Lin Chen thought nothing of it and continued methodically sorting through all the bee pupae, putting away every intact one.
Once he had finished, he instinctively looked toward Li Jiaojiao, who was refining her soul ring in the center of the clearing, and his gaze paused.
Li Jiaojiao's figure had now returned completely to normal. The bloated form caused by the immense soul power had vanished, leaving her petite and delicate once more. The turbulent soul power around her had settled entirely, her aura was steady, and the tense, grave expression on her face had softened into peaceful calm.
Seeing this, Lin Chen understood that Li Jiaojiao's soul ring refinement had entered its final stage. Her soul hunting and refinement were about to reach a successful conclusion.
Everyone relaxed, believing the refinement would end smoothly without any mishaps. But just as they lowered their guard and waited for the result, a sudden change shattered the camp's peace.
Li Jiaojiao, whose expression and aura had been so calm, suddenly let out a faint groan of pain.
Her brows knitted tightly, her delicate face scrunched up, and she clenched her teeth. Fine beads of cold sweat rapidly formed on her forehead, and her entire body trembled slightly. She was clearly enduring excruciating pain beyond what an ordinary person could bear.
Everyone's hearts tightened at the sight. All idle chatter and relaxed thoughts vanished as they hurried to gather around Li Jiaojiao, their faces filled with worry as they watched her sitting cross-legged.
Lin Chen happened to be standing directly behind Li Jiaojiao. With a perfect, unobstructed view, he was the first to notice the unusual details.
Beneath the smooth skin of Li Jiaojiao's back, several shapes slowly writhed and bulged, as though something foreign was struggling to grow beneath her skin. Accompanied