Ning Rongrong Grows Apart from Shrek; an Eighty-Five-Thousand-Year Soul Ring and an External Soul Bone

"We have to avenge Ma Hongjun and Boss Dai!" Oscar looked at his severed finger, his anger still burning.

"You're coming with me to Suotuo City. We'll find that kid and knock him down a peg! He dared hurt my students? Back in the day, I even killed a deacon of Spirit Hall!" Zhao Wuji folded his arms across his chest, fuming.

"I'm going too." Tang San wanted to see the young man's strength for himself.

"Ma Hongjun brought it on himself! He harassed another man's wife and even tried to drag her away. He got what he deserved, so what are you angry about?" Ning Rongrong could not agree with Tang San, Oscar, or Zhao Wuji. She rejected their claim that "a soul master who doesn't cause trouble isn't a good soul master" on the spot. This setback was good for them, she said, and they should stop provoking people.

Dai Mubai glared at Ning Rongrong, the anger still blazing in his eyes. Xiao Wu spoke up for Ning Rongrong too, only for Dai Mubai to cut her off with a roar. Tang San immediately stepped in front of Xiao Wu and stared coldly at Dai Mubai. "What, do you want a fight?"

The tension threatened to erupt, but in the end, Zhao Wuji, Dai Mubai, Oscar, and Tang San left the academy for Suotuo City.

They searched all over Suotuo City but found no trace of Fang Fan or Zhu Zhuqing. Zhao Wuji's face darkened. Oscar had nowhere to vent his rage, while Tang San remained silent, lost in thought. In the end, they could only return empty-handed. The rift between Ning Rongrong and the others had taken root.

Elsewhere, Fang Fan and Zhu Zhuqing returned to the hotel.

Bibi Dong came out of her room, unable to hide her excitement.

"My disciples, I've become a Limit Douluo!" Bibi Dong's voice trembled slightly. Years of hidden injuries had healed at last, and her strength had returned to its peak. For once, her joy made her set aside the dignity of the Pope.

"Congratulations, Master!" Fang Fan and Zhu Zhuqing said together.

Overcome with excitement, Bibi Dong took the initiative and hugged Fang Fan. Warm softness pressed against him, carrying a lovely fragrance. Fang Fan froze for a moment. Master really has an incredible figure. And her chest is... Being hugged like this feels pretty amazing.

Bibi Dong soon let go and hugged Zhu Zhuqing as well—one hug each, perfectly fair. Fang Fan was quietly surprised. Given his master's temperament, she rarely hugged anyone of her own accord.

The next day.

Ancient trees towered over the Star Dou Great Forest, and the air was thick with Soul Power.

Bibi Dong walked beside Fang Fan, with Zhu Zhuqing close behind. They had a clear purpose: to hunt Soul Rings for Fang Fan and Zhu Zhuqing.

"Fan'er, I suggest a Soul Ring of around sixty thousand years for your sixth. Given your physique and cultivation, that's the safest upper limit," Bibi Dong said seriously.

Fang Fan shook his head. "Master, my fifth Soul Ring was already fifty thousand years old. Going up to only sixty thousand for my sixth would be too small a step. I want an eighty-five-thousand-year ring."

"Eighty-five thousand years?"

Bibi Dong frowned, her tone turning stern.

"Fan'er, don't overreach. Even some Soul Douluo would think twice before absorbing a Soul Ring over eighty thousand years old as their sixth. Attempting it as a Quasi-Soul Emperor carries an enormous risk of your Soul Power running wild. One mistake, and your body could burst apart."

"Don't worry, Master."

Fang Fan smiled confidently.

"I've eaten Whale Rubber for years and tempered my body in the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. My physique has long since surpassed other soul masters at my level. I can withstand eighty-five thousand years."

Bibi Dong studied him for a moment. She saw firm confidence in his eyes, not blind arrogance. At last, she gave a slight nod. "All right. I trust you. But if anything feels wrong, you must stop at once."

Fang Fan nodded in agreement.

"Next is Zhuqing." Bibi Dong turned to Zhu Zhuqing. "What sort of Soul Ring do you want?"

