Douluo Continent: Martial Soul Charcoal Servant, Crimson Lotus Azure Flame!

The faint sounds of the Netherfire Beast's body twitching unconsciously, and the heavy breathing of Huo Wu, Huo Wushuang, and Huo Lie, who seemed to have survived a calamity.

They looked at the enormous soul beast that was ferocious and powerful one second and collapsed like mud the next, and then at Chi Ye Kui standing on the back of the Netherfire Beast, whose graceful figure was now exuding a powerful aura. Their eyes were filled with awe and lingering fear.

This is the power of a Soul Saint!

Horror!

Chi Ye Kui didn't even glance at the unconscious giant beast at her feet. She lightly leaped down and returned to Lin Xia's side in a few steps. She sat down quietly and looked at the boy who had surprised and amazed her with a complex expression.

Time ticked by, and tension and anxiety filled the air.

Huo Wu and the other two, dragging their tired bodies, also moved closer and silently stood guard by her side, not daring to breathe loudly.

Finally, Lin Xia's long eyelashes fluttered, and she slowly opened her eyes.

Although her face was still pale, her eyes had regained their former sharpness and brightness, indicating that her soul power had recovered considerably.

"Aunt."

Lin Xia was not surprised to see Chi Ye Kui standing close by with a worried expression, and calmly called out to her.

"Xia!"

Chi Ye Kui grabbed his arm almost immediately, her voice filled with barely suppressed anxiety and lingering fear.

"You're awake! You...you really want to absorb this thousand-year-old soul ring? No! Absolutely not! Your body simply can't withstand it! That violent energy surge will instantly tear your meridians apart and shatter your bones!"

"This has nothing to do with willpower; it's the limit of the physical body! This is an ironclad rule of the Soul Master system!"

Her tone was urgent and stern, but her eyes held genuine concern, as if she were stopping her child from walking off a cliff.

Lin Xia felt the slight tremor in Chi Ye Kui's hand and the heavy worry in it, and a warm feeling welled up in her heart.

He gently patted the back of Chi Ye Kui's hand, a calm yet incredibly determined smile on his face.

"Auntie, I know what you're worried about. I've read the theory of the limits of Soul Masters absorbing Soul Rings many times in the academy's library."

"A level 10 Soul Master's physical limit is around 400 years. A thousand-year Soul Ring certainly far exceeds this limit."

Lin Xia's voice was clear and steady, without the slightest fervor or impulsiveness.

"But, Auntie..."

Lin Xia's gaze shifted to Tan Xiaoshi, who was guarding his feet and whose eyes were equally determined.

"You've forgotten, I'm different from them. My martial spirit, Charcoal Servant, is more than just a martial spirit."

Lin Xia's eyes became unusually bright, carrying a light that seemed to see through the essence of things.

"It is a partner with independent life and independent consciousness! It has its own core of power and a body with its own limits!"

"A Martial Soul is an extension of a Soul Master's body, a part of their soul. Therefore, possessing a partner-level Martial Soul means..."

Lin Xia spoke each word with resounding force:

"I possess twice the physical potential! Twice the maximum capacity!"

"When the energy of the spirit rings poured in and impacted my body,"

Lin Xia pointed to Tan Xiaoshi.

"Through the unique soul connection between us, Tanjiro can proactively share at least half of the impact!"

"Its unique life form, naturally affinity for fire and ghostly energy, is the best buffer! And I only need to focus on enduring the remaining half!"

"This is my confidence! This is by no means a reckless gamble, but a well-thought-out judgment based on a profound understanding of Tanjiro's true nature!"

The fiery hibiscus was completely stunned.

"Double the body's potential...double the carrying capacity...half the burden..."

This statement exploded in her mind like a thunderbolt! She had never imagined that martial spirits could be understood in this way!

I never imagined that the word "partner" could have such a revolutionary meaning in the context of soul ring absorption!

Chi Ye Kui stared intently at Lin Xia's clear eyes, which seemed to contain the stars and the sea, and then looked at Tan Xiao Shi's eyes, which were burning with flames and filled with the same firm and fearless will.

Yes!

Charcoal Servant is not some kind of tool spirit at all!

It is a living, breathing life form with tremendous potential!

This seemingly crazy and subversive theory, under Lin Xia's calm and logical explanation and Tan Xiaoshi's silent and steadfast protection, actually made Chi Ye Kui's deeply rooted "iron law" waver slightly!

She looked at Lin Xia and saw, behind that almost obsessive determination, wisdom beyond her years, absolute trust in her partner, and an almost instinctive insight into the nature of power!

This mindset...this wisdom...this trust...

Chiye Kui's eyes shifted dramatically, from worry and shock to hesitation, and finally to a resolute determination and anticipation to take a gamble.

She took a deep breath, as if trying to inhale the scorching desert air and all her worries into her lungs, and then exhale heavily.

The anxiety on her composed face finally faded slowly, replaced by a complex expression that was once again intertwined with an unprecedented solemnity and trust.

Chi Ye Kui slowly stood up and walked to the side of the Netherfire Beast, which was unconscious and exuded a terrifying aura of a thousand-year-old soul beast.

"Okay! Xia! Auntie believes you!"

"This thousand-year-old Netherfire Beast..."

"Its spirit ring is yours!"

After saying that, Chi Ye Kui added a sentence.

"However, Auntie has to say beforehand: if you really can't hold on any longer, Auntie will immediately interrupt your soul ring absorption!"

"You might become a useless person then, completely losing everything you have. Even so, would you still be willing?"

Lin Xia paused for a moment upon hearing this, but nodded very seriously. Tan Xiaoshi, standing beside her, also waved his fist.

"good!"

Chi Ye Kui said no more, her graceful figure carrying a heavy burden as she slowly retreated to the side.

The spiritual power of a Soul Saint level being, like an invisible spider web, instantly enveloped the area, firmly locking onto Lin Xia, ready to forcibly intervene at any time, even at a great cost, to interrupt the absorption.

Huo Wushuang, Huo Wu, and Huo Lie held their breath, their hearts pounding in their throats, watching the scene with bated breath.

Without the slightest hesitation, Lin Xia and Tan Xiaoshi strode up to the thousand-year-old Netherfire Beast, which lay sprawled like a mountain and barely breathing.

With a flick of his wrist, Lin Xia pulled a long steel sword from his storage soul tool into his hand.

The blade flashed a cold arc in the scorching sunlight, piercing with unparalleled precision into the vital spot of the Netherfire Beast, which was covered in lava armor!

"Pfft!"

The dull thud of the blade piercing flesh was accompanied by the final, unconscious, violent convulsions of the Netherfire Beast, from which gushed forth scalding, dark purple blood with a strange, pungent odor.

The struggle quickly ceased, and the chilling aura of the thousand-year-old soul beast was extinguished completely, like a candle flickering in the wind.

Immediately afterwards, a deep, condensed, pale purple soul ring, seemingly formed from the purest nether energy and the essence of fire, slowly rose from above the massive corpse of the Netherfire Beast!