Third Soul Skill, Minor Thousand-Faced Phantom Realm!

The deep-purple Soul Ring slowly settled around him.

A tremendous surge of Soul Power instantly flooded into Gu Changsheng's body.

After all, the Thousand-Faced Phantom Demon Spider was a Five Thousand Three Hundred Years Mental Attribute Spirit Beast. Even though its remnant soul had already been purified by the Myriad Heaven Book, the energy contained within the Soul Ring itself remained exceptionally overbearing.

Gu Changsheng sat cross-legged, his brow slightly furrowed.

His meridians seemed to be continuously scoured by an icy, razor-sharp force, while his sea of consciousness churned violently.

Countless fragmented images flooded into his mind.

Thick mist, spider silk, illusions, human faces.

These were all instinctive imprints the Thousand-Faced Phantom Demon Spider had left within the Soul Ring.

An ordinary Spirit Master facing such a Mental Shock would, even if they survived, fall into confusion for a long time.

But Gu Changsheng was different.

The Myriad Heaven Book hovered at the center of his sea of consciousness. Its pale-golden pages turned one after another, analyzing, dismantling, and reorganizing those chaotic imprints piece by piece.

[Soul Power absorption in progress...]

[Mental residue purification in progress...]

[Soul Ring ability structure analysis in progress...]

[Ability core: illusion, disguise, mental guidance.]

[Highly compatible with the Martial Soul, Myriad Heaven Book.]

[Soul Skill mutation deduction complete.]

Gu Changsheng's breathing gradually steadied.

The purple radiance around him intertwined with golden light, forming a strange ring of mental ripples.

Hu Liena stood some distance away. Sensing those fluctuations, surprise flashed through her eyes.

"What a powerful mental aura..."

She herself was a Spirit Master of the Spiritual Charm type and was exceptionally sensitive to Mental Power.

Although Gu Changsheng had not yet truly completed the absorption, those mental fluctuations were already making her feel a trace of pressure.

Xie Yue glanced over and said calmly,

"Looks like he gained quite a lot this time."

Yan crossed his arms and grinned.

"Of course. This is a Soul Ring over five thousand years old. If this kid weren't such a freak, anyone else would have exploded by now."

Hu Liena shot him a look.

"Was that supposed to be praise?"

Yan chuckled.

"Of course it was."

Up in the treetops, Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan silently watched Gu Changsheng.

There was still a faint smile on his face, but a hint of gravity lay hidden deep in his eyes.

His Second Spirit Ring had exceeded its level limit, and now his Third Soul Ring had directly absorbed one over five thousand years old.

Such talent could no longer be described as that of an ordinary genius.

More importantly, Gu Changsheng's performance in the mental aspect had far surpassed Yue Guan's expectations.

"His Holiness the Pope truly picked up a treasure this time."

Yue Guan murmured quietly.

Not far away, Xiao Wu was also watching Gu Changsheng.

Her expression was somewhat complicated.

This young man before her was from Spirit Hall.

Based on what she knew of Spirit Hall, she should not have had anything to do with him.

Yet it was this very person who had concealed her aura for her just now.

He had even spoken up for her before Chrysanthemum Douluo.

Xiao Wu was not foolish.

She could tell that Gu Changsheng had likely noticed something.

At the very least, he knew she was not ordinary.

But he had not exposed her.

That left Xiao Wu with an indescribable, strange feeling in her heart.

Time passed little by little.

Half an hour later.

The purple light around Gu Changsheng suddenly drew in.

The next instant, invisible mental fluctuations spread outward with him as their center.

The mist that had only just dispersed around them suddenly began to gather again.

Ancient Trees, Vines, fallen leaves, spiderwebs—every sight before them faintly distorted.

Yan's expression changed.

"What is going on? Isn't that spider dead?"

Hu Liena's gaze sharpened.

"No, it isn't the Thousand-Faced Phantom Demon Spider."

"It's Junior Brother."

Gu Changsheng slowly opened his eyes.

Deep within his pupils, countless pages seemed to turn.

At his feet, three Soul Rings—Two Yellows and One Purple—slowly rose.

The third Purple Spirit Ring shone with an especially profound light.

Gu Changsheng raised his right hand, and the Myriad Heaven Book appeared.

"Third Soul Skill."

"Minor Thousand-Faced Phantom Realm."

As his voice fell, the Purple Spirit Ring suddenly lit up.

A circle of mental ripples woven from pale gold and deep purple spread outward.

The scene before everyone instantly changed.

The forest vanished, replaced by an illusory space formed from countless book pages.

Every page reflected a different image.

There was mist, spider silk, human figures, and even hazy remnants of the future.

Yan instinctively took a step back.

"This is an illusion too?"

Gu Changsheng nodded.

"It is, but not entirely."

Hu Liena quickly noticed the difference.

"It isn't forcibly invading our minds. Instead, it feels as though it has pulled us into a controllable range."

Gu Changsheng looked at her and explained,

"The Minor Thousand-Faced Phantom Realm can construct a Mental Illusion within a certain range, disrupting an enemy's sight, hearing, and sense of direction."

