Returning to his room, Zhu Ziyang immediately opened the Gate of Space and entered the Saint Law Demi-Plane.
Absorbing an eighth spirit ring and condensing a third soul core was bound to create great disturbances. If he were at Shrek Academy, there would be nothing to fear. But here, in Winter's End City, caution was required. Within the demi-plane, with Electrolux and the four Light-element powerhouses guarding him, he could proceed safely.
Seated atop a carved stone platform, Zhu Ziyang took out the Ice Dragon King's Dragon Core. He stared at it for a moment, then, with resolute eyes, swallowed it whole. Closing his eyes, he stilled his mind, letting his soul power circulate. The Dragon Core began to release its vast, surging energy.
In an instant, an overwhelming tide of pure soul power engulfed him, like a colossal tsunami. Within seconds, it flooded every meridian and acupoint of his body. Zhu Ziyang could only grit his teeth and stabilize his mind, hiding his own soul power deep within, trembling as he endured.
This was the power of the Ice Dragon King. Though it no longer bore divine essence, its purity was far beyond what ordinary beings could withstand. Absorbing it was excruciating.
Behind him, the phantom of the Heavenly Frost White Dragon King coiled, seven crimson rings flashing frantically, like alarms straining at full power to refine the alien energy.
The truth was, Zhu Ziyang had underestimated the Dragon Core and overestimated his body's endurance. His arms were already splitting with cracks. If he could not refine some of the Dragon Core's power soon, his body would be torn apart from within.
"Damn it, I'll gamble everything!" He had only two choices: abandon the core and lose the chance for a god-level ring, or risk it all—first condense his third soul core, then absorb the spirit ring.
He chose the latter.
At once, his soul power stopped resisting and instead yielded to the Dragon Core's invasion. His body swelled grotesquely, every vessel packed with energy. Death was but a breath away.
Yet from the edge of destruction came rebirth. Zhu Ziyang guided the raging energy into motion. Small vortices formed in his meridians, spinning faster and faster until they drew in the Dragon Core's power, growing into larger whirlpools. Each of these flowed along his energy circuit toward his chest—his Heart Sea.
One after another, the whirlpools poured into his chest, colliding, merging, and fusing. A vast, super vortex took shape, so immense it even disturbed the demi-plane itself, drawing elemental energy into a funnel overhead.
Zhu Ziyang's bloated body finally eased, the crushing power within subsiding. It was the perfect moment to absorb the Dragon Core and condense the spirit ring.
But at that instant, power surged from deep within his spine, joining the vortex. If he did not condense a soul core now, the chance might never come again.
Making his choice, Zhu Ziyang compressed the vortex. Within it, ultimate ice, bloodline power, and vital essence merged together, condensing faster and faster until a diamond-shaped crystal vortex emerged.
The diamond shape signaled success. Zhu Ziyang exhaled deeply, his crisis overcome. All that remained was to complete the soul core, forge the tri-core harmony, and absorb the ring.
The crystal solidified into his third soul core—a gem glowing red and blue. Red for bloodline, blue for ice. This was the Extreme Cold Blood-Soul Core.
Carefully, he integrated it into his soul power circuit, forming a triangle with the other two: the golden-silver Spiritual Fate Core above, and the black-white Light and Death Core below. Together, the three achieved the Tri-Core Convergence.
This new core embodied essence—the vital energy of blood and body. It refined his Dragon King bloodline, imprinting it permanently into his being, making it inheritable for generations. His Heavenly Frost White Dragon King Martial Soul was now eternal.
With the tri-core system complete, his energy circulation reached perfection. Every part of his strength was unified.
Without delay, he turned to the final task—refining the Dragon Core.
Now, with his three soul cores, the once-overwhelming Dragon Core was nothing more than prey on a cutting board. Over the course of a day and night, its energy was completely absorbed.
And then it appeared: his eighth spirit ring.
It shimmered gold.
A golden spirit ring—a God-level spirit ring!
Zhu Ziyang's eyes snapped open. His face shone with indescribable joy as the Heavenly Frost White Dragon King manifested behind him. Floating around it were eight rings: seven red, and one gold.
The sight would have made even the boldest tremble in fear.
Golden spirit rings—throughout the history of Douluo Continent, they had only ever appeared twice: the tenth rings of Tang San, the Sea God, and Qian Renxue, the Angel God, after they ascended to godhood.
But Zhu Ziyang had obtained one before becoming a god. In this alone, he had surpassed all who came before him.
"Ziyang, you nearly scared me to death!" Electrolux finally spoke, relief in his voice. "Had I known it would be this dangerous, I would never have allowed it."
"Hehe, high risk, high reward, Teacher!" Zhu Ziyang scratched his head sheepishly, though pride gleamed in his eyes. "Look—I not only gained a golden spirit ring, I also leapt five levels, straight to Rank 85! How many Contras can claim that after absorbing a single ring?"
Electrolux sighed, then chuckled helplessly. "You reckless boy… At least it ended without disaster."
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