Absorbing the Soul Ring

As the dust settled like a thin veil, the Mutated Azure Bull's mountain-like body stood before them like a towering peak.

"Young friend, deliver the final blow yourself!" The Earth Deity withdrew from the possession state and, like a weary bird returning to its nest, returned to the Earth Deity Stone Statue, handing control of the body back to Gu Hengzhi as though passing a torch.

Without hesitation, Gu Hengzhi took out the dagger Su Yuntao had given him and struck the Azure Bull's neck like lightning, delivering the final blow. As the Mutated Azure Bull's struggles weakened like a candle flame in the wind, the weight in Gu Hengzhi's heart finally lifted.

Before long, faint yellow motes gathered above the Mutated Azure Bull's body like stars, gradually forming a brilliant halo. Though its total energy was far below the limit of what Gu Hengzhi could absorb, its purity was already as profound and powerful as that of a thousand-year soul beast.

Gu Hengzhi sat cross-legged on the ground like a meditating monk and began taking deep breaths, gradually steadying himself as he gathered his remaining Soul Power into his right palm like a trickling stream. Come, my first Soul Ring! he cried inwardly. Drawn by his Soul Power, the Century Soul Ring produced by the Mutated Earth Azure Bull drifted slowly toward him like a mysterious spirit. Along with it came the crushing pressure born from the Mutated Azure Bull's resentment.

"Young friend, sit tight and guard your mind. Leave its resentment and consciousness to this old man!" With the Earth Deity's steadfast aid, the pressure on Gu Hengzhi ebbed away like the tide.

Soon, the Mutated Azure Bull's Soul Ring arrived above Gu Hengzhi's head like a dazzling meteor. The Soul Ring suddenly contracted at tremendous speed like a spring, encircling the Earth Deity Stone Statue. Then, Gu Hengzhi felt as though he had been cast into roaring flames. A scorching energy surged wildly into his body like a raging torrent, his organs seeming to burn in magma as the blood and qi within him boiled like blazing fire.

Yet the sensation did not last long, because the Earth Deity was also doing everything he could to help Gu Hengzhi endure the pain of absorbing the Soul Ring. Though that domineering power raged like a storm, it could not shake the Stone Statue in the slightest.

An hour later...

Gu Hengzhi closed his eyes and sank his awareness into his body. Like an explorer entering a mysterious treasure vault, he was delighted to discover that he could actually inspect his internal condition. The Stone Statue Martial Soul sat at the center of his dantian like a towering mountain. Tempered by the Mutated Azure Bull's Soul Power, it had become even more condensed, while the Earth Deity's image had grown increasingly lifelike, like an exquisite painting. A ring of light hovered above it like a brilliant star, radiating a dazzling glow. It was the Century Soul Ring bestowed by the Mutated Earth Azure Bull.

The comfort of having absorbed the Soul Ring was like a spring breeze brushing his face, like sweet rain nourishing the earth—beyond the expression of any words or actions. It felt as though all thirty-six thousand pores across his body had become greedy little mouths, opening wide to drink in the wonderful air around him. Gu Hengzhi felt as if he had entered a world of bliss, every cell in his body cheering with joy.

Gu Hengzhi was not the only one who felt this way. The Earth Deity did as well. His laughter boomed like a great bell, resounding through heaven and earth. "Good, good, good! This is the feeling! This old man is finally free of that damned restriction! I can finally use all my abilities! Hahaha!"

Gu Hengzhi tried to gradually calm the surging excitement in his heart. He knew the path of his future development, as though he had seen a glimmer of dawn in the darkness. He knew that he was destined to walk a special path as a Soul Master—a path belonging to the God-Sealing Record, a path of Huaxia mythology.

He slowly opened his eyes, his gaze as gentle and resolute as the first ray of morning sunlight. Gu Hengzhi looked down at his body. Nourished by the Soul Ring, it had become sturdier, like a fortress of steel or a lofty mountain. His original clothes no longer fit, constricting him like a prison. His skin, however, gleamed like finely polished jade, and his face had gained an added air of heroism, like an unsheathed sword flashing with cold light.

"Senior Earth Deity, do you truly intend to take this Azure Bull as your spirit pet mount? Is there anything this junior needs to do for you?"

The Earth Deity's phantom emerged once more behind the Stone Statue Martial Soul like a specter. It was far more solid than before, as though he were about to break free from illusion and become real.

"Hah—" With a deep shout, the first Soul Ring on the Stone Statue Martial Soul lit up fiercely like a blazing sun. Yellow motes streaked across the sky like meteors, linking together into a brilliant ray of light. Like a golden bridge, it tightly connected the Earth Deity's phantom to the Azure Bull.

Within that mysterious radiance, the Earth Deity's pure source power poured down like a rushing flood, continuously flowing into the Azure Bull's body. Washed by this powerful force, the Azure Bull's body became increasingly illusory, as if it were about to merge into heaven and earth.

At the same time, a Stone Statue of an Azure Bull quietly appeared beside the Earth Deity Stone Statue. Like an ancient beast that had stepped out of a distant age, it emanated a primitive and mysterious aura.

The moment the Mutated Azure Bull's body completely faded away, it seemed as though the entire world trembled. Everything became utterly silent, as if time had frozen at that instant.

"Hehe! Young friend, this matter is complete. This old man shall return to the God-Sealing Record to recuperate!" The Earth Deity's voice echoed through the air, carrying a trace of satisfaction and relief.

Gu Hengzhi said nothing. He merely sank his awareness into his body and began comprehending the Soul Skill granted by his first Soul Ring.

The first Soul Skill of the Stone Statue Martial Soul was God-Summoning—Earth Deity. It had two effects. The first was the deity form, which summoned the Earth Deity in the form of a divine statue. It could control earth elements within a fifty-meter radius. The Earth Ball Technique, Earth Wall Technique, Earthfall Technique, and the unreleased Duststorm Technique used by the Earth Deity earlier were all primarily forms of earth-element control. The second was the possession form, which had the summoned Earth Deity's divine statue possess him in the manner of a beast Martial Soul. He transformed into a long robe with functions similar to armor, held a Dragon-Headed Cane in his right hand and a gold ingot in his left. His close-combat ability far surpassed that of the deity form, but his earth-element control range was reduced to two meters around his body.

(Note: Every deity's Soul Skills will follow this model in the future: one divine statue form and one possession form.)