"Is this... an external soul bone?"
Zhang Lexuan had learned about external soul bones long ago—unlike ordinary soul bones, whose abilities were fixed, external soul bones could grow, continuously evolving as a soul master's cultivation improved.
This was a treasure every soul master dreamed of. She had never imagined that she would one day obtain such a rare prize herself.
"Sister Lexuan, hurry and see what this external soul bone can do!"
Zhang Lexuan nodded. After carefully sensing it for a moment, she said, "I've named it the Starmoon Illusory Wings. Its passive effects give me a fifty percent boost to all attributes, plus an additional hundred percent boost to speed. It also gives me the ability to fly."
"In addition, the Starmoon Illusory Wings can release Stellar Chains to bind enemies. The binding effect should keep improving as I grow stronger."
"As for my fifth soul skill, I've named it Starmoon Radiance. It condenses a powerful shock wave of star and moon energy that can damage a single enemy or strike an entire area, much like the shock waves fired from the Star-Moon Twin-Headed Flood Dragon's two heads. Also, I can feel what seems to be a new light attribute within my body."
Ye An nodded thoughtfully at her words. "That means the external soul bone's control effect works very well with your soul skills, Sister Lexuan. Not to mention that it can keep evolving. Congratulations, Sister Lexuan."
Zhang Lexuan's eyes curved, and the corners of her lips lifted into a gentle smile.
With an external soul bone, her strength had improved further. She would be able to help Xiao An even more in the future.
Noticing the dreamlike wings on Zhang Lexuan's back, Jin Peng and Yu Bo both showed a trace of envy in their eyes.
As two Super Douluos renowned across the continent, neither of them had managed to obtain a treasure as precious as an external soul bone. In a way, this seemed to show that the Young Sect Master and his lady possessed truly extraordinary fortune.
"An external soul bone... But right now, it hasn't completely fused with the Young Sect Master's lady. There's still a risk of someone taking it from her. We must have her fully fuse this external soul bone into her body as soon as possible."
As he spoke, Yu Bo and Jin Peng instinctively exchanged a glance.
The next instant, they abruptly appeared before Ye An and Zhang Lexuan.
Ye An was momentarily startled by Jin Peng and Yu Bo's sudden appearance. But once they explained why they had come, he quickly understood.
External soul bones did indeed differ from ordinary soul bones in this respect. Once a soul master absorbed a soul bone, it fused into their body. Unless the corresponding body part was cut off, an absorbed soul bone could not be removed. But because of their unique nature, external soul bones could remain incompletely fused.
When Tang San first obtained the Eight Spider Lance, his control over it had been terrible. Only later, after enduring the pressure of a Soul Douluo from the Heaven Dou Royal Academy, had he fully fused the Eight Spider Lance with his body.
Zhang Lexuan nodded earnestly as well. "Uncle Peng, Yu Bo, I'm ready. Let's begin."
Jin Peng gave a slight nod at her words, while Yu Bo took a step back.
The next instant, Jin Peng unleashed the pressure of a rank ninety-six Super Douluo, sending it surging toward Zhang Lexuan from all sides.
In an instant, Zhang Lexuan could not help letting out a muffled groan.
But she soon drew a deep breath, gritted her teeth, and said with some difficulty, "Uncle Peng, I may need a little more pressure."
After years of tempering in Hurricane Cave, Zhang Lexuan's ability to withstand this kind of pressure had improved tremendously. That was why she dared to ask Jin Peng to increase it further.
Besides, if she wanted to fully fuse the Starmoon Illusory Wings into her meridians, this level of pressure... still wasn't enough!
At her words, Jin Peng did not hesitate. He unleashed nearly all his pressure without holding back, bringing it down on Zhang Lexuan in an instant.
This time, Zhang Lexuan's expression finally changed slightly.
The effect of pressure at this level was undoubtedly significant.
Zhang Lexuan could clearly feel the Starmoon Illusory Wings gradually fusing with her meridians, becoming part of her body.
A short while later, Zhang Lexuan retracted the Starmoon Illusory Wings, and Jin Peng withdrew his pressure as well.
However... the extension and retraction of the Starmoon Illusory Wings had torn open the back of Zhang Lexuan's clothes, exposing a patch of smooth, fair skin. Fortunately, she was facing Jin Peng and Yu Bo, so only Ye An saw the exposed skin.
Still, Ye An took an outer garment from his Storage Ring and draped it over Zhang Lexuan.
Zhang Lexuan was his fiancée, so it was perfectly reasonable for him to keep her clothes in his Storage Ring.
By the same logic, Zhang Lexuan also kept his clothes in her Storage Ring.
Yes, exactly. That was all there was to it.
Noticing Ye An's movements, Jin Peng averted his gaze and coughed twice. "Since this external soul bone has now completely fused with you, Old Yu and I will go back into hiding and continue protecting you from the shadows."
"You both did very well in the battle against the Star-Moon Twin-Headed Flood Dragon just now."
With that, Jin Peng and Yu Bo flickered out of sight once more.
Zhang Lexuan tilted her head slightly, a hint of amusement seemingly lingering in her eyes. Her voice was as gentle as ever. "Where do we go next? Back to the Body Sect, or... shall we keep traveling for a while?"
"Since we've already left the sect, let's explore a little longer. If I remember correctly, heading this way will take us into the Star Luo Empire. Let's have a look around there. I'm close to rank forty, too. Once I reach rank forty and obtain a soul ring, we can think about returning to the sect."
Ye An carefully checked their bearings. Only after confirming that he had the right direction did he nod in relief.
Naturally, Zhang Lexuan had no objections to Ye An's plans.
Just as the two were about to leave in that direction, voices suddenly drifted from the dense woods nearby.
"Be careful. An extremely powerful aura came from this direction just now. There might be a very powerful soul beast around."
"I think it was more likely an aura released by a powerful soul master. Don't forget, we're only in the Mixed Area of the Star Dou Great Forest. Even a hundred-thousand-year soul beast might not be able to release an aura like that."
There were two voices, one female and one male.
The woman's voice was somewhat unfamiliar, but the man's... was that the voice of Tianlong Douluo, whom they had heard on the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest?
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