Chapter 142: Fifth Soul Ring

But if he absorbs a Soul Ring out of his level, even though his martial soul is at a disadvantage, the boost and soul skill the Soul Ring provides can let him close the gap with Yu Tianheng.

At present she still does not know that Tie Li's martial soul has completed its metamorphosis; once Tie Li displays a top‑grade offensive‑type weapon martial soul before her, together with out‑of‑level Soul Ring absorption, the advantage in cultivation speed…

The stacked advantage will form a clear chasm; to catch up ahead, one must leap with effort and cross the chasm.

"This kid has that ability, so you don't need to worry," Du Gu Bo said.

His purpose in taking Du Gu Yan along is to temper her temperament and let her understand the principle that there are people beyond people and heavens beyond heavens.

Otherwise she would always think that the true genius is only Yu Tianheng.

Du Gu Yan said little; she still harbored doubt, not believing that a Soul Master could absorb a Soul Ring older than twenty‑thousand years at Soul Power Level 50.

"We can give it a try," Tie Li thought for a moment, feeling that he could absorb this three‑headed Thunder‑Silver Python that is over twenty‑five thousand years old.

He possesses a right‑leg soul bone and an external attached soul bone; with the support of these two major soul bones, he can attempt it, but this soul beast must not exceed thirty thousand years.

"Alright."

Du Gu Bo narrowed his eyes slightly; from Tie Li's tone he could tell that he was not taking a risk, but truly confident.

The Fifth Soul Ring's age surpasses the normal Soul Master's Sixth Soul Ring limit; that's not common.

When he reaches Level 60, the Sixth Soul Ring will be able to attempt absorbing a Soul Ring of fifty‑thousand‑year age.

At Level 80, his Soul Ring standard will certainly have reached one hundred thousand years, provided he can find a soul beast with a hundred‑thousand‑year cultivation.

Just imagine, if a Soul Douluo possessed a hundred‑thousand‑year Soul Ring, who would dare deny his future ascent to a titled Douluo?

Du Gu Bo's soul power enveloped Tie Li and Du Gu Yan, and the world in his eyes became blurry again.

This time the duration was a bit longer; once they landed, Du Gu Yan began dry‑vomiting, Tie Li's condition improved considerably, but his complexion also took on a pallid hue.

The crackling Lightning Light sprayed across the valley; in the valley where Lightning Light ran rampant, it seemed desolate, and few creatures could survive there.

"Roar"

A low, hoarse roar sounded, and a silver‑white silhouette over ten meters long flickered through the valley.

The outsider's aura made the Three‑Headed Thunder‑Silver Python sense danger, overriding its hatred toward human Soul Masters.

Tie Li observed the central head's brow‑scale of the Three‑Headed Thunder‑Silver Python, one of the criteria for gauging its cultivation.

"Alright, we'll choose it."

"Okay."

With Du Gu Bo, a titled Douluo, present, dealing with a ten‑thousand‑year soul beast is naturally a piece of cake.

Du Gu Bo's eyes hardened; the pressure from the titled Douluo instantly locked onto the Three‑Headed Thunder‑Silver Python, terrifying it to the point that not a single thought of resistance could arise.

He vaulted to the front of the Three‑Headed Thunder‑Silver Python, pointing a single finger at the brow‑scale of its head; under the threat of death, the beast forced its fear aside and gathered all its Lightning Light.

"Hm?"

Du Gu Bo's brow twitched; even a mere twenty‑thousand‑year soul beast dared to struggle.

"Boom—"

The terrifying momentum surged again, and the hard‑won Lightning Light dispersed once more.

The finger descended, and the Three‑Headed Thunder‑Silver Python lost all its vigor.

Tie Li immediately moved to the front of the Three‑Headed Thunder‑Silver Python, his fists surrounded by Black Thunder striking the head repeatedly and fiercely, until a black Soul Ring surfaced from its corpse.

"I will guard you; you fully absorb this Soul Ring," Du Gu Bo said.

