The Six-Winged Wind-Thunder Falcon landed on the ground, its arrow wounds still bleeding.
Su Ling walked over and punched it squarely in the head, intending to knock it unconscious first.
Once it passed out, Su Ling crouched down and discreetly took out the Soul Bone Condensation Aid he had previously received from the system.
For soul beasts under a hundred thousand years old, it guaranteed the formation of a soul bone, with a ten percent chance of producing an external soul bone. The better the soul beast, the better the resulting soul bone.
The instant he poured out the Soul Bone Condensation Aid, the Six-Winged Wind-Thunder Falcon's body absorbed it.
"Su Ling, what are you looking at? Hurry up and kill it so you can absorb its soul ring," Liu Erlong reminded him.
"Sister Liu, there's no rush. I need to wait a little longer," Su Ling said.
With that, Su Ling took out the Intermediate Defensive Formation and covered the area with it.
"Su Ling's formation really saves us a lot of trouble. It makes things much easier," Zhao Wuji remarked.
"It's decent," Su Ling said. "It can hold off ordinary ten-thousand-year soul beasts, but not the stronger ones."
"Even then, it can give us an early warning. Very convenient," Zhao Wuji added.
With the defensive formation in place, everyone could sit down and rest.
"Su Ling, why do you need to wait? Wouldn't it be a waste if this soul beast died?" Flender asked.
"Let's wait another incense stick's worth of time," Su Ling said.
"Fine, have it your way." Flender looked helpless.
"Boss Fu, if Su Ling tells you to wait, just wait. Why all the nonsense?" Liu Erlong actually started scolding Flender.
"I..." Flender didn't know what to say and could only wait quietly.
The Soul Bone Condensation Aid needed an incense stick's worth of time to work. Su Ling could do nothing about that; it wasn't something he could control.
They waited like that.
After an incense stick's worth of time had passed, Su Ling deliberately waited a few extra minutes before approaching the Six-Winged Wind-Thunder Falcon with peace of mind.
He raised his dagger and stabbed down.
The unconscious Six-Winged Wind-Thunder Falcon began struggling desperately again. Su Ling simply delivered another punch, finally ending its life.
Before long, a black soul ring rose.
Su Ling sat cross-legged and adjusted his condition, then waited a little before guiding the soul ring into his body.
A soul ring over thirty-five thousand years old, from a mutated soul beast at that. When it fused with his martial soul, another fusion of attributes would take place.
If he added the wind and lightning attributes, could it still be called the Five Elements War Bow?
At level fifty, Su Ling was absorbing a soul ring over thirty thousand years old. Even many Soul Saints only absorbed rings of that age.
One could imagine just how immense the energy within it was.
The energy gathered inside Su Ling, flooding his entire body. These were another two different attributes, and the difficulty was greater than with the previous metal and earth attributes.
The wind energy seemed intent on tearing Su Ling's body apart, while the lightning energy wreaked havoc as well, making lightning flicker across his body.
The three watching from outside had never seen anything like this. To be honest, the sight frightened them all.
Su Ling, keep going, Liu Erlong could only repeat silently in her heart.
At that moment, they could do nothing to help from outside.
"He's still pushing himself too far." Flender shook his head helplessly.
Su Ling truly was struggling now. The destructive power of the metal and earth attributes inside his body couldn't compare to that of wind and lightning, and there was far more of both energies than last time.
Only after circulating the cultivation method of the Supreme Primordial Chaos Scripture's basic volume did Su Ling feel somewhat better.
But as energy continued pouring out of the soul ring, Su Ling's body seemed to approach its limit again.
Sweat streamed down his body, mingled with blood. Tiny fissures had already opened in several places.
"This is bad. Is Su Ling going to fail again?" Flender asked worriedly.
Su Ling's current condition was practically identical to the last time he had failed to absorb his fourth soul ring.
That was exactly how he had failed last time. Fortunately, that soul beast hadn't released much energy, allowing Su Ling to escape with his life.
