The strange Soul Beast seemed to hear Gu Ling. It crouched low, the silver-white bone horn on its forehead glowing faintly as subtle ripples spread through the surrounding space.
Hum—
The next moment, it vanished into thin air again.
"Here it comes again!"
Director Su's expression tightened, and he immediately pushed his Soul Power to its limit.
This time, however, Gu Ling did not panic.
With his Bone Dragon Martial Soul possessing him, his peculiar sensitivity to spatial fluctuations grew clearer by the moment.
He still could not control space, but whenever the Soul Beast prepared to move through it, he could sense something amiss just beforehand.
Behind us, to the left?!
Gu Ling whipped his head around and shouted:
"Director Su, left!"
Almost as soon as he spoke, the space several meters to their left suddenly warped.
Hum!
The Soul Beast appeared out of nowhere, its sharp foreclaws raking toward Director Su's back.
"I was waiting for you!"
Director Su was ready. His Soul Power erupted as he spun and struck with his palm.
Bang!
The Soul Beast had only just emerged from space when Director Su's palm caught it head-on. The force sent it flying into a large tree.
Crack!
A split ran through the thick trunk.
To Director Su's surprise, the Soul Beast merely rolled across the ground a few times before quickly climbing back to its feet.
"Its defense is that strong?"
Surprise flashed through Director Su's eyes.
Gu Ling stared at the Soul Beast as well.
Only now did he get a clear look at some of the details of its body.
It resembled a leopard-like Soul Beast, but its gray-white scales were not ordinary scales. They were bony plates that grew close against its body. Thick Bone Armor covered its limbs, chest, belly, and neck in particular, giving it formidable defense.
And that was not all.
The claw it had swiped at him with was razor-sharp too. If his Bone Dragon Martial Soul had not sensed the spatial fluctuation, Gu Ling suspected he might already have been injured.
Offense.
Defense.
Space.
He had not expected to find all three abilities in a single Soul Beast.
At the thought, Gu Ling's eyes grew brighter.
This creature was practically made for his Bone Dragon Martial Soul!
"Director Su!"
Gu Ling suddenly called out:
"Don't chase it."
Director Su paused, puzzled.
"What do you mean?"
"It isn't too fast to track." Gu Ling watched their surroundings intently. "Spatial Traversal is the real problem."
"If we know where it'll appear ahead of time, its greatest advantage is gone."
Director Su immediately understood.
"You can predict where?"
"Yes."
Gu Ling nodded calmly.
"Only a moment ahead, but that's enough."
Director Su's eyes lit up.
"Good!"
"Then I'll leave predicting its position to you!"
The two quickly fell into step.
The Soul Beast seemed unaware that Gu Ling had seen through its ability. After a brief respite, the silver bone horn on its forehead lit up again.
Hum!
Space rippled faintly.
Gu Ling's gaze snapped to the right, and he shouted:
"Front right, two meters!"
Director Su did not hesitate.
The instant Gu Ling spoke, he lunged toward the spot.
A moment later,
the air twisted.
The Soul Beast had barely emerged from space when Director Su appeared right in front of it.
It froze for an instant.
It clearly had not expected him to predict where it would appear.
"Got you!"
With a low shout, Director Su unleashed a surge of powerful Soul Power.
Bang!
This time, the beast had no chance to traverse space again. The blow sent it flying, and it hit the ground and rolled more than ten meters.
Before it could rise, Director Su charged in again. After several successive strikes, cracks finally appeared in its Bone Armor, and blood slowly seeped between the plates.
At last sensing the threat of death, it let out a shrill roar.
The bone horn on its forehead lit up once more.
"Behind you!"
Gu Ling shouted.
Director Su spun around. Sure enough, the Soul Beast had used a brief Spatial Traversal to appear directly behind him.
But Director Su already had a strike waiting for it.
Boom!
With a thunderous impact, the Soul Beast flew away like a kite with its string cut and slammed into a boulder.
Crack!
The Bone Armor over its chest finally shattered.
Its body crumpled to the ground.
This time, it struggled for a long while but could not get back up.
Director Su did not approach immediately. He watched it warily until he was certain it could no longer fight back, then slowly let out a breath.
"Finally got it."
He walked over to the Soul Beast and examined it closely.
The longer he looked, the more surprised he became.
"So it's a Sky-Splitting Bone Leopard. This Soul Beast is extremely rare. I've only seen it in some of the Soul Beast records kept at the academy."
Gu Ling came over, rubbing his chin.
"A Sky-Splitting Bone Leopard?"
"That's right." Director Su nodded and continued:
"This Soul Beast has an unusual spatial attribute. The bone horn on its forehead can tear open space across short distances, allowing it to move instantaneously."
"It also has Bone Armor across its entire body, giving it excellent defense, while its claws are exceptionally powerful. In terms of abilities, it really is well suited to your Bone Dragon Martial Soul."
A smile spread across Gu Ling's face.
Just as he had thought.
He had not been wrong.
But Director Su's next words made his smile falter.
"However..." Director Su crouched and carefully inspected the leopard's features. His expression gradually turned grave. "You can't absorb this Soul Beast's Soul Ring."
