Extreme Spirit Ring, Spear of Judgment

Extreme Spirit Ring, Spear of Judgment

A deep purple spirit ring hovered above the charred corpse of the Nether Alpha Wolf, emitting a faint glow like a purple moon from the underworld. The six-hundred-and-fifty-year soul power fluctuations spread like tides, carrying a lingering aura of coldness, violence, and soul-rending savagery that continuously battered Ling Feng's nerves.

Beyond the limit! Ling Feng could clearly sense the violent energy contained within the spirit ring. It was absolutely incomparable to a four-hundred-and-twenty-three-year spirit ring! Absorbing it was no different from dancing on a blade's edge; at any moment, his Meridians could burst and he could die from soul power backlash!

"Kid, have you thought this through?" Ghost Leopard Douluo stood to one side, his cloudy old eyes scrutinizing him. "Six hundred and fifty years—far beyond the limit for a first spirit ring. Once you begin, even this old man may not be able to save you in time. If you regret it now, I can help you find a four-hundred-year one. Safe and steady." Though he said that, there was a trace of barely perceptible anticipation in his eyes. He wanted to see whether this bold, unusual Martial Soul kid could create another miracle.

"Thank you for the warning, Elder." Ling Feng took a deep breath. The thick stench of blood and soul beast musk flooded his nostrils, yet it sharpened his mind. There was not the slightest fear in his eyes, only cold determination. "This disciple has made up his mind. If I do not dare take even this step, how can I speak of the future?"

Having said that, he no longer hesitated. He sat cross-legged before the alpha wolf's corpse and closed his eyes. His Spiritual Power focused to the limit as he connected with the majestic Judgment Angel Martial Soul within his body!

Ding! Absorbing a spirit ring beyond the limit (650 years)! Extremely high risk! God-Tier Choice assistance activated!

Choice One: Proceed step by step! Guide the spirit ring's energy in stages and absorb it slowly, reducing the risk. Reward: Absorption success rate +20%, spirit ring effect at 90%, gain "Steadfastness" insight (slight increase in soul power control).

Choice Two: Bet everything on one throw! Use the Will of Judgment to forcibly suppress the spirit ring berserk state and devour it in one go! Reward: Absorption success rate -15%, spirit ring effect at 120% beyond normal output! If successful, the Martial Soul Origin will be tempered, and the "Will of Judgment" will be greatly enhanced!

Choice Three: System assistance! Consume one "Novice Protection" authorization slot (one-time only). The system will temporarily stabilize the spirit ring's energy and assist absorption. Reward: Absorption success rate +40%, spirit ring effect at 100%, no additional insight.

"Choice Two!" Ling Feng chose without hesitation! Steadiness? That was not his style! System assistance? That was a trump card, meant to be used at the critical moment! What he wanted was the ultimate challenge and the ultimate reward! He wanted the Will of Judgment to be completely tempered!

"Come on!" Ling Feng roared inwardly, his intent like invisible tentacles as it fiercely tugged at the floating purple spirit ring!

Buzz—!

The dark purple spirit ring erupted like an awakened volcano. Its violent torrent of energy instantly found an outlet, transforming into a surging pillar of purple light that brutally plunged into the top of Ling Feng's head! It was even more violent than expected! Even colder! Countless dying resentments of Nether Wolves, the corrosive power of darkness, the pain of souls being torn apart... They were like billions of icy steel needles stabbing viciously into every part of his body and battering his soul!

"Urgh—!" Ling Feng's entire body convulsed. His skin instantly turned purplish-black, while every vein bulged like purple earthworms writhing beneath the skin! The excruciating pain nearly made him lose consciousness at once! He felt as though both his body and soul were about to be torn into pieces by that violent flood of darkness!

"Judgment!" Ling Feng released a soundless roar from the depths of his soul! Within his sea of consciousness, the phantom of the majestic Judgment Angel suddenly blazed with light! Pure Light and Darkness and an intent of destruction erupted with a thunderous burst! Like a stabilizing divine pillar, they firmly guarded the core of his soul! Golden light surged like an angry tide, frantically washing away the darkness and resentment flooding into him!

Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle!

Light and darkness, judgment and evil, waged their most brutal tug-of-war within Ling Feng's body! Every inch of his Meridians felt as though it had been scorched by blazing fire, then frozen and split by ice! His body shook violently, and thin streams of blood began seeping from all seven orifices. He looked utterly miserable.

Ghost Leopard Douluo watched from the side with tightly furrowed brows. His withered fingers twitched slightly, but in the end, he held back. He could sense an exceptionally tenacious, exceptionally domineering force within Ling Feng, fiercely resisting the spirit ring's corrosion. That force... even made his heart palpitate faintly! This kid truly was strange! He was gambling—gambling that the force could overpower the spirit ring!

Time passed bit by bit. Ling Feng's trembling grew increasingly intense. The purplish-black color beneath his skin intertwined with the bulging golden veins like bizarre tattoos. His aura was sometimes as weak as a guttering candle in the wind, yet at other times erupted with astonishing fluctuations of light and destruction.

Just as his consciousness was about to be completely drowned in boundless agony!

"Suppress it... for me!!!"

Ling Feng unleashed one final, hysterical roar from the depths of his soul! The Judgment Angel phantom's golden radiance burned to its utmost limit! That strand of destructive intent had never been clearer or more concentrated, transforming into an invisible hammer of judgment that smashed fiercely into the raging torrent of darkness within him!

Boom—!

It was as though an earth-shattering explosion rang out from the depths of his soul!

The violent torrent of dark energy, filled with resentment, rapidly melted and collapsed beneath the ultimate eruption of the Will of Judgment, like snow under sunlight! The remaining pure soul power was swept along by that domineering force of light. Like obedient sheep, it began surging through his resilient Meridians before finally flowing into his Dantian Sea of Qi, where it was greedily absorbed by the Judgment Angel Martial Soul!

The purplish-black color beneath his skin rapidly faded, and his bulging veins settled. A powerful soul power fluctuation carrying light, lightning, judgment, and a trace of dark penetrating properties slowly rose from Ling Feng's body! After enduring hellish agony, his aura was reborn like a phoenix, becoming solid, weighty, and filled with oppressive force!

The spirit ring absorption had succeeded! And it was an absorption beyond the limit!

The deep purple spirit ring slowly descended and finally settled around Ling Feng like a coronation. Purple light flowed across the ring, while faint golden lightning patterns and a trace of judgmental pressure seeped from it, making it appear especially extraordinary.

Ling Feng slowly opened his eyes. Deep within those black pupils, two tiny streaks of golden lightning seemed to flash past, carrying soul-piercing sharpness and the majesty to judge all things! His bearing became even more composed and restrained, yet it faintly carried an edge that made one's heart tremble!

With a thought, he made a grasping motion with his right hand.

Dense purple light mixed with golden lightning gathered, compressed, and took shape wildly in his palm! A battle spear over three meters long instantly formed in his hand. Its entire body seemed carved from purple crystal, with golden lightning and sacred flames flowing within it! Threads of the Will of Judgment coiled around the spear shaft, while a glint of cold light flashed from its tip, exuding a terrifying aura of piercing, tearing, and purification!

Judgment Angel's first soul skill—Spear of Judgment!

An ultimate single-target attack! It carried three additional effects: lightning penetration, darkness-breaking evil dispelling, and soul intimidation!

Feeling the powerful soul power surging through his body and the terrifying force contained in the battle spear in his hand, Ling Feng's lips curled into a cold, exhilarated smile. Soul Master! He had finally taken the first step toward becoming a powerhouse! And it was a first step far beyond ordinary people!

