Douluo Continent: I possess astonishing wisdom as I control energy!

Unable to resist, Xiao Hongchen was about to ask, but before she could speak, a silver-white figure walked over and naturally took Kong Ming'an's arm.

"What are you talking about?"

The already graceful and blossoming Miss Meng blinked her icy blue eyes, asking with a hint of curiosity,

Of course, the question was directed at Kong Ming'an.

"Nothing, just looking at Xiao's health report. What about yours? Is your report out? How are the data?"

"It's alright, it's just that you've been cooking too many delicious things lately, Ming'an, so I've gained a little weight."

"Have it?"

"Then try hugging me?"

"That's not necessary."

Watching his own cabbage vigorously nuzzling the pig, Xiao Hongchen thought to himself: "..."

No, that's enough! Stop treating me like I'm invisible!

Laughing at the warmth and passion of the mortal world.

Chapter 20 Thorn Dragon

"That's enough, you guys!"

Xiao Hongchen issued an accusation.

"tsk"

Miss Meng let out a soft click of displeasure, but ultimately refrained from further provoking her older brother.

Releasing her grip on Kong Ming'an, the girl stood naturally beside him, then continued to ask with a smile:

"By the way, Ming'an, haven't you chosen your first spirit ring yet? It's been over a month."

"No rush, let's talk about it after my grandfather comes back."

Kong Ming'an was not in a hurry at all.

Old Deng was very concerned about his first spirit ring. Taking advantage of the fact that he had just emerged from seclusion, while everyone thought he was still in seclusion, he went out to personally find a spirit beast for him.

Hmm. A level 98 individual with twin martial souls, proficient in "ring explosion," and nearly a level 10 soul master, go out and help him find a soul beast he wants.

This sense of security is real and tangible.

As expected, our own old man is still the most reliable.

Instead of continuing the conversation about his spirit rings, Kong Ming'an continued chatting with the Hongchen siblings, mainly about the use of the "Ring Tempering Technique."

Having both broken through to the second ring and reached the Soul Master level, the two now had the foundation to begin cultivating the "Ring Tempering Technique."

Kong Ming'an, naturally, had no intention of hiding anything and began to explain the precautions for the "ring quenching method" to them.

Just as Kong Ming'an was explaining things to them, the heavy alloy door of the laboratory quietly slid open.

Kong Ming'an was the first to realize what was happening, and quickly looked up, only to see Kong Deming, dressed in a long robe and looking somewhat travel-worn.

"grandfather?"

Kong Ming'an was slightly surprised, but he didn't expect his old man to return so quickly.

"Master Kong!" Xiao Hongchen, standing to the side, showed a slight respect.

"Grandpa Kong, you're back!" Meng Hongchen was equally respectful, but her address was much more intimate than Xiao Hongchen's.

Kong Deming nodded slightly, looking somewhat tired, but his eyes remained bright.

With a calm gaze, he effortlessly made his way to the center of the laboratory. Then, from his personal storage soul tool, he slowly took out a cylindrical container about half a person's height, made entirely of silver-white metal, with countless complex sealing runes engraved on its surface.

"This is... the 'Beast Sealing Platform'?" Kong Ming'an asked tentatively.

Kong Deming nodded slightly, giving an affirmative answer.

Kong Ming'an looked on with a hint of curiosity. The Beast Sealing Platform, as its name suggests, was used to seal soul beasts. In terms of grade, it was considered an eighth-level soul tool.

There's also an advanced version of this thing, which is the Fengshen Platform that sealed away the Snow Emperor.

Kong Deming placed the beast-sealing platform steadily on the specially made platform in the center of the laboratory. With a casual wave of his hand, he activated the surrounding soul-guiding arrays, forming multiple energy-binding force fields.

Meng Hongchen curiously took two steps closer, looking at the silver-white pillar radiating powerful sealing energy, and unconsciously asked in a low voice:

"Grandpa Kong, what kind of spirit beast is sealed inside?"

Kong Deming's gaze swept over the Beast Sealing Platform, and he calmly uttered three words: "Thorn Dragon".

Upon hearing this name, Kong Ming'an's usually calm and composed eyes flickered slightly, and he secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Thorn Dragon, an extremely rare sub-dragon soul beast possessing spatial attributes.

