Purple Soul Ring!A millennium in age!
Aoi Kenshin slumped to the ground, utterly drained. Though it appeared he had struck only a single blow, that one sword swing had poured out every last drop of his soul power. If he couldn't kill the female Azure-Edged Mantis, retreat was the only option.
After regaining some strength, he staggered toward the floating purple soul ring. His handsome, dirt-streaked face flickered with hesitation.
"The female mantis… she evolved to a millennium soul ring after devouring the male. That's far beyond what a first soul ring should absorb," he muttered.
"But if I don't absorb it…"
"It would be such a waste!"
"How long would it take me to find another suitable soul ring?"
"Besides, the longer the soul ring's age, the more powerful the soul skill it grants!"
He gulped down a mouthful of wine, letting its warmth restore a fraction of his drained soul power. Determination replaced doubt in his eyes, along with his signature arrogance.
"With this opportunity in front of me… if I let it slip, I'm no longer Aoi Kenshin!"
"With my Wine Martial Soul to heal me, I will succeed!"
Immediately, he seated himself cross-legged. One gulp of wine after another, his exhausted soul power surged back, restoring him to peak condition. His eyes shone brightly. He began absorbing the soul ring.
Buzzz—!
The purple soul ring's energy surged into his body, violent and sharp, carrying the very traits of the Azure-Edged Mantis.
"Hmph!" Aoi Kenshin grunted. A thin trickle of blood ran from the corner of his mouth. Veins bulged across his forehead, and each inch of skin felt as if pierced by a blade.
The millennium soul ring's energy tore through him like a raging river, his blood vessels straining like purple dragons, leaking drops of blood.
For most prodigies, absorbing a first soul ring aged four to five hundred years is already remarkable. But Aoi Kenshin? His first soul ring was a thousand-year-old monstrosity. Truly terrifying.
He gritted his teeth, white shirt soaked through with blood clinging to his back. His fingers dug deep into the earth, black eyes blazing with unyielding determination.
"I said it… I, Aoi Kenshin!"
"Am no ordinary man!"
"I do what normal people cannot, endure what others cannot bear!"
"Like a Roc riding the wind, I shall soar ninety thousand miles!"
"Absorb—this—soul ring!"
The celadon gourd floated before him. He seized it, tipped his head back, and swallowed the wine mixed with his own blood. His battered body began to heal instantly.
Fiercely, he intensified the absorption.
Buzzz—!
The purple soul ring trembled, energy roaring like a flood into him. His restored body was torn anew. Another gulp of wine, and the process repeated.
Absorbing the millennium soul ring was torture beyond imagination. But with each agonizing cycle, his body strengthened. Gradually, the purple ring in front of him seemed to dim.
After the span of an incense stick, Aoi Kenshin lay back on the ground. Pale, exhausted, but a satisfied smile tugged at his lips.
"I… succeeded."
Closing his eyes, his grin widened. "Hahaha! I did it!"
Absorbing a millennium soul ring was incredibly dangerous. Without his Wine Martial Soul to heal him, anyone else would have exploded from the strain.
Half an hour later, his spirit fully restored, Aoi Kenshin summoned the Azure Lotus Sword.
The three-foot-six-inch blade hovered in front of him, lotus engravings glowing an eerie cyan. A sharp chill emanated from the blade; merely gazing at it made one's eyes water. This was a sword. Perfectly honed, lethal, unstoppable.
He felt the soul ring's power pulse through him, granting him a new skill: Azure Edge Sever. A technique designed for ultimate speed and precision.
"The power of a millennium soul ring won't disappoint," he whispered, gripping the hilt.
"Azure Edge Sever!"
Sword light erupted. The entire forest glowed cyan as he slashed. The arc tore through the air with a piercing whistle, reaching a massive tree in an instant—faster than the eye could follow.
Shhh—!
The sword cut through the trunk without hesitation, continuing its path until the tree split perfectly in two. No splinters, no hesitation, the blade emerged pristine.
Aoi Kenshin sheathed his sword, untouched by debris.
"Excellent!" he said, thrilled with the result. Enduring unimaginable pain had been worth it.
After testing the skill briefly, he looked down. His white robes were tattered and blood-stained.
"Hm. Before searching for my second soul ring, I need a quick wash."
Not out of vanity—being clean in the Star Dou Forest meant he wouldn't alert nearby soul beasts with his scent.
Ten minutes later, he found a clear stream, over a meter deep, with visibility to the bottom. Carefully checking upstream and downstream for threats, he ensured the area was safe.
"Big forest… unlikely anyone will show up. Time for a bath!"
He stripped and plunged into the water, washing away sweat, blood, and dust.
Several hundred meters away, a pale wolf-like beast collapsed, blood splashing on the leaves. A faint white soul ring floated above its corpse.
Zhu Zhuqing, expression as cold as ever, didn't even glance at it. Her jet-black eyes showed zero emotion.
"Training complete. Time to head to Shrek Academy," she murmured.
She had intended to leave the forest but noticed the drops of blood on her pale arm. She turned and headed to the stream nearby.
Splash, splash—
Zhu Zhuqing knelt on a rock at the water's edge, washing her arm carefully. When finished, she looked upstream—and froze.
A pale figure floated down the stream: a young man, face up, drifting along.
"…!"
Her normally calm face flushed bright red. She ground her teeth.
"Rogue!"
Aoi Kenshin sighed in pleasure. After the grueling soul ring absorption, nothing felt better than this cool stream—second only to fine wine. Eyes closed, he let the current carry him, fully relaxed.
He didn't notice the figure standing at the water's edge until a sharp, angry shout rang out.
"Rogue!"
He shot open his eyes, sinking into the water so only his head remained visible, scanning the area.
There she was—a beautiful girl, cheeks burning, glaring at him. He realized she was calling him the rogue.
Zhu Zhuqing glared. "Why… why aren't you wearing clothes?!"
Aoi Kenshin raised an eyebrow. "Are you insane? I'm bathing—why would I wear clothes?"
Her face turned even redder, a mix of anger and embarrassment.
"In broad daylight… bathing… without regard for anyone else?!"
He stood up, droplets cascading off his toned body. She quickly averted her gaze, pink staining her neck.
Aoi Kenshin flicked water with his hand, forming a small arc.
"Truly, women are hard to deal with," he said with a grin. "Relax, I checked upstream and downstream—no one's here. Seems I just didn't account for you, little rogue."
He smirked. In her own words, he returned her insult in kind.