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Ning Tian sat cross-legged, guiding the energy of the Thunderous Hell Vine soul ring into his body. The moment the energy surged within him, he sensed an overwhelming soul vibration, far stronger than that of a typical ten-thousand-year soul beast. Even with his preparation, absorbing the twenty thousand-year Thunderous Hell Vine soul ring took him three exhausting days.
Once the absorption was complete, Ning Tian's presence shifted subtly yet profoundly. Before, he had been like a sheathed blade; calm, restrained, and enigmatic. Now, his aura radiated sharpness and aggression, as if the sword had been unsheathed, ready to unleash its full destructive potential.
As soon as Ning Tian opened his eyes, Jiansheng rushed forward, his voice brimming with excitement. "Ning Tian, let me see that fourth soul ring! This is the first time in history someone's had a ten-thousand-year fourth ring!"
Ning Tian offered a faint, knowing smile. "When we get back, the others will want to see it too. I'll show everyone then."
Jiansheng grumbled, "Such a hassle," but his eagerness got the better of him. He grabbed Ning Tian's hand, ready to fly back at full speed. Before they could take off, Ning Tian raised a hand. "Wait. Let's not waste this."
With a flick of his wrist, he released thousands of Gold-Devouring Insects to consume the Thunderous Hell Vine's remains. As the insects devoured the corpse, their forms began to evolve.
Jiansheng watched, intrigued, as some of the insects shimmered with three colors; gold, silver, and gray, where they had previously borne only two. This transformation was the result of Ning Tian's efforts over the past six months, feeding them rare plants from the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, excluding the immortal herbs. After consuming the Thunderous Hell Vine, even more insects displayed the three-color pattern, growing fiercer and more menacing.
For a moment, Jiansheng's curiosity shifted from the fourth soul ring to Ning Tian's second martial soul, the Gold-Devouring Insects. He even mused about asking his daughter, Zhu Qing, to secure Ning Tian's talents for the family lineage.
The journey back took less than a day, a stark contrast to the three days they'd spent searching for the soul beast. By the next evening, they arrived, and the girls; Ning Rongrong, Zhu Zhuqing, Ye Lingling, and Zhu Qing paused their training to greet them.
Ning Rongrong was the first to approach, her eyes sparkling as she latched onto Ning Tian's arm. "Ning Tian, show us your fourth soul skill!" she demanded, though her gaze lingered more on his newly enhanced, striking appearance than on the promise of the skill itself.
Ning Tian chuckled softly.
"Stop stalling and show me," Jiansheng insisted, barely containing his anticipation.
"Very well," Ning Tian replied, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Rongrong, step back. You too, Teacher, Zhuqing, Lingling. Senior, would you assist me in testing this fourth soul skill?"
As the girls retreated, Ning Tian lifted his right hand. A surge of green light pulsed from his palm, and the Azure Bamboo Cloudswarm Sword materialized in his grip. The blade looked much the same as before, but now faint golden arcs of lightning danced across its surface, crackling with a dangerous energy.
What truly stunned the onlookers were the four soul rings that emerged around him: yellow, purple, purple, and black. They had anticipated he might choose a ten-thousand-year fourth ring, but seeing it confirmed it, sending a ripple of awe through the group. The sheer pressure of his soul power, far beyond that of an ordinary Spirit Ancestor, forced them to step back even farther.
"Are you ready, Senior?" Ning Tian asked with a smile.
"Of course. Go ahead," Jiansheng replied confidently. As a Titled Douluo, he assumed his soul power defense alone could handle whatever Ning Tian threw at him, especially since the second martial soul wasn't in play.
Ning Tian's grin widened. He tapped the ground lightly with his foot and leaped into the air. His fourth soul ring flared, and with both hands gripping the sword, he descended like a bolt of golden lightning. The blade plunged into the earth five meters from Jiansheng, and the surrounding area erupted into a sea of electricity. Golden thunderbolts rained from above, forming a ten-meter-wide cage of lightning that trapped Jiansheng inside.
"It's a wide-range group attack skill," Jiansheng observed, shielding himself with soul power. "The power's impressive, stronger than some Spirit Kings' fifth skills. And….what the—!" His analysis cut off as the golden lightning enveloped him. Despite his Titled Douluo defenses, the arcs pierced through, targeting not his martial soul but the evil attributes within his soul rings. Years ago, in pursuit of stronger skills, he had absorbed rings tainted with evil, and now the Evil-Repelling Divine Thunder exploited that weakness.
