Chapter 186: Annihilation, Another External Spirit Bone?
Lin Mo gripped the Solar Storm Sword as he plummeted from midair, its tip aimed directly at the Crimson Golden Phoenix below.
Using the tremendous momentum of his descent, the crimson gold blade pierced straight through the Crimson Golden Phoenix's torso without resistance.
Scorching white flames instantly erupted from the sword, burning through its flesh and bones from the inside.
The Crimson Golden Phoenix released a shrill, mournful cry.
Its entire body immediately began convulsing violently and uncontrollably.
Before long, crimson gold flames ignited across its battered body for the third time.
The third Nirvana!
"Sure enough, there really is a third one!"
Lin Mo's eyes narrowed.
He immediately pulled out the Solar Storm Sword and retreated at high speed.
Within the blazing flames, the Crimson Golden Phoenix's body rapidly began to reconstruct itself.
Its shattered wing recovered.
The wound piercing through its torso healed at a speed visible to the naked eye.
However, this time, the flames burning around its body were noticeably dimmer.
They were no longer as dazzling or scorching as during the previous two Nirvanas.
Moreover, although its aura had recovered, there was an obvious instability within it.
Lin Mo stared intently at the Crimson Golden Phoenix being reborn within the flames.
There was solemnity in his eyes, but even more excitement.
Judging from the intensity of the flames released during this third Nirvana, this was most likely its final one.
That realization caused an uncontrollable surge of excitement to rise in Lin Mo's heart.
If Charizard could obtain the Crimson Golden Phoenix's Nirvana talent through its sixth spirit ring...
Then the improvement to both him and Charizard would be enormous.
Lin Mo was genuinely covetous of this Crimson Golden Phoenix's Nirvana talent.
Under normal circumstances, a Spirit Beast with only sixty thousand years of cultivation would never have been able to endure for so long against Dugu Bo, a Rank 94 Titled Douluo.
Yet the Crimson Golden Phoenix had repeatedly escaped death beneath Dugu Bo's attacks by relying solely on its three Nirvanas.
It had even remained extraordinarily ferocious, repeatedly attempting to drag Lin Mo and the others down with it before dying.
If it had not behaved so recklessly and had instead focused entirely on escaping with the help of its Nirvana talent, keeping it here would not have been easy.
This alone demonstrated just how powerful its innate Spirit Ability was.
"It looks like this should be its limit."
Dugu Bo's voice came from nearby.
He had already stabilized himself.
The enormous body of the Jade Phosphor Serpent once again coiled through the air, cutting off the Crimson Golden Phoenix's path of retreat.
Ye Linyuan looked toward the Phoenix and said, "Three Nirvanas. This beast's talent is indeed astonishing, but this is as far as it goes."
Lin Mo tightened his grip around the Solar Storm Sword.
Scorching white flames flowed continuously across the blade.
"Senior, let's finish this quickly."
Dugu Bo acknowledged him.
The enormous Jade Phosphor Serpent immediately lunged forward and once again attempted to coil around the Crimson Golden Phoenix.
This time, however, the Crimson Golden Phoenix was clearly exhausted.
It barely managed to flap its wings and evade, but several wind blades released by Lin Mo immediately blocked its path.
The Crimson Golden Phoenix's movements faltered.
That brief pause was enough.
The Jade Phosphor Serpent had already reached it.
Its enormous body wrapped tightly around the Crimson Golden Phoenix once again.
Dugu Bo constricted with tremendous force.
Crack!
The sound of bones breaking could clearly be heard.
The Crimson Golden Phoenix struggled desperately, opening its beak and spitting crimson gold flames onto the Jade Phosphor Serpent in an attempt to burn Dugu Bo away.
But this time, its weakened flames were no longer capable of easily driving back Dugu Bo's poison as before.
The venom rapidly began corroding its body.
Lin Mo spread his dragon wings.
His entire body transformed into a streak of crimson light as he dove straight toward the restrained Crimson Golden Phoenix, raising the Solar Storm Sword once again.
At the same time, his fourth spirit ring lit up.
The Teleportation effect of Space Battlefield activated.
Lin Mo abruptly disappeared from midair.
When he reappeared, he was already beside the Crimson Golden Phoenix.
Sword light flashed.
The crimson gold blade swept directly toward its throat.
The Crimson Golden Phoenix tried to dodge.
However, Dugu Bo's venom had already spread throughout its body, making its reactions far too sluggish.
It barely managed to tilt its head, narrowly avoiding an immediately fatal strike.
But the scorching white flames on the Solar Storm Sword erupted the instant the blade cut into its throat.
The flames directly incinerated the last traces of life remaining within it.
The Crimson Golden Phoenix's struggles abruptly ceased.
Before its death, its golden flame filled eyes stared fixedly at Lin Mo.
The malice within that gaze was almost tangible.
But very quickly, the final trace of light within its eyes disappeared completely.
Its enormous body went limp.
There was no longer any sound.
A deep black spirit ring slowly rose from the corpse.
The appearance of the spirit ring meant that the Crimson Golden Phoenix was finally dead.
Seeing this, Dugu Bo let out a breath of relief.
The enormous body of the Jade Phosphor Serpent gradually faded.
After canceling his Martial Soul True Body, Dugu Bo descended back to the ground.
