Two months later.
Behind Holy Soul Village.
Xiao Lin and Tang San sat cross-legged in a shaded area, conducting their final cultivation session.
They each operated their respective cultivation techniques, aiming to restore their condition to peak state.
Over the past two months, both Xiao Lin and Tang San had progressed rapidly.
At this point, they were both capable of maintaining awareness in four directions simultaneously under non-combat conditions—reaching a pseudo Four Apertures Constant Heart state.
In addition, they had not neglected physical training, and their soul power cultivation had significantly improved.
It had only been a little over half a year since they absorbed their first soul rings, yet Xiao Lin had nearly reached level 20, and Tang San was already at level 19.
If others knew of their progress, they would likely be struck speechless with shock.
"Today is the last day of the holiday. We must retrieve the Soul Sage's relics hidden inside," Xiao Lin said, having finished restoring his soul power and stabilizing his condition. He turned to the still-cultivating Tang San.
"Yes, Brother Lin," Tang San responded a moment later, finishing his Xuan Tian Technique training and slowly opening his eyes to look at Xiao Lin.
During the past two months, they had entered the cave thousands of times, until they became completely accustomed to the mental paralysis ability of the Demonic Eyed Tree.
After developing immunity to its skill, they naturally began exploring other parts of the cave and discovered new findings.
Just as Xiao Lin had seen before, this cave did indeed hold remnants of a Soul Sage who once lived in Holy Soul Village.
Currently, both Xiao Lin and Tang San had reduced the mental paralysis effect from the Demonic Eyed Tree to a mere half-second.
Also, due to their constant intrusions, the corrosive toxins of the Demonic Eyed Tree were nearly depleted.
Now, the Demonic Eyed Tree was at its weakest point—not only in the last two months, but perhaps in decades.
If Xiao Lin and Tang San didn't seize the opportunity to retrieve the Soul Sage's relics and treasures during this final day of vacation, they would have to wait until the next school break to try again.
At this point, the two of them had already figured out the tree's three known abilities: Mental Paralysis, Corrosive Gas, and Death Bind.
However, they still hadn't seen the tree use its soul bone skill.
Xiao Lin didn't believe the mutated Demonic Eyed Tree's skills were identical to a normal one's.
It was clearly holding back.
Besides the soul bone skill, it might have another hidden technique.
Therefore, they decided to stick with their original plan for this operation:
Xiao Lin would go in alone, using his soul power-enhanced Vajra Indestructible Body to protect himself and search for the Soul Sage's relics.
Tang San would stand by, ready to pull Xiao Lin out if anything went wrong.
Of course, another option would be to wait until the next semester's break and try again together.
But for now, neither Xiao Lin nor Tang San was ready to give up.
They still wanted to try one last time.
"Brother Lin, I'm ready."
As Tang San spoke, several Blue Silver Grass vines appeared and coiled tightly around Xiao Lin's waist and abdomen.
To ensure safety, Tang San had evolved his Blue Silver Regeneration Bracelet into a more advanced form: the Blue Silver Regeneration Belt.
The Blue Silver Regeneration Belt was a further development of Tang San's first soul skill. He enlarged it and wrapped it around Xiao Lin's waist.
This was Tang San's self-created soul skill, inspired by the original soul ring technique and Xiao Lin's weapon spirit true form.
In a sense, it was similar to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's Dragon Transformation Secret Art, which partially dragonized specific body parts in advance, granting some of a Soul Sage's weapon spirit true form capabilities.
Tang San's method was to inject his surplus vitality into his first soul skill, forcibly enhancing it.
While it didn't push the Blue Silver Regeneration Bracelet beyond standard limits—and could only be used on one person—it now had nearly 40% healing efficiency, further amplified by the true form of Xiao Lin's weapon spirit.
In addition, the enhanced belt could transfer even more soul power to Xiao Lin.
Xiao Lin rated it as the "strongest single-target healing first soul skill"—though the downside was the heavy consumption, making it wasteful for regular use.
After tugging on the Blue Silver Regeneration Belt to ensure it was secure, Xiao Lin dove straight into the cave.
At the cave's bend, Xiao Lin immediately activated his Weapon Spirit True Form.
His entire body was covered in soul power imbued with the Vajra Indestructible Body, glowing with a faint silvery sheen.
"Coiled Dragon Staff."
He drew the Coiled Dragon Staff from behind his ear and enlarged it, then stepped into the depths of the cave.
This time, Xiao Lin confronted the mutated Demonic Eyed Tree head-on.
Before he even got close, he accidentally made eye contact with one of the tree's eerie eyeballs.
Immediately, a strange mental ripple stirred the air and struck Xiao Lin's body and spirit.
"Weak! So weak!"
In less than half a second, Xiao Lin burst into laughter and mocked the tree as he advanced further.
This time, he took three full steps before the tree finally emitted its corrosive gas.
"Useless!"
Xiao Lin smirked as he spun his Coiled Dragon Staff like an electric fan, dispersing the still-forming gas cloud.
Behind him, Tang San's summoned Blue Silver Grass absorbed the toxic gas, then regenerated after being corroded.
"Just as I thought. You barely have any soul power left to emit corrosive gas," Xiao Lin said with glee, smiling at the weakened Demonic Eyed Tree.
Then, ignoring the tree completely, Xiao Lin made his way toward the small wooden house left by the Soul Sage.
Apparently understanding Xiao Lin's words, the Demonic Eyed Tree flew into a rage.
Its bark, covered in countless holes and eyes, twisted wildly. The tree's numerous eyes began to swap positions.
It tried once more to use Mental Paralysis to stop Xiao Lin.
But Xiao Lin was never one to fall for the same trick twice—he simply closed his eyes and walked toward the Soul Sage's hut.
His extended Coiled Dragon Staff tapped the ground ahead, severing any nearby vines.
When he was sure the tree's eyes were out of view, Xiao Lin opened his eyes again.
At that moment, he was surrounded by countless vines.
Death Bind!
Xiao Lin didn't panic. This was all part of his calculations.
He swung his staff rapidly, slicing through the vines.
However, this time, he had apparently triggered the Demonic Eyed Tree's reverse scale.
The severed vines rapidly regenerated and formed numerous new eye-like holes on the ground.
Crap!
Xiao Lin silently cursed.
The next moment, he was once again caught in the Demonic Eyed Tree's control.
The numerous eye-like holes warped and reorganized before his eyes, trapping him in endless mental manipulation.
At the same time, the vines slowly crept toward him, aiming to perform Death Bind while he was mentally restrained.
(End of Chapter)