Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast Meat

Under the pitch-black night sky, a blood-red Soul Ring slowly revolved around Zhang Lexuan.

A Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring held an immense amount of energy, and the Soul Beast's lingering resentment within it was fiercely strong. Absorbing it meant struggling against that resentment, a process that could not be finished quickly.

The others cleared a patch of level ground nearby and set up camp. Exhausted students gathered around the campfire.

Those still able to move sat cross-legged, recovering their strength.

Though most of the students had rekindled their fighting spirit, they had to regain their strength before they could continue Soul Hunting. Otherwise, they might have no choice but to turn back.

After his impassioned speech the day before, Xuan Zi had vanished again.

Perhaps he felt too guilty to face the students he had failed, or perhaps he had another reason.

But everyone knew he had not gone far this time.

A makeshift grill stood over the fire. Huo Yuhao carefully turned several cuts of meat, sweating profusely from the heat.

Beside him, Tang Ya thoughtfully fanned him, sending a little cool air his way.

Just as Huo Yuhao sprinkled salt evenly over the meat for the final seasoning, Bei Bei and Lu Yi finished pitching the tents.

"Senior Bei, Brother Lu, the meat's ready!" Huo Yuhao wiped the sweat from his face with his shoulder and handed them the cuts of meat skewered on wooden sticks.

Lu Yi took one, thanked him, and examined it closely.

He had heard that the premium counter at Shrek Academy's cafeteria served Hundred-Year Soul Beast meat year-round. A meal could cost nearly a hundred Gold Soul Coins, and supposedly tasted far better than any ordinary livestock meat.

If Hundred-Year Soul Beast meat was that good, wouldn't meat from a hundred-thousand-year beast be out of this world?

Lu Yi took a bite, brimming with curiosity.

Perhaps because the Shadow Leopard had been all sinew, the roasted meat was somewhat dry and tough. Smoke and salt touched his tongue.

But when he chewed harder, a powerful sourness followed, mixed with a gamey stench that elbowed his taste buds.

Lu Yi's face twisted in pain. The mystique of Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast meat vanished completely.

Trying not to dwell on the taste, he chewed a few quick times and swallowed.

No wonder Xuan Zi, that old food lover, had disappeared after just one taste. No wonder the inner-court students had all eaten in silence.

Apparently, not every Soul Beast made good food. Especially one that had fought to the death—its resentment was so great that even after dying, it used its flavor to attack everyone indiscriminately.

Lu Yi stared at the remaining meat, hesitating, when warmth spread from his stomach.

"Hm?"

The sensation was unexpectedly pleasant.

The warmth gradually spread through Lu Yi's body. Even in the forest's muggy heat, it did not feel stifling. Instead, it was like drinking hot soup on a winter day.

The meat really was good stuff. It was just the taste...

He glanced at Bei Bei. Bei Bei noticed and gave him a strained smile. Lu Yi looked back at the meat in his hand.

He drew a deep breath. Thinking of the old saying that good medicine tasted bitter, he finally summoned his courage again.

Bottoms up!

Better a short pain than a long one. Lu Yi stuffed the rest of the meat into his mouth in a few quick bites.

It was hard to bear at first, but once he slowly grew used to it, the rest felt much better.

"Brother Lu, hurry and use the Meditation Method I taught you to refine the Soul Power in the meat!" Bei Bei, who had finished his own portion with a pained expression, called out to remind him.

Lu Yi nodded, went into a tent, and sat cross-legged, clearing his mind.

With so much energy-rich Soul Beast meat in his stomach, it felt as though a little furnace had ignited inside him. Waves of heat began spreading throughout his body.

Bei Bei closed his eyes to feel the energy within himself, then guided Lu Yi. "Direct that energy into the pathways your Soul Power follows through your meridians!"

Following Bei Bei's instructions, Lu Yi focused his mind and began guiding the spreading energy into the circulation of his Soul Power.

Unlike absorbing a Soul Ring, when energy poured into his meridians on its own, absorbing and converting energy from food was clearly harder and far less efficient.

From Lu Yi's firsthand experience, the difference was like taking performance-enhancing drugs versus building strength naturally.

The former poured Dragon Power straight into the body. The latter demanded steady effort day after day, so naturally their short-term results were worlds apart.

But what he had eaten was no ordinary Soul Beast meat. Even though far more energy escaped than he absorbed, the amount he gained was still considerable.

By the time the sky deep in the Star Dou Great Forest turned pale with dawn, the warmth in Lu Yi's stomach had been used up.

Feeling the abundant Soul Power within him, Lu Yi smiled.

The Shadow Leopard's meat had been hard to swallow, but its effects were undeniable. Just two hours of meditation and digestion had noticeably increased his Soul Power and vitality.

He did not know how long he would have needed to cultivate for that much Soul Power normally, but he figured it would have taken at least ten days.

Even so, given the choice, he would rather cultivate on his own.

He slowly breathed out, opened his eyes, and lifted the tent flap. Many people were already awake.

The morning sunlight dispersed the thin mist among the trees. It seemed to drive away the darkness and gloom of the previous day as well.

Senior Zhu Song could move freely again. It was hard to imagine he had fought such a brutal battle the day before.

Noticing that Lu Yi had finished cultivating, Zhu Song came over of his own accord.

"Little Brother Lu, you're awake! Come have breakfast!"

"Br-breakfast?"

"That's right!" Seeing the alarm flash in Lu Yi's eyes, Zhu Song could barely suppress his grin. "There's plenty of Soul Beast meat left. We can't waste something this good!"

Zhang Lexuan's absorption of the Soul Ring lasted two days and three nights. Only she knew how perilous it had been.

For dozens of hours, she had fought the Shadow Leopard's lingering soul. Every step was like walking on thin ice; the slightest mistake would have let its powerful resentment tear her soul apart.

Fortunately, she had endured the Soul Shock, though she had paid a considerable price.

The blood-red Eighth Soul Ring slowly circled her. Just as its vast aura settled into her body and everything seemed decided, her blood and vital energy surged violently.

Zhang Lexuan spat out a mouthful of blood. She swayed, then collapsed.

"Sister Lexuan!"

The others noticed something was wrong and rushed over.

Xuan Zi landed beside her at that moment. He crouched, placed a hand on her shoulder, and sent his Soul Power into her to examine her condition.

What he found made his expression turn grim.

"Xuan Zi, how is Sister Lexuan?"

Xuan Zi gave a nearly imperceptible sigh, then said with self-reproach, "It's my fault I wasn't there. Lexuan burned her own essence to fight that beast, then forced herself to absorb a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring when she was at her weakest. She succeeded, but the backlash was unavoidable. I'm afraid..."

He trailed off, and Bei Bei grew anxious. "Afraid of what? Xuan Zi, please tell us!"