Wang Yuan looked at Wang Chen, who intended to absorb a five-thousand-year soul ring, and couldn't help falling into deep thought.
It had been he who accompanied Wang Chen to the family treasury to retrieve the soul bone, so he naturally knew Wang Chen possessed one.
However, even with the amplification granted by a soul bone, the upper limit for a soul ring's age could only increase by about a thousand years at most.
Taking into account the Wang Family's daily resources and cultivation support, he believed Wang Chen could handle absorbing a three-thousand-year soul ring without much trouble.
But a five-thousand-year soul ring was simply too great a leap. Even with special elixirs or protective-type soul tools, the process would be extremely difficult.
If he failed to absorb it successfully, the consequences would be catastrophic.
Wang Yuan was unwilling to let Wang Chen take such a risk, and immediately advised,
"Chen'er, absorbing a five-thousand-year soul ring for your third ring is far too dangerous."
Elder Wang Xiaoming also spoke up,
"Chen'er, your grandfather passed away early. As your grand-uncle, I can't just stand by and watch you take such a risk. When absorbing a soul ring, you must prioritize stability — don't push too far beyond your limits."
Wang Chen didn't reply. Instead, he threw a punch forward, and with a loud boom, the air rippled from the impact.
Seeing Wang Chen's punch, both Wang Yuan and Wang Xiaoming's eyes lit up in surprise.
Without using any soul power, he could already produce such force — this was nearly at the level of a Soul Ancestor!
Wang Chen cupped his fists and said respectfully,
"Chen'er has full confidence in absorbing a five-thousand-year soul ring."
The two elders exchanged a glance and nodded. Clearly, they had made their decision.
As for the details, they didn't bother to ask — it was probably just that Wang Chen had obtained some kind of body-strengthening elixir.
Every powerful Soul Master had their own encounters and opportunities. If the family questioned every detail or demanded every treasure discovered by its members, then who would ever be willing to contribute to the clan again?
If the family couldn't bring benefits to its members, and instead only exploited them, such a clan would inevitably collapse one day.
Wang Yuan smiled broadly.
"It seems my judgment was correct. To absorb a five-thousand-year soul ring at level 30—such a physique! Perhaps for your fourth soul ring, you'll even manage a ten-thousand-year one.
At this rate, continuing to build upon your foundation like a rolling snowball, you'll have an even greater chance of forming a soul core and breaking through to Title Douluo in the future."
Wang Xiaoming replied with a laugh,
"Alright, save your praise for after we've caught that golden tiger."
As soon as he finished speaking, Wang Xiaoming took action.
Yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black — seven perfectly matched soul rings rose and revolved around him.
A powerful wave of soul power burst forth, sweeping directly toward the golden tiger.
Sensing the terrifying pressure, the golden tiger's fur bristled in alarm.
Its entire body glowed with golden light, its claws gleaming sharp as blades. As it swung them, violent gales whipped up, slicing through the surrounding trees and ground, leaving smooth, mirror-like cuts in its wake.
Blades of golden soul power erupted from its claws, slashing toward Wang Xiaoming.
The attack was astonishingly powerful — enough to make even a Soul King retreat three steps.
Unfortunately for it, its opponent was a Soul Saint.
Wang Xiaoming let out a cold snort as his third soul ring lit up.
A pillar of crimson flame, three meters thick, erupted forth, instantly reducing the golden blades to nothing before continuing straight toward the golden tiger.
"ROAR!!"
Caught off guard, the golden tiger was struck head-on by the red fire column. It let out a heart-wrenching scream as the high-temperature flames charred its golden fur pitch-black.
In its amber eyes, a flash of fear appeared. Casting a venomous glare at Wang Xiaoming, the tiger turned and tried to flee.
"Trying to run?" Wang Xiaoming sneered.
He raised his hand, and a soul tool shaped like a glowing chain appeared in his grip. In the next instant, the light transformed into golden radiance, shooting out and wrapping tightly around the tiger's limbs.
No matter how the beast struggled or roared, it couldn't move an inch.
"This Rank-6 Binding Soul Tool is far beyond what a five-thousand-year soul beast like you could break," Wang Xiaoming said indifferently.
Seeing Wang Xiaoming act, Wang Yuan relaxed and turned toward Wang Chen.
"Chen'er, go on. Deliver the final blow and absorb its soul ring. We'll protect you."
As he spoke, Wang Yuan took out a pill from his storage soul tool.
"Chen'er, take this. It can protect your meridians and assist in soul ring absorption."
