"Heh heh…"
Tang San looked at Han Feng and could only offer a couple of awkward chuckles—even he had to admit, Han Feng's mouth was simply infuriating.
Zhao Wuji ignored Han Feng, and Han Feng, no longer provoking him, grinned smugly. Instead of being upset about unexpectedly absorbing a soul ring beyond his limit, he actually seemed pleased.
He had been puzzled earlier—how could a mere 1,500-year-old Armored Scale Bull grant such a powerful soul skill?
Now that the truth was out, Han Feng realized it was a blessing in disguise.
Tang San caught the look on his face and already knew what was going through his mind. With a gentle smile, he asked,
"Han Feng, judging by that expression, your third soul skill must be quite formidable, isn't it? "
Xiao Wu and Ning Rongrong eagerly crowded closer, eyes full of curiosity.
Han Feng grinned triumphantly.
"A 2,200-year Immovable Crocodile-Scaled Bull—if the ability isn't strong, wouldn't that disgrace its name? "
"Can you stop being so cryptic already!? "Zhao Wuji, just as curious, barked impatiently and made to swat Han Feng.
"Out with it—show us what it does! "
Han Feng dodged with a laugh.
"All right, feast your eyes! "
"Roar!"
The Seraphic Shield manifested instantly, its three soul rings—yellow, yellow, and purple—radiating an oppressive aura. Even Tang San frowned slightly under the heat of Han Feng's martial soul.
The third purple ring flared. Fire-red soul power erupted around Han Feng, surging outward with explosive force.
"Boom!"
A thunderous roar split the air as the energy coalesced, forming behind him a towering silhouette wreathed in flames. The spectral figure, only upper-bodied, loomed five meters tall, with Han Feng standing precisely at its core. Its right hand wielded a massive shield, its left arm raised as though ready to strike.
"What… what is that?! "
The commotion jolted Ma Hongjun and the others awake. They scrambled from their tents, fear etched on their faces, half-expecting the Titan Giant Ape had returned.
Instead, they froze at the sight of the blazing avatar.
"What is this? Did you succeed in absorbing the ring, or are you possessed by some fiery demon? "Dai Mubai asked, bewildered.
Tang San, though awed by the overwhelming presence of the third soul skill, calmly explained:
"This is Han Feng's third soul skill. We wanted to see what kind of ability he gained by exceeding the normal absorption limit—sorry for waking you."
Dai Mubai waved off the apology, while Ma Hongjun edged closer, reaching out to touch the flaming projection. Oscar yanked him back.
"Fatty! Did you forget the last time you ignored Tang San's warning? "
Ma Hongjun stiffened, sheepishly retracting his hand. Han Feng, catching the exchange, cast a subtle glance at Tang San—clearly, Tang San hadn't lost his Eight Spider Spears because of him.
Xiao Wu, brimming with excitement, blurted,
"Han Feng, what's this third soul skill called? It looks incredible! "
Han Feng, having waited for this moment, straightened with mock solemnity and declared:
"Third Soul Skill—Dominion Form: Susanoo! "
Unfortunately, lacking ocular martial spirits, his defiant, arrogant pose didn't quite have the intended impact.
"Huh?"
Dai Mubai and the others stared blankly. Unfamiliar with any "legend of the eye-clan village wars," the name sounded like meaningless gibberish.
Han Feng's face flushed with embarrassment.
"Ahem! " He coughed twice, trying to cover his awkwardness.
"Just kidding. Of course, it's not called Susanoo. The real name is Immovable Flame Enforcer—definitely not Susanoo. No way."
The group exchanged skeptical looks, quietly convinced he'd just done something foolish.
Breaking the tension, Ning Rongrong smiled and asked,
"Han Feng, that third soul skill seems to drain a lot of energy. Can you really keep it up like that? "
Her words, meant to save him, only made his face stiffen.
"It's fine. With my current soul power, if I'm not fighting, I can maintain it for a minute or two."
