The Possibility of a Ten-Thousand-Year Second Spirit Ring!

"As for the specific nature of your Martial Soul, since there has never been a similar case in the history of the Imperial Family, I cannot say for certain. I can only judge that this is a benign mutation, which will only be to your benefit."

Hearing this, Xu Tianming nodded, then spoke with great solemnity:

"In that case, shouldn't I rename my Martial Souls? How about calling them the Radiant Sun Martial Soul and the Frost Moon Martial Soul?"

Kong Deming naturally had no objections to such a trivial matter, as his attention was currently focused entirely on one thing.

The mental pressure he was exerting on Xu Tianming had, without him realizing it, reached the level of a nine-thousand-year-old Spirit Beast!

If he were to increase it any further, that would be the threshold of a ten-thousand-year-old Spirit Beast!

If Xu Tianming could still withstand it at that point, it would mean that his peerlessly talented nephew was already qualified to absorb a ten-thousand-year Spirit Ring as his second ring!

Second Spirit Ring... ten thousand years.

Could these words even be put together?

For a fleeting moment, Kong Deming even felt as if he were dreaming.

Within the mental sea.

Seeing Columbina's expression become somewhat strained, Xu Tianming couldn't help but feel worried:

"How are you, Columbina? Are you alright? If it's too much, I'll have my uncle pause the test."

Hearing this, Columbina shook her head, her voice remaining soft:

"It is no matter. I have not yet reached my limit. It is only that the Kuuvaki takes a long time to replenish, and it is somewhat difficult to recover in this world. Fortunately, the moon has risen, so I can hold on for a while longer. Given the mental pressure you are currently facing, even if it were to increase, it would be fine. As long as my Kuuvaki is not exhausted, you will come to no harm."

Hearing Columbina say this, Xu Tianming felt more at ease. In order to finish the test quickly so that Columbina could rest, he withdrew his consciousness from the mental sea and, with a resolute gaze, requested of Kong Deming:

"Uncle, increase the mental intensity directly to the ten-thousand-year level. Don't worry, I believe I can handle it."

The mental pressure of a ten-thousand-year Spirit Beast was something that even ordinary Spirit Masters who had cultivated to the five-ring Spirit King level might not be able to withstand, potentially leading to sudden death.

But recalling the various miracles far beyond common sense that he had witnessed in his nephew over the course of a single day, Kong Deming steeled his heart and hesitated no longer.

"Very well! In three seconds, the mental pressure will reach the level of a ten-thousand-year Spirit Beast. Tianming, be ready!"

Hearing Kong Deming's warning, Xu Tianming began to count down silently in his heart.

Three breaths passed in an instant.

What followed was a sudden, sharp pain in his head.

Despite being prepared, the sudden impact of this pain caused Xu Tianming, who had been standing firmly, to stagger and nearly fall to the ground.

Seeing this, Kong Deming was startled. He immediately withdrew his released mental power and rushed forward to support the swaying Xu Tianming, channeling his own Spirit Power into the boy's body to carefully sense his condition.

"Uncle, don't worry, I'm fine. It's just that the pressure of a ten-thousand-year Spirit Beast was a bit too strong, and I was caught off guard."

Although the mental pressure of a nine-thousand-year Spirit Beast and a ten-thousand-year one differed by only a thousand years, the gap between them was even greater than the difference between one thousand and nine thousand years!

According to Columbina, she had assumed the increase in mental intensity from nine thousand to ten thousand years would not differ much from previous increments. Consequently, when faced with the sudden ten-thousand-year-level impact, she was caught unprepared, allowing the mental pressure to pierce through part of the moonlight barrier and injure Xu Tianming's mental sea.

Fortunately, she reacted quickly, promptly increasing the defensive strength of the moonlight barrier while simultaneously soothing the injured parts of Xu Tianming's mental sea with gentle moonlight, alleviating his pain.

"I apologize. I did not protect you well."

Hearing Columbina's apologetic voice echoing in his ears, Xu Tianming, now relieved of his pain, took her soft hands and said with a faint smile:

"No need to apologize. It is I who should thank you. Without your help, there would be no possibility of me absorbing a ten-thousand-year Spirit Ring as my second ring. If we are to talk about fault, I should be the one apologizing. If I hadn't been so impatient and asked my uncle to increase the intensity to ten thousand years, this wouldn't have happened."

Hearing Xu Tianming's words, Columbina tilted her head adorably:

"Eh? Is that so?"

"Yes, that's right. Set your mind at ease; just be more careful next time."

After comforting Columbina, Xu Tianming's consciousness returned to his body. Under Kong Deming's anxious and fearful gaze, he stood up from his uncle's arms and said with a relaxed expression:

"Uncle, I told you I was fine. If you don't believe me, look, am I not perfectly fine now?"

Although Kong Deming had already checked Xu Tianming's physical condition, only upon seeing his nephew regain his vitality with his own eyes did he finally feel completely at ease.

"As long as you're fine, as long as you're fine..."

Just as the uncle and nephew were comforting each other, about a thousand meters away, a large Magic Flame Wolf—similar in appearance but significantly larger than the one Kong Deming had suppressed—was slowly approaching their location.

To be precise, it was approaching the two-thousand-year-old Magic Flame Wolf that Kong Deming had pinned down.

When this large Magic Flame Wolf was less than a thousand meters away from the uncle and nephew, Columbina suddenly frowned within Xu Tianming's mental sea:

"It seems there is some creature... oh, I should call it a Spirit Beast, right? It seems a Spirit Beast is approaching us. I can feel it; its emotions seem very angry."

Upon hearing this, Xu Tianming was momentarily stunned:

"In which direction? Can you tell how far away it is?"

"Hmm... in the northwest, about nine hundred meters away."

"What? Nine hundred meters? Are you sure?"

Because she did not know why Xu Tianming was shocked, Columbina's reaction was quite ordinary:

"I am sure. It is about eight hundred and seventy meters away now."

Having read the original Douluo Dalu, Xu Tianming knew that for an ordinary Spirit Master who did not cultivate mental power, one would generally need to reach level 80 or above for their mental detection range to cover a radius of about a thousand meters.

Even Huo Yuhao, who possessed a spiritual-attribute martial soul, could only achieve this level of perception by relying on the augmentation of a million-year soul ring and a soul power level exceeding thirty.

Yet, Columbina was able to perceive conditions within a range of about a thousand meters without even manifesting a soul ring.

After taking a deep breath, Xu Tianming curiously took the initiative to ask:

"Could you tell me, when you are going all out, how far away can you perceive?"

Upon hearing this question, Columbina pondered for a moment, then replied in a calm and gentle tone, delivering an answer that completely shocked Xu Tianming:

"If I go all out... I can perceive anywhere that the moonlight can reach, though the further the distance, the greater the consumption of the Kuuvaki will be."