Wang Yuan gazed at Wang Chen, who was preparing to absorb a five-thousand-year spirit ring, and couldn't help but fall into deep thought.
The spirit bone Wang Chen possessed was something he himself had escorted him to retrieve from the family's treasure vault, so he naturally knew Wang Chen had a spirit bone.
But even with the assistance of a spirit bone, at best, it would allow someone to absorb a spirit ring only about one thousand years older than what they could normally endure.
Coupled with the abundant cultivation resources the Wang Clan usually provided, Wang Yuan believed that Wang Chen absorbing a three-thousand-year spirit ring was no problem.
But a five-thousand-year one… that was simply pushing it too far. Even with special pills or protective spirit tools, absorbing it would still be extremely difficult.
And if the absorption failed, the consequences would be catastrophic.
Not wanting Wang Chen to take such a risk, Wang Yuan immediately advised,
"Chen'er, absorbing a five-thousand-year spirit ring for your third one is too dangerous."
Elder Wang Xiaoming also chimed in,
"Chen'er, your grandfather passed away early. As your grand-uncle, I cannot just watch you risk your life. When absorbing a spirit ring, stability should come first. Don't push for extremes."
Wang Chen didn't respond verbally. Instead, he threw out a single punch.
Boom!—a thunderous explosion rang out.
Wang Yuan and Wang Xiaoming both lit up with astonishment.
He hadn't even used soul power, yet the force behind that punch was already close to a Soul Sect's…
Wang Chen cupped his fists and said firmly,
"I am confident I can absorb the five-thousand-year spirit ring."
The two elders exchanged glances and nodded. Clearly, they had made their decision.
As for the minor details, neither of them bothered asking. After all, every strong spirit master had their own little fortuitous encounters—perhaps he had obtained some rare body-fortifying elixir or opportunity.
If the clan started prying into every secret and seizing every treasure their juniors found, why would anyone remain loyal? A family that only exploited its own would eventually collapse.
Wang Yuan laughed heartily,
"My judgment wasn't wrong. For a thirty-rank Spirit Elder to absorb a five-thousand-year spirit ring… With such a physique, perhaps you'll even manage to absorb a ten-thousand-year ring for your fourth!
If this snowballs further, your chances of condensing a spirit core and breaking through to Titled Douluo will be far greater."
Wang Xiaoming smirked at him,
"Enough with the praise. Save it for after we actually capture that golden tiger."
As he spoke, Wang Xiaoming directly unleashed his power. Rings of yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black rose around him—the perfect seven-ring configuration.
A suffocating pressure erupted as his Spirit Saint aura swept toward the Golden Tiger.
Sensing the overwhelming threat, the beast's fur bristled. Golden light flared over its body, claws gleaming razor-sharp. With a single swipe, it produced cutting gales that sliced cleanly through trees and even the earth itself, leaving mirror-smooth surfaces.
One golden energy blade after another lashed toward Wang Xiaoming.
These blades were so sharp that even a Soul King would retreat from them. Unfortunately, their opponent was a Spirit Saint.
With a cold snort, Wang Xiaoming's third spirit ring lit up. A massive red pillar of flame, three meters thick, roared forth, instantly incinerating the golden blades and continuing toward the tiger.
"ROAR!!"
The Golden Tiger failed to evade in time and was struck head-on, its golden fur charring black as a miserable howl escaped its throat.
Its amber eyes filled with fear and hatred. With a last glare at Wang Xiaoming, it turned tail to flee.
"Hmph, trying to run?"
Wang Xiaoming conjured a chain-like beam of light from his spirit tool. It shot forth like golden lightning, wrapping tightly around the tiger's limbs. No matter how it struggled or roared, it could not move.
"This sixth-grade Binding Spirit Tool isn't something a mere five-thousand-year beast can break," Wang Xiaoming said coolly.
Wang Yuan, relieved, turned to Wang Chen.
"Chen'er, finish it. Absorb its ring—we'll guard you."
From his storage tool, Wang Yuan produced a pill.
"Take this first. It will protect your meridians and help you absorb the ring more safely."
Wang Chen immediately recognized its value. Such elixirs required rare materials and painstaking refinement. They were usually reserved for a clan's own juniors, never sold externally.
He swallowed it without hesitation. The pill dissolved instantly, spreading protective energy through his meridians like a barrier.
Approaching the subdued Golden Tiger, Wang Chen summoned his Wind-Piercing Spear. With a decisive thrust, he pierced the beast's neck.
Blood gushed out. The tiger gave one final roar before collapsing lifelessly.
A violet spirit ring rose from its corpse.
Wasting no time, Wang Chen sat cross-legged, circulating his soul power to draw the ring toward him.
The instant it merged into him, his body jolted violently as an immense, domineering power surged inside.
Quickly, he ran the Tongmai Gong to guide the energy through his meridians.
The power of the ring was wild and resistant, battering against him.
But after fusing with the Essence of Life Gold, Wang Chen's meridians had become incredibly tough. Coupled with the pill's protection, no matter how the energy raged, his channels held firm.
Gradually, he suppressed and refined the energy, bit by bit fusing it into himself.
