The Nine-Colored Divine Dragon lowered its head.
The pure True Dragon Bloodline merged into the Blue Silver Emperor's origin.
The injuries Ah Yin had accumulated over the years were rapidly healed by the life elements.
A moment later.
Blue-gold radiance burst from the Blue Silver Emperor's body.
The phantom of a blue-haired woman slowly appeared amid the countless vines.
Her blue hair fell to her waist.
Her pale blue dress swayed gently with the life energy.
Her face was gentle and beautiful, and there was a hint of relief between her brows.
Ah Yin lowered her head and looked at her hands.
"I can finally see myself again."
Long Tian lifted his gaze.
"This is only a phantom formed from your soul."
"Your true body still hasn't recovered its 100,000 years of cultivation."
Ah Yin nodded softly.
"This is enough."
The blue-haired woman came to stand before Long Tian.
Her slender fingers touched his handsome face, but could only pass through the Nine-Colored Divine Light.
"Thank you."
"If I hadn't met you, I would still be waiting in that cave."
Long Tian looked at the Blue Silver Emperor before him.
"Ah Yin."
"You still have one last chance to change your mind."
Ah Yin shook her head.
"I've already made up my mind."
"Long Tian, accept my sacrifice."
The blue-haired figure merged back into the Blue Silver Emperor's true body.
Countless blue-gold vines unfurled at once.
Brilliant light pierced through the mountain wall, turning the entire waterfall blue-gold.
A blood-red Soul Ring slowly rose above the Blue Silver Emperor's true body.
A 100,000-Year Soul Ring!
The instant the Soul Ring appeared, immense life energy filled the entire stone chamber.
The ordinary Blue Silver Grass nearby grew rapidly.
Even the hard mountain walls were completely covered in blue vines.
Ah Yin's mental power entered Long Tian's mind.
"I'm offering this sacrifice of my own free will."
"Long Tian, accept the Blue Silver Emperor's power."
The blood-red Soul Ring slowly descended.
The Nine-Colored Divine Dragon behind Long Tian spread its wings, completely enveloping the 100,000-Year Soul Ring.
There was no violent impact.
No Soul Shock, either.
The Blue Silver Emperor's entire cultivation and life origin entered Long Tian's body gently.
Boom!
The bottleneck at level forty shattered in an instant.
Level forty-one.
Level forty-two.
Level forty-three.
Surging Soul Power continued to rush through his meridians.
In the end, Long Tian's cultivation settled firmly at level forty-four.
Yellow, yellow, black, red.
Four Soul Rings rose from beneath his feet in succession.
The fourth, blood-red Soul Ring circled around his white robes.
Rich life elements poured from the Soul Ring, adding a blue-gold marking to the Nine-Colored Divine Dragon's scales.
Long Tian slowly opened his eyes.
A glimmer of emerald light flashed within his Nine-Colored Double Pupils.
A 100,000-Year fourth Soul Ring.
The power brought by the Blue Silver Emperor's sacrifice had completely merged into the Rainbow Dragon Martial Soul.
A brand-new Soul Skill appeared in his mind as well.
"Fourth Soul Skill."
"All Things Revive, Life Divine Domain."
Once the Life Divine Domain was activated, allied Soul Masters within its range would rapidly recover from their injuries and regain Soul Power.
Even if their bodies suffered devastating injuries, as long as they still had a breath left, the Life Divine Domain could keep them alive.
When applied to plant-type Soul Masters and Soul Beasts, its healing effect would increase even further.
In addition to restoring life, the Blue Silver Emperor had also granted Long Tian a powerful ability to sense life.
Within the domain, no life fluctuation could escape the Rainbow Dragon's detection.
Long Tian raised his right hand.
The fourth, blood-red Soul Ring lit up.
Emerald divine light spread in every direction.
The Blue Silver Grass, whose source had been lost earlier, sprouted from the earth once more.
Countless blades of grass swayed in the Nine-Colored Divine Light, soon filling the entire stone chamber.
