As Chénxī absorbed the Spirit Ring, Yáng Wúshuāng paid close attention to her condition. If there were any signs of trouble, he planned to intervene, interrupt the process, and then find a Spirit Ring with a slightly lower age for Chénxī.
Chénxī, in the process of absorbing the Spirit Ring, maintained a very natural expression. Although the age of this second Spirit Ring was slightly higher than normal, her physique, enhanced by Narcissus Jade Muscle Bone, could fully withstand the immense energy within the Spirit Ring.
Time ticked by.
The morning sun began to rise.
The sky gradually turned the color of fish belly.
Chénxī slowly opened her eyes, looking at the purple Spirit Ring on her body, a beautiful curve slowly forming on her lips.
Her current Spirit Power level was a full twenty-six.
Before absorbing the immortal herb, Chénxī's Spirit Power was level fourteen. The immortal herb boosted her Spirit Power by ten levels, and absorbing the one-thousand-year Spirit Ring added another two levels.
Chénxī's second Spirit Skill was named: Phantom Bird Moon Dance Slash.
Phantom Bird Moon Dance Slash—when used, the user enters a state of incorporeality, during which attacks received will be reduced by fifty percent. It also consumes the user's spiritual power to form a Moon Dance Slash, dealing continuous mental attacks to the enemy.
Although her second Spirit Skill was different from what Chénxī had envisioned, it was still a rare skill that offered both offense and defense. Overall, Chénxī was quite satisfied.
After all, when absorbing a Spirit Ring, how much of the Soul Beast's original abilities one could inherit depended entirely on luck.
If lucky, the Spirit Skill could fully inherit the Soul Beast's innate attributes. If unlucky, one might not inherit any special abilities at all.
Chénxī's Spirit Skill, which inherited part of the abilities, was already considered quite good.
She moved her body slightly and got up from the ground.
"How do you feel?"
"Honestly, this is the first time I've seen someone's second Spirit Ring be a thousand-year one."
Yáng Wúshuāng approached Chénxī, looking at the shimmering purple Spirit Ring at her feet with admiration.
"If it weren't for the Narcissus Jade Muscle Bone that Uncle Yang prepared for me, I wouldn't have been able to absorb a thousand-year Spirit Ring at this stage."
Chénxī offered a polite smile.
"Let's go."
"Let's head back to where the Carriage is parked. We'll wait for the Young Master and the others there."
Yáng Wúshuāng smiled and led Chénxī out of the Sunset Forest.
Upon reaching the place where the Carriage was parked, Chénxī entered the carriage, sat cross-legged inside, and entered a state of meditation and cultivation.
Yáng Wúshuāng, on the other hand, sat in front of the Carriage, eyes closed, resting.
Several hours passed quietly.
Around eight in the morning, the figures of Qiān Rěn Xuě and Cì Xuè finally emerged from the Sunset Forest.
As Qiān Rěn Xuě entered the carriage, Chénxī also happened to open her eyes.
"How did it go?"
"Was it successful?"
Qiān Rěn Xuě sat down beside Chénxī and asked softly.
"It was successful."
Chénxī released her Spirit, displaying her one yellow and one purple Spirit Rings to Qiān Rěn Xuě.
"It's good that it was successful."
Looking at the thousand-year Spirit Ring on Chénxī, Qiān Rěn Xuě revealed a faint smile, genuinely happy for Chénxī.
The Carriage, driven by Cì Xuè and Yáng Wúshuāng, gradually began to move, heading in the direction of Heaven Dou City.
...
Sunset Forest.
Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
Dúgū Bó, having just returned to this place, paused for a moment, looking at the scenery before him. The smile on his face gradually vanished, and a somber expression quickly spread across his eyes.
"Who, who dares to pick my medicinal herbs in my medicinal garden?"
Dúgū Bó's voice carried a hint of fury.
But the further he walked inside, the darker his expression became, until finally, Dúgū Bó's face was so grim it seemed ready to drip water.
"Good!"
"Very good!"
"Eighty percent of the medicinal herbs are gone!"
Dúgū Bó's chest heaved violently, his fists clenching and unclenching.
Although he was furious, this was the depths of the Soul Beast Forest, protected by a Poison Formation at the outer perimeter. It was difficult for even Soul Beasts to approach, let alone humans.
Therefore, even if he wanted to investigate, there was no starting point.
His gaze swept around the surroundings, finally settling on the stone wall. Dúgū Bó looked at the words carved on the stone wall and read them out word by word.
"The outer Poison Formation, its creator is unknown. It's too crude, only capable of blocking a three-year-old child. Signed: Táng Sān visited here!"
After reading the words on the stone wall, Dúgū Bó suddenly laughed, but his laughter was filled with endless coldness. His eyes, like emeralds, were filled with killing intent.
"Táng Sān!"
"Good!"
"A good Táng Sān!"
"You'd better hide well, don't let me catch you, or I'll make your life worse than death!"
Dúgū Bó said, then suddenly punched, smashing the stone wall in front of him to pieces.
It was known that the two things Dúgū Bó cared about most in his life were his granddaughter, Dugu Yan, and anyone questioning his poison.
Yet this person who carved words on the stone wall not only took herbs from his garden but also provocatively carved words, mocking that his poison couldn't even stop a three-year-old child.
This was not just slapping him in the face, but doing so on both cheeks.
Dúgū Bó calmed his emotions, his gaze turned towards the direction of the forest, imprinting the name Táng Sān firmly in his mind.
...
On the other side.
Heaven Dou Imperial Palace.
In Emperor Xue Ye's study.
Emperor Xue Ye's fingers tapped lightly on a piece of news before him. His eyes, filled with authority, quietly watched Prince Xue Xing below.
Prince Xue Xing, head bowed, dared not look at Emperor Xue Ye above.
"Xue Xing."
"You've done a poor job of teaching them!"
"When he was in the Imperial Palace, Xuě Bēng was a bit unruly, but nowhere near a decadent rake."
"But after you took him to the Prince's Mansion, Xuě Bēng has been either molesting respectable women or acting recklessly, relying on his royal status!"
"I originally thought it was Xuě Bēng's nature, so I didn't blame you, telling you to discipline him properly, but you've managed him so well!"
"Xuě Bēng actually lost a certain ability in a pleasure house, and the news spread throughout Heaven Dou City. What are you trying to do? What is that unfilial son Xuě Bēng trying to do?"
"Are we not ashamed?"
"Does our royal family still have any dignity?"
Emperor Xue Ye angrily slammed the table, his last sentence almost a roar.
"Your Majesty, this matter..."
"This matter..."
Xue Xing knelt on one knee, cold sweat appearing on his forehead.
Regarding this matter, Prince Xue Xing didn't know how to explain it immediately.
"Xue Xing, you don't need to say any more."
"I think it's time for you to take a break."
"Hand over your current duties to Qing He. As for that unfilial son Xuě Bēng, after this matter subsides, I'll have him guard the Imperial Tomb."
"If he causes any more trouble, Xue Xing, you can go guard the Imperial Tomb with him."
Emperor Xue Ye cast a deep glance at Prince Xue Xing, then rose from his seat and left with a flick of his sleeve.