“Grimmjow…” The Leopard Hollow softly repeated the name Lin Huang had given him.
Having only just learned to speak, he found the name both unfamiliar and exciting.
While Grimmjow continued murmuring his new name, Lin Huang used his tail to gather the remaining dozens of Gillian Hollow masks scattered across the ground before tossing them in front of him.
At this point, no matter how many Gillian Hollow masks Lin Huang devoured, they no longer increased his Spiritual Pressure.
Rather than letting them go to waste, he decided to give them all to Grimmjow.
Within the Forest of Menos, the strength of a newly evolved Giant Hollow was still far from sufficient.
If Grimmjow became stronger, he would also become a valuable companion.
“These…
these are all for me?
Thank you, Boss!” Looking at the pile of Gillian Hollow masks before him, the newly evolved Giant Hollow Grimmjow could barely contain his excitement.
“Go ahead and eat.
The Hollow masks of ordinary Gillians are useless to me now, so you’re getting quite a bargain.” Grimmjow immediately pounced forward and began greedily devouring them.
As he ate faster and faster, Lin Huang soon noticed something unusual.
Beginning with the third Hollow mask…
Grimmjow’s efficiency at absorbing reishi suddenly dropped.
The first and second Hollow masks were almost completely absorbed.
By the third…
Only twenty to thirty percent of the reishi remained useful.
By the fourth…
The efficiency had fallen to roughly ten percent.
Even after consuming more than a dozen additional Hollow masks…
The absorption rate remained around ten percent.
“Grimmjow, why has your reishi absorption become so low?” Lin Huang asked curiously.
Grimmjow froze for a moment before explaining honestly.
“Boss…
if a Hollow devours too many Hollow masks within a short period of time, the efficiency of absorbing reishi naturally decreases.
Being able to maintain around ten percent after reaching the limit is already considered very rare.” Lin Huang couldn’t help becoming stunned.
He had personally swallowed well over one thousand Gillian Hollow masks.
Yet throughout the entire process…
His absorption efficiency had never declined.
He only stopped after the reishi contained within ordinary Gillian Hollow masks was no longer sufficient to increase his Spiritual Pressure.
He had never experienced the diminishing absorption Grimmjow described.
“Could it be because I’m a transmigrator?” “Does the natural limit on reishi absorption simply not apply to me?” Lin Huang quietly pondered.
Perhaps…
This was the true reason why, despite still being an ordinary Giant Hollow by race, he already possessed Spiritual Pressure comparable to an Adjuchas.
The decline in reishi absorption almost seemed like a natural restriction placed upon all Hollows.
Although a Hollow’s mask contained the greatest concentration of reishi within its body…
If nobody consumed it within a certain amount of time…
It would gradually dissolve into reishi and return to Hueco Mundo.
Likewise…
When a Hollow consumed an excessive number of Hollow masks over a short period…
Its efficiency at absorbing reishi naturally declined because its body had already reached its limit.
In other words…
Most of the Spiritual Pressure accumulated by a Hollow throughout its life would eventually return to Hueco Mundo after death.
It was almost as though an invisible law constantly maintained the balance of reishi throughout Hueco Mundo while simultaneously limiting the growth speed of every Menos.
Only…
Lin Huang seemed to exist outside those rules.
“It looks like I’ve stumbled upon something incredible…” He quietly smiled to himself.
Before long…
Grimmjow finished devouring every remaining Hollow mask.
Although his absorption efficiency had greatly declined…
The dozen or so Gillian Hollow masks still increased his Spiritual Pressure by more than tenfold.
While he remained a Giant Hollow…
His Spiritual Pressure already far exceeded that of an ordinary Mindless Gillian.
If Grimmjow weren’t worried that evolving too quickly might damage his future potential…
He could already attempt to evolve into a Gillian.
Looking at Grimmjow, whose Spiritual Pressure had increased dramatically, Lin Huang nodded with satisfaction.
“Not bad.” “You finally possess some real fighting strength.” “Let’s go.” “It’s time to continue hunting.” “Meow!” “I knew following Boss meant there would always be battles!” Grimmjow shouted excitedly.