Deep within the Rainbow Dragon's Heart.
A blue-gold leaf slowly unfurled.
Ah Yin's soul rested peacefully amid the life elements.
"Long Tian."
"I can feel my consciousness."
"I didn't disappear after the sacrifice."
Long Tian withdrew his Life Divine Domain.
"The Rainbow Dragon's Heart preserved your soul origin."
"Once I master stronger life powers, I'll be able to help you form a new body."
The blue-gold leaf swayed gently.
"I believe you."
Long Tian rose to his feet.
The blood-red Soul Ring gradually merged into his body.
A level forty-four Soul Ancestor.
A 100,000-Year fourth Soul Ring.
The Life Divine Domain.
This hunt for a Soul Ring had come to an end.
Long Tian took one last look at the empty mound, then turned and walked out of the stone chamber.
"Ah Yin."
"It's time to leave."
The Blue Silver Emperor's mental power came from within the Rainbow Dragon's Heart.
"All right."
The white-robed figure passed through the narrow passage.
The stone door slowly closed behind him.
The waterfall came crashing down again, completely concealing the cave that had trapped the Blue Silver Emperor for so many years.
The waterfall came crashing down again.
The sheet of water hid the cave behind him, and the churning mist soon erased every trace.
Long Tian stood by the pool, feeling the Soul Power surging within him.
A level forty-four Soul Ancestor.
Four Soul Rings slowly revolved beneath his feet.
Yellow, yellow, black, red.
The final blood-red Soul Ring exuded a rich aura of life.
"A 100,000-Year fourth Soul Ring."
Long Tian raised his palm.
Emerald light slowly gathered in his hand, and several blue-gold leaves appeared with it.
Deep within the Rainbow Dragon's Heart, Ah Yin's soul rested peacefully.
"All Things Revive, Life Divine Domain."
The information about his fourth Soul Skill had completely merged into Long Tian's consciousness.
Once he activated the Life Divine Domain, he could control the life force of every living thing within its range.
Allied Soul Masters could rapidly recover from their injuries and regain Soul Power.
Even if they had only one breath left, the Life Divine Domain could keep them alive.
For plant-type Soul Masters and Soul Beasts, the healing effect would increase several times over.
"Life energy really is more special than the other elements."
Long Tian withdrew his Soul Power.
The Rainbow Dragon Martial Soul now possessed four core powers: fire, ice, lightning, and life.
As his cultivation increased, he would be able to use more and more abilities.
"Ah Yin."
Long Tian called out silently.
The blue-gold leaf swayed gently.
"I'm here."
"Do you regret making this sacrifice?"
Ah Yin fell silent for a moment.
"If I'd stayed in that cave, that's when I would truly have regretted it."
"I've already sacrificed myself for Hao once."
"This time, I wanted to choose my own future."
Long Tian didn't try to persuade her again.
"Since you chose me, I won't let you down."
"Thank you."
Ah Yin's consciousness grew quiet again.
Long Tian turned and walked out from behind the waterfall.
Night had fallen over the Star Dou Great Forest.
The aura of a level forty-four Soul Ancestor flowed through his body.
He hadn't yet fully digested the power brought by the fourth Soul Ring, and his Soul Power was still growing.
Long Tian didn't venture any deeper.
Now that he had obtained his fourth Soul Ring, the most important thing was to return to Skywater Academy as soon as possible and stabilize his cultivation.
He took out the feather Ling Yuan had left behind.
A flash of fiery red light passed across its surface.
Long Tian put it in his Storage Soul Tool and quickly sped back the way he had come.
Several days later.
Skywater Academy.
The Dean's Hall.
Shui Bing'er stood in the middle of the hall, her gaze fixed on the fourth Soul Ring at Long Tian's feet.
Its blood-red radiance illuminated the entire hall.
Shui Yue'er gaped, forgetting even to put down the teacup in her hand.
"A 100,000-Year Soul Ring?"
"Captain, did you really absorb a 100,000-Year Soul Ring?"
