The violent currents of energy in the room gradually subsided, leaving only a powerful yet restrained aura of rebirth slowly spreading through the air.
In contrast, Chen Li's body seemed to be instantly wrapped in an invisible membrane, forcibly drawing in and restraining all the overflowing violent aura and chaotic Soul Power fluctuations.
His rapid, pained gasps abruptly ceased, replaced by deep, steady breathing, as though it had synchronized with some grand rhythm.
His face, previously twisted in agony, gradually calmed, leaving only his tightly shut eyes and a trace of sternness lingering between his brows.
Then, the final wisp of deep purple light formed from the hovering thousand-year soul ring flowed completely into Chen Li's head like a hundred rivers returning to the sea.
The light did not spread through his body. Instead, it followed some mysterious path and precisely merged into the phantom of the Lightning Martial Soul source behind him, which seemed almost alive!
Buzz.
A faint resonance, as though originating from the soul itself, rang out.
At the center of that flickering blue-white lightning phantom, a clear purple ring gradually emerged from illusion into reality, stabilized, and finally began slowly rotating and pulsing around the lightning core like its most loyal satellite. Purple and lightning radiance reflected one another, emanating an integrated aura of majesty that was far more restrained and profound than that of an ordinary thousand-year soul ring.
His first soul ring had been successfully added?
Yue Guan's peach-blossom eyes, usually carrying a hint of laziness and amusement, were now wide open, filled with unconcealed astonishment and shock.
He had succeeded? Not only had he survived the violent impact of absorbing a soul ring beyond his level, he had actually succeeded in perfectly attaching this thousand-year soul ring to his absurdly demanding Martial Soul!
This was not merely breaking common sense. It had surpassed the ironclad laws passed down through the world of soul masters for countless years!
In an instant, Yue Guan's gaze became incomparably sharp.
Without the slightest hesitation, Soul Power erupted around him!
Yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black, black, black!
Nine soul rings rose like nine blazing suns. The terrifying pressure of a level ninety-five Titled Douluo was no longer the controlled probing from before, but an invisible tsunami that exploded outward from him!
Yet this pressure was not meant to attack. Instead, it exquisitely formed an invisible bowl-shaped force field, completely enveloping and isolating the small building where Chen Li was located and the area dozens of meters around it! Within the force field, the air congealed, sound was cut off, and even the light seemed blurred and distorted, utterly severed from the outside world.
A level ninety-five Titled Douluo, even one not known for pure offensive power, possessed control and command over the energy of heaven and earth that had reached an unimaginable level.
At this moment, Yue Guan was like the most vigilant guard, concealing every possible factor that could interfere with or spy upon this place.
His thoughts raced. A thousand-year first ring...
Such talent has never existed throughout history! His potential can no longer be described as merely remarkable—it is heaven-defying!
What had originally been nothing more than a chess piece he had casually brought back out of interest and to cause trouble for Star Luo had, at this moment, soared to an unprecedented level of importance in his heart.
Regardless of Chen Li's past identity, this thousand-year first ring alone was enough for Spirit Hall to spare no expense in bringing him into its most core training ranks. It might even draw the attention of those old monsters in the Hall of Elders!
I brought him back. This opportunity and karmic tie should naturally be mine to take charge of.
A glint flashed through Yue Guan's eyes. Factions and degrees of closeness existed within Spirit Hall as well. If Chen Li could rise to prominence, then as his guide, Yue Guan would receive enormous returns in both prestige and tangible benefits.
Protecting Chen Li now and blocking all prying eyes was both protection and a silent declaration—as well as an investment.
The instant his Soul Power force field unfolded, several Soul Power senses of varying strength, all containing powerful intent, quietly reached out from different parts of Spirit Hall like invisible tentacles, attempting to pierce or bypass the barrier.
The owners of these senses were at least Soul Douluos, while several of the auras were obscure and profound, clearly belonging to Titled Douluo elders or consecrates of the same level.
"What is Yue Guan doing?"
"Such intense Soul Power lockdown... has something happened?"
"That direction... is the residence area for Core Disciples?"
Streams of intent converged at the edge of the force field, probing with confusion and curiosity.
At the same time, deep within the Palace of the Pope.
Bibi Dong, who had been reviewing documents, paused slightly with her gem-studded quill in hand. She raised her pale violet eyes toward Yue Guan's direction. There was no expression on her stunning face, yet the space around her seemed to freeze for an instant.
"Yue Guan?" she murmured softly, her voice icy. "Releasing Soul Power so openly to form a domain blockade in the heart of the residence... you had better have a sufficient reason."
The next second, the Pope's Throne beneath her was empty.
A blurred violet-gold figure seemed to merge directly into space. When it appeared again, it was standing silently beside Yue Guan—it was Bibi Dong herself.
She did not even cause any violent fluctuation in Yue Guan's Soul Power force field, displaying astonishing control over the power of space.
"Yue Guan," Bibi Dong said evenly, though her voice carried unquestionable authority, "I require an explanation. You should understand what it means to act like this within the city without authorization."
Yue Guan was not surprised by Bibi Dong's arrival. He did not even withdraw his Soul Power force field. He merely turned slightly, the signature smile with its hint of bewitching charm returning to his face, though his eyes were exceptionally solemn.
"Please calm your anger, Your Majesty the Pope. Look at what is happening inside. Such a sight is worth what I have done, and it is worthy of Your Majesty's personal inspection."
Following Yue Guan's gesture, Bibi Dong's gaze passed through the shattered doorframe and fell upon Chen Li, who sat cross-legged inside the room.
The first thing she saw was Chen Li's miserable, blood-soaked condition. But with Bibi Dong's discernment, she instantly saw that they were merely superficial injuries from the energy impact. His life force was vigorous and rapidly recovering.
Her gaze then fixed upon the pure and violent Lightning Martial Soul phantom behind Chen Li, the one she had seen only yesterday.
However, unlike yesterday, when there had been nothing there, a solid, deep purple ring was now clearly circling the outer edge of the lightning's core, slowly pulsing!
He had succeeded? He had actually solved the problem of being unable to absorb soul rings?
The moment that thought arose, Bibi Dong's pupils abruptly constricted!
Purple?! A thousand-year soul ring?!
Even with her status as the Pope, her twin top-tier Martial Souls, and her inheritance as the bearer of the Rakshasa God Trial, a stormy sea surged within her heart at that moment!
She naturally knew Yu Xiaogang's theory of the ten core competencies, which she had secretly paid attention to and even privately acknowledged as rigorous in certain aspects—especially its discussion regarding the limits of soul ring absorption.
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