As Tang San looked at Shangguan Hong, who had flown into a rage because he had nearly lost his life, his heart filled with gratitude. His face burned with pain, but warmth filled his heart.
Shangguan Hong, meanwhile, fully displayed his charm as an actor. The Man Faced Demon Spider's External Soul Bone was already in his hands, the system mission was complete, and he had received generous rewards. At the same time, after this incident, Tang San would regard him as his most indispensable companion, a close friend.
"Thank you, Brother Shangguan!"
See? This fellow even has to thank us!
The anger on Shangguan Hong's face softened at a speed visible to the naked eye. He sighed and took a sausage made by Oscar from inside his clothes.
"Recover a little! This beast isn't easy to deal with. And if I'm not mistaken, you should have broken through to level 30 by now, right?"
Shangguan Hong was like a close friend who understood Tang San extremely well. Every word he said made Tang San nod repeatedly.
"A two-thousand-year-old Man Faced Demon Spider. Its age is a little beyond the limit, but I believe your talent should make it possible. While that beast still has a breath left, go on. I'll stand guard for you!"
Tang San turned to glance at the Man Faced Demon Spider pinned firmly beneath four sand soldiers. His relationship with Shangguan Hong had already reached the point where pleasantries were unnecessary. He did not hesitate at all. To save Xiao Wu, he needed strength.
Tang San sat cross-legged and guided the Soul Ring with his Soul Power, beginning to absorb it. The sausage Shangguan Hong had brought out played a crucial role. Tang San looked to be in much better condition than in the original story. Not only that, since Shangguan Hong had pocketed the Man Faced Demon Spider's Soul Bone, Tang San's absorption of the Soul Ring went much faster as well.
Shangguan Hong sat nearby, his face calm. The story's development had strayed somewhat from the original plot, but it was close enough. And while no outsiders had arrived yet, it was time to do something delightful!
The purple Sea of Death appeared again, and the utterly transformed Voracious Baron revealed its true form. Under Shangguan Hong's control, the Baron opened its enormous mouth. Shangguan Hong casually tossed over something resembling a Rubik's Cube-the capture cage imprisoning Ma Hongjun!
Click.
The cage opened, revealing Ma Hongjun, who was already little different from a living corpse. He had truly suffered during this time. There was no spatial flow within the capture cage. Only a few days had passed, yet to Ma Hongjun, it felt as though decades had gone by! He had long since gone numb. Perhaps, when the Baron closed its mouth and returned to the Sea of Death, it would be a release for him.
I really am a good man who keeps his promises. Such a beautiful forest. Being able to close his eyes in a place like this, he should be able to rest in peace!
As Shangguan Hong thought this, the now-satiated Baron fed all the energy within Ma Hongjun's body back to its summoner. Thanks to the quality of the Phoenix Martial Soul, the total energy nearly matched that of an ordinary Soul Ancestor. Shangguan Hong's Soul Power rose another notch, and likewise, the purple Sea of Death expanded again. It now covered a radius of three hundred meters.
Only, pitifully, a genius who possessed a Phoenix Martial Soul and should have soared through the nine heavens was buried silently in the Sea of Death...
But Shangguan Hong was not finished yet!
While Tang San was absorbing his Soul Ring, before the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and the others from Shrek arrived, Shangguan Hong turned his wrist, and a Soul Bone shimmering all over appeared in his palm.
It was none other than the Man Faced Demon Spider External Soul Bone he had just obtained!
"An External Soul Bone, a heaven-defying treasure ranked second on every Soul Master's wish list! A treasure like this should belong to the virtuous!"
The corners of Shangguan Hong's mouth lifted high. He held the Soul Bone in one hand, while a red hammer had appeared in his other hand at some point!
The hammer gently tapped the Soul Bone, and then an astonishing scene unfolded! The Soul Bone did not shatter; it was merely enveloped in a miraculous power. After that miraculous power wrapped around the Soul Bone, the hammer vanished. Through means beyond an ordinary person's imagination, that power transformed the Soul Bone at its very foundation!
After the shimmering light faded, what appeared in Shangguan Hong's palm was a crown-shaped Soul Bone, blue-green all over.
[Ding! Congratulations, host! Item Reforger successfully used! Obtained Thousand-Year External Soul Bone: Crown of the Elder Dragon!] [Crown of the Elder Dragon: head External Soul Bone. Comes with the active power-attack Soul Skill: Elder Breath, and the passive enhancement Soul Skill: Elder Dragon's Wrath!] [Elder Breath: consumes 10% Soul Power to release a beam of tremendous destructive power!] [Elder Dragon's Wrath: passive. Releases draconic might, suppressing creatures with bloodline ranks below Dragon King level. Executes enemies whose overall condition is below 5%. Strength, speed, and spiritual power increase by 10%.]
After carefully examining the specific attributes of the Soul Bone in his hand, Shangguan Hong's face filled with shock!
Both Soul Skills this External Soul Bone provided were highly practical and powerful. Judging by their descriptions alone, they were even stronger than the Eight Spider Soul Bone! And what the hell was that Elder Dragon's Wrath? Releasing draconic might and suppressing creatures below Dragon King level? Then what living thing on this continent could withstand his suppression?
So it came with built-in Conqueror's Haki!
Not only that, External Soul Bones could grow! That meant the values he had obtained now were not fixed! Once it grew into a hundred-thousand-year External Soul Bone, or even a god-level Soul Bone, he really would be able to enchant countless beautiful girls with a single glance!
All in all, this trip to the Star Dou Great Forest had absolutely brought Shangguan Hong a wealth of benefits. Once he returned to the academy, he could absorb the External Soul Bone. After absorbing it, his Soul Power would definitely break through to level 38. It might even reach level 40 before he encountered the Imperial Fighting Team! A twelve-year-old Soul Ancestor-there had never been one in the history of the entire continent.
Just as Shangguan Hong was imagining a future where he kicked the Sea God and punched the Asura God, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and the others from Shrek finally arrived. Everyone visibly breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing Shangguan Hong and Tang San safe and sound. However, the Shrek group was still very worried about Tang San absorbing a Soul Ring beyond his level. The Soul Saint from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect narrowed his eyes slightly, his gaze moving constantly between Tang San and Shangguan Hong. One was a genius who had reached level 30 at twelve and was absorbing a two-thousand-year Soul Ring beyond his rank. The other was even more monstrous: a twelve-year-old Soul Elder who also possessed two Thousand-Year Soul Rings...
These were simply two budding Titled Douluo!
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's Soul Saint secretly rejoiced. If he sent this news back, the sect master would certainly be delighted. Still, the young lady had presumably realized it too. This tiny Shrek Academy had actually gathered so many geniuses. If they could recruit them into the sect, contending for the title of the world's number one sect would not be out of the question!
Of course, alongside his admiration for their talent, he also had a question-why could Shangguan Hong absorb Soul Rings beyond his level? Having a thousand-year Second Soul Ring was far more difficult than Tang San absorbing a two-thousand-year Third Soul Ring.
Could there be some secret behind it?
The Soul Saint pondered to himself, but soon, movement came from the bushes nearby. Everyone braced for battle, until a somewhat disheveled young girl emerged.
"Xiao Wu?!"