While chatting with Liu Erlong, Zhu Zhuqing's normally cool and aloof demeanor seemed to soften. A rare smile bloomed more frequently across her face.
She covered her lips with a jade-like hand, letting out a soft, clear laugh.
In contrast to Zhu Zhuqing's gentle laughter, Liu Erlong's chuckles were more carefree and uninhibited.
But compared to the two women joking outside, Lin Jie—who was currently cultivating inside—was entirely focused and serious.
Throughout their return to Shrek Academy, he had spent nearly every moment cultivating. And today, he had gone into secluded cultivation for the specific purpose of absorbing the Wisdom Skull Bone he had received.
Once his body reached optimal condition, Lin Jie picked up the spirit bone glowing brilliantly before him.
The moment he lifted it, an intense wave of spiritual energy surged from his body.
As Lin Jie's spiritual power merged with the Wisdom Skull Bone, the blue light radiating from it quickly enveloped him.
Spirit Bones are precious because there are no Spirit Power limitations when absorbing them. Even someone with only Rank 1 Spirit Power could, in theory, absorb a 100,000-year spirit bone.
That's also why Lin Jie had encountered no issue absorbing the two powerful Dragon King Spirit Bones previously—especially since those bones had actively resonated with him and fused on their own.
As his powerful spiritual energy intertwined with the Wisdom Skull Bone, a cool, flowing sensation spread throughout his spiritual sea. Already formidable, his spiritual power began to strengthen even further.
His mental force condensed inward, showing no outward leakage. In that moment, Lin Jie felt as though his eyes had detached from his body, allowing him to directly perceive the world through his spiritual sea.
The spirit bone began to shrink and finally condensed onto his forehead.
Lin Jie's eyes then sprang open involuntarily, and a radiant blue light pulsed within them. He quickly stabilized himself, and the blue light shifted to violet under his control. The two colors alternated, and with each change, his spiritual power grew stronger and more focused.
Gradually, the head spirit bone fully fused into his forehead, fading into an illusory imprint.
That blue glow lingered around his head for two full days. To Lin Jie, however, those two days passed in the blink of an eye.
When he finally opened his eyes again, he found that everything around him had become far clearer. His Purple Demon Eye cultivation had directly advanced to the peak of the Detailed stage, the second realm.
Lin Jie was lucky—the spirit bone wasn't a mere 50,000-year piece as Ghost Douluo had claimed, but a spirit bone that had surpassed 60,000 years in age. It seemed Spirit Hall had truly gone all out this time.
The ability granted by the spirit bone was something Lin Jie was already familiar with. It was called Purple God Light, a spiritual attack technique. By concentrating all spiritual energy into his eyes, he could release twin beams that pierced through the target in a pinpoint strike. The more powerful his spiritual energy, the more devastating the effect.
After absorbing the spirit bone, Lin Jie felt his perception become incredibly sharp. When observing something closely, he no longer needed to consciously calculate—the calculations happened automatically within his spiritual sea. He also discovered that any spiritual energy consumed would slowly and naturally regenerate over time.
This marked spiritual attacks as a distinct and powerful alternate combat system—one that didn't consume Spirit Power. Lin Jie had experienced this before through his Spiritual Shock and Spiritual Needle techniques. Now, with Purple God Light as a foundation, he was confident he could refine and enhance his spiritual needle into something far more potent.
Even before absorbing the spirit bone, Lin Jie's spiritual power already surpassed most Spirit Douluo. Now, it had likely reached the realm of a Titled Douluo.
Since spiritual power had no clear ranking system, this was only his personal estimation—but he felt confident in that judgment.
His Spirit Power, which had been at Rank 47, also advanced during the process. After absorbing the over-60,000-year spirit bone, he jumped two whole levels, reaching Rank 49.
And his foundation remained solid—one of the many benefits of spirit bones.
It was worth remembering: Lin Jie was still not even fifteen years old.
After absorbing the spirit bone, he flicked his finger, summoning a high-grade jade box into his hand.
It was finally time to use the immortal herb inside—Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew, an elixir said to grant the user the power of Fiery Golden Eyes capable of seeing through all illusions.
Lin Jie had wanted to use it earlier but had suppressed the urge and carefully stored it. Thanks to the jade box's excellent preservation, none of the medicinal essence had been lost. The herb still glistened with crystal clarity.
The Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew was gentle in nature and wouldn't conflict with the two immortal herbs Lin Jie had previously consumed. Plus, that had been over a year ago—those herbs had long since been fully refined and integrated into his power.
He picked up the immortal herb and carefully prepared it. Holding it before him, he tilted it slightly, letting a few drops of the transparent dew fall into his mouth.
