The Martial Soul Skeleton, in Douluo Continent's Bone-Changing Susanoo

Chapter 19, First Soul Skill: Netherworld Transformation

Looking at Xia Liang, who was already up to his chest, Teacher Mo was completely stunned. At this moment, he no longer felt that Xia Liang was the eight-year-old child who had been searching for soul beasts with him.

This exaggerated rate of physical development is clearly a benefit of absorbing a high-age spirit ring.

However, why does Xia Liang always give people a lifeless feeling after absorbing his first spirit ring?

His face, in particular, had lost some of its childishness, but instead appeared pale and sickly.

"Ah Liang, are you really alright?" Teacher Mo looked at Xia Liang, who seemed lifeless, with suspicion. "You don't look like you're alright at all."

Upon hearing this, Xia Liang immediately took out a mirror from the silver bracelet.

When he saw his reflection in the mirror, he understood why Teacher Mo had kept asking him if he was alright.

His face was pale, his forehead was dark, and he looked withered. Was this a negative effect brought about by the growth of the undead attribute of the Skeleton Martial Soul?

Or perhaps, one is a living dead.

The closer a martial soul gets to its true form, the more obvious its characteristics as a living dead become.

Thinking of this, Xia Liang couldn't help but recall the images of Ghost Douluo and Bone Douluo from the anime. Perhaps these two titled Douluo were what he would look like in his old age.

However, it seems that only his appearance and temperament give people a listless and lifeless feeling, while his physical condition is very good and his mental strength is stronger than before.

"A martial soul is a very special existence. Not only does it possess certain abilities, but it also affects the master's temperament and physical condition. I think my current appearance is the result of the skeleton martial soul becoming stronger."

After listening to Xia Liang's explanation, Teacher Mo nodded in deep agreement.

"The greater the influence of a martial soul on its master, the stronger the martial soul's power." Xia Liang put the mirror back into his silver bracelet and said gratefully, "Teacher Mo, thank you so much. You helped me find a spirit ring with such a high age and extremely high compatibility."

Teacher Mo waved his hand. "Why thank me? You're joining my mercenary group soon. Consider this first spirit ring a congratulatory gift. I might even help you with your second spirit ring later. Tell me, what's your first spirit skill?"

"My first soul skill is called Netherworld Transformation. Unlike the Netherworld Ghost Bear's paw attacks and body defense, Netherworld Transformation is an amplification skill. After activation, it can increase strength and defense attributes by fifty percent."

As he spoke, Xia Liang released his Skeleton Martial Soul, his ribs burning with dark purple ghost fire covering his entire body.

At the same time, a yellow spirit ring slowly rose from beneath his feet. This was the spirit ring of the Netherworld Ghost Bear, with a lifespan of 560 years.

"I'm very curious," Teacher Mo suddenly asked. "Are the dark purple flames burning on each rib the will-o'-the-wisps you summoned before?"

Xia Liang nodded.

"Besides the 50% increase in strength and defense attributes, does your first soul skill have any other enhancement effects?" Teacher Mo pressed.

"It seems there's another amplification effect," Xia Liang said somewhat concealed. "Although the Skeleton Martial Soul still only has the rib section, after activating the first Soul Skill, in addition to the ribs, the Skeleton Martial Soul will also grow the entire right arm bone of the Netherworld Ghost Bear."

As he spoke, Xia Liang's first spirit ring lit up, and his first spirit skill, Netherworld Transformation, was activated.

Behind him, a gigantic phantom of a ghostly bear raised its arms and let out a deafening roar.

Roar--

The roar stirred up sonic waves that spread outwards along with the blackish-purple ghost fire, and a cold and eerie blackish-purple aura covered an area of ​​ten meters in radius.

The moment the giant phantom of the ghostly bear disappeared, a strange scene unfolded.

The dark purple ribs covering Xia Liang's body, with the ghostly flames burning on each bone, gradually condensed into a thick, dark purple arm on the right side of the ribs.

The eerie, ghostly flames burned the dark purple arm, turning the flesh to ashes and revealing the bone beneath.

This series of changes all happened within two seconds.

Three seconds later, Xia Liang's entire body was enveloped by a dark purple rib with an arm bone attached.

Upon seeing this, Teacher Mo froze on the spot. The change in his ribs just now was like a living skeleton that had grown its entire right arm out of thin air.

The metacarpal bone of this right arm is two meters wide, enough to hold an adult in the palm of your hand.

With the ribs already providing defense, and now this right arm bone, wouldn't the Skeleton Martial Soul be a combination of offense and defense?

"Teacher Mo, I'm going to attack you."

Just a quick reminder, Xia Liang suddenly reached forward with his right hand, and the arm of his Skeleton Martial Soul stretched out like rubber, quickly grabbing towards Teacher Mo's position.

Teacher Mo subconsciously took several steps back, and only when he saw the skeletal arm coming at him did he rhythmically retreat to a distance of ten meters.

Just then, the extension of the skeleton's arm came to an abrupt halt.

Looking at the enormous metacarpal bone hovering before him, Teacher Mo smiled knowingly. "Ah Liang, if I'm not mistaken, your skeletal arm only has an attack range of ten meters, right?"

"Yes. However, you're only half right."

As he spoke, Xia Liang took a big step forward, and the ten-meter-long skeletal arm followed by a meter, actually grabbing Teacher Mo's body and lifting him high in the air.

Teacher Mo hadn't expected that the attack range could be increased artificially in this way. At this moment, his body was being held by the metacarpal bones of the skeleton's arm, and he was in a floating state with no point of leverage.

Moreover, it seems that normal strength alone is not enough to shatter the entire skeletal arm.

"Teacher Mo, you should activate your Martial Soul. This skeletal arm inherited the strength of the Netherworld Ghost Bear, and with the Netherworld Transformation skill's 50% increase in strength and defense, you simply cannot break free under normal circumstances."

As he spoke, Xia Liang also used his mind to strengthen the grip of the skeleton's arm.

Teacher Mo, who was being held tightly in the skull's hand, suddenly felt as if his body was about to be crushed.

He then realized that the skeletal arm gripping him looked long and slender, but its bones were quite hard, and it was also enhanced with both strength and defense, making it difficult to break free under normal circumstances.

If he truly intended to kill, that skeletal arm alone could easily crush an ordinary person to death.

(End of this chapter)