Bibi Dong guided the soul ring left behind by Xiao Wu toward herself.
Lin Fan, meanwhile, first drew in the Titan Giant Ape's soul ring and began absorbing it.
As for the Azure Bull Python's soul ring, he left it alone for now. Soul rings didn't dissipate immediately, so there would be more than enough time for him to absorb them later.
Half an hour later—
The three-hundred-thousand-year soul rings had all vanished. Bibi Dong had long since reached level 99, unable to improve further, but her soul power had become even purer.
Lin Fan, on the other hand, after consecutively absorbing two hundred-thousand-year soul rings, had successfully reached level 97.
The colossal corpses of the Azure Bull Python and Titan Giant Ape dissipated after their soul rings were absorbed, but in their place remained two dazzling golden-red lights, even more radiant than the soul rings.
"Two hundred-thousand-year-old right arm bones!" Chrysanthemum Douluo and the others gasped in shock.
With a wave of his hand, Lin Fan stored both spirit bones into his spatial soul tool—but inwardly, he felt a twinge of frustration.
He already possessed a head spirit bone, a left arm spirit bone, and the external spirit bone Eight Spider Lances… and now, both beasts had dropped right arm bones at the same time.
"Wait… why does that human-shaped soul beast have two leg bones of different colors?"
Ling Yuan, observing from the sky, noticed that where Xiao Wu had perished, two spirit bones had appeared—one glowing pink, the other blue-gold.
"That's a left leg bone and a right leg bone," Bibi Dong explained, "but the right leg bone wasn't hers. However, its quality has reached the hundred-thousand-year level. It must be a spirit bone she had absorbed while alive."
"Hah!" Lin Fan's eyes lit up as everything suddenly made sense, and he burst out laughing.
"What's so funny?" Bibi Dong asked, puzzled.
"I think I know whose spirit bone this is," Lin Fan explained. "It should be the hundred-thousand-year spirit bone once sacrificed to Tang Hao by that soul beast back then. For some reason, Tang Hao never absorbed it. Later, he met Xiao Wu, and since she was going to the Spirit Hall tournament, Tang Hao gave her this spirit bone to conceal her original aura."
"Oh! That explains why she could move under our noses without us noticing at first," Chrysanthemum and Ghost Douluo, who had both seen the Blue Silver Emperor before, said in realization.
"Tang Hao miscalculated," Ghost Douluo sneered. "In the end, the spirit bone still falls into our hands."
"A perfect pair of leg bones," Bibi Dong sighed. "Too bad I can't use them. Why don't you take them?"
"Perfect timing—I'm missing both legs," Lin Fan said with a smile, swiftly storing them in his spatial soul tool.
"You're not shy, are you?" Bibi Dong rolled her eyes at his lightning-fast grab, as if afraid someone might snatch them away.
Chrysanthemum Douluo and the others looked on, practically drooling. Extra soul rings were useless to them, but spirit bones were different—if the slot hadn't been used before, any soul master could absorb it.
"Three hundred-thousand-year soul beasts are dead," Lin Fan said seriously. "I promised I wouldn't let your efforts go unrewarded—you'll get your share."
"Strategist, you're too polite," Chrysanthemum Douluo said, embarrassed. "We didn't even do much this time."
But then Lin Fan took out a few flowers, and Chrysanthemum Douluo's eyes went wide in an instant.
"This is… Ice Crystal Ghost Orchid!" Chrysanthemum Douluo exclaimed. "And four of them!"
"These spirit flowers aren't top-tier treasures," Lin Fan explained, "but they can strengthen your foundation and refine your soul power."
He handed one to each of the four titled Douluo.
"This flower is too rare. Eating it now feels like a waste. Strategist, can I keep it instead?" Chrysanthemum Douluo asked, holding it like a priceless treasure.
"It's yours now—do as you wish," Lin Fan said with a small smile. "But I suggest eating it soon. I picked it in the depths of the northern ice mountains. In a few days, it'll wither and lose its energy."
"You're fussing like an old woman," Ghost Douluo snorted, then promptly ate his without hesitation.
"Hmph! You emotionless old ghost, what do you know?" Chrysanthemum Douluo snapped back.
Ling Yuan and Demon Bear followed Ghost Douluo's example, swallowing the Ice Crystal Ghost Orchid and closing their eyes to refine its energy.
"You all—ugh!" Chrysanthemum Douluo finally gave in and ate his as well. Better to enjoy it than let it rot.
"This is the first time I've seen you so excited," Bibi Dong remarked to Lin Fan. "The flowers are nice, but you took two of my hundred-thousand-year spirit bones. What about mine?"
"Yours… I'll give it to you when we're back," Lin Fan said mysteriously. "You can't absorb it right now anyway."
"Oh? Then I'll look forward to it. But if I'm not satisfied, you'd better watch yourself," Bibi Dong warned.
"I'll make sure you're satisfied," Lin Fan replied confidently.
The flowers Lin Fan had given to the four Douluo were just common spirit herbs from the outer edges of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. To titled Douluo, they wouldn't boost soul power greatly, but they could still purify it a bit—enough to serve as a token of gratitude.
"Comfortable… I feel my soul power has deepened," Demon Bear said as he opened his eyes.
"Thank you, Strategist!" After today, he was thoroughly convinced of Lin Fan's worth.
"I feel it too," the others echoed, opening their eyes one by one.
"Good. If it works, then let's head back," Lin Fan nodded.
"Let's go," Bibi Dong said, leaping away first.
Lin Fan, lingering at the back, glanced toward the deeper part of the lake.
He knew that within lay even older soul beasts—but even the Silver Dragon King, wounded as she was, was still a god. Even injured, a god was still a god.
If he provoked her, it would be his funeral.
So Lin Fan wisely left that area untouched.
When they returned to Spirit Hall, Lin Fan settled back into the courtyard Bibi Dong had assigned to him. By now, he had absorbed Xiao Wu's left leg bone and the Blue Silver Emperor's right leg bone.
Now he sat at the table, frowning at the two right arm bones dropped by the Azure Bull Python and Titan Giant Ape.
He knew the Azure Bull Python's bone would give him a powerful offensive soul skill—another killing move.
But the Titan Giant Ape's bone would boost his raw strength and enhance his physique.
And right now, Lin Fan didn't lack attack power; he had just gained two hundred-thousand-year soul rings and a matched pair of leg bones.
What he lacked were more abilities that amplified his own body.
This is… a hard choice…