"If the target's Mental Power is weak, they will directly fall into the illusion I create."

"If their Mental Power is stronger, they will still be affected by cognitive distortions."

Xie Yue asked,

"Can it be used in actual combat?"

Gu Changsheng waved a hand.

The next instant, three Gu Changsheng figures appeared before Xie Yue at once.

The three figures moved in perfect unison, and even their Soul Power fluctuations were extremely similar.

Xie Yue narrowed his eyes slightly.

He swung his Moon Blade at the leftmost figure.

The Moon Blade passed through the phantom.

Yet the real Gu Changsheng was already standing a step behind him.

"It can."

Xie Yue turned back to look at him, a trace of approval flashing through his eyes.

"Not bad."

Yan could not help saying,

"This Soul Skill is a little ridiculous! In a fight, who could tell which one is real and which is fake?"

Gu Changsheng shook his head.

"It isn't that simple. Against Spirit Masters whose Mental Power exceeds mine, the illusion's duration will be shortened. If they possess a powerful mental defense Soul Skill, they can also forcibly break through it."

Hu Liena smiled.

"But even if it only lasts an instant, that is enough to change the battle."

Gu Changsheng nodded.

That was precisely the greatest strength of the Minor Thousand-Faced Phantom Realm.

It did not necessarily need to trap an enemy completely.

As long as it caused the enemy to make a wrong judgment for an instant, it would be enough for Xie Yue and Yan to land a fatal attack.

Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan descended from the treetops and praised,

"What an excellent Minor Thousand-Faced Phantom Realm."

"Changsheng, your Third Soul Skill is already no weaker than many ten-thousand-year Soul Skills."

Gu Changsheng withdrew his Martial Soul and gave a slight bow.

"Thanks to Elder for protecting me."

Yue Guan chuckled.

"No need to be modest. Absorbing a five-thousand-year Soul Ring and even causing your Soul Skill to undergo a beneficial mutation—that is your own ability."

As he spoke, he seemed to casually glance at Xiao Wu.

"Since the Soul Ring absorption is complete, it is time for us to return."

Xiao Wu's gaze shifted slightly at those words.

She knew it was time for her to leave as well.

If she remained here any longer, she would only increase the risk of being exposed.

She looked toward Gu Changsheng. After hesitating for a moment, she still stepped closer.

"Hey."

Gu Changsheng turned to look at her.

"Something wrong?"

Xiao Wu gave a soft snort.

"Today's matter... consider it a favor I owe you."

Yan raised a brow beside them.

"Little girl, do you know who we are? A favor owed to us is not something you can repay so easily."

Xiao Wu glared at him.

"What does it have to do with you?"

Gu Changsheng said evenly,

"Don't take it to heart."

Xiao Wu wrinkled her nose.

"That won't do. Sister Xiao Wu always repays kindness."

After saying that, she looked at Gu Changsheng seriously.

"If we meet again in the future, as long as you don't ask me to hurt my friends, I can help you once."

Gu Changsheng's eyes flickered slightly.

"Alright. I'll remember that."

Xiao Wu looked at him, as though she wanted to ask something, but in the end, she did not say it aloud.

She turned and ran toward the depths of the forest.

Her pink figure leaped lightly between the trees and quickly disappeared from sight.

Gu Changsheng watched the direction in which she had left, his expression calm.

But he knew that today's move had already been made.

When they met again at the future Spirit Master Tournament, it might become crucial.

Yue Guan's voice suddenly sounded behind him.

"Changsheng, you seem to care quite a lot about that little girl?"

Gu Changsheng turned around, his expression natural.

"She was implicated by the Thousand-Faced Phantom Demon Spider. If she died because of us, it would inevitably create unnecessary complications."

Yue Guan smiled faintly.

"Is that all?"

Gu Changsheng nodded calmly.

"That is all."

Yue Guan looked at him for a moment before finally smiling softly.

"Let's go."

"His Holiness the Pope is still waiting for you to return."

Hu Liena walked over to Gu Changsheng's side and asked softly:

"Junior Brother, are you really all right? And don't tell me you took a fancy to that little girl!"

Gu Changsheng shook his head.

"I'm fine, and I gained a lot too. No, Senior Sister, how could I possibly like someone I've only met once? Besides, I'm only ten years old!"

Hu Liena looked at the Purple Spirit Ring beneath his feet, a smile appearing in her eyes.

"That's good, then."

Yan stretched lazily.

"Finally, we can go back. I don't want to stay in this damn place for another moment."

Xie Yue said flatly:

"Once we return, the training will only get harder."

Yan's expression stiffened.

"Can't you say something less depressing?"

Gu Changsheng smiled but said nothing.

He cast one last glance toward the depths of the Star Dou Great Forest.

Ancient trees towered there, and the mist had closed in again, as though nothing had happened.

But Gu Changsheng knew.

From this day onward, an invisible thread connected him and Xiao Wu.

And one day, that thread would cross again upon a far greater stage...