Douluo Continent III Haotian Wulin

"Who told you that it necessarily has to be a problem?"

Wu Changkong's question startled Tang Wulin.

The room was very quiet.

As night deepened outside the window, the occasional footsteps of students could be heard from within the academy. Wu Changkong stood by the window, his white robes tinged with a cold gray by the twilight, his expression remaining indifferent.

Tang Wulin thought for a moment and said, "But we used the spider silk left by the Human-Faced Demon Spider to absorb far more spiritual energy than normal. If the Spirit Ascension Platform hadn't considered this situation, shouldn't it have informed the Spirit Transfer Tower so they could make corrections?"

Wu Changkong looked at him.

"You're still young."

"There are some things we don't need to know too much about right now."

Tang Wulin remained silent.

Wu Changkong turned around, his tone calm, yet more solemn than usual.

"Just remember, the Spirit Pagoda is not as simple as you think."

"It not only controls the Soul Spirit system, but also the vast majority of the Spirit Ascension Platforms. Its branches are spread across the continent, and its wealth, number of Soul Masters, and influence are such that even the Federation dares not easily ignore it."

Tang Wulin felt a slight tremor in his heart.

In the common understanding, the Spirit Pagoda is a huge organization that creates spirits and protects the knowledge of spirit beasts.

Almost every Soul Master needs to deal with it.

But he never really considered what it meant for an organization to be so powerful that even the Federation had to be wary of it.

Wu Changkong continued, "Moreover, the Spirit Pagoda exists not only in Douluo Continent."

Tang Wulin was stunned.

"Not just in Douluo Continent?"

"Teacher, do you mean... that the Star Luo Continent and the Heaven Dou Continent also have Spirit Transfer Towers?"

"have."

"Is it the same over there as here?"

Wu Changkong did not answer immediately.

His gaze passed over the window, as if landing on a very distant place.

"Some parts are similar, some parts are completely different."

"You'll know when you have the chance to go there yourself."

Tang Wulin could tell that Wu Changkong was unwilling to talk more, so he did not press the matter further.

The other two continents are indeed too far away for him at the moment.

Wu Changkong said, "Tell me about what you found at the Ascension Platform today."

Tang Wulin's spirits lifted.

That's what he really wanted to ask tonight.

He organized his thoughts and said, "Teacher Wu, I've noticed that once a Soul Master reaches the second ring, it seems much more difficult to make their Soul Spirit continue to evolve than when they were at the first ring."

Wu Changkong did not interrupt him.

Tang Wulin continued, "People like Xie Xie, Zhang Yangzi, and Wang Jinxi all have two spirit rings. The spiritual energy absorbed will affect both spirit rings simultaneously."

"In other words, if you have only one spirit ring, you can concentrate all the spiritual power you absorb from about five hundred years of spiritual energy into that one spirit ring; but they have two spirit rings, and each spirit ring only increases their spiritual power by about two hundred years."

"Moreover, even if they have enough spiritual power, their physical and mental strength may not be able to withstand two soul rings reaching a thousand years at the same time."

"Especially Wang Jinxi. His body might still be able to hold on, but his mental strength is still far from being able to support a thousand-year-old soul."

"Therefore, entering the Spirit Ascension Platform more times is not necessarily better. Physical strength, mental power, and the number of spirit rings are the real limitations to spirit ascension."

A barely perceptible hint of approval flashed in Wu Changkong's eyes.

"Being able to think of these things shows that you're not just basking in the rewards."

"Your judgment is largely correct."

He walked to the table and sat down.

"Everyone knows that the Spirit Ascension Platform can increase the age of a soul spirit and soul rings. But the number of soul masters who actually complete a major level of evolution is far fewer than people imagine."

The reason is not complicated.

"The opportunities to enter are limited, the number of soul beasts that can be killed is limited, and absorbing spiritual energy takes time. These are just the surface-level issues."

