Transformation Skill

It was only a Ten-Year Soul Ring, so Hu Jiu absorbed and fused it with ease, finishing in just five minutes.

"As expected, a Ten-Year Metamon soul skill is trash. Looks like I'll have to wait for the AFK Panel to upgrade."

Feeling that his Soul Power had barely increased, Hu Jiu thought to himself.

At the mention of the AFK Panel, an azure panel immediately appeared before Hu Jiu's eyes. Flecks of golden light shimmered across it, and a second Soul Ring Idle Slot began appearing beside the First Soul Ring Idle Slot.

While waiting for the Idle Slot to finish opening, he examined the Second Soul Ring Skill he had gained.

The Second Soul Ring Skill was called Transformation. He had already known that. As for its effect, it allowed him to make localized adjustments to his muscles, thereby changing his appearance.

The effect was weak, making it suitable for sneaking around and petty theft.

But Hu Jiu immediately thought of another use for the skill.

Changing his own muscles—aside from his face, there were plenty of other places too!

For example...

If he changed the muscles throughout his body and altered their density, wouldn't that indirectly improve his physical attributes?

And what about the nervous system? If his nerves were enhanced, could that speed up his reactions...

While Hu Jiu's thoughts ran wild, the Second Soul Ring Idle Slot successfully opened.

In an instant, the image of the Second Soul Ring appeared on the AFK Panel.

The Soul Ring Year Limit was exactly ten years—not a year more, not a year less.

Looking at the year limits of his two Soul Rings, Hu Jiu found it rather amusing.

His First Soul Ring was already at six hundred and six years, while his Second Soul Ring was only ten years old. Wasn't that backwards?

"Xiao Jiu, how was it? Is your new skill any good?" Seeing Hu Jiu open his eyes, Xiao Wu, who had been standing guard for him, asked expectantly.

Hu Jiu shook his head, his expression unchanged. "The effect isn't very good, but it was within expectations."

As he spoke, a layer of light red glow began to cover his face. Under its radiance, his features changed slightly—his nose lengthened, the corners of his eyes stretched wider, and his chin became a little rounder.

With just those tiny changes, one might mistake him for Tang San at a glance!

"Ha, Xiao Jiu, this is so interesting! Anyone who isn't especially familiar with Tang San would think you really were him!" Xiao Wu clapped excitedly. "Give me a carrot to try. I'll help you test the effect too."

Facing Xiao Wu's expectant gaze, Hu Jiu extended his right hand. His Second Soul Skill, Transformation, activated, and a light red carrot slowly appeared in his hand.

His Carrot Spirit had a great advantage: it could function both as a plant-system spirit and as a Food System Soul Master spirit. When used as a plant-system spirit, his soul skills affected himself. He did not need to eat carrots, and could activate his skills with a thought; their duration was also quite long.

When used as a Food System Soul Master, however, he could apply his skills to carrots and give them to others to consume. This allowed others to use his skills as well, though the duration would be comparatively shorter.

At present, his Second Soul Skill, Transformation, could change someone's appearance for half a day after use. During the skill's duration, the appearance could be altered multiple times, until the effect finally ended.

"Hehe, Xiao Jiu, your carrots taste even better now!" Xiao Wu eagerly swallowed Hu Jiu's carrot, blissfully narrowing her eyes until they became adorable crescents.

After eating the carrot, Xiao Wu's appearance also changed slightly. Her eyes became smaller and longer, her nose thicker, her lips fuller and larger, and her face gradually lengthened. She had astonishingly transformed into Hu Jiu.

"Hehehe, how about it? Do I look like your little sister? No, do I look like your big sister?" After changing her appearance, Xiao Wu asked mischievously.

"Haha, you look more like a little sister. Xiao Wu, you're too young." Hu Jiu chuckled.

"Hmph, I'm the big sister," Xiao Wu said stubbornly.

"Fine, you can look like anything you want. There'll be plenty of chances to play around later. We should leave now. The Mato City Lord might already be sending people to look for us!" Hu Jiu patted Xiao Wu on the head, reminding her.

"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go! It'll be troublesome if they find us." At Hu Jiu's reminder, Xiao Wu immediately came to her senses. They had caused trouble yesterday; they should have left Mato City's territory as soon as possible.

They were both Level 20 Soul Grandmasters. Although Hu Jiu was an auxiliary Soul Master, his physical condition was not weak due to his training in the Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer. As they ran at full speed, gusts howled past their ears, and they raced toward Nuoding City at tremendous speed.

Along the way, Hu Jiu looked at Xiao Wu with a teasing expression. With a wicked grin, he asked, "Xiao Wu, I've gotten my Soul Ring. Aren't you Level 20 too? You helped me hunt my Soul Ring, so now it's my turn to help you."

"No!" Xiao Wu refused without a second thought. Then she realized her reaction was off. She hurriedly looked at Hu Jiu apologetically and stammered, "I-I already have arrangements for my Second Soul Ring. I'll get it in a few days, so I won't trouble you."

"Hey, it's nothing. You've helped me so many times. If you need anything, make sure to tell me. I'll definitely help you." Hu Jiu looked generous, but inwardly he was secretly amused. How could he not know that Xiao Wu did not need to hunt Soul Rings? She was a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast. Once her level reached the requirement, she would naturally gain a Soul Ring. It was incredibly convenient.

Judging from the aura of Soul Power around Xiao Wu, she might already have her Second Soul Ring. She simply had not told him.

It seemed the little rabbit wasn't so honest either!

"Haha, no need. Really, no need." Xiao Wu smiled awkwardly.

"Fine then..." Hu Jiu was about to speak when his ears suddenly twitched. His brows furrowed. "Xiao Wu, this way. Something's happening up ahead."

Through sound and touch, he had already sensed danger ahead.

And the targets of that danger were them.

Fortunately, Hu Jiu's five senses were sharp. Otherwise, if they had continued forward, they would have run straight into them.

Pulling Xiao Wu away from the main road, the two plunged headfirst into the grass and vanished from the road.

A li away, two middle-aged men dressed as Soul Masters were hurrying toward where Hu Jiu had been. One of them had Wild Dog Whiskers on his face, and from time to time, he flared his nostrils as if sniffing for something.

"Xiao Wu, faster, even faster. They're catching up." Hu Jiu was getting anxious. The Soul Power auras of the two men behind them were deep and powerful. Judging by their levels, only Soul Elders above Level 30 possessed such strong auras.

He and Xiao Wu were only Level 20, and they might not be their match even one-on-one.

After all, fighting above one's level might be exhilarating, but it also meant taking risks. Hu Jiu, who had always been prudent and steady, had no desire to kill enemies above his level. He only liked crushing the weak.

"Can't we shake them off?"

"Xiao Jiu, how about we fight them?" At his side, Xiao Wu was eager to give it a try. She was not afraid of fighting at all. Whether they could win or not, they would find out after fighting!

"Fight, my ass. Even if we can't outrun them, wouldn't it be better to ambush them?"