But today's soul beast was over thirty-five thousand years old. The difficulty had increased more than tenfold.
"Erlong, look what you've done. Su Ling's in danger now," Flender said.
"Shut up. I believe in Su Ling."
Flender's words made Liu Erlong furious. After all, Su Ling's place in her heart had already risen far above everyone else's, including Flender's.
Su Ling, if you die, I'll go with you, Liu Erlong thought.
That was Liu Erlong's current mindset. With an affection score of 96, she would do anything for Su Ling, even die for love.
Just as they were worrying, Su Ling moved.
His external soul bone, the Golden Dragon Armor, began extending outward from his chest until it covered his entire body.
"That's right! Su Ling has an external soul bone, and it's over ten thousand years old. It strengthens his body and defenses. He should be all right now," Flender said.
This was Liu Erlong's first time seeing Su Ling use his external soul bone, and she was rather shaken. After all, external soul bones were exceedingly rare.
With the Golden Dragon Armor manifested, Su Ling's condition improved considerably. At least his body wouldn't split apart from the excessive energy.
The energy remained inside him as he circulated his soul power to absorb it rapidly.
Finally, half an hour later, the soul ring stopped releasing energy and began fusing with his martial soul. Su Ling knew the peak had passed. He had endured the hardest part, and he would be safe from here on.
Just as Su Ling had expected, no further problems arose.
Ten two-hour periods passed like that before the soul ring finally fused successfully with his martial soul. His soul power reached level fifty-one, but how could a thirty-five-thousand-year soul ring provide only that much improvement?
His soul power was still rising, but at the same time, Su Ling discovered the soul bone the Six-Winged Wind-Thunder Falcon had condensed.
Huh? Another external soul bone?
This is ridiculously lucky. Is Zhu Zhuqing nearby? Or has this world's protagonist halo shifted from Tang San to me?
"An external soul bone! An external soul bone!"
"Good heavens, how can Su Ling's luck defy the heavens like this?" Flender exclaimed.
It wasn't only Su Ling who noticed it. All three outside spotted it at the same time.
"Su Ling, this continent will belong to you someday. You'll definitely become the strongest soul master," Liu Erlong murmured.
Su Ling continued absorbing the external soul bone without stopping.
This time was different from his previous attempt to absorb his fourth soul ring. He was perfectly safe now.
The Golden Dragon Armor occupied his chest, while this external soul bone was positioned on his back.
Su Ling guided the external soul bone into his body, where it began fusing with his spine.
During the fusion, Su Ling's soul power continued rising.
Level fifty-two... the peak of level fifty-two!
An hour later, Su Ling's soul power had reached level fifty-three, but it still hadn't stopped rising.
Only when his soul power settled halfway through level fifty-three was the energy inside Su Ling's body finally exhausted.
But the soul bone was still condensing. Another seven or eight two-hour periods passed, bringing them to the following morning, before Su Ling finally finished absorbing the external soul bone.
With a thought, Su Ling could clearly see the system interface even with his eyes closed.
Age: Nineteen Martial soul: Primordial Origin War Bow prototype (incomplete) Soul power: Level 53 Mental power: Level 71 Soul rings: Yellow (320 years, water attribute), yellow (652 years, wood attribute), purple (1,358 years, fire attribute), black (20,086 years, metal and earth attributes), black (35,680 years, wind and lightning attributes) Soul bones: External soul bone, Golden Dragon Armor (20,086 years); external soul bone, Six-Winged Wind-Thunder Wings (35,680 years) Cultivation methods: Concentration Art (first layer), Supreme Primordial Origin Scripture: Basic Volume, Part One Skills: Carefree Roaming (minor mastery), Eight Desolations Fist (major mastery)
The Five Elements War Bow changed. It's actually become the Primordial Origin War Bow. Incomplete? Is it missing attributes?
The soul power is correct. My mental power rose four levels, and the external soul bone's age is right too. Six-Winged Wind-Thunder Wings.
After a glance, Su Ling immediately exited the system interface, then opened his eyes and stood up.