"What is truly insurmountable is the limit of what a Soul Master can bear."

Tang Wulin listened attentively.

Wu Changkong said, "The soul spirit is closer to the spiritual level. How much spiritual power it can withstand is directly related to the soul master's spiritual power."

"Spirit rings will have a continuous impact on a Soul Master's physical body, meridians, and martial soul. The higher the age, the greater this pressure."

"With enough financial resources, one can purchase a spot on the Ascension Platform."

"With enough power, one can obtain better souls."

"But if your body isn't strong enough and your mental strength isn't high enough, no amount of resources can force you to cross that line."

"It's not that no one has tried this before."

"Some people repeatedly enter the Spirit Ascension Platform when they are at a low level, some rely on special drugs to enhance their bodies, and some try to protect their meridians with external force when their spirit rings evolve."

"Very few truly succeed."

Tang Wulin nodded.

"Therefore, the others have already absorbed a lot of spiritual energy this time. In fact, they will not be able to enter the Spirit Ascension Platform again for a short period of time."

"good."

Wu Changkong said, "At least not until I reassess their physical and spiritual condition."

"Over-absorption is not a matter of opportunity, but rather a depletion of resources."

Tang Wulin hesitated for a moment before finally revealing his true thoughts.

"But my situation might be different from theirs."

Wu Changkong looked up at him.

Tang Wulin said, "I only have one spirit ring right now."

"All the absorbed spiritual energy will be concentrated on the little ant and the first spirit ring, and will not be dispersed."

"Moreover, my body is much stronger than that of an ordinary Soul Master. After breaking through the first seal of the Golden Dragon King, I could feel that my bones, meridians, and internal organs had been strengthened."

"My spiritual power has also entered the Spiritual Realm."

As he said this, his voice unconsciously quickened.

"Does that mean that as long as I absorb enough spiritual energy before breaking through level 20, it's possible for the little ant's soul to evolve to a thousand years old?"

"Make my first spirit ring a thousand-year spirit ring too?"

Wu Changkong did not answer immediately.

He stared at Tang Wulin for a moment, seemingly re-evaluating the nine-year-old child before him.

The idea is not complicated.

However, to generate it, one must simultaneously understand the relationship between the number of spirit rings, the age of the spirit, the physical body's capacity, and spiritual power.

More importantly, even if ordinary Soul Masters had the idea, they wouldn't have the right to try it.

Because the body of an ordinary first-ring Soul Master simply cannot withstand the first Soul Ring of a thousand years.

But Tang Wulin is different.

His physical body was abnormal from the beginning.

The Sinking Star Hammer, the Little Ant Soul, the Golden Scales, and the Golden Dragon Claw with its astonishing explosive power all changed under the influence of that mysterious bloodline.

Wu Changkong finally spoke.

"Theoretically, yes."

Tang Wulin's eyes lit up immediately.

Wu Changkong raised a finger.

"Only in theory."

"You must meet at least two prerequisites."

"First, you cannot break through level 20 until the little ant's soul has absorbed enough spiritual power."

Tang Wulin was taken aback.

Why?

"Because once you enter the second ring, a new spirit ring appears, and the spiritual energy you absorb afterward is likely to start to disperse."

"Your biggest advantage right now is that all your spiritual power only needs to be used to nourish one soul spirit and one soul ring."

"The sooner the breakthrough is achieved, the sooner this advantage will disappear."

Tang Wulin nodded thoughtfully.

"And the second one?"

Wu Changkong said, "Secondly, your body must be able to withstand two thousand-year soul rings."

Tang Wulin's gaze sharpened slightly.

He had only thought of the first spirit ring.

However, they overlooked a very important issue.

If the little ant's soul spirit truly evolves to a thousand years, when its own soul power reaches level twenty and it needs to bestow a second soul ring, the second soul ring will naturally also reach the thousand-year level.

At that time, what he was enduring was no longer a thousand-year soul ring.

