In the scorched forest clearing, the raging, deep blue lightning gradually subsided.
The jet-black Soul Ring, shimmering with the deep darkness of night and with fine, flowing golden lightning patterns on its surface, pulsed slowly in mid-air, radiating a heavy, immense pressure that had existed for millennia.
Xiao Xuan remained calm and then sat cross-legged in front of the remains of the ancient vine.
With a slight thought, he controlled his Soul Power to guide the ten-thousand-year-old black ring closer and closer to his Martial Soul.
Boom!
The moment the Fourth Soul Ring completely merged into the Martial Soul, a violent and scorching current surged wildly from every part of the body!
If it were an ordinary level 40 Quasi-Soul Ancestor, forcibly absorbing such domineering and violent lightning energy beyond their level would have their meridians torn to shreds long ago.
However, Xiao Xuan had undergone the Yin-Yang tempering at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, making his bones and meridians as solid as a black iron furnace.
The Purple Palace Divine Court has been nourished and strengthened by the Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew, making it solid and flawless.
No matter how turbulent the thunder and lightning within his body raged, Xiao Xuan remained as steady as a rock, circulating his Great Heavenly Cycle to refine and gather the energy layer by layer.
Before we knew it, half an incense stick's time had slipped by.
The frenzied atmosphere completely subsided on the scorched, muddy open space.
The bottleneck that had been holding them at level 40 collapsed instantly, and the previously raging energy transformed into a warm current, charging forward relentlessly towards higher levels!
Level 41!
Level 42!
Level 43!
With all energy restored, his cultivation level finally stabilized at the peak of level forty-three!
Buzz--!
Xiao Xuan suddenly opened his eyes, a sharp glint flashing deep within them.
With a clenched fist in the air, the Five-Star Lone Bamboo spear landed steadily in his palm.
Fourth Soul Skill - Thunderous Purgatory!
Once activated, this technique will spontaneously unleash several densely packed, forked arcs of deep blue lightning from the spear tip, creating a wide-ranging, lightning-like net that blasts through the air while also possessing a powerful paralyzing and suppressive effect.
It's a decent area-of-effect (AoE Soul Skill.
Xiao Xuan smiled slightly, then prepared to get up and leave.
Just as he stood up, his right palm inadvertently swept across the Thundering Hell Vine beside him.
The next second.
A system notification tone suddenly sounded.
[Ding! Detected auxiliary material suitable for Martial Soul Star Upgrade -- [ Thundering Hell Vine Body]!]
[Quality Rating: Six-star auxiliary material!]
The crisp mechanical beep made Xiao Xuan's heart skip a beat, and a genuine look of surprise appeared in his eyes.
This Thundering Hell Vine is truly a treasure trove!
Not only did it contribute Fourth Soul Ring that lasted ten thousand years, but its physical body also reached the standard of a six-star auxiliary material!
Xiao Xuan moved swiftly, immediately preparing to open the Storage Soul Tool to store the Thundering Hell Vine.
However!
Just as Xiao Xuan's palm strike touched the vines in the blink of an eye—
"Stop!"
A domineering, aged shout suddenly erupted from the depths of the bushes behind!
Amidst the sound of withered branches and fallen leaves being roughly crushed, a white-haired elderly man and woman, each holding a peculiar cane, led a tall, slender young girl out quickly from the dense forest path.
The old woman at the front was wearing a gray robe and holding a long cane carved with a ferocious snake's head.
The tall, elderly man beside him had white hair and beard, a robust and upright figure, and carried a long, heavy, black staff with lifelike dragon head carvings.
The girl following behind the two was about fourteen or fifteen years old, with a light and graceful figure and her short, dark brown hair swaying slightly.
The Peerless Dragon Snake couple, Meng Shu and Chao Tianxiang, and their beloved daughter Meng Yiran!
As soon as the three stepped into the open space, Snake Granny Chao Tianxiang's turbid eyes quickly locked onto the piece of purplish-black vine lying on the ground, and an undisguised greedy gleam suddenly burst forth in her eyes.
