The burning sensation in Yang Yunhai's chest surged higher and higher. It flowed up through his trembling heart into his throat, making him feel as if his throat were on fire, like he might spew flames the moment he opened his mouth.
But it wasn't stopping there.
His heartbeat thundered like drums, pumping the heat upward, pressing against his mind, rushing into his eyes. His ears pricked with needlelike pain, his nasal cavity seared unbearably, and his eyes blazed like furnaces. The fire coursed through every part of his body, spreading into his five viscera and six bowels.
The agony made Yang Yunhai's body twitch uncontrollably. "Boom!" Lightning rained down one after another, pouring immense energy into him. Coupled with the soul ring's own violent influx of power, his body was filled to overflowing, energy spilling out uncontrollably.
"Zzzt zzzt…" Golden arcs of lightning leapt constantly from his body, filling a three-meter radius around him like a sea of thunder.
Above, the sky's pale lightning serpents thrashed wildly, dazzling flashes turning the land into daylight.
Watching the terrifying sight of thunder above and lightning below, Dugu Bo felt his scalp prickle and instinctively stepped back, anxiety twisting his insides.
"Xiao Hai, hold on…" His face was full of worry.
In this situation, he dared not interfere. Soul ring energy was surging in, heavenly thunder was striking from outside. Any interference might break the delicate balance, throw the energies into chaos, and cause Yang Yunhai's body to explode on the spot without leaving a trace.
Time ticked on.
The clash of ice and fire energies birthed vitality, accelerating recovery. The life energy within his soul bone sustained him. As the minutes passed, Yang Yunhai felt his body in a constant cycle of destruction and regeneration. His meridians toughened, his muscles tightened, his spiritual power grew as his will fought through the torment. He could feel his body transforming.
It was as if his flesh had reached a balance between ruin and rebirth. The pain remained, but it did not worsen.
Gradually, whether it was numbness setting in or his willpower and spirit growing through the suffering, Yang Yunhai began to adapt. Yet every lightning strike from the heavens was like a boulder shattering the calm surface of water, jolting him into sharper agony.
Inside the soul bone space, Yiner lay on the ground, silver teeth clenched, her whole body glowing with golden light.
Each bolt of thunder ripped through her with searing pain, but she also sensed a strange vitality woven into it, helping her recover. She didn't understand the cause, but she knew it must be a good sign. She forced herself to hold on, not to lose consciousness.
At the same time, she kept sending her voice into Yang Yunhai's mind, assuring him she was fine and could keep going.
It was her way of proving she was unharmed — and giving him encouragement.
Hearing Yiner's voice, Yang Yunhai's own heart steadied. He no longer let himself be distracted, instead urging himself on with her encouragement as he battled the torment.
Time slipped by. Eventually, the drifting black soul ring began to contract and shift. Slowly, it slid onto the Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul in his palm, then sank down to rest on the outermost ring.
Yellow, yellow, purple, black — four rings pulsed rhythmically, glowing in harmony.
The lightning arcs spraying wildly from his body gradually stilled. Though his veins bulged and his face stayed flushed red, at least he no longer convulsed, and his expression was no longer twisted with pain.
All of this showed Dugu Bo that he had passed the danger.
'He succeeded in absorbing the soul ring?' Relief flickered in his chest, though his eyes drifted upward with confusion.
"Rumble…" Thunder roared again. Another bolt split the sky, crashing down.
"What? Didn't he finish absorbing the soul ring? Why is lightning still striking?" Dugu Bo muttered in confusion.
Inside, Yang Yunhai understood better. His heart stirred in surprise.
'The energy is pouring into the soul ring… could it be? Is this soul ring able to grow stronger through thunder itself? Just like Tang San's fifth soul ring in the original story, able to evolve as cultivation rose? Is this… a life-bound soul ring?'
'Is it because I drank the Thunder Hell Prison Vine's sap, or is it because of the thunder attribute tied to my transmigrated soul? Either way, it's causing this change!'
Thoughts surged as the lightning rained down, before slowly subsiding.
At that moment, clarity pierced Yang Yunhai's mind. His spiritual power suddenly rioted, drawing soul power into his eyes until they swelled at the brink. "Zzzt zzzt!" Gold light seeped out from his closed eyelids, thin lightning arcs dancing across his lashes.
'My eyes…' Gritting his teeth, unable to suppress it any longer, Yang Yunhai snapped his head up and opened his eyes wide.
Two golden bolts erupted, blasting skyward, piercing the clouds, thundering as arcs crackled in the heavens.
"What the—! His eyes shoot lightning!?" Dugu Bo's jaw dropped.
The next moment, his eyes burned hot with excitement as he stared at Yang Yunhai.
'Could this be… an external spirit bone of the eyes? That's why Xiao Hai just went through such a strange transformation?'
Yang Yunhai exhaled in relief. The violent energy had been vented, leaving him light and refreshed.
"Xiao Hai, did you just gain an external spirit bone?" Dugu Bo strode closer, examining carefully. "Your eyes turned gold!"
Then the glow faded. He blinked in confusion, changing his words, "No… they changed back. What's going on?"
"Honestly, I don't know either." Yang Yunhai shook his head as he stood.
"Try it again, see if you can use it a second time?" Dugu Bo suggested.
"Alright." Yang Yunhai nodded, calming his mind and fixing his eyes on the distance. He pushed his spirit into them.
In an instant, his pupils shone golden, his blue eyes turning gold. His vision transformed: countless motes of white light floated in the air, linked at times by crackling bolts of lightning.
A thought stirred, and he turned his gaze on Dugu Bo. Shock hit him immediately.
'Well now, Grandfather Dugu isn't bad. Should I consider helping him remarry someday?'
"I'll be damned, they really turned gold." Dugu Bo was stunned, then hurried, "Try shooting lightning again!"
"I'll try." Yang Yunhai nodded. He tilted his head skyward, focused his spirit into his eyes, and let soul power flood them. At the brink, countless arcs of lightning danced within his gaze.
"Zzzt!" Two golden beams lanced out, splitting the sky.
"I'll be damned, it works! There really are external spirit bones of the eyes in this world?" Dugu Bo muttered, still dumbfounded.
Yang Yunhai blinked, withdrawing the power, the glow fading back to normal. He shook his head. "It doesn't feel like a spirit bone to me. More like some kind of innate ability."
'Could it be tied to the Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew, fused with the thunder mutation?' he wondered.
"Something like this really exists!?" Dugu Bo exclaimed, then added, "Maybe it has to do with the sap you drank?"
"Very possible." Yang Yunhai nodded.
(End of Chapter)
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