The sun set and the moon rose; in the blink of an eye, it was already the early hours of the morning.
At this time, the fluctuations of spirit power radiating from Muyang's body gradually stabilized.
"Level 87 Spirit Douluo? Seems like two self-condensed three-hundred-thousand-year rings still aren't enough!"
Sensing the dramatic overall improvement of his body functions and the surging spirit power within, Muyang couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
By using the Ring Condensation Method to form the Iceflame Saint Shadow Martial Soul's third spirit ring at three hundred thousand years, his level had risen from mid-84 to level 87 Spirit Douluo — an increase of about two and a half levels.
Compared to the god-bestowed eighth ring of the Icefire Immortal Jade ginseng, which was of the same age yet had raised his spirit power by over three and a half levels, this self-condensed ring's gain in levels was clearly lower.
Muyang understood why. The higher the spirit power level, the more energy it required to advance further.
Moreover, after condensing his dual Yin-Yang Complementary Soul Cores, his spirit power's quality had leapt again, which in turn made each level-up require even greater accumulation.
Judging by this rate of growth, Muyang foresaw that unless he risked everything with an extreme challenge when condensing the Iceflame Saint Shadow's fourth ring, even another three-hundred-thousand-year self-condensed ring would not be enough to push him to level 90 quasi-Titled Douluo. At best, it would bring him to level 89.
"Forget it, three rings it is. Anyway, I still have five slots left after that. Reaching Level 99 peak is absolutely no problem."
Shaking his head, Muyang made up his mind.
Then his gaze shifted to the Iceflame Saint Shadow Martial Soul's third ring, gleaming with three golden lines.
"Third Soul Skill — Iceflame Arrow!"
In the next instant, the third spirit ring flared. Soul power surged, and one hundred and eight iceflame arrows radiating fierce coldness condensed before him.
"Fall!"
At a single thought, under the guidance of his spiritual power, the one hundred and eight arrows turned into streaks of icy-blue light, streaking through the night sky at extreme speed toward the mountainside of a distant secondary peak.
"Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!"
Violent soul power fluctuations erupted, and a dense series of detonations rang out in the quiet night. From afar, Muyang saw the mountainside collapse as though bombarded by rocket artillery, a massive portion crumbling away.
Next, the unsupported mountain tip slanted, countless boulders and soil tumbling down the ravine with remnants of vegetation.
"Not bad, not bad. Compared to the secret-art version of the Iceflame Arrow, this soul skill version's power is at least ten times stronger!"
Seeing the destructive force of the third soul skill, Iceflame Arrow, Muyang nodded in satisfaction.
After all, it was a three-hundred-thousand-year strong-attack type skill. Its offensive might could never be compared to the original secret art.
For now, perhaps, with the multiple hundred-thousand-year spirit bones he already possessed, he did not lack overwhelming attack methods. The third skill did not drastically raise his personal upper limit.
But once the Iceflame Saint Shadow Martial Soul gained its seventh ring and thus Spirit Avatar, the situation would be completely different.
Most Spirit Avatars allowed all skills below the seventh to be used without cooldown. Iceflame Arrow was only the third skill — it would benefit from this effect.
By then, a three-hundred-thousand-year strong-attack skill fired in continuous bombardments — who could withstand it?
"Tsk~, why hasn't the sun come out yet?"
Glancing up at the crescent moon hanging over the night sky, Muyang muttered longingly for sunlight.
With his spirit power rising, the critical point of Solar Body Refinement had been raised again.
But without sunlight, he couldn't cultivate Solar Body Refinement. Without cultivating Solar Body Refinement, he couldn't rapidly strengthen his body. Without rapidly strengthening his body, how could he continue condensing higher-aged rings?
If possible, Muyang wished he could bask in the sun's brilliance at all times.
"Shame I can't fly out into space with my strength yet~."
Clicking his tongue, Muyang thought regretfully.
Two days later, after cultivating Solar Body Refinement to her own critical point, Shui Bing'er added her god-bestowed eighth ring and advanced to eight-ring Spirit Douluo.
With Solar Body Refinement, her firm foundation, and the four high-aged limb bones she had refined, her physique was greatly enhanced. She successfully condensed a god-bestowed eighth spirit ring surpassing two hundred thousand years, her spirit power stepping into level 83 Spirit Douluo.
Although it might sound like the bias of a lover, in Muyang's eyes, Shui Bing'er's god-bestowed eighth ring was well over two hundred thousand — at least two hundred and fifty thousand years.
But due to the special nature of god-bestowed rings, the Ice Phoenix Martial Soul's god-bestowed eighth ring only granted her one skill, focused on control.
Eighth Soul Skill: Eternal Freeze Ray. With a one-second charge, she released an extremely fast ice-attribute energy beam.
Unless the strength gap was vast, any struck target would be forcibly frozen for three seconds. Moreover, if the struck target's spirit power quality was weaker than Shui Bing'er's when she unleashed Eternal Freeze Ray, then without any outside interference, the victim would remain permanently frozen until the cold consumed them to death.
At first glance, the permanent-freeze effect triggered by higher-quality spirit power seemed a bit situational — but in reality, it was not.
Because the trigger was spirit power quality, not level.
Generally in combat, a spirit master's level couldn't be artificially boosted — but the quality of spirit power could.
Shui Bing'er's meditation method was extraordinary, her Ice Phoenix Martial Soul was top-tier among top-tier martial souls, and with a Soul Core, her spirit power quality far exceeded her peers. Even against opponents several levels higher, her Eternal Freeze Ray could still trigger permanent freezing.
If she added the amplifications from the Blue Jade Ascending Dragon Ginseng and her Spirit Gold Battle Armor, then across the entire Douluo Continent's spirit master world, among the nine-ring Titled Douluo, those who could withstand one Eternal Freeze Ray from her without falling into permanent freeze would be extremely few.
As for the compulsory three-second freeze inflicted on any hit target — if Shui Bing'er went all out, forget weaklings like Chrysanthemum and Ghost, even Golden Crocodile at level 98 would be forcefully controlled for three seconds.
As for Qian Daoliu? That one was most likely beyond her control.
Though their level gap was only one level, in truth the difference was immense.
As the Angel God's servant, who had reached demi-godhood via the Angel's Eight Trials, Qian Daoliu's strength may have had some "water content," but he was not comparable to an ordinary Level 99 Limit Douluo of later generations.
Golden Crocodile, however, was another matter. With the Soul Core system's emergence, this so-called level 98 peak Douluo might not even defeat a later-era level 97 Super Douluo with twin cores.
After all, in later times, especially after the Spirit Ascension Platform appeared, which high-level Titled Douluo didn't possess hundred-thousand-year rings?
For additional chapters
Versatile mage {40 chapters}
Douluo Dalu:This Soul Master is to Weird {30 Chapters}
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