"Alright."

Tie Li said no more idle words and began absorbing the Soul Ring in front of the Three‑Headed Thunder‑Silver Python.

At that moment Du Gu Yan also arrived; she slowly approached the corpse of the Three‑Headed Thunder‑Silver Python and began observing.

"Grandpa, this soul beast's age should have reached twenty‑six thousand years; it's only a Fifth Soul Ring—could that be too risky?"

"It probably involves some element of risk; from his tone, he does have that confidence. Though it's unclear where his confidence stems from, he likely won't gamble his own life."

Du Gu Yan still found it hard to believe the scene before her; after repeatedly checking the corpse of the Three‑Headed Thunder‑Silver Python, it indeed had reached twenty‑six thousand years of cultivation.

As Tie Li began absorbing the Soul Ring, a layer of sweat spread across his forehead; absorbing a Soul Ring of this age placed considerable strain on his body, but it remained within his tolerance.

The wing bone, absorbing the overflowed energy, dramatically reduced Tie Li's pressure and also enhanced the quality of the external attached soul bone; the improvement of the soul bone indirectly increased Tie Li's physique and soul power, making the Soul Ring absorption smoother.

The most dangerous phase has passed; now they just wait for Tie Li to awaken.

"What? He actually absorbed this Soul Ring?"

Even with the facts before her, Du Gu Yan could hardly believe it.

Two yellows, two purples, one black—seemingly the optimal Soul Ring configuration, yet the ages of the fourth and fifth Soul Rings both exceed the limit for Soul Ring pairings.

Having absorbed this Soul Ring, even just the attributes granted by the ring constitute a massive boost.

The Soul Power Level leapt to Level 54, just a hair away from breaking through to Level 55.

Du Gu Bo could naturally discern Tie Li's current Soul Power Level; at twenty‑two he already has Level 54 soul power, and before thirty he will surely become a Soul Emperor.

However, the Fifth Soul Technique he obtained was beyond Tie Li's expectation.

The ultimate attribute amplification allows a brief possession of the Ultimate Lightning attribute.

Back then, using the Ice and Fire Dual-Aspect Eye and Ice and Fire Tempering Body, aided by the ultimate attribute tempering, he could briefly possess the Ultimate Lightning trait; the main purpose was to temper his physique and Lightning attribute.

Later he also absorbed the Strange Fungus Sky‑Reaching Chrysanthemum; the brief ultimate attribute combined with Immortal Herb assistance triggered a Dragon Core within his body, pushing his martial soul to its limit, achieving a leap‑forward evolution and upgrading to a truly top‑tier martial soul.

The Zhen Long Chui martial soul's Lightning attribute is infinitely close to Ultimate Lightning, yet a single step makes a world of difference.

Out‑of‑level absorption of the Fifth Soul Ring, plus the Three‑Headed Thunder‑Silver Python, which is not a top‑tier soul beast, could not endow Tie Li with such a powerful soul skill, but the earlier Ice and Fire Tempering Body gave his soul power the ultimate attribute trait.

This out‑of‑level Soul Ring absorption is merely a medium; only high‑age Soul Rings can bear the existence of this soul skill. If the absorbed Soul Ring's age had not reached twenty‑thousand years, perhaps the soul skill would never have been born.

With the boost from the Fifth Soul Technique, Tie Li can possess the Ultimate Lightning attribute.

"Senior, would you like to try my Ten Thousand Year Soul Technique?" Tie Li looked at Du Gu Bo and smiled.

"Sure, I also wish to see what difference an out‑of‑level Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring makes," Du Gu Bo's voice carried a hint of curiosity.

Summoning the Zhen Long Chui martial soul, Tie Li's aura rose step by step; two yellows, two purples, one black, five Soul Rings floated up and down, and the deep black Soul Ring emitted a pressuring aura.

Black Lightning swirled around, and Tie Li, releasing the Ten Thousand Year Soul Technique, only at this moment experienced the terror of the Ultimate Attribute.

(End of chapter)