Chapter 251: The Terrifying Eighth Soul Ring

As the divine‑gifted Soul Ring shattered, a very strong energy surged rapidly into Yang Xiong's body.

Compared with each time he exceeded the age limit to absorb a Soul Ring, the energy of the divine‑gifted Soul Ring seemed unusually gentle, and it gradually strengthened over time.

Yang Xiong only felt that as the energy gradually poured in, it grew stronger and stronger, and by the end it even far surpassed the energy he had when absorbing the Hundred‑Thousand‑Year Soul Ring.

Thinking of his long‑standing goal, Yang Xiong gritted his teeth against the pain, blood spilling from his whole body, every inch of skin and every bone feeling as if struck hard.

Whether it was his martial soul or all the soul bones on his body, they were forced to bear the pressure from the divine‑gifted Soul Ring, and he seemed on the verge of collapse.

When Yang Xiong was on the brink of breaking each time, the Blue Silver King Head Soul Bone in his mind repeatedly pulled him back, restoring his calm each time.

The others were extremely worried and equally admiring upon seeing Yang Xiong's condition.

Although they had all absorbed divine‑gifted Soul Rings, none had ever fought as desperately as Yang Xiong, nor been as filled with willpower, nor broken their limits time after time as he did.

After an unknown amount of time, the golden energy around Yang Xiong grew denser, like a massive cocoon, and he, inside the cocoon, seemed to try breaking through it again and again.

…

After a full month, the cocoon surrounding Yang Xiong seemed to have exhausted its energy and finally began to crack open.

At this moment, Yang Xiong stood naked, his skin all over turning gold, each inch like bronze‑cast iron, resembling an immovable golden giant, and two purple, three black, and three red Soul Rings appeared.

Especially when Yang Xiong opened his eyes, his gaze seemed to seize the heart, as if he could see through all things in the world.

The girls nearby let out a few shrieks; only then did Yang Xiong snap back from his euphoric feeling and realize he was completely naked.

Ning Rongrong, her face flushed with shame, hurriedly fetched a set of clothes to cover Yang Xiong.

Seeing Yang Xiong's eighth Soul Ring, everyone felt both envy and admiration.

Now, among everyone, only Yang Xiong possesses a Hundred‑Thousand‑Year Soul Ring, and this time he obtained it via a divine‑gifted Soul Ring, granting him the most suitable soul skill.

After investigation, Yang Xiong's absorption of the eighth Soul Ring took a full fifty days, during which Ning Rongrong stayed by his side almost constantly.

The others took turns keeping watch, and even Dai Mubai's people also stayed beside Yang Xiong.

And during those fifty days, nobody relaxed; each person meditated and cultivated, striving to improve their own strength, since they now truly understood the difficulty of the Sea God Trials, and more reliance on themselves was needed—perhaps in the future even Yang Xiong couldn't help them.

Yang Xiong carefully sensed his own soul power and found it had astonishingly reached Level 88.

In fact, Yang Xiong had already been close to Level 80 two years ago; during the final stage of the Sea God's Light Assessment, he had already reached Level 80.

During the nearly two years—including nine months traversing the Huan Xing Hai and a year of Tidal Body Forging—his soul power rose steadily; after consecutively passing three Sea God examinations, his soul power level increased by three full levels, and absorbing the divine‑gifted Soul Ring finally brought it to Level 88.

In contrast, the others' soul power levels rose even more; Oscar and Ning Rongrong have now hit the Level 80 ceiling, and because they haven't absorbed Soul Rings, their exact levels remain unknown.

Yang Wei and Qin Shuang have respectively reached Level 79 and Level 76; both are now top‑tier Soul Saints and among the strongest combatants within the Soul Saints.

Even Feng Xiaotian has just reached Level 80, though that came from a one‑level soul power reward from this Tidal Body Forging; purely in terms of soul power increase, he is one of the biggest improvers among Yang Xiong's eight companions, nearly catching up with Oscar and Ning Rongrong.

As for Huo Wu and Shui Bing'er, both have also seen huge soul power gains, and they had already reached Level 70 during the Sea God's second examination, but since they haven't absorbed Soul Rings yet, their exact levels are unclear.

So, within the whole team, Ning Rongrong, Oscar, Feng Xiaotian, Shui Bing'er, and Huo Wu all need Soul Rings, and even elder brother Yang Wei, now at Level 79, will need a Soul Ring as soon as he passes the Fourth Examination.

In contrast, Tang San's party also has impressive soul power levels; Tang San has reached Level 77, and Xiao Wu Level 76.

However, Tang San falls far short of the original work; due to differences in soul bones and the second awakening of his martial soul, his seventh Soul Ring is merely an ordinary Ten‑thousand‑year Soul Ring, and even his eighth may not be able to absorb a Hundred‑Thousand‑Year Soul Ring, making the effect of Tidal Body Forging noticeably weaker, and at least he cannot endure as long as in the original.

As for the other four, Dai Mubai and Yu Tianheng have reached Level 70, and likewise lack Soul Rings.