Seeing how smoothly it was going, Wang Yuan and Wang Xiaoming both sighed in relief. They stood watch, preventing any spirit beasts or rogue spirit masters from interrupting.
An hour later, Wang Chen's aura stabilized—the fusion complete.
His spirit power surged to level 32, edging close to 33.
Considering he had only broken through to level 30 a week ago, the leap was natural. A five-thousand-year ring contained immense energy, far more than a mere hundred-year one.
And with this powerful ring, Wang Chen's strength now far outstripped ordinary Spirit Elders.
Compared to peers at his level, his body was sturdier, strength greater, speed faster, endurance higher, soul power denser, and its quality superior. It was total domination.
He could already compete with early-stage Soul Sects despite being only a Spirit Elder.
After all, most spirit masters couldn't absorb a five-thousand-year ring until reaching the Soul Sect.
On top of that, Wang Chen's spiritual power was already at the Soul King level, vastly surpassing Soul Sects.
This was why high-age spirit rings were so coveted—the higher the years, the greater the strengthening effect.
Among the Titled Douluo, the difference between having and not having a hundred-thousand-year ring was immense.
Wang Chen stood, stretching as his three spirit rings—yellow, yellow, purple—rose around him.
He explored his new third ability.
It was his Spirit Weapon martial soul's third skill: "Condense."
Its effect was tremendous, doubling both his attack power and attack speed—a far stronger boost than the 50% enhancements from his first and second skills.
Truly, a five-thousand-year ring was worlds apart from a trash hundred-year one.
Wang Chen bowed respectfully.
"Elders, I have successfully absorbed my third spirit ring."
Elder Wang Yuan waved a hand, smiling warmly.
"Chen'er, you're too polite. From now on, just call me Grandpa Wang Yuan, haha!"
Wang Xiaoming, eyes full of kindness, added,
"With this success, our trip is complete. Let's return to Mingdu. The Jingyang Mountains may not be as dangerous as the Demonic Forest, but they're still a beast domain. Best not linger."
The two elders unfolded their flying spirit tools, carrying Wang Chen back toward Mingdu.
By the time Wang Chen returned home, night had fallen. The two elders naturally departed for their own residences.
Without rest, Wang Chen entered his cultivation chamber, upgrading his spirit tools.
He raised several of his usual third-grade spirit tools to the fourth grade.
Ordinary Spirit Elders might struggle to use fourth-grade tools, but Wang Chen was no ordinary one. His spirit power quality and reserves far surpassed his peers.
Moreover, his self-made tools were uniquely compatible with him, consuming less power than others of the same grade.
He even crafted a flying spirit tool. Though such devices normally drained immense power, requiring at least Spirit Elder cultivation to sustain, Wang Chen could now manage it.
By dawn, he had completed several new creations: a melee spirit spear, a ranged launcher, a propulsion system, and the flying tool. For defense, he already had the sixth-grade Wang Clan Young Master token.
Examining each, he nodded with satisfaction.
With his Spirit Weapon martial soul, he could massively enhance any spirit tool's might. The stronger the tool, the greater the amplification.
And as his cultivation advanced, the number of amplification skills he could stack would only increase.
With three skills now, and potentially nine at the Titled Douluo stage, a ninth-grade spirit tool under ninefold amplification might reach terrifying levels.
Testing his new fourth-grade Wind-Piercing Spear, Wang Chen activated all three rings.
Under the triple enhancement—especially the third skill "Condense"—the weapon's might soared, rivaling peak fourth-grade tools, just a step below fifth-grade ones.
Then he used his secret art, Ring Tempering.
The energy from his three rings poured into him, his aura skyrocketing.
With the five-thousand-year ring contributing far more than the hundred-year ones, the boost was massive. Were it not for the Essence of Life Gold strengthening his body, he wouldn't have withstood it.
Under its effect, his strength climbed rapidly—reaching the peak of Spirit Elder, then the realm of a Soul Sect.
Gripping his spear tightly, he reveled in the surge.
"After absorbing this third ring, my strength has grown tremendously. Even many Soul Sects may not be my match."
For days afterward, he trained relentlessly, mastering his new power, refining tools, laying formations, and preparing for the grand stage to come.
Sometimes, Meng Hongchen would secretly meet him, and Wang Chen always made time for her.
Thus, the seasons passed—spring to autumn, winter to spring again. Three years slipped away in the blink of an eye.
Sun Moon Empire Imperial Palace – Great Court Assembly.
In the majestic hall, civil and military officials stood ranked by status, solemn in ornate robes.
Atop the grand dais, Emperor Xu Jing sat upon the dragon throne, clad in dragon robes and imperial crown. His gray hair and dim complexion betrayed age, but his eyes shone with the majesty of an ancient dragon—fearsome even without anger.
Below, nobles, princes, officials, guards, and eunuchs bowed deeply, voices resounding in unison:
"Long live His Majesty!"
Xu Jing's gaze swept across them, finally resting on a young man at the front.
This youth looked twenty-three or twenty-four, eyes sharp and spirited. His face wasn't particularly handsome, but it radiated authority.
He was the Crown Prince's foremost contender—First Prince Xu Tianran.
From the throne, Xu Jing declared in a booming voice:
From this day forth, the Crown Prince of the Sun Moon Empire shall be Xu Tianran!