The speed of the Comet Snow Wolf was extremely fast. With one sudden burst, a blazing comet tail appeared behind it.
The icy-blue flames were not true fire, but rather a special manifestation—ice-attributed energy so vigorous it resembled fire itself.
In an instant, the Comet Snow Wolf lunged before Xiao Lin, its abyssal maw snapping down toward him.
"Naïve!"
Xiao Lin made no evasive moves, allowing the Comet Snow Wolf to close the distance in a blink.
But that didn't mean Xiao Lin's reaction speed couldn't keep up.
In fact, having secretly activated his Martial Soul True Body, Xiao Lin's speed already surpassed the Comet Snow Wolf.
He deliberately chose not to dodge—because he wanted to finish the beast in a single strike.
The next moment, Xiao Lin thrust his head straight toward the Snow Wolf's jaws, while his Jade Dragon Staff jabbed into its ribs.
This bizarre action left the Snow Wolf bewildered.
Did this human not even know how to slide aside? Was he really just offering his head up?
Or did he think that flame would burn it to death?
Even if it were ultimate fire, with a bit of time, the wolf could still adapt.
Before that happened, Xiao Lin would already be dead between its teeth.
In less than half a second, countless thoughts flashed through the Snow Wolf's mind.
Then, without hesitation, it bit down.
"Don't!"
From afar, Ye Lingling saw Xiao Lin's action and was utterly terrified.
When she saw him about to die, she cried out in horror, shutting her eyes tightly. She couldn't bear to witness a companion perish before her eyes.
The others, however, thought differently. Xiao Lin had the strongest defense of them all—he must have had his reasons.
And indeed, that was the case.
As the Jade Dragon Staff shattered the wolf's ribs, the "head" it had clamped onto sprouted Mighty Dragon Horns.
In that instant—
Twin rays of light pierced directly through the Comet Snow Wolf's brain and shot into the sky.
In Ye Lingling and the others' vision, one was a golden flame beam, the other an icy-blue freezing beam.
Both were as thick as a thumb, effortlessly blasting through the beast's head.
"Great! Xiao Lin's fine!"
Seeing Xiao Lin alive and firing laser beams, everyone let out the breath they had been holding.
As expected, Xiao Lin favored such bizarre methods of attack.
If the Snow Wolf had been ten meters tall and swallowed him whole, Xiao Lin might've even acted out the Great Sage's legendary feat—ripping his way back out.
He forced open the wolf's maw, pulled his head free, and gulped down fresh air.
"Damn, that stinks!"
Xiao Lin grimaced, then gave Ye Lingling and the others a thumbs-up.
It was all for the delicious meat of the Comet Snow Wolf—that's why he had taken this risk.
He hadn't expected it to work on the first try.
Effective! Easy to use! He loved it! He'd definitely use it again next time!
His external soul bone had already merged back into his body, so the others had no idea how he had done it. But they all understood—Xiao Lin still had hidden cards.
In truth, Xiao Lin could already release those laser beams from his hands or through the Jade Dragon Staff.
The drawback was that it consumed too much soul power and lacked the raw force of his Mighty Dragon Horns.
So normally, he refrained from using it.
The Snow Wolf, its brain pierced through, still tried stubbornly to endure the wound. Yet at last, unwillingness flickered in its eyes before life completely faded.
A pitch-black spirit ring rose from its corpse.
Seeing it, Xiao Lin couldn't help but smile.
He had gone through so much on this journey for the sake of this very ring.
Without hesitation, he sat cross-legged, planted the Jade Dragon Staff before him, and guided the spirit ring with his mental power.
This time, though he knew the staff would help share the impact of the spirit ring's assault, he still dared not underestimate the consciousness of a ten-thousand-year beast.
All the more since this Comet Snow Wolf had cultivated for over twenty thousand years.
In the Consciousness Space
"This isn't good—the Snow Wolf has cultivated for twenty-seven thousand years. Can Xiao Lin really absorb it?"
The Ice Dragon King's face showed concern.
"Relax. If he could withstand the two of us entering him, what's one little wolf?"
The Fire Dragon King immediately countered.
Then, to both dragons' shock—
The Jade Dragon Staff, floating amid the ocean of ice and fire, poured out more than half of its soul power, perfectly dissolving the spiritual and soul power impact that should have struck Xiao Lin.
In their eyes, Xiao Lin's Jade Dragon Staff was far from ordinary.
The Comet Snow Wolf's consciousness was preserved intact and drifted upward, transforming into a star that gleamed in the sky of Xiao Lin's mind.
"Damn awesome! Isn't that what Xiao Lin always says?"
The Ice Dragon King, unable to find words, borrowed Xiao Lin's own phrase.
"Hahaha, of course! This is why we chose Xiao Lin in the first place!"
The Fire Dragon King laughed heartily, realizing Xiao Lin's potential was even greater than they had believed.
Perhaps he really could surpass them… perhaps even obtain the Dragon God's power—surpass the Dragon God itself…
Though the final possibility was still too far for even the Fire Dragon King to imagine.
"I thought Xiao Lin's Jade Dragon Staff was already extraordinary, but it's practically beyond a super divine weapon!"
The Ice Dragon King spoke the truth.
A weapon that could grow, that could protect its master, that could wield countless powers—what else could it be but a super divine weapon?
"We must push Xiao Lin even harder."
"We can't let him fool us with that 'I can't take it anymore' excuse."
The two Dragon Kings exchanged a glance, and in each other's eyes they found the same thought. Both agreed silently.
Poor Xiao Lin—absorbing the ring had been so smooth, he had no idea the dragons were already planning stricter training.
Back in Reality
Tang Ni and the others stood guard around Xiao Lin.
Seeing him absorb the ten-thousand-year spirit ring without even frowning, all four felt chills in their hearts.
A monster—that was what he was.
Fortunately, none of them knew the Snow Wolf's true cultivation, assuming it was around fifteen thousand years.
Only Tang Ni realized it must have been over twenty thousand.
Every time, Xiao Lin shattered her worldview anew.
About fifteen minutes later, Xiao Lin slowly opened his eyes.
Seeing his companions protecting him, he felt a surge of warmth.
"All done. I've absorbed the spirit ring. Thank you, everyone."
His words left the others stunned.
So fast? Was a ten-thousand-year spirit ring really that easy to absorb?
Ye Lingling and the Shi brothers all thought the same, then shook their heads.
Impossible—they themselves had needed over an hour even for lower rings.
"How is it?"
Tang Ni asked with genuine concern, catching Xiao Lin off guard.
But soon, he realized what she was really asking.
"Oh, oh—my fourth soul skill is super powerful."
"Comet Star Mark Slash!"
"It's my first offensive soul skill—but its abilities are far more than just attack."
End of Chapter 166