Douluo Dalu II: The Peerless Tang Sect

Chapter 93 The Essence of Soul Rings! (Personal interpretation, please refrain from criticism!)

"Good disciple, no need to rush." ​​Electrolux saw Zhu Ziyang's disappointment and said with a smile, "With your talent, I believe it won't be long before you reach that level. At that time, even if I don't say it, you will know."

"I understand, teacher," Zhu Ziyang nodded in reply.

"I became a sixth-order archmage at the age of fifteen. Ziyang, your talent far surpasses mine. With the careful training from me and Elder Mu, I believe you will definitely surpass me," Electrox said confidently.

"A sixth-order archmage?" Zhu Ziyang asked in confusion.

"Heh! Look at me, I just blurted it out. According to the Douluo Continent system, a sixth-order Archmage should correspond to a six-ring Soul Emperor in this world," Ilex said, a hint of helplessness on his aged face.

"Oh, oh!" Zhu Ziyang finally understood, nodding repeatedly, and said, "A fifteen-year-old six-ring Soul Emperor, how could that be so easy!"

"Don't underestimate yourself!" Electrox exclaimed. "Although your world's cultivation system is unique, all methods ultimately lead to the same goal: the evolution of life. Over the past few months, I've come to understand the essence of the Martial Soul cultivation system. Now, let me share my thoughts."

"Okay, teacher." Zhu Ziyang was filled with anticipation. He was fortunate enough to have a powerful expert, even stronger than a Limit Douluo, explaining the methods of cultivation. Such an opportunity was probably something only he could enjoy.

"As for martial souls, I, being from another world, cannot comment on them. As for soul power, it's similar to the spiritual power of my world; both are special forces that drive the evolution of life, so there's not much to say," Ilex said. "I want to focus on the special thing called soul rings."

Eleks paused, glanced at Zhu Ziyang, and found that Zhu Ziyang was staring intently at him.

"Regarding spirit rings, I have two views. First, they are a manifestation of the world's order. The existence of spirit masters and corresponding spirit beasts on the Douluo Continent is clearly the most fundamental operating rule of the world. This rule is neither superior nor inferior; spirit masters absorb spirit rings, spirit beasts generate spirit rings, breaking through realms requires absorbing spirit rings, and absorbing spirit rings generates spirit skills—all these established practices follow this rule. Therefore, compared to humans in my world, the cultivation of spirit masters on the Douluo Continent is undoubtedly much simpler."

Secondly, spirit rings are a constraint. Firstly, spirit rings are rigidly tied to spirit skills; one spirit ring corresponds to one spirit skill. This inevitably limits a spirit master's combat methods to the number of spirit rings they possess. In contrast, in my world, while mages and warriors are also limited by their cultivation level when practicing magic and combat techniques, they are undoubtedly much freer.

"Um, teacher," Zhu Ziyang interrupted Ilex, "not all spirit rings can only provide one spirit skill. A 100,000-year spirit ring can provide two spirit skills."

"Oh?" Electrox exclaimed in surprise, "A 100,000-year-old soul beast? What kind of being is that? Do soul beasts and soul masters on the Douluo Continent use a different cultivation system?"

"More or less," Zhu Ziyang said, not wanting to be certain. "The strength of soul beasts is determined by their age. The lowest level, the ten-year soul beast, is equivalent to a soul warrior or soul master. Above that are hundred-year, thousand-year, ten-thousand-year, and hundred-thousand-year soul beasts. A hundred-thousand-year soul beast is comparable to a titled Douluo. The soul rings produced by soul beasts of different ages are also different colors, from lowest to highest: white, yellow, purple, black, and red."

"I see," Electrox said with sudden realization. "No wonder you have a yellow spirit ring and two purple spirit rings on your spirit. I was wondering why that yellow spirit ring containing the power of death was less solid than the other two purple spirit rings. It seems my understanding of spirit rings was somewhat biased."

"It's alright, teacher. I'm not in a hurry, you can take your time to understand," Zhu Ziyang said with a smile.

"According to you, Ziyang, a 100,000-year spirit ring can provide two spirit skills, and a 100,000-year spirit beast's strength rivals that of a Title Douluo. Then…" Ilex said thoughtfully, "it seems that the constraints of this rule weaken as the strength of a spirit master increases. No wonder your world allows the existence of physical gods!"

