Soul Ring

Biodata

Power Progression

Nature and Acquisition

• A Soul Ring is a special energy body formed when a Spirit Beast dies. Its energy can increase cultivation, strengthen the absorber's body and Martial Soul, and ordinarily grant a soul skill. 5 27
• Spirit Masters gain one Soul Ring upon each major-realm breakthrough. A Titled Douluo normally possesses nine Soul Rings. 5
• A ring's quality and age affect its benefits. Higher-level rings provide greater energy, but they also demand a stronger body, tougher meridians, and sufficient spiritual strength. 5 172
• Ten-Thousand-Year-and-above rings can carry a remnant consciousness capable of inflicting Soul Shock during absorption. 27 65
• Spirit Beast type matters when selecting a ring. A Power-type Spirit Beast, for example, can improve physical strength and reinforce a Martial Soul's foundational attributes such as toughness, hardness, and elasticity. 5

Absorption

Standard absorption process

• A conventional Soul Ring first surrounds the Spirit Master's body, then settles onto the manifested Martial Soul. 28
• During absorption, ring energy enters through the Martial Soul and strengthens both it and the Spirit Master's body. 27
• Lin Manshan's analysis divides absorbed ring energy into three functions:
  • Meridians — expands and reinforces meridians while raising cultivation.
  • Flesh and bones — remolds the body and increases physical strength.
  • The retained ring — preserves the energy associated with the soul skill on the Martial Soul. 27

Soul skills and remnant consciousness

• Lin Manshan theorizes that Soul Rings retain remnants of a Spirit Beast's soul or consciousness, and that these remnants form the basis for soul skills. 27
• This explains why a Spirit Master can activate a newly acquired soul skill merely by supplying Soul Power rather than independently comprehending it. 27
• The remnant consciousness is also the likely source of the mental assault associated with absorbing Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Rings. 27

Physical and spiritual requirements

• Physical strength is a primary limit on high-year-ring absorption; Soul Bones, medicinal refinement, body tempering, and prior ring absorption can improve this foundation. 172
• Spiritual strength and willpower are likewise necessary to endure the Soul Shock within Ten-Thousand-Year rings. 172
• Lin Manshan uses Soul Power cultivation to reinforce his body and meridians, allowing him to absorb rings beyond the limits normally expected for his rank. 5 101 156

Lin Manshan's Anomalous Soul Rings

Lin Manshan's Martial Soul had already undergone Destiny Artifact Infusion before he absorbed his first Soul Ring. The Soul Power within the infused Life Weapon rejects foreign souls, including the consciousness remnants that ordinarily preserve soul skills. 27 107

• His first Soul Ring remained at his waist instead of moving onto his Martial Soul, then gradually faded away. 28
• After the absorption, he advanced from Level 10 to Level 13 but manifested neither a retained Soul Ring nor a soul skill. 28
• The ring's energy was instead fully used to raise his cultivation and strengthen his body and Martial Soul. 97
• This effect has been compared to the Clear Sky Sect's Explode Ring technique, except that Lin's Martial Soul absorbs the ring energy automatically during absorption. 57 122 135
• The loss of retained rings and soul skills is balanced by unusually large gains in physical strength, Martial Soul strength, and cultivation. 97 156
• His abnormal absorption allowed him to reach Level 32 despite beginning with only Level Three Innate Soul Power and apparently having no visible Soul Rings. 127

Special Methods and Effects

Explode Ring

• The Clear Sky Sect's Explode Ring technique shatters Soul Rings and returns their energy to the user, greatly amplifying their attributes while causing the associated soul skills to disappear. 97 226
• Lin Manshan believes the consciousness remnants storing a ring's soul skills remain in the Martial Soul after an Explode Ring, allowing the ring energy to be restored later. 27

Soul Sacrifice

• A willing Spirit Beast may sacrifice itself to become a Soul Ring for a compatible Soul Master. 288
• The Blue Silver Emperor sacrifices herself to become Ye Lingling's seventh Soul Ring, providing Blue Silver Emperor bloodline benefits and strengthening her Martial Soul True Body. 288
• Ye Lingling's resulting scarlet ring retains the Blue Silver Emperor's Soul Origin, enabling her to wield a version of the Blue Silver Emperor's domain. 289
• Lin Manshan believes the preserved Soul Origin could permit the Blue Silver Emperor's eventual resurrection, though her memories may not remain intact. 289

Ring refinement and enhancement

• Lin Manshan is capable of refining Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Rings; he refines three over three days before sending them to Bibi Dong. 276
• In the special challenge space, energy crystals from defeated Spirit Beasts can raise the year limits of existing Soul Rings and Soul Bones. Dugu Bo's first reward increases their average age by roughly 3,600 years. 257
• Divine inheritance can enhance every existing ring rather than requiring their replacement. 322

Notable Soul Ring Absorptions