"Zhuqing, what is your choice?"
Bo Saixi looked to Zhu Zhuqing.
She wanted to know how Zhu Zhuqing would choose. Would she save it for a future hundred-thousand-year eighth or ninth ring, or choose the present?
"Senior, I'm going to absorb it now."
A confident smile appeared on Zhu Zhuqing's face.
She might not be able to absorb a hundred-thousand-year ring dropped by a slain beast. Beyond physical fitness, absorbing a normal hundred-thousand-year ring also tested one's spiritual power.
She might not be able to withstand the lingering soul remnant inside a hundred-thousand-year ring.
Because she was an agility-attack battle spirit master, physical fitness mattered more than spiritual power to her. She had obviously spent much more time cultivating the Indestructible Golden Body than Everlasting Will.
But a God-bestowed Spirit Ring was different. There was no soul remnant of a beast within it. It tested only physical fitness.
Hearing this, surprise flashed in Bo Saixi's eyes.
Judging by Zhu Zhuqing's confident smile, she was sure she could bear a hundred-thousand-year seventh ring?
No spirit master would not want a hundred-thousand-year ring, and with Zhu Zhuqing's talent she would definitely become a nine-ring Titled Douluo in the future.
Choosing the present instead of saving it must mean she was fully assured.
Yet Bo Saixi's own seventh ring back then had also been a God-bestowed Spirit Ring rewarded by Lord Seagod. Even after completing several trials, its starting age had only been around sixty thousand years.
Perhaps there was a gap even among top-level Eight Trials?
Just then, Ning Rongrong, who was condensing a spirit core nearby, made a big commotion.
Suspended before her, a rapidly clockwise-spinning multicolored solidified spirit power began ravenously devouring the surrounding heaven and earth energy.
The gathered energy even formed a massive cloud of essence in the sky above the island-within-the-island.
What kind of secret art is this?
Glancing at the spinning multicolored crystal of spirit power before Ning Rongrong, Bo Saixi wondered inwardly.
This was not the first time she had seen such a phenomenon. It had happened every day lately.
There was no helping it. Condensing a spirit core caused quite a stir, and failure meant the explosion of a solidified mass of compressed energy, which was even louder.
If someone set off several "giant firecrackers" at your door every day, anyone still breathing would notice.
Although Bo Saixi did not know the function of this secret art, from observing the changes in Zhu Zhuqing and Hu Liena in succession she could tell it at least accelerated spirit power recovery and increased a spirit master's total spirit power.
Still, she was only a little curious.
She stood at the peak of the world. She did not value such a technique much.
It was not as if learning a secret art that a rank-60 Spirit Emperor could master would boost her by an entire tier.
Impossible. Absolutely impossible.
What Bo Saixi did not know was that if she could condense three complementary yin-yang spirit cores, whether or not she could break heaven and earth's limits and reach rank 100, at the very least she could hang Qian Daoliu out to dry in the sky and thrash Tang Chen on land.
At that point she would not be "invincible in the ocean," but truly invincible in the world.
With things noisy on Ning Rongrong's side, Zhu Zhuqing did not absorb the God-bestowed Spirit Ring right there. She went beyond the ring sea to find a spot to absorb it.
For Bo Saixi, however, a cultivating Ning Rongrong was clearly less attention-grabbing than Zhu Zhuqing "attaching a hundred-thousand-year seventh ring."
Thus Bo Saixi stood guard for Zhu Zhuqing. Chu Chengzhou stayed with Ning Rongrong to intervene if the solidified spirit power lost control in time, while Xiao Wu and Hu Liena returned to the steps to cultivate.
Nether Spirit Cat martial soul possession. Six spirit rings flared around her. The Nether Domain unfolded. Holding the golden bead, Zhu Zhuqing began refining the God-bestowed Spirit Ring.
Buzz—
Guided by her martial soul, the bead in her hand shattered. A dense golden mist surged out and shrouded Zhu Zhuqing's body.
The golden mist, tinged with a bewitching sheen, gradually submerged her. Halo after halo appeared around her.
An instant later a powerful oppression arrived. Enveloped in the golden mist, Zhu Zhuqing's face showed traces of pain.
The pain had begun, but she knew the only thing she could do was persist. Persist to her limit. Persist until she could no longer endure.
Soon the golden mist around her turned into countless fine golden threads.
Next, strands of gold gathered together into ring after ring of golden halos. There were nine in all. They first expanded around Zhu Zhuqing, then contracted again, slamming into her body and repeating over and over.
Each impact of the golden ring made Zhu Zhuqing's body tremble.
