Jiang Chen's Ultimate Challenge

That night, he was going to absorb his first Spirit Ring and become a Soul Master.

He was curious. After more than two months of training, just how far could his current physique and willpower carry him? And what kind of Spirit Ring would he obtain?

Chapter 21: Jiang Chen's Ultimate Challenge

After absorbing a God-Bestowed Spirit Ring, you would gain the skill you needed most. The longer you held out, the higher the Spirit Ring's age—and the more powerful the Spirit Skill you would obtain.

Jiang Chen's most important task now was to survive the Heavenly Tribulation. He guessed that the first Spirit Skill he obtained would be defensive.

He focused his spiritual power on the system and selected the God-Bestowed Spirit Ring. A reminder popped up once more.

After absorbing the Spirit Ring, the host must survive the first Heavenly Tribulation within three days. The host is advised to hold out as long as possible while absorbing the Spirit Ring to increase the chances of surviving the Heavenly Tribulation. Confirm absorption?

This time, Jiang Chen didn't back down. His heart trembling, he selected Confirm.

Absorbing his first Spirit Ring was like a young man entering the bridal chamber for the first time. How could he not be excited?

Besides, he'd never even been in a bridal chamber before.

The moment he confirmed, a golden orb appeared out of thin air above his head. Then it shattered, and a dense golden light poured into him through his crown.

In an instant, dazzling golden light radiated from his entire body. He looked just like a Vajra Buddha. Along with that intense radiance, a divine, oppressive aura spread out and lingered within several yards of him.

At that moment, Tang Hao, who had been sleeping off a drunken stupor in bed, suddenly jolted awake. Without disturbing Tang San, he quietly went outside.

The moment he stepped out, he spotted faint golden light shining through the cracks around the windows and door of a room in the village chief's courtyard.

The aura that had startled him was coming from that room. He recognized it as Jiang Chen's.

He carefully sensed it with his immense spiritual power. His expression changed at once, and disbelief appeared in his eyes.

This was the aura of someone absorbing a Spirit Ring! And judging by its fluctuations, the Spirit Ring was definitely of a high grade.

"Where did this kid get a Spirit Ring? Could he be a hundred-thousand-year Soul Beast in human form?"

There couldn't possibly be any Soul Beasts in Holy Soul Village. That meant Jiang Chen's Spirit Ring hadn't come from hunting one. The only possibility was that he was a hundred-thousand-year Soul Beast in human form, able to create his own first Spirit Ring.

Tang Hao's wife had been a hundred-thousand-year Soul Beast in human form, so he knew these secrets better than anyone.

But if Jiang Chen really were a hundred-thousand-year Soul Beast in human form, Tang Hao would have seen through it with his strength as a Titled Douluo. Yet after observing him for so long, Tang Hao was certain Jiang Chen wasn't a Soul Beast in human form.

That made it all the more puzzling. Where had Jiang Chen's Spirit Ring come from?

Tang Hao couldn't make heads or tails of it. He stood there in silence, gazing toward Jiang Chen's room in confusion...

As the golden light poured into Jiang Chen's body, he felt warmth spread through him. But before he could enjoy it, the immense energy began to erupt inside him.

The energy brought by the God-Bestowed Spirit Ring was vast beyond measure, like endless, crashing waves surging through his body again and again.

At first, he was fine. With his powerful physique, he could handle it with ease. But the energy's impact grew more intense by the moment. After an hour, filth and impurities began pouring from every pore.

The Spirit Ring's energy was cleansing his meridians and marrow, driving the impurities from his body.

The energy inside him surged higher and higher, as though it would burst Jiang Chen apart.

Veins bulged on his forehead, and his face twisted in agony. He could even see the energy churning inside him beneath his skin.

"No... I can't hold on!" he growled, transforming into his Zombie form. The pressure inside him eased at once.