An Ordinary Yet Extraordinary Soul Skill, Sky Rend

As the Purple Soul Ring slowly pressed down from above Tang Xuan's head.

Pain surged like a tidal wave, and the immense pressure seemed determined to crush him flat.

No wonder even Qian Renxue, with her innate Level 20 Soul Power, still only possessed two Hundred-Year Soul Rings.

The tyranny of a Thousand Year Soul Ring truly could not be compared to that of a Hundred-Year Soul Ring.

It was even less something an ordinary Soul Grandmaster could casually contend with.

Time ticked by, second by second.

The Imperial Dou Group watched Tang Xuan anxiously as his body repeatedly swelled and contracted.

"Teacher Qin, is... is this normal?" Ning Rongrong's eyes reddened as she fought back her tears.

"Probably. Xiao Xuan's Soul Power is fighting against the Shadow Demon Tiger's Soul Power. He'll be fine once he holds on a little longer," Qin Ming reassured her.

Yet he silently swallowed the rest of his words.

His body was wavering between contraction and expansion.

This meant that the two sides' Soul Power had turned the Spirit Master's body into a battlefield.

For a short time, neither side could do anything to the other.

One careless mistake, and he would explode and die.

To put it bluntly, whether he could endure it depended entirely on luck.

That was why Qin Ming did not dare say it aloud...

Ning Rongrong nodded woodenly, her hands unconsciously clasping together in prayer.

Qin Ming's answer seemed to have become her only hope.

Tang Xuan looked terrifying at the moment, but in truth, he was not having an easy time at all.

The pain in his body was secondary.

The exhaustion of his mind was the true danger.

Once his mind gave way, the Soul Power without Mental Power to control it would collapse in an instant.

At that point, only death awaited Tang Xuan...

But just then.

A powerful... Momentum suddenly erupted from the depths of Tang Xuan's soul?

It was not easy to describe that feeling.

It could only be said that it was remarkably similar to Tang Xuan's Sword Momentum.

Heavy as mountains, vast as the sea.

It fiercely suppressed the Soul Ring power belonging to the Shadow Demon Tiger within Tang Xuan's body for an instant, then vanished completely.

Tang Xuan's spirits rose, and he seized the opportunity to launch a final assault on the Soul Ring's power.

The Shadow Demon Tiger's Soul Power immediately showed signs of defeat.

Outside.

In the eyes of the Imperial Dou Group.

The ground around Tang Xuan suddenly sank by varying amounts, from a few millimeters to several centimeters.

It was like the indentation left behind by something immensely heavy.

After that.

Tang Xuan's body returned to its original, normal state.

The ferocious expression on his face gradually settled as well.

"Phew..." Everyone let out a breath of relief at once.

This meant Tang Xuan had passed the most dangerous stage.

All that remained was to transform the Soul Ring's power into his own Soul Power.

Then Tang Xuan would truly have achieved the miracle of a Thousand-year Second Ring.

A full three days and three nights passed.

Only then did Tang Xuan slowly awaken.

Before he could even fully open his eyes.

Ning Rongrong was the first to throw herself into his arms, tears welling in her eyes as she said, "Brother Xuan, how are you? Do you feel uncomfortable anywhere?"

"Don't worry. I feel great right now." Tang Xuan rubbed her little head.

His strength had increased by an unknown amount, and his entire body brimmed with inexhaustible power.

His Soul Power had also risen three levels in a row, reaching Level 23.

"A Thousand-year Second Ring... You really did it..." Yu Tianheng's expression was complicated.

He knew that from this moment onward.

Even though he possessed the Number One Beast Martial Soul Under Heaven.

He had completely lost any possibility of surpassing Tang Xuan.

"I just got lucky." Tang Xuan replied with a smile.

Yet he was thinking about the Momentum that had suddenly appeared while he absorbed the Soul Ring.

Without that Momentum's help, he truly might have failed.

But based on his original Mental Power and Sword Momentum, it should not have been that strong.

"Alright, Xiao Xuan's safe absorption matters more than anything. Hurry and let us see the Soul Skill from that Thousand-year Second Ring." Qin Ming's eyes brimmed with anticipation.

