The yellow Spirit Ring emitted intense energy fluctuations, startling Dugu Feng with its power.
Less than six hundred years—his body had been nourished by the Core Pearl for two years. How could he fail to absorb it?
"Activate your Martial Soul Avatar, then use your Soul Power to guide the Spirit Ring!"
Upon hearing Old Snake's words, Dugu Feng immediately sat cross-legged and willed his Azure Phosphorus Serpent Spirit to manifest.
A diamond-shaped green scale appeared between his brows.
A faint purple hue tinged his eyes.
"Come, my first Spirit Ring!"
A pale violet glow of Soul Power radiated from Dugu Feng's hands.
The glow seemed to exert a powerful pull, drawing the yellow Spirit Ring swiftly toward his body.
When the ring reached above his head, it abruptly descended and shrank into his form.
Scorching energy surged in, instantly flooding every meridian in his body.
Dugu Feng's level-ten Soul Power rapidly circulated, absorbing and refining this blazing energy, converting it into his own Soul Power and cultivation.
He dared not slack off, immersing his consciousness fully into his body to control the absorption process.
"Absorbing a Spirit Ring strengthens your body, meridians, bones, bloodline power, and Martial Soul intensity. At this moment, you must perceive the nature of the Spirit Ring's energy with your entire being—it will benefit your Soul Skill execution!"
Old Snake's voice rang out, reminding Dugu Feng to stay alert.
Dugu Feng focused inwardly, clearly sensing the increasing specks of violet starlight within his Soul Power.
That was the Azure Phosphorus Violet Venom.
Though the venom was fused with his Soul Power, during this unique moment of absorption, he could distinctly perceive it.
As for the pain of absorbing a Spirit Ring beyond his level—it was negligible.
The daily torment of poison outbreaks had already toughened his nerves to an extreme degree. This pain was nothing.
One could say the limit of mental suffering he could endure far surpassed the physical pain threshold.
As long as his body could withstand it, there was no issue.
Moments later, a faint yellow silhouette of a Spirit Ring materialized around Dugu Feng's body.
This was his very first Spirit Ring.
Dugu Feng examined the yellow ring with delight.
The first step on the Path of the Poison King had been taken.
"Azure Phosphorus Violet Venom—Old Snake, my first Soul Skill is Azure Phosphorus Violet Venom, just as expected!"
The remaining wisps of energy in his body slowly merged, solidifying the yellow Spirit Ring until it gleamed brilliantly.
But he had already sensed the Spirit Ring's skill.
His Soul Power had smoothly risen to level twelve—a two-level increase.
Old Snake stared at Dugu Feng as if beholding a rare treasure. He had just absorbed a six-hundred-year Spirit Ring—how could it be as effortless as drinking water?
There wasn't the slightest sign of pain throughout the entire process.
Young Master... have you grown so accustomed to torment?
As he pondered, Dugu Feng completed the absorption. A yellow Spirit Ring now encircled his body, marking him as a one-ring Soul Master.
"Ha!"
Dugu Feng's eyes and hair turned entirely purple, his body cloaked in a violet radiance.
His lips parted slightly, and a puff of purple mist sprayed forth, rapidly dispersing into the air.
The mist twisted and expanded, spreading in all directions.
"Is this the effect of a Soul Skill? After spewing the purple mist, I can perceive it clearly in my mind, controlling it as effortlessly as my own limbs, moving it continuously around."
Under Dugu Feng's control, the Azure Phosphorus Violet Venom eventually enveloped a small rocky hill nearby.
The sizzling sound of corrosion echoed as the hill split into rubble, then further disintegrated into powder.
"Soul Power level twelve, yet you can cover such a vast area with your first use of Azure Phosphorus Violet Venom and maintain conscious control over it. Young Master, you're truly far more capable than that foolish son of mine!" Old Snake praised without restraint.
Dugu Feng felt somewhat speechless—Little Snake wasn't foolish at all.
This flattery was a bit too obvious.
"Old Snake, shouldn't we be looking for the Soul Bone now?" Dugu Feng hadn't forgotten the purpose of this trip.
At the mention of the Soul Bone, Old Snake's expression turned serious.
In Dugu Feng's perception, Old Snake's aura suddenly intensified.
Then he saw seven Spirit Rings flash briefly—yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black—the optimal Spirit Ring configuration.
Old Snake's true cultivation was finally revealed: he was a Soul Saint.
Dugu Feng thought to himself, No wonder my cheap father was so confident Old Snake could retrieve the Soul Bone.
A Soul Saint expert specializing in poison—his lethality was unimaginable.
Old Snake had already activated his Martial Soul Avatar. Like Little Snake, fine scales appeared on his cheeks, and a green diamond-shaped scale marked his forehead. His hair darkened to a deep green.
With a single leap, he landed atop a towering boulder.
"Young Master, no need to rush. Although we're at the edge of Sunset Forest, I've picked up some traces along the way. They won't escape!"
Old Snake had seemed idle during their journey, but in reality, he'd gathered plenty of intel.
"This way!"
Choosing a direction, Old Snake soared ahead.
Dugu Feng, brimming with excitement, channeled Soul Power into his legs while gradually sealing his aura, cautiously following Old Snake.
Over two years of meditation had made his aura eerily snake-like.
Now, with his first Spirit Ring obtained and his Martial Soul significantly strengthened, his entire body felt incredibly light and stealthy during Martial Soul Avatar activation.
The crimson eyes of the two Nine-Section Jadeite snakes coiled around his wrists fixed intently ahead, his right hand gripping his sword, ready to strike at any moment.
The moment they encountered an enemy, it would be a thunderous assault.
After a full half-hour, Old Snake slowed his pace.
Dugu Feng also noticed something amiss—the area bore signs of battle.
Several ancient trees had been cleaved at the waist, and the ground itself was scarred with deep gashes, each as tall as a man.
"A blade-wielding Martial Soul, and a fiercely domineering sword technique at that," Dugu Feng murmured.
"Heh, I already know who holds the Soul Bone. Xiahou Mang has finally shown himself!" Old Snake sounded triumphant.
Dugu Feng remained composed. Xiahou Mang—the name meant nothing to him, and blade-wielding experts were practically nonexistent in Douluo's lore.
He waited for Old Snake to explain.
"Let me enlighten you. The Xiahou family is also a subsidiary sect under the Clear Sky Sect, though weaker than the Four Single Attribute Clans. Their strongest member is a Soul Saint.
Six years ago, when the Clear Sky Sect retreated into seclusion, these subsidiary sects became targets for many factions.
Our side, the Five Element Alliance, and the Ge Family chose to attack the Xiahou family, aiming to wipe them out."
The head of the Xiahou family was the most dangerous target, surrounded and killed in battle.
Instead, it was his inconspicuous younger brother, Xiahou Mang, whose strength was merely at the Soul Emperor level, who suddenly used a Spirit Bone Ability during the breakout and managed to escape.
Who would have thought he'd be found by the Huyan family? In any other place, we wouldn't have the advantage, but here in the Sunset Forest, our serpent-type Martial Souls are far more sensitive.
You know of the Five Element Alliance, right? Fire, earth, thunder, ice, and wind—the earth element is represented by the Elephant Armor Sect's Huyan family, the strongest among them.
But Huyan Lie actually dared to injure Old Scorpion—this time, we must kill him!"
(End of Chapter)