Chapter 135: The Surprise of the Six-Thousand-Year Soul Ring
Ning Fengzhi looked at Dai Yao with a complex expression and said seriously:
"Dai Yao, although I am not your family, as your elder, I must advise you that using your own life force to accelerate the improvement of your power is dangerous. There is a great risk to your life."
Sword Douluo, although he had some concerns about Ning Rongrong's feelings toward Dai Yao, was always clear-headed when it came to important matters. He added:
"Kid, I know you carry heavy grudges, but when it comes to cultivation, impatience won't help. Rongrong has been away from home for a year, and she has only raised her spirit power by five levels, from level 27 to level 32. That's already quite impressive."
"You may seem to have gained tremendous power, but the price you'll have to pay in the future will make you regret it deeply."
Dai Yao felt warm in his heart upon hearing the concern from Ning Fengzhi and Sword Douluo.
These two had no personal connection to him, and they could have easily stayed silent, but they still spoke out of genuine care for him. Although their assumption about his cultivation method was incorrect, Dai Yao appreciated their kindness.
However, when he heard that Ning Rongrong's spirit power had only reached level 32, he was genuinely surprised.
After all, the Elite Soul Master Tournament for all of the continent's top academies was only a few months away. With her spirit power being only level 32, it would be difficult for Ning Rongrong to perform well in the competition.
In the original story, some of the Shrek students had already become Soul Masters by this point.
Ning Rongrong should be close to that, but Dai Yao recalled that he had already helped Dugu Bo eliminate his poison, and that the Ice and Fire Eyes were now his. Therefore, the plot where Tang San was captured by Dugu Bo no longer existed.
Without the immortal herb boosting them, the strength of Shrek's Seven Monsters had been greatly reduced. That was why Ning Rongrong's spirit power was only level 32.
He smiled and explained, "Sect Master Ning, Sword Douluo, Bone Douluo, I did not use any dark methods as you might think. My spirit power has all been cultivated gradually by myself."
Bone Douluo, Gu Rong, gave him a doubtful look, speaking sternly, "I've been cultivating for so many years and have never seen anyone improve this quickly. If it's not some dark technique, what is it?"
Sword Douluo and Ning Fengzhi both cast skeptical glances at Dai Yao.
Dai Yao let out a helpless smile, saying, "Everyone, under normal circumstances, I wouldn't be able to cultivate this quickly. The reason for my progress is due to the soul rings I absorbed."
"Soul rings? How could a soul ring increase your spirit power so much?..." Sword Douluo began to speak, but suddenly a flash of realization crossed his mind. A terrifying thought appeared, and he looked at Ning Fengzhi and Bone Douluo, seeing their eyes also filled with shock, clearly having arrived at the same terrifying possibility.
Looking at Dai Yao's second and third soul rings, which were clearly thousands of years old, Ning Fengzhi swallowed, trying to control his shock, and asked in a low voice:
"Dai Yao, how old is your third soul ring?"
"Six thousand years."
"Six thousand years?!"
The three of them cried out in surprise and exchanged astonished glances.
"Six thousand years? That's far beyond the usual limit of three thousand to four thousand years for a third soul ring!"
Even Sword Douluo, usually as calm as a deep lake, now displayed clear shock on his face. He leaned forward slightly, as if trying to see Dai Yao more clearly.
"This six-thousand-year soul ring... how many levels of spirit power did it give you?"
"Five levels."
After Dai Yao absorbed his third soul ring, his spirit power had skyrocketed from level 30 to level 35, and he was only a few days away from reaching level 36.
"This six-thousand-year soul ring shouldn't be able to increase your spirit power by five levels. Kid, what kind of soul ring did you absorb?" Sword Douluo asked, perplexed.
As a Title Douluo, he was more than familiar with the energy contained in soul rings. The energy of a six-thousand-year soul ring should not have been enough to increase a Soul Master by five levels.
Dai Yao replied flatly, "It's the soul ring of a Dark Gold Terror Claw Bear."