Instead, there are two.

He was confident he could handle a thousand-year-old soul ring.

What if both exist simultaneously?

Tang Wulin was no longer sure.

Wu Changkong said, "Your spiritual power has reached the Spiritual Connection Realm, so carrying a thousand-year-old soul shouldn't be a big problem."

"What really needs to be confirmed now is the physical body."

"The resilience of the meridians, the strength of the bones, the pressure resistance of the internal organs, the speed of soul power circulation, and the body's adaptability to the energy of the soul ring when releasing the martial soul all need to be retested."

"If these metrics are sufficient, then your idea can be put into practice."

"If it's not enough, we must stop."

Tang Wulin said earnestly, "Teacher Wu, I'm willing to take the test."

"Not now."

Wu Changkong said, "You just came out of the riotous Spirit Ascension Platform today, and your mental strength and body have not fully recovered."

"Once your condition stabilizes, I will arrange a separate test for you."

"The standards for ordinary Soul Masters are not suitable for you."

Tang Wulin felt a warmth in his heart.

"Thank you, teacher."

Wu Changkong glanced at him.

"Don't thank me yet."

"Even if the body is strong enough, it still requires a lot of spiritual power to elevate a hundred-year-old soul to a thousand-year-old one."

"Today's situation cannot be replicated."

"The next time you enter the riotous Spirit Ascension Platform, you may not encounter the Human-Faced Demon Spider leaving behind poisonous silk to hunt soul beasts for you."

Tang Wulin said, "I understand."

He did not believe he had found a shortcut without any obstacles.

Everything we have today is the result of countless coincidences.

However, as long as this path actually exists, that's enough.

After leaving Wu Changkong's room, Tang Wulin did not immediately return to his dormitory to rest.

A night breeze blew in from the end of the corridor, carrying a slight chill.

He looked down at his right hand.

There were no golden scales on the fair palm, nor any traces of collision with the dark gold claws.

But he still remembers that moment.

When the Golden Dragon Claw clashed head-on with the Dark Gold Terror Claw, all the soul power in his body was drained, and his bloodline burned as if boiling.

If my body can really withstand two thousand-year soul rings...

Old Tang should be the one who knows best.

……

Tang Wulin returned to the dormitory and, after confirming that Xie Xie had fallen asleep, sat cross-legged on his own bed.

His breathing gradually slowed down.

Consciousness sinks into the depths of the mind.

Everything around gradually faded away, and a soft golden light reappeared in sight.

"Old Tang."

Tang Wulin called out in his heart.

"Old Tang, are you there?"

The golden mist rippled gently.

A familiar figure gradually emerged from the light.

The face is still not clearly visible; only a blurry outline can be seen.

But Tang Wulin sensed that the light around Old Tang seemed to have solidified a bit compared to the beginning.

Their figures no longer seem to vanish at any moment, unlike in the past.

"What's wrong?"

Old Tang's voice remained gentle.

"Is there a problem with your spirit rings?"

"no."

Tang Wulin quickly recounted his experience at the Spirit Ascension Platform during the riot that day.

From absorbing spiritual power from the soul of a tiny ant, to hunting down a large number of soul beasts with the venomous silk left by the human-faced demon spider, and then to his own conjecture about the concentrated spiritual ascension at the first stage.

He did not hide the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear.

He also mentioned the burning sensation he felt between his eyebrows when the Golden Dragon Claw and the Dark Gold Terror Claw collided head-on.

Old Tang listened quietly until the end.

"I see."

"You're worried that your body won't be able to handle too much spiritual energy, right?"

"Yes."

Tang Wulin quickly replied, "Teacher Wu said that, theoretically, I can make the little ant evolve to a thousand years old."

"But if it reaches a thousand years, I will have two thousand-year soul rings at the same time after I enter the second ring."

"You know my body best."

"How many years of soul spirits and soul rings can I currently withstand?"

