How Could It Hurt This Much?!

Amidst the billowing dust, a deep, viscous, purplish-black halo, resembling liquid darkness, slowly rose from the center of the collapsed wreckage.

The halo was about three meters in diameter, with unstable edges that flickered like burning inky flames. Inside, there surged a chilling Death Energy and pure, evil power from plants.

This is the Soul Ring that formed after the Nether Ghost Tree fell!

It hovers above the polluted air and drifting black dust, exuding an aura that Captivate and dangerous, silently proclaiming the ultimate victor in this life-or-death battle that transcends the limits of social hierarchy!

At the edge of the swamp, Lin Xia stared at the floating purplish-black Soul Ring, his eyes blazing with intense light.

Lin Xia took a deep breath, feeling the Soul Power within her body, which had become more refined after being baptized by the holy light, and the Psywave emanating from the Ivysaur beside her, filled with Covet and confidence.

I know now is the time to break through!

Looking at the Nether Tree Soul Ring floating not far away, deep as ink yet swirling with an eerie purple light, Lin Xia felt a sense of unease.

But with the arrow already on the bowstring and the Soul Ring already revealed, there was no reason to back down.

He took a deep breath, suppressing the strange feeling in his heart, and gently placed his hand on the solid scales of his companion beside him, his voice filled with the exhilaration of victory and anticipation for the future.

"Ivysaur, well done! Let's go collect our spoils!"

"Da na!"

Ivysaur responded with a low growl, then strode confidently toward the purplish-black Soul Ring suspended above the polluted air and black dust.

The Four-Colored Light Wheel on its back continued to rotate slowly, radiating a powerful aura, as if announcing the victory.

Lin Xia followed closely behind, his steps light and quick. Just as he was about to reach the Soul Ring, he stopped, turned around, and called out loudly to Bibi Dong and Qian Renxue, whose expressions varied behind them:

"Master, Sister Xue'er, please protect me for a moment, I need to absorb Soul Ring!"

Qian Renxue's golden eyes held a hint of worry, but even more so, trust and support. She nodded emphatically.

"Don't worry, little brother, with us here, we'll ensure nothing disturbs you!"

Her six wings unfurled slightly, the aura of the Angel Domain poised to be unleashed, and a divine radiance faintly enveloped the surroundings, dispelling the lingering chill of the swamp.

Bibi Dong's purple eyes were fixed Lock-On Lin Xia, and the worry between her brows was almost tangible.

Looking at Lin Xia's figure, which, though youthful in spirit, appeared somewhat frail, she couldn't help but speak again.

"Xiao Xia, are you sure you don't need to recover before absorbing the Soul Ring? Although you weren't injured in the battle, your Soul Power was depleted and you were mentally strained..."

Her voice was full of concern, even carrying a hint of barely Frisk pleading.

Upon hearing this, Lin Xia smiled broadly, a bright and confident smile. He pointed to himself, then to the spirited Ivysaur.

"Master, do I look like I've exhausted myself? Ivysaur did all the work just now, I didn't even lift a finger! I'm in great shape!"

Bibi Dong was slightly taken aback, then realized that she had indeed been too concerned to think clearly.

Seeing Lin Xia looking refreshed and her Ivysaur's aura calm and composed, she sighed helplessly, knowing that further persuasion would be useless.

Once this child makes up his mind, his stubbornness and confidence are simply... She could only nod slowly, her voice low and solemn.

"Okay, be careful in everything. If anything goes wrong, stop immediately!"

"Okay! I understand, Master!"

Lin Xia smiled and agreed without hesitation, turning around and quickly walking to the side of the Soul Ring.

He and Ivysaur exchanged a knowing glance, then sat down cross-legged. Lin Xia adjusted his breathing, closed his eyes, and his mental energy, like invisible tentacles, slowly reached out towards the suspended purplish-black Soul Ring.