She quickly moved closer to Dragon Duke Meng Shu and said in a low, urgent voice:
"Old man, look at that thing!"
"Its entire body gleams with a lightning crystal luster, and its surface is covered with lightning patterns! This rare and exotic species must be extremely valuable; if sold to the Heaven Dou Auction House alone, it would be worth at least several hundred thousand Gold Soul Coin!"
Dragon Duke Meng Shu narrowed his hawk-like eyes and carefully examined him.
Then, his gaze swept past the wreckage and landed on Xiao Xuan, and he said coldly:
"Boy, our Peerless Clan will accept the remains of this plant-based Soul Beast. Considering your youth and ignorance, leave immediately and do not linger here."
However, before Dragon Duke's commanding words had even finished, Xiao Xuan didn't even lift his eyelids.
He lightly brushed his left hand across the Soul Tool at his waist.
A glimmer of light!
The Thundering Hell Vine was safely stored into the personal Soul Tool of the Dragon Duke and Snake Granny amidst their astonishment.
"You bastard! How dare you!!"
Seeing that Xiao Xuan dared to put away the treasure he had his eye on right in front of him, Dragon Duke Meng Shu's expression changed drastically. He slammed his dragon-headed staff heavily on the frozen ground, causing the ground to crack and crumble.
"Do you really think I wouldn't dare crush you in this desolate wilderness?!"
Xiao Xuan brushed the withered leaves and dust off his sleeves, met their angry gazes, and said in a calm tone:
"This Soul Beast was not hunted by you. Why should I hand it over just because you ask?"
Hearing Xiao Xuan's calm retort, Meng Yiran contain her spoiled nature. She strode forward, holding the snake-headed short blade, her eyebrows raised, and shrilly rebuked him:
"That's utter nonsense! This is clearly something left behind by some powerful expert who happened to be passing by and killed someone. You just happened to pick it up! Do you think you can hunt down a ten- Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beast all by yourself?!"
Xiao Xuan grinned. "Since it was left behind by someone else, it's none of your business to interfere."
"You sharp-tongued brat!"
Snake Granny Chao Tianxiang sneered, a condescending look appearing on her face.
In the Soul Master World on this continent, might makes right!
The old woman is a level 60+ Snake Granny, Chao Tianxiang, and my old man is the renowned Dragon Duke Meng Shu! If you know what's good for you, hand over your storage pouch intact immediately, and I might spare your life. Otherwise..."
Xiao Xuan was too lazy to listen to their nonsense any longer, so he turned around and left.
"Trying to leave?! Leave your things behind!!"
Completely ignored, Meng Yiran's pride was severely hurt. Her eyes blazed with fierce light, and with a sudden flick of her wrist, three Soul-Breaking Bone-Piercing Needle, glowing with a deep blue poison, tore through the air and viciously shot towards Xiao Xuan's blind spot in the back!
Faced with the sudden sneak attack, Xiao Xuan didn't even turn his head.
He extended his left hand in the opposite direction, and the jade spear in his hand swirled smoothly in mid-air like a dragon's tail!
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Three crisp explosions ripped through the sky, and the three poisoned flying needles, powerful enough to pierce metal and stone, were instantly shattered into dust by the slight vibration of the gun barrel!
Immediately following, Meng Yiran, undeterred, used her agile footwork to slash her snake-headed cane with a cold, sinister light, aiming straight for Xiao Xuan's side!
Xiao Xuan frowned slightly, withdrew his spear stance, and casually used the staff technique he had previously mastered, flicking the spear handle horizontally from bottom to top!
Bang!
The powerful and concentrated pure energy slammed heavily onto the point of force on Meng Yiran's cane.
The girl felt as if her arms had been struck by a heavy hammer, her tiger's mouth splitting open and bleeding. She was thrown back and flew more than ten meters like a kite with a broken string, crashing heavily into the mud and gravel, coughing up a mouthful of blood with her face covered in dust.
"Still!!"
The Dragon Duke and Snake Granny's expressions changed drastically, and a raging fire rose in their hearts!
"You insolent brat, how dare you harm my granddaughter! Die!"