The group arrived at a cave.
With no one around and shelter from lightning, it was the perfect place for Xiao Wu to self-consolidate her spirit ring.
Inside the cave, Tang San and Tang Ni guarded the entrance, while Xiao Lin stayed by Xiao Wu's side, using his sharp, fiery eyes to observe her closely.
Now that Xiao Wu's identity was revealed, Tang Ni felt somewhat lost.
She had always believed that soul beasts and soul masters were mortal enemies.Yet Tang Hao and the Blue Silver Emperor, Tang San and Xiao Wu—these real-life examples showed her that there might be another path.
Even so, when Xiao Wu began consolidating her spirit ring, Tang Ni couldn't help feeling uneasy.
Under normal circumstances, when a soul beast in human form self-consolidates a spirit ring, they must be in an absolutely safe environment.
Otherwise, failure would be the least of the problems—danger to life was a very real risk.
By doing this, Xiao Wu was placing her very life in Xiao Lin and the others' hands.
This kind of deep trust and emotional reliance was something Tang Ni felt she could never do—not even for Xiao Lin, who was known to bring great fortune to soul beasts.
On the other hand, Tang San didn't think that way. Worried that Xiao Wu might feel afraid, he used his life force to stimulate the surrounding lightning grass to grow.
With lightning grass absorbing nearby electrical charge, the cave naturally contained less charge, making it less likely to be struck by lightning.
Inside the cave.
Xiao Lin watched carefully as Xiao Wu began the process.
After a while, it seemed Xiao Wu relaxed her mind and officially started consolidating her spirit ring before Xiao Lin's eyes.
As a soft pink energy leaked from her body, Xiao Lin immediately recognized it as Xiao Wu's true aura—likely the same type of aura that a Titled Douluo would be able to detect.
However, the aura was extremely faint. Without his fire eyes, even Xiao Lin wouldn't have noticed the pink spiritual flow.
Within this aura was also a significant trace of the scent from the immortal herb Yearning Heartbroken Red.
Xiao Lin was secretly delighted—if not for the ring consolidation process, this aura would never have leaked.
This meant no one would easily detect Xiao Wu's true identity in the future.
Though he still wondered whether Bibi Dong, endowed with a divine inheritance, might be able to detect her.
Very soon, however, he had no time to be distracted.
Xiao Wu's self-consolidation process fully captured all his attention.
In Xiao Lin's view, Xiao Wu sat cross-legged as the pink aura condensed in mid-air into the shape of a Soft Bone Rabbit.
That was her true form——and her martial soul.
The rabbit then suddenly opened its eyes, blinked mischievously at the stunned Xiao Lin, and covered its mouth as if giggling.
Shortly after, it began condensing the fifth spirit ring.
In the original timeline, Xiao Wu's fifth ring spirit ability was Soft Bone Lock. Without Xiao Lin's interference, that was what she would have formed.
But now, she aimed to condense a clone similar to Rinbo.
This clone would not only be capable of using all of Xiao Wu's abilities but could also swap positions with her and take damage on her behalf.
Additionally, it would retain lightning-enhancement effects and sensory abilities from formations.
With so many powerful traits combined, even Xiao Lin doubted she could fully succeed and had told her in advance:
As long as she managed to include even part of those abilities, that would be enough. She shouldn't force herself too hard.
For example, position-swapping could be optional, or damage-sharing could be partial.
After all, this was just an ordinary 30,000-year-level ring.
Expecting so many heaven-defying abilities was likely too ambitious.
In Xiao Lin's perspective:
At first, only a faint pink glow emitted from Xiao Wu, but soon, the light intensified, bright and scorching.The air around her distorted, as though an invisible force was taking shape.
Streams of radiant, multicolored energy appeared from the void, swirling around Xiao Wu like living ribbons, intertwining.
Eventually, a vortex of light formed at her side.
Through Xiao Lin's fire eyes, he saw it clearly—this was the purest form of natural energy.Nearly on par with chaotic power itself.
"This is the soul beast's application of heavenly law after sensing tribulation—a reflection of their comprehension of world rules, and indeed, purest energy."
In his mind, the Ice-Fire Dragon King spoke, offering insight.
Xiao Lin understood: these energies were drawn by Xiao Wu's soul power and arranged through her spiritual force, gradually forming countless luminous points.
These points were like the building blocks of soul power arrays Xiao Lin once explained to Tang San.
Whether offensive, defensive, amplifying, or spiritual-gathering formations…
Just like zeros and ones forming everything in a digital world——
These soul power "0s and 1s" made up the foundation of a spirit ring.
Finally, a beam of light shot from the rabbit's brow, arranging the luminous points in specific patterns.
Gradually, the points aligned into glowing sequences.
When the natural forces of heaven and earth responded, the ring began forming.
It felt like a contract with nature itself, completely integrated with the world and unbreakable by external force.
Slowly, a black ring finally descended beside Xiao Wu as she opened her eyes.
Her gaze shone with determination and joy.
"Brother Lin, I did it! Amazing, right?"
Xiao Wu wore a smug grin, her eyes sparkling with intelligence.
"How do you feel? What's it like to self-consolidate a spirit ring?"
Xiao Lin lit up, bombarding her with eager questions.
"Did you get exactly what you wanted?"
"Huh!?"
Xiao Wu blinked. She had paid attention, but couldn't put the feeling into words.
"Self-consolidation requires three key elements,"came Ice-Fire Dragon King's calm voice in Xiao Lin's mind."Sufficient soul power, bloodline force support, and acknowledgment from natural laws."
"I know that already…"Xiao Lin rubbed his temples helplessly. Ah, Xiao Wu…
Still, he had memorized most of the luminous point arrangement.
He felt he could try recreating it in the future.
While his memory remained sharp, Xiao Lin took out paper and pen and began noting everything.
Though this observation might not be precise and he might record errors, perhaps he could find patterns later.
After all, don't computer commands also encode specific meanings?
"Brother Lin, Xiao Wu, are you done?"
Hearing her success, Tang San rushed into the cave like an excited lackey.
"Third Brother, I did it!"
Xiao Wu clenched her fist proudly. "A fully functional invisible clone! It can use my spirit abilities, share part of my damage, and even swap positions with me once!"
The clone wasn't completely invisible—anyone with no spiritual training would never perceive it.
Meaning only Spirit Douluo-level experts or higher could barely detect its outline.
Even so, this spirit skill was heaven-defying——
Completely beyond standard limits.
Could the clone create further clones?Would all consumption be borne by Xiao Wu?Could multiple clones carry all damage?
Though it wasn't a percentage-based scaling skill, it rivaled 100,000-year techniques—close to divine abilities.
As long as Xiao Wu had enough soul power and her true form remained strong, the potential was immeasurable.