Wang Chen knew this kind of pill well. Its refining process was complex and its ingredients extremely rare. Even major powers would only make small quantities for their own juniors — they were never sold to outsiders.
Accepting it, Wang Chen didn't hesitate and swallowed it in one go.
The pill melted instantly, transforming into warm streams of energy that coursed through his meridians, forming a thin protective barrier within his body.
Then, Wang Chen stepped up to the subdued golden tiger.
The beast, bound to the ground, still glared at him with eyes full of unwillingness and rage.
Wang Chen drew the Breaking Wind Spear from his storage device and thrust it straight into the golden tiger's neck.
In an instant, blood gushed out as the golden tiger let out one final roar before its life force faded completely.
As the tiger died, a single purple soul ring emerged and floated above its body.
Without wasting a second, Wang Chen sat cross-legged, channeling his soul power to draw the purple soul ring toward himself.
The moment the ring touched him, his body shuddered violently as a vast, domineering power surged into him.
Wang Chen immediately activated his Tongmai cultivation technique, guiding the energy through his meridians to tame and fuse it with his body.
The energy within the soul ring was wild and fierce, constantly battering against his meridians as if refusing to submit.
But after absorbing Life Gold, Wang Chen's meridians had become exceptionally tough. Combined with the pill's protection, no matter how violently the energy rampaged, his meridians held firm, unscathed.
Wang Chen continued to circulate his soul power, surrounding and subduing the energy bit by bit, merging it into his body to enhance himself.
Seeing that the absorption was proceeding smoothly, Wang Yuan and Wang Xiaoming both sighed in relief. They then encircled Wang Chen to guard him from any soul beasts or Soul Masters who might disturb the process.
Time passed little by little. After about an hour, Wang Chen's aura stabilized completely — the soul ring had been fully absorbed.
Wang Chen slowly opened his eyes. The absorption of the five-thousand-year soul ring was complete.
His soul power had directly broken through to level 32, and he wasn't far from level 33.
Since it had already been a week since he'd reached level 30, and the five-thousand-year soul ring's energy was abundant, gaining an extra level or two was only natural.
Moreover, with the boost from such a powerful soul ring, Wang Chen's strength now far exceeded that of an ordinary Soul Elder.
Compared to others of the same rank, Wang Chen's body was stronger, his power greater, his speed faster, his endurance higher, his soul power denser, and its quality far superior — a complete, all-round suppression.
Now, Wang Chen's overall strength could rival that of newly advanced Soul Ancestors.
After all, most Soul Masters could only absorb a five-thousand-year soul ring once they reached the Soul Ancestor level.
The only difference between Wang Chen and a Soul Ancestor now was soul power quantity and an additional ring. In every other respect, he was equal—or stronger.
Especially in terms of spiritual power, Wang Chen's was already at the Soul King level, far surpassing any Soul Ancestor.
This was why every Soul Master sought to absorb higher-year soul rings — the higher the ring's age, the more terrifying the enhancement it provided.
Among Titled Douluo, the difference between possessing a hundred-thousand-year soul ring and not having one was massive.
Wang Chen stretched lazily, releasing his soul power. Around him, yellow, yellow, and purple rings rose and revolved.
Feeling the ability of his new third soul ring, Wang Chen's lips curved into a satisfied smile.
His Tool Spirit martial soul's third soul skill — Condense — was outstanding, doubling both his attack power and attack speed by 100%. Its amplification far surpassed the 50% boost from his first and second skills.
As expected of a five-thousand-year soul ring — completely incomparable to those trashy hundred-year ones.
Standing up, Wang Chen clasped his fists toward the two elders.
"Elders, Chen'er has successfully absorbed his third soul ring."
Elder Wang Yuan waved his hand with a grin.
"Chen'er, you're such a good child — but you're far too polite. From now on, just call me Grandpa Wang Yuan, hahaha!"
Wang Xiaoming also looked at him kindly, full of admiration.
"Chen'er, absorbing a five-thousand-year soul ring—this trip has been truly fruitful. Let's head back to Mingdu quickly.
Although the Jingyang Mountains aren't as dangerous as the Evil Demon Forest, it's still a soul beast habitat. We shouldn't linger here."
The two elders immediately activated their flight soul tools and took Wang Chen back toward Mingdu.
By the time Wang Chen returned home, night had already fallen.
As for Wang Yuan and Wang Xiaoming, they naturally returned to their own residences.
