The Path of the Spirit Ring, 700-Year Sacred Scarab

"Choosing only augmentation skills for your first few spirit rings—that's a bold idea, Chen Jieqi, and quite forward-thinking."

Dugu Bo thought for a moment, then said in a deep voice.

Chen Jieqi tilted his head slightly, his eyes shimmering with a cunning typical of a child, yet revealing a clarity that belied his age.

He stepped forward half a pace, tugged gently on the ink-green robe hanging at Dugu Bo's side, and continued in a crisp voice:

"It's only because I have you as my grandfather that I dare to make such a decision.

With you there to help me when I choose my early spirit rings, it doesn't matter if I lack offensive spirit skills; I only need to choose what suits me best.

The most important thing is that low-year offensive spirit rings become largely useless in the later stages, whereas augmentation spirit rings can be used indefinitely.

This ensures that the further I progress, the greater my core competitiveness will be.

After all, when spirit power levels are similar and we don't consider spirit suppression, a spirit master's limit is determined by the damage of their spirit skills and the endurance of their spirit power, and augmentation-type spirit skills satisfy exactly those conditions.

Whether it's increasing spirit skill damage, boosting attributes, or enhancing spirit power recovery, having one is never a loss, and having two is a gain."

By the time he finished, Chen Jieqi's small face was full of seriousness as he looked up at Dugu Bo, his tone filled with absolute trust and certainty:

"With you protecting me, Grandfather, I only need to focus on building a solid foundation so that I can make you proud and protect Sister Dugu Yan in the future, isn't that right?"

Without waiting for Dugu Bo to reply, Chen Jieqi continued:

"My spirit—the Heart of the Naaru—is an ultimate light and holy-type spirit, possessing inherent traits like purification, searing heat, and dissolution.

When used on myself or my teammates, it can provide holy augmentation and cleanse negative effects.

When used against opponents, it erodes and dissolves their spirit power, or accelerates their physical exhaustion through searing heat, thereby achieving the goal of suppression or victory.

Therefore, my first choice for spirit ring augmentation is all-attribute boosting, followed by light and holy attribute boosting."

Dugu Bo nodded in satisfaction and said:

"Chen Jieqi, since you have your own plan, I will naturally support you with all my might. After all, you are precocious, showing extraordinary qualities from a young age. So, do you have any thoughts on the spirit beasts?"

Although Chen Jieqi was only six years old, his various displays were not what one would expect at his age.

Dugu Bo did not delve into this, but instead treated him like his own grandson.

Because in the past few years, with Chen Jieqi's help, Dugu Yan's spirit backlash had been greatly alleviated, and even Dugu Bo himself had found some suppression, making these past few years much easier.

With Chen Jieqi's spirit awakening and his performance, Dugu Bo saw hope. If he could completely resolve the hidden dangers of his own spirit's flaws, that would be best;

if he couldn't, then when he was gone one day, his granddaughter Dugu Yan would have someone to look after her.

"For the choice of spirit beasts, my first preference is those with holy attributes, followed by light attributes, like the Sacred Scarab, the Light Bird, or the Sacred Radiance Pegasus.

Choosing this way not only maximizes the characteristics of my own spirit, but also gives me a high probability of obtaining augmentation or strengthening spirit skills."

Chen Jieqi thought for a moment and said to Dugu Bo.

"Chen Jieqi, your plan is correct. After we spirit masters reach a bottleneck, obtaining a spirit skill from a spirit ring is only one aspect; the more important thing is to strengthen one's own spirit, highlighting its characteristics to play to its strengths and avoid its weaknesses. Only then can one walk more steadily and further.

The Yu Clan of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect and the Dai Clan of the White Tiger Clan are all like this. Not only is their combat power far superior to spirit masters of the same stage, but their potential is also greater.

The reason the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon is called the 'Number One Beast Spirit' is not just because of its powerful physique that surpasses other beast spirits of the same stage, but also because of its sharp and domineering lightning attribute."

Dugu Bo sighed with emotion.

The Jade Phosphorous Serpent of their Dugu Clan was a high-tier spirit, and the evolved Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor was a top-tier spirit, but neither its physical strength nor its attributes could compare to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon...

Dugu Yan, standing to the side, watched the two talking eloquently, her eyes full of happiness and admiration as she urged:

"Since it's decided, let's set off quickly. It's not hard to find these spirit beasts under a thousand years in the Sunset Forest."

Hearing this, Dugu Bo nodded slightly. Just as he was about to set off, Chen Jieqi suddenly thought of something and hurriedly grabbed Dugu Bo's hand:

"Grandfather, don't rush. Please test my physical strength first to see what age range of spirit rings my body can handle.

In the early stages, the age of the spirit ring a spirit master can absorb is directly proportional to their physical fitness. I don't want to follow convention and only absorb a 400-year spirit ring."

"Chen Jieqi, are you sure?

This is just your speculation. If something goes wrong..."

Even if Grandpa forcibly interrupts your absorption to prevent your body from exploding, the cost of the aftereffects is immense, and it could even jeopardize your future."

Dugu Bo looked at Chen Jieqi and hurriedly advised.

"Grandpa is right, little brother Jieqi. Your talent is already one in a million, there is no need to take this risk. By following the standard path, you can still far surpass soul masters of the same stage."