But the moment Su Ling rose, all three gathered around him.
"Su Ling, how many levels did you gain?"
"Su Ling, what is your external soul bone?"
"Su Ling, hurry and show us!"
"Easy, easy. Let me explain," Su Ling said.
They didn't have external soul bones themselves, so naturally they were very interested. They wanted to know exactly what kind it was and whether it matched their guesses.
"My soul power has reached level fifty-three," Su Ling said. "As for the external soul bone, stand back a little."
The three quickly retreated several meters. Suddenly, a pair of wings spread behind Su Ling.
In the blink of an eye, Su Ling flew into the air.
Flight! In his previous life on Blue Star, who hadn't dreamed of it, whether as a child or even after growing up?
The feeling of flying through the air was wonderfully comfortable.
"Just as we guessed. Wind-thunder wings," Flender said.
"Actually, there's more to it." With another movement from Su Ling, two more pairs of wings appeared behind him.
"My external soul bone is a complete set of Six-Winged Wind-Thunder Wings. I can use one pair alone or all three together. Each additional pair increases my speed by twenty percent."
With that, Su Ling circulated his soul power. The wind-thunder wings displayed their wind and lightning attributes, with faint sparks of lightning visible across them.
Soul bone skill-Wind-Lei Dong!
Almost instantly, Su Ling stood a hundred meters away.
It wasn't teleportation, yet it seemed much like it. Unfortunately, each use covered only a hundred meters, but its soul power consumption was low, so using it wasn't much of a burden.
"Good! Very good!"
"Su Ling, that was your soul bone skill just now, wasn't it?" Liu Erlong asked.
"Yes. I call it Wind-Lei Dong," Su Ling replied.
"I'd say it's already comparable to teleportation," Liu Erlong said.
Flender and Zhao Wuji nodded in agreement.
"With speed like that, even we might not be able to catch you," Flender said.
Zhao Wuji chuckled. "With Su Ling here, I'd say the championship of this Advanced Soul Master Tournament is in the bag."
"That's right. We have a very good chance," Liu Erlong said. Although they hadn't attended the finals, they reckoned there couldn't be many people who reached Soul King at his age.
After all, Su Ling still had some time before turning twenty, and the Advanced Soul Master Tournament was almost a year away.
How much could Su Ling improve in that year?
Would he reach Soul Emperor?
With Su Ling's cultivation speed, it really was possible.
Previously, Flender had wanted to take Su Ling as his formal disciple, just like Tang San and Yu Xiaogang. Now, though, he realized he no longer seemed qualified.
But even if he brought it up now and Su Ling agreed, Liu Erlong would certainly stop it.
"Su Ling, let's go. It's time we headed back," Liu Erlong said.
"And Zhao Wuji, Boss Fu, you must keep the medicinal herbs Su Ling gave you a secret. His life is at stake. If you tell anyone, I won't let you off. Also... you're not allowed to ask where those herbs came from. Understood?" Liu Erlong continued.
Flender had already asked once along the way and been scolded by Liu Erlong. Before they returned, she emphasized it again.
"Erlong, I understand. Don't worry. I won't ask, and I won't tell anyone," Flender said.
"That's right. I certainly won't say anything. I originally thought I'd only ever become a Soul Douluo at best. Now my soul power is already level seventy-nine, and I'll reach level eighty soon. I can see a chance of becoming a Titled Douluo. That's enough for me," Zhao Wuji said.
"Good. Su Ling, you've given Zhu Zhuqing and Rongrong these herbs too. Once we're back, be sure to remind them again."
"Yes, Sister Liu. Don't worry," Su Ling said.
Actually, in the original story, Tang San had also faced considerable risks after bringing out those herbs. But with Tang Hao protecting him from behind, how many people would dare try to steal them?
Without Tang Hao, Ning Fengzhi would certainly have made a move. Those were the crucial herbs capable of evolving the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda. How could he simply believe someone who claimed there was only one?
