As the black soul ring descended, Gu Ling's breath abruptly caught. An icy power surged into his body through his martial soul, sending tearing pain through his arm meridians the moment it entered them.
He instinctively tensed, and the soul power spilling from him blasted aside the dirt before his knees, exposing the gravel beneath.
"What ferocious soul power!" Gu Ling steadied his mind and guided the force through his meridians.
But no sooner had he channeled one surge away than more energy flooded in, giving him no chance to catch his breath. Bone Armor covered his arms of its own accord, while stark white bone plates emerged one after another across his shoulders and back.
Gu Rong stood beside him, his gaze resting on his disciple's clenched hands. He noticed blood already seeping between Gu Ling's fingers.
Dugu Bo returned from the perimeter and said with a deep frown, "His body may be strong enough, but this thing's soul power is too fierce. He might not be able to take it all in at once."
Gu Rong gave no answer. He merely took half a step forward, seemingly preparing to do something.
Just then, a layer of blue-gold light shone from Gu Ling's right leg. A gentle aura of life flowed into his body through the leg bone, and the tiny injuries torn open by the surge began to heal.
The stabbing pain in his meridians eased slightly. He immediately gathered the scattered soul power and drew it back under control. The strengthening brought by Icefire Body Tempering and the golden holy dragon bloodline finally showed its true worth at that moment.
With his former body, that last surge alone would have made him cough up blood. Yet before the pain had passed, a tiger's roar slammed into his