Hearing Qin Ming say this, Gu Ling's eyes immediately lit up even brighter as he thought to himself:
Isn't this just Silence from a game?
Although this ability was not an absolute seal on Soul Skills, as long as it could prevent an enemy from properly using their Soul Skills for an instant, it was already terrifying enough.
Especially in battle.
One second was sometimes enough to determine life or death!
If his Third Soul Skill could inherit both of the Earthbone Demon Armor Beast's traits—
First, sound waves would disrupt the enemy's Soul Power circulation.
Then, bone spikes would erupt from the ground over a wide area. The enemy would be unable to immediately use a Soul Skill to counterattack or flee, while also having to face the bone spikes continuously emerging beneath their feet.
That effect... just thinking about it was exciting.
However, Qin Ming's next words interrupted Gu Ling's thoughts.
"I advise you not to set your sights on it."
Gu Ling slowly raised his head, confusion on his face.
"What do you mean by that?"
Qin Ming gave him a somewhat helpless look, then turned toward the Earthbone Demon Armor Beast.
"Because its cultivation is too high. You should be able to tell that this is no ordinary Millennium Soul Beast. Judging from the number of armored spikes on its back, the color of its shell, and its ability to create such a vast area of bone spikes at once, this Earthbone Demon Armor Beast has cultivated for at least around five thousand years."
"Five thousand years?"
Gu Ling did not seem surprised. Instead, Yu Tianheng, who had just finished off a Soul Beast nearby, abruptly turned his head and said in surprise:
"A Five-Thousand-Year Soul Beast? That's the absorption limit for an ordinary Soul Master's Fourth Soul Ring."
Dugu Yan turned to look at Gu Ling. Although she looked puzzled, she had already vaguely guessed what this suddenly appeared fellow intended to do.
Qin Ming said gravely:
"An ordinary Soul Master's Third Soul Ring can usually only withstand around two thousand years. Even if one's physical constitution is stronger than that of an average Soul Master, it is impossible to raise that limit straight to five thousand years."
"The higher the Soul Ring's age, the greater the energy it contains. If your body cannot withstand it, the result will not be as simple as a failed Soul Skill. At best, your meridians will be damaged. At worst, you will explode and die."
As Qin Ming spoke, the look he gave Gu Ling became far more serious.
"Your strength is indeed impressive. It looks like you broke through Rank 30 some time ago, but because you still lack a Third Soul Ring, you have remained at the Soul Grandmaster realm."
"But Soul Power Level is one matter, while Soul Ring endurance is another."
"Five thousand years is still too much for a Quasi-Soul Elder."
Qin Ming was clearly speaking out of kindness. Gu Ling had just saved Ye Lingling, and based on that alone, he could not possibly stand by and watch this young man throw away his life for a Soul Ring.
"If you truly need this type of Soul Beast, after Ling Ling finishes absorbing her Soul Ring, we can help you search the nearby area."
"If we can find an Earthbone Demon Armor Beast that is one or two thousand years old, or just over two thousand years, that would be much more suitable for you."
At that, Gu Ling suddenly smiled. He gently shook his head.
"A Soul Ring with one or two thousand years of cultivation? That isn't enough for me."
Qin Ming froze slightly and looked at Gu Ling with a face full of confusion.
The next moment, a cold and powerful fluctuation of Soul Power suddenly spread from Gu Ling's body. A deep dragon's roar echoed through the forest as the phantom of a pale Bone Dragon slowly rose behind him.
At that moment, Gu Ling's arms had been completely covered in pale Bone Armor. His five fingers had turned into sharp dragon claws, and a dragon tail formed from stark white vertebrae slowly extended from behind him.
At the same time, two Soul Rings slowly rose from beneath his feet!
The first was yellow! But the second... was a purple Millennium Soul Ring!
Seeing this, Qin Ming's expression changed slightly. As a teacher at Heaven Dou Royal Academy, he naturally understood the normal endurance range for a Soul Master's Second Soul Ring.
Yet this young man before him had forcibly shattered that common knowledge!
"No need to be so surprised." Seeing Qin Ming's expression, Gu Ling flexed his Bone Armor-covered arm and spoke calmly.
"My Martial Soul is the Bone Dragon. The Bone Dragon Martial Soul itself greatly strengthens my bones and physical constitution. Moreover, my bone structure and durability have always been vastly different from those of ordinary Soul Masters."
