Three Years Later, Lin Hao Told Xiao Wu the Truth

After laughing for a while, Ma Hongjun volunteered to explain what his second Soul Ring's skill did.

"My second Soul Skill is called Phoenix Bathing in Fire."

"When I use it, my fire attribute increases by two hundred percent, while my attack, defense, and strength each increase by one hundred percent."

"Brother Hao, thank you so much."

As he spoke, Ma Hongjun grew just as excited as Oscar and threw himself at Lin Hao.

Dai Mubai was stunned. His family's inherited third Soul Skill, White Tiger Vajra Transformation, had the same effect as Ma Hongjun's second Soul Skill.

But Dai Mubai's third Soul Ring had come from a thousand-year Soul Beast, while Ma Hongjun's was only a hundred-year Soul Ring.

After Ma Hongjun gave Flender a quick demonstration of his second Soul Skill, everyone from Shrek hurried out of the Star Dou Great Forest.

Once they were out, it felt as though Teacher Zhao's Gravity Crush had finally lifted from their shoulders. Everyone felt much lighter.

"We're finally out!"

"Let's keep going a little longer. We can rest when we reach the town."

After two days of rest in Spirit Hunting Town, the Shrek group set off again. They traveled for a day and made it back to Shrek Academy outside Suotuo City.

"We're finally back. It feels wonderful to be home!" Oscar cried, rather dramatically.

"Yeah, we're finally back." Ma Hongjun ran up to the gate of Shrek Academy and gave its frame an exaggerated kiss.

They were all tired after a day on the road, so they headed to their dormitories.

Two years later.

After two years of hard cultivation, Lin Hao, with his many traits, was the first to raise his Soul Power to level thirty. Even Xiao Wu, who was cultivating anew, had not been as fast.

[Lin Hao]

[Soul Power: Level 32 Soul Elder]

[Martial Souls: Heavenly Blade, Life Evergreen Vine]

[Soul Bones: None]

[Domain: Evergreen Life Domain]

[Talent Traits: Status Panel Trait, Unobstructed Meridians, Natural Fragrance, Bottomless Stomach, Two Lives, Wild Imagination, I Reckon, Exceptional Comprehension, Heaven-Defying Luck.]

Lin Hao looked at Exceptional Comprehension and Heaven-Defying Luck on the panel. He had drawn both traits over the past two years.

With Exceptional Comprehension, Lin Hao's understanding had grown tremendously. As his grasp of the spatial attribute of his Heavenly Blade martial soul deepened, his First Soul Skill had changed too.

Its armor-piercing effect had risen to fifty percent. Its other boosts remained unchanged.

Heaven-Defying Luck was a one-use trait. According to its description, once used, everything he set out to do next would fall into place, including obtaining an External Soul Bone.

Lin Hao had yet to decide how to use Heaven-Defying Luck. More precisely, he had not decided what kind of External Soul Bone he wanted.

The next morning.

As seven o'clock approached, Lin Hao and Xiao Wu opened their eyes at the same time, lying side by side.

They dressed, went up to the roof, and sat cross-legged. Facing the sun, they began absorbing Purple Qi to cultivate their Purple Demon Eyes.

After cultivating, they ate breakfast.

Now that Lin Hao had three Soul Rings, it was time to set his sights on the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.

But Xiao Wu was at level twenty-nine and Tang San at level twenty-eight. He would have to wait another two months.

That gave him time to tell Xiao Wu that he knew she was a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast in human form.

A month later, Xiao Wu reached level thirty.

Before Xiao Wu could find a chance to slip away from Shrek Academy and gather her third Soul Ring somewhere else, Lin Hao took her straight to Headmaster Flender's office to ask for leave.

"Headmaster, Xiao Wu has reached level thirty. I'd like to take her to obtain her third Soul Ring, just the two of us."

"I've already picked out the Soul Beast for her third ring: a thousand-year Lightning Rabbit. Some medium-sized Soul Hunting Forests have them, and I'm confident we can manage it."

Seated in his chair, Flender saw them holding hands and heard that Lin Hao wanted to take Xiao Wu to obtain her third Soul Ring alone.

Flender had been around Douluo Continent long enough to understand at once what the boy was after.

With Lin Hao's second Soul Skill, Shadow Clone, he could wear down a Lightning Rabbit Soul Beast with just over a thousand years of cultivation if nothing else.

Once Xiao Wu absorbed her third Soul Ring, the experience of hunting together would bring them closer. Their bodies had already matured, so everything else would follow naturally.

At the thought, Flender smiled and nodded.

"All right. No problem."

"Old Zhao and I took you on a Soul Beast hunt in the Star Dou Great Forest before. This time, be careful, then be careful again. Don't let your guard down."

"All right, off you go."

After leaving Headmaster Flender's office, Lin Hao and Xiao Wu went to Central Square to say goodbye to Tang San, Dai Mubai, Oscar, and Ma Hongjun, who were training there.

They left Shrek Academy, and Lin Hao took Xiao Wu toward the nearest Medium Soul Hunting Forest to Suotuo City.

Several times along the way, Xiao Wu seemed about to speak, but held back.

When they reached the Spirit Hunting Town beside the Medium Soul Hunting Forest, Lin Hao did not rush her inside. Instead, he rented a room at an inn.

Once inside, he shut the door and windows, sat down on the sofa, and told Xiao Wu the truth.

"Xiao Wu, I know you're a Soul Beast!"

At the realization that her identity as a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast in human form had been exposed, Xiao Wu instinctively backed away.

But Lin Hao pulled her into his arms.

Xiao Wu screamed inwardly, and the two rabbit ears atop her head drooped.

"I..."

"Don't worry. After five years together, don't you know how I feel about you?"

"You don't have to worry that I'm after your Soul Ring or Soul Bone."

"I brought you out here alone to tell you I know, so you won't have to be afraid whenever you need to gather a Soul Ring."

Xiao Wu looked up at Lin Hao's handsome face, unsure what to say.

Lin Hao leaned down and kissed her forehead.

"All right, no need to thank me. We've been walking all morning. Let's rest for two hours, then I'll take you into the Soul Hunting Forest to gather your third Soul Ring."

They had sweated plenty after a day on the road and needed a bath. After they had both washed, Lin Hao held the sweet-smelling, soft, rosy-cheeked Xiao Wu and fell asleep.

They had meant to rest for only two hours.

But when Lin Hao woke, Xiao Wu was still asleep in his arms, with no sign of stirring.

He figured the emotional upheaval had worn her out. He did not wake her and soon fell asleep again.

They slept straight through to evening.

When they woke, Xiao Wu sat up in bed and looked at Lin Hao with her big, lovely eyes.

"Lin Hao, thank you!"

Lin Hao sat up too and rubbed her head.

"You don't need to thank me. Come on, let's get something to eat. Then we'll head straight into the Soul Hunting Forest."

Xiao Wu nodded firmly.

"Okay!"