Second Soul Skill: Unyielding Sacred Body

Time passed little by little, and Dai Xuanyu finally absorbed the Thousand-Year Soul Ring provided by the Armored Martial Dragon Turtle.

Apart from taking somewhat longer than absorbing the Golden-Patterned Two-Headed Tiger's Soul Ring, the entire process went smoothly.

"Phew."

Dai Xuanyu, seated cross-legged, slowly opened his eyes and let out a long breath.

As I thought, choosing the Armored Martial Dragon Turtle for my Second Soul Ring was the right decision. Dai Xuanyu clenched his fists, feeling the surging power within him.

A ten-thousand-year third ring was no spur-of-the-moment idea.

He had made that decision after awakening the Evil Eyes Saint King Martial Soul and testing at Innate Level 20 Soul Power.

That was precisely why he had chosen his Soul Rings with that goal in mind.

He wanted to build a solid foundation and bring himself closer to obtaining a ten-thousand-year third ring.

My Soul Power Level has reached twenty-seven too. Hmm, that's a little less than I expected, but it makes sense.

After all, I'm laying the groundwork for a ten-thousand-year third ring. The improvement in my physical strength is what really stands out.

Feeling the rise in his Soul Power Level, Dai Xuanyu knew he had it. Everything was on track.

With such a high starting point, even if he slowed his cultivation and remained at a bottleneck for a while, it would not matter much.

Second Soul Skill: Unyielding Sacred Body! Once on his feet, Dai Xuanyu immediately activated the new Soul Skill he had just gained.

The sacred mark on his forehead burst with golden light. A phantom of the Armored Martial Dragon Turtle flashed behind him and vanished, while holy golden radiance covered his body.

Second Soul Skill: Unyielding Sacred Body. It was an enhancement-type Soul Skill.

While active, a pale-gold film of light appeared over his skin, increasing his physical defense by 200% and his energy defense by 100%. It was like wearing a suit of invisible heavy armor.

His physical capabilities surged across the board, and his strength increased by 100%.

At the same time, he entered an unshakable state, becoming immune to all physical control effects that knocked him back, launched him into the air, staggered him, or bound him.

He stood firm as a boulder, unable to be moved an inch.

On the mental plane, a barrier of holy light enveloped his Sea of Consciousness, rendering him immune to all mental control effects: charm, fear, confusion, and hypnosis.

Any mental intrusion would be repelled the moment it touched the holy light.

His mental power also became extraordinarily concentrated, increasing his resistance to mental attacks by 100%.

Enhancement-type Soul Skills really are the best choice for a Soul Master early on, aside from those outrageous skills with special mechanics. Dai Xuanyu's eyes shone clear and bright.

At that moment, a layer of golden light protected him both inside and out.

While Unyielding Sacred Body was active, Dai Xuanyu resembled a monarch draped in holy light.

As long as that golden light held, neither physical nor mental attacks could shake him in the slightest.

I gave up a skill with special mechanics and settled for an enhancement-type Soul Skill so I could break the limits on Soul Rings and absorb a Ferocious Beast's Soul Ring sooner.

But you have to give something up to gain something. This was absolutely worth it! Dai Xuanyu was thoroughly pleased with the enhancement he had received.

He did not regret his choice in the slightest.

In truth, Soul Masters were usually best served by choosing skills with special mechanics for their early Soul Rings.

That way, those mechanics would still be there even in the later stages.

Enhancement-type Soul Skills were excellent too, but they could not match the astonishing effects of skills with special mechanics.

After all, once a Soul Master reached the later stages, using an early Soul Ring normally would no longer maintain its original percentage boost.

The boost would shrink drastically, perhaps to almost nothing.

To draw the original enhancement from a low-age Soul Ring at that point would consume a staggering amount of Soul Power.

With that much Soul Power, it was better to use several Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Skills than waste it on a low-age Soul Ring. The results would be far better.

That was also why the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda Martial Soul had become the most powerful support Martial Soul in the world.

Fortunately, I don't have the same worries as ordinary Soul Masters. A faint smile touched Dai Xuanyu's lips.

Even attack-type Soul Skills, which became less useful in the later stages than enhancement-type ones, could grow more useful in Dai Xuanyu's hands.

With his talent, he was certain to undertake a God Examination.

Increasing the ages of his Soul Rings would then be well within his reach.

"Send a Soul Ancestor to spar with me," Dai Xuanyu called behind him.

He wanted to test the defensive power of Unyielding Sacred Body.

By his own estimate, it should withstand several attacks from a Soul Ancestor without any trouble.

"As you command, Your Highness."

A deathsworn guard who met the requirement immediately stepped forward and approached Dai Xuanyu.

"Attack me with everything you have," Dai Xuanyu ordered.

"This..." The deathsworn guard, who normally carried out orders without a moment's hesitation, faltered.

He could hardly help it. The crown prince was precious beyond measure, and his status was supremely exalted.

If the guard attacked with all his strength and injured the crown prince, ten thousand deaths would not be enough to atone for it.

"Don't hold back," Dai Xuanyu urged.

"Forgive me, Your Highness." With no other choice, the deathsworn guard made his move.

He swiftly completed his Martial Soul Possession.

A purple Thousand-Year Soul Ring blazed around the deathsworn guard, whose Martial Soul was the Savage Rhinoceros, and he charged straight at Dai Xuanyu.

Dai Xuanyu made no attempt to dodge. He simply stood there, ready to take the blow head-on.

Not far away, several deathsworn guards tried to intervene and protect him, but Dai Xuanyu stopped them with a look.

Boom!

Dai Xuanyu remained where he stood, motionless. Not even a crease appeared in his clothes.

The golden light of Unyielding Sacred Body around him had dimmed, but it had not shattered.

The defense is even better than I expected. Dai Xuanyu was pleasantly surprised.

With Soul Power only in the twenties, he had easily withstood the strongest attack of a high-level Soul Ancestor with a strength-focused beast Martial Soul of the Power Attack System. And his defense could still hold...

"Your Highness."

Once Dai Xuanyu released Unyielding Sacred Body, Wang Hao, the deathsworn guards' commander, perceptively offered him tea.

Dai Xuanyu took it and sipped to moisten his throat before giving his orders:

"Pass down my orders. We'll rest for a while."

"We depart on time this afternoon and travel through the night to Great Cloud City."

"As you command." Wang Hao knelt on one knee and replied respectfully.

As if something had occurred to him, Dai Xuanyu added, "From this moment on, none of you are to address me as crown prince or Your Highness. We must conceal our identities."

Wang Hao, still kneeling, immediately changed his form of address. "As you command, Young Master."