As time passed, her trembling grew more pronounced, and a sickly flush appeared on her fair skin, as if blood would seep through.
It was easy to imagine how severe her pain was.
But Zhu Zhuqing, strong-willed by nature, lacked nothing in perseverance.
Back when each bit of perseverance earned only the slightest gains, she had gritted her teeth and stuck with it. How much more so now, when each bit of perseverance yielded great returns.
Time slipped by. Half an hour later, when Chu Chengzhou saw faint rosy blood seeping from her skin, his heart clenched.
Unfortunately, when a spirit master absorbed a spirit ring, others could not help. No matter how much his heart ached, he could not replace her in absorbing it.
Bo Saixi, however, looked on at the still-enduring Zhu Zhuqing and nodded inwardly in satisfaction.
Good talent, strong will, willing to suffer, and diligent. If such a genius cannot become a powerhouse, then who can?
Just then, new changes occurred on Ning Rongrong's side.
The rapidly devouring multicolored solidified spirit power that had been hovering before her had vanished.
In its place was a goose-egg-sized, steadily clockwise-rotating multicolored faceted crystal, gently absorbing the surrounding heaven and earth energy and refracting brilliant nine-colored light in the sun.
Success.
Seeing the multicolored spirit core, Chu Chengzhou was delighted inwardly.
Ning Rongrong was now just one step from success: drawing it into her body and keeping it running stably.
"Rongrong, draw it into your body next."
Chu Chengzhou signaled.
Ning Rongrong did not reply. She did not need him to say it. She had watched from the side when Xiao Wu and the others condensed their spirit cores. She was not lacking theoretical knowledge.
A moment later, following that subtle connection, Ning Rongrong guided the spirit core into her lower dantian.
The instant it merged into her body, she felt pressure spread through her whole being.
But it was only pressure. An "old friend."
For this entire period on Seagod Island, at least twelve hours out of every twenty-four she had been under the pressure of the Seagod's Light, giving her excellent resistance.
With her decent physical fitness, the pressure from the spirit core entering her body was only somewhat higher than what she bore under the Seagod's Light. It was far from her limit.
After a dozen minutes, Ning Rongrong found the balance point. The first spirit core in her lower dantian began to run stably.
"Hahaha… this young lady finally did it!"
Before Chu Chengzhou could step up to congratulate her, Ning Rongrong planted her fists on her hips, tilted up her chin, and laughed wildly.
Chu Chengzhou: "…"
Abruptly, a violent surge of energy rippled from Zhu Zhuqing across the ring sea.
The nine golden halos that had been slamming into her suddenly turned crimson, then nine returned to one and fused into a gigantic blood-red halo around her.
A second later, the pain disappeared from Zhu Zhuqing's face. Her calm expression contrasted sharply with the blood-tinged sweat trickling down her cheeks and the clothes already dyed scarlet.
With the torrent of energy peaking, that giant blood-red halo condensed into a bright red hundred-thousand-year spirit ring, settling outside her Nether Spirit Cat's original yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black six rings.
"Miaow—"
A graceful feline cry rang out. Zhu Zhuqing's aura surged by a large margin. Her spirit power advanced to rank 73 Spirit Sage.
Hundred-thousand-year seventh ring, achieved.
Seeing this, Chu Chengzhou scooped up the still-preening Ning Rongrong and flew across to the far side of the ring sea.
Feeling the surging spirit power in her body and seeing the bright red hundred-thousand-year seventh ring blooming around her, Zhu Zhuqing was overjoyed.
"Zhuqing, congratulations. A hundred-thousand-year seventh ring. Even I have never seen that."
Bo Saixi smiled.
As she spoke, she glanced at Chu Chengzhou arriving with Ning Rongrong.
Though the youth had once displayed a standard optimal configuration of yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black in front of her, the strength of that sinister black tiger he summoned let Bo Saixi assert that his rings hid a major secret. He was most likely disguising them before her.
"Thank you for making this possible, senior."
Holding down her joy, Zhu Zhuqing bowed to Bo Saixi.
"No need. When the next person reaches a bottleneck, I will appear again."
Glancing back at Xiao Wu and Hu Liena hurrying over, Bo Saixi shook her head slightly. After speaking, she was about to rise into the air and leave.
"Wait, senior. I'd like to speak with you in private."
Seeing Bo Saixi about to depart, Chu Chengzhou hurriedly called out.
Bo Saixi turned to look at him. After holding his gaze for two seconds, she did not return to the Seagod Hall. She nodded slightly, then flew off into the distance.
Chu Chengzhou ran Golden Light Ground-Shrinking and followed.
