Chapter 9: Absorbing the Soul Ring, The Next Plan
As the simulation ended, Dugu Bo's consciousness slowly returned to his body.
His tightly shut eyes gradually opened, his face carrying the dazed look of someone waking from a long dream.
Everything that had happened today felt almost unreal—like a dream.
A cold mechanical voice echoed in his mind:
[Distributing rewards…]
The moment the voice faded, an overwhelming pressure suddenly filled the air. The intelligent herbs within the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well trembled uncontrollably under this terrifying aura.
A streak of blood-red light appeared out of nowhere before Dugu Bo.
It was the 100,000-year soul ring he had chosen.
The crimson ring floated in midair, glowing like fresh blood. Beside it was a book.
Dugu Bo grabbed the book, gave it a quick glance, then stored it inside his storage soul tool.
His attention quickly returned to the soul ring, his expression turning excited.
He hadn't expected this so-called system to actually create a 100,000-year soul ring out of thin air—something that normally only came from a 100,000-year soul beast.
Without hesitation, he first checked the poison formation he had set up around the area. After confirming it was intact, he prepared to absorb the soul ring.
Absorbing a 100,000-year soul ring was no trivial matter. It wouldn't be as simple as absorbing a ten-thousand-year one—it would take time.
And since he was alone, with no one to guard him, any interruption—whether from a human or a soul beast—could be disastrous.
If the process were interrupted, serious injury would be unavoidable. It could even damage his soul.
So caution was necessary.
Dugu Bo took a deep breath and sat cross-legged.
Behind him, the phantom of his martial soul—the Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor—slowly appeared, releasing a summoning force toward the floating soul ring.
The soul ring responded, drifting above his head.
In an instant, a crushing pressure descended, as if mountains were collapsing onto him. Even the air around him seemed to solidify.
The soul ring hovered briefly… then suddenly descended, locking onto his martial soul.
A violent surge of power poured from the soul ring into his body.
Fortunately, his body had already been strengthened by his previous eight soul rings to an incredible level.
Though the power was tyrannical, it was only painful—not unbearable.
All he needed to do now was fully absorb it.
Time passed.
The Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well fell into silence once more.
Only the red and blue springs occasionally rippled…
The sun gradually moved westward.
By the time the horizon turned faintly red—
the 100,000-year soul ring had completely disappeared.
But something had changed.
The scales of the Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor had become thicker and sturdier.
Two cyan horns had grown on its once bare head, with faint lightning flickering across them.
Thin whisker-like tendrils now flowed around its neck.
Aside from lacking claws, it now resembled a flood dragon from ancient myths.
Suddenly, Dugu Bo opened his eyes.
A sharp gleam flashed within them.
Feeling the surging soul power inside his body, he burst into laughter.
After absorbing the soul ring, his power had risen from Level 90 to Level 92, approaching Level 93.
In the next moment—
he soared into the sky.
Green soul power erupted from his body as his figure expanded rapidly.
In the blink of an eye, his human form transformed into a massive serpent over 30 meters long.
Its emerald scales shone brilliantly, hard as jade.
Two cyan horns crowned its head, crackling with lightning.
Green poisonous mist coiled around its body.
This was his Martial Soul True Body—Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor!
Nine soul rings circled him:
Yellow, Yellow, Purple, Purple, Black, Black, Black, Black, Red!
The ninth ring—the blood-red 100,000-year soul ring—was the most dazzling of all.
Suddenly—
The red soul ring burst with violent light.
The horns on the serpent's head glowed with intense cyan energy.
Dugu Bo roared:
"Ninth Soul Skill—Heavenly Azure Annihilation Thunder!"
A vast wave of cyan lightning shot forward, striking a nearby hill.
BOOM—BOOM—BOOM—
Thunder roared as lightning rained down.
In an instant, dust filled the air, and the ground shook violently.
Soul beasts near the core of Sunset Forest panicked, fleeing in all directions, fearing they would be hunted.
Chaos spread across half the forest.
Moments later, the dust settled.
The hill was gone.
In its place remained only charred craters, as if the land had been bombarded endlessly.
And this—
was with Dugu Bo holding back.
If he had used his full strength, even a larger mountain wouldn't have survived.
Seeing the result, even someone as composed as Dugu Bo couldn't suppress his excitement.
After all—
very few Titled Douluo possessed 100,000-year soul rings.
He only knew of a handful:
Tang Hao
Bibi Dong
Qian Daoliu
Golden Crocodile Douluo
Bo Saixi
And Tang Chen, the King of Slaughter
Among the countless soul masters in the world, only these few possessed such rings.
That alone showed how rare they were.
Others had to hunt 100,000-year soul beasts to obtain one.
But he didn't.
With this system, he could obtain them effortlessly.
Even martial souls.
"This really is an incredible thing…"
"I wonder when the next simulation will be…"
As if responding to his thoughts, the mechanical voice sounded again:
He could simulate once per month
The chance could be saved for one month
If unused, it would be overwritten
The simulated events had a high probability of actually happening
Longer simulations = better rewards
"Once a month… that's already more than enough."
After testing his power, Dugu Bo withdrew his martial soul and landed.
The second skill of the soul ring—Heavenly Azure Slowing Divine Light—was a large-scale control ability, so he didn't bother testing it.
He calmed himself.
Then, his gaze turned toward the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
There were still more important matters waiting for him next…