In the Star Dou Forest.
Towering trees that blocked out the sun lined their path, lush green leaves exuding a refreshing vitality. Zhu Ziyang and Jiang Nannan walked with Yang Zhenzhen through this ancient and primeval jungle.
It was Yang Zhenzhen's first time in the Star Dou Forest, and she was full of curiosity and questions about this famous soul beast haven that had birthed countless legends. Her wide eyes sparkled with vitality as she observed everything around her. Even though they were engaging in a potentially dangerous task, her voice brimmed with excitement.
"Sister Nannan, this environment is so refreshing!" Yang Zhenzhen took a deep breath of air and said joyfully.
"Right? I feel the same way," Jiang Nannan smiled brightly in agreement.
"Zhenzhen, have you thought about what kind of soul beast you want for your third soul ring?" Zhu Ziyang asked, a smile appearing on his face as he looked at the cheerful pair of girls.
"Yup," Yang Zhenzhen responded without hesitation. "My first and second soul skills are both enhancement-type skills, so for my third ring, I want an attack-type soul skill. I did some research, and the Heavenly Thunder Eagle seems like a great choice."
Yang Zhenzhen's first two soul rings had both been acquired with Zhu Ziyang and Jiang Nannan's help. Her first soul ring was from a 200-year-old Electric Glide Mouse, granting her a soul skill called Charge, which enhanced lightning-element attacks. Her second ring was from a 700-year-old Thunder Demon Wolf, providing a soul skill called Thunder Demon Body, which boosted her strength and attack power.
Now, she wanted to acquire an offensive soul skill—this came as no surprise to Zhu Ziyang. What did surprise him, however, was that she actually knew of the Heavenly Thunder Eagle and had already chosen it as her target for her third soul ring.
"You're quite the thinker," Zhu Ziyang said with a hint of surprise. "Do you know what kind of soul beast the Heavenly Thunder Eagle is?"
"I do!" Yang Zhenzhen nodded seriously. "The Heavenly Thunder Eagle is a top-tier thunder-type flying soul beast. Its body contains an extremely explosive form of thunder energy said to originate from divine lightning of the heavens. It can effortlessly obliterate soul beasts of the same realm—hence the name. I believe its soul ring will give me a powerful attack skill."
"Heavenly Thunder Eagles possess extremely volatile energy. Their soul rings aren't easy to absorb. Are you confident you can handle it?" Zhu Ziyang asked, both impressed and slightly concerned.
"I believe in myself. I can do it!" Yang Zhenzhen nodded with firm conviction, and from her eyes, Zhu Ziyang could sense her resolve.
"Alright then. The Star Dou Forest happens to be one of the habitats of the Heavenly Thunder Eagle. Let's help you hunt down a thousand-year one," Zhu Ziyang said with a smile.
"Awesome! Thank you, Brother Ziyang!" Yang Zhenzhen cheered happily, bouncing up in delight.
With their goal set, the three immediately sprang into action. Gone was their carefree spring-outing attitude, replaced by seriousness and caution.
They bypassed the forest's outskirts and the mixed zones, heading straight toward the core region. A soul beast as powerful as the Heavenly Thunder Eagle wouldn't be found on the outskirts. So they didn't waste any time lingering and dove directly into the forest's heart.
After searching for three to four days, they finally found a suitable Heavenly Thunder Eagle on a tall lightning-struck tree. Zhu Ziyang personally made the move, snatching the thousand-year-old eagle cub before its two ten-thousand-year-old parents could react. By the time the enraged adult eagles released waves of terrifying lightning, Zhu Ziyang, Jiang Nannan, and Yang Zhenzhen were already a kilometer away—well out of their reach.
"Zhenzhen, your turn," Zhu Ziyang said as he tossed the roughly 1,300-year-old Heavenly Thunder Eagle in front of her.
"Mhm!" Yang Zhenzhen nodded, her eyes gleaming green as she stared intently at the majestic eagle. A kitchen knife appeared in her hand—the same one she had used for her previous two soul beasts. Now, it would claim its third.
