Poseidon's sudden appearance froze the previously harmonious atmosphere. Li Xun and the three girls stared in astonishment at the High Priest of Seagod Island who had appeared out of nowhere, unsure of her intentions.
Poseidon gazed at Li Xun and the three girls with a peculiar expression. She could clearly sense the three young girls' admiration for the boy, yet there was also a subtle undercurrent of rivalry among them. As someone with little experience in matters of the heart, she found it difficult to comprehend what exactly these people were thinking.
"Greetings, Senior Poseidon." Li Xun signaled to the three girls before taking the lead in paying respects. "Might I ask what important matter brings you to seek us out?"
Although he had some suspicions, Li Xun pretended to know nothing.
Noting their proper etiquette, Poseidon nodded slightly and turned her wrist to reveal a golden pearl. "Any Soul Master whose trial level reaches black grade will be granted one opportunity for a God-given Soul Ring when they first reach a bottleneck in Soul Power level."
"The God-given Soul Ring requires no hunting of Soul Beasts, and will bestow upon you the most needed Soul Skill, as well as the maximum Spirit Ring limit your physique can endure."
A God-given Soul Ring?
Zhu Zhuqing was taken aback, looking with surprise at the golden sphere in Poseidon's hand.
Ning Rongrong and Dugu Yan appeared utterly amazed. While they had learned about gods from Li Xun, they never imagined deities could be powerful enough to defy the rules of how Soul Masters obtain Spirit Rings.
Feigning astonishment, Li Xun paused for a long moment before saying, "Zhuqing, quickly thank Senior Poseidon."
Snapping out of her daze, Zhu Zhuqing hurriedly bowed to Poseidon.
Poseidon glanced at Li Xun with approval in her eyes. With a flick of her finger, the golden sphere instantly shot from her hand and vanished into Zhu Zhuqing's body. "Sit and absorb it. Remember, the longer you endure, the greater the benefits you'll receive."
As the golden sphere dissipated, a pale golden mist emerged from Zhu Zhuqing's body, transforming into rippling halos that slowly expanded. Fine beads of sweat gradually appeared on her forehead as two yellow, two purple, and one black Spirit Rings materialized at her feet one by one.
Having come to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School with Li Xun since childhood, Zhu Zhuqing had consumed Whale Glue until it no longer had any effect. Although her Spirit Rings didn't exceed standard specifications, each far surpassed the limits achievable by Soul Masters at her level, with her fifth Spirit Ring coming from a Soul Beast over forty thousand years old.
But this still wasn't enough.
Agony twisted Zhu Zhuqing's features. This was her chance—perhaps her only opportunity to slightly keep pace with Li Xun's progress.
Though her current cultivation level was considered genius-tier for her age, this was only among ordinary people.
Now Li Xun was approaching level eighty, and from Zhu Zhuqing's understanding of him, he likely already knew Seagod Island's rules. His return was probably aimed at obtaining this God-given Soul Ring.
Meow~!
The Nirvana Nine-tailed Cat slowly materialized, crouching painfully across Zhu Zhuqing's lap.
Like Luo Sanpao, Zhu Zhuqing's Martial Soul possessed remarkable spirituality and shared damage with its master. However, unlike Luo Sanpao, the Nine-tailed Cat primarily provided enhancement abilities rather than manifesting physically for attacks.
Tiny droplets of blood slowly seeped from Zhu Zhuqing's pores—every moment bringing fresh torment.
Forty-eight thousand years... Fifty thousand years... Fifty-three thousand years...
Sensing the energy she had gained, Zhu Zhuqing calculated inwardly, persisting until the Spirit Ring's quality reached fifty-five thousand years before feeling unable to hold on any longer.
Suddenly, a thought flashed through Zhu Zhuqing's mind: 'Nine Lives Nirvana!'
Unlike other Martial Souls that grant Soul Masters unique abilities and formidable offensive powers, although Nirvana Nine-Tails had given her nine chances at resurrection, it had not allowed her to stand out among the continent's top-tier Martial Souls.
Although she would grow stronger with each resurrection, her environment was too sheltered. With the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School and Li Xun around, she had always been well protected.
The only time she felt any pressure was during the Continental Soul Master Competition, but Zhu Zhuqing felt as if she had just gone for a leisurely stroll, leaving no impression at all.
She didn't want to be a mere ornament, nor did she want to be a burden!
But no matter how hard she trained, the gap between her and Li Xun continued to widen bit by bit. This shouldn't be the case!
My nine lives shouldn't just be a simple means of survival. In such an environment, even if I were to live out my natural lifespan, I wouldn't use up all my remaining lives. Why not use them to grow stronger? To strive to catch up to him, even if only from afar.
In that instant, Zhu Zhuqing made her decision. The Spirit Ring, which had been on the verge of stopping its increase in years, suddenly surged again—fifty-seven thousand...
Li Xun and the others had been curiously guessing how many years Zhu Zhuqing's Spirit Ring would reach this time, but when that burst of golden light shone once more, they were all stunned.
Even Poseidon was somewhat puzzled.
This wasn't the first time she had bestowed a God-given Soul Ring as a reward, but she had never seen anyone like Zhu Zhuqing, who, after reaching her absorption limit, forcefully pushed beyond it again.
"Could it be that this girl wants to surpass her limits?" Though surprised, Poseidon felt a deep sense of admiration for Zhu Zhuqing.
For a Soul Master to go further, talent alone is not enough; opportunity and hard work are equally crucial. If one becomes complacent with a bit of talent and doesn't put in the effort, they will at most become an ordinary powerhouse.
And the God-given Soul Ring is precisely such an opportunity. It is far more direct than a Soul Master hunting Soul Beasts on their own—the greater the pain one can endure, the greater the reward.
As time passed minute by minute, more and more blood seeped from Zhu Zhuqing's body.
Both Poseidon and Li Xun's expressions grew increasingly grave.
"This won't do. If she continues forcing it like this, this girl will die!" Poseidon's expression was stern, but there was nothing she could do.
Interrupting a Soul Master during Spirit Ring absorption is forbidden—a long-standing rule in the Soul Master world. Although the Sea God had granted her the ability to bestow God-given Soul Rings, he had not given her the authority to revoke them.
Li Xun could feel his palms sweating. He carefully wiped his hands on his back but had no idea what to do next.
He had already thought of the passive ability of Zhu Zhuqing's Martial Soul, but its effects had never been verified, and no one knew exactly how it worked.
"Brother, what's wrong with Zhuqing?" Ning Rongrong, noticing Li Xun's tension, asked softly.
Li Xun smiled at Ning Rongrong. "Don't worry, everything's fine."
Ning Rongrong had never seen Li Xun look so tense before. Hearing his attempt to comfort her only deepened her confusion. Just as she was about to press further, an abnormal change occurred with Zhu Zhuqing.
Boom—
Zhu Zhuqing's body began to swell rapidly. Before anyone could react, she exploded into a mist of blood.
"Ah—!!!"
Ning Rongrong and Dugu Yan were so horrified by the sight that they screamed, then immediately clamped their hands over their mouths. Tears streamed down their faces as they stood frozen, trembling from head to toe. Their legs gave way, and they collapsed to their knees.
A genius had fallen.
Poseidon stared blankly at the scene, unable to snap out of his daze for a long time.
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