Zhu Zhuqing and Dugu Yan are now at Level 67 and Level 69 respectively, very close to the seventh Soul Ring.

At this moment, a hint of doubt appeared in Yang Xiong's eyes; according to the original story, everyone would be granted an extra divine‑gifted Soul Ring after completing the trials, but that premise requires Tang San, the Sea God's Inheritor.

Currently, none of Yang Xiong's group have obtained the Sea God Ninth Trial, and it's uncertain whether the Sea God will award another divine‑gifted Soul Ring.

Based on the soul power levels of Ning Rongrong, Oscar and others, without obtaining Soul Rings it will be hard to pass the Sea God's Fifth Trial.

After thinking for a while, Yang Xiong spoke: "First let's figure out how to help Shui Bing'er and Huo Wu obtain Soul Rings; later we'll find a way to complete the Fourth Examination. Meanwhile everyone should rest for a bit; after consecutively passing the relevant trials, everyone's nerves are too taut, so it's best to relax."

The others, hearing Yang Xiong's words, all went to Haima City to recuperate.

Yang Xiong carefully examined his martial soul and Soul Rings, especially the blood‑red eighth Soul Ring; not only does it exude immense pressure, but when he probed it with his spirit power, he discovered eight golden patterns within the ring.

At that moment Yang Xiong rejoiced; the eighth Soul Ring's age had reached 800,000 years, meaning his ninth Soul Ring should be able to absorb soul beasts of the million‑year grade.

After acquiring the eighth Soul Ring, he also obtained two decent soul skills.

Eighth Soul Ring Skill One: Asura Divine Fury – channel all his strength into a single forward strike; the force multiplies countless times, shattering the air, delivering a ranged attack imbued with Asura killing aura, ignoring the enemy's defense, capable of destroying heaven and earth.

Eighth Soul Ring Skill Two: Asura Blood Prison – when activated, it feels as if an Asura possesses him, creating a massive blood‑red realm spanning several hundred meters; within this realm he reigns supreme, the enemy's spirit power and soul power are halved, while his own abilities double, allowing him to slaughter any foe unless the foe's spirit power exceeds his.

When Yang Xiong saw these two soul skills, he was somewhat stunned; Asura Divine Fury is a pure Power‑type attack skill with a killing aura, pushing his strength to the limit, usable both in melee and at range, essentially maximizing his martial soul's traits.

By contrast, Asura Blood Prison is a mental skill with domain characteristics, even bordering on a control skill; its power is formidable, especially its lethal effect on enemies.

More importantly, the domain seems to be evolving; he feels he has reached the pinnacle of the Killing Domain, and using Asura Blood Prison would almost touch the legendary Asura Domain threshold—a true god‑level domain.

At this moment, Yang Xiong finally focused on the content of the next examination.

Top‑Level Eight Examination, Fourth Examination: Peak Whale‑Shark Battle – assist the Demon Soul Great White Shark clan in repelling the Evil Demon Tiger Whale clan, kill at least half of the Evil Demon Tiger Whales, and severely wound the Evil Demon Tiger Whale King.

Yang Xiong found the examination description odd; logically, given his group's strength and the Demon Soul Great White Shark clan, heavily damaging the Evil Demon Tiger Whale clan shouldn't be too hard, and the trial seems much simpler than in the original, lacking the requirement to kill the Evil Demon Tiger Whale King.

At that moment Yang Xiong was suspicious: could the Sea God truly intend to leave the Evil Demon Tiger Whale clan to his inheritor? Unfortunately, neither he nor Tang San has received the Sea God Ninth Trial, so it seems the Sea God intends to let the Evil Demon Tiger Whale clan off the hook.

Yang Xiong didn't bother with any of that and simply joined Ning Rongrong and the others in leisurely play around Haima City.

Everyone changed into unusually relaxed seaside attire, each exuding an exotic flair.

The girls all donned Sea God Island dresses, their figures on full display, making Feng Xiaotian and the others stare wide‑eyed.

The girls turned into shopping maniacs; after three years of cultivation, they finally relaxed, spending a spree in Haima City, almost trying to buy everything there.

Yang Xiong, together with Oscar and elder brother Yang Wei and two others, also switched to Sea God Island outfits, wearing sunglasses, each sipping fine wine by the sea, sunbathing, and enjoying the sea breeze.

Feng Xiaotian, seeing he had free time, stuck to Huo Wu's side like a goofy husky, ready to be sent anywhere—a loyal lapdog, missing only a wagging tail.

Even Dai Mubai and Yu Tianheng joined Yang Xiong's leisurely group, eating grilled meat and feeling the sea breeze.

Meanwhile, Tang San seemed a bit stirred; even during leisure he trained hard alone, only occasionally strolling with Xiao Wu.

This was the group's basic daytime routine; at night, each went about their own lives.

Yang Xiong spent continuous private time in a room with Ning Rongrong, a rare three‑year stretch of alone time; the two seemed to grow warmer and more intense after being apart so long.

…

(End of chapter)