In midair, two streaks of light traced one behind the other, then descended into the forest below.
"What do you want to ask me?"
Bo Saixi turned to Chu Chengzhou.
She was curious what business required a private talk.
"Senior, when inheriting a god position, must someone offer a sacrifice?"
After a brief silence, Chu Chengzhou asked.
Bo Saixi's expression tightened. A vast and terrible aura flashed and vanished.
Cannot be met head-on.
Feeling that fleeting terror, Chu Chengzhou's pupils contracted and every muscle tensed on instinct.
A demi-god was indeed a demi-god. From that brief aura alone he could tell that even a hundred Titled Douluo like Snake Lance Douluo She Long could not defeat one Bo Saixi.
The sheer soul power pressure, only half a step short of godly might, would be enough to pin down an ordinary newly advanced nine-ring Titled Douluo.
Snake Lance Douluo She Long? He was only a Soul Douluo with one extra ring and one extra skill.
Fortunately the aura was only a flash, and not aimed at him. Though shocked, Chu Chengzhou did not make a fool of himself.
"You know?"
Bo Saixi's voice was grave.
"I've heard a little."
Chu Chengzhou nodded.
"This is my fate as the Great Priest of the Seagod."
Looking up at the sky, a trace of sorrow flashed through Bo Saixi's eyes.
"Senior, I want to know. To open the path to godhood, must the sacrifice be a life, or simply energy? If it is only energy, how much is needed?"
Chu Chengzhou pressed.
In the original, Qian Renxue and Tang San inherited the Angel and Seagod positions because Qian Daoliu and Bo Saixi sacrificed themselves to open the path. But Bibi Dong likely had no demi-god Rakshasa Great Priest to sacrifice for her.
"Energy. All the energy of a Limit Douluo."
Bo Saixi glanced at Chu Chengzhou and answered.
In this era there was no concept of "demi-god." In her view she was simply a rank-99 Limit Douluo.
"What if I find a spirit beast with more energy in its body than a Limit Douluo?"
The Deep Sea Demon Whale King was huge and old. In raw energy it should far surpass Bo Saixi.
Bo Saixi undoubtedly still kept Tang Chen in her heart, and Tang San was Tang Chen's great-grandson. Even with that tie, the Bo Saixi of the original still birthed killing intent toward Tang San. All the more so for Xiao Wu, with whom she had no connection.
It was certain that at the crucial moment, Bo Saixi would feel killing intent toward Xiao Wu.
He asked not only to find a way to ease Bo Saixi's killing intent, but also for Qian Daoliu, Qian Renxue's own grandfather.
Chu Chengzhou: Little Angel, if I save your grandpa, you owe me a few extra babies in return.
Bo Saixi shook her head. "No. Unless the beast you find possesses energy of the same source as Lord Seagod's divine power."
She paused, then added, "You need not trouble yourself. I am Lord Seagod's servant. This is my fate. If Xiao Wu proves worthy enough, I will fulfill the mission Lord Seagod entrusted to me."
Her feelings were hardly as simple as her words. She would be paying with her life.
She and Xiao Wu had no personal bond. Who would be willing to give up their life for a stranger?
"Senior, this may help you."
After a moment's thought, Chu Chengzhou handed Bo Saixi a page filled with writing.
"A spirit core?"
Taking the paper and seeing the opening line, "Method for Condensing a Spirit Core," curiosity flashed in Bo Saixi's eyes.
"What Rongrong condensed just now was a spirit core.
After condensing a spirit core, it can constantly draw in heaven and earth energy. It speeds up cultivation, refines spirit power, helps break bottlenecks, and accelerates recovery.
These might not matter much to you, but the spirit core itself can store a tremendous amount of energy, at least no less than the energy in a spirit master's own body.
In my conception, besides the lower dantian, the middle dantian in the chest and the upper dantian between the brows can each condense a core as well.
If one possesses three spirit cores, and if the final sacrifice only requires energy, perhaps sacrificing the cores alone would suffice."
Chu Chengzhou spoke slowly.
A gleam lit Bo Saixi's eyes.
"Whether or not this secret art ultimately helps you, it is a token of respect from a junior. You may also teach it to the Sea Dragon Douluo and the others, but please do not pass it beyond Seagod Island.
I will leave Seagod Island in two days. I entrust Xiao Wu and the others to you."
He bowed to Bo Saixi, then took to the air and left.
A spirit core…
Watching the direction Chu Chengzhou departed, Bo Saixi stared in a daze.
