Soul Emperor! Sixth Soul Ring!

Lin Tian opened his eyes.

A deep surge of Soul Power flashed through his gaze.

Hu Liena came before him.

She first looked at Lin Tian's face, then at the two great martial souls behind him.

"You really reached level sixty."

"Yes."

"When are we leaving?"

"Tomorrow."

Hu Liena froze for a moment.

"Tomorrow?"

"The sooner we hunt the Soul Ring, the sooner we return."

"I still wanted to cultivate with you tonight."

"We're entering the Great Star Dou Forest tomorrow."

"We can still cultivate before entering the forest."

Hu Liena pursed her lips.

She reached out and grabbed Lin Tian's sleeve.

"Then tonight, we're not allowed to only cultivate."

"What do you want to do?"

"Eat first."

She pulled Lin Tian to his feet.

"After dinner, stay with me for a while."

"How long?"

"Until I fall asleep."

"Aren't you going into the Great Star Dou Forest with me?"

"That's why I need to sleep well tonight."

Hu Liena opened the door.

When she reached the doorway, she turned back.

"Lin Tian."

"Yes."

"Will you get hurt hunting a Fifty-Thousand-Year Soul Beast tomorrow?"

"No."

"What if you do get hurt?"

"Ye Lingling isn't here."

"I'll help you deal with it."

Hu Liena looked at him seriously.

"I can use healing medicine now too."

"You're not a healing-type Soul Master."

"But I can take care of you."

She raised her hand and adjusted Lin Tian's collar.

Her fingertips brushed across the golden patterns on his lapel before finally resting on his chest.

"You can't always think only about becoming stronger yourself."

"You have to let me be part of it too."

"You will be."

"Then it's settled."

Hu Liena rose onto her tiptoes.

Her red lips lightly brushed the corner of Lin Tian's mouth.

She quickly pulled back, but still held onto his sleeve.

"This is an advance reward."

"There will be more after hunting the Soul Ring?"

"Of course."

Hu Liena looked at him.

"As long as you return safely, I'll give you an even bigger reward."

"What reward?"

"You'll find out when you return."

She offered no further explanation.

Lin Tian withdrew his gaze and followed her out of the cultivation room.

Early the next morning.

Outside the Worship Hall.

Qian Daoliu, Bibi Dong, and Hu Liena had all come to see him off.

A black carriage stood below the long flight of steps.

Six Spirit Hall knights stood beside the carriage.

Bibi Dong looked at Lin Tian.

"After level sixty, a Fifty-Thousand-Year Spirit Ring will bring a stronger impact."

"I know."

"The soul beast you choose should preferably be compatible with the power of the Nine Nether Beast."

"I've already decided."

"What soul beast?"

"A Fifty-Thousand-Year Nether Demon Wolf."

Bibi Dong's gaze fell behind Lin Tian.

The aura of the Nine Nether Beast slowly spread outward.

"This soul beast lives in the inner regions of the Great Star Dou Forest."

"Its speed and destructive power are both formidable."

"It suits your martial soul."

Qian Daoliu stood on the steps.

"You plan to hunt it alone?"

"Hu Liena will accompany me."

Qian Daoliu looked at Hu Liena.

Hu Liena immediately stepped to Lin Tian's side.

"I'll stay close to him."

"If danger arises, don't force yourself to act."

Qian Daoliu looked at her.

"Your task is to keep yourself safe."

"I understand."

Hu Liena lifted her eyes toward Lin Tian.

"I won't hold him back."

Bibi Dong handed Lin Tian a purple-gold token.

"With this, the Martial Soul Holy Temples along the way will provide you with supplies."

Lin Tian accepted the token.

"Thanks."

"After you return, come to the Pope Hall first."

Bibi Dong glanced at Hu Liena.

"I'll inspect your cultivation progress."

Hu Liena linked her arm through Lin Tian's.

"Teacher, I'm going with him."

"I know."

Bibi Dong studied their clasped hands.

