Passing On the Soul Ring Combination, Slaying the Evil Spirit Orca Pod (Happy New Year's Eve)

That grand battle, so earth-shaking that it seemed like a tsunami had descended, was something Xu Tianxi naturally could never forget. Even now, the memories remained fresh.

During the second exchange between Xu Xiaoyun and the Heavenly Tyrant Ancestor, he had used the Divine Beast Bloodline Talent Soul Ring Combination. His first five Soul Rings had fused into one, transforming into the Black Tortoise Roar Soul Skill. A resplendent shield phantom surged forth like an eternal golden wall, suppressing everything in its path. The Black Tortoise threw back its head and roared, its divine beast might shaking heaven and earth.

At the time, Xu Tianxi had even thought that Xu Xiaoyun's strike unleashed over the sea might have reached the level of a Limit Douluo. Even Long Xiaoyao would not have dared to underestimate it.

Unfortunately, his opponent had been the unfathomably powerful Heavenly Tyrant Ancestor. The Black Tortoise Roar had not affected him in the slightest.

During the third exchange, Xu Xiaoyun's Sixth and Seventh Soul Rings had merged into a single Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring as bright as blood, thoroughly shocking him.

Two black Soul Rings had fused into a red Soul Ring? Wasn't that talent a little too heaven-defying?

But afterward, Xu Tianxi recalled how, during the first Tournament in the original story, Xu Sanshi had fused the three Soul Rings—"yellow, yellow, purple"—whose combined age could not possibly have exceeded four thousand years, into a Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring. He had then used Black Tortoise Roar to clash head-on with the Ten Thousand Year Soul Skill of an Angel Soul King. Xu Tianxi immediately felt that this was nothing special.

At least Xu Xiaoyun's Sixth and Seventh Soul Rings had a combined age of seventy or eighty thousand years at minimum. That was much more normal than Xu Sanshi's.

As for the later fusion of eight rings into one, he could simply regard it as another eruption of the Ring Fusion talent. In any case, it had not harmed the Heavenly Tyrant Ancestor.

Now that he heard Xiao Changfeng bring it up again, a streak of light flashed through Xu Tianxi's mind. He pursed his lips and asked in a hoarse voice:

"Senior Martial Uncle, you're not planning to teach me the Soul Ring Combination method, are you? I haven't cultivated my Second Martial Soul yet."

Xiao Changfeng gave him a mysterious smile and asked in a low voice:

"Who told you that only those with the Black Tortoise Martial Soul can use this ability? The Xuanming Sect has been passed down for so many years. Among us, there have been no shortage of Titled Douluo whose Martial Souls weren't the Black Tortoise. How could we not have a few unique secret arts? As long as a Soul Master possesses the Divine Beast Bloodline, they can use this secret art."

Xu Tianxi's eyes lit up. "You mean..."

"It means exactly what you think it means!"

Xiao Changfeng threw back his head and laughed. He tapped the ground with his toe and rose into the air. Nine Soul Rings rose once more, and the Ice Crystal Phoenix let out a ringing cry. The pressure of the ruler of all birds loomed over every direction, causing the entire stretch of sea to submit and fall silent.

"Little Junior Nephew, watch closely!"

Xiao Changfeng let out a long cry. The first four Soul Rings on his body immediately shone brightly. Then, the four rings moved in unison and fused into one, transforming into a Pitch Black Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring.

Its aura was as deep as an abyss. Although Xu Tianxi had never absorbed a Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring, he still instinctively sensed that the quality of this fused Soul Ring was definitely far beyond the level of ten thousand years.

After all, it had been formed from the fusion of one yellow and three purple Soul Rings. Xiao Changfeng's thousand-year Fourth Soul Ring was nearly purple-black, far deeper than his Deep Sea Silver Demonic Whale Soul Ring.

"Clang~ clang!"

Surging Soul Power rushed a thousand zhang into the air, transforming into layers of pure-white, snowlike ice-flower ripples. Amid Xiao Changfeng's long cry, which spread in all directions, the enormous phantom of a Phoenix took shape and spread its wings. Its phoenix eyes were sharp as blades, radiating an arrogant bearing of World Domination.

Battle intent surged in Xiao Changfeng's eyes. He spread both arms high in a flying posture, merging with the Ice Phoenix's wings. Boundless blue ripples spread outward. His essence, energy, and spirit merged into one, and his entire aura rose to its peak. He then spoke four words in a sonorous, rising and falling tone:

"Ice Phoenix~ Ten Thousand Miles!"

The high-pitched cry of the Phoenix transformed into sound waves that shook heaven and earth. Visible distortions appeared in the space around Xiao Changfeng. They were spatial ripples that froze the world. Cold light sprayed in all directions, and the icy wind cutting over like blades made Xu Tianxi's eyes ache. He had no choice but to circulate his Soul Power to protect them.

Countless Soul Power feathers, some deep blue and others snow-white, condensed in the space around Xiao Changfeng and shot outward, refracting dazzling light.

In the next instant, Xiao Changfeng thrust out his arms. The Ice Crystal Phoenix phantom soared through heaven and earth, carrying a rolling tide of cold that swept across the sky. Silver-blue light obscured the rays of the rising sun and brought with it the sensation of Ice and Snow. Under Xu Tianxi's somewhat dazed gaze, it vanished at the far end of the sea.

"How was that, Little Junior Nephew? What did you think of Senior Martial Uncle's move?"

Xiao Changfeng landed with a hearty laugh and folded his arms across his chest, his spirit soaring. A trace of smugness flashed through his ice-blue eyes.