Xue Wu, Yu Hairou, Shen Liuyu, and Gu Qingbo all crowded around.
One by one, their gazes fell on the blood-red Soul Ring.
A 100,000-Year Soul Ring.
A top-tier inheritance rarely seen across the entire continent.
Yet at only level forty, Long Tian already possessed his own hundred-thousand-year fourth Soul Ring.
Shui Bing'er walked up to Long Tian and carefully studied the blue-gold patterns on the surface of the blood-red Soul Ring.
"What attribute does the power from this Soul Ring have?"
"Life."
Long Tian raised his hand.
His fourth Soul Ring suddenly lit up.
Emerald-green light spread from beneath his feet, enveloping the entire hall in the blink of an eye.
A few withered leaves, blown down by the cold wind, had fallen to the ground. Now they rose upright again.
Tender shoots poked through the earth outside the hall.
The withered grass and trees quickly came back to life.
Shui Yue'er held out her hand, letting a blue-green leaf drift into her palm.
"So comfortable."
"My Soul Power is recovering, too."
Xue Wu looked up at the vines growing all around them.
"Is this a hundred-thousand-year Soul Skill?"
"As long as you're within this area, everyone's injuries and Soul Power will recover quickly."
Long Tian nodded gently.
"Fourth Soul Skill: All Things Revive, Life Divine Domain."
"As long as there's still a breath in them, I can keep them alive."
The hall fell quiet.
Shui Bing'er gazed at Long Tian, her eyes growing brighter and brighter.
"This kind of support ability is beyond simply being powerful."
"With you here, the team has another layer of protection."
Long Tian withdrew his Soul Power.
"The Life Divine Domain takes a lot out of me."
"Before the Soul Master Tournament, I still need to familiarize myself with the Soul Skill's range and duration."
Shui Bing'er nodded.
"From now on, I'll train with you."
Shui Yue'er immediately raised her hand.
"I want to join, too!"
Long Tian glanced at her.
"You can test how effective the recovery is."
Shui Yue'er froze for a moment.
"Test how effective the recovery is?"
"That means getting beaten again and again, then seeing how long it takes you to recover."
"Captain, you're bullying Yue'er."
Shui Bing'er turned to look at her younger sister.
"Then do you still want to join?"
Shui Yue'er immediately changed her tune.
"Of course I do."
Several students nearby laughed.
Long Tian raised his hand and lightly tapped Shui Yue'er on the forehead.
"Work on your Soul Power first."
Shui Yue'er covered her forehead and retreated to Shui Bing'er's side.
"Big Sister, the captain's bullying me again."
"If you don't behave, he'll bully you again next time."
Only after Shui Bing'er had spoken did she realize how wrong that sounded.
She looked up at Long Tian.
He was looking at her, a faint smile in his nine-colored eyes.
Shui Bing'er's cheeks warmed slightly, and she quickly looked away.
"Starting tomorrow, we'll continue training."
"Okay."
In the days that followed, Skywater Academy entered an intense state of preparation.
By day, Long Tian practiced combination Soul Skills with Shui Bing'er.
At night, he worked alone to comprehend the Life Divine Domain.
Their Soul Power clashed again and again, then fused anew under the guidance of the Rainbow Dragon's Heart.
On the training field, the Ice Phoenix and the Nine-Colored Divine Dragon circled side by side.
Ultimate Ice covered half the sky.
The Life Divine Domain, meanwhile, made the plants around them grow at a rapid pace.
Ice and life coexisted.
Shui Bing'er cast Ice Seal again and again, while Xue Wu worked with her to gather ice and snow.
Shui Yue'er and the others took turns attacking the defensive barrier Long Tian created.
Whenever it was damaged, the Life Divine Domain quickly repaired it.
"Bing'er, don't expand the range too quickly when you release your Soul Power."
Long Tian stood beside Shui Bing'er.
"Compress the Ultimate Ice first, then let the Ice Phoenix unleash its full power."