The others wore the same expressions.

The corner of Tang Xuan's mouth curved into an almost imperceptible smile. "My second Soul Skill is a Buff Skill. I call it Sky Rend. Its effect is to double the damage of my next attack."

"Uh, that's it?" Yu Tianheng scratched his head.

Honestly, this kind of skill was common for Weapon Martial Souls, and it was indeed quite good.

But ordinary Hundred-Year Soul Rings could produce it as well.

Tang Xuan had risked his life for a Soul Skill like this. It really seemed like a loss.

"That's it? What if Sky Rend can affect other Soul Skills and even Self-Created Soul Skills?" Tang Xuan said meaningfully.

The moment those words fell.

Everyone was shocked.

As everyone knew.

Ordinary Buff Skills could at most affect the Spirit Master themself.

They could not possibly influence Soul Skills or Self-Created Soul Skills in the slightest.

Yet Sky Rend completely shattered that rule!

Just imagine.

If Tang Xuan broke through Level 90 and reached the realm of a Titled Douluo.

Then used Sky Rend to buff his Ninth Soul Skill.

How powerful would that Ninth Soul Skill become?

Even taking a step back.

Tang Xuan could fully build his own combat system around Sky Rend.

The damage of every move and attack would be doubled.

Tang Xuan was already invincible among those of the same rank.

With this.

Even Spirit Masters with one or two more Soul Rings than Tang Xuan would likely find it difficult to withstand him.

"Sky Rend. What a Sky Rend. In a few years, the title of Number One Attack Under Heaven may well change hands..." Qin Ming said with feeling.

The effect of this Soul Skill truly could be called simple.

But Great Dao Simplicity—the simplest things often turned out to be the least simple.

"It's still too early to say that. We should return to the academy as well," Tang Xuan said softly.

Because he had absorbed a Soul Ring beyond his level, his body had expelled a great deal of impurities, like pores pooping in novels.

As a result, he was sticky all over and carried a rancid smell.

Everyone readily agreed.

They had guarded Tang Xuan for three consecutive days.

Although they had not expended much Soul Power.

The constant mental strain had left all of them exhausted.

But right at that moment, an unexpected change occurred.

The group had only taken a couple of steps.

Tang Xuan suddenly let out a muffled groan and dropped to his knees.

His entire upper body arched high like a cat's, convulsing uncontrollably.

The clothes on his back instantly tore apart, and two fist-sized bulges rose beneath his shoulder blades.

This was accompanied by waves of cracking and growing bones, a sound terrifying enough to make one's scalp tingle.

"Tang Xuan?!"

Everyone's expressions changed dramatically.

They thought something had gone wrong with Tang Xuan's Soul Ring absorption.

Ye Lingling decisively stepped forward. The Nine Heart Begonia instantly bloomed, turning into petals of light that flowed into Tang Xuan's body.

Unfortunately, not only did this fail to restore Tang Xuan.

It instead made his convulsions even more violent.

Ye Lingling immediately withdrew her hand in fright and anxiously said, "Healing doesn't work. This isn't an injury. What is happening?"

"I'm fine. Don't worry. It'll be over soon," Tang Xuan forced out through clenched teeth.

Yet joy surged within his heart like a tide.

He had not expected that, aside from Sky Rend, the rule-breaking Soul Skill.

The Shadow Demon Tiger would bring him another unexpected surprise.

Though everyone was anxious, there was nothing they could do.

They had not only never seen such a situation—they had never even heard of one.

Not long after.

Tang Xuan let out a relieved moan.

Under everyone's tense gazes.

A pair of Mysterious Black wings, identical in color to the Mysterious Iron Heavy Sword, extended from Tang Xuan's back.

Their texture lay somewhere between metal and bone.

Several crystal-clear drops of blood still clung to their surface.

"This... Could it be an external..." Yu Tianheng could not help crying out.

He stopped halfway through and forcibly swallowed the rest of his words.

His gaze became alert as if he were guarding against thieves, constantly scanning the surroundings.

If it truly was what he thought it was, Tang Xuan had really found an incredible treasure.