His complexion was somewhat pale.
Using his eighth Spirit Ability while maintaining Martial Soul True Body had consumed a considerable amount of spirit power.
Ye Linyuan immediately stepped forward.
The Nine Heart Begonia in his hand shone brightly as waves of healing energy flowed into Dugu Bo's body.
"It's nothing. I merely consumed too much spirit power."
Dugu Bo waved his hand before turning toward Lin Mo.
"Kid, your sixth spirit ring couldn't have a more solid foundation than this."
On the other side, Lin Mo also withdrew from the Self-Martial Soul Fusion Technique.
Crimson Blood Flame Dragon Transformation ended.
His body returned to normal, while the dragon wings and Dragon Tail behind him disappeared.
Immediately afterward, an intense wave of weakness swept through him.
Lin Mo let out a muffled groan.
His legs went weak, and he nearly collapsed onto the ground.
Fortunately, Ye Lingling and Dugu Yan had already been prepared.
The two immediately stepped forward and supported him, allowing Lin Mo to steady himself.
The Self-Martial Soul Fusion Technique consumed an enormous amount of spirit power.
And the Solar Storm Sword, the specialized form of Corona Light that could only be used during the Martial Soul Fusion Technique, consumed even more.
After today's actual battle, Lin Mo had personally experienced the differences between Solar Storm Sword and Corona Light.
The most obvious difference was their form.
Corona Light was an area attack Spirit Ability focused on overwhelming explosive power.
Solar Storm Sword, on the other hand, was a weapon type Spirit Ability.
In terms of raw power against a single target, Solar Storm Sword surpassed Corona Light.
However, its area of effect damage was somewhat inferior.
As for spirit power consumption, because Solar Storm Sword could only be used while Lin Mo maintained the Self-Martial Soul Fusion Technique, its overall consumption was far greater than that of Corona Light.
Even though Lin Mo and Charizard had each already formed an initial Spirit Power Vortex within their bodies, they still could not maintain such a state for very long.
It was only because Dugu Bo and Ye Linyuan were both present to protect him that Lin Mo had dared to fight so aggressively.
Otherwise, once he exhausted too much spirit power within the Star Dou Great Forest, the next person to fall into danger would be himself.
"Are you alright?"
Ye Linyuan looked at Lin Mo with concern.
"I'm fine. I just consumed a little too much spirit power."
Lin Mo took a deep breath and slowly straightened himself.
With a thought, Charizard let out a low roar and walked over before lying beside him.
Lin Mo reached out and patted Charizard's neck.
Then he sat down cross-legged and began adjusting his breathing.
Charizard followed his example and also began recovering beside him.
Dugu Bo and Ye Linyuan exchanged glances.
Neither of them spoke to disturb the two.
Instead, they stood on either side of Lin Mo and Charizard, remaining vigilant as they carefully observed the surrounding forest.
This was still the core area of the Star Dou Great Forest.
The commotion caused by their battle had been considerable.
There was no guarantee that it had not attracted the attention of other Spirit Beasts.
Time slowly passed.
Half an hour later, Lin Mo opened his eyes.
He let out a long breath.
The exhaustion visible on his face had already faded considerably.
The recovery effect of the Spirit Power Vortex was truly astonishing.
In only half an hour, Lin Mo had already restored a portion of his strength.
Although he was still far from his peak condition, it was enough for him to absorb the spirit ring.
"Have you adjusted your condition?" Dugu Bo asked.
Lin Mo nodded.
He stood up and walked toward the corpse of the Crimson Golden Phoenix.
The deep black spirit ring still hovered quietly above it.
"Let's begin."
Charizard understood.
It opened its mouth and inhaled.
The black spirit ring slowly drifted toward Charizard before finally merging into its body.
Lin Mo immediately sat cross-legged, closed his eyes, and focused his mind.
The absorption process began.
Violent energy erupted from the spirit ring and surged into Charizard's body.
Through the spirit power connection shared between Charizard and Lin Mo, that enormous energy was immediately transmitted into Lin Mo as well.
The energy was incomparably vast.
It far surpassed that of any spirit ring Lin Mo had absorbed before.
After all, a sixty thousand year spirit ring was already at an age that the vast majority of Spirit Masters would normally only consider for their eighth spirit ring.
Even with Lin Mo's current physical fitness, absorbing such a high quality spirit ring of this age still placed considerable pressure on him.
He focused his mind completely.
Bit by bit, he guided the violent energy through his body, refining and absorbing it.
However, when the spirit ring had been roughly halfway absorbed, Lin Mo suddenly sensed something unusual.
A familiar aura was mixed within the spirit ring's energy and was surging toward him.
This aura was extremely distinct.
It was completely different from ordinary spirit ring energy.
Instead, it carried an extraordinarily pure and scorching fire attribute.
Lin Mo's heart stirred.
This sensation...
It felt somewhat familiar.
When he absorbed his second spirit ring, he had also felt a special qi and blood power rushing toward his heart.
And this time, the strange flame energy seemed to be surging toward his back.
Lin Mo's eyelids twitched.
He had already entered the critical stage of absorbing the spirit ring and could not afford to lose concentration.
But one thought still surfaced uncontrollably in his mind.
It couldn't be...
Could this be another external Spirit Bone?