"Let's begin."
Gu Rong nodded and stepped backward.
Like everyone else, he clearly remembered that his last damage was over 130,000.
Nobody present would forget their last damage output, including their offensive mode, lest the quality of their rewards be downgraded due to carelessness.
Gu Rong let out a scorching breath gently.
He pondered, "Martial Soul, real body!"
"Boom—"
A noise erupted as the Evil Spirit Dragon Knight behind Gu Rong began its skeletal reassembly.
Huge bones burning with Infernal Netherfire slowly floated up, autonomously assembling into an enormous dragon skeleton behind him.
Above the Bone Dragon, flames blazed away between every bone and within every crevice, the nature of the flame so unique that it felt both chilling and scorching.
"First soul skill, Fire Dragon Thrust!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Gu Rong's body became ethereal, seemingly merging with the massive fiery bone dragon.
"Roar!"
The terrifying fiery Bone Dragon roared to the sky. Its entire skeletal frame creaked painfully as it took a step forward, which suddenly made it feel as though the earth itself was shaking.
With another step, the fiery Bone Dragon sped toward Lin Yi.
It gigantic head transformed into a huge bone spear ablaze with flame, striking sharply and forcefully against Lin Yi's chest!
But Lin Yi remained unmoved.
On the contrary, the fiery Bone Dragon couldn't stop due to the powerful momentum of its body, causing its bones to scrunch severely forward with an even more distressing sound.
The whole scene truly gave the impression that "the bones are about to fall apart."
But if the fiery Bone Dragon were really so fragile, Gu Rong wouldn't be known as a defensive Soul Master.
Its large body recovered slowly and elastically to its original form as it stepped backward, not forgetting to roar mightily into the sky, the sound waves thunderous.
Damage Rebound followed, impacting the fiery Bone Dragon but causing no ripple of effect, which once again boosted its pride as it continued to assert its identity as an Evil Spirit Dragon Knight through its roars.
With the Martial Soul True Body ending, Gu Rong's figure reappeared as he cupped his fists and bowed towards Lin Yi.
"Senior, my apologies for any offense."
Lin Yi turned to the panel.
[Health Loss: 153764]
[Remaining Health: 899958178764]
[Damage Grade: Black (High Level)]
[Random Reward: Steel Skeleton (Adamantium Injection)]
[Host Reward: Steel Skeleton (Adamantium Injection) (No Critical Hit)]
Adamantium?
Lin Yi couldn't help but glance at the Bone Dragon and then at the reward.
It had to be said the reward was outrageous, but indeed a perfect match for Gu Rong!
Adamantium provided Wolverine with a steel skeleton, giving him a strong body that even a nuclear bomb couldn't shatter.
If Gu Rong merged with Adamantium, he would possess the strongest defense in all of Soul Land!
However…
Lin Yi looked carefully at the commentary provided by the System and noted some differences.
He turned to Gu Rong and reported the damage: "Damage 153764, Black Advanced Level, your reward is to have a set of alloy skeleton."
"Alloy skeleton?"
Gu Rong was somewhat puzzled.
It wasn't surprising that he was puzzled; in the current timeline of Soul Land, soul tools were not advanced, alloys weren't commonplace, not to mention Adamantium.
The idea of fusing alloys with bones was even more far-fetched.
But now, the System could make it happen.
"Yes, an alloy skeleton, but there are a few things I need to clarify with you in advance."
"First, the alloy is named Adamantium, the toughest metal across all planes."
"Anyone who possesses an Adamantium skeleton will have the most formidable defense, not even attacks from a Supreme God will amount to much."
"Second, the alloy skeleton isn't for you, it's for your Martial Soul. So the one to possess the strongest defensive state will be your Martial Soul."
"Third, the process of integrating Adamantium will be extremely painful, and your Martial Soul will transmit that pain to your body."
After Lin Yi finished speaking, he glanced at Chen Xin's expression, which almost certainly betrayed utter shock and confusion.
The setting of this reward indeed could elicit such a reaction upon hearing it.
But that's just how Black Level rewards are, even if the effects are incredible, the process of obtaining them won't be easy.
If it were a Gold Level reward, it probably would have directly given Chen Xin steel skeletons for both his physical body and his Martial Soul, without as many restrictions and issues as with the Black Level reward.
"How painful will it be?"
Chen Xin, enduring his impatience, asked.
"In any case, it won't be pain that kills you."
"Alright then, I am willing to undergo the fusion."
Chen Xin gritted his teeth. Even if only his Martial Soul obtained the strongest defense, it was still a fortune that belonged to him.
If he didn't have the heart to endure this, he might miss the reward and might not encounter another chance even at the Gold Rank!
Perhaps many people would even envy his luck this time.
Lin Yi nodded, "Then release your Martial Soul."
"Alright!"
Chen Xin replied with determination and then sat cross-legged.
At the same moment, a thunderous rumble sounded from behind him once more as the gigantic flame Bone Dragon reappeared, only this time it was much calmer.
Lin Yi looked at the panel, where a line of text emerged.
[Injection Begins]
At this moment, the head of the flame Bone Dragon suddenly shuddered, and its pale bone surface looked as if it was coated with a layer of mercury.
The "mercury-like" liquid alloy swiftly spread outwards.
"Ahh!"
Chen Xin suddenly cried out in pain, his eyes bulging as he doubled over forward, his veins popping out.
His fists clenched on the platform and his cheeks pressed down on it, his expression twisting in agony.
The silvery "mercury" color quickly covered the entire head of the flame Bone Dragon, followed by its thick and powerful bones!
"It hurts so much—"
Chen Xin's fingers were embedded in the platform from pain.
Seeing him in such a state, Lin Yi suddenly abandoned the idea of fusing with Adamantium...
Or perhaps he'd see if the System would allow him some leniency, making the fusion process easier for himself—after all, he's the host, isn't he?
Having a steel skeleton is quite awesome, and different from Chen Xin, Lin Yi could receive the injection in his own body.
"Old Bone, hold on! You've held out until now! I'll look down on you if you give up now!"
Chen Xin shouted impatiently from below.
His words evidently had an effect, as Chen Xin started to grit his teeth and remained silent, his forehead pressed against the platform while he gasped for breath.
Soon, only the thick tail of the huge flame Bone Dragon remained uncoated by the Adamantium.
A moment later, the Evil Spirit Dragon Knight had completely changed its appearance.
After the tail was fully covered, the entirely silver Bone Dragon shone brilliantly under the sunlight, its whole body glittering with an eye-catching metallic luster.
This smooth surface, this streamlined body, this dignified, solemn presence,
At this sight, everyone was stunned.
This is truly a Gold-plated Martial Soul!
Chen Xin then looked down and saw the Bone Dragon's thick feet had sunk deeply into the ground, indicating its weight had nearly doubled.
With such a colossal metallic body, aside from its defensive power, its offensive power must also be extremely formidable, right?
"Roar—"
The Adamantium-coated steel Bone Dragon suddenly let out a sky-piercing roar.
Flames blazed over its body, but no one knew why it suddenly became so enraged.
Looking towards Lin Yi, the crowd realized that Lin Yi had calmly pulled out several Divine Artifacts...
PS: Thank you for following along.