They are born with the ability to manipulate spatial forces, possessing not only unpredictable and unparalleled speed in their attacks, but also the capacity for short-distance teleportation. Their sharp tails can even tear through space, demonstrating limitless potential.

Upon reaching an extremely high age, it can even open up its own spatial battlefield and control the spatial thorn domain. Among spatial attribute soul beasts, it can be considered one of the best, which fully meets its expectations for its first soul ring.

It's worth noting that he had devised several plans to ensure his first spirit ring met his expectations.

Initially, he set his sights on the depths of the Demon Forest, hoping to capture a mutated Evil Eye Tyrant possessing spatial attributes, or even a temporal attribute.

Ultimately, however, considering that it was Ye Xishui's stronghold of the Holy Spirit Cult, and that an evil emperor slumbered deeper within, the risk was simply too great.

For the sake of his own safety, he ultimately decided to give up.

His core requirement has always been clear:

The soul beast's attributes must be high-level enough, with priority given to exceptional attributes like "Time," "Space," and "Fate." Other extreme attributes are secondary choices, such as the Ice Jade Scorpion, a soul beast with extreme ice attributes.

In addition, if possible, you can also choose "Silver Elite Beast".

If none of the above apply, then go directly to the Jingyang Mountains to capture the "Silver Moon Wolf King" which has seven elemental attributes; this is the worst-case scenario.

Of course, the situation was not as bad as he had thought, and it even exceeded his expectations!

Old Deng brought back an extremely rare space-type soul beast, the Thorn Dragon, on his recent trip!

This is undoubtedly an unexpected surprise.

The research is progressing smoothly, the cultivation is going well, and now the soul beast that suits my taste is also showing signs of life. Everything has been going smoothly lately, and I've been quite lucky.

Beside him, watching his grandson's slightly excited eyes, Kong Deming stared at him, his tone becoming unusually solemn:

"Ming'an, although this Thorn Dragon has only just broken through to ten thousand years and was captured by me while it was still in a weakened state, if it produces a spirit ring, the energy contained within it will definitely far exceed that of an ordinary ten-thousand-year spirit ring."

Are you absolutely sure you're right?

Even after witnessing his grandson create countless miracles, even after sensing the immense physical strength within his grandson that far surpassed that of his peers and even many high-level Soul Masters,

But, the idea of ​​a level ten person absorbing a ten-thousand-year soul ring seems like a complete fantasy.

If he hadn't known his grandson's temperament, he would never have gone to find a suitable ten-thousand-year soul ring for him.

Kong Ming'an raised his eyes to meet his old man's worried gaze, a relaxed smile appearing on his face, his voice clear and firm:

"Don't worry, Grandpa. I can't say for sure, but I'm probably 98% sure."

As everyone knows, in addition to needing a strong physique to withstand the impact of enormous energy, absorbing a ten-thousand-year soul ring also requires an invisible and even more dangerous barrier—soul shock.

Ten-thousand-year-old soul beasts possess considerable soul power. The resentment and lingering echoes of their souls upon death create an impact within their soul rings, directly affecting the absorber's sea of ​​consciousness. At best, this causes mental damage; at worst, it can turn them into idiots.

Normally, only when a Soul Master grows to the Soul King level can their spiritual and soul strength withstand soul shocks.

But for Kong Ming'an, this was precisely the least problematic issue.

How to cope with soul shock?

The answer is surprisingly simple: directly purify and erase the lingering soul remnants of the soul beast that remain on the soul ring! Without the soul beast's soul, the soul ring will naturally not experience any shock.

"Elder Yi," Kong Ming'an murmured to himself.

"Hehe. Don't worry."

An aged voice, tinged with amusement, echoed within Kong Ming'an's spiritual sea.

"I haven't been idle for over a year. The remnants of a mere ten-thousand-year-old soul beast can be left to me."

Kong Ming'an relaxed slightly.

"Then I'll leave it to you, Elder Yi."

"It's just a small thing."

The chapter after next will be the foundational construction of my Soul Ring theory. I feel it's the cornerstone of the system, and it was the most mentally taxing chapter to write. Of course, it's also the beginning of "Mage Cultivation"!

The mage is the boss!

Chapter 21 I Have Too Many Soul Skills

Having received Electrolux's assurance, Kong Ming'an no longer hesitated and slowly walked to the Beast Sealing Platform, calmly looking at his old master Deng.

