Absorbing the Eight Spider Spirit Bone, Spirit Bone Evolution

"Cough, cough. I was following the Skywater Team's model. It has a better promotional effect this way." Chen Ling coughed lightly and made up an excuse. In any case, his next plan was to lure the people from Skywater Academy over, so it was not much of a problem.

"Hehe, I understand." Ning Fengzhi narrowed his eyes, and that knowing look made Chen Ling do nothing but roll his eyes.

What do you understand now?

"Still, even with Rongrong and Zhu Qing added to your team, my worthy son-in-law, I'm afraid it won't be enough, will it?" Ning Fengzhi's eyes were smiling. Although their sect mainly consisted of Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda soul masters, they also had other soul master families in their outer branch.

When the time came, he could send over another two people. That would also deepen Chen Ling's feelings toward the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

But before he could speak, Xue Qinghe beside him beat him to it.

"Your Excellency, I once took in an adopted younger sister. I can have her join the academy." Xue Qinghe looked respectful, though her tone was slightly urgent. "Because of Xue Beng's previous offense, I can also decide to grant your academy another plot of land to serve as your personal residence."

"An adopted younger sister?" Chen Ling raised a brow. There was such a thing?

However, the moment his gaze met Xue Qinghe's, her eyes drifted slightly.

What adopted younger sister? She was simply going herself. She would also have to contact her grandfather to send over a substitute. Previously, because she wanted to prove herself, she had insisted on handling everything personally.

But things were different now. As long as she could bring Chen Ling, this suspected inheritor of a god's legacy, into her camp and have him submit to her god, it would be truly delightful.

"No problem." Chen Ling had already roughly guessed what was going on.

This one also possessed astonishing wisdom, comparable to a certain Dragon God avatar.

"Then I'll have to ask Your Excellency to look after her." Xue Qinghe cupped her hands, her tone sincere.

Ning Fengzhi stood to the side, still watching with a genial smile.

An adopted younger sister? Could she possibly be prettier than Rongrong? She was completely unworthy of mention.

The crowd dispersed. Liu Erlong took Ning Rongrong, Zhu Zhuqing, and the others to enroll, while Chen Ling brought Dugu Bo, Shi Heng, and Ye Renxin away to discuss the Ye Family and Shi Family joining the territory of the new sect.

A day passed quietly.

Chen Ling was ultimately a layman in such matters. Dugu Bo was much the same, and among the four of them, only Shi Heng had experience managing a faction.

There was nothing they could do about it. Because of the Ye Family's martial soul, their line passed down through a single heir, leaving them with few members to begin with. The Dugu Family was the same, with only this grandfather and grandson left.

The Shi Family had quite a few people, but they were clearly not enough to serve as the foundation of a faction.

Chen Ling rubbed his brow with a headache.

It seemed he had to win over the four single-attribute clans. He could forget the Strength Clan, but he could try for the other three.

Aside from White Crane, who might still retain some old feelings for the Clear Sky Sect, the other two clans had a fairly high chance of joining.

"You can proceed normally with finding people to build the sect's headquarters. Leave the recruitment of other soul master families to me." Chen Ling waved his hand and dismissed everyone.

This was not something that could be rushed. What he needed to do was prioritize increasing his own strength, though in truth, there was not much left for him to improve.

Chen Ling chuckled inwardly.

His cultivation was now rank ninety-eight. Beyond that lay Limit Douluo.

The problem was that Limit Douluo was not so easy to break through, especially in this era without Soul Cores.

The only thing currently existing inside Chen Ling's body was an ice-fire dual-attribute vortex born from his Second Martial Soul.

This thing was more like a Soul Power conversion device than a Soul Power vortex or core.

Of course, if he had enough energy, he might be able to convert enough attribute power from that core to condense a Soul Core.

Other than rewards bestowed by the system, this was the fastest way to increase his strength.

Chen Ling's heart stirred as he recalled something.

He raised his hand, and a flash of purple light appeared in his palm. What emerged afterward was something resembling a backplate.

It had eight protrusions that emitted a faint glow.

The Eight Spider Spirit Bone.

Chen Ling was hesitating over whether to absorb it. It was not for any other reason—the External Soul Bone could provide a full fifty percent boost to all attributes. It was terrifyingly powerful.

Moreover, the Spirit Bone itself had considerable potential. It later evolved directly into Sea God's Eight Wings.

Its drawback was that it truly did not suit Chen Ling's fighting habits, and it was somewhat ugly besides.

After hesitating for a moment, Chen Ling stopped hesitating and began drawing the Spirit Bone toward himself.

Nothing was more important than strength. Perhaps because of his experiences over the past dozen or so years, Chen Ling now had something of a fear of insufficient firepower. Rank ninety-eight Soul Power was still far too weak.

The instant the Spirit Bone flew over, silver light flowed around Chen Ling's body. The Qingming Sword emerged out of control and floated before him.

Then the longsword split into several identical swords, hovering in front of Chen Ling.

The Skyedge Swordfeather.

This was one of the system's earliest rewards, a level-seven Soul Tool, though at his current level, Chen Ling could no longer determine its exact grade.

The Soul Tool was now in a state somewhat like a level-ten Soul Tool from ten thousand years in the future. It could merge with his own martial soul, which was why Chen Ling could now casually split it into countless longswords.

The moment the Spirit Bone adhered to Chen Ling's back, the Skyedge Swordfeather seemed to suddenly come alive. It automatically separated from the Qingming Sword, while the spear shafts of the Eight Spider Lances abruptly sprang out and began merging with the Soul Tool.

Just as Chen Ling watched this scene curiously, a piercing pain suddenly came from his back. The Eight Spider Spirit Bone was undergoing an astonishing transformation. The original lances straightened from their curved joints, then snapped directly off where the Spirit Bone met the backplate on Chen Ling's back.

The Skyedge Swordfeather also transformed into a particle-like state and began assimilating—or rather, fusing.

This Soul Tool could itself upgrade along with Chen Ling's Soul Power breakthroughs, just like an External Soul Bone. Now, it was truly beginning to fuse with the External Soul Bone.

Chen Ling could only grit his teeth and endure the pain of having his Spirit Bone modified. It felt like a dentist's electric drill boring into his teeth, except Chen Ling was having holes drilled through every bone in his body. The degree of pain went without saying.

Moreover, he could sense the External Soul Bone, the Soul Tool, and the Spirit Bone set faintly resonating, linked together by the Skyedge Swordfeather's unique state.

Time slowly passed as he absorbed it. More than half a day went by, and as the Skyedge Swordfeather and Eight Spider Spirit Bone on Chen Ling's back fused together, Chen Ling finally let out a sigh of relief.

"It really hurts, but the results aren't bad." Chen Ling looked back and revealed a satisfied smile.

All the spider legs of the Eight Spider Spirit Bone had separated, seeming to float behind Chen Ling. The Spirit Bone's material had also turned silvery white, and the spider legs now resembled folded blades.

Moreover, the original characteristics of both the Soul Tool and the Spirit Bone had been perfectly preserved, while an additional boost to speed had been added.

"If I worked some spatial elements into it, that would really be something." Chen Ling chuckled and walked toward the door.