Dugu Yan also chimed in nervously from the side.

Looking at the cautious Dugu Bo and the anxious Dugu Yan, Chen Jieqi felt a warmth in his heart, yet he still spoke with a firm expression:

"Grandpa, Sister Yan, little Jieqi knows you have my best interests at heart, but talent is only the starting point.

Since my talent is a step ahead of others, I should maintain that advantage. If you are fast in one step, you will be fast in every step.

Absorbing a soul ring beyond the age limit not only accelerates the increase of Soul Power Level, but also makes the original soul skills more powerful.

At the same time, when I meditate and pray, there is a faint voice whispering in my ear, 'A genius must do what ordinary people cannot.' Not only must I be faster than others from the start, but every time I make a choice, I must strengthen my foundation so that I can reach the very top."

Looking at Chen Jieqi, who was only six years old but had a determined expression and resolute eyes, Dugu Bo pondered for a moment before slowly nodding and saying seriously:

"Grandpa can agree to your request, but only this once.

If you fail, you will honestly follow the standard path and abandon this dangerous idea in your head."

"It's a deal!"

Watching the excited Chen Jieqi, Dugu Bo rubbed his temples.

The main reason he agreed was because of the precociousness and extraordinary nature the boy had shown since childhood, as well as a tiny glimmer of expectation in his own heart.

An hour later, Dugu Bo returned with a dying insect.

It was about seven inches long, rather plump, and oval-shaped. Its body was covered in white scales, reflecting dazzling white light under the sun as if it were wearing a suit of white armor. Along the front edge of the crescent-shaped shell on its head were six angular serrations.

This was a Sacred Scarab with about 700 years of cultivation.

"Jieqi, although your body strength could withstand 700-800 years when I tested you earlier, for the sake of safety, I chose one around 700 years. Hurry up and kill it to absorb the soul ring."

"Okay, thank you, Grandpa!"

Upon hearing this, Chen Jieqi stepped forward without hesitation to deliver the final blow, sending it into an eternal slumber.

Immediately, a bright yellow soul ring filled with a sacred aura slowly appeared above the body of the Sacred Scarab.

"Jieqi, are you really planning to absorb this soul ring?

If you misjudged yourself, even if Grandpa can interrupt your absorption in time to save you, the backlash you suffer will cause you to be unable to absorb new soul rings for a year, leaving you stuck in a bottleneck.

Have you really thought this through?"

Dugu Bo looked at the soul ring and asked seriously once more.

"Grandpa, I am confident. Please trust your grandson's judgment!"

Chen Jieqi looked at Dugu Bo with determined eyes.

"Then good luck, little brother Jieqi!"

Dugu Yan, standing to the side, also waved her fist in encouragement.

"Thank you, Sister Yan."

Dugu Bo nodded, no longer trying to persuade him.

He and Dugu Yan watched every move Chen Jieqi made with tension, their eyes even filled with a certain sense of expectation.

If Chen Jieqi could successfully absorb this Sacred Scarab soul ring that exceeded the limit, he would possess a foundation incomparable to others in the future.

It was impossible to imagine just how powerful Chen Jieqi would become.

Chen Jieqi summoned the Heart of the Naaru, sat cross-legged, and began to absorb the soul ring of the Sacred Scarab.

As he guided it with his soul power, the bright yellow soul ring quickly flew over and settled above Chen Jieqi's head.

At this moment, Chen Jieqi's entire skeleton emitted faint creaking sounds under the powerful pressure.

Waves of scorching energy surged madly into his body, and in an instant, his internal organs felt as if they were burning, causing his body to tremble violently.

Chen Jieqi couldn't help but sigh inwardly; if it were anyone else, the moment the spirit ring's energy entered their body, they would likely be unable to withstand it, bleeding from their seven orifices, or even exploding and dying.

However, his physique had been different from ordinary people since childhood, and coupled with the homologous attributes, under the guidance and dredging of his powerful soul power, it never exceeded the limits of his body's endurance.

During the absorption process, the energy of the Sacred Scarab spirit ring seemed endless, tempering Chen Jieqi's body over and over again, and as time passed, Chen Jieqi's expression gradually relaxed.

Dugu Bo, standing to the side, finally breathed a sigh of relief, though he was still observing Chen Jieqi carefully.

Based on his extensive experience, the most dangerous period had passed, and there was a high chance of completing the absorption, but he still had to wait; until the very last moment, no one could know what the outcome would be.

Since ancient times, Douluo Continent had never lacked geniuses, and there were not a few among them who had ideas like Chen Jieqi's, yet the results were all incredibly miserable, with not a single successful example.

Three hours later, Chen Jieqi's body no longer trembled noticeably, his breathing slowly steadied, and the absorption of the spirit ring had reached its end.

Seeing that Chen Jieqi's condition had stabilized, the final weight in the hearts of Dugu Bo and Dugu Yan lifted; it seemed he had succeeded.

As the bright yellow spirit ring settled beneath him, Chen Jieqi felt his body lighten, he felt refreshed, as if every pore on his body had opened up, and his spirit power felt as though it had increased by a significant margin.

"Grandpa, Sister Yanyan, I succeeded!"

After opening his eyes, Chen Jieqi smiled.

"Good, good, good...

My grandson truly has the potential to become a god!"