The moment Song Qing stepped into the dense forest within the Star Luo Empire, his senses expanded in an unprecedented manner. It was as if countless invisible threads connected him to every living organism around him. The passive ability of his Primordial Life Tree Spirit pulsed within him, painting a vivid picture of the forest in his mind's eye, revealing the location and approximate strength of every creature within its considerable range.
His mental scan was swift and comprehensive, cataloging the myriad forms of life, from the smallest insects to the more formidable spirit beasts. Among the tapestry of life energies, one particular signature stood out, a vibrant and potent aura that resonated with an almost palpable vitality. It was located deeper within the forest, and as Song Qing focused his senses, he identified it as a Heart Jade Vine, its soul age nearing thirteen hundred years.
'Thirteen hundred years… perfect,' he mused internally, a flicker of satisfaction warming his chest. He could sense the powerful life force emanating from the vine, a soothing energy that hinted at the healing abilities he hoped to acquire for his Primordial Life Tree Spirit. This was exactly the kind of spirit beast he had been searching for, its attributes perfectly aligning with his needs. Now came the more challenging part: obtaining its soul ring.
Song Qing knew better than to underestimate a spirit beast of that caliber, especially one with such a strong connection to the natural world. A direct confrontation at his current soul power level of 26 would be foolish, even with the abilities granted by his Abyssal Demonic Dragon Emperor. He needed a more strategic approach, one that would allow him to claim the soul ring without risking unnecessary injury or exposure of his hidden spirit.
His mind quickly formulated a plan, one that relied on the territorial nature of spirit beasts. He would lure weaker, but still formidable, creatures into the Heart Jade Vine's domain, hoping they would weaken it in the ensuing conflict. He had to be careful, however, to choose beasts that were strong enough to pose a threat but not so powerful that they would simply obliterate the vine before he had a chance to act.
With his enhanced senses, Song Qing began to locate suitable candidates, focusing on spirit beasts with soul ages ranging from a few hundred to nearly a thousand years. He carefully avoided any that seemed to possess particularly dangerous abilities or those that moved in packs, opting for solitary predators with strong territorial instincts. Once he had identified a few potential targets, he began the process of luring them towards the Heart Jade Vine's location.
This involved a combination of subtle manipulations of their natural prey and the occasional use of his Abyssal Demonic Dragon Emperor's aura to provoke their aggression and guide them in the desired direction. It was a delicate dance, requiring patience and precise control over his own spirit power. He had to ensure that the lured beasts were sufficiently agitated to attack the Heart Jade Vine but not so enraged that they would become uncontrollable.
As the first few hundred-year-old spirit beasts entered the vicinity of the Heart Jade Vine, a tense atmosphere settled over the forest. The Heart Jade Vine, sensing the intrusion, began to stir, its jade-colored leaves rustling with an almost sentient awareness. The lured beasts, upon detecting the presence of another powerful entity in their newly claimed territory, reacted with immediate hostility.
The sounds of battle soon echoed through the trees – roars, snarls, and the snapping of vines as the Heart Jade Vine retaliated against the intruders. Song Qing, meanwhile, had found a concealed position amidst a thicket of bushes, his Abyssal Demonic Dragon Emperor spirit hovering silently behind him, its shadowy form blending seamlessly with the surrounding darkness. He focused his mind, his Shadow Dominion extending outwards, the very shadows around him becoming extensions of his will.
He began to mold the shadows into sharp, weapon-like forms – spears, blades, and even a makeshift crossbow – all held in readiness for the opportune moment. He watched the unfolding conflict with a keen eye, observing the Heart Jade Vine's movements and the effectiveness of the attacking beasts. The vine, while not possessing overwhelming offensive power, displayed remarkable resilience and a surprising ability to ensnare its attackers with its tough, jade-like tendrils.
The lured beasts, driven by their territorial rage, fought fiercely, their claws and teeth tearing at the vine's leaves and stems. Slowly but surely, the Heart Jade Vine began to show signs of damage, its vibrant aura flickering slightly. This was the moment Song Qing had been waiting for. With a silent surge of soul power, he unleashed his shadowy weapons.
The shadow spears shot forth with incredible speed and precision, piercing the Heart Jade Vine's main body at several key points. The vine shuddered violently, its vibrant energy dimming further. The attacking spirit beasts, sensing their prey weakening, pressed their assault with renewed vigor. Before they could deliver the final blow, however, Song Qing emerged from his hiding place, his Abyssal Demonic Dragon Emperor letting out a silent roar.
