Level Thirty-Four, Dream Phantom Shadow

The Mysterious Heaven Skill governed everything, like the most precise furnace.

It continuously tempered and purified the violent Exotic Soul Power, eventually transforming it into pure Soul Power of his own.

The Power of Ice-Fire Immortal Herb was also squeezed out from his blood and bones, tempering his physique.

After nearly a day and night of torment and perseverance, dawn finally arrived.

Lu Yan's aura settled.

Above the two bright Yellow Soul Rings, a deep Purple Soul Ring slowly emerged.

Its light was restrained, yet it radiated a heart-palpitating energy fluctuation that perfectly merged with his own aura.

The Third Soul Ring had been successfully absorbed!

"Success."

On the shore, Dugu Bo let out a long breath of stale air.

The tense expression on his face finally gave way to a relieved smile.

This kid was far too good at causing trouble.

Every time, he made this old man's heart pound with fear. If anything had gone wrong—

how would he have explained it to Yanyan when he returned?

Fortunately.

All his worries had become the breathtaking reality before him.

A Soul Elder bearing an Eight-Thousand-Year Soul Ring had been born.

"With Xiao Yan's monstrous talent, once he is promoted to a Four-Ring Soul Ancestor,

absorbing a Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Ring should come naturally... an unprecedented Ten-Thousand-Year fourth ring."

Dugu Bo's thoughts raced.

He could hardly imagine just how shockingly powerful the youth before him would become in the future.

Perhaps he would become a new legend of the continent.

Lu Yan did not emerge immediately. He sat cross-legged within the spring for nearly Half an Hour, thoroughly stabilizing his surging Soul Power.

Only then did he leap back onto the shore.

"Success."

Uncontainable joy spread across Lu Yan's face.

This absorption had brought him an all-around improvement.

He could clearly feel that his physique, Soul Power, and especially his Spiritual Power had all undergone a qualitative leap.

Wait... my field of vision?

It was far too broad.

Lu Yan suddenly sensed that something was wrong.

The world before his eyes had become incomparably clear, its colors far more saturated than before.

Even more incredibly—

he could now see everything around him in all three hundred and sixty degrees, without a single blind spot.

Lu Yan subconsciously raised a hand to touch the space between his brows.

A strange foreign sensation came from there.

Everything had changed because of it.

Before he could examine it closely, Dugu Bo answered his question.

"Xiao Yan, your luck... truly defies the heavens.

You even obtained an External Soul Bone, a peerless treasure comparable to a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Ring."

"An External Soul Bone?"

Lu Yan suddenly understood.

That explained it.

No wonder his Spiritual Power had inexplicably surged again while absorbing the Soul Ring.

The Spiritual Power boost brought by an Eight-Thousand-Year Level External Soul Bone was indeed considerable.

Dugu Bo looked at him, unable to hide his curiosity.

"Absorbing a Soul Ring of such a high age beyond your level, your Soul Power must have increased by more than one level, right?"

At the mention of his cultivation, Lu Yan could not stop the corners of his mouth from rising. Joy colored his voice.

"Level Thirty-Three, and I'm already at the peak, only one step away from Level Thirty-Four."

"Gasp—!"

Even though he had been mentally prepared, Dugu Bo was still startled.

Was this the terror of Absorb Soul Ring Beyond Age Limit?

Cultivating as a Soul Elder was already far more difficult than during the Soul Grandmaster stage.

An increase of nearly three levels was enough to make geniuses of the same age spend more than half a year trying to catch up.

And as Lu Yan's Future continued to absorb Soul Rings beyond his level,

the gap would only grow wider, forming a chasm of despair.

"By the way, Grandpa,"

Lu Yan put away his smile and said seriously,

"I'll still need your help to completely refine this External Soul Bone."

He knew well that once an External Soul Bone fully fused with its owner, it would become linked to a Soul Master's flesh, blood, and soul. It would not fall off even after death.

This was something ordinary Soul Bones could never compare to.

Only by refining it completely could he truly be at ease.

Dugu Bo nodded. "The process will be painful. Endure it."

Before his words had even faded,

an immense Soul Power Pressure, vast as the sea, crashed down like a mountain.

Right from the start, Dugu Bo applied the pressure of Level Forty Soul Power.

