The Fallen Siren's lair was located in an abyss deep on the seabed. Inside, there was a vast expanse of pitch-black seawater and space, but the surrounding cave walls were dotted with numerous faintly glowing crystal stones, providing a sliver of light to this dark space, preventing it from falling into true dead silence.
Upon entering the cave, Tian Meng quickly produced a thin layer of shed silkworm skin from somewhere and draped it over Shen Hanyu. Shen Hanyu used his soul power to expel the seawater within, half-kneeling on the ground and gasping heavily.
"Hanyu, are you okay..."
Tian Meng said cautiously.
"Ugh—"
Shen Hanyu suddenly vomited a mouthful of black blood, his face emitting a strange flush. He continued gasping for air without responding.
Tian Meng let out a low sigh, expanding the shed skin it had left from its previous transformation even further. It continuously drew in oxygen from outside through the properties of this shed skin and infused it inside, while gently injecting its own energy into Shen Hanyu's body in the softest way possible to help repair his internal injuries.
Both it and Shen Hanyu had miscalculated. They hadn't expected the opponent's speed and strength to be so astonishing—able to close in directly in just an instant. Tian Meng didn't even have time to warn him.
A strike from a hundred-thousand-year soul beast, even with Shen Hanyu's astonishing physical toughness, had still caused considerable internal injuries. External wounds could heal easily according to a soul master's self-recovery speed.
But internal injuries were another matter. Some internal injuries damaged the foundation and could even leave lifelong sequelae. Improper handling might affect lifespan and future cultivation.
Behind Shen Hanyu, a blood-red soul ring had slowly emerged from the Fallen Siren's corpse, emanating a captivating glow in the quiet environment that was soul-stirring.
After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Shen Hanyu's rapid breathing gradually returned to normal. The strange flush on his face slowly faded, and he coughed up another mouthful of black blood laced with ice shards. His complexion returned to normal, though it was still slightly pale.
"Hanyu, how are you?"
Tian Meng asked anxiously. It had just examined Shen Hanyu's body. Part of the ultimate ice from the Fallen Siren had entered Shen Hanyu's body during that instant of contact, causing significant damage to his internal organs.
Shen Hanyu coughed lightly and said:
"I'm fine. Mainly, the opponent was too fast. That strike just injured my internal organs, and the ultimate ice's adhesion is too strong. Otherwise, it wouldn't have been this troublesome..."
"Cough cough... A hundred-thousand-year soul beast, indeed, none are simple. Just taking one hit head-on nearly sent me out of this beautiful world..."
Hearing Shen Hanyu say this, Tian Meng finally breathed a sigh of relief and said somewhat resentfully:
"You nearly scared this bro to death just now. The last time this bro was this scared was the time before that."
Shen Hanyu nodded and still explained.
"I was busy mobilizing soul power to wear down that strand of ultimate ice to avoid greater damage. Almost all my attention was diverted there. Sorry, Tian Meng."
Tian Meng let out a low sigh, no longer in the mood to dwell on the topic, and said:
"As long as you're okay, this bro won't say more. Next time something happens, tell this bro in advance. Don't make this bro so worried and scared—it's terrifying for a silkworm..."
Shen Hanyu hummed in agreement, finally standing up slowly and looking at the soul-stirring hundred-thousand-year soul ring before him. He couldn't help but swallow.
"Hanyu, you're still injured. In a bit, this bro will help you seal thirty percent of its energy. Absorb it slowly when you're better. As for the soul shock, this bro will lend a hand. This bro believes in you. Go for it!"
Taking a deep breath, Shen Hanyu agreed, then quickly sat cross-legged on the shed skin that had now hardened. He slowly used his soul power to draw in this blood-red soul ring, which countless soul masters regarded as a lifelong dream.
Violent and icy energy madly poured into Shen Hanyu's body. The ultimate cold began coursing through his meridians. Chilly air started emanating from Shen Hanyu's body surface, and a thin layer of frost had already appeared on him.
Tian Meng methodically helped Shen Hanyu regulate his meridians, sealing a portion of the vast and frenzied energy within his body to be fully absorbed whenever Shen Hanyu was ready.
Shen Hanyu, meanwhile, absorbed the energy from the soul ring with all his might.
By conventional logic, an ice-attribute soul master absorbing a soul ring of ultimate ice was an extremely heaven-defying and dangerous affair. One mishandling could lead to instant death on the spot. But Shen Hanyu had no such concerns.
He had previously absorbed the power of the Icefire Dragon King in the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well—that was power surpassing ultimate ice and ultimate fire. Not only was he unaffected, but he had completely controlled it instead. Now, though this ultimate ice was troublesome, he already had a method. It would just take some time to fully resolve, and his own ice attribute might very well transform during this period, stepping into the realm of ultimate ice.
With Tian Meng's help, Shen Hanyu had it much easier. The reason hundred-thousand-year soul rings were so hard to absorb was largely that a hundred-thousand-year soul beast's soul was fully fused with its soul bone and such. In the process of absorbing a hundred-thousand-year soul ring, one not only faced violent energy but also had to constantly guard against the frenzied resentment invading from the opponent. One slip could lead to an abyss of doom. The best outcome might be successful absorption, but becoming an idiot with severe soul damage. Worse, it could mean accompanying the opponent in death...
In this era, the cultivation system was incomplete. Many Titled Douluo lacked the courage and strength to obtain a hundred-thousand-year soul ring. Even if the soul ring was delivered right to them, they would be torn apart by its terrifying energy, making it not worth the loss.
After all, in the original story, Sword Douluo's ninth soul ring was just over ninety thousand years, and it nearly cost him his life. The absorption difficulty of a hundred-thousand-year soul ring, which was on a completely different level from a ninety-thousand-year one, was thus evident.
Time passed slowly in this deathly silent atmosphere. Shen Hanyu remained like an old monk in meditation, sitting in place, absorbing the energy from the soul ring. The ice on his body had gradually melted, the soul power flow within him had become gentler, and his entire aura had stabilized.
In the mental sea, Tian Meng let out a long breath upon seeing this, wiping the non-existent sweat from its forehead and looking satisfied as Shen Hanyu absorbed the soul ring.
At the moment just before completion, a terrifying resentment suddenly surfaced in Shen Hanyu's mental sea. It tried to wreak havoc but was immediately suppressed by the prepared Tian Meng.
Tian Meng twisted its massive body toward it and said with a grin:
"This bro has been watching you for a long time, baby. Hehe, come into this bro's arms quick... Kie kie kie..."
Then, with a fling of its huge body, Tian Meng directly crushed the entire Fallen Siren into pure soul power to nourish Shen Hanyu's mental sea.
Tian Meng let out a comfortable moan, then twisted its butt and returned to its usual nesting spot, muttering:
"This makes it much easier for Hanyu. It's safe here too. Hanyu probably needs about a week to finish absorbing. This bro can catch up on some sleep. It's been nearly a hundred years without proper rest. Not saying more, sleep sleep..."