He moved swiftly, his Shadow Dominion now focused on eliminating the remaining threats. Shadowy claws and tendrils erupted from the ground, ensnaring the weakened spirit beasts and delivering fatal blows. It was a swift and brutal display of power, ensuring that no other creature would interfere with his acquisition of the Heart Jade Vine's soul ring.
With the area secured, a purple spirit ring, radiating a potent vitality, rose from the remains of the Heart Jade Vine and floated towards Song Qing. He focused his mind, guiding the ring towards his hidden Primordial Life Tree Spirit. The absorption process was smooth and remarkably comfortable, a wave of soothing energy washing over him.
As the purple light subsided, Song Qing could feel a new connection to his Primordial Life Tree Spirit, a sense of enhanced vitality and inner harmony. He focused his intent, and a mental image of his new spirit skill formed in his mind: Verdant Embrace. The tree spirit extended its unseen branches, and a wave of warm, verdant energy pulsed outwards from him. He could feel his own minor aches and injuries instantly mending, his stamina replenished.
'This is incredible,' he thought, marveling at the healing power. But there was more. He sensed the passive ability kicking in, a subtle but profound adjustment within his very being. It was as if his physique was subtly aligning itself more perfectly with the unique nature of his Primordial Life Tree Spirit, optimizing his body for its energies.
The description of the passive ability echoed in his mind: correcting and repairing any and all issues of the Martial Spirit and allowing the physique of the Spirit Master to adapt to their Martial Spirits. This was far more significant than mere healing. It meant that any inherent flaws or limitations in his Martial Spirits could potentially be rectified over time with repeated use of Verdant Embrace. Furthermore, the ability to adapt a Spirit Master's physique to their Martial Spirit opened up a world of possibilities. 'If I use this on someone else,' he realized, 'I could potentially… tailor their physical form to better suit their spirit.' The implications were staggering.
Emboldened by his success, Song Qing continued his search, employing the same meticulous strategy. It wasn't long before his senses detected another powerful plant-based spirit beast, this one radiating a dark and thorny aura. It was a Thorny Ghost Vine, its soul age estimated to be around twenty-one hundred years.
The process of luring, weakening, and finally eliminating the Thorny Ghost Vine was similar to his encounter with the Heart Jade Vine, albeit with a slightly more challenging opponent. The Ghost Vine was more aggressive and possessed sharper, more resilient thorns. However, Song Qing's experience with the Heart Jade Vine had given him confidence, and his Abyssal Demonic Dragon Emperor proved more than capable of handling the task.
When the second purple spirit ring merged with his Primordial Life Tree Spirit, a different sensation washed over him, a feeling of control and subtle toxicity. The new spirit skill that manifested in his mind was named 'Venomous Entanglement'. He could now summon and manipulate thorny vines, imbued with a potent poison that could rapidly drain an opponent's soul energy upon contact.
The passive ability of this second soul ring was equally intriguing: as long as Song Qing could absorb different types of poisons, his Primordial Life Tree Spirit would be able to produce those poisons. This was a remarkable ability, turning his Primordial Life Tree Spirit into a potential wellspring of various toxins, a formidable weapon in the right circumstances.
With two purple soul rings now adorning his Primordial Life Tree Spirit, Song Qing felt a significant surge in his overall power. His soul power had broken through the bottleneck, reaching Level 28. He wasted no time in beginning his journey towards his next destination: the Star Luo Empire's capital and, more specifically, the residence of the Zhu family.
He didn't approach the Zhu family's imposing gates directly. Instead, he utilized the dense forest that surrounded a portion of their estate as his entry point. His Primordial Life Tree Spirit's sensing ability allowed him to navigate the sprawling woods with remarkable ease, detecting any potential threats long before they could pose a danger.
Furthermore, his mastery of the Abyssal Shadow Dash, the first spirit skill of his Abyssal Demonic Dragon Emperor, had improved significantly during his journey. He could now utilize the skill with minimal soul power expenditure, allowing him to traverse the forest at incredible speed, flitting through the shadows like a phantom. He moved with purpose, his mind focused on his objective within the Zhu family's territory. He knew that his actions here could potentially alter the future in significant ways, and he was determined to proceed with caution and precision.