As the last drops left the herb, the Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew withered completely in his hand, crumbling into dust.
Lin Jie sat in meditation once again, palms facing the sky.
A faint golden-red radiance began to rise from his body, gathering in his eyes.
Several hours passed.
When Lin Jie opened his eyes, a dazzling violet-gold light flared from them. A mysterious aura enveloped his entire body.
Already gifted with powerful spiritual energy, Lin Jie had always had an edge cultivating the Purple Demon Eye. Bathed daily in the Eastern Purple Qi, his mastery of the technique had long surpassed most peers. That's why he had reached the peak of the Detailed realm upon fusing the Wisdom Skull Bone.
But now, he realized he had underestimated the Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew.
Its effects were astonishing.
Whereas before he had only guessed that his spiritual power had reached the Titled Douluo level, now he could say so with certainty—in fact, he might even surpass some ordinary Title Douluo in this regard.
Even more surprising, the Purple Demon Eye—already at the second realm—suddenly broke through to the third realm: Mustard Seed Peak.
He could now clearly sense the flow of energy in the world around him.
The Purple Demon Eye truly is a divine technique, Lin Jie thought in awe.
Tang San's own cultivation of the Purple Demon Eye had just reached the Detailed realm, while Lin Jie had already reached the peak of Mustard Seed, one step from breaking into the fourth realm.
If Tang San knew I've outpaced him in this, he'd probably be furious.
Taking a deep breath, Lin Jie stood up.
He had been in seclusion for nearly three days. It was time to head out.
As he checked his condition, a satisfied smile appeared on his face.
Rank 50. That's right—I've officially broken through.
After taking the Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew, his Spirit Power had advanced from Rank 49 to 50, with a rock-solid foundation.
Immortal herbs truly live up to their name.
Now that he had reached Rank 50, it was time to consider hunting his fifth Spirit Ring.
But there was no rush. He wanted to spend some time with Zhu Zhuqing and Liu Erlong first. Ever since returning to the academy, he had gone straight into closed-door cultivation and hadn't had a proper moment with them. He also needed to visit home—he hadn't been back in months.
Opening the door, he stepped outside.
Liu Erlong and Zhu Zhuqing turned their heads at the sound. Seeing him emerge, both women smiled warmly.
"Zhuqing, Big Sister Erlong," Lin Jie greeted softly.
"How are you feeling, Little Jie? Did you finish absorbing the spirit bone?" Liu Erlong asked.
"Yes. And my Spirit Power also broke through to Rank 50," Lin Jie said, beaming.
"Fifty?" Liu Erlong and Zhu Zhuqing were both startled.
They clearly remembered he had only been at Rank 47 before. To rise directly to Rank 50 was astonishing—especially considering how much harder it became to advance at higher levels.
But after a brief moment of surprise, they recovered. After all, Lin Jie had always been someone who turned the impossible into reality. Reaching Rank 50 didn't seem that shocking anymore.
Still, Liu Erlong remembered that Lin Jie wasn't even fifteen yet. When she was his age, she had only been at Rank 40. Yet here he was—already a Spirit King.
"Then… Little Jie, will you be going to hunt your fifth Spirit Ring now?" she asked.
"Not just yet, Big Sister Erlong. I want to rest a bit first. Oh, right—Zhuqing, you should also go ahead and absorb your spirit bone," Lin Jie said.
"Yes, Zhuqing, you should take care of that as soon as possible," Liu Erlong added with a nod. When a soul master came across a compatible spirit bone, it was best to absorb it quickly—lest it invite unwanted attention.
"I understand," Zhu Zhuqing replied.
She tapped the soul tool ring Lin Jie had gifted her, and two spirit bones appeared in her hands.
"Two spirit bones?" Liu Erlong gasped. "How—?"
She was utterly shocked. Spirit bones were incredibly rare and valuable—seeing even one would usually result in a bloody scramble among Spirit Masters.
She was certain Zhu Zhuqing had only won one from the tournament—so where had the second come from?
Lin Jie saw her confusion and explained, "Big Sister Erlong, one of them is from the tournament. The other I acquired by chance. It was an excellent match for Zhuqing, so I gave it to her."
Liu Erlong turned to Lin Jie, her expression deepening with meaning. "Little Jie, you treat Zhuqing so well. No wonder she's completely devoted to you."
She had already been aware of the relationship between the two. Over the past couple of days, she had even chatted with Zhu Zhuqing about it—and she had also witnessed the signs herself.
(Ahem! Friendly reminder: The plot ahead is extremely toxic. Those with weak resistance, please proceed with caution. If you insist on continuing, prepare your antidotes. Don't say we didn't warn you.)