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Upon hearing Grand Priest Zhu Hongye's words, a burst of restrained joy instantly lit up in Zhu Zhuqing's usually aloof eyes.
A nearly four-thousand-year-old Nether Shadow Panther was far beyond her expectations in both age and attributes, making it the most ideal choice they could hope to find at this moment.
Suppressing her excitement, she respectfully addressed Zhu Hongye:
"Then I'll trouble you, Grand Priest."
Zhu Hongye looked at her niece's formal demeanor and shook her head slightly with a hint of exasperation, her tone carrying an elder's indulgence: "Silly child, there's no need to be so polite with your aunt."
Zhu Zhuqing felt a slight warmth in her heart and softly replied, "Mm."
At that moment, Zhu Hongye's aura underwent a sudden transformation. The previously calm and subdued presence vanished, replaced by the awe-inspiring might of a Title Douluo.
She didn't even use any powerful soul skills—just casually waved her hand, and a dense surge of soul power struck forward like an invisible sledgehammer.
"Boom!"
A thunderous sound erupted as the dense thicket of bushes obscuring their view and several trees with trunks as wide as bowls were shattered into splinters, clearing out a patch of open ground instantly.
In the center of the clearing, a spirit beast's figure was unmistakably revealed, its body crouched low in alertness, emitting a threatening growl from its throat.
This Nether Shadow Panther was nearly three meters long, its streamlined body exuding explosive power.
Its fur wasn't pure black but a deep, dark purple covered with irregular, light-absorbing patterns that made it highly deceptive amidst the dappled forest shadows.
Most striking were its narrow, elongated pupils, which glowed an icy amber color, now fixed intently on the suddenly appeared humans, radiating wildness and caution.
Even standing still, it gave off an impression of incredible speed and agility.
However, perhaps realizing just how dangerous these humans were, a flicker of fear passed through its amber eyes.
Almost in the next instant, its limbs surged with power, and its form blurred as if merging with the wind, transforming into a shadowy streak about to dart backward.
But before a prepared Title Douluo, especially one whose Ghostly Spirit Cat martial soul excelled in speed, its attempt to escape was futile.
Zhu Hongye sneered, "Thinking of running?"
Below her feet, the first yellow-century soul ring instantly lit up. Its glow wasn't dazzling, yet it carried a sharp, condensed energy.
"First soul skill, Nether Piercing Strike!"
There was no earth-shattering display. Zhu Hongye's figure seemed to merely sway slightly, leaving behind an almost imperceptible afterimage.
The next moment, she appeared like a ghost directly in front of the path the Nether Shadow Panther was attempting to flee.
Her right hand's fingers, now surrounded by faint black light, casually slashed forward!
Swish—!
A sharp slicing sound rang out.
Despite pushing its speed to the limit, the Nether Shadow Panther had no time to make any effective evasive move.
It felt an irresistible, piercing force instantly tear through its soul power defenses, striking precisely at its most vulnerable waist and abdomen!
"Wooow—!"
A pitiful wail echoed as the Nether Shadow Panther's forward momentum was abruptly halted. Its massive body flew sideways like a broken kite, crashing heavily into a large tree and shaking down a flurry of leaves.
A deep wound exposing bone appeared on its waist, blood gushing out profusely. Its vitality plummeted instantly, leaving it sprawled on the ground, twitching helplessly.
Clearly, it had been severely injured and lost all ability to resist.
Zhu Hongye retracted her hand, her aura returning to calm, as if the lightning-fast strike had been nothing more than an illusion.
She turned to Zhu Zhuqing, her tone serene: "Go ahead, Zhuqing. Deliver the final blow, then absorb the soul ring in peace."
"With your aunt guarding you, no one will disturb you."
"Yes, thank you… Aunt."
Zhu Zhuqing took a deep breath, suppressing her shock and longing for such immense power, and nodded solemnly.
She quickly stepped forward, looking at the dying Nether Shadow Panther on the ground, and summoned her martial soul.
Her claws flashed with cold light as she cleanly ended the suffering of the thousand-year-old spirit beast.
A profound purple soul ring slowly emerged from the Nether Shadow Panther's corpse, its light flowing and radiating powerful energy fluctuations.
Without hesitation, Zhu Zhuqing immediately sat cross-legged, calming her mind and circulating her soul power within.
Extending her right hand, she used her own soul power to guide the purple millennium soul ring to envelop her body.
The instant the soul ring's energy entered her body, Zhu Zhuqing's delicate frame trembled violently, her eyebrows instantly knitting together.
The energy of a four-thousand-year soul ring was simply too overwhelming and domineering for a thirty-level Soul Elder's body and meridians.
That force surged through her like a violent tide, causing a tearing pain.
Her face began to pale, beads of sweat forming on her forehead, and her body uncontrollably trembled slightly.
Clearly, the absorption process was anything but easy—it was extremely difficult and perilous.
Watching nearby, Hu Liena couldn't help but reveal a worried look in her beautiful eyes.
Though she knew Zhu Zhuqing was exceptionally talented and had a solid foundation, absorbing a soul ring beyond her level was still fraught with danger.
Unable to resist, she quietly moved closer to Dai Chengfeng and whispered in a voice only the two of them could hear: "Hey, Dai Chengfeng, is Zhuqing really… going to be okay?"
"This is nearly a four-thousand-year soul ring. Isn't it too much of a stretch?"
Ning Rongrong also heard Hu Liena's question and cast a concerned and tense glance.
As an auxiliary-type soul master, she understood better than anyone else just how much strain this energy surge placed on the body.
Dai Chengfeng's gaze never left Zhu Zhuqing. He could see every trace of pain on her face, and his heart tightened.
But he had absolute confidence in Zhu Zhuqing's endurance and potential.
Taking a deep breath to steady his emotions, he shook his head, "Don't worry."
"Zhuqing's physique has been tempered by the medicinal pills I provided, making her meridians far more resilient than those of her peers. Her willpower is also incredibly strong."
"This challenge won't defeat her. We have to believe in her."
Hu Liena and Ning Rongrong looked at his calm and confident profile, their unease dissipating slightly. They exchanged glances and nodded subtly.
They refocused their attention on Zhu Zhuqing as she absorbed the soul ring, silently praying for her.
Time ticked by, one second after another, and the forest grew darker as night gradually fell.
The fluctuations of Zhu Zhuqing's soul power alternated between intense and calm, her complexion changing with each surge of energy.
Yet, throughout it all, she didn't utter a single groan of pain.
She simply bit her lower lip tightly, relying on her indomitable will to guide the overwhelming energy to cleanse and expand her meridians, slowly channeling it into her dantian.
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