"When you enter the Great Star Dou Forest this time, follow Lin Tian's arrangements."

"I always do."

Hu Liena raised her chin.

"I only occasionally offer my own thoughts."

"Then don't offer them when there's danger."

"Understood."

She turned to Lin Tian.

"We should leave."

Lin Tian nodded.

The two of them walked down the long steps together.

Hu Liena held his arm, her Light Golden Long Skirt swaying softly with every step.

When they reached the carriage, she climbed inside first.

Then she turned and extended her hand to Lin Tian.

Lin Tian took her hand and entered the carriage.

Hu Liena shifted farther inside.

"Sit here."

"You can sit there too."

"I want to lean against you."

She patted the seat beside her.

After Lin Tian sat down, Hu Liena immediately leaned into him.

She rested her head against his shoulder, one hand placed at his waist.

The carriage slowly left Spirit City.

"Lin Tian."

"Yes."

"After you absorb the Fifty-Thousand-Year Spirit Ring, will you directly break through to level sixty-one?"

"Possibly."

"Then I want to reach level fifty-five too."

"Don't rush."

"I'm not rushing."

Hu Liena closed her eyes.

"I just want to be a little closer to you."

Lin Tian did not answer.

His hand settled on Hu Liena's waist.

The wheels rolled over the stone pavement, gently rocking the carriage.

Hu Liena's body pressed closer.

"If the soul skill brought by the Fifty-Thousand-Year Spirit Ring is very strong, will you tell me?"

"Yes."

"What if the Soul Bone is powerful too?"

"I'll show you."

"What if we find a Soul Bone that suits me?"

"I'll give it to you."

Hu Liena opened her eyes.

"You haven't even hunted the soul beast yet, and you've already decided?"

"Soul Bones aren't very useful to me."

"Then I won't stand on ceremony."

"Fine."

Hu Liena raised her arms around Lin Tian's neck.

"When you return, I want you to personally give me the Soul Bone."

"Alright."

Only then did she close her eyes again.

"Then I'll sleep for a while first."

"Wake me when we reach the Great Star Dou Forest."

"I won't let you enter alone."

"I know."

Hu Liena leaned against Lin Tian's chest.

"You'll always stay by my side."

The carriage traveled along the official road.

Several hours later, the forest ahead gradually blocked out the daylight.

Ancient trees stretched endlessly, linked together in vast clusters.

They had arrived at the Great Star Dou Forest.

Lin Tian lifted the carriage curtain.

From the distant sea of trees came the sounds of soul beasts moving about.

Hu Liena also rose to her feet.

She straightened her Light Golden Long Skirt and swept her long hair behind her.

"Are we going in?"

"Mm."

Lin Tian stepped down from the carriage.

The Nine Nether Beast appeared behind him.

Five black Soul Rings rose one after another.

A pitch-black aura of destruction spread into the depths of the forest.

Hu Liena came to his side.

Her Demon Fox martial soul appeared as well, five Soul Rings circling her body.

She hooked her arm around Lin Tian's.

"We'll find your sixth Soul Ring together."

"Stay close to me."

"I won't let go."

Lin Tian walked toward the Great Star Dou Forest.

Their figures quickly disappeared into the dense woods.

The inner region of the Great Star Dou Forest.

The light beneath the trees gradually dimmed.

Towering ancient trees blocked the sky, thick vines hung from the canopy, and the ground was blanketed with fallen leaves.

Hu Liena held Lin Tian's arm, her footsteps extremely light.

She had already withdrawn her Demon Fox martial soul, keeping only her spiritual perception spread around them.

"The soul beast auras here are much stronger than those in the outer region."

"Stay close to me."

"I never let go."

Hu Liena raised her eyes toward Lin Tian.

Her Light Golden Long Skirt moved through the forest, one corner of its hem lifted by the wind. She reached up to gather her light brown hair, her black stockings stepping over fallen leaves with faint rustling sounds.

Lin Tian stopped walking.