As he spoke, Gu Ling lowered his head to look at his hands, his sharp dragon claws curling slightly inward.
"On top of that, I have never relaxed my physical training over the years. Whether it is strength, endurance, or my meridians' capacity to withstand strain, I far surpass ordinary Soul Masters of the same rank."
"So from my very first Soul Ring onward, I have never chosen Soul Rings according to the so-called limits of ordinary Soul Masters."
"My Second Soul Ring was already a Millennium Soul Ring. Since I could break the normal endurance limit when obtaining my Second Soul Ring, why could I not do the same with my Third Soul Ring?"
Besides that, during his years in Notting City, Gu Ling had unexpectedly acquired a piece of Whale Rubber. The nobles used the stuff as an aphrodisiac, but he had used it to strengthen his body!
Qin Ming fell silent for a moment without answering immediately.
So Gu Ling continued:
"Five thousand years is indeed high."
"But it is not completely beyond my ability to withstand."
"At the very least, I am confident enough to try."
Qin Ming's brows still had not fully relaxed. He stepped forward.
"But this is a Five-Thousand-Year Soul Ring."
"The fact that you could absorb a Millennium Soul Ring beyond your rank for your Second Soul Ring does prove that your physical constitution is strong. But raising your Third Soul Ring directly to five thousand years is not a small leap."
Gu Ling merely smiled.
"Cultivation was never something that could remain completely risk-free forever. If I only ever chose things that were absolutely safe, I would not have absorbed a Millennium Soul Ring as my Second Soul Ring back then."
"More importantly, this Soul Beast's abilities are simply too suitable for me."
"The wide-area bone spikes can attack and lock down an enemy's movement. Demon Sound Roar can interfere with Soul Power circulation, preventing enemies from properly using Soul Skills for a short time. If I miss such a Soul Beast today, who knows when I will encounter another one?"
At the end, Gu Ling paused slightly, but his tone became even calmer.
"Life and death are fated; wealth and honor lie with heaven."
"Since I dared to absorb it, I have already prepared myself to bear the consequences. If I truly fail and die here, then I can only blame myself for being too weak."
Hearing those words, Qin Ming could not help giving Gu Ling a long, deep look.
Yu Tianheng was similarly stunned, while Dugu Yan could not help frowning.
"You really don't care about your life."
Gu Ling smiled again and said in a low voice:
"If you want power stronger than others possess, you must always pay some price."
At that moment, Qin Ming fell silent. If an ordinary Rank 30 Soul Master had stood before him and said they wanted to absorb a Five-Thousand-Year Third Soul Ring, he would have stopped them without hesitation.
Because that would not have been courage. It would have been suicide.
But Gu Ling was different.
The purple Second Soul Ring was right before his eyes. It had already proven one thing: this young man's endurance could truly not be measured by the standards of ordinary Soul Masters.
Furthermore, his Martial Soul was the exceptionally unique Bone Dragon. After Martial Soul Possession, large amounts of Bone Armor covered his body, and his physical constitution naturally far surpassed that of ordinary Soul Masters.
Qin Ming examined Gu Ling again.
After a moment, he finally nodded slowly.
"Since you have thought it through, I will not continue trying to persuade you. I will take it down for you and leave it with one last breath, so you can kill it yourself."
Gu Ling's eyes brightened slightly at those words. He cupped his fists.
"Then many thanks."
Qin Ming shook his head and waved a hand.
"No need. Consider it repayment for saving Ling Ling earlier."
After saying that, he spoke no further. His sixth Soul Ring lit up once again, and his Sixth Soul Skill, Heaven-Burning Flames, erupted with a thunderous burst, instantly gravely wounding the Earthbone Demon Armor Beast.
Seeing this, Gu Ling seized the opportunity and pierced its head with a claw. Soon, a dark purple Soul Ring slowly rose, and he sat down cross-legged, directly beginning to absorb it!
At the same time, Ye Lingling, who had been sitting cross-legged beneath a large tree in the distance, finally had her third Soul Ring completely stabilize.
As the final wisp of Soul Power merged into her body, her long lashes trembled lightly. Then she slowly opened her eyes, just in time to see the black-clothed youth sitting opposite her.
PS: Four updates totaling ten thousand words. Updates complete.
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