...
Three days later, at dawn.
Deep within the mixed zone of the Starry Sky Forest.
As the first rays of sunlight pierced through the dense canopy and fell upon a cleared area of the campsite, Zhu Zhuqing slowly opened her eyes.
Those eyes, which were already clear and deep, now had an even more captivating, dark light.
"call..."
She exhaled a long breath, feeling the immense, unstoppable soul power within her body, her eyes filled with undisguised shock and joy.
Last night, in the middle of the night, while everyone was fast asleep, a five-thousand-year-old ghost tiger, over four meters long and as black as ink, recklessly barged into their camp.
The result was predictable.
Xuan Hao didn't even activate his martial soul.
He casually punched the ferocious five-thousand-year-old soul beast, smashing its brains into pieces.
Then he threw it in front of her like trash, telling her to quickly absorb the soul ring.
The whole process was so smooth and fast that even Zhu Zhuqing didn't have time to react.
And the third soul skill brought by this five-thousand-year-old ghost tiger did not disappoint her.
"Third Soul Skill, Netherworld Shadow Clone."
Zhu Zhuqing stood up and muttered to herself.
This is an extremely powerful and practical skill.
The multiple clones it creates are not merely illusions created by speed, but actual entities with substantial offensive power for a short period of time!
Most terrifyingly, these clones can even use her other spirit ring skills!
This is equivalent to having several equally powerful allies instantly appearing in the midst of battle!
If you combine that with the "Dragon-Tiger Transformation" skill, which grants all attribute boosts from the 60,000-year-old dragon-tiger beast skeleton...
Zhu Zhuqing couldn't imagine what a terrifying killing formation the countless afterimages and claws would form once she unleashed her full power!
However, what baffled her the most was not this heaven-defying soul skill.
"Thirty-eight levels?"
Zhu Zhuqing looked down at her hands, feeling the barriers to her soul power level being broken through one after another with unstoppable force, and she fell into deep self-doubt.
A few days ago, when she had just consumed the Narcissus Jade Bone, her soul power soared from level 27 to the bottleneck of level 30.
She already felt that this was God's blessing and that she had defied fate.
And now...
After absorbing a spirit ring, his spirit power didn't stay at level 31, but instead shot up to level 38 like a rocket!
Jumping eight levels in a row?!
"woke up?"
Just as Zhu Zhuqing was questioning her existence, Xuan Hao walked over with a steaming bowl of meat soup and casually handed it to her:
How are you feeling?
"I..."
Zhu Zhuqing took the broth, her eyes still somewhat vacant:
"Brother Hao, my soul power... has reached level thirty-eight."
"Is this...is this normal?
Am I going berserk and hallucinating?"
"Making a fuss over nothing."
Xuan Hao took a sip of the soup in his bowl, looking completely matter-of-fact.
"What's wrong with that?"
"Do you think that Narcissus Jade Skin and Bone Plant is just a roadside cabbage?
It's a divine herb that has taken the essence of heaven and earth!
It not only improved your physique, but a large part of its immense medicinal power has also accumulated in your body."
"Previously, you were stuck at level 30 because you hadn't acquired your third spirit ring.
Now that the bottleneck has been broken, and the third spirit ring you absorbed is a five-thousand-year-old ghost tiger with an extended lifespan, the combined effects of the medicine have caused it to fully unleash its power..."
Xuan Hao shrugged:
"Level 38 is just basic training."
"If I'm not mistaken, there should still be some residual medicinal power in your body that hasn't been fully absorbed.
Next, you just need to consolidate your cultivation level a bit and experience a few more real battles..."
Xuanhao held up two fingers:
"In three months at most, you'll be able to reach level 40."
"Three months...level 40?"
Zhu Zhuqing's hand trembled, and she almost spilled the soup in the bowl.
A twelve-year-old Soul Master at level forty?!
This is absolutely unprecedented in the history of the Star Luo Empire!
Even the eldest prince Davis, who is hailed as the number one genius of the Star Luo royal family, is only in his twenties at her age!
"Brother Hao, this magical herb... it's too incredible!"
Zhu Zhuqing's expression was somewhat complicated.
"Alright, stop looking like you've never seen anything like this before."
Xuan Hao smiled and patted her shoulder:
"The herb is indeed a good thing, but don't forget that these things are just icing on the cake, not a magic trick."
"It can turn an average Soul Master into a genius, and a genius into an unparalleled genius."
"But it can't turn an ordinary person with no foundation and weak will into an unparalleled powerhouse in one step."
"Your current achievements are only partly due to the immortal herbs and soul bones."
"More importantly, you need to have a solid foundation and a strong will.
If you were a pampered young lady who couldn't endure hardship, you wouldn't have survived the impact of five thousand years of soul rings; you would have exploded and died long ago."
"so..."
Xuan Hao pinched her cheek, and Zhu Zhuqing blushed, but didn't pull away.
"The product is indeed good, but how far it goes depends more on yourself."
Just as Xuan Hao withdrew his hand, he heard light footsteps behind him.
What are you talking about?
Ning Rongrong, who had just woken up, yawned as she walked out of the tent, her long, smooth hair still draped lazily over her shoulders.
She walked to Xuan Hao's side with complete ease, snatched the hot soup that he had just served from his hand, and took a big gulp from the edge of the soup he had just drunk from without any hesitation.
"Mmm...delicious!"
Ning Rongrong squinted her eyes in satisfaction, then glanced at the completely transformed Zhu Zhuqing beside her and asked:
"Now that Zhu Qing has her spirit ring, shall we head back home?"
"It's about time to go back."
Xuan Hao glanced at the depths of the forest and casually said, "But, we've finally come out, it would be too boring to go back like this.
We can wander around in this forest for a couple more days."
"Play?"
Upon hearing this, Ning Rongrong immediately became displeased and couldn't help but complain:
"What's so fun about this lousy forest?"
"It's all gloomy and eerie, there's not even a place to take a bath.
And you have to be on guard against those strangely shaped soul beasts all the time, they're always biting you by snakes, insects, or rats, it's so annoying!"
Upon hearing this, Xuan Hao rolled his eyes, somewhat speechless.
"It's as if you've actually been bitten by snakes, insects, or rodents these past few days."
"With me here as your full-time bodyguard, not even a mosquito can fly in within dozens of meters. Where is the danger?"
"Hmph, whatever!"
Ning Rongrong shoved the empty bowl back into Xuan Hao's hand, then moved closer like a supple, boneless snake.
She tiptoed, whispered in Xuan Hao's ear, her breath sweet and fragrant, her voice low yet alluringly coquettish:
"Brother Xuanhao, you promised me..."
"After you help Zhu Qing get the soul ring and go back, you have to spend some time with me and 'strengthen our relationship'."
Ning Rongrong secretly pinched Xuan Hao's waist with her small hand, biting her lower lip, her eyes filled with resentment:
"Otherwise, that night at the hotel... do you think I would have let you off so easily?"
"You're not planning to use the excuse of wandering in the forest to go back on your word and deliberately stall for time, are you?"
Upon hearing this blatant attempt to force Xuan Hao's hand, he immediately felt a stomachache.
It's not just Ning Rongrong!
Aside from Zhu Zhuqing, the newbie who just joined, Xiao Wu and Na'er have been looking at him more and more strangely these past few days!
During his night watch these past two nights, he could easily spot the girls hiding in the tent, using a dim soul-guided lamp, huddled together, secretly reading "picture books"!
They were even discussing them while their faces were flushed!
They were all eager to get back and "strengthen their relationship" with him!
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