The others gasped in unison.
They all knew the potency of Han Feng's soul power—it was several times that of a typical soul master. Even at level 30, his reserves had rivaled Dai Mubai's, and after absorbing his third ring, his strength had grown further. Zhao Wuji had already told them Han Feng's soul power would reach at least level 33.
And yet, with all that, he could only sustain it for a minute or two in a non-combat state?
If this ability were given to Ma Hongjun or Zhu Zhuqing, it would likely exhaust them the instant it activated.
Ning Rongrong chuckled softly.
"Then I'll choose a soul skill that boosts soul power for my third ring."
Originally, she had planned to choose a defensive-boosting skill. Now, thanks to Han Feng, she had changed her mind.
Everyone fell silent, waiting to hear Han Feng's reaction. But instead, Zhao Wuji's blunt voice cut in:
"Enough stalling! You know it burns through your energy, and yet you're just standing around chatting? Out with it—what exactly does this skill do? We're in the Star Dou Great Forest, not the Academy! "
The others exchanged a silent thought:
"No wonder he's single for life."
Han Feng, pleased to have the floor, proclaimed:
"Listen up—this soul skill is incredible. See this shield? It completely nullifies all indirect attacks and reduces direct physical damage by 50%. On top of that, it doubles my physical strength! "
"Indirect attacks? "Ma Hongjun echoed blankly.
"Idiot, that means things like your Phoenix Fireline or Boss Dai's White Tiger Light Wave! " Oscar smacked him on the head.
Ma Hongjun ignored the jab, eyes widening.
"Wait, doesn't that mean…? "
"Exactly. Against Han Feng, the only option is close combat," Tang San analyzed coolly.
The group swallowed hard.
"Close combat… with Han Feng? "
Could they even break his defense? And if they did, could they withstand a fully charged shield bash? And that was before considering his "Flame Dragon Knight" transformation—plus his new soul skill halved all direct physical damage!
Dai Mubai even found himself wondering if he could defeat Han Feng in a straight-up fight.
Satisfied by their reactions, Han Feng deactivated the Immovable Flame Enforcer.
Tang San, calmer than the rest, approached him.
"Han Feng, when you absorbed the soul ring, did you experience any illusion attacks? Or perhaps…"
With a sudden motion, Tang San extended the Eight Spider Spears from his back.
"…did you acquire anything like this? "
Han Feng's pupils constricted at the sight, though Tang San mistook his reaction for shock.
"No. Did you? All I felt was that the absorption was tougher than usual—no illusions or anything like that," Han Feng said, half-truthfully. He hadn't gained an external soul bone from the Immovable Crocodile-Scaled Bull, so it wasn't exactly a lie.
Blame the Grandmaster, Han Feng thought. He taught Tang San so much, yet never mentioned external spirit bones.
Tang San, disappointed, withdrew the Eight Spider Spears.
"So it wasn't just from exceeding the absorption limit…" he murmured.
Xiao Wu then stepped closer, her tone probing:
"Han Feng, how do you know the Titan Giant Ape? "
Han Feng had expected the question. Rolling his eyes, he thought,
You managed to escape unscathed from it, even snatching your third ring from a beast it knocked out. Why is it strange that I might know it?
Aloud, he delivered the story he had prepared long ago:
"What's the big deal? Years ago, when my parents brought me to the Star Dou Forest for my second soul ring, we killed an overactive rhinoceros and ran into a sloth ape trying to steal the carcass. The Titan Giant Ape drove it off. That's how I met it. I was terrified—I'll never forget its aura."
Xiao Wu, only half-convinced, nodded. She had left the forest six years ago and had no idea what Er Ming had been up to since, but knowing his temperament, it wasn't hard to believe he'd fought a Sloth Ape.
"An Overactive Rhinoceros? "Tang San echoed, thinking of Han Feng's second soul skill.
"Han Feng, your luck really is remarkable."