Soul Shock

Three months later...

"The old man's body is finally healed!"

Dugu Bo was ecstatic. At this moment, his appearance had changed significantly compared to before.

His complexion was somewhat ruddy, and his hair and beard had turned a normal grayish-white.

However, Dugu Bo remarked that he still preferred the original color, so he changed it back to ink green.

Xing Tian reminded him, "Although it is mostly treated, it hasn't been completely cleared out after all."

Dugu Bo waved his hand, indicating he didn't mind, and said, "It's probably due to drug resistance. Recently, I've clearly felt that the medicine's effect has become smaller and smaller. I also know that the toxins accumulated in my body are too excessive; it's impossible to clear them all out."

"Besides, my body has adapted to the deadly poison to a certain extent. If it were completely gone, it might actually be harmful."

"Anyway, I no longer have to endure the agony of the poison flare-ups. Plus, thanks to the toxin cleansing, the bottleneck at my Soul Power Level 91 has loosened significantly. It won't be long before I break through to level 92."

Speaking of his soul power, Dugu Bo suddenly realized something.

Dugu Bo looked closely at Xing Tian before him and said in surprise, "You really are a little monster. In just three months, your soul power level has broken through to level 30. I remember you had only just broken through to level 27 when you first arrived, right?"

Xing Tian nodded and said, "Yes. After the Ice Fire Golden Body Refinement, my soul power increased by one level. Since my body is essentially a small Ice Fire Yin Yang Well, the Ice Fire Yin Yang Well itself is an excellent mimicry training ground for me. Coupled with the assistance of your Dan Bead, I naturally advanced by leaps and bounds."

Dugu Bo sighed deeply and said, "Originally, Yanyan had a chance to beat you by relying on her advantage in soul power level, but now that's completely gone."

"She just broke through to level 30 a few days ago and was quite happy about it. I hope she won't be too devastated when she finds out about your situation."

Xing Tian asked, "Has Sister Yan gone to obtain her Soul Ring yet?"

Dugu Bo shook his head and said, "Not yet. Due to Yanyan's unique circumstances, I help her hunt for her Soul Rings personally, without going through the academy. Since my toxins are mostly cleared now, I told Yanyan to wait a few days."

"It just so happens that you've also reached level 30, so we can save a trip. I'll go pick up Yanyan, let her take the antidote once, and then I'll take you both to the Sunset Forest to hunt for soul rings."

Xing Tian suggested, "Senior Dugu, could we go to the Star Dou Forest to hunt for soul rings? I was browsing the soul beast encyclopedia earlier and took a liking to a certain soul beast, but there are no records of this soul beast appearing in the Sunset Forest."

"It's possible, but it will take more time. The Star Dou Forest is not close to here, and given its massive size, we might not find the soul beast you want right away. You haven't been back to the Heaven Dou Royal Academy in three months; the people there must be getting anxious."

Seeing Dugu Bo's playful expression, Xing Tian said, "I suspect the person getting anxious isn't Sister Lingling, Sister Yan, Osler, or Yu Feng, but Yu Tianheng, right?"

Dugu Bo was surprised, "How did you know?"

Xing Tian didn't explain in detail, only saying briefly, "Because Yu Tianheng is the most special one."

Dugu Bo laughed heartily and patted Xing Tian on the shoulder, saying, "You little brat, your charm is truly strong! Not only do girls like you, but even the boys are falling for it. First Osler volunteered to be your lackey, and now Yu Tianheng."

Xing Tian stared at Dugu Bo, speechless. Dugu Bo finally stopped laughing and said, "But at least you completed the task I gave you earlier very well."

"I always keep my word. As long as it's not a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast, whatever soul beast you want this time, I'll get it for you. Tell me, what soul beast do you want?"

Xing Tian said, "A ten-thousand-year Dark Spirit Sacred Beast!"

Dugu Bo was shocked, "What?"

