Unlocking a New Soul Skill-The Three Beauties of Shrek, Here I Come!

"A Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring isn't easy to get. It took me ages to catch this stinking butterfly."

But he had no time to sigh with emotion. If he didn't absorb it while he had the chance, Ultraman Saga's power would disappear.

"System, if I absorb it now, what's the success rate?"

"System Notification"

While Ultraman Saga's energy remains, the absorption success rate has risen to 91%. However, the residual energy is expected to dissipate in seven or eight minutes. The host is advised to act immediately.

"Seven or eight minutes? That's enough."

Xiao Ran sat down cross-legged and drew the Soul Ring toward him. The instant it entered his body, a violent force flooded into his meridians like a raging torrent.

Even with Ultraman Saga's protection, the overbearing power of a Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring still made Xiao Ran suck in a sharp breath.

Unexpectedly, though, the absorption went extremely smoothly. In less than two minutes, the Soul Ring had been fully absorbed.

"Holy crap, that was fast. Is it because of this power?"

"Ding! The system has detected that the host's Dark Silver Spark power perfectly matches the Yin-Yang attributes of this Soul Ring. The fusion rate has reached 99.9%."

"99.9%! Now that's what I call a good deal. Could it be that the Yin-Yang attributes just happen to match my light and dark Martial Souls?"

"Hahaha, sometimes luck is also part of strength."

Xiao Ran burst into unrestrained laughter.

Suddenly, Xiao Ran's smile froze, and his expression turned ugly.

"Ah! It hurts! It hurts so much!"

A tearing pain erupted from Xiao Ran's back, as if something were drilling out from deep within his bones.

The next second, with a sharp whoosh, a pair of enormous, translucent butterfly wings unfolded from his back.

The left wing was pure white as snow, radiating a gentle glow. The right wing was black as ink, exuding profound darkness.

Xiao Ran knelt on the ground, gasping heavily as sweat trickled down his forehead. He turned his head toward the butterfly wings spread behind him, his eyes filled with disbelief.

"An External Soul Bone...?"

He had seen records of them in the sect's ancient texts. An External Soul Bone was a treasure every Soul Master dreamed of possessing, even rarer than a Soul Ring. Across the entire Douluo Continent, only a handful of people possessed one.

"System Notification"

Congratulations, host. You have successfully absorbed a Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring. Current Soul Power Level: 32.

Obtained Galaxy Form's third Soul Skill: Galaxy Solace

Obtained Dark Lugiel Form's third Soul Skill: Dark Spark Wave

Obtained rare External Soul Bone—Yin-Yang Butterfly Wings. Flight time and altitude will increase with Soul Power.

Obtained External Soul Bone skill: Butterfly Wing Storm

Obtained Spark Doll—Yin-Yang Illusion Butterfly

Obtained one Ultraman random draw. Successfully drew Ultraman Gaia's beam technique—Photon Stream

Xiao Ran raised his head toward the night sky and drew in a deep breath.

"This trip to the Star Dou Great Forest was truly worth it. One day, I'll definitely take down the Titan Giant Ape and the Sky Azure Bull Python."

The moment he finished speaking, another roar came from the distance.

"No way. Again?"

Without hesitation, Xiao Ran spread his butterfly wings to their fullest. Black-and-white light shot into the sky as he fled rapidly toward the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest.

After flying to a small town, Xiao Ran found an inn, rented a room, took a bath, and went to sleep.

"Ah, I feel like something's missing, but I can't quite put my finger on what."

The first thing Xiao Ran did after waking up the next day was take stock of what he had gained this time.

"System, open the panel."

Host: Xiao Ran

Martial Souls: Ultraman Ginga/Dark Lugiel (Twin Souls in One)

Soul Power Level: 32

Soul Ring Configuration: Purple, Purple, Black

Galaxy Form Soul Skills: First Soul Skill—Galaxy Flash Slash, Second Soul Skill—Galaxy Fireball, Third Soul Skill—Galaxy Solace

Dark Lugiel Form Soul Skills: First Soul Skill—Falling-Light Rending Blade, Second Soul Skill—Dark Star Barrage, Third Soul Skill—Dark Spark Wave

External Soul Bone: Yin-Yang Butterfly Wings (Additional Skill: Butterfly Wing Storm)

Special Ability: Saga Plasma (Dispersed; residual insights may still be comprehended)

"Level 32, two purple rings and one black ring, plus an External Soul Bone. My setup is even better than Tang San's now, right? The Eight Spider Lances are miles behind my Yin-Yang Butterfly Wings."

