A Soul Bone Dropped

Soul Skill, nurtured by Soul Ring, are like pressing the attack button in a game. The process of activating power is simple and direct, and you can unleash terrifyingly high damage with just a wave of your hand. They are easy to learn and have stable bursts of power.

However, the advantage of Self-Created Soul Skill lies in their boundless potential and growth capacity, which far surpasses that of fixed Soul Skill. As Dugu Yan's cultivation and understanding of poison and whip techniques continue to deepen and improve, it is only a matter of time before her painstakingly practiced [White Python Whip Technique] surpasses [Iridescent Phosphorus Poison Hand].

At this moment, Dugu Yan was using the [White Python Whip Technique] to entangle with her opponent, intending to hone her skills through actual combat.

Lu Xuan could tell that she had already mastered the whip technique to a high degree, but when facing an enemy, she still lacked in the selection of moves and the choice between offense and defense.

He acknowledged Dugu Yan's diligence and hard work, but he also knew that she still lacked in quick thinking and adaptability.

However, this is not an insurmountable shortcoming.

One of Lu Xuan's purposes in taking the two girls out for training was to hone their battlefield insight and decisiveness in life-or-death battles.

In the midst of the fierce battle between Dugu Yan and Shi Nian, several of Shi Nian's subordinates, witnessing their Soul Sage leader's prolonged struggle, began to consider retreating and secretly plotted to escape.

"Lingling, these remaining people are yours." Lu Xuan turned to look at the girl beside him, his voice calm and utterly emotionless. "Leave no one alive."

"Good!"

Ye Lingling responded softly, without the slightest fear in her eyes. With a swift movement, she rushed straight towards Shi Nian's men.

She usually focuses entirely on cultivating her Soul Power, eager to add Soul Ring to her Second Martial Soul as soon as possible. She hasn't learned many offensive techniques, only one [Divine Finger Flick].

At that moment, she plunged into the crowd, her jade fingers flicking repeatedly. Streams of condensed and sharp Soul Power burst forth from her fingertips, like invisible jade needles, shooting one after another at the people opposite her.

When Ye Lingling, who possessed the cultivation level of Soul Ancestor, wielded this [Divine Finger Flick], its power was comparable to a powerful offensive Soul Skill derived from Soul Beast with a lifespan of five thousand years.

Strands of condensed Soul Power, as fine as needles, pierced through the air and struck the remaining few of Shi Nian's subordinates. Those Soul Master, still bearing the air of students, were no match for them and fell to the ground dead in an instant.

Among the crowd, only Ye Zhiqiu, the Soul King, remained. His Martial Soul was the Black Tortoise, and its thick tortoise shell Martial Soul spread out, forcefully withstanding all the Soul Power attacks.

Ye Lingling was slightly taken aback upon seeing this, feeling somewhat surprised, but not discouraged at all.

She lightly touched the ground with her toes, using her light footwork to constantly adjust the position of both of them. With her jade fingers flicking, one sharp Soul Power after another shot towards Ye Zhiqiu.

While the Black Tortoise Martial Soul's defense was indeed impenetrable, Ye Lingling was certain that as long as she continued to attack several times, there would eventually be a moment when she could break through this thick defense.

Lu Xuan quietly observed the two battlefields, gently stroking the soft head of the Clear-Verdant Spirit-Horned Deer, and chuckled softly, "Your master still lacks a lot of practical combat experience. However, as a support-type Soul Master, it's rare to find someone with such a strong offensive mindset."

"Yo yo~"

The Clear-Verdant Spirit-Horned Deer gently shook its antlers, letting out a clear cry. Its thoughts were directly transmitted to Lu Xuan's ears, carrying a hint of pride. "Of course! No one knows better than me how hard Lingling cultivates!"

It paused, then continued telepathically, "She may not be as good as you for now, but in terms of perseverance and potential, she is by no means inferior to Yanyan."

"Is that so?" Lu Xuan said upon hearing this, "That is indeed the case at present, but it is still hard to say how far it will go in the future."

This Clear-Verdant Spirit-Horned Deer is now a derivative form of Ye Lingling's External Soul Bone, but its complete soul has been preserved.

That is why Lu Xuan could converse with it without any hindrance.

