Jiang Lin's Strength

Would Tian Yan really come back?

Jiang Lin felt that once she had exhausted every possible method and still failed to break the seal, she would definitely return. Only the timing was uncertain.

Although Xiao Wu's arrival made the atmosphere in the wooden cabin livelier, Jiang Lin's routine remained unchanged. He still spent most of every day cultivating and improving his strength.

Finally, a month and a half later, the Northern Dark Spiritual Meridian drew in vast amounts of heaven-and-earth energy. Jiang Lin's aura steadily rose until it reached its peak, followed by a faint cracking sound.

Then, a terrifying aura surged out in an instant, and Jiang Lin's eyes snapped open.

"My Soul Power has finally broken through to Level 50. Once I consolidate it and obtain another Soul Ring, I'll become a Soul King!"

"Ah, Jiang Lin, y-you've already reached Level 50 Soul Power? How are you and Sister Long cultivating so quickly?"

As she pushed open the door and sensed the immense aura radiating from Jiang Lin, Xiao Wu's eyes filled with shock and dejection.

During those five years deep within the Star Dou Forest, she had not wasted a single day. She had devoted all her time to improving her cultivation, all so she could catch up with Jiang Lin.

She had thought that, with the foundation of a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast, reaching Level 41 Soul Ancestor at the age of eleven already made her a genius. Yet Jiang Lin had reached a cultivation level nearly an entire major realm above hers in the same amount of time. It was far beyond anything she had imagined.

"Xiao Wu, you're already incredible. Sister Long and I cultivate so quickly because our constitutions are special. As for you, even in the outside world, this cultivation speed would place you among the most extraordinary geniuses."

Jiang Lin was actually somewhat surprised by Xiao Wu's increase in cultivation. After all, in the anime, even when she joined Shrek Academy at the age of twelve, she had only been a Level-29 Great Soul Master. She would not break through to Soul Ancestor until two years later, during the Advanced Soul Master Tournament.

Yet now, Xiao Wu had reached that level a full three years early. That alone showed just how hard she had cultivated over those five years.

"Sigh, even so, I'm still not as good as you two."

Some of Xiao Wu's dejection faded, but her mood remained low. Jiang Lin had clearly dealt her a tremendous blow.

"Xiao Wu, there's nothing bad about having lower cultivation. Look, whenever we encountered danger before, Sister Long and Sister Tian Yan were the ones protecting me. Now that I'm strong enough, it'll be my turn to protect you."

"If possible, I even want to be stronger than all of you forever. That way, I can protect you forever."

"Forever?"

Looking at Jiang Lin's utterly serious face, Xiao Wu was briefly dazed. She thought of her identity and of the countless Soul Masters who would come to hunt her in the future for Soul Rings...

After a long silence, Xiao Wu slowly nodded.

"Jiang Lin, thank you. But I won't fall too far behind you!"

With that, Xiao Wu walked out the door, clearly intending to continue cultivating.

Not long after she left, Little Dragon Girl also came over.

"Jiang Lin, you've reached Level 50. When do you plan to obtain your fifth Soul Ring?"

"Sister Long, let's wait a little longer. We'll go tomorrow or the day after. I want to consolidate my cultivation a bit more."

"Mm, all right. When you're going, remember to tell me in advance."

--

On the morning of the third day, after breakfast, Jiang Lin and the others left the wooden cabin.

Little Dragon Girl asked, "Jiang Lin, have you decided on a target for your fifth Soul Ring?"

"Mm, Sister Long, didn't we encounter a 27,000-year Cold Crystal Python when we were hunting my fourth Soul Ring?"

"Its abilities would happen to give my King's Power Sword a new means of attack, and its age is suitable as well. Let's choose it."

"But I'll still need your help this time, Sister Long. The great lake where it lives is simply too deep. I'll need you to seriously injure it and force it out."

Although Jiang Lin's actual combat strength had already reached that of a Level-61 Soul Emperor, he was indeed still somewhat outmatched against a Soul Beast close to thirty thousand years old.

If not for the exceptionally high grade of Jiang Lin's King's Power Sword, which allowed it to bear Soul Rings far beyond the limit of other Soul Masters, he would not have set his sights on it.

As for the 25,000-year Soul Ring Tang San obtained as a Soul King in the anime, that situation was completely different from Jiang Lin's. Tang San's Soul Ring had been condensed purely through the awakening of the Blue Silver Emperor bloodline, using the origins of countless Blue Silver Grass.

Several days later, Jiang Lin and the others finally made their way from the outer region of the Star Dou Forest into its inner region.

Compared to the anime, whether in the outer region, inner region, or absolute core of the Star Dou Forest, aside from the Soul Beasts that had appeared on screen, there were also countless Soul Beasts hidden in the shadows.

Whether they were thousand-year or ten-thousand-year Soul Beasts, their numbers were more than ten times greater than in the anime. After all, this world was now a real one, and everything followed a rigorous logic.

As the largest Soul Beast habitat on the entire landmass of Douluo Continent, the Star Dou Forest naturally could not contain only the Soul Beasts described in the original work.

Not long after they ventured into the inner region, an earthshaking roar rang out from the distance.

Soon afterward, a giant black-furred bear over ten zhang tall appeared before Jiang Lin and the others. Its body was covered in yellow stone armor, and it radiated a fearsome aura.

"A 12,000-year Earth Giant Bear?"

A flicker of fighting spirit rose in Jiang Lin's eyes.

"Jiang Lin, do you need me to act?"

"Sister Long, there's no need. It's only a 12,000-year Soul Beast. With my current strength, I can handle it. Besides, I want to test my fourth Soul Skill."

"Jiang Lin, are you sure you're not joking? That's a 12,000-year Soul Beast! Only Soul Emperors can handle one, and you haven't even become a Soul King yet!"

Having not seen Jiang Lin fight in a long time, Xiao Wu clearly did not believe he possessed such strength.

Putting herself in his place, even if Xiao Wu reached Level 50 Soul Power, she could at most deal with a Soul Beast around seven thousand years old. If she encountered a Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beast like this, her only option would be to flee.

"Don't worry, Xiao Wu. My strength is far beyond what you can imagine. Besides, isn't Sister Long watching from the side? If anything happens to me, she'll definitely step in."

"Xiao Wu, Jiang Lin is right. His strength is indeed already very formidable. This 12,000-year Soul Beast poses no threat to him."

"Sister Long, you—"

Seeing Little Dragon Girl say the same thing, Xiao Wu could not help but reveal a look of astonishment. She clearly could not imagine why their strength had changed so drastically after only five years apart.

"Roar!"

Seeing Jiang Lin and the others dare to ignore it, the Earth Giant Bear immediately flew into a rage and swung its enormous claw at them.

Jiang Lin, however, showed no fear at all. The King's Power Sword instantly appeared in his palm.

The next moment, three purple and one black Soul Rings spread out from the King's Power Sword. Even from afar, Xiao Wu could sense an extremely terrifying aura of Soul Power.

"T-that is a Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring?"

"Jiang Lin's fourth Soul Ring is already at the ten-thousand-year level?!"

Looking at Jiang Lin's luxurious Soul Ring configuration, Xiao Wu's eyes were filled with shock.

Only then did she barely begin to believe that Jiang Lin had the strength to defeat this Earth Giant Bear.