Xing Tian explained, "My martial soul possesses Darkness Attribute and evil attributes. Theoretically, it would be countered by light and holy attributes. Although my darkness attribute is quite unique, to be safe, I need to resolve this potential weakness. At the very least, I must significantly strengthen my darkness and evil attributes, which is why I chose the Dark Spirit Sacred Beast."

"The Dark Spirit Sacred Beast is a type of elemental sacred beast. Although its name contains the word 'sacred,' unlike other elemental sacred beasts, it does not possess a direct holy attribute, yet it can resist light and holy attributes."

"Therefore, I suspect that if I can obtain a soul ring from a Dark Spirit Sacred Beast, there is a high probability of gaining an amplification soul skill that strengthens my darkness attribute while granting the ability to resist the suppression of light and holy attributes."

Dugu Bo clenched his fists and shouted, "Is it the Dark Spirit Sacred Beast that I'm surprised about! You actually want to choose a ten-thousand-year soul beast? Are you courting death? Do you have any idea how dangerous a ten-thousand-year Soul Ring is!"

Xing Tian was puzzled but remained confident, "But my body is already strong enough. My second Soul Ring was already four thousand years old, and after the Ice Fire Golden Body Refinement, my physical strength has doubled. Plus, the accelerated absorption of the two medicinal herbs over the past three months has further improved my physical fitness. It should be enough to withstand the soul power impact of a ten-thousand-year Soul Ring."

Dugu Bo calmed down and said, "It seems that because students at the Heaven Dou Royal Academy don't exceed level 50, and you are a Tianzhu Level student, you aren't aware of the knowledge regarding ten-thousand-year Soul Rings. I suppose that's not something written in books."

"Oh? Could it be that there is something special about ten-thousand-year Soul Rings?" Xing Tian asked curiously.

Dugu Bo instructed, "Although soul beasts reach different levels of cultivation to awaken their intelligence depending on their quality, most soul beasts don't develop intelligence until they reach ten thousand years—the equivalent of a human's intelligence at around twelve years old."

"Once a soul beast possesses intelligence, a portion of its soul remains in the Soul Ring after death. The more powerful the soul beast, the more complete the soul remains."

"And the impact brought by the soul is not something that the resentment of a soul beast before death can compare to."

"Therefore, to absorb a ten-thousand-year Soul Ring, one not only needs a body capable of withstanding the soul power impact but also a spirit strong enough to resist the soul shock of the soul beast's remnant soul."

"Generally, a soul master needs to be at least level 50 to absorb a ten-thousand-year Soul Ring, and soul masters who reach level 50 are usually over twenty years old, with mature and powerful souls. That is why they can absorb them."

"Your physical strength might be enough, but you are only ten years old after all. Your soul is not stable enough. The soul beast's remnant soul will destroy your mental world, and you'll end up an idiot! Do you understand?"

"Soul shock... so that's how it is." A thoughtful light flickered in Xing Tian's eyes.

Dugu Bo was right, and Xing Tian realized it himself.

After passing the first death trial of the Nine Deaths Reincarnation Evil Art, Xing Tian's mental power had increased tenfold. Although his soul was over thirty years old, his body's mental system was still only ten, making it impossible to exert the full power of his soul.

If it were a ten-thousand-year Soul Ring of average quality, Xing Tian would have no problem, but the Dark Spirit Sacred Beast was a top-tier soul beast, and its soul shock would be much stronger.

Therefore, Xing Tian was indeed unable to absorb it.

However, this was only true for the current Xing Tian; he had ways to rapidly increase his mental power.

Xing Tian said solemnly, "Senior Dugu, I have a way to rapidly increase my mental power to cope with the soul shock of a ten-thousand-year Dark Spirit Sacred Beast, but I still need your consent."

"Oh? What method? And it even requires my consent?" Dugu Bo was confused.

"Please follow me."

Soon, Xing Tian led Dugu Bo to a seemingly unremarkable medicinal herb.