Seeing this, Kong Deming didn't say anything more. He channeled his soul power into his palm and struck the Beast Sealing Platform, quickly breaking the core seals of the platform.

"Om-!"

The silvery-white pillar split open, revealing the true form of the soul beast within, bound by countless chains of light and in a state of slumber.

This is a dragon-like spirit beast, about three meters long, covered in dark spikes and dark silver rhomboid scales, with a lithe and elegant form, and its tail has thorn-like joints.

Perhaps because this soul beast had just broken through the baseline of a ten-thousand-year soul beast when it was captured, and had not yet fully adapted to its power, there were even some extremely subtle spatial ripples around its body.

In Kong Ming'an's hand, a soul-guided short blade gleaming with a cold light silently appeared. With a slight flick of his wrist, the short blade transformed into a precise streak of light, instantly piercing the Thorn Dragon's vital point.

There was no struggle, no roaring.

The Thorn Dragon, completely sealed away, was like a lamb to the slaughter, with no possibility of resistance.

The thorn dragon only convulsed violently once instinctively, and then its life force rapidly dissipated.

After a pause of only a second or two, a deep, dark soul ring with a black aura slowly rose from his corpse.

Thousand-year soul ring!

Without hesitation, Kong Ming'an immediately sat down cross-legged, and strands of soul power emerged from his body, slowly wrapping around and enveloping the black soul ring that contained immense energy and remnants of the soul, then gradually drawing it towards himself.

With the spirit ring attached, almost instantly, a vast amount of energy surged into Kong Ming'an's body.

His meridians and body, honed through countless trials, resonated with a thunderous roar. His vital energy circulated autonomously like boiling lava, strengthening his body and firmly resisting the impact of the energy.

His own soul power began to circulate, and under absolute control, he began to systematically guide the violent energy from the soul ring into his dantian for transformation and absorption.

At the same time, Kong Ming'an's Eye of Life between his brows quietly opened, and a gray phantom visible only to him emerged from the Eye of Life, then turned its gaze to the Soul Ring.

That is the invisible realm of the soul.

On the spirit ring, the soul of the thorn dragon that had just been killed unconsciously was now fully aware of its surroundings, its silver vertical pupils filled with violence and resentment.

Unable to avenge his death, the Thorn Dragon stared intently at Kong Ming'an, continuously gathering its remaining strength, preparing to unleash its most powerful soul shockwave at the next moment!

However, the next moment, an incomparably pure and vast gray light, carrying a sacred and purifying meaning, suddenly rose up.

Electrolux made his move.

The Thorn Dragon sensed a powerful threat and almost instinctively went on guard, but in the next moment, a hand formed of gray light seized the Thorn Dragon's soul.

Before it could even utter a wail, the Thorn Dragon was easily pulled out of its spirit ring by Electrolux.

Ultimately, it was the soul of a ten-thousand-year-old soul beast, and adhering to the principle of not wasting anything, it was naturally collected and used as material later.

Electrolux collected the Thorn Dragon's soul, enveloped the spirit ring with his purifying power, purifying the few remaining fragments of soul energy within it, and then quietly returned it to the Eye of Life.

The whole process took only a moment. Only Kong Deming, whose cultivation level had reached level ninety-eight, noticed it, but he didn't know what was going on. In the end, he chose to believe his grandson.

And so, the soul tremor that most Soul Kings had to treat with utmost caution ended before it even began.

The absorption process became smoother, and Kong Ming'an's breathing gradually stabilized during the absorption.

Kong Deming stood with his hands behind his back, his expression gradually relaxing. The Hongchen siblings beside him also breathed a sigh of relief, but still silently stood guard, keeping a close eye on the figure shrouded in the black light of the soul ring.

Time passed slowly, and the entire absorption process lasted for a full three hours.

Perhaps because the spirit ring he absorbed this time was somewhat special, during the process, the space around Kong Ming'an's body was constantly being slightly distorted and folded, and even occasionally a hair-thin black crack would flash by.

Finally, when the last bit of energy was completely absorbed, the deep black spirit ring sank and disappeared.

Kong Ming'an slowly opened his eyes. In the depths of his ink-black eyes, countless tiny fragments of silver light seemed to flash and disappear, making them appear even more unfathomable.