Three Spirit Bones, Separate Paths

The quiet rooms behind the Papal Hall had been sealed for a full day.

The Shrek group waited outside. Every so often, Flender looked up at the doors; he had paced over the same flagstone until it shone. Ma Hongjun was absorbing the Flame Right Arm Bone in the room on the far left, and heat seeped through its stone door. Zhu Zhuqing's room was much quieter, with only a faint whisper of wind slipping through the gap.

In Tang San's room, two skull bones lay side by side before him.

On the left was the Illusion Wisdom Skull Shi Nian had left behind. On the right was the Spirit-Concentrating Wisdom Skull awarded at the tournament. He could absorb only one Head Spirit Bone, and once he chose, there would be no turning back. Tang San closed his eyes and sensed them for a long while before placing his hand on the one to the right.

The prize bone's aura was purer and better suited to the Purple Demon Eyes. Shi Nian's bone was adept at creating illusions, but its lingering spiritual fluctuations were chaotic. Tang San's current strength might let him absorb it without trouble, though he would have to spend considerable time cleansing it afterward.

Blue light kindled inside the bone and slowly climbed from his palm.

A fierce, swelling pain burst between Tang San's brows. He swayed, then quickly steadied himself. The Mysterious Heaven Skill circulated through his meridians, sorting the Spiritual Power flooding into his mind. Fine channels of Soul Power he had never been able to make out grew clear, and he could sense every breath taken outside the room.

Two hours later, the blue light withdrew into his forehead.

Tang San opened his eyes. Purple flashed in their depths, and he could see every