Gu Ling frowned.
"Why not?"
Director Su pointed to several silver markings on the leopard's forehead, then examined its Bone Armor again.
"It's too old. If I'm right, this Sky-Splitting Bone Leopard is at least close to six hundred years old. It may even be older."
"Six hundred years?"
Gu Ling was not particularly surprised.
Judging by the strength it had displayed, it was clearly no ordinary Hundred-Year Soul Beast.
Director Su spoke sternly.
"This would be your First Soul Ring."
"Six hundred years is too dangerous for a First Soul Ring."
"The stronger the energy within a Soul Ring, the greater the shock to a Soul Master's body."
"You're only at level ten, and a Soul Ring has yet to strengthen your body. If you rashly absorb a Six-Hundred-Year Soul Ring, you may not be able to withstand it."
Director Su shook his head.
"It's a shame, but we can't take that risk. Let's find a younger Soul Beast."
Gu Ling did not move. His gaze remained fixed on the Sky-Splitting Bone Leopard.
A Soul Beast that suited him so perfectly...
If he let this chance go, no one knew whether he would ever find another.
Soul Beasts with spatial attributes were exceedingly rare to begin with. On top of that, this Sky-Splitting Bone Leopard possessed Bone Armor, powerful offense, and Spatial Traversal.
If he passed up a Soul Beast like this, how could he pursue Ultimate Uncanny Offense?
Gu Ling spoke up.
"Director Su."
"I want to try."
Director Su's expression changed, and anger entered his voice.
"Didn't you hear what I just said?"
"That Soul Beast is nearly six hundred years old!"
Gu Ling answered earnestly:
"An ordinary Soul Master's body might not withstand it."
"But I'm different."
With that, Gu Ling released his Bone Dragon Martial Soul again.
Crack!
Layers of white dragon bone covered his body. As the Martial Soul took possession of him, his rather slight frame suddenly radiated strength far beyond that of an ordinary child.
Gu Ling clenched his fist.
"The Bone Dragon is a top-tier Beast Martial Soul."
"When it possesses me, more than just my bones grow harder."
"My strength, physical resilience, and ability to withstand strain all increase dramatically."
"Especially my bones."
"An ordinary six-year-old's bones might be fragile, but when my Martial Soul possesses me, mine are far stronger than those of anyone my age."
Gu Ling looked at Director Su and said, enunciating every word:
"My Martial Soul is what gives me a chance to withstand the Soul Ring's energy."
"If even I, with the Bone Dragon Martial Soul, don't dare absorb a Soul Ring slightly above the usual limit, how can I pursue Ultimate Uncanny Offense?"
Director Su's brow furrowed. He wanted to refuse outright. Gu Ling was a rare genius with Innate Full Soul Power at Notting Academy.
If something went wrong while Gu Ling absorbed the Soul Ring, he would have no way to answer to the academy.
But...
He had to admit that Gu Ling had a point.
The Bone Dragon Martial Soul enhanced the body far more than an ordinary Beast Martial Soul.
Gu Ling had proved that yesterday, especially when it came to his bones. He could even detach them to attack, then draw them back into his body.
His ability to withstand strain could not be judged by the standards of an ordinary Soul Master.
Director Su fell silent for a long time before finally sighing.
"Have you really made up your mind?"
"I have."
Gu Ling did not hesitate.
Director Su glanced at the dying Sky-Splitting Bone Leopard.
"I can let you try."
"But once you begin absorbing it, I won't be able to help you."
"You'll have to withstand the Soul Ring's power yourself. If anything goes wrong..."
He stopped there.
Once he began absorbing the Soul Ring, how could he simply stop at will?
Gu Ling clearly understood this as well. His expression was solemn as he said:
"I know."
"Then let's do it."
In the end, Director Su could only nod.
The next moment, Gu Ling drew a short blade from his waist and walked up to the Sky-Splitting Bone Leopard.
The Sky-Splitting Bone Leopard seemed to sense its impending fate and let out a low growl, but it no longer had any strength to resist.
Gu Ling did not hesitate. He drove the short blade into a vital spot.
Squish!
The Sky-Splitting Bone Leopard's body convulsed violently a few times before all signs of life finally faded.
Before long.
Specks of pale yellow light began gathering above its corpse.
Soon, a Yellow Soul Ring of an exceptionally deep hue slowly took shape. The instant it appeared, even the surrounding air seemed to warp slightly.
Gu Ling sat cross-legged and released his Bone Dragon Martial Soul.
Then he raised his right hand and used his Soul Power to draw the Soul Ring toward him.
Hum!
The Yellow Soul Ring instantly encircled his body.
The next moment.
Boom!
A surge of energy far more violent than Gu Ling had anticipated suddenly rushed into his body.
"Ugh!"
Gu Ling grunted, his face instantly flushing red. The Soul Power accumulated by a six-hundred-year-old Soul Beast surged through his meridians, flesh, and bones like floodwaters bursting through a dam.
Excruciating pain instantly spread throughout his body.
Crack...
Crack...
The bones throughout Gu Ling's body actually began making a continuous series of faint cracking sounds.
Before you continue