After returning, Zhao Wuji and the others quickly surrounded Lin Jie, asking what method he had used to convince Meng Shu. Lin Jie simply smiled and didn't elaborate, only saying that he had made an agreement with Meng Shu and couldn't share the details.
At that moment, Oscar joked, "Don't tell me you agreed to be his granddaughter's fiancé and just don't want to admit it? He did invite you to join his clan earlier!"
Zhu Zhuqing shot a questioning glare at Lin Jie.
Lin Jie only chuckled and turned to her. "The Man-Faced Demon Spider's aura is violent and oppressive, but with your current physique, I believe you can handle it."
With that, Zhao Wuji and the others backed off a few meters to guard her as she began the spirit ring absorption.
A glowing purple spirit ring descended and wrapped itself around Zhu Zhuqing's body. As the sinister energy of the Man-Faced Demon Spider surged into her, her calm expression twisted in pain. Low cries of agony escaped her lips.
No one could help her now—soul ring absorption was a test of her own endurance.
The others looked on anxiously, unable to do anything.
Suddenly, a figure appeared.
It was Xiao Wu.
She looked a bit disheveled—her clothes were slightly torn, her hair messy—but her complexion was radiant, even more mature than before.
"Xiao Wu… you're alive?" Oscar blurted out instinctively, before realizing how that sounded. He quickly slapped a hand over his mouth.
Xiao Wu smiled and explained her situation briefly. She then surprised them again by saying she had already broken through to Rank 31. Everyone was stunned.
Seeing Tang San unconscious on the ground, she grew worried. Oscar reassured her that he had only fainted.
Relieved, Xiao Wu visibly relaxed. After asking about Zhu Zhuqing, she went to support Tang San.
Lin Jie knew Xiao Wu must've been sent back by the Titan Giant Ape. She was cleverly dodging deeper questions with vague answers.
Soon after, Tang San regained consciousness and, seeing Xiao Wu beside him, immediately began fussing over her with concern.
Lin Jie glanced at Xiao Wu's now more mature figure, then at Tang San, who was doting on her. For some reason, a strange emotion flickered in his heart.
As the group settled down, Tang San suddenly sensed a breakthrough opportunity within himself and sat down to cultivate.
Meanwhile, Meng Shu, Chao Tianxiang, and Meng Yiran traveled deeper into the Star Dou Great Forest.
Ever since leaving the Shrek group, Chao Tianxiang had been silently observing her granddaughter, who had been uncharacteristically quiet.
Dragon Duke Meng Shu finally broke the silence. "That Lin Jie… his talent is exceptional. If he had agreed to join our clan, I have no doubt we would rise to a whole new level within twenty years. What a pity."
He took out the spherical object Lin Jie had given him earlier.
This object—a soulforce grenade—had proven to possess incredible destructive power. He could only imagine how potent it would be if fueled by his own spirit power.
Back at camp, Zhao Wuji noticed a change in Zhu Zhuqing and exclaimed, "She did it!"
Zhu Zhuqing had finally succeeded in absorbing the Man-Faced Demon Spider's spirit ring.
Lin Jie approached her. "How do you feel? Any changes?"
Zhu Zhuqing replied excitedly, "I've reached Rank 32 already. I—"
Before she could finish, the back of her clothes suddenly burst open.
On either side of her spine, several protrusions rose. A moment later, eight long, black, spear-like spider legs erupted from her back.
Lin Jie looked on with satisfaction.
This was the real Zhu Zhuqing.
The others stared in confusion.
Oscar gaped, pointing. "Those... those look just like the legs of the Man-Faced Demon Spider!"
He looked from Zhu Zhuqing's back to the spider's corpse and found them nearly identical.
Tang San and the others shared the same shocked expression.
Even Zhao Wuji was stunned. Though a seasoned Soul Saint, he had never seen anything quite like this before.
Lin Jie noticed Zhu Zhuqing losing control and quickly called out,
"Zhu Zhuqing! Calm your mind—focus and try to feel what's behind you. Use your intent to control it!"
She heard him and struggled to do as instructed. Gradually, the eight spider legs retracted into her body. Exhausted, Zhu Zhuqing collapsed to one knee, panting heavily.
Her back was now exposed, revealing smooth, pale skin. Lin Jie quickly pulled out a cloak from his storage ring and draped it over her shoulders.
The others rushed over to check on her.
Zhu Zhuqing's mind was still recovering from the overwhelming power surge, but she managed to stabilize herself and sat cross-legged on the ground to rest.
After a short while, she opened her eyes—her face radiant with joy.
Lin Jie stepped forward. "Looks like the harvest was worth it."
Oscar couldn't help asking, "Zhu Zhuqing, what's your third soul skill? And those legs—what are they?"
Everyone turned to her curiously.
Zhu Zhuqing smiled. "My third soul skill is called Nether Demon Slash. You'll see what it can do soon enough."
"As for the legs…" she paused, then shook her head. "I'm not sure."
Everyone turned to Zhao Wuji, hoping for an explanation.
Zhao Wuji rubbed his neck, clearly embarrassed. "I… I don't know either."
It was Lin Jie who spoke up.
"What she just grew is called an External Spirit Bones."
"External Spirit Bones?" the group echoed in unison, stunned.
Lin Jie nodded.
"Yes. It's a special type of soul bone—rarer than even the six standard types. If the drop rate for a regular soul bone is 1 in 1,000, then an external spirit bone appears in fewer than 1 in 10,000 cases."
He turned to Zhu Zhuqing. "You're incredibly lucky. That's all I know."
Oscar's face filled with envy.
"Getting a soul bone just from absorbing a spirit ring… and not just any soul bone, but an external one?!"
PS: Read Advance Chapters at https://www.patreon.com/c/ReadJin