Qi Ling and Xiao Wu hurried through the forest, eager to reunite with the Shrek members as soon as possible. But at that moment, Qi Ling faintly heard Ma Hongjun's voice coming from afar.
" Ma Hongjun seems to be over there; I can hear his voice," Qi Ling said. "Looks like they've set off to find us too."
"Really? Hehe, I knew it! My Sister Xiao Wu is so cute, they would definitely worry about me!" Xiao Wu said happily. After all, being cared for is always a wonderful experience.
"You silly girl, don't do anything that makes people worry next time," Qi Ling said affectionately.
Although he didn't say it aloud, Qi Ling was a little worried because, according to his memory, Tang San should be absorbing the Soul Ring of the Man Faced Demon Spider at this time, and then obtaining his own External Soul Bone, the Eight Spider Lances.
However, the Man Faced Demon Spider is an extremely ferocious king of spiders, Tang San forcibly absorbed it while severely injured, which was fraught with danger. The slightest mistake could have serious consequences.
More importantly, Dragon Duke Meng Shu who should have severely injured the Man Faced Demon Spider, had his strength depleted by the Golden Sacred Dragon, so the Man Faced Demon Spider should still retain its full strength at this time.
With so many unpredictable factors at play, will Tang San still be able to successfully defeat the Man Faced Demon Spider and absorb his Third Soul Ring?
With a hint of worry, Qi Ling quickened her pace and hurried toward the direction from which Ma Hongjun's voice came, soon finding the Shrek members.
Everyone was overjoyed to see Qi Ling and Xiao Wu return safely, but they didn't have time to ask them anything, because just as Qi Ling had predicted, Tang San was currently absorbing the Soul Ring of the Man Faced Demon Spider, a level above his own.
What should have been a smooth absorption process turned into a period of extreme pain for Tang San, with blood trickling from the corner of his mouth and his life force rapidly fading away.
"What? Brother San, don't scare me!" Xiao Wu said worriedly, looking at Tang San's appearance. " Brother San is strong, absorbing Soul Ring shouldn't be this painful, how could this happen?"
Qi Ling examined the corpse of the Man Faced Demon Spider and said, " Xiao San was too impatient. This Man Faced Demon Spider spider is over two thousand years old, which is beyond its absorption limit!"
"What?!" Everyone exclaimed in surprise upon hearing Qi Ling's words.
Everyone knows all too well the serious consequences of absorbing Soul Ring beyond one's lifespan; it's clearly gambling with one's life.
"Damn it, if only I had stopped him sooner! What if something had happened to his mistress? How could I explain it to the dean!" Zhao Wuji punched a tree hard, almost breaking it in Xiao San.
"How could this happen, Brother San... Brother Qi, please think of something and save Brother San!" Xiao Wu said anxiously, but could only instinctively turn to Qi Ling for help.
Qi Ling approached Tang San from the front and carefully observed his condition. A wisp of black energy emanated from Tang San's body and hovered above his face. It was this black energy that was causing Tang San such pain.
" Xiao San has a solid physical foundation and cultivates the Mysterious Heaven Skill, so under normal circumstances, he can barely absorb even a three-thousand-year-old Soul Ring," Qi Ling said.
"What truly tormented him was the Man Faced Demon Spider, a Soul Beast, or more accurately, the Man Faced Demon Spider's inherently evil nature!"
Zhao Wuji frowned and said, "An evil nature? Isn't that too far-fetched?"
"Not at all. The most common thing about this is the inner demons that arise during our cultivation process. If we're not careful, it can lead to a qi deviation," Qi Ling explained. "However, the evil thoughts that Xiao San is facing now are brought to him by the Man Faced Demon Spider."
"But how do we solve this problem? It seems like none of us know any techniques related to this!" Zhao Wuji said, troubled.
[Ding! A choice has been detected for the host. Please choose from the following options.]
Option 1: Let Tang San go unchecked and allow the evil thoughts of the Man Faced Demon Spider to develop. Reward: Tang San has a 10% chance of survival, his Soul Power stagnates for one year, and Shrek Academy is disbanded.
Option 2: Immediately take Tang San to a nearby town for medical treatment, or find other solutions. Reward: Tang San has a 30% chance of survival, and the Soul Power of all members of the Shrek Academy will be stagnant for one year.
Option 3: Use your own Soul Skill characteristics to dispel Tang San's evil thoughts and save Tang San. Rewards: The age of the First Soul Ring of the Divine Dragon Emperor increases by 500 years, the First Soul Skill: Nine Heavens Dragon Roar is upgraded to Thousand-Year Soul Skill, and you gain additional effects: Prestige +1, Tang San's favorability +10%.
Given the three options, Qi Ling had no reason to choose the first two. The reason for those punishments was probably because Tang San's death would naturally have a huge impact on the plot.
The reward for the third option was extremely satisfying for Qi Ling. After all, for someone with obsessive-compulsive tendencies like him, he had long been dissatisfied with his Yellow Soul Ring and wished they were all replaced with purple ones, which would be so much better and neater.
More importantly, his First Soul Skill, which had seemed somewhat lackluster, was given new abilities, making it even better and more powerful.
[Ding! Congratulations, host, you have selected option three: Use your own Soul Skill to save Tang San. Rewards: The age of the First Soul Ring of the Divine Dragon Emperor increases by 500 years, the First Soul Skill: Nine Heavens Dragon Roar is upgraded to Thousand-Year Soul Skill, and you gain additional effects: Prestige +1, Tang San's favorability +10%]
Feeling the sudden increase in her Soul Power and the new ability granted to her First Soul Skill, Qi Ling was overjoyed. Moreover, the new ability of her First Soul Skill could just save Tang San.
"Everyone, step back and give Xiao San and me enough space!" Qi Ling suddenly said at this moment, "Since absorbing Soul Ring prevents movement, I'll save Tang San!"
" Qi Ling, are you confident? If this isn't handled properly, it could mean certain death!" Zhao Wuji said worriedly.
"Don't worry, Teacher Zhao, I'm the Xiao San's older brother. I would never do anything without being sure of myself!" Qi Ling said.
Hearing Qi Ling 'Qi Ling confidence, everyone immediately stood up, giving him enough space to perform.
" Divine Dragon Emperor: Possess!" Qi Ling summoned his Martial Soul and possessed it.
A majestic Divine Dragon Phantom, carrying immense pressure, surged into Qi Ling's body. This was a scene everyone was very familiar with, but this time, they noticed something different.
" Qi Ling, am I seeing things? How come your Soul Ring have become two purple and one black?" Oscar exclaimed, his eyes wide. "Could it be that your Third Soul Ring actually absorbed a ten -Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring?"
"Ah, that's right. It just so happens that the Golden Sacred Dragon's Soul Ring was ten thousand years old, so I absorbed it," Qi Ling said. "I guess I was pretty lucky."
Everyone was ashamed. Tang San was exhausted after absorbing a two-thousand-year Soul Ring and needed Qi Ling to save him. Yet Qi Ling absorbed a Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring with such ease. It's truly infuriating to compare people like that!