Chapter 131: The Overturned Storyline

"Alright, everyone, have a seat!" Mu Chen instructed.

At his words, Jiangzhu, Meng Yiran, Xue Ke, Zhu Zhuqing, Ning Rongrong, Xiao Wu, Dai Mubai, Oscar, Ma Hongjun, and Tang San all formed a circle and sat down on the ground.

"In a few days, the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Competition will begin. Now, I'll briefly explain the rules. Rules are restrictions, but if used wisely, they can become advantages."

"The competition is a grand event in the soul master world, organized by the royal families of the Heaven Dou and Star Luo Empires, with the Spirit Hall as a co-sponsor. The contestants' strength is second only to the Spirit Hall's elite selection."

"The competition stipulates that participants must be under twenty-five years old, with seven participants per match. Deaths are not allowed during the competition. Remember, soul skills are indiscriminate, so try to spare your opponent's life. If they are too arrogant, respond with decisive force. Always remember, behind you stands a leader named Mu Chen."

Uh-huh! 

Uh-huh! 

Uh-huh! 

In response to Mu Chen's words, Tang San, Dai Mubai, and the others all nodded. Xiao Wu, however, gazed at Mu Chen with admiration.

"Additionally, during the competition, you cannot use drugs or food made by non-food and non-healer soul masters, nor can you use any weapons beyond your martial soul. This means aphrodisiacs, stimulants, hidden weapons, and such are prohibited."

"Make sure to remember these rules; otherwise, you will be disqualified from the competition. That's all for now. Tang San, have you reached level seventy in your soul power?" Mu Chen asked.

"What?"

"Level seventy?"

"Third Brother, have you reached level seventy?"

Dai Mubai, Zhu Zhuqing, Ning Rongrong, and others looked at Tang San in surprise.

"I just broke through last night and hadn't had a chance to tell you yet!" Tang San smiled, his eyes showing a hint of pride.

"In that case, we need to head to the Sunset Forest to quickly help Xiao San obtain his seventh spirit ring," Flender suggested.

"No need. To acquire a spirit ring, there's no need to go to the Sunset Forest. Xiao San, take this." Mu Chen flicked his finger, sending an inner core from his storage soul guide to float in front of Tang San.

"This is... an inner core?" Tang San was stunned. As someone who had transmigrated, he immediately recognized the item.

The white, glowing object floating in front of Tang San was unmistakably an inner core from a creature in the fantasy world of his previous life.

"Yes. From my understanding, an inner core has similar properties to a soul beast's spirit ring. Once you absorb this inner core, you'll gain a spirit ring with a 130,000-year level," Mu Chen explained.

"What?"

"A 130,000-year spirit ring?"

Tang San, Flender, and the others were dumbfounded as they stared at Mu Chen.

"Do you have the courage?" Mu Chen asked, nodding at Tang San.

"I do." Tang San nodded confidently.

"Good, but don't rush into cultivation yet. I heard from Yanyan that her grandfather has a medicinal garden. All of you come with me. Dean, Erlong, you're coming too. Zhao Wuji, please fetch Teachers Shao Xin, Lu Qibin, and Li Yusong," Mu Chen instructed.

Heading to Dugu Bo's medicinal garden meant acquiring celestial herbs. As Shao Xin, Lu Qibin, and Li Yusong were long-standing members of Shrek Academy who had weathered storms with Flender, Mu Chen didn't intend to favor some over others.

Upon leaving Shrek Academy, Mu Chen saw Poison Douluo Dugu Bo and his granddaughter, Dugu Yan, waiting at the academy gates.

"Old Poison, how's the poison in your body?" Mu Chen inquired with concern.

"Thanks to your guidance, I've forced most of the poison into the spirit bone in my head. My body, accustomed to the poison from years of cultivation, would be adversely affected if it were entirely purged," Dugu Bo explained, looking affectionately at Dugu Yan.

Dugu Yan's situation had greatly diverged from the original storyline. Behind her was a pair of wings—not ordinary ones, but a rare external spirit bone known as the Phoenix Tail Cockscomb Wings. Indeed, it came from a Phoenix Tail Cockscomb Snake.

Not only Dugu Yan, but now all of the Shrek Eleven Devils, except Xiao Wu, Xue Ke, and Jiangzhu, possessed external spirit bones.

What? 

Dai Mubai, Zhu Zhuqing, Ma Hongjun, Oscar, Ning Rongrong, and Meng Yiran also had external spirit bones?

Indeed, just like Tang San, all six of them had external spirit bones.

According to Mu Chen's bold hypothesis, the birth of an external spirit bone required a condition: absorbing a spirit ring beyond the soul master's absorption limit. Only when a spirit ring's energy exceeded the soul master's absorption capacity could the surplus energy from the spirit ring result in an external spirit bone.

For instance, if a soul master's third spirit ring's limit was 1,760 years, absorbing a ring beyond this limit would grant an external spirit bone.

This was just one condition. To successfully acquire an external spirit bone, another condition had to be met: the soul master's physical strength must withstand the energy of the spirit ring. Otherwise, before acquiring the external spirit bone, the soul master's body would be destroyed by the excess energy.

Dai Mubai, Zhu Zhuqing, Ma Hongjun, Oscar, Ning Rongrong, and Meng Yiran, having visited the Slaughter City and obtained the Killing God Domain, had physical strength unmatched by ordinary soul masters. Under Mu Chen's guidance, they boldly absorbed spirit rings beyond their level, eventually acquiring their own external spirit bones.

Soon, led by Dugu Bo, Mu Chen, Tang San, and others entered a cave. The cave extended underground, and after about half an hour, they emerged into a bright open area.

"Who would've thought there'd be such a beautiful world underground?" Xiao Wu exclaimed in wonder.

"Wow, so many celestial herbs," Tang San also exclaimed. While others might not recognize the vibrant flora's origins, as a disciple of the Tang Sect, Tang San quickly identified many medicinal herbs.

"Xiao San, pick a suitable herb for everyone," Mu Chen instructed.

With Tang San as his little brother, Mu Chen found things much easier.

Following Mu Chen's instructions, Tang San carefully selected herbs.

As in the original storyline, Dai Mubai received the Strange Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum, which could invigorate his limbs and blood vessels, potentially strengthening his body. Oscar received the gentlest herb, the Eight-Petal Immortal Orchid. Ning Rongrong acquired the Qiluo Tulip, capable of evolving her Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda into the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda. Ma Hongjun received the Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower, which could purify his Phoenix Martial Soul. Xiao Wu was given the Narcissus Jade Muscle Bone, enhancing her speed and lightness.

Among everyone, Zhu Zhuqing surprised Mu Chen the most. She gained the approval of the Yearning Heartbroken Red.

To earn the Yearning Heartbroken Red's approval, one must have a clear mind and open heart to another person. In the original storyline, Zhu Zhuqing's preconceptions about Dai Mubai prevented her from gaining its approval. So who was it now that had resolved her inner conflict?

As Mu Chen pondered this curiosity, he noticed Zhu Zhuqing glance at him, then look down with satisfaction at the Yearning Heartbroken Red in her hands.

"Me?"

Mu Chen was stunned. Zhu Zhuqing had developed feelings for him?!

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