Shui Bing'er closed her eyes and adjusted the Soul Power within her body.
A moment later, azure cold air gathered in her palm.
The Ice Phoenix raised its head and cried out.
A ring of icy light spread from beneath Shui Bing'er's feet, covering the entire training field in an instant.
This time, the cold air didn't spiral out of control.
Every ice crystal stayed within its intended range.
"I did it."
Shui Bing'er opened her eyes, joy appearing on her lovely face.
Long Tian nodded gently.
"Much more stable than before."
Shui Yue'er ran over from a distance.
"Big Sister, Captain, your combination Soul Skill is getting stronger and stronger."
"Once the Soul Master Tournament begins, the other academies won't stand a chance."
Long Tian looked toward the edge of the training field.
"We can't underestimate any opponent."
"The Spirit Hall Team has top-tier Martial Souls, and the Imperial Fighting Team will keep improving, too."
"The real tournament won't be as simple as an exhibition match."
Shui Bing'er withdrew the Ice Phoenix.
"We'll train according to your plan."
She looked at Long Tian, her eyes full of trust.
"Skywater Academy will make it to the end."
Long Tian didn't answer.
The nine-colored divine light slowly faded from his white robes.
The aura of a level-forty-four Soul Ancestor had fully stabilized.
There was still some time before the Soul Master Tournament.
It was enough time for him to grow stronger again.
Three months later.
On the northern highway of the Heaven Dou Empire.
A carriage from Skywater Academy rolled slowly onward.
Inside the carriage, Shui Yue'er lifted the curtain and looked toward the town ahead.
"That's Heaven Dou City up ahead."
"Let's find somewhere to rest first. We'll register tomorrow."
Shui Bing'er sat beside Long Tian, holding a copy of the tournament entry documents.
"The Soul Master Tournament's qualifiers will be held in Heaven Dou City."
"All academy teams have to register in advance."
Long Tian glanced at the documents.
"The lineup for the Skywater Team has been settled."
"Now we just have to compete according to plan."
Shui Bing'er nodded gently.
The carriage passed through the city gate.
The streets were crowded, and vendors' cries rang out one after another.
Through the carriage window, Long Tian saw several poorly dressed commoners gathered on a street corner.
A fat man stood in their way, reaching out to grab a young woman.
The woman kept backing away, her face full of fear.
"Ma Hongjun?"
Long Tian's gaze stopped on him.
Ma Hongjun had become much thinner than before.
After Long Tian had taken away his Evil Fire Phoenix Martial Soul, Ma Hongjun's body had lost the nourishment of Soul Power, leaving him looking extremely weak.
But the arrogance on that round, fat face hadn't changed at all.
"Let her go."
Long Tian pushed aside the carriage curtain and stepped down.
Shui Bing'er followed him at once.
"Long Tian, what happened?"
"I ran into someone I know."
On the street corner.
Ma Hongjun turned around. The moment he saw the figure in white, his face changed.
"Long Tian?"
Ma Hongjun released his grip without thinking.
The woman seized the chance to retreat and hide behind an old man.
Ma Hongjun looked at Long Tian approaching, fear rising in his eyes.
"What are you doing in Heaven Dou City?"
"That's what I should be asking you."
Long Tian stopped a few paces away.
"What were you doing just now?"
Ma Hongjun swallowed.
"This is a misunderstanding."
"She bumped into me. I was just asking her to pay for it."
The woman shook her head at once.
"That's not what happened."
"He stopped me and said I was from Shrek, so no one would dare interfere."
The old man stepped in front of the woman.
"Lord Soul Master, please save my granddaughter."
Shui Bing'er's expression darkened.
"Ma Hongjun, Shrek already kicked you out, and you still dare bully commoners in Heaven Dou City."
At her words, anger appeared on Ma Hongjun's face.
"What do you know?"
"My master is Flender. Shrek won't abandon me, either."
"As long as I get back to cultivating, I'll become a powerful Soul Master again sooner or later."
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