Lu Yan's body trembled, but he calmly endured it. His breathing remained steady, and his expression did not change.

Dugu Bo was not surprised.

This kid's Spiritual Power was astonishing, far beyond others at the same level. He gradually increased the pressure.

Level 45... Level Forty-Eight... until Level Fifty, when the pressure of a Soul King descended.

By then,

Lu Yan's expression turned strained, his breathing grew rapid, and the circulation of his Soul Power was severely hindered.

The Seven-Colored Eyes between his brows abruptly erupted with brilliant light, automatically protecting their master and resisting the pressure.

At the same time, they underwent a deeper fusion with Lu Yan's flesh and bones throughout the process.

Time passed second by second.

When Dugu Bo raised the pressure to Level Fifty-Five,

Lu Yan was already at the end of his strength. He had no choice but to bend one knee into a half-crouch, both hands braced against his knees.

The bones throughout his body creaked, and even his thoughts became sluggish under the immense pressure.

For three consecutive days,

Lu Yan struggled to hold on under pressure at the very limit.

At last, the External Soul Bone was completely refined.

To his delight, under this inhuman pressure,

his Soul Power advanced even further, breaking through to Level Thirty-Four.

At the same time, Lu Yan also came to understand the Soul Skill granted by the External Soul Bone—

Dream Phantom Shadow.

Its effect was practically heaven-defying:

Once activated, it allowed his body to enter an illusory state, rendering him immune to all physical attacks below the god level for three seconds.

It was somewhat similar to Xiao Wu's Invincible Golden Body.

Yet the effects they produced were two entirely different things.

With everything settled,

the two set off back for Heaven Dou City.

Lu Yan also understood that being promoted to Soul Elder meant he would soon leave Heaven Dou City

and head to Spirit City to fight Hu Liena.

Just as expected,

before a day had passed, Snake Lance Douluo arrived and led him to the Guest Courtyard.

He saw Qian Renxue again.

But today, she was different from usual.

Qian Renxue had shed her luxurious gown and changed into a capable Golden Battle Dress and combat boots.

Her golden hair was tied neatly into a High Ponytail. She had lost some of her usual nobility, replaced by a valiant and heroic air.

Like a valkyrie about to Embark On the battlefield.

What is she planning? Lu Yan's heart stirred.

"Half a year, and you've gone from Soul Grandmaster to Soul Elder..."

Qian Renxue examined Lu Yan, a trace of undisguised surprise flashing through her Golden Eyes.

"I was right about you.

The original plan can be moved forward."

Her voice carried both approval and decisiveness.

Since childhood, her talent had been unmatched, and no one had even been able to glimpse her back.

Yet now, Lu Yan's cultivation speed was no slower than hers.

"However," Qian Renxue changed the subject, and her aura suddenly turned sharp, "your qualifications must still be tested."

Before her words fell,

vast golden Soul Power exploded from within her body.

Angel Wings spread from her back. Her combat boots lightly left the ground, and Qian Renxue floated in the low air.

Her High Ponytail flew in the turbulent Soul Power, nobility and Fighting Spirit blending perfectly together.

"I am already a Soul King." Qian Renxue's voice was cool and full of pressure.

"I won't take advantage of you. I'll only use my first three Soul Skills and suppress my Soul Power to the Soul Elder level, equal to yours."

Qian Renxue raised one finger, her sharp gaze locking onto Lu Yan.

"As long as you can withstand fifty moves from me, you will pass the test.

You will officially gain the qualification to represent me and go to Spirit City."

Lu Yan understood.

No wonder she had changed into battle gear. She was planning to test him herself.

A blazing Fighting Spirit rose from the depths of his heart.

Lu Yan showed no fear. Instead, he was filled with excitement.

"Good." Lu Yan accepted the challenge loudly, his aura instantly climbing to its peak.

"Then... fight!"

Even though Qian Renxue's Martial Soul had not yet fully evolved, its essence was still a top-tier God Level Martial Soul.

For him, this was the perfect opportunity to test his own strength.

Lu Yan had never intended merely to withstand fifty moves.

He intended to... defeat her.

He believed that with the Dream Butterfly Martial Soul, he would not be inferior to anyone in this world.