"Good! What a Spear of Judgment!" Ghost Leopard Douluo's voice held undisguised amazement and a trace of gravity. He stared at the purple-and-gold spear in Ling Feng's hand, its aura terrifying, while a sharp glint flashed in his cloudy old eyes. "A six-hundred-and-fifty-year spirit ring... and you truly absorbed it! Kid, you have made this old man see you in a new light!" He paused, and for the first time, true importance entered his tone. "It seems His Eminence the Pope truly has a keen eye for talent."

Ling Feng dispersed the Spear of Judgment and solemnly bowed to Ghost Leopard Douluo. "Thank you for standing guard, Elder." There was more sincerity in this bow. He knew that absorbing the spirit ring had been incredibly dangerous. Though Ghost Leopard Douluo had not intervened, merely being present was itself an invisible form of protection.

Ghost Leopard Douluo waved his hand, a rare smile appearing on his sinister face. "No need. It was your own fortune. A six-hundred-and-fifty-year first spirit ring... Tsk, tsk. This old man has lived most of his life, yet this is the first time I've seen such a thing. Let's go. We should not remain here long; the smell of blood will attract more troublesome things." He glanced at the alpha wolf's corpse on the ground and casually waved a hand. A streak of black light flashed, and the corpse, along with the remaining soul power fluctuations, was instantly erased as though it had never existed.

Ling Feng nodded, suppressing the excitement brought by his increased soul power and the faint pain from his wounds as he followed Ghost Leopard Douluo back onto the back of the pitch-black giant leopard.

The giant leopard set off once more, but this time, Ghost Leopard Douluo's attitude was clearly different. Rather than closing his eyes to rest, he took the initiative to speak. "Kid, that Martial Soul of yours... what is it called? From what I can see, it does not seem to be an ordinary Light Beast Martial Soul."

Ling Feng's heart tightened slightly. Here it came! A Titled Douluo's eye truly was vicious! After a brief hesitation, he decided to reveal part of its true name while keeping the core vague. "In reply to Elder, this disciple calls it... the Wings of Judgment." He gave only the name and did not mention the angel origin.

"Wings of Judgment?" Ghost Leopard Douluo savored the name, a thoughtful look appearing in his cloudy eyes. "Judgment... a good name, and a good Martial Soul! No wonder it could suppress the dark origin of that Nether Wolf. What about your soul skill? That spear just now had considerable power."

"First soul skill: Spear of Judgment. A single-target attack with piercing and evil-dispelling effects." Ling Feng kept his answer concise.

"Spear of Judgment... good! Simple, direct, and powerful!" Ghost Leopard Douluo nodded, seemingly very satisfied with such a pure attack-type soul skill. "Kid, your talent is exceptional, and your temperament is ruthless and resolute enough. Given time, your achievements will be limitless. The Star Dou Great Forest may no longer be a death trap for you, but a treasure land. What are your plans next? Return immediately to report?"

Hearing that, Ling Feng directed his gaze deeper into the forest, a meaningful smile curling at his lips. "Elder, this disciple has heard that the Star Dou Great Forest contains countless rare treasures. Since we are already here, this disciple would like... to try his luck a little longer. Perhaps I can find something beneficial to cultivation?" The Ice and Fire Immortal Grass! Immortal herbs! That was the ultimate objective of this journey! With his first spirit ring as a foundation and Ghost Leopard Douluo's preliminary approval, it was time to seek an even greater opportunity!

Ghost Leopard Douluo gave Ling Feng a long look, as though his gaze could see through people's hearts. Then he chuckled, his voice cold yet carrying a hint of understanding. "Try your luck? Kid, I'm afraid this 'luck' you seek is not ordinary, is it? Fine. This old man will accompany you for another stretch. But let me make this clear first: if we encounter a tough opponent even I cannot handle, don't blame me for leaving you behind and running!"

"This disciple understands!" Ling Feng was overjoyed. It was done! With this old fox protecting him, his chances of going deep into the forest to find the Ice and Fire Immortal Grass had greatly increased!

The pitch-black giant leopard carried the two of them as it sped toward the more dangerous, more mysterious core region of the Star Dou Great Forest.