The moment Wang Chen got home, he entered his cultivation room and began upgrading his soul tools.
He first upgraded several of his commonly used Rank-3 soul tools to Rank-4.
Ordinary Soul Elders would find Rank-4 soul tools difficult to handle, but Wang Chen was not ordinary.
His soul power quality and strength both far surpassed those of typical Soul Elders.
More importantly, because he personally crafted his own soul tools, they were perfectly attuned to him — consuming far less energy than ordinary ones.
In addition to his usual soul tools, Wang Chen also made a flight soul tool.
Though such tools consumed immense soul power — even the lowest grade requiring a Soul Elder to sustain — that wasn't a problem for him.
The night passed quickly.
After working nonstop until dawn, Wang Chen gazed at the silver-white crafting table, upon which several finished soul tools lay neatly arranged. He nodded with satisfaction.
They included a close-combat Guided Longspear, a long-range Soul Tool Cannon, a Propulsion Device, and a Flight Soul Tool.
As for defense, Wang Chen already possessed the Wang Family's Rank-6 defensive soul tool — the Young Master's Command Token.
He inspected each soul tool carefully, infusing them with soul power. Finding no issues, he smiled faintly.
His Tool Spirit martial soul could greatly amplify the power of soul tools — the stronger the soul tool, the stronger his own combat ability.
As his cultivation increased, his number of soul skills and amplification effects would only continue to grow.
Currently, he had three soul skills. When he eventually became a Titled Douluo and obtained nine, amplifying a Rank-9 soul tool with all nine skills would make its destructive power utterly terrifying.
Wang Chen picked up his Rank-4 close-combat soul tool, the Breaking Wind Spear, and activated all three of his soul rings at once.
Under the triple enhancement, the spear's power skyrocketed — especially with the third skill, Condense, doubling both attack and speed.
The amplification from this one skill alone surpassed the combined boost of the first two.
Back when Wang Chen was only a two-ring Great Soul Master, his Tool Spirit's amplification wasn't very noticeable.
But now, at the three-ring Soul Elder level, the enhancement was already astonishing.
With all three soul rings active, the Breaking Wind Spear's might had reached the very peak of Rank-4 soul tools—just below Rank-5.
Next, Wang Chen activated the secret technique Ring Tempering.
As the energy from his three soul rings surged through his body, his aura rose rapidly.
His third soul ring alone, being five thousand years old, contained far greater energy than the two hundred-year ones combined.
Thus, the boost from this Ring Tempering was far beyond anything before.
If not for his Life Gold-enhanced physique, his body would never have withstood the strain.
Under the secret art's power, Wang Chen's aura soared to the peak of the Soul Elder realm — and then into the realm of the Soul Ancestor.
Gripping his spear tightly, Wang Chen reveled in the intoxicating rush of power.
He murmured to himself,
"After absorbing my third soul ring, my strength has increased tremendously. I doubt many Soul Ancestors could be my match now."
Wang Chen swung the Breaking Wind Spear again and again, familiarizing himself with his newfound power.
From then on, Wang Chen spent every day cultivating, forging soul tools, making arrangements, and preparing for the grand events to come in the years ahead.
Occasionally, when Meng Hongchen sought him out privately, he would take time to accompany her.
Time passed like flowing water—spring gave way to autumn, winter turned to spring again. Three years slipped by in the blink of an eye.
——————————————
Sun Moon Empire Imperial Palace — Day of the Grand Court Assembly
In the magnificent and towering great hall, civil and military officials stood on both sides, clad in ornate robes, arrayed neatly according to rank.
The atmosphere was solemn and majestic.
At the top of the grand dais, Emperor Xu Jing of the Sun Moon Empire sat upon the dragon throne.
He wore a dragon robe and imperial crown. His hair was gray, his complexion dim, his body aged—but his eyes remained sharp and commanding, like those of an ancient dragon radiating authority.
Below him, officials, nobles, princes, guards, and eunuchs all bowed deeply, their voices echoing through the hall:
"Long live His Majesty!"
Xu Jing's piercing gaze swept across the front rows until it landed upon a young man standing proudly there.
He appeared about twenty-three or twenty-four, his eyes bright and resolute. Though not exceptionally handsome, he exuded a natural air of dignity.
This man was the First Prince — Xu Tiannan.
Xu Jing, seated on the dragon throne, spoke in a deep, powerful voice,
"I hereby announce — from this day forth, the Crown Prince of the Sun Moon Empire shall be Xu Tiannan!"