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

However, the moment Lin Xia finished speaking, a strong sense of weakness surged over her like a tidal wave!

The energy required to maintain the evolved form far exceeded his expectations!

In just a short while, his soul power, which had just broken through to level fifteen, had been almost completely depleted!

hum...bum...

The purplish-black armor phantom covering him began to flicker violently, like a projection with a poor signal.

The deep black armor on the Azure Flame Blade Demon's body and the light of the Azure Flame Twin Swords also dimmed and flickered simultaneously.

"Oh no..."

Lin Xia had a bad feeling; forcibly maintaining it would only damage her source.

He made a quick decision, his mind racing.

"Disarmed!"

The deep purple light receded and collapsed from Lin Xia and the Azure Flame Blade Demon as if the tide were receding!

As the light faded, the purplish-black armor vanished without a trace, revealing Lin Xia's face, which was initially tired but couldn't hide her excitement.

A flash of light appeared on the Azure Flame Blade Demon, and it transformed back into the small Charcoal Servant wearing a red helmet. However, the flames on its helmet seemed more condensed and profound, but it also appeared somewhat listless at this moment.

"Huff...huff..."

Lin Xia supported herself on her knees, panting heavily. Her face was even paler than before, and her forehead was covered with fine beads of sweat.

Looking at his body, now restored to its original state, and at the same weak-breathing Tan Xiaoshi at his feet, a trace of helplessness and regret flashed in his eyes.

"So it really won't work? It's not real armor, just an energy form guided by a soul skill, and it's already this difficult to maintain! The soul power consumption is terrifying!"

Chiye Kui keenly caught the fleeting look of disappointment in Lin Xia's eyes.

The reason became clear instantly—excessive energy expenditure!

Chi Ye Kui immediately stepped forward, her elegant face bearing a gentle and understanding smile. She patted Lin Xia's shoulder lightly, her voice carrying a comforting power.

"Xia, don't be discouraged."

Chi Ye Kui's gaze swept over Lin Xia and Tan Xiao Shi, her eyes filled with amazement and anticipation.

"You've already experienced the power of your evolved form firsthand. It's far more than just looking cool!"

"That power, that defense, that battle stance perfectly integrated with your martial spirit... it's fully qualified to be your trump card!"

"Besides, this is only your first spirit ring. Your spirit power will increase in the future, and the problem of insufficient spirit power might be solved then, right?"

Chi Ye Kui's words were full of affirmation and encouragement, instantly easing Lin Xia's sense of defeat caused by the exhaustion of her soul power.

After Chi Ye Kui finished speaking, Lin Xia comforted herself.

That's right, this is only my first soul skill!

When you reach the second ring, the third ring... or even the ninth ring.

wrong!

A more outrageous and grander idea immediately popped into Lin Xia's mind!

Nine rings!

If I could absorb all of this type of soul rings myself.

Wouldn't that mean...?

Nine types of armor!

Nine evolutionary forms!

This thought exploded in Lin Xia's mind like a thunderclap, causing his eyes, which had been slightly dim due to weakness, to suddenly burst forth with a light even more intense and dazzling than the previous light of evolution!

Lin Xia realized the essence of the Netherfire Armor: it constructed a channel and a possibility, allowing him and Tan Xiaoshi to highly synchronize and merge their life energy, soul power, and spiritual will.

Catalyzed by the Netherworld power bestowed by the Thousand-Year Netherfire Beast Soul Ring, they were forcibly pushed to a higher and more perfect form!

So... what if the next soul ring you absorb isn't just a single Netherfire attribute?

Lin Xia's heart suddenly raced!

He thought of Tan Xiaoshi's potential, he thought of Cangyan Blade Demon, and he also thought of that form wearing Crimson Lotus Heavy Armor - Crimson Lotus Knight!

That could also be a possible evolutionary branch for Tanjiro!

What if... what if I chose a fire-attribute soul beast that contained pure life flames and superpowers for my second soul ring?

When he activates the armor-based soul skill based on the second soul ring again, in that state of extreme soul resonance and fusion, will his and Tan Xiaoshi's life forms be pushed in another direction?

Will I be covered by a set of crimson heavy armor made of molten lava, with patterns of boiling magma?

Will Charcoal Servant, catalyzed by the Flame of Life or the power of lava, evolve into a Crimson Lotus Knight clad in crimson?

Once this thought takes hold, it can never be stopped!

What about the third spirit ring?

What if you chose a soul beast that controls thunder or wind?

When a soul skill is activated and the soul resonance reaches its peak, will a set of swift lightning armor woven from leaping electric arcs and wrapped in cyan whirlwinds appear?

Will Tanjiro evolve into an unknown form that can control storms and thunder?

Fourth spirit ring... Fifth spirit ring...

Lin Xia's thoughts were like a wild horse, galloping freely in the realm of her imagination!

Frost! Earth! Light! Darkness! Even... dragons!

Each distinct attribute and each powerful spirit ring could ignite the possibility of the next evolution!

Each leap could create a unique set of ultimate armor with distinct attributes and power to cover one's body!

At the same time, it may also guide Tanjiro onto completely different, yet equally powerful, paths of evolution!

Nine spirit rings!

Nine attributes!

Nine sets of ultimate battle armor!

Nine... evolutionary forms that, together with Tanjiro, will shake the world!

This is not just an extension of a soul skill; it is a path of infinite evolution!

Lin Xia looked at the tired but still upright Tan Xiaoshi beside her, and at the cluster of flames dancing on its helmet, and couldn't help but smile.

Chi Ye Kui, Huo Wu, Huo Wushuang, and Huo Lie watched as Lin Xia's face went from weakness to excitement, and now to a radiant smile full of ambition and determination.

Although they didn't know exactly what Lin Xia was thinking, the intense look in her eyes made them realize that Lin Xia probably had some kind of plan!

For a moment, Huo Wu and the others felt waves of pressure.

If I don't work hard when facing such a prodigy, I might be surpassed very quickly!

The thought of the people here sent a shiver down my spine!

This is absolutely unacceptable!

After a brief recovery, Lin Xia also composed herself, realizing that this was just a hypothetical scenario, one that couldn't be realized at the moment.

........

Six months later.

Blazing Fire Academy, Central Martial Arts Arena.

The scorching air seemed to be stirred up even more by the intense collision of soul power in the arena.

Six months is enough time for a genius's talent to become even more shrewd.

At this moment, the battle is not a traditional duel involving the possession of martial spirits.

Flames surged around Huo Wushuang, his robust body was muscular and his soul rings shone brightly. His arms were covered with condensed flame armor, and every swing carried scorching wind pressure and explosive power.

Huo Wu was like a fire spirit, her figure nimble and elusive, her chestnut hair flying in the heat waves. Her Fire Shadow Martial Soul swayed beside her, and several orange-red fireballs, concentrated with terrifying heat, seemed to be alive as they circled around her, searching for the fatal moment to launch.

However, their fierce attacks were all blocked and neutralized by a small figure burning with dark red flames.