Several enormous claw marks remained on the ground ahead.

Pitch-black Soul Power lingered around their edges, and the surrounding trees had been tainted by the aura, their bark darkened.

Hu Liena came to his side.

"Were these left by the Nether Demon Wolf?"

"No."

Lin Tian crouched down and touched the ground with his fingers.

"It isn't old enough."

"That soul beast just passed through here?"

"It left half an hour ago."

Lin Tian stood and looked into the depths of the forest.

"It's moving east."

Hu Liena immediately tightened her hold on his arm.

"Let's go after it."

The two passed through a dense stretch of forest.

The soul beasts along the way sensed the Nine Nether Beast's aura and scattered.

Several Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts poked their heads out in the distance, but the moment they saw the Nine Nether Beast behind Lin Tian, they swiftly retreated into the woods.

Hu Liena watched the scene.

"Your martial soul suppresses soul beasts very strongly."

"The Nether Demon Wolf will be affected too."

"Will it run away in advance?"

"It won't."

Lin Tian lifted his gaze.

"The Nether Demon Wolf has a strong sense of territory."

"As long as we enter its territory, it will appear on its own."

The trees ahead suddenly toppled to either side.

Large amounts of black mist rose from the ground, and a gloomy aura rapidly spread.

A massive figure emerged from the mist.

It had three wolf heads and a body over eight meters long. Black fur clung to its body, while dark scales covered its limbs.

All three wolf heads stared at Lin Tian.

The pressure of a Fifty-Thousand-Year Soul Beast instantly enveloped the area.

Hu Liena's expression turned grave.

She released her Demon Fox martial soul, five Soul Rings rising one after another.

"Lin Tian, its aura is very strong."

"Step back."

"I can help you restrain it."

"Don't come closer."

Hu Liena looked at Lin Tian's back and did not argue further.

She retreated more than ten steps, pink Soul Power swirling around her body.

The Nether Demon Wolf opened its jaws.

Three black beams shot out at once, shattering trees one after another along their path.

Lin Tian raised his right hand.

Dark golden claws covered his arm.

Five streaks of claw light crossed through the air, tearing the three black beams apart down the middle.

The aftershocks surged to both sides.

Hu Liena raised her palm, and pink Soul Power formed a barrier that blocked the flying wood chips.

"Fifth Soul Skill, Dark Gold Soul-Destroying Claw."

Lin Tian took a step forward.

Dark golden claw light condensed once more.

The Nether Demon Wolf let out a long howl, all three wolf heads opening their mouths at once. Pitch-black Soul Power erupted from its body as its enormous form charged at Lin Tian.

The two figures collided amid the trees.

Lin Tian raised his left arm and blocked the Nether Demon Wolf's claw.

The ground collapsed beneath them.

The surrounding trees snapped in half from the impact.

The Nether Demon Wolf's three wolf heads lunged at Lin Tian simultaneously.

Lin Tian twisted aside to evade the middle wolf head, then grabbed the neck of the left one with his right hand.

Dark golden power poured into its body.

The Nether Demon Wolf's Soul Power briefly stagnated.

Lin Tian tightened his five fingers.

He directly hurled its enormous body up and smashed it into the ground in the distance.

Boom!

Broken stones and fallen leaves scattered at once.

The Nether Demon Wolf quickly flipped over, its three tails sweeping across the ground.

Black Soul Power became several crescent blades, sealing off the space around Lin Tian.

Lin Tian raised his left hand.

The Primordial Chaos Azure Lotus bloomed in his palm.

Azure vines burst from the ground and blocked the crescent Soul Power.

Life Divine Light descended.

The black Soul Power rapidly dissipated.

The Nether Demon Wolf charged again.

Lin Tian did not retreat.

The Nine Nether Beast stepped out from behind him, its five black Soul Rings spinning at once.

An aura of destruction descended upon the Nether Demon Wolf.

All three wolf heads lowered at the same time.

Its enormous body froze in midair.