When Chu Chengzhou returned to the foot of Seagod Mountain, Xiao Wu, Ning Rongrong, and Hu Liena had already resumed cultivating on the steps.
As for Zhu Zhuqing?
Sweeping with his spiritual power, Chu Chengzhou saw her bathing inside the wooden hut by the ring sea.
Bathing? Right. The dust on Seagod Island was a bit heavy today. He needed a wash too.
Chu Chengzhou: Jie jie jie—
No need to say more. Go in and help the girl scrub her back.
He lifted the latch on the hut door. A field of snowy white entered his eyes.
"Don't come any closer."
In the tub, washing away the grime, Zhu Zhuqing spoke shyly.
"Zhuqing, we're basically an old married couple. Let's do it together. I'll scrub you."
Without waiting for her refusal, Chu Chengzhou shut the door, slipped off his clothes, and stepped into the tub.
He was prescient. The tub was big. It fit two without feeling cramped.
Not that he cared. He squeezed in with Zhu Zhuqing anyway.
"Zhuqing, what does your Spirit Avatar do?"
In the tub, Chu Chengzhou scrubbed her back while he asked.
"Very good. My Nether Spirit Cat Avatar boosts speed by 100 percent and amplifies all spirit skills by 100 percent. And after using it, there doesn't seem to be any period of weakness."
Zhu Zhuqing smiled.
"Is that so? Not bad."
After mulling it over, Chu Chengzhou nodded.
In general, after using a Spirit Avatar, a spirit master experienced a period of weakness.
But the stronger a spirit master, the higher the ring ages, the better the martial soul's quality, and the greater the compatibility between rings and martial soul, the shorter that weakness, the smaller the debuff, and even none at all.
Clearly, the perfect compatibility of a God-bestowed ring and its hundred-thousand-year age had eliminated the post-use weakness for Zhu Zhuqing's Nether Spirit Cat Avatar.
And the hundred-thousand-year Nether Spirit Cat Avatar's bonuses were not small. If he remembered right, in the original Zhu Zhuqing also absorbed a God-bestowed seventh ring, but because its age was not high, both speed increase and skill amplification were only 50 percent.
Compared to the hundred-thousand-year seventh ring, the Avatar's effects had doubled.
"Also, my Nether Domain evolved. It gained a domain technique: Nether Devour. It continuously drains the spirit power of enemies within the domain to offset my own consumption. If there are no enemies, it can devour the surrounding heaven and earth energy to recover me."
"It only offsets consumption, not increases the cap?"
Clicking his tongue, Chu Chengzhou asked a bit regretfully.
"I'm not an evil spirit master."
Zhu Zhuqing shot him a look.
"Right, right. My Zhuqing isn't an evil spirit master. But these treasures of yours are pretty wicked."
As he spoke, Chu Chengzhou could not help poking her two "big treasures."
Zhu Zhuqing: "…"
Two days later, in the morning.
Under the reluctant gazes of the four girls, Chu Chengzhou mounted the Dark Devilgod Tiger spirit Xiao Hei and left Seagod Island.
He had been on Seagod Island for a while. Now he would return to the continent to help the Little Angel ascend the Heaven Dou throne, topple Star Luo—no, open a new era for the continent.
The decaying Heaven Dou Empire would receive a new sovereign, and the evil Star Luo Empire would head for destruction. The reunited Douluo Continent would welcome long peace.
Long ago, apart from the Great Star Dou Forest, the entire continent had been ruled by a single empire named "Douluo."
With the fall of that ancient empire, heroes rose across the land, eventually evolving into today's two great empires north and south, with Spirit Hall straddling the center. A true three-way balance.
As for the Seven Great Sects? If not for Heaven Dou's gradual decline and the Clear Sky Sect producing the "invincible on land" Tang Chen, a mere sect force, with at most a few thousand members, how could it oppose two empires and Spirit Hall? Not even the same scale.
As Chu Chengzhou left Seagod Island, Bo Saixi appeared once more before the Seagod Hall.
She looked at the black dot vanishing into the sky, then at Xiao Wu quietly cultivating on the steps before the Seagod Hall. A smile touched her face.
Perhaps, it really is possible…
Feeling the azure-blue crystal running stably in her lower dantian, Bo Saixi thought to herself.
For a powerhouse at the peak of the world like Bo Saixi, with detailed instructions, condensing a first spirit core was the simplest thing.
In this moment, Bo Saixi's strength had already surpassed the Tang Chen and Qian Daoliu of old. Perhaps "invincible in the ocean" had become truly invincible in the world.
T/N: For up to 30 chapters ahead on my translations, become a p@tron at [email protected]/LordHipposApostle