Zhu Zhuqing thought for a moment. "One around a thousand years old. That should be safe enough."

"No," Fang Fan cut in. "Zhuqing, you should take a two-thousand-year Man Faced Demon Spider."

"Two thousand years? A Man Faced Demon Spider?" Zhu Zhuqing blinked.

"Yes. The Man Faced Demon Spider has both agility and Extreme Poison attributes, making it an excellent match for your Nether Civet Martial Soul." A glint flashed in Fang Fan's eyes. More importantly, a Man Faced Demon Spider has a chance of yielding an External Soul Bone—the Eight Spider Lances. In my experience, the odds aren't low for one at two thousand years.

Zhu Zhuqing looked at Fang Fan and nodded without hesitation. "All right. I'll listen to you, husband."

Watching from the side, Bibi Dong thought that Zhu Zhuqing had tempered her body in the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well and eaten an Immortal Herb. She should be able to absorb a two-thousand-year Soul Ring.

Deep in the Star Dou Great Forest, ancient trees blotted out the sky, leaving the light dim.

A low growl came from ahead, accompanied by a powerful aura of lightning.

Bibi Dong's eyes sharpened. "There it is—the Dark Thunder Winged Flood Dragon. Eighty-five thousand years old."

A pitch-black flood dragon coiled among the ancient trees. Its outstretched wings spanned ten zhang, and dark violet lightning flickered across its body. With every breath, arcs of electricity leaped between its scales, scorching the surrounding air and filling it with the smell of burning.

"Fan'er, I'll subdue it. You absorb its Soul Ring." As Bibi Dong spoke, a terrifying aura erupted from her.

The pressure of a Limit Douluo surged out like a tide. The Dark Thunder Winged Flood Dragon shuddered and let out a fearful cry.

The battle ended in a matter of breaths.

Before a Limit Douluo, even an eighty-five-thousand-year Soul Beast was little more than prey awaiting slaughter.

Fang Fan went over and killed the Dark Thunder Winged Flood Dragon. Then he sat cross-legged, took a deep breath, and drew its eighty-five-thousand-year Soul Ring into his body.

Violent Soul Power flooded his meridians, and a tearing pain shot through his entire body.

Dark Thunder patterns appeared across his skin. Electric arcs leaped and burst over him until he seemed wrapped in lightning.

"Fan'er!" Bibi Dong tensed, ready to intervene at any moment.

But Fang Fan gritted his teeth and drove his Soul Power through his body. Drawing on the foundation built by years of body tempering, he forced the rampaging Soul Power into his Dantian.

The light of the Soul Ring pulsed around him. Its initial violence gradually subsided, until it finally sank fully into his body.

"Done." Fang Fan opened his eyes and let out a long breath. A faint flash of lightning crossed his gaze.

Bibi Dong relaxed a little, satisfaction flickering in her eyes.

This boy really hasn't disappointed me.

Just then, a dazzling burst of dark violet light erupted from the Dark Thunder Winged Flood Dragon's corpse.

A translucent bone slowly rose into the air.

It was a complete pair of dark violet wing bones. Their edges gleamed coldly, and Dark Thunder power flowed through them. Each pulse of light sent electric arcs dancing across the bones, which radiated an overwhelming aura.

"An External Soul Bone—Dark Thunder Wings!"

Bibi Dong's voice rose slightly.

"An eighty-thousand-year External Soul Bone. Fan'er, your luck is extraordinary."

Delight flashed in Fang Fan's eyes, and he immediately absorbed the Dark Thunder Wings.

The instant the Spirit Bone entered his body, a pair of dark violet lightning wings spread from his back. They spanned nearly four meters, with lightning coursing through them and electric arcs leaping across their surface. He looked like a thunder god from an ancient age.

With a light beat of his wings, he rose from the ground and hovered in midair, Dark Thunder power surging around him.

"Awesome!" Even Fang Fan could not help saying it.

Zhu Zhuqing looked up at Fang Fan hovering above her with his Dark Thunder Wings spread wide. A tender smile softened her cool features, and pride filled her eyes.

"Husband, you look incredible."