A day had passed since Bai Xian'er had been left near Nuoding City.
Meanwhile, in the heart of the academy, Li Shen sat with Ling Meimei and Xiao Yu, chatting as they discussed their Martial Spirits. Xiao Yu's Martial Spirit was the Golden Dragon—powerful and noble. Ling Meimei possessed the Spirit Fire Phoenix, a top-tier flame-based spirit. Both were incredibly rare and signaled bright futures.
But even among them, something about Li Shen stood apart.
Ling Meimei smiled at Li Shen, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "You know… your Martial Spirit is strange. Ever since I awakened my Spirit Fire Phoenix, only my grandfather and Young Master ever gave me such pressure. But you… you feel even heavier. It's like your presence alone weighs on my soul."
Xiao Yu nodded solemnly. "Exactly. There's no record of a spirit like yours in any ancient scroll—not even in the restricted archives."
Li Shen didn't reply immediately. He leaned back, eyes calm but deep. "That's because my Martial Spirit is god-level. It's not something that appears in the mortal realm often," he said humbly, not boasting, but merely stating fact.
Now they understood why he had been made a Holy Son. There was something sacred and terrifying about him—a pressure that only those with heavenly destinies carried.
"But enough about me," Li Shen said, shifting the topic. "Let's talk about your future spirit rings.
Since you two have already consumed the Golden Pill, your spirit power has become more refined. That also means your future rings will need to match the standard."
He gestured to Bai Xian'er, who stood quietly by his side, her presence light yet commanding.
"Take Bai Xian'er, for example," Li Shen said calmly. "After consuming the golden pill, her first spirit ring… was a 1,100-year-old beast ring."
"Impossible!" Ling Meimei and Xiao Yu exclaimed in unison, eyes wide with disbelief.
They knew the fundamentals of spirit cultivation well—a first spirit ring rarely exceeded 500 years, with even the most daring spirit masters barely managing 800 to 900 years before risking death. But Bai Xian'er… had broken that limit entirely.
"That should've killed her from soul backlash alone…" Meimei muttered, trembling slightly. "She should've been torn apart by the strain…"
Li Shen gave a faint, knowing smile. "Are you referring to the so-called 'Ten Core Spirit Theories'? Then ask yourself—would you really trust a theory proposed by someone who's been stuck at level 29 his entire life?"
Ling Meimei blinked in confusion. "Level 29… waste?"
"Yes," Li Shen said calmly. "Think about it—two spirit masters awaken their Martial Spirits. One gains a beast-type spirit, the other a weapon-type. Obviously, the one with the beast-type will have more inherent physical power, right?"
He folded his arms. "So why should they both be limited to the same age for their spirit rings? Isn't it ridiculous to apply the same rule to people with completely different foundations?"
He folded his arms behind his back. "And yet people still blindly follow those outdated limits. Even more absurd—someone stuck at level 29 for years, still clinging to theories that clearly never worked for him. Why trust such teachings?"
"You're saying… the theories are flawed?" Meimei asked, a slow understanding dawning in her eyes.
"Yes," Li Shen said. "The truth is, spirit rings below 10,000 years are restricted mostly by physical tolerance. But if a spirit master's innate potential is strong—especially those born with powerful beast Spirits or trained from a young age—they can bear much older rings."
"And after 10,000 years?" Xiao Yu asked curiously.
"After that point," Li Shen explained, "it's no longer just about strength. It becomes a battle of willpower, soul resonance, and mental fortitude. Even if a spirit master has the physical power, but if their mental state isn't aligned, spirit shock will kill them."
"Of course," he added, glancing at them both, "there are exceptions. Some spirit bones—like Wisdom-type Skull Bones—can strengthen the mind and allow masters to surpass their limits. But few understand this, and even fewer dare to challenge it."
"So in short…" Meimei murmured, her voice quiet but awed, "those who think strictly by the 'book'… are the ones who stay stuck."
Li Shen nodded. "No. What I meant is—the world is ever-evolving. One should keep up with the world and find new and innovative ways."
He stepped forward, looking them both in the eye. "You two aren't ordinary anymore. You've not only consumed my golden pill, but both of you possess top-tier martial spirits—Spirit Fire Phoenix and Golden Dragon. Your foundations are stronger than Bai Xian'er's."
He turned to Ling Meimei first. "With your bloodline and current cultivation, you can safely absorb a 2,300-year-old spirit ring for your next breakthrough."
Then he turned to Xiao Yu. "As for you—thanks to the Golden Dragon's innate dominance and the enhancements from the pill… you can handle up to a 3,000-year-old spirit ring without issue."
Both girls looked at each other, shocked speechless.
Li Shen's voice was soft, yet it carried undeniable confidence. "It's up to you—either believe me and break the so-called false limits, or remain like the rest… shackled."
The room fell silent as his words lingered. One by one, they looked away, thoughts racing.
Meanwhile, Ling Yuan, who had just been speaking with the Golden Core Douluo, overheard the conversation and turned, narrowing his eyes thoughtfully. The Douluo, sensing the shift, stepped forward.
"He's right," Golden Core Douluo said, his tone low but firm. "From a young age, my physique was better than others—perhaps due to my Golden Crocodile King Martial Spirit."
He glanced back at his own path and smiled faintly. "How could I ignore something so obvious, so true?"
Ling Yuan nodded. "It's not just us—this entire world has been ignoring what's right in front of them."
"It's as if Li Shen was sent by the heavens," the Douluo murmured, awe glinting in his eyes. "Not just powerful in martial strength, but in wisdom and vision. He shattered what we thought were unbreakable laws."
Ling Yuan nodded slowly, her voice soft but resolute. "Maybe that's why he was chosen as the God Inheritor—not just because of his powerful Martial Spirit, but because of his insight… and his wisdom too."
Beside her, Xiao Minwu—also known as the Golden Core Douluo—nodded in agreement. The weight of realization hung heavily between them.
"In a world ruled by tradition and fear," Xiao Minwu said quietly, "he dares to question everything… and gives us the courage to do the same."
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