Absorbing a Soul Ring

As the dust dispersed like a light veil, the Mutated Azure Bull's mountain-like body appeared before him, towering like a majestic peak.

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

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 points of light gathered above the Mutated Azure Bull's body like stars, gradually forming a radiant ring. Though its total energy was far below the limit of what Gu Hengzhi could absorb, its purity was 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, steadily adjusting his condition. He gathered his remaining soul power, scant as it was, into the palm of his right hand like a trickling stream. Come, my first Soul Ring! he cried inwardly. Drawn by his soul power, the century-old Soul Ring produced by the Mutated Earth Azure Bull drifted slowly toward him like a mysterious spirit. Along with it came crushing pressure born from the Mutated Azure Bull's resentment.

"Young friend, sit steady 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 receded like the tide.

Soon, the Mutated Azure Bull's Soul Ring arrived above Gu Hengzhi's head like a dazzling meteor. The ring suddenly contracted at tremendous speed like a spring and settled around the stone statue of the Earth Deity. At once, Gu Hengzhi felt as though he had been thrown into a blazing inferno. A searing energy surged wildly into his body like a raging flood, burning his organs as if with magma and making his blood boil like blazing flames.

However, 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 this tyrannical power surged like a violent storm, it could not shake the stone statue in the slightest.

An hour later...

Gu Hengzhi closed his eyes and sank his consciousness into his body. Like an explorer entering a mysterious treasure vault, he was delighted to discover that he could actually inspect his own 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 rested upon it, shining brilliantly like a radiant star. It was the century-old Soul Ring brought by the Mutated Earth Azure Bull.

The comfort of having absorbed the Soul Ring was like a spring breeze brushing his face and sweet rain nourishing the earth, beyond the expression of words or actions. It was as though every one of the thirty-six thousand pores across his body had become a greedy little mouth, opening wide to drink in the wonderful air around him. Gu Hengzhi felt as though 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 rang out like a great bell, echoing 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 worked hard to calm the surging excitement in his heart. He understood the direction his future would take, 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 gentle yet resolute like the first ray of sunlight at dawn. Gu Hengzhi looked down at his body. Nourished by the Soul Ring, it had become sturdier, like a fortress of steel or a tall, upright mountain. His old clothes no longer fit him, constraining him like a cage, while his skin gleamed like carefully polished jade. His face had gained an added trace of heroic spirit, like an unsheathed sword flashing with cold light.

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

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

"Hah—" With a deep shout, the first Soul Ring on the Stone Statue Martial Soul suddenly lit up like a blazing sun. Yellow points of light streaked through the air like meteors, linking into a brilliant beam like a golden bridge that tightly connected the Earth Deity's phantom with the Azure Bull.

Within that mysterious light, the Earth Deity's pure origin power poured down like a surging flood, endlessly flowing into the Azure Bull's body. Washed by that immense power, the Azure Bull's body became increasingly ethereal, as though it were about to merge with heaven and earth.

At the same time, a stone statue of an Azure Bull quietly appeared beside the stone statue of the Earth Deity. Like a giant beast from ancient times, it radiated an ancient and mysterious aura.

The moment the Mutated Azure Bull's body completely faded away, it was as though the entire world trembled. Everything became utterly still, as if time itself had frozen.

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

Gu Hengzhi said nothing. He merely sank his consciousness into his body and began to comprehend the soul skill granted by his first Soul Ring.

The Stone Statue Martial Soul's first soul skill was Summon Deity—Earth Deity. It had two effects. The first was the deity form, which summoned the Earth Deity in the form of a divine statue and allowed him to control earth elements within a fifty-meter radius. The Earth Ball Technique, Earth Wall Technique, Earthfall Technique, and the unreleased Duststorm Technique that the Earth Deity had used before were mainly applications of earth-element control. The second was the possession form, which allowed the summoned Earth Deity statue to possess him like a beast martial soul. He transformed into a figure clad in a long robe, functioning similarly to armor, holding 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 the range of earth-element control was reduced to two meters around his body.

(Note: Every deity's soul skills will follow this pattern in the future: one divine statue form and one possession form.)