"Are you sure about absorbing a thousand-year soul ring?"
Shi Yu didn't answer directly, causing Zhang Lexuan to frown slightly. She realized he was deliberately avoiding the topic. Since he wasn't willing to reveal more, she didn't press him but instead focused on confirming his ability to absorb the ring.
"I have the physical enhancement from a soul bone, so I'm more confident," Shi Yu replied calmly.
His possession of a soul bone wasn't a secret in the outer courtyard. Back then, many had seen it, and gossip quickly spread — one person told ten, ten told a hundred — until nearly everyone knew. There was no point in hiding it, and he trusted Zhang Lexuan's character; she wouldn't covet his soul bone.
Zhang Lexuan was a little surprised to hear he had a soul bone. She didn't pay attention to rumors and didn't know much about Shi Yu personally.
"In that case, go ahead and try to absorb it," she said.
"Alright." Shi Yu nodded, sat down, released his martial soul, and began to absorb the soul ring.
"I hope nothing goes wrong," Jiang Nannan said softly, looking worried.
As the soul ring absorption began, the energy surged into Shi Yu's body — aggressive and overwhelming — making him feel bloated. The swelling was uncomfortable but hadn't reached a tearing sensation, which meant he could endure the force of the thousand-year ring.
Zhang Lexuan watched him for a while before shifting her attention to Xu Sanshi.
Though she disapproved of his earlier behavior, she couldn't just let him get into trouble here.
Xu Sanshi was the first to finish absorbing his soul ring. With a breakthrough, he officially became a level-41 Soul Ancestor.
After absorbing their fourth soul rings, both Beibei and Jiang Nannan also reached level 41. Unless one absorbed an eight- or nine-thousand-year soul ring — or even a ten-thousand-year one — it was rare for a single ring to boost soul power by more than one level.
The higher a soul master's level, the harder it became to raise it. The power boost from absorbing soul rings would also diminish over time. A first soul ring from a 400- or 500-year beast might raise soul power by three or four levels, but by the time of the fourth ring, a beast of 4,000 or 5,000 years would usually only increase it by one level.
Still, Xu Sanshi couldn't hide his joy. He had obtained a very powerful soul skill.
"Beibei, I got the innate skill of the Void Turtle !" he whispered excitedly to his close brother.
Beibei was also surprised — he hadn't expected Xu Sanshi's fourth soul skill to be this unique.
They remained where they were per Zhang Lexuan's instruction. She didn't want Xu Sanshi interfering and adding more uncertainty to the situation.
Xu Sanshi was upset by this. He didn't want others to think he only succeeded because he took advantage during someone else's ring absorption.
Meanwhile, Shi Yu's absorption process went relatively smoothly and was gradually nearing completion.
"I wonder if I'll time travel again this time..."
As the process drew to a close, Shi Yu grew tense. All the speculations in his heart were about to be tested. He both hoped and feared time travel.
After all, traversing through time and space was full of unknowns. Last time, he'd ended up in the dangerous Star Dou Great Forest. He didn't know where he would appear this time. If it was a dangerous place again, and he couldn't survive for seven days, it would be disastrous.
Dangerous didn't necessarily mean the Lake of Life — anywhere with beings that could kill him easily would qualify.
The unknowns made Shi Yu uneasy. For a while, he wasn't sure whether he wanted to travel through time or not. Staying here safely wasn't so bad.
Suddenly, a burst of energy erupted. As the soul ring absorption ended, the energy surged wildly. Shi Yu quickly took control of it, and two soul rings — one yellow, one purple — appeared in sequence, marking the completion of his absorption.
"Great!" Jiang Nannan let out a sigh of relief, her face blooming into a bright smile.
Zhang Lexuan also gave a small nod. She approved of Shi Yu. His martial soul was unique, and being able to absorb a thousand-year ring as his second one showed his great potential.
Shi Yu slowly opened his eyes to see Zhang Lexuan and Jiang Nannan standing in front of him.
"No time travel?" He felt a bit disappointed. It seemed the previous time travel had been a one-time event.
A smile tugged at his lips. Maybe this was for the best. Fewer variables, fewer dangers.
He was about to get up when he suddenly realized — he couldn't move.
Time travel… again?
Jiang Nannan, who had just been smiling at him, was frozen in place. Zhang Lexuan, usually calm, was also motionless. Not far off, Xu Sanshi still wore an annoyed expression. Beibei stood beside him, drinking water, but the tilted kettle had stopped pouring.
In that instant, the entire Star Dou Great Forest — perhaps the entire world — froze.
Shi Yu remained conscious, but his body was immobilized. The space around him twisted, forming a spatial passage that pulled him in.
That familiar dizziness returned. Shi Yu flew through the time-space tunnel, catching glimpses of countless scenes. He tried hard to focus, but the constant spinning made it impossible to clearly identify anything.
The spinning slowed. A light appeared ahead — was that the exit?
Having experienced this once before, Shi Yu braced himself, ready to fly to avoid another painful crash landing.
Sure enough, he burst out of the tunnel headfirst, falling toward the ground. Quickly activating his space ability, he stabilized himself midair and slowly floated down until he landed steadily.
"...Where is this alley?"
He looked around. Concrete walls two to three meters high enclosed the narrow space, just wide enough for three people to walk side by side. The alley stretched for about ten meters. Occasionally, someone walked past the entrance — dressed in modern short sleeves and shorts.
"Did they wear shorts and jackets ten thousand years ago?"
Shi Yu muttered. The Peerless Tang Sect era did have somewhat modern fashion, but the clothing still carried distinct features of that world.
He walked toward the alley's end, planning to ask someone what city this was — to start making new plans.
Having been through this once already, Shi Yu was calmer. He had ideas about how to seize any opportunities this era might offer.
But before he reached the street, he froze.
A car had just driven by.
"Did I just… see a car?" Shi Yu blinked, unsure if he was hallucinating.
How could there be cars in the Douluo Continent ten thousand years ago?
Maybe... this wasn't the Douluo Continent at all?
His heart began to race.
Modern clothing, cars — could it be... he had returned to the original world?
Overcome with hope, Shi Yu ran out of the alley, yearning to see more evidence.
The streets outside were lined with familiar sights — roads, vehicles, towering buildings, people in contemporary clothes. Huge electronic billboards displayed vibrant ads.
"I... I really came back to the modern age..."
Shi Yu's eyes turned red with emotion.
This was what he had dreamed of.
Had he... finally returned home?