Han Feng never imagined that absorbing a "1,500-year Armored Scale Bull" would be this difficult!
From the moment the absorption began, he had been in unbearable torment—an ordeal that reminded him of the time he had absorbed the Bull-headed Lava Turtle.
He even began to wonder if he had accidentally triggered the awakening of another external spirit bone.
But there was no illusion-based attack this time, was there?
What Han Feng didn't realize was that the soul beast he was absorbing wasn't a 1,500-year-old Armored Scale Bull at all—not even an Armored Scale Bull!
Armored Scale Bulls were docile herbivores whose favorite activity was sunbathing. They certainly weren't the type to make deadly enemies like the Man-faced Demon Spider.
The Immovable Crocodile-Scaled Bull, however, was entirely different. Though it mutated from the Armored Scale Bull, it was explosively violent. Its name might have "Immovable" in it, but it was never still—its favorite pastime was picking fights with other soul beasts, confident that its tough hide would see it through. Few creatures could kill it.
The gap between an Immovable Crocodile-Scaled Bull and an ordinary Armored Scale Bull was as wide as that between a standard White Tiger and the evil-eyed variant.
In short, even without exceeding the safe age limit, absorbing its soul ring was far from easy.
Had Han Feng known this, he would have shouted to the heavens:
"This is what I get for being ignorant! "
But what could he do?
Who would have guessed that even a Soul Sage like Zhao Wuji could mistake a soul beast's cultivation?
Fortunately, as Tang San had anticipated, Han Feng's soul power quality far surpassed that of an ordinary Soul Emperor, even rivaling that of most Soul Saints. Though he had been careless and had not fully recovered his strength before starting the absorption, his robust energy still supported him.
Thus, while the process was agonizing, it wasn't utterly unbearable.
If pain had ten levels, what Han Feng felt was like pi—endless, repetitive, and inescapable!
As Han Feng battled through the soul ring absorption, the rest of the Shrek group finally relaxed.
Two hours had passed since he had started. Thanks to Tang San's smoother-than-expected absorption, dawn had only just broken.
Initially, they had been worried, but seeing Han Feng's aura remain steady for so long, they allowed themselves to rest. Only Ning Rongrong stayed close by his side.
Ma Hongjun and Oscar had already fallen asleep, utterly exhausted from the day's relentless battles—hunting soul beasts, the confrontation with the Titan Giant Ape, Xiao Wu's abduction, and the pursuit by Tang San and Han Feng. Even Zhao Wuji couldn't bring himself to scold them.
Xiao Wu, noticing Ning Rongrong's weary appearance, felt a twinge of guilt. Remembering how Han Feng had helped Tang San chase after her, she sighed and sat beside Ning Rongrong to keep her company.
Tang San, too, couldn't rest. Han Feng had risked himself to protect him, which made sleeping peacefully impossible.
Besides, Xiao Wu hadn't slept either.
High in the trees, Zhao Wuji sat cross-legged, scanning all directions with heightened vigilance. Ever since the Titan Giant Ape's appearance, he had been on edge, not daring even to blink.
Xiao Wu and Ning Rongrong, sitting together, inevitably began chatting.
"Rongrong, what exactly do you see in him? He's got a terrible temper, he's not gentle or considerate, and he certainly doesn't care about you the way Third Brother cares about me. You're gorgeous—why are you chasing after him? "Xiao Wu huffed, glaring at the oblivious Han Feng.
Ning Rongrong flushed scarlet, instinctively wanting to deny it. But with only Xiao Wu nearby, her embarrassment faded, replaced by a quiet smile.
"I don't really know. Honestly, Han Feng treats me horribly—he's always scolding me. I've endured more from him than from anyone else my whole life! "
Glancing at Han Feng's furrowed brow, she pouted.
"He's not the most handsome guy I've seen, nor the smartest…"
"Then why? "Xiao Wu asked, baffled.
"I don't know! " Ning Rongrong's fair neck turned pink. Before Xiao Wu could press further, she grabbed her friend's hand and countered:
"What about you? Can you explain exactly why you fell for Tang San? And don't give me that 'sibling bond' excuse—you couldn't even fool Han Feng with that! "
"I… uh…! "Xiao Wu stammered, her face flaring crimson as her confidence crumbled. She fumbled for an answer, but none came.
Ning Rongrong wisely decided not to push further.
"See? You can't explain it either. Honestly, at first I wasn't interested in Han Feng—I was just curious and a little defiant. I'm a pampered princess back home, yet Han Feng was the only one who treated me without deference. Then… somehow… before I knew it, I was already by his side…"
Her voice grew softer, tinged with self-reproach.
Xiao Wu, however, was intrigued by the "princess" comment.
"So your family really dotes on you. But have you considered that if you marry Han Feng, he won't pamper you? He's not exactly rich, you know."
Ning Rongrong blushed again, secretly delighted at the suggestion but refusing to argue. Instead, she said proudly,
"I never choose friends based on wealth. No one could ever outmatch my family anyway. When I… when I…"
"When you what? Marry Han Feng? "Xiao Wu teased, laughing and squeezing her hand.
Just then, Han Feng completed his third soul ring absorption. Awakening from meditation, he caught the tail end of Xiao Wu's words—his own name—but missed the rest. Assuming the worst, he immediately asked,
"What are you two talking about? "
Seeing him awake, both Ning Rongrong and Xiao Wu brightened.
Xiao Wu's eyes gleamed mischievously.
"Oh, we were just saying that Rongrong will—mmph! "
Ning Rongrong clamped a hand over her friend's mouth, stammering:
"Nothing! Nothing at all! "
Han Feng frowned.
"Weird…"
"Han Feng! "
"Kid!"
Before he could press further, Tang San and Zhao Wuji appeared before him.
Tang San remained calm, having already guessed Han Feng would succeed. Zhao Wuji, on the other hand, was elated. He strode forward and seized Han Feng's shoulders.
"Kid, you're all right?! "
Han Feng blinked in confusion.
"Why wouldn't I be? Sure, it was tough, but it wasn't dangerous. Teacher Zhao, the way you're talking, it's like you were hoping something went wrong. If you've got something to say, just spit it out! "
Tang San chuckled awkwardly, noticing Zhao Wuji's twitching eye, and explained:
"Han Feng, the soul ring you just absorbed wasn't 1,500 years old—it was 2,200. And the beast you killed wasn't an Armored Scale Bull. It was an Immovable Crocodile-Scaled Bull."
Han Feng froze for a full three seconds.
"…So what you're saying is…? "
Tang San nodded. Zhao Wuji looked away, sheepish.
Han Feng took a deep breath, walked up to Zhao Wuji, and said meaningfully,
"Teacher Zhao, how about we go back to the academy for some remedial lessons? We just paid the price of ignorance—I won't stand for it! "
Zhao Wuji, knowing he was at fault, merely snorted and turned his head away.