章 9: Chapter 9: Death Abyss Spider Emperor (I)

The appearance of the black, 10,000-year spirit ring signified the death of the Blazing Bone Dragon Vulture.

Bei Bei collapsed onto the ground as if all his strength had been drained. The sensation of narrowly escaping death made his heart pound like a drum, and his entire back was soaked with sweat. He looked at Ling Bai with lingering fear and said:

"Thank you, Junior Brother Ling. If it weren't for you, we would all have died at the hands of the Blazing Bone Dragon Vulture."

A 10,000-year spirit beast, especially a top-level one like the Blazing Bone Dragon Vulture, was far beyond what a 3-ringed Spirit Elder could contend with, even with the dual support of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda and Spiritual Detection Sharing.

For Ling Bai to be able to defeat it head-on showcased not only the dominance of his Seraphim Martial Spirit but also his formidable combat prowess.

"If it weren't for Senior Brother Bei attracting the Blazing Bone Dragon Vulture's attention immediately, I wouldn't have been able to defeat it."

Ling Bai stepped forward and extended his hand to help Bei Bei up. His tone was modest, though the sincerity of his words was debatable.

"Xiao Tian, are you hurt?"

Ling Bai asked with a smile as he turned to Ning Tian.

"With you all here, the Blazing Bone Dragon Vulture didn't even have the chance to get to us."

Ning Tian helped straighten Ling Bai's wrinkled clothing from the battle. Her gentle and lovely smile caused Wu Feng to turn her head away in frustration. Her small fists clenched tightly as she silently recited her ultimate mantra: 'A lady's revenge is never too late, even after ten years!'

Huo Yuhao watched Ling Bai with a complicated expression.

Apprehension, fear, gratitude...

But deep down, he knew that the strongest emotion he felt was envy, envy that someone his own age possessed such extraordinary talent and terrifying combat strength.

He couldn't help but imagine: if he had such talent, wouldn't he be able to avenge his mother?

"Xiao Yuhao, don't forget that your Brother Tianmeng is the continent's only 1,000,000-year spirit ring. Brother Tianmeng will help you get your revenge in the future!"

The Skydream Iceworm's cheerful voice echoed in Huo Yuhao's mind, soothing his sensitive emotions.

"Mm, I believe in you, Brother Tianmeng!"

Brother Skydream, the second Ice Martial Spirit, Shrek Academy...

Huo Yuhao couldn't help but look forward to the future. In the continent's number one academy, he would certainly absorb every method beneficial to becoming stronger!

Having made sure Ning Tian wasn't injured, Ling Bai slowly walked toward the corpse of the Blazing Bone Dragon Vulture and couldn't help but fall into deep thought as he looked at the inky black 10,000-year spirit ring.

"Bai-ge, you..."

Ning Tian jogged a few steps to catch up. As his childhood sweetheart who had grown up with him, she understood Ling Bai very well and realized that he was tempted by this spirit ring.

"No way, no way! Someone isn't seriously thinking about absorbing a 10,000-year fourth spirit ring, right? This young lady advises that certain someone to quickly abandon this idea before their body explodes from the spirit beast's spirit shock, leaving Ning Tian and me to clean up the mess afterward!"

Wu Feng's words were filled with sarcasm, but a faint trace of concern flashed imperceptibly in her crimson eyes.

"Xiao Feng!"

Ning Tian glared at Wu Feng unhappily.

Ling Bai didn't mind and smiled indifferently. "It's normal for Xiao Tian to worry about me, but Wu Feng, why are you suddenly so kind to advise me?"

"Tch."

Wu Feng gave him a blank stare. "Who cares about advising you? I'm just worried that Ning Tian will be sad if you die! And well, we did grow up together, so if you died, I'd feel a tiny bit sorry."

After saying that, Wu Feng seemed to feel she had lost face and immediately added, "Just a little bit!"

She held out her thumb and forefinger, making a gesture that would have driven someone from Ling Bai's past life in South Korea crazy.

Ling Bai couldn't help but chuckle. He knew Wu Feng as well as he knew Ning Tian. Although Wu Feng was proud and willful, she wasn't a bad person. Her sharp tongue masked a soft heart, which was why he often looked after her.