With his soul power disrupted, the lightning struck Jiansheng directly, leaving him scorched and reeling. Had he been a mere Spirit Saint, the attack might have been lethal.
When the lightning faded, Jiansheng stood disheveled; clothes torn, face blackened, hair frizzed and smoking like a charred puffball. Ning Rongrong and Zhu Qing burst into giggles, while Ye Lingling and Zhu Zhuqing hid small smiles. Ye Lingling swiftly summoned her Holy Heart Begonia to heal him.
Under Jiansheng's withering glare, Ning Tian suppressed a laugh and spoke with calm. "That was my fourth soul skill, Thunder Devour. It's a group attack that can double as a defense, and its range will grow with my strength."
Of course that's not all. What truly makes him excited is that he has awakened a domain; The Sword Domain.
It allows him to split his sword into eight additional flying swords, each as powerful as the original. That's nine in total, and each can unleash the Evil-Repelling Divine Thunder once a day. For now, it's just the beginning. As his martial soul evolves, the number of swords will double with each stage, reaching seventy-two at its peak.
In the demonstration, he had used only one sword's thunder. Had he unleashed all nine, the devastation would have been staggering; a fact he kept to himself.
Jiansheng, now recovered, narrowed his eyes. "There's more to Thunder Devour, isn't there?"
Ning Tian nodded. "Though it's a two-thousand-year skill, its thunder has a unique trait: it counters all evil attributes. Senior, your martial soul isn't evil, but some of your soul rings are. That's why it broke through your defenses."
The group fell silent, processing the implications. Many soul masters, including some of the girls, had absorbed evil-attribute soul rings for power. Ning Tian's ability gave him an edge over most opponents on the continent; a chilling advantage, especially given his already formidable skill.
"What's your soul power now?" Ye Lingling asked, sensing his strength surpassed her forty-third level.
"Level 45," Ning Tian replied smoothly.
Their surprise deepened, and he explained, "The Thunderous Hell Vine was an exceptional plant-type soul beast. Despite its age, absorbing it was a challenge. I also refined portions of the Fiery Apricot and Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass to boost my soul power."
Shifting topics, he addressed the group with quiet confidence. "Our secluded training has borne fruit. Now, it's time for the next step."
"Finally, we're leaving!" Ning Rongrong cheered, eager for a change after months in isolation.
"Where to?" Zhu Zhuqing asked, her gaze fixed on Ning Tian.
His smile turned mysterious. "The Great Soul Arena, for team battles."
Ning Rongrong frowned. "But even with Teacher Zhu Qing, we're only five. We'd need two more, and that means facing Spirit King teams."
"Teacher won't fight," Ning Tian countered. "The seven of us will." His third soul ring glowed, and his body turned translucent green. With a flicker, three identical clones appeared beside him, each wielding a real Azure Bamboo Cloudswarm Sword crackling with golden lightning. Unlike before, the swords were solid, a testament to his martial soul's evolution.
Ning Tian, now clad in four identical black robes, nodded. "With my clones, we have seven; myself, the three clones, Rongrong, Zhuqing, and Lingling. Teacher, you'll lead us."
"I'll handle it," Zhu Qing agreed, smiling, while the girls beamed with excitement.
Later, Jiansheng pulled Ning Tian aside. "You're not just planning regular soul battles, are you?"
Ning Tian's eyes gleamed with quiet resolve. "Perceptive as always, Senior. I intend to enter us in life-and-death battles, to forge us in true danger."
Jiansheng nodded, unsurprised. He knew untested soul masters remained fragile, no matter their power.
...…...
The next morning, they prepared to depart. Ning Tian checked on Ah Yin, the Blue Silver Emperor, who had awakened but remained weak. He fed her some blood before leading the group out. To avoid familiar faces, they bypassed Heaven Dou City for Las City, the nearest major hub.
Upon arrival, Ning Tian treated them to a lavish meal; a rare luxury after months in the wild. That night, they won their first soul battle with ease. Over the next seven days, they settled into a rhythm: training by day, fighting in the arena by night, and meditating afterward.
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