Lin Tian came before it.

Dark golden claw light swept across.

The scales on the Nether Demon Wolf's chest shattered one after another, and its body flew backward, only stopping after smashing through several ancient trees.

It struggled to rise.

Lin Tian had already arrived before it.

"It's over."

All three wolf heads of the Nether Demon Wolf lifted at once.

The Soul Power in its body gathered violently.

Lin Tian raised his right hand.

The Dark Gold Soul-Destroying Claw pierced through the black Soul Power and struck directly atop the Nether Demon Wolf's head.

Boom!

The earth caved in.

The Nether Demon Wolf's aura rapidly weakened.

Its three wolf heads drooped, and its enormous body gradually lost its strength.

A deep black Soul Ring rose above its body.

Hu Liena walked to Lin Tian's side.

She glanced at the Nether Demon Wolf on the ground, then looked at the Soul Ring.

"A Fifty-Thousand-Year Spirit Ring."

"Its Soul Power suits the Nine Nether Beast well."

"Are you absorbing it now?"

"Mm."

Lin Tian sat down cross-legged.

The Nine Nether Beast appeared behind him, five black Soul Rings slowly revolving around his body.

Drawn by an unseen force, the deep black Soul Ring descended above Lin Tian's head.

Vast energy instantly surged into his body.

Lin Tian's body became covered in black Soul Power.

The Nether Demon Wolf's lingering consciousness rushed into his Spirit Sea, its three wolf heads pouncing toward the center at once.

The Primordial Chaos Azure Lotus cast down Azure Divine Light.

The Nine Nether Beast raised its foreclaw.

One suppressed while the other purified.

The black Soul Power quickly stabilized beneath the strength of the two god-tier martial souls.

Hu Liena sat beside Lin Tian.

She did not cultivate, merely maintaining her spiritual power as she observed Lin Tian's condition.

An hour later.

The Soul Power within Lin Tian's body began to rise.

Level sixty-one.

Level sixty-two.

Level sixty-three!

The energy within the Soul Ring had yet to be exhausted.

Level sixty-four.

Level sixty-five!

A training-room-sized surge of Soul Power spread out from Lin Tian's body, blasting fine cracks into the surrounding ground.

Hu Liena immediately raised her hand.

Pink Soul Power fell in front of Lin Tian, splitting apart the force rushing toward her.

She watched the Fifty-Thousand-Year Spirit Ring on Lin Tian's body.

"Five levels in a row."

"This Soul Ring's power really is strong."

Lin Tian's aura gradually stabilized.

The pitch-black Soul Ring returned to the side of the Nine Nether Beast.

Lin Tian opened his eyes.

A flash of black light passed through his gaze.

Level sixty-five Soul Power slowly flowed through his meridians.

Hu Liena walked over to him.

"You broke through five levels."

"Mm."

"What is your sixth soul skill?"

"Nether Demon Wolf Transformation."

"What does it do?"

"It increases speed and strength."

Lin Tian raised his right hand.

Black Soul Power condensed in his palm, forming the phantom of a wolf's head.

The wolf's head opened its mouth, and the surrounding Soul Power immediately gathered into his palm.

Hu Liena reached out and touched his wrist.

"This is your sixth soul skill?"

"It can also devour Soul Power."

"How much can it devour?"

"That depends on the opponent's strength."

Hu Liena withdrew her hand and sat beside Lin Tian.

"You're already level sixty-five, while I'm only level fifty-four."

"The gap is even wider now."

"You're not allowed to say that."

She took Lin Tian's hand and placed it around her waist.

"I've already worked very hard."

"You're improving quite quickly."

"But you're improving too fast."

Hu Liena leaned back, pressing her body against Lin Tian's chest.

A few fallen leaves clung to her Light Golden Long Skirt. Her long hair draped over her shoulder, and a faint fragrance drifted closer with her movements.

"You rose five levels all at once, but I only rose two."

"You don't need to compare yourself to me."

"But I want to."