In the thicket, Zhu Ziyang stood face-to-face with the Blazing Light Mantis.
This mantis was about 1,400 years old. Perhaps it had just finished a major battle, as it was covered in wounds and visibly agitated, brandishing its scythe-like forelimbs in a threatening stance toward Zhu Ziyang.
"First, eliminate the mantis!"
Zhu Ziyang made up his mind and launched his attack.
He dashed forward, slashing with his Glimmer Scythe and generating a fierce gust of wind.
The Blazing Light Mantis shrieked in fury, its glowing forelimbs swinging aggressively as it charged.
Their weapons clashed with a tremor in the air. The mantis was powerful—Zhu Ziyang's arm trembled slightly under the pressure. But the mantis, still injured from previous fights, suffered further damage in the clash.
Zhu Ziyang suddenly exerted more force, knocking the mantis back and leaping away himself. Then, his first soul ring lit up behind him, and a deathly gray-white energy blade surged forth.
The mantis, caught off guard, roared in rage. Its eyes glowed red as it halted and channeled its energy. Its forelimbs turned into hardened bronze, radiating intense light as it struck back toward the energy blade.
"Foolish creature," Zhu Ziyang sneered with contempt, though he remained cautious. He spun his Glimmer Scythe rapidly, then flung it forward.
The moment the mantis clashed with the energy blade, a primal fear of death overwhelmed it. Instinctively, it flinched.
And that flinch sealed its fate.
The blade of death cleanly severed one of its forelimbs. Even before blood could spurt, a gray mist engulfed the wound, freezing its nerves and muscle tissue.
A split second later, the spinning Glimmer Scythe struck with surgical precision, slicing through the mantis's neck without mercy.
The Blazing Light Mantis—dead.
"Haha!" Zhu Ziyang called back his scythe and laughed triumphantly as the faint purple soul ring rose from the corpse.
"In the end, you're just a bug. Even as a thousand-year soul beast, your intelligence doesn't cut it."
With a flick of his hand, the scythe and soul ring vanished.
Zhu Ziyang approached the Radiant Yellow Fruit tree. The fruit had fully ripened. Smiling, he picked it and stored it in his jade spatial bracelet. The osmanthus-like fragrance instantly disappeared—good, no more worry about attracting other soul beasts.
Before absorbing the soul ring, Zhu Ziyang searched the mantis corpses under the tree.
The scythe-like forelimbs of Blazing Light Mantises were valuable materials for soul tools. Those from thousand-year specimens were especially sought after. With ten forelimbs collected, this would bring his family a nice profit.
But what he really hoped for was soul bones. Sadly, none of the five mantises, including the one he just killed, had produced one.
Slightly disappointed, he stashed the forelimbs, set up a concealed hideout, and climbed inside.
It was time to absorb the soul ring.
Zhu Ziyang sat cross-legged, guiding the purple ring before him. With a serious expression, he closed his eyes and activated the Great Luminous Art. His soul power surged and connected with the ring, and the mighty foreign energy flooded into his meridians.
His martial soul—his body—began refining the energy. He could feel the light-element of his Glimmer Scythe gradually enhancing and purifying.
Time passed in silence.
Eventually, a radiant boy, about eight or nine years old, burst out from the dense brush.
His handsome face glowed with excitement. In his hand was a silver-white battle scythe laced with golden lines. Behind him floated a yellow and purple soul ring.
It was Zhu Ziyang.
"Second Soul Skill: Blessing of Light!" he shouted confidently.
His purple ring flared. The Glimmer Scythe became cloaked in bronze light, and with a gentle sweep, all plants and stones within five meters were cleanly sliced in half—as if cutting tofu with a kitchen knife.
Zhu Ziyang was thrilled.
Blessing of Light: When activated, it doubles Zhu Ziyang's strength, doubles the scythe's hardness and sharpness, and boosts light-element power by 50%.
He was very satisfied. A skill that enhanced three aspects was rare for a millennium soul ring—especially one that also improved elemental power.
After absorbing the ring, his soul power had reached level 21, and he was close to 22. He expected to break through within half a month. Plus, he still had the Radiant Yellow Fruit.
Additionally, his light-element affinity reached about 50. The Glimmer Scythe's light attribute had grown stronger. At this rate, by the time he had his third ring, it might qualify as a top-tier martial soul.
"Perfect! Mission complete. Time to go home!" he grinned triumphantly.
Zhu Ziyang traveled overnight and returned to Anyang City by early morning.
It had been exactly seven days since he left.
"Brother, you're back!" Jiang Nannan exclaimed.
As he returned to the dormitory, he ran into Jiang Nannan on her way to class. Seeing him safe, she threw herself into his arms with tears of joy.
"I was so worried about you these past days!" she sobbed into his chest.
"There, there. I'm back, aren't I?" Zhu Ziyang comforted her gently, stroking her back. "And I've made great progress. Want to see?"
"Mm!" she sniffled and nodded.
"Watch closely then!" Zhu Ziyang stepped back with a smile, summoned his Glimmer Scythe, and revealed his yellow and purple soul rings.
"This…" Jiang Nannan's eyes widened at the sight of the purple second soul ring. Her mouth opened in disbelief.
"Hehe, what do you think? Your big brother's pretty amazing, right?" he said proudly.
"You really are amazing!" she said, her voice still trembling, but her face beaming with excitement.
"A purple soul ring… You're incredible!"
Though she didn't have many words, her emotions were crystal clear. Zhu Ziyang could feel her sincerity.
"You've got to work hard too!" he smiled, rubbing her hair fondly.
"When you hit level 20, I'll help you get a millennium soul ring too."
Jiang Nannan was currently level 16, with a ways to go—but with her talent, she could likely become a two-ring Grandmaster before age nine.
"I will! I promise!" she said, full of determination.
"By the way, have my parents returned yet?" Zhu Ziyang asked.
"Not yet," Jiang Nannan replied.
"They're still not back?" Zhu Ziyang was surprised—it had almost been half a month. He started to feel a bit uneasy.