"Galaxy Solace?" He stroked his chin. "That sounds like a healer's skill. What does it do?"

"Galaxy Solace: Can repair injuries, calm a target's berserk state, purify dark control, restore a Spark Doll to a corporeal living being, and fill a living being with love."

"What about the new skill's effect?"

"Dark Spark Wave: Releases a dark wave that freezes the flow of time around the target and seals its life force into a Spark Doll. It can also be used directly as a destructive beam and can fill a living being with hatred."

Xiao Ran froze for three seconds, seemingly thinking of something extraordinary.

"Oh, love? Then wouldn't that mean... Does it work on people too?"

"System Notification: Effective against all living beings whose soul strength is lower than the host's. The weaker the target's soul, the more stable the contract."

Xiao Ran took a deep breath and slowly leaned against the headboard.

"Holy crap! Fuck!"

Countless images flashed through his mind.

Ning Rongrong of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Qian Renxue and Hu Liena of Spirit Hall, Xiao Wu of the Star Dou Great Forest, and Bibi Dong, known as the greatest beauty on the continent...

"Hehehe... Hehehehe..."

He grinned so widely that he was practically drooling.

"System Notification"

The host has been detected harboring improper thoughts. Friendly reminder: The master-servant contract of the Dark Silver Spark must not be abused, or it may trigger unpredictable consequences.

"What kind of consequences?"

"For example, being hunted by Spirit Hall. For example, soul backlash. Or, for example, being slapped into a meat pie by a certain overprotective Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast."

Xiao Ran's smile stiffened for a moment, but soon returned.

"What's there to fear? I'm Xiao Ran, the man destined to become the most badass man on the continent. If one comes after me, I'll kill one. If two come, I'll take them both."

"But for now, I should find somewhere to improve my strength."

"Where should I go?" Xiao Ran pondered for a while before deciding to head to Shrek.

"As long as I go to Shrek, Xiao Wu, Ning Rongrong, Zhu Zhuqing, and Liu Erlong will all be mine." Xiao Ran rubbed his hands together.

One day later,

Suotuo City.

"Beauties of Shrek Academy, your big brother is here!"

After walking for less than half an hour, a dilapidated village appeared before him. The crooked wooden sign at the village entrance read, "Shrek Academy."

"Good grief. This sign really is worn-out—looks like a dog chewed it."

A table had been set up at the village entrance. An old man dozed behind it, while a sparse line of applicants waited behind him.

"Oh, this must be Li Yusong."

Xiao Ran walked over and knocked on the tabletop.

Li Yusong slowly opened his eyes. "The registration fee is ten Gold Soul Coins."

Xiao Ran readily pulled out the money.

After accepting it, Li Yusong looked him up and down and asked, "How old are you?"

"Twelve."

Li Yusong grunted and pointed at the Soul Measurement Stone on the table. "Test yourself."

Xiao Ran placed his hand on it.

"Level thirty-one." Li Yusong's hand paused.

"What's your name?"

"Xiao Ran of the Xiao Clan!"

"Show me your Martial Soul."

Xiao Ran spread open his right hand and released the Dark Silver Spark.

"A short stick... It'll do, I suppose. My stick is much longer than yours, though."

"Then go inside." After writing down his name, Li Yusong said, "Find Teacher Zhao on the training ground and take the next test."

Four people stood on the training ground.

Xiao Wu spotted him first, her eyes widening sharply. "Xiao Ran?!"

"Well, well. It's been years, and you still recognize your lordship." Xiao Ran folded his arms and teased her.

Xiao Wu grabbed Tang San's arm, her face full of wariness. "Why are you here?"

"To attend school. What else?" Xiao Ran shrugged.

Tang San held Xiao Wu back and said in a low voice, "You still haven't explained what happened at Nuoding Academy."

"An explanation?" Xiao Ran laughed. "When I'm in a good mood, I'll argue it out with you properly."

Xiao Wu's shout also drew Ning Rongrong over from the side.

Ning Rongrong looked pleasantly surprised. "Xiao Ran? What brought you here?"

"I was bored staying in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, so I came out to gain some experience. What about you, Miss Ning? Why are you at Shrek?"

Ning Rongrong smiled. "I left the sect before you and came to Shrek as a student."

"What a coincidence." Xiao Ran grinned. "Looks like we've run into each other."

Xiao Wu stared at them, dumbfounded, and tugged on Tang San's sleeve. Tang San said nothing, merely fixing Xiao Ran with a heavy gaze.

Zhu Zhuqing stood to the side and remained silent from beginning to end.

Before long, Zhao Wuji arrived.