Over the past two and a half years, Xu Tianxi's displays of talent had stimulated him from time to time, leaving even a Super Douluo like him somewhat lacking in confidence. After displaying his strength over the past two days, he had finally reclaimed a little face.

This was the treatment a dignified Level 96 Super Douluo ought to receive. Although he had indeed been inferior to Xu Tianxi at the latter's age, he had still been an astonishing genius of his generation, looking down on his peers and nearly invincible among them.

As a senior, he still had to maintain some senior's bearing.

"Impressive. Extremely impressive."

Xu Tianxi gave him a thumbs-up and spoke sincerely.

He had no idea how powerful the move was, but freezing him solid a hundred times should not have been a problem.

He just wondered what would happen if he fired it at that bastard Yan Shaozhe.

"Haha, Little Junior Nephew, you don't have to envy me. With your talent and insight, it definitely won't take you long to learn this secret art."

The corners of Xiao Changfeng's lips kept rising as he said this. Then his tone suddenly changed, and his expression grew solemn:

"But remember this well: this secret art places a tremendous burden on the body. The more Soul Rings you fuse, and the greater their age, the more severe the burden. As for the highest level, the fusion of nine rings into one, even Teacher would never use it lightly."

Xu Tianxi's gaze narrowed when he heard this, and he nodded seriously. Then he asked curiously, "Then, Senior Martial Uncle, how far can you go right now?"

"I've accomplished the fusion of eight rings into one. That was when I used it against Teacher after breaking through to Level Ninety-Six. I've never tried fusing nine rings into one..."

A grave look spread between Xiao Changfeng's brows as he reminded him in a soft voice:

"I'll teach you the incantation later. After you learn it, you must comprehend it carefully. Although this method is performed by drawing upon the Divine Beast Bloodline as its foundation, your main cultivation of the Illusory Moon Mystic Eyes will cause some obstacles. Still, understanding one method leads to understanding all methods. As long as you practice diligently, you'll definitely master it."

At this point, Xiao Changfeng's voice grew increasingly low. The light in his eyes became cold and ruthless, and he said solemnly:

"But remember this: unless absolutely necessary, never use the Illusory Moon Mystic Eyes to perform this move in public. Otherwise, endless trouble will follow!

"Those Titled Douluo, and even Super Douluo, will attack you under the influence of greed. You must at least wait until you have cultivated to the level of a Soul Sage before you can protect yourself!"

"Also, if you use this move while privately fighting an enemy, you absolutely cannot leave any survivors! It's better to kill the wrong person than let one go!"

Xu Tianxi's expression became solemn, and he calmly answered, "All right," fully aware of how serious this matter was.

This secret art was an enormous temptation to any faction or powerful expert. Its practical value was far greater than the Dragon Transformation of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, the Split Mind Control of the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, or the Clear Sky Nine Absolutes of the Clear Sky Sect. It was nearly on the same level as Ring Detonation.

When Huo Gua had revealed a trace of the Ice Empress's aura during a competition in the Star Luo Empire, it had already attracted the Guardian Douluo of the Star Luo Empire to his door. They had even dared to attack a participating student from Shrek Academy. This showed that those Titled Douluo were no kind souls. One absolutely could not count on their benevolence.

"Mm, that's good."

Seeing the resolve in Xu Tianxi's eyes, Xiao Changfeng smiled and nodded. His lips moved, and he recited a profound and obscure incantation.

Xu Tianxi listened quietly. Bewilderment occasionally flashed through his eyes as he asked questions. Xiao Changfeng answered them with a smile, and several minutes quickly passed.

After hearing the incantation, Xu Tianxi was just about to ask Xiao Changfeng about his insights when he saw a sharp glint flash through the other man's eyes. A strange expression also appeared on his face.

"Senior Martial Uncle, what's wrong?" Xu Tianxi asked with concern.

Xiao Changfeng did not answer. He closed his eyes and sensed for a moment before replying hesitantly:

"It seems the Ice Phoenix Ten Thousand Miles Soul Skill I released just now struck some Sea Soul Beasts. And... quite a lot of them, too. Among them should be more than one Ten Thousand Year Soul Beast. Their strength isn't weak."

Xu Tianxi: "...???"

Senior Martial Uncle's aim was that good? He had hit an entire group with a single attack?

"Then, Senior Martial Uncle, should we go take a look?"

Hearing that there might be something interesting to see, Xu Tianxi eagerly made the suggestion.

"Then let's go take a look..." Since he had already struck them, Xiao Changfeng felt there was no harm in seeing what had happened.

Two minutes later.

On a stretch of sea turned to ice, Xiao Changfeng descended from the sky with the dumbfounded Xu Tianxi. He gazed at the black-and-purple mass of Soul Rings in midair and fell silent.

Heaven knew he had never intended to slaughter Soul Beasts indiscriminately. How had these creatures been so unlucky as to take his attack head-on?

These creatures, beaten beyond recognition, were no ordinary Soul Beasts. Each was over fifteen meters long, with the streamlined whale bodies of Deep Sea Demonic Whales. They were none other than the Evil Spirit Orcas, one of the three great overlord Soul Beasts of the near sea, famed alongside the Deep Sea Demonic Whale!

Even though they had already fallen, their mangled bodies still radiated a fierce and tyrannical aura. Their frozen gazes were terrifying. In life, every one of them had been a powerful existence that dominated its territory. The leading Evil Spirit Orca was nearly thirty meters long, and its aura had astonishingly reached the level of a Soul Beast exceeding fifty thousand years!

"If I'd known I would hit these fellows, I would have fused one fewer Soul Ring. So many precious Soul Rings can only go to waste. What a pity..."