"Buzz! Buzz!"
The golden soul ring suddenly began to shake violently.
Its surface grew increasingly intense in color.
"What's happening?" Sea Horse Douluo exclaimed in surprise.
Poseissi murmured, "It can't be that the age of this soul ring is still climbing, can it? That would be terrifying."
She looked at Luo Yu, swallowing a mouthful of saliva.
"Just how terrifying is this guy's potential to be able to manifest a true God Ring, and it seems like it's even continuing to increase in age."
After a thunderous boom.
The golden soul ring shook violently, and a faint crack appeared on its surface with a snap.
"What's going on?" Everyone was shocked.
In their astonishment, more and more cracks appeared on the golden soul ring as if it was about to completely shatter.
Just as everyone was puzzled, Luo Yu glared at Poseissi and demanded,
"Didn't you tell me that this God-Gifted Spirit Ring could indefinitely elevate its age? Why has it stopped now?"
Luo Yu glanced at the God Ring, his pupils dilating.
"Damn it."
"It cracked?"
"Is this a fake, or why would it crack?"
Poseissi's beautiful eyes widened, cursing inwardly.
You're asking me? I'd like to ask you the same.
A God-Gifted Spirit Ring that's cracked? She had never seen such a thing in her life.
While they exchanged a few words, the golden soul ring rapidly expanded, and the surface cracks multiplied.
"Bang!"
Following an explosion, the golden soul ring burst apart, and energy blasted out in all directions.
"It... it exploded?" Sea Horse Douluo gaped, never expecting to witness such a scene; it was preposterous.
Poseissi was dumbfounded, shaking her head in disbelief that this was real.
Luo Yu panicked.
"What the hell is this? Some kind of shoddy knockoff?"
"Don't talk nonsense, this God-Gifted Spirit Ring is definitely the real deal!" Poseissi emphasized.
Luo Yu sighed.
"Then there's only one truth, this God-Gifted Spirit Ring probably felt that even reaching the pinnacle of a soul ring's age limit was not worthy of my body, so it committed suicide."
Poseissi opened her mouth to shout 'narcissist,' but then held back her words.
Probably... it seemed that there indeed might be the possibility Luo Yu mentioned.
"Isn't this just a waste, a pure waste? That was a million-year God Ring, and just like that, it's gone?" Sea Dragon Douluo watched the golden soul ring fragments drifting into the sky, the corners of his mouth twitching in pain.
"Not a waste."
Luo Yu shook his head.
He raised his hand and pressed it towards the void.
A golden mini-shadow shot out from his palm, heading straight for the shattered God Ring fragments.
Everyone focused their gaze and saw that it was a lotus platform made of golden liquid fire, upon which sat twenty-six differently colored lotus seeds, emitting a scorching aura.
"Chirp, chirp, chirp!"
This lotus platform, composed of liquid-like golden flames, was full of sentience and in an instant, swallowed all the God Ring fragments in the air.
Its aura was clearly growing stronger.
"Cluster!"
The golden Flame Lotus in the air seemed to burn even more fiercely, and its size visibly increased at a rate visible to the naked eye.
"What... what is this?"
Feeling the mystique of the golden Flame Lotus Platform, Sea Horse Douluo and the others voiced their amazement.
Luo Yu paid no attention to their questions.
He wasn't distracted, but focused on sensing the trace of spirituality within the lotus platform.
After absorbing the burst golden soul ring, it clearly brought about growth, and a surge of exhilaration transmitted into Luo Yu's mind.
Upon careful observation, Luo Yu noticed that on top of the lotus platform, three lotus seeds appeared to be loosening, as if they were about to bloom.
It seemed that as long as enough energy was supplied to the Golden Flame Lotus, these three lotus seeds could fully blossom.
After observing earnestly for a few seconds, he summoned the Golden Flame Lotus back with a flick of his hand.
It disappeared in his palm, turning into a mark.
Murmuring to himself,
Emperor Flame, oh Emperor Flame, what kind of surprise will you bring me?
Through this experience, Luo Yu discovered that Emperor Flame didn't only consume divine weapons as the System had said, but it could also digest and absorb Divine Power.
At this moment, Poseissi walked over, her gaze still somewhat vacant, immersed in the astonishing spectacle she had just witnessed.
"What... what just happened just now?" she asked.
A smile played upon Luo Yu's lips.
"What else could it be? That soul ring wasn't useful. It felt like it wasn't worthy of me, so it exploded on its own," he said lightly.
"Nonsense?" Poseissi didn't believe him.
"What do you think caused it to explode then?" Luo Yu shrugged indifferently, "Anyway, let's forget it. I was not very impressed with the soul ring granted by the Sea God to begin with. Feeding my little pet seemed to work out quite well, though."
"You're calling that strange flame from earlier your little pet?" Poseissi queried.
Luo Yu nodded, "Yeah, is there a problem?"
"With my current cultivation level, there's hardly anything in the world I'm not aware of, but I don't think I've ever seen that peculiar flame you controlled."
Luo Yu managed a wry smile, "Don't ask me about the flame. If I say I don't understand it either, would you believe me?"
"I'll believe you when hell freezes over!" Poseissi glared fiercely at Luo Yu, "I think you just don't want to tell me."
"If you don't believe me, then forget it," Luo Yu shrugged with his hands outstretched.
"Hmph!"
With a cold snort, Poseissi drifted away.
Her icy echo came from afar.
"Sea Horse Douluo, make arrangements for the two of them. Tomorrow, accompany him for the second trial," she instructed.
Luo Yu touched his nose. Did I just make her mad?
He approached the Sea Horse Douluo.
"Since she's gone, I'll have to trouble you with the accommodations on the island," he said.
The Sea Horse Douluo's mouth felt bitter, and he inwardly cursed.
After all the provoking words he had said earlier, and the slaps to his face that followed, he wished there was somewhere to hide. And now, the High Priest was tasking him with hosting the two of them?
At this point, he could only brace himself for the task.
With a jovial stride, he walked over to Luo Yu.
"As the recognized successor of the Sea God, you're the most esteemed guest on the island," he said.
"There's no need for formalities when you talk to me. Just call me Little Sea for familiarity's sake," he proposed earnestly, as if afraid his friendly gestures would be insufficient, he quickly added, "And if you find 'Little Sea' awkward to say, 'Little Horse' is fine too!"
"Giggle, giggle!"
Purple Pearl covered her mouth, sneaking a chuckle.
Is this the fabled 'a great man can bend and stretch'? She remembered how high and mighty Sea Horse Douluo had acted when she and Luo Yu first arrived on the island.
And now, why so humbled?
"Lead us to a place to rest, will you? Preferably somewhere with a nice environment and plenty of good food," Luo Yu didn't bother being polite. He had things to take care of upon his return.
"Of course, at your command," Sea Horse Douluo lowered his stance like that of a servant.
Sea Dragon Douluo and the others covered their faces, feeling a sense of shame well up within them, really wanting to say that they didn't know this man.
...
As night fell, Luo Yu sat in a lavishly decorated and spacious guest room.
He held in his hands a transparent Boundless Universe Shield, within which a sleek, mini white shark swam back and forth.
Its blue eyes curiously gazed at him.
"Little guy, don't worry, I'm going to let you out now," he said soothingly.