They left the depths of Sunset Forest that morning, and at the three's speed, they were all back at Shrek Academy by evening.
Su Ling didn't return to his own home, however. Instead, he quietly slipped into Liu Erlong's room.
"Su Ling, I'm a Soul Douluo now. I'm not afraid of you!" Liu Erlong said.
"Really? I've improved too."
"Ah..."
"Make sure you swallow it all..."
"Urgh..."
After the night passed, Su Ling returned to his room early in the morning, changed his clothes, and only then pretended to emerge from his room.
"Boss, you're back?" Feng Yu'er looked delighted.
"Yu'er, has your archery improved lately?" Su Ling asked.
"Boss, you can test me. I can shoot seven arrows at once now, and all seven hit their targets," Feng Yu'er said confidently.
"Not bad. Keep it up!"
"By the way, Yu'er, take this when you have time. It should help increase your soul power. Just eat it directly. It's simple." Su Ling took out a box and handed it to Feng Yu'er.
What Su Ling gave her wasn't anything particularly extraordinary, nor was it an immortal herb. It was simply a Nine-Grade Purple Ganoderma.
Feng Yu'er knew Su Ling had helped Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong improve, and she was quite envious.
After all, she had been stuck at level forty-five for over half a year.
"All right, Boss!" Feng Yu'er said.
[Ding... Feng Yu'er's affection +3, Purple Chest ×2, Black Chest ×1]
After that increase, Feng Yu'er's affection had reached 89, just short of 90. Once she took it and experienced its effects, her affection should rise considerably again.
In the original story, Yu Xiaogang had taken the Nine-Grade Purple Ganoderma. Its effects weren't much weaker than those of an immortal herb.
The reason Yu Xiaogang ultimately hadn't gained much soul power wasn't that the Nine-Grade Purple Ganoderma was ineffective, but that his innate talent was simply too poor.
"Boss, I'll go ask for leave now, then come back and take it," Feng Yu'er said.
"No need. I'll ask for leave for you," Su Ling said.
"Then thank you, Boss."
Feng Yu'er skipped with joy and immediately ran back to her room.
"Hmm, there's still Oscar and Ma Hongjun. It's time to give them theirs, too."
Su Ling had a plan: he would visit the Far North and pick up that heavenly treasure along the way.
Before leaving, he would finish taking care of everything here.
Su Ling did not seek them out during the day. After requesting leave for Feng Yu'er, he went to Heaven Dou City and bought plenty of supplies for his journey.
When Su Ling returned to the academy that afternoon, good news came from Feng Yu'er as well.
[Ding... Feng Yu'er's affection +6. Obtained Purple Chest ×2, Black Chest ×3, Red Chest ×1] [Ding... Feng Yu'er's affection has reached 90!] [Bound goddess: Feng Yu'er] [Goddess overall rating: 94] [Affection: 95 (Hopelessly in love, with no room in her heart for anyone else)] [Binding effect: The host gains 40% of the bound goddess's daily cultivation results without reducing her cultivation speed.] [Bound skill 1: Archery enhancement (When Feng Yu'er is within 200 meters of the host, the power of arrows fired by the host without soul skills increases by 40%)] [Bound skill 2: Arm strength enhancement (When Feng Yu'er is within 500 meters of the host, the host's arm strength when drawing a bow increases by 30%)] [Bound skill 3: Perception (When Feng Yu'er encounters danger within 500 meters of the host, the host can immediately sense her location)]
Not long after the system's voice sounded, Feng Yu'er left her room and ran over to Su Ling.
"Boss, thank you! My soul power has reached rank forty-seven," Feng Yu'er said, her face beaming.
Although she had not gained as many ranks as Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong, they were Soul Elders, while she was a Soul Ancestor. She was very satisfied with gaining two ranks.
She had wanted to hug Su Ling, too, but Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong were beside him. She felt awkward approaching and could only suppress the joy and gratitude in her heart.
"Congratulations, Sister Yu'er," Ning Rongrong said.
"Mm, thank you both, too," Feng Yu'er said.
