"Boom--!"
The moment the Soul Ring was attached to him, an energy far more violent than when he absorbed the Ice and Immortal Herb Grass surged into Lin Yan's body like a burst dam! This energy was not only enormous, but also carried the unique sharpness and ferocity of the Nine-Leaf Sword Grass, rampaging through his meridians and bringing excruciating pain.
At the same time, an extremely powerful mental shock, accompanied by countless shattered thoughts filled with killing intent and sharpness, pierced Lin Yan's sea of consciousness like thousands of invisible swords!
The Soul Shock is here!
Lin Yan groaned, feeling as if his head was about to explode. Countless chaotic sword shadows and unwilling screams echoed in his mind, trying to destroy his will and obliterate his soul.
But he was prepared. In his sea of consciousness, the spiritual power condensed by the " Supreme Purity Breathing Technique " was like Boulder, firmly guarding his core consciousness. At the same time, the " Withering and Flourishing Intent " he had comprehended operated autonomously. The grand will containing the cycle of life and death, prosperity and decline, was like Sea God, smoothing, absorbing and dissolving those violent and chaotic fragments of the soul one by one.
My will is like a sword, unyielding and unbreakable! My heart is like a mirror, reflecting all things!
Lin Yan guarded his spiritual platform, resisting the soul impact with his unwavering will. Although the resentment of the Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beast was strong, it ultimately could not shake his foundation under the dual protection of the " Supreme Purity Breathing Technique " and the Withering and Flourishing Intent.
As time passed, the immense energy contained within the Soul Ring was gradually refined and absorbed under the guidance of his strong meridians and the " Supreme Purity Breathing Technique," transforming into his own Soul Power. His Soul Power Level began to soar at an astonishing rate!
Level 31, Level 32, Level 33...!
Meanwhile, his Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul was undergoing astonishing changes as it absorbed the Ten-Thousand-Year Sword Grass Soul Ring. The color of the grass leaves became deeper, and the golden-red and ice-blue patterns became clearer, like natural Dao patterns. More importantly, the originally supple grass leaves now faintly exuded a sharp Sword Intent! The edges of the grass leaves seemed to become incredibly sharp, capable of slicing through the air with a gentle sway.
After an unknown amount of time, when the deep black Soul Ring finally stabilized and perfectly encircled the Blue Silver Grass, complementing the other two Purple Soul Ring, the violent aura emanating from Lin Yan finally subsided.
He suddenly opened his eyes, his gaze gleaming with a sharp light, and a powerful aura far surpassing that of an ordinary Soul Elder emanated from his body! His Soul Power Level finally stabilized at the peak of level thirty-eight!
It's a leap of eight levels! This isn't just an improvement brought about by the Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring itself, but also a one-time burst of the foundation accumulated from absorbing the Ice and Immortal Herb after obtaining the Soul Ring!
"Success!" Lin Yan felt the surging power within his body and the information about the Third Soul Skill in his mind, and an incredibly bright smile appeared on his face.
With a thought, the Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul beneath him suddenly changed. One of the grass leaves detached from the main body and floated in front of him. The originally flexible grass leaf instantly straightened, and the edge of the grass leaf emitted a foot-long cyan sharpness, emitting a buzzing sword sound, and the sharp sword aura was intimidating! The entire grass leaf had transformed into a real sword, made of energy and the plant itself!
Third Soul Skill - Blue Silver Sword Leaf!
This Soul Skill is not a single attack mode. It can condense Blue Silver Grass into swords for thrusting and slashing, which are extremely sharp and contain Sword Intent; it can also control multiple sword leaves for long-range attacks, like sword control; and at critical moments, it can concentrate all Sword Intent and Soul Power into a single leaf to unleash a powerful strike! It perfectly matches Lin Yan's desire for sword weapons and the requirements for performing Tai Chi Sword Technique!
"Excellent! What a brilliant Blue Silver · Sword Leaf!" Dugu Bo clapped his hands in praise. He could feel the sharpness contained within the sword formed from the grass leaf. "Now you are proficient in both offense and defense, suitable for both ranged and melee combat, with all your weaknesses eliminated! Level 38 Soul Power, Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring configuration... Hahaha, I'd like to see which genius on this continent can compare to my disciple!"
Lin Yan dispelled his Soul Skill and bowed deeply to Dugu Bo: "Thank you for protecting me, Master!"
"We're master and disciple, no need for formalities!" Dugu Bo smiled and helped him up, his eyes full of pride. "Let's go, this matter is settled, it's time to go back. That girl Yanyan must be getting impatient."
After saying that, Lin Yan and Dugu Bo prepared to leave.
Suddenly, something unexpected happened!
From the remnants of the Nine-Leaf Sword Grass, which had already lost all vitality and gradually withered into ashes, a highly condensed object, radiating pure cyan-gold light, suddenly shot out, its speed even exceeding that of the previous massive sword energy!
Ignoring the distance in space, it was like Sword Intent piercing through the void. In the instant before Lin Yan and Dugu Bo could fully react, it "whooshed" and precisely pierced into Lin Yan's back—the location of his spine!
"Ugh--!"
" Yan'er!" Dugu Bo exclaimed in surprise.
At that moment, a pain far more intense, penetrating to the bone marrow and even the soul than when absorbing the Soul Ring instantly swept over Lin Yan's entire body!
It wasn't the throbbing pain of an energy surge, nor the tearing sensation of Soul Shock, but an extreme pain that felt as if his bones, meridians, and even the Life Origin were being forcibly torn apart, reshaped, and reassembled!
Lin Yan's entire back, especially his spine, was as if it had been thrown into a furnace and simultaneously cut and sculpted by thousands of sword blades! Azure-gold light emanated from his back, making him appear transparent. It was clear that his entire spine was being forcibly enveloped, permeated, and fused by the azure-gold energy!
"This is... External Soul Bone?!" Dugu Bo exclaimed in shock, his face filled with unbelievable joy and astonishment.
He never expected that hunting this Nine-Leaf Sword Grass would not only yield Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring, but also drop External Soul Bone Soul Master dream of, even rarer than top-tier Soul Bone!
Moreover, judging from its location and form of fusion, it is very likely to be the most precious and most closely connected to the whole body - the External Soul Bone of the torso, or even the more specific Spine Soul Bone!