A red soul ring slowly emerged from the corpse of the Behemoth.
With an excited heart, Tianlin walked over. This was his first 100,000-year soul ring, and he had hunted it down himself.
Using his soul power, Tianlin drew the soul ring toward himself. The immense force began to tear at his body. To die in such agony—one could imagine the Behemoth's deep resentment.
After reaching rank 60, not only was Tianlin's physique much stronger, but another layer of the seal on his million-year soul ring and soul bone had also been undone.
As early as rank 50, he could withstand a 60,000-year soul ring. Now, with the help of the Holy Spirit Domain, absorbing this 100,000-year soul ring was nearly certain—though the process would be painful.
But he had survived even a million-year trial before. What did this amount to?
Within Gale Valley, fierce winds howled, but the figure absorbing the soul ring stood unmoved, seemingly unaffected.
At this moment, the Demon Sword's blade flashed with intertwining yellow, green, blue, red, and cyan—expressing its excitement. Though not yet full, all five elemental attributes were finally gathered within the sword.
A day later, the power of the 100,000-year soul ring gradually stabilized. Tianlin had passed the danger zone and was now using the soul ring's power to strengthen his body and select his soul skills.
A 100,000-year soul ring could grant two skills. The Behemoth's attribute was earth, so Tianlin first infused fire and lightning, producing a tri-element Demon Sword technique: Three Talents Demon-Breaking Array—a large-area group attack. When unleashed, the Demon Sword splits into three, forming a sword formation that slaughters all enemies inside with an endless sword aura.
Next, Tianlin infused water and wind, creating another Demon Sword technique: Myriad Spirits Restoration Light—a large-area support skill that restores soul power. For those lower-level than Tianlin, their power is fully restored in an instant; for those higher, it restores an amount equal to Tianlin's current level.
Unlike Ye Lingling's continuous recovery, Tianlin's is an instant burst—restoring someone to their best state at once, but it can't be used repeatedly; one person can only receive it once per day, or their body can't handle it.
"Done!"
Tianlin completed his task and stood up.
The Demon Sword was raised high, its intent piercing the clouds. The divine martial soul finally began to show its fangs. Besides the newly acquired sixth skill, his other five also received various enhancements.
Frozen Snow, Illusory Water Thunderstorm, and Glimmering Immortal-Slaying Slash all saw increased power.
Flow of Wind and Water seemed unchanged, but Tianlin felt that once he reached rank 70 and used this move in his Martial Soul True Body, it could resolve absolutely any status— even Martial Soul True Bodies!
Illusory Water Thunderstorm's amplification also increased. Against human soul masters below rank 60, he could instantly boost them to rank 60.
In other words, even a newly awakened soul master with innate soul power rank 1, Tianlin could make them a rank 60 Soul Emperor—terrifying indeed.
Of course, in reality, humans have many limitations compared to soul beasts. Without soul rings, even with the soul power, they could only use the power of rank 10. And in theory, a six-year-old child's body couldn't withstand such power.
Strategically, this ability is best for breaking bottlenecks. Now, Tianlin could help even someone above his level break the rank 70 bottleneck. But for soul masters above rank 80 (Soul Douluo level), the effect is minimal.
For soul beasts, it's much simpler: a fixed 15,000-year increase in cultivation, just as Tianlin expected.
Aside from the soul skill enhancements from the martial soul's qualitative change, Tianlin's greatest gain was the awakening of his divine martial soul's innate domain.
The Demon Sword's innate domain, first stage awakening—Demon-Suppressing Domain—currently has the same effect as Sea Dragon Douluo's Demon-Breaking Domain: suppressing the opponent's domain and nullifying other domains' effects. But just as Tang San's Blue Silver Domain evolved, Tianlin felt his domain would too—perhaps when his Martial Soul True Body appears or when he becomes a Title Douluo.
"Xiao Tian, don't forget to check the Behemoth's corpse. Since it reached 100,000 years before death, it must have produced a soul bone you don't have yet," Skydream Ice Silkworm reminded him.
Tianlin knew this common knowledge. He checked the limbs first—nothing.
Instead of being disappointed, Tianlin was pleased. He already had a skull; if there were no limb bones, that meant it must be a torso bone.
Drawing his sword, Tianlin cut open the Behemoth's body. A red-glowing, earth-yellow torso bone slowly floated out.
"Haha, what a windfall! The legends are true. Behemoth, with its formidable physique, is the soul beast most likely to produce a torso bone. Xiao Tian, quickly absorb it! The 100,000-year soul ring just boosted your level to almost 63. With this 100,000-year soul bone, you'll reach at least 65, maybe even 66!" Skydream Ice Silkworm said excitedly.
Tianlin took the soul bone joyfully, but just before placing it on his chest, he hesitated.
"Xiao Tian, what are you doing? Hurry up and absorb it! This is a 100,000-year torso bone from a Behemoth—its quality rivals that of any fierce beast soul bone!" Tianmeng urged.
But Tianlin shook his head. "Brother Skydream, I want to keep this soul bone. In a few years, Spirit Hall will have a big plan against my Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect—a crisis of annihilation."
"With our sect's current strength, their nine elders aren't a threat. But if their Worship Hall acts, especially the two strongest—Qian Daoliu (rank 99 Ultimate Douluo) and Golden Crocodile Douluo (rank 98 Super Douluo)—both possessing 100,000-year soul rings and bones, the situation changes."
"My teacher is rank 98, but lacks such soul rings and bones, so there's a decisive gap."
"So you want to give this 100,000-year soul bone to your teacher to make up the difference," Skydream understood.
With this soul bone, Chen Xin could at least suppress Golden Crocodile Douluo. Qian Daoliu is unlikely to leave Worship Hall, so as long as Golden Crocodile is defeated, the sect's crisis is resolved.