Douluo: So You're the One Called a Theory Master?

Under everyone's watchful eyes, Ning Qinghe held his breath and focused in the room.

"My safety is in your hands, Grandpa Sword."

After leaving those words behind and receiving Chen Xin's nod, Ning Qinghe directly began absorbing the fifteen-thousand-nine-hundred-year black Spirit Ring.

He had prepared for this day for nearly ten years.

Whether he would become a dragon or a worm would be decided today.

Even with thorough preparations, Ning Qinghe did not let down his guard in the slightest and gave it his all.

He did not want even a one-in-ten-thousand chance of an accident. Otherwise, not only he, but the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect would become a laughingstock for a long time.

Not to mention the Soul Splitting Plan Spirit Hall might carry out afterward.

It has to succeed.

Filled with unwavering conviction, Ning Qinghe completely drew the Spirit Ring into his body.

In an instant, violent, uncontrollable, terrifying Soul Power surged through his body like a waterfall, a raging torrent capable of shattering even boulders and destroying everything in its path.

Fortunately, Ning Qinghe had trained for a long time and tempered his body until it was no weaker than that of most Soul Kings. Otherwise, that alone would have been enough to kill him, causing his body to explode on the spot.

Even so, streaks of blood spread across him like bloody sweat, rapidly staining Ning Qinghe's white robes as his face flushed red.

"Did something go wrong?"

"He's bleeding?"

"He can't hold on!!"

"I told you it was too outrageous. A Ten-Thousand-Year Spirit Ring? How could that be possible?!"

The spectators wore all manner of expressions at the sight, and some could no longer hold themselves back.

But very quickly, something seemed off.

The imagined scene of his body exploding did not occur, nor did he calmly absorb the Spirit Ring.

He still appeared to be having a difficult time.

Although some people could not stand seeing others do well, there were still those who pursued the limits and hoped someone would break the current theoretical limits of Soul Masters.

If that happened, perhaps everyone truly could have a bright future. Before they knew it, many had clenched their fists and stared fixedly at the situation below.

Even though he had not succeeded quickly, any rational person present understood that a Soul Grandmaster absorbing a Ten-Thousand-Year Spirit Ring without having his body burst apart immediately proved that Ning Qinghe's theory was highly convincing.

For an ordinary Soul Grandmaster, it would not merely mean bleeding a little bloody sweat. Their body would instantly swell like a balloon and explode.

Even the Martial Soul Hall Saintess, Hu Liena, found herself focusing without realizing it. A Ten-Thousand-Year Spirit Ring as a second Spirit Ring.

This was no joke. Even she did not currently possess a Ten-Thousand-Year Spirit Ring. Despite being a Soul Ancestor backed by Spirit Hall, the Soul Beasts she had absorbed had not even come close to ten thousand years.

Even so, she was already one of the continent's greatest geniuses.

What she was most curious about now was the outcome. Which possibility would it be, and how should she report it to her teacher?

As for whether he might become too powerful for her to handle, that thought never crossed her mind.

They were about the same age, but one was a Soul Ancestor nearing Soul King while the other was a Soul Grandmaster who had only just broken through. In Hu Liena's view, even if his Spirit Ring was special, he would at most reach the level of a Soul Elder.

They were already that old. What was there to worry about?!

Ning Fengzhi and Gu Rong could not take their eyes off the room, staring fixedly at what was happening inside.

This was perhaps the most agitated and excited they had felt in the better part of their lives.

If he succeeded, Ning Qinghe's future would be boundless. One day, his name would resound across the continent, and his reputation would spread far and wide. It would be fair to say that everyone under heaven would know his name.

If he failed, not only would something happen to the Ning Qinghe they thought so highly of, but the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect would also become a laughingstock. Something even worse might happen because of it.

It has to succeed.

Little Qinghe.

At their age, it had truly been a long time since either of them had been in such a state of mind.

No matter how troublesome the predicament or how difficult the enemy, they would normally quickly compose themselves and deal with it properly.

Little Qinghe.

But soon, their eyes went wide with fury.

Many spectators rose directly to their feet, while some cried out in alarm.

Uneasy, doubtful voices began to ring out.

Under their gazes, Ning Qinghe's face was crimson, and scarlet liquid began to flow from the corners of his eyes.

"Ha."

"What's going on?"

"He really is bleeding."

"Did his eyes burst?"

People from several sects and academies began talking one after another.

On Spirit Hall's side, Ghost Douluo spoke directly.

"That is a mental attack. I sensed a wave of Soul Beast resentment just now."

"Heh, Sect Master Ning, I wonder whether your research has discovered that when many Soul Beasts over ten thousand years old become Spirit Rings, they carry a mental resentment that attacks the absorber."

"If it were a Spirit Emperor, perhaps they could easily block that force. But for everyone else, it is practically a dead end."

"Hehehe~~"

After Ghost Douluo, Chrysanthemum Douluo slowly spoke in his effeminate tone.

His gaze remained fixed on the worried Ning Fengzhi.

He could tell that Ning Fengzhi was not as calm as he appeared.

Dugu Bo beside him, on the other hand, was extremely composed, as though nothing had happened.

Otherwise, Chrysanthemum Douluo would not have been targeting Ning Fengzhi.

As for Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts, many people spent their entire lives without absorbing a Ten-Thousand-Year Spirit Ring, even Spirit Emperors and Soul Saints. Naturally, even fewer understood them.

But Spirit Hall's higher-ups, who had also absorbed Ten-Thousand-Year Spirit Rings, knew very well.

As for whether the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had prepared in advance, that was unclear.

"Chrysanthemum Douluo need not worry about that."

"We naturally have research in that area."

"The Extreme Research Institute has conducted many tests on absorbing Ten-Thousand-Year Spirit Rings and is highly experienced in the matter. While there have been no Soul Grandmasters who absorbed Ten-Thousand-Year Spirit Rings, there have been quite a few Soul Ancestors and even Soul Elders."

"They are not as Chrysanthemum Douluo described. The mental resentment of Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts is strong, but it is not nearly so exaggerated."

After hearing Chrysanthemum Douluo's words, many people turned their gazes toward Ning Fengzhi. The man, whose heart was pounding frantically, took a deep breath as though suppressing the turmoil within him, quickly calming himself. He could not show his concern.

As he spoke, he held his head high and looked around.

"This is merely a little wind and frost."

"We will succeed. We are bound to succeed!!"

He recalled when his youngest son had been tested and found to possess only half a rank of innate Soul Power, when everyone else had immediately looked down on him and mocked him, yet he had remained confident and composed.

At that moment, Ning Fengzhi imitated him and spoke those words.

Confidence, composure, and arrogance practically overflowed from him.

Ning Fengzhi had once liked looking at Ning Qinghe and thinking, Like father, like son.

But now, it could only be said, Like son, like father.

Ning Fengzhi was putting on an act.

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On the sealed stage.

Ning Qinghe was covered in bloody sweat. His pristine white robe was now soaked through and beginning to turn reddish.