Sword Douluo seemed to hesitate, muttering the name "Dark Gold Terror Claw Bear" under his breath. It sounded familiar, as though he had heard of it before.
Ning Fengzhi, in shock, exclaimed, "Could it be the Dark Gold Terror Claw Bear that, even at a thousand years, is said to rival ten-thousand-year soul beasts?"
"Yes, Uncle Ning."
The three of them from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School exchanged astonished looks. Thanks to Ning Fengzhi's reminder, they now recalled the terrifying nature of the Dark Gold Terror Claw Bear.
A six-thousand-year Dark Gold Terror Claw Bear's strength could rival that of many ten-thousand-year soul beasts, and its soul ring quality was almost on par with a ten-thousand-year soul ring.
They couldn't fathom how Dai Yao, who was still in his thirties in terms of spirit power, had been able to absorb such a soul ring, one that far exceeded normal limits.
But now that they knew it was a Dark Gold Terror Claw Bear soul ring, they could understand how Dai Yao had gained five levels in spirit power.
After a long silence, Sword Douluo asked incredulously, "How did you do it?"
Dai Yao showed a reluctant expression and cupped his hands, replying, "I'm afraid I can't disclose that, Your Excellencies, Sect Master Ning."
This secret concerned the Chaos Green Lotus and must not be revealed.
Moreover, Dai Yao trusted the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School because of their honor and integrity. He knew they would not force him to reveal any secrets. If it were anyone else, they likely would have tried to extract his secrets by force.
In the original story, when the Titan Giant Ape exerted pressure on Tang San, pushing him to the brink of collapse, and Tang San had no choice but to release the Haotian Hammer to alleviate the pressure, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School knew the secret of Tang San's twin martial souls, yet they never revealed it.
This was why Dai Yao trusted them so much.
Ning Fengzhi, no longer able to maintain his usual elegant demeanor, stared at Dai Yao with wide eyes filled with shock.
"Dai Yao, my young friend, if your third soul ring is a six-thousand-year soul ring, then are you planning to hunt a ten-thousand-year soul beast for your fourth soul ring?"
Hearing this, both Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo exchanged looks of astonishment. They had no doubt that Ning Fengzhi's guess was accurate.
After all, Dai Yao had already absorbed a soul ring that could rival a ten-thousand-year soul beast for his third ring, so he likely had the constitution to absorb a ten-thousand-year soul ring.
Especially Sword Douluo, whose soul ring configuration, despite being formidable, was not optimal. His fifth soul ring was still a thousand-year-old ring.
But Dai Yao, at such a young age, was already capable of absorbing a ten-thousand-year soul ring. It left Sword Douluo feeling quite conflicted.
"Yes, Uncle Ning." Dai Yao confirmed Ning Fengzhi's guess.
What he did not tell them was that for his fourth soul ring, he planned to absorb a twenty-thousand-year soul ring.
Ning Fengzhi gave Dai Yao a long, meaningful look and sighed, "If your fourth soul ring is indeed a ten-thousand-year soul ring, then just revealing the soul ring will likely shock the entire continent."
Seeing the shocked expressions on Ning Fengzhi and the others, Dai Yao couldn't help but think, no wonder Tang San was able to act so elegantly when he showed off.
Once his fourth soul ring, a ten-thousand-year ring, appeared, all eyes would undoubtedly be on him.
Ning Fengzhi leaned on his cane, gazing up at the sky, and quietly reflected, "With Dai Yao's talent, who knows what kind of waves he will stir on this continent."
"He gave me the Qiluo Tulip not only to repay me for saving his life, but also to join the Spirit Hall without any attachments."
"What a good kid. It's a shame that he has to join the Spirit Hall."
He turned to Dai Yao and said, "If the Star Luo Empire's Dai family knew of your talent, they might even change their ancestral rules."
Dai Yao snorted coldly, "Hmph, no matter how they try to amend things now, it's too late. When I'm strong enough, I will return to the Star Luo Empire and take revenge for my mother's death!"
(End of chapter)
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