"Junior Brother Ling, what Junior Sister Wu Feng said makes sense. A 10,000-year spirit beast is entirely different from a 1,000-year one, and the difficulty of absorbing it is worlds apart."

Bei Bei joined the persuasion team after checking that Tang Ya's spirit ring absorption was going well.

Once a spirit beast reached 10,000 years of cultivation, the resentment it left behind upon death would hide within the spirit ring and launch a fatal attack when the Spirit Master tried to absorb it. Spirit Masters called this phenomenon 'Spirit Shock.'

Only when a Spirit Master's cultivation reached Rank 50, with both body and spiritual power fully matured, could they withstand this Spirit Shock. There had been cases where Spirit Masters had attempted to exceed their limits and absorb a 10,000-year spirit ring prematurely. Most ended up exploding on the spot, and those lucky enough to survive often suffered the collapse of their Spiritual Sea and spent the rest of their lives as idiots.

"Senior Brother Bei, I believe you've already seen my spirit ring configuration." Ling Bai smiled faintly. "Up to now, all of my spirit rings have surpassed the theoretical limits set by the Spirit Master world.

If I recall correctly, the Tang Sect's ancestor, Sea God Tang San, had a 10,000-year Pit Demon Spider as his fourth spirit ring. I am a Seraphim, inheriting the Angel God's bloodline and pride. I will not accept anyone standing above me."

Every word Ling Bai spoke was solemn, his gaze fixed unwaveringly on Bei Bei. His handsome face was as impassive as a stone carving.

"Fine..."

Bei Bei was silent for a while before finally uttering a single word.

He recalled the events between the Tang Sect and the Angel lineage from ten thousand years ago. Then it suddenly dawned on him that Ling Bai might be using this opportunity to tell him:

They were destined never to become close friends.

"But the most important reason is..."

Ling Bai shifted the topic. "I'm interested in the spirit skill of the Blazing Bone Dragon Vulture. This lowly thief won't come into conflict with the Seraphim. After all, what flows in the bones and blood cannot be changed."

These words were clearly an explanation to Ning Tian and Wu Feng.

"Xiao Tian, Wu Feng, please stand guard for me."

"Alright."

Ning Tian and Wu Feng were unable to dissuade him, so they chose to trust him as they always had.

Ling Bai sat cross-legged on the ground and guided the Blazing Bone Dragon Vulture's spirit ring. The black ring hovered above his head, suspended by his spirit power.

Black energy continuously flowed from the spirit ring, transforming into strands that drilled into his body. His previously bright yellow and two purple rings gradually dimmed as he absorbed the spirit ring. It was as if they were being suppressed by this 10,000-year ring.

A layer of black light appeared on Ling Bai's skin. His body seemed like a lone boat adrift in a vast ocean, swaying precariously in the wind and rain, ready to be swallowed by towering waves at any moment. Meanwhile, what was happening in his Spiritual Sea was even more pressing.

The Spiritual Sea of an ordinary Spirit Master usually manifested as a body of water, starting from mere droplets and evolving into a boundless ocean as their spiritual power and cultivation grow.

But Ling Bai's Spiritual Sea was different.

An endless barren land stretched before him, devoid of anything but impenetrable darkness and unbroken silence. The black surface was riddled with countless cracks that crisscrossed like scars. Suspended in the sky were strands of purple-black silk; from a distance, they looked like webs.

Today, his Spiritual Sea finally had a 'guest.' Enormous bone wings unfurled, and gusts of ghostly wind swept across the land. The Blazing Bone Dragon Vulture's resentment condensed into a tangible form, roaring madly within Ling Bai's Spiritual Sea!

"So this is the Spirit Shock, huh? Quite a commotion indeed."

Ling Bai stood beside a black fissure as he looked up at the rampaging Blazing Bone Dragon Vulture. His tone remained indifferent, unaffected by the spirit beast's frenzy, as if he didn't care that this was his own Spiritual Sea.

"Young friend, you're not playing very fair."

Electrolux's spiritual form emerged from the black bead and silently landed next to Ling Bai.