His naturally warlike instincts were already eager for combat.
The two immediately continued traveling deeper into the Forest of Menos.
However…
An entire day passed without Lin Huang discovering another Adjuchas.
“Strange…” “According to the usual situation in Hueco Mundo, an Adjuchas should rule every region around here.” “So why haven’t we even encountered a single Gillian?” Lin Huang couldn’t help wondering.
What he didn’t know…
Was that the Adjuchas governing this territory had already withdrawn his sphere of influence after learning about Lin Huang’s overwhelming strength.
No Gillians remained behind.
Without realizing it…
Lin Huang simply continued advancing deeper.
Finally…
Another day later…
He sensed an Adjuchas-level Spiritual Pressure.
Standing before him was an Adjuchas only about seven meters tall.
Its upper body resembled that of a human…
While its lower body belonged to a horse.
Its entire body was pitch black.
Its right arm had naturally evolved into a short black scythe.
Most importantly…
The Spiritual Pressure radiating from this Hollow was no weaker than Lin Huang’s own.
It had likewise reached the level of a Mid Adjuchas.
Even more unusual…
Not a single Gillian served under him.
Clearly…
This Adjuchas preferred remaining alone.
The moment he saw Lin Huang…
The expression beneath the Centaur Hollow’s mask darkened.
His cold gaze slowly swept across both Lin Huang and Grimmjow.
“Unfamiliar Adjuchas…” “I’ve already withdrawn my territory considerably.” “Why do you continue pursuing me?” Lin Huang paused briefly.
Only then did he realize…
The other party had deliberately avoided him all this time.
No wonder it had taken two entire days to finally locate him.
The Sword Scales at the end of Lin Huang’s tail slowly rose.
Fighting spirit surged within his eyes.
“Since you’ve already reached the limit of your own potential…” “Why not become part of my evolution?” “I’ll lead you onto the road toward becoming a Vasto Lorde.” “Arrogant!” The Centaur Hollow roared.
Sonído activated instantly.
His black scythe tore through the air, slashing directly toward Lin Huang’s face.
Lin Huang responded without hesitation.
Using Sonído himself, he narrowly avoided the attack while simultaneously sweeping his Sword Scales forward.
Clang!
The Sword Scales and the black scythe collided violently.
Brilliant sparks exploded everywhere.
Meanwhile…
Seeing the two Mid Adjuchas clash…
Grimmjow simply found a comfortable place nearby to lie down while quietly watching the battle.
There were two simple reasons.
First…
His current strength wasn’t remotely enough to interfere.
Second…
He firmly believed his Boss would ultimately win.
Clang!
Clang!
Clang!
The silver-white Sword Scales repeatedly collided with the pitch-black scythe.
Dark purple and jet-black Spiritual Pressure continuously clashed, creating violent shockwaves that tore through the surrounding forest.
“Excellent!” The Centaur Hollow suddenly disappeared using Sonído before instantly reappearing behind Lin Huang.
The black scythe descended violently.
Lin Huang immediately blocked the strike with his Sword Scales while simultaneously slamming his massive serpent head into the Centaur Hollow, forcing him backward.
He had to admit…
This Centaur Hollow was easily the strongest Hollow he had encountered since arriving in Hueco Mundo.
Although the opponent’s Spiritual Pressure was slightly inferior to his own…
He still fought evenly.
Clearly…
Years of remaining at the Mid Adjuchas stage had given the Centaur Hollow combat experience that far surpassed Lin Huang’s.
After all…
Lin Huang had only transmigrated into Hueco Mundo a few months earlier.
Although his Spiritual Pressure had grown at an astonishing pace…
His battle experience still required tempering.
However…
As the battle continued…
The Centaur Hollow gradually became more alarmed.
The White Serpent Hollow before him already possessed greater Spiritual Pressure than he did.
At first…
He had relied upon his superior combat experience to maintain the advantage.
But…
As the exchanges continued…
The White Serpent Hollow adapted at an astonishing speed.
After only around one hundred exchanges…
Lin Huang had already completely adjusted to his rhythm.
He was no longer merely keeping up.
He had begun suppressing the Centaur Hollow instead.