Lu Xuan himself could understand Beast Language, so communication between the man and the deer was simple and smooth, without the need for complicated mental transmission, and they could express their feelings directly.

Lu Xuan was chatting with Clear-Verdant Spirit-Horned Deer when the outcome of the battle was already decided.

Ye Lingling was the first to end the entanglement. The continuous barrage of Soul Power bombarded the thick armor of the Black Tortoise Martial Soul, Ye Zhiqiu could only defend desperately, his Soul Power being rapidly consumed in the endless defense. When the Soul Power in his body was almost exhausted, the protective shield of the Black Tortoise Martial Soul also dimmed and thinned.

Seizing this fleeting opening, Ye Lingling flicked her jade finger, unleashing a [Divine Finger Flick] with all her remaining strength. It pierced through the gap in the defense, striking directly at the vital point. Ye Zhiqiu let out a muffled groan and collapsed heavily to the ground, lifeless.

The battle on the other side has also come to an end.

Dugu Yan fought with Shi Nian for a long time, calmly searching for her opponent's weakness. Finally, she seized the moment Shi Nian's old injury aggravated his movements and he became sluggish. With a flick of her wrist, the White Python Whip shot out like a nimble snake and tightly wrapped around Shi Nian's neck.

She suddenly exerted force with her arm and pulled backward with all her might!

A flash of cold light accompanied by a colorful poisonous mist, and Shi Nian's head flew straight down from the air, his body crashing to the ground, his gushing blood splattering onto the forest floor.

"You played quite well!"

Lu Xuan's gaze swept over the two battlefields, and only after the dust had settled slightly did he begin to offer his comments.

He first recounted the highlights of their battle. "Lingling was able to remain calm and continuously wear down her opponent, knowing how to seize the opening when their Soul Power was depleted to strike decisively; Dugu Yan constantly sought opportunities during the entanglement, without resorting to brute force, and ultimately delivered a fatal blow with a throat lock—this patience is rare. However~"

After praising them, Lu Xuan changed the subject and calmly pointed out their shortcomings. "Yanyan's transitions between some of her moves were a bit stiff, and she wasted too much energy in the early stages. Lingling's offensive methods are limited, and once she encounters an opponent who can sustain her attacks, she can easily be dragged into a corner once they understand her techniques."

The two women were already used to Lu Xuan's way of praising first and then criticizing, so they were not displeased at all. They just listened attentively, nodded slightly, humbly agreed, and promised to do their best to correct these problems in the next battle.

"Yanyan, you're lucky."

Before he could finish speaking, Lu Xuan raised his hand and gestured in the air, and an invisible suction force suddenly burst forth, pulling Shi Nian's head away from a distance.

"Bang!"

Lu Xuan exerted a slight force, and the outer layer of flesh on the skull instantly shattered and flew everywhere, with scarlet fragments of flesh scattering and rolling off, revealing a complete Head Soul Bone.

"It's roughly 20,000 to 30,000 years old. We wouldn't consider it anything special, but in the outside world, it would be quite valuable."

Lu Xuan waved away the remaining bloodstains on the Soul Bone, handed it to Dugu Yan, and slowly said, "Judging from the attributes of this Soul Bone, it is more suitable for Soul Master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect or the Star Crown Sect. If an opportunity arises in the future, you can sell it for resources."

"Keep it." Dugu Yan's expression remained calm upon seeing the Soul Bone, showing no sign of interest.

Soul Bone of this caliber were no longer of any interest to her. She shook her head slightly, "Soul Bone of this grade are not even on my shortlist."

"Tsk~ tsk."

Lu Xuan wasn't surprised by Dugu Yan's answer. He chuckled and casually put the Soul Bone into his personal storage space.

He paid no attention to the corpses scattered on the ground.

This Soul Beast Forest is a place where the strong prey on the weak. Before long, the carnivorous Soul Beast roaming the forest will follow the scent of blood and clean up the battlefield without them having to lift a finger.

With everything settled, the three of them once again mounted the broad back of the Clear-Verdant Spirit-Horned Deer.

With a soft cry, the deer took off, its four hooves treading on fallen leaves, carrying the group deeper into the forest.