The instant Lin Xia's spiritual power touched the Soul Ring, an indescribable cold and sticky sensation suddenly surged through her!

It was as if he wasn't the one drawing the Soul Ring, but rather the Soul Ring itself contained a heavy and sinister will, resisting his approach!

That power was chilling and bone-piercing, carrying the Grudge of the dead and the decaying stench of the Death Swamp. It clung tightly to the spot, refusing to yield easily.

"Um?"

Lin Xia's brows furrowed instantly.

This feels really wrong!

Ordinary Soul Ring, even those from Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beast, would be difficult to pull and absorb if they were killed, but they would never be this strenuous, and there would be no such sticky resistance as if pulling a heavy lead block, accompanied by mental pollution!

The Soul Ring of this Nether Tree is truly sinister!

He secretly raised his guard to a whole new level, and instead of probing with his mental energy, he suddenly concentrated it, like an invisible chain, Sheer Force Wrap the resisting Soul Ring!

"Come here!"

With a low shout in his heart, Lin Xia's Soul Power surged, and relying on his powerful mental strength and physique far superior to other Soul Master of the same level, he forcefully pulled the purplish-black Soul Ring inch by inch toward the top of his head!

When the profound Soul Ring, which resembled liquid darkness, finally hovered above Lin Xia's head and began to slowly rotate, a terrifying impact, a thousand times more difficult to pull than the one he was pulling, descended like the floodwaters of the Styx bursting its banks!

Buzz--!

The Soul Ring have fallen!

A massive, purplish-black torrent, mixed with pure plant and tree evil power and terrifying Death Energy, surged like a celestial river pouring down from the heavens. Carrying the resentment, decaying will, and the core "Nether Poison" essence accumulated by the Nether Tree over ten thousand years, it ruthlessly rushed into Lin Xia's meridians!

"Ugh--!!!"

Lin Xia's body stiffened abruptly, as if she had been struck hard by an invisible giant hammer!

A suppressed groan of pain escaped from his clenched teeth!

Pain!

Indescribable pain!

This pain was not simply the throbbing pain caused by the impact of Soul Power, but a complex torment that penetrated deep into the bone marrow and tore at the soul!

The Death Energy containing the essence of "Nether Poison" was like billions of ice needles coated with Toxic, frantically piercing into every inch of his meridians, flesh, and bones!

Wherever it went, it brought not destruction, but decay!

Lin Xia felt his life force being Sheer Force stripped away and transformed, his meridians feeling as if they were being Corrosion by strong acid, emitting a silent wail. His resilient body, reshaped by the Ice and Fire Dragon Kings's essence and Divine Blood, capable of withstanding the Soul King's attacks, was now trembling violently under this strange, Decay Power!

Large patches of abnormal gray-black lines even appeared on the skin's surface instantly, resembling withered tree bark!

The extreme chill brought by the Death Energy seemed to freeze his blood and bone marrow into ice.

The chill penetrated to his very soul, making him feel as if he had fallen into the deepest hell, his teeth chattering uncontrollably, and a thin layer of black frost forming on his skin.

The resentment and lingering hatred accumulated by the Nether Tree within his Soul Ring, like the shrieks of countless vengeful ghosts, frantically assaulted his Sea of Consciousness!

Before his eyes, illusions abounded: mountains of corpses, seas of blood, piles of bones, and the agonizing screams of countless beings devoured by the Nether Tree echoed in his ears, attempting to tear his will apart and drag him into Abyss of madness and despair.

The immense Soul Power surging into his body was extremely yin and evil. It clashed violently with the extremely yang, strong, cold, and fierce power of the Ice and Fire Dragon Kings's original source within him, as well as the Holy Purification power remaining from the Sun Wheel Guard. It was like water and fire were incompatible!

Three powerful forces clashed, strangled, and annihilated within his body! Each collision was like detonating a miniature bomb, causing excruciating internal tremors!

"How could this be... so painful?!"