast's innate attributes and abilities. With bad luck, one might not inherit any special abilities at all.

A spirit skill like Chen Xi's, which inherited part of its abilities, was already quite good.

After stretching slightly, Chen Xi rose from the ground.

"How do you feel?"

"To be honest, this is the first time I've seen someone whose second spirit ring is a thousand-year one."

Yang Wushuang walked up to Chen Xi. Looking at the purple spirit ring flashing beneath her feet, his eyes were full of admiration.

"If Uncle Yang hadn't chosen the Narcissus Jade Bone for me, I wouldn't have been able to absorb a thousand-year spirit ring yet."

Chen Xi gave him a polite smile.

"Let's go."

"Let's return to where the carriage is parked and wait for the young master and the others there."

Yang Wushuang smiled and led Chen Xi out of Sunset Forest.

Once they reached the place where the carriage was parked, Chen Xi entered the cabin, sat cross-legged inside, and entered a meditative cultivation state.

Yang Wushuang, on the other hand, sat at the front of the carriage with his eyes closed, resting his mind.

Several hours passed quietly.

At around eight in the morning, Qian Renxue and Ci Xue finally emerged from Sunset Forest.

Just as Qian Renxue entered the carriage cabin, Chen Xi opened her eyes.

"How did it go?"

"Did you succeed?"

Qian Renxue sat beside Chen Xi and asked softly.

"I did."

Chen Xi released her martial soul and showed Qian Renxue her two spirit rings, one yellow and one purple.

"It's good that you succeeded."

Seeing the thousand-year spirit ring on Chen Xi, Qian Renxue revealed a faint smile, genuinely happy for her.

With Ci Xue and Yang Wushuang driving, the carriage gradually began moving toward Heaven Dou City.

Sunset Forest.

Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.

Dugu Bo had just returned when he saw the sight before him and froze. The smile on his face gradually vanished, and gloom rapidly spread through his eyes.

"Who dared pick the herbs from this old man's medicinal garden?"

There was faint anger in Dugu Bo's voice.

But the deeper he went, the darker Dugu Bo's expression became. By the end, his face was so gloomy it seemed as though water might drip from it.

"Good!"

"Very good!"

"A full eighty percent of the herbs are gone!"

Dugu Bo's chest heaved violently as his fists clenched and relaxed.

Though he was furious, this place was deep within the Soul Beast Forest, with a poison formation set up around its perimeter. Let alone people, even soul beasts could not easily approach.

Thus, even if he wanted to investigate, he had nowhere to begin.

His gaze swept across the surroundings before finally settling on the stone wall. Looking at the words carved into it, Dugu Bo read them out one word at a time.

"The outer poison formation was set up by someone unknown. It is far too crude and can only stop three-year-old children. Signed: Tang San was here!"

After reading the words on the stone wall, Dugu Bo suddenly laughed. Yet his laughter carried boundless chill, and his emerald-like eyes were filled with killing intent.

"Tang San!"

"Good!"

"What a Tang San!"

"You'd better hide well. Don't let this old man catch you, or I'll make you wish you were dead!"

As Dugu Bo spoke, he suddenly threw a punch, shattering the stone wall before him.

One had to know that the two things Dugu Bo cared about most in his life were his granddaughter, Dugu Yan, and anyone questioning his poison.

Yet the person who had carved those words into the stone wall had not only taken the herbs from his medicinal garden, but had also deliberately left behind words mocking his poison for being unable to stop even a three-year-old child.

This was not merely a slap across his face—it was a slap on the left cheek followed by another on the right.

Dugu Bo calmed his emotions and looked toward the forest, firmly engraving the name Tang San in his heart.

Elsewhere.

Heaven Dou Imperial Palace.

Inside Xue Ye's study.

Xue Ye lightly tapped a report on the desk with his fingers. His dignified eyes silently watched Prince Xue Xing below.

Prince Xue Xing kept his head lowered, not daring to look at Xue Ye above him.

"Xue Xing."

"You've taught him well!"

"Back when Xue Beng was in the palace, he may have been somewhat mischievous, but he was nowhere near the level of a wastrel."

"Yet after you brought him to Prince's Manor, Xue Beng has either been harassing respectable women or abusing his status as royalty to commit all sorts of misdeeds!"

"I originally thought it was simply Xue Beng's nature, so I did not blame you. I merely told you to discipline him properly, but you've done such a fine job of that!"

"Xue Beng actually lost a certain ability in a pleasure house, and the news has spread throughout all of Heaven Dou City. What are you trying to do? What does that unfilial son of mine think he is trying to do?!"

"Have you no shame?!"

"Do we still have any royal dignity left?!"

Xue Ye slammed his hand against the table in fury. His final sentence was nearly a roar.

"Your Majesty, this matter..."

"This matter..."

Xue Xing dropped to one knee, cold sweat gradually appearing on his forehead.

Even Prince Xue Xing did not know how to explain this matter for the moment.

"Xue Xing, there is no need to say anything more."

"I think it is time for you to rest as well."

"Hand over the matters in your charge to Qinghe. As for that unfilial son Xue Beng, once this affair dies down, have him guard the imperial mausoleum."

"If he causes any more trouble, Xue Xing, you can go guard the imperial mausoleum with him."

After giving Prince Xue Xing a deep look, Xue Ye rose from his seat, flicked his sleeve, and departed.