"Zhu Zhuqing, Rongrong, it's been a while," Su Ling said.
"Big Brother Su, I heard you went to Sunset Forest with Dean Liu and Dean Flender to help them find soul rings. Did they both advance to Soul Douluo?" Ning Rongrong asked curiously.
"They did!" Su Ling answered honestly.
"Honestly, at their level, they didn't need you to go along. Don't you agree, Zhu Zhuqing?" Ning Rongrong said.
They had missed Su Ling terribly over the past month or so.
Especially Zhu Zhuqing. Her affection rating of 98 was no joke. As the saying went, a single day apart felt like three autumns, and that was what Zhu Zhuqing experienced every day.
Even now, Zhu Zhuqing held Su Ling's hands tightly, afraid he would leave again.
"Actually, I wasn't just finding rings for them. I reached rank fifty, too, so it was a good chance for them to help me find a soul ring as well," Su Ling said.
"What? Big Brother Su, you're already a Soul King?" Ning Rongrong exclaimed in surprise.
"Big Brother Su, you're not even twenty yet, are you?"
"I will be soon. You could pretty much count me as twenty already!" Su Ling said.
"Even a twenty-year-old Soul King is incredible," Ning Rongrong said.
How could Ning Rongrong not understand the weight of that achievement?
"Rongrong, don't spread this around for now, all right?" Su Ling said.
"Of course. We're not stupid, are we, Zhu Zhuqing?" After saying this, Ning Rongrong glanced at Zhu Zhuqing beside her.
"Congratulations, Big Brother Su," Zhu Zhuqing said as well.
"Zhu Zhuqing, you've both been working hard, too. Your soul power has increased again, hasn't it?" Su Ling said. After all, he had given them Intermediate Soul Power Pills. It would have been strange if Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing's soul power had not increased.
During the month or so Su Ling had been away, Zhu Zhuqing had risen from rank thirty-eight to rank thirty-nine. However, after she reached that rank, the Intermediate Soul Power Pills no longer had much effect.
The same was true for Ning Rongrong. After she rose from rank thirty-seven to rank thirty-eight, the Intermediate Soul Power Pills still worked, but their effect had diminished considerably.
Meanwhile, in the imperial capital of the Star Luo Empire, more than ten thousand kilometers away.
"Big Brother, Zhu Zhuqing has already left me. I can no longer compete with you for that position, either. All I want now is to enter the academy and compete in the Advanced Soul Master Tournament alongside you," Dai Mubai said.
Dai Weisi looked at Dai Mubai and said flatly, "Is that so? Someone stole your fiancée, then. No wonder."
"I'll defeat him at the Advanced Soul Master Tournament, and afterward, I'll kill him with my own hands."
As he spoke, extreme fury appeared on Dai Mubai's face. That sort of rage was not usually something one could fake.
"I've already heard a little about what happened to you. Have you lost... that?" Dai Weisi could not help glancing downward.
"Big Brother, I... That's why I want revenge. As long as you help me take revenge in the future, I'll devote the rest of my life to supporting you," Dai Mubai said earnestly.
Having lost what made him a man, he no longer had any chance of competing with Dai Weisi.
"Of course, my little brother. I'll definitely help you. I hear you've been progressing quickly lately. Are you a Soul Ancestor already?" Dai Weisi asked.
Dai Mubai posed absolutely no threat to him now, even if his soul power increased. Losing certain things meant losing everything, with no way to recover it.
"That's right. My soul power has already reached rank forty-two," Dai Mubai said confidently.
"But it was all thanks to my friends' help that I reached this level of soul power. They'd also like to join the Star Luo Royal Academy," Dai Mubai said.
"Oh? Who are they?" Dai Weisi suddenly took an interest in Dai Mubai's friends.
Dai Mubai turned toward the door and said, "Teacher, Xiao San, Xiao Wu, come in."
As it turned out, Dai Mubai had already taken Yu Xiaogang as his master, becoming Tang San's junior disciple brother.
Before you continue