Electrolux seemed to have figured something out, his expression turning strange, before continuing, "Since that's the case, I'll go on. Besides providing Soul Masters with Soul Skills, Soul Rings also serve as a medium—a medium that allows Soul Masters to break through to the next realm with 100% certainty. Once your Soul Masters reach a bottleneck in their Soul Power, absorbing a Soul Ring will allow you to break through to the next realm."

"Mhm!" Zhu Ziyang nodded.

"I just mentioned two viewpoints, which you should be aware of, Ziyang," Electrolux said. "What I'm about to say might be a viewpoint you haven't heard before, so please consider it carefully."

Based on my observations, spirit rings are not simply solidified spirit power; their internal structure contains not only the spirit power of spirit beasts but also a special power.

vitality!

The soul power and life force of a soul beast condense into a soul ring. When a soul master absorbs a soul ring, they are essentially absorbing the soul power within it, while the soul ring's life force is transformed into its age, manifesting outwardly as white or yellow soul rings. The soul skills attached to a soul ring originate from the soul beast's soul. After a soul beast dies, its soul dissipates into the world, with a small portion of its essence adhering to the soul ring formed from its life force, ultimately fusing with the soul master's martial soul to form a soul skill.

"This..." Zhu Ziyang felt enlightened after listening to Electrolux's words, and his understanding of spirit rings became more thorough.

"According to the cultivation system of soul beasts, the higher the cultivation level of a soul beast, the more vigorous its vitality, the more resilient its soul, and the more powerful the soul ring it forms," ​​Ilex continued. "Conversely, the greater its help to the soul master, the greater the quality and effect of its soul skills."

Actually, what I want to say is, Ziyang, your Soul Masters don't fully absorb Soul Rings.

"Huh?" Electrolux's words made Zhu Ziyang's mouth drop open, his face full of surprise and doubt.

"I'm asking you, after you Soul Masters absorb a Soul Ring, will your physique be strengthened by the Soul Ring?" Electrolux asked calmly.

"Yes, that's right." Zhu Ziyang nodded in agreement.

"That's right! Physical enhancement comes from the tempering of the soul ring's soul power and the feedback from the soul beast's life force!" Ilex's words were astonishing, opening up a new world for Zhu Ziyang. He said, "From my observation, most of you soul masters only absorb soul rings at the first level, namely the refinement of soul power. You rarely touch the second level of life force, which causes the relationship between soul masters and soul rings to always remain at the level of dependence, and you can't achieve true integration."

The inability to fully absorb a spirit ring means that you need to release the spirit ring every time you use a spirit skill. A spirit ring is more like clothing; the spirit skill is merely an accessory. Only by completely refining the spirit ring, making it fully integrated with you, like an organ, can you truly master your spirit skill and make it instinctive!

"Teacher, do you have a way to help me fully absorb the spirit ring?" Zhu Ziyang asked directly. He did not doubt Ilex's words because what Ilex said was basically the same as Zhu Ziyang's feelings. In addition, Ilex had previously helped him increase the age of his first spirit ring, so he had good reason to believe Ilex's words.

"Of course," Electrox said confidently, his face radiating arrogance. "It's just life force, isn't it? Have you forgotten my title as your teacher?"

"Of course not! The Holy Law God of the Necromancer!" Zhu Ziyang blurted out.

"That's right," Electrox said with a smile. "Isn't the power of death we possess the best tool for refining life force?"

"!" Zhu Ziyang's eyes lit up immediately. How could he have forgotten this? Death, in essence, is the deprivation and erosion of life force!

"Haha, good boy, don't rush," Electrox said with a smile. "What you need to do now is not to refine your soul rings, but to improve your ability to use the power of death."

With your current strength, you are not yet capable of completely refining three spirit rings on your own. Be patient and wait. When you absorb your fourth spirit ring, your teacher will help you refine the life force within it. Furthermore, once you have mastered the power of death, increasing the age of your spirit rings won't be a problem. After all, the essence of a spirit ring's age is life force.

"Yes, yes! I understand, teacher!" Zhu Ziyang's eyes shone brightly, unable to imagine how much his strength would increase after he completely refined the soul ring.

"Very good." Electrox was very satisfied and said with a smile, "Then, in the time to come, I will teach you light magic and necromancy. Once you can use necromancy skillfully, your power of death will be considered to have reached a high level. At that time, I will teach you the method of combining the two."

"Yes, teacher!" Zhu Ziyang replied happily.

(End of this chapter)