She raised the blade and brought it down. The eagle, already unconscious from being seized, let out a faint groan before falling silent forever. A faint purple soul ring rose from its corpse, drawing Yang Zhenzhen's gaze.
"Go, Zhenzhen!" Jiang Nannan cheered.
Yang Zhenzhen nodded and sat cross-legged beside the eagle. She activated her soul power, and a pair of purple moth wings appeared behind her, crackling with electric arcs—strikingly beautiful. Under her guidance, the soul ring floated into her hands.
As her eyes closed, the process of refining and absorbing the soul ring began. Uncontrollable arcs of electricity danced around her. Her martial soul, the Thunderlight Moth, was clashing with the Heavenly Thunder Eagle's soul ring. The difference in soul beast class was stark, but if she could absorb the ring, her martial soul would be greatly strengthened. If she failed—Zhu Ziyang was ready to save her life at any cost.
Fortunately, things were going smoothly. Though electric arcs still flickered from time to time, they were clearly becoming more docile.
"Brother!" Jiang Nannan suddenly called out in surprise.
"What is it?" Zhu Ziyang looked over. She was crouching beside the eagle's body, holding a soul bone in her hands, her face full of delight.
Zhu Ziyang stared blankly for a moment, then burst into laughter. "This girl really has amazing luck!"
"Right? It's even a torso bone!" Jiang Nannan exclaimed. "Though only at the thousand-year level, torso bones are rarer and more valuable than ten-thousand-year limb bones. This one could greatly boost Zhenzhen's strength!"
"Indeed. Once she finishes absorbing the soul ring, let's have her absorb the soul bone too," Zhu Ziyang smiled.
Three hours later, Yang Zhenzhen successfully refined the Heavenly Thunder Eagle's soul ring and leapt up excitedly. Her delicate face was full of excitement. Two yellow and one purple soul ring now floated behind her, while her moth wings crackled with even more intense lightning.
Her eyes sparkled with electricity. As her third soul ring glowed, her wings darkened to a deep purple, and the space around her dimmed. In the next instant, nine bolts of purple lightning crashed down in a five-meter radius around her, carving deep craters into the ground.
"That's your third soul skill? Impressive! And it's an area-of-effect attack too," Zhu Ziyang said in admiration.
"Hehe!" Yang Zhenzhen deactivated her martial soul and ran over excitedly. "Yup! It's called Heavenly Thunder Descent! It instantly strikes down nine bolts of thunder on targets within its range. What's more—its number of bolts will increase as my strength improves!"
"Hehe, congratulations, Zhenzhen!" Jiang Nannan playfully pinched her cheeks. "Not only did your wish come true—you even overachieved!"
"Yeah!" Yang Zhenzhen nodded excitedly, her joy unmistakable.
"Here you go, Zhenzhen." Zhu Ziyang handed her the Heavenly Thunder Eagle's torso bone with a smile. "Go ahead and absorb this soul bone too. Nannan and I will protect you."
"Eh?" Yang Zhenzhen froze, unable to believe her ears. She stared at Zhu Ziyang in disbelief.
"Come on now, don't act so surprised." Jiang Nannan laughed at her reaction and explained, "This is a torso bone, taken from the very same eagle. It's practically made for you!"
"I-I can't accept this. It's too valuable. You keep it, Brother Ziyang!" she stammered, waving her hands.
"In Shrek Academy, the one who gets the soul ring gets the soul bone too. That's the rule!" Zhu Ziyang said with a mock-stern face. "Take it."
He stuffed the soul bone into her hands. She fumbled with it like it was burning hot, switching hands again and again, looking at Jiang Nannan with a pleading gaze. "Sister Nannan, I…"
"Alright now," Jiang Nannan smiled, wrapping her hands around Zhenzhen's to firmly hold the soul bone. "This is yours. No one can take it from you. Be good—go absorb it. We'll guard you."
Jiang Nannan's gentleness soothed the girl's nervousness. With a silly grin, she sat cross-legged on the ground once more, holding the torso bone. Following Jiang Nannan's instructions, she pressed it to her back.
The fusion began.
(End of Chapter)
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