Looking at the scene before him, even though the old butler had long anticipated it, he couldn't help but feel his emotions stir, his eyes filled with fascination.
Whether it was the hundred-thousand-year Soul Ring or the hundred-thousand-year Soul Bone, both were treasures that every Soul Master in the world dreamed of.
Now, these two legendary treasures in the Soul Master world had appeared before his eyes. How could the old butler remain calm?
After a moment, once his emotions had settled slightly, the old butler placed the Soul Bone back into the golden box, then used his soul power to draw the Soul Ring onto the Heavenly Star Plate, beginning the process of absorbing the legendary hundred-thousand-year Soul Ring.
The process of absorbing the Soul Ring went much smoother than expected.
Usually, the Soul Rings produced by killing a hundred-thousand-year Soul Beast contain extremely violent power and endless resentment.
Absorbing such a Soul Ring would normally cause tremendous pain.
However, the hundred-thousand-year Soul Ring produced by the Ten Thousand Year Nine-Petal Ginseng was different.
Although the power within the Soul Ring was immense, it was exceptionally gentle, containing no violent attributes or soul resentment.
As the old butler absorbed this Soul Ring, the power within it filled his body, not only nourishing and smoothing out his meridians but also removing the hidden injuries he had accumulated over the years.
Moreover, the power of the Ten Thousand Year Nine-Petal Ginseng activated the remaining medicinal strength of the Eight-Petal Immortal Orchid and the Qiluo Tulip inside the old butler's body.
During the process of nourishing and clearing his meridians with these three forces, the old butler gradually opened the meridians of his body, including the Chong, Dai, and Du meridians.
After clearing these three meridians, the process of absorbing the Soul Ring was nearing its end.
When the old butler opened his eyes, he found that his body was covered in dark, foul-smelling impurities.
On the side, Lin Rong had already prepared warm bath water for the old butler.
After the old butler bathed and changed clothes, before Lin Rong could ask anything, he spoke first:
"Little Master, after absorbing this hundred-thousand-year Soul Ring, my soul power has reached the peak of level ninety-four."
"Normally, after a hundred-thousand-year Soul Beast dies, the Soul Ring and Soul Bone are formed, but the energy within the beast's body remains."
"However, the Ten Thousand Year Nine-Petal Ginseng's energy was split evenly between the Soul Ring and Soul Bone. Therefore, after absorbing this Soul Ring, my soul power has surged significantly."
As the old butler spoke, he bent down, took the golden box, and presented the hundred-thousand-year Soul Bone to Lin Rong.
"Little Master, it is already an honor for me to possess a hundred-thousand-year Soul Ring in this life. This Soul Bone, I ask you to absorb it."
There was no trace of reluctance in the old butler's tone regarding the Soul Bone, which deeply moved Lin Rong.
However, Lin Rong still reached out and pushed the box back, saying:
"Grandpa Yu, I've already planned for my Soul Bones."
"Among the six regular Soul Bones, the one I want the most is the torso bone from the King of the Star Dou Forest, the Sky Blue Bull Python."
"Although this Soul Bone has a life attribute and suits me well, the pattern it bears symbolizes a phoenix."
"So, compared to this Green Phoenix Soul Bone, the torso bone of the Sky Blue Bull Python, which is of the wood attribute and a dragon-type soul beast, suits me better."
"Moreover, absorbing Soul Rings and Soul Bones of the same origin maximizes the effects, a principle I'm sure you understand."
"Thus, no one is more suitable than you to absorb this Soul Bone."
"Furthermore, the stronger you are, Grandpa Yu, the safer I will be, right?"
These words were well-reasoned, and the old butler could not refute them. He had to comply with the young master's arrangement.
Taking the torso Soul Bone, the old butler pressed it against his chest.
Thanks to the absorption of the Ten Thousand Year Nine-Petal Ginseng's Soul Ring, the old butler didn't need to actively absorb the Soul Bone; it merged into his body on its own.
The old butler had no time to think further and immediately sat down to refine the vast soul power that came from the Soul Bone.
During the process of absorbing the Soul Bone, his martial soul, the Heavenly Star Plate, appeared on its own. The eight stars on the white jade star plate had already turned into nine stars.
Two yellow, two purple, four black, and one red—altogether, nine Soul Rings appeared beneath the old butler's feet.
The outermost red Soul Ring seemed to resonate with the Soul Bone the old butler was absorbing.
Suddenly, a faint pattern of a nine-feathered phoenix appeared on the surface of the blood-red Soul Ring.
Golden patterns embellished the phoenix design, making it appear noble and elegant.
Half an hour later.
Having absorbed the Soul Bone, the old butler stood up and smiled, saying:
"Little Master, after absorbing these Soul Bones, my soul power has broken through the peak of level ninety-four to level ninety-six."
"Moreover, the compatibility between the Soul Rings and Soul Bones of the same origin has enhanced the two Soul Skills they provide, especially one of the Soul Ring's Soul Skills."
There was genuine joy in the old butler's voice.
But it wasn't because of his strength increase; rather, it was because of the stronger power to protect the young master.
The old butler knew that his young master harbored ambitions to seize the throne of the Tiandou Empire, dominate the continent and the oceans, and ultimately ascend to godhood.
Before, he was only a Soul Douluo and couldn't accompany the young master to the end of this path, let alone protect him from harm along the way.
Now, with a soul power of level ninety-six and possessing both a hundred-thousand-year Soul Ring and a hundred-thousand-year Soul Bone, the old butler had enough confidence to accompany the young master to the end of this journey.
Lin Rong stepped forward and stroked the old butler's beard, which had turned black from absorbing the Soul Ring, and said:
"Ninety-six, Grandpa Yu, how long do you think it will take you to break through to level ninety-seven?"
Hearing this, the old butler pondered for a moment before answering somewhat uncertainly:
"Little Master, I'm not sure."
"I've just broken through to the Title Douluo realm, and this six-level increase in soul power came directly from the hundred-thousand-year Soul Ring and Soul Bone."
"How long does it take to break through to the Title Douluo level one? I don't have an estimate."
"I'll need some time to train before I can give you a more accurate answer."
"I completely forgot about that!" Lin Rong thought to himself, remembering the descriptions of the Title Douluo level from the original text.
Level ninety-five is the dividing line for the Title Douluos.
Anyone who breaks through to Title Douluo without damaging their foundation will eventually reach level ninety-five through the accumulation of time.
While there's a significant gap in soul power between level ninety-one and ninety-five, it can still be compensated for by the quality of the martial soul, Soul Rings, Soul Skills, and Soul Bones.
After level ninety-five, it's no longer just about accumulating soul power; it's about understanding.
Once soul power reaches level ninety-six, it's 20% stronger than level ninety-five.
At level ninety-seven, it's 20% stronger than level ninety-six.
Then, at level ninety-eight, it's 30% stronger than level ninety-seven.
And at level ninety-nine, it's 40% stronger than level ninety-eight.
The old butler had absorbed the medicinal powers of the Eight-Petal Immortal Orchid, Qiluo Tulip, and the Ten Thousand Year Nine-Petal Ginseng. His aptitude and talent were more than enough for him to reach level ninety-nine.
Therefore, after absorbing the Soul Bone, the old butler's soul power successfully broke through to level ninety-six.