Old Tang remained silent for a moment.

Tang Wulin was a little nervous.

After a while, Old Tang said, "The mind and the body should be considered separately."

"Your mental strength has now reached the Spiritual Realm."

"But your mental strength growth comes more from bloodline awakening, soul evolution, and your own talent, without being systematically processed."

"The increase in strength is not slow, but the way it is used is still very crude."

"If you can find a suitable method for cultivating mental power, your improvement speed will be much faster, and your mental control will be more stable."

Tang Wulin immediately thought of the organization that Wu Changkong had mentioned before.

The dance teacher said that joining there might allow me to learn more complete footwork and training methods.

Could this include mental cultivation as well?

Old Tang continued, "With your current mental strength, you should have no problem supporting a soul that is about 1,200 years old."

"Twelve hundred years?"

Tang Wulin's eyes lit up.

This has surpassed the lowest level of an ordinary thousand-year-old soul.

"What about the spirit rings?"

"There's no need to worry too much about spirit rings."

There was a hint of certainty in Old Tang's voice.

"After absorbing the essence of the first seal of the Golden Dragon King, your bones, muscles, meridians and internal organs have been strengthened as a whole."

"Given your current physical condition, you shouldn't have too much of a problem with enduring two spirit rings that are around a thousand years old."

"If we only consider the instantaneous impact of a single spirit ring, even if its age is close to two thousand years, you have the foundation to withstand it."

Tang Wulin's heart skipped a beat.

In other words, his idea could actually be realized.

The first soul has existed for a thousand years.

The first spirit ring is a thousand years old.

Once he breaks through level 20, the little ant will bestow upon him a second soul ring of a thousand years.

What would be almost impossible for an ordinary Soul Master, for him, was actually a viable path.

"Could I break through the Golden Dragon King's second seal before reaching the second ring?"

Tang Wulin continued to ask.

"If I break through the second seal first, my body will become stronger again."

"Will it be able to withstand souls of even greater age at that time?"

Old Tang did not answer immediately because of his urgent tone.

Golden light and mist flowed slowly.

"With your current foundation, it's not entirely impossible to break through the second seal ahead of schedule."

"But don't forget, I once told you that breaking through the second seal requires four kinds of thousand-year-old spiritual objects."

"Millennial Dragon Scale Fruit".

"Millennial Green Vein Vine".

"A thousand-year-old earth dragon spirit."

"Millennial Sea Dragon Marrow".

Tang Wulin silently memorized it.

The price of these spiritual items is still a huge sum for him.

Even if he can consistently complete a thousand forgings, it will still take him a long time to accumulate experience.

Old Tang said, "The four spiritual objects are merely the keys to unlock the seal."

"Your own state of mind is equally important."

"If any of your soul power, mental strength, or physical strength is insufficient, breaking through prematurely will amplify the risks."

"However, your idea this time is not wrong."

"The evolution of the soul spirit and soul ring will, in turn, strengthen the soul master."

"The spirit has become more solidified, the spirit ring's age has increased, and the power that the spirit can bear has increased accordingly. Your Star Hammer and the little ant's spirit have already formed a mutual influence. After the spirit evolves, the Star Hammer may also undergo new changes."

"This change will also temper your body."

Tang Wulin looked down at the faint phantom of the Sinking Star Hammer that appeared in his spiritual world.

"So, you agree that I should first elevate the ant's lifespan to a thousand years?"

"Agreed."

Old Tang said, "At least until you break through level 20, this is indeed a rare opportunity."

"But don't suppress your soul power for too long."

"Furthermore, we must not risk entering the Ascension Platform in pursuit of a thousand years."

"What you need to do is to get as close to that level as possible while maintaining a balance between your body, mind, and soul power."

"When you are truly close to the second seal, I will give you new advice based on your condition at that time."

Tang Wulin nodded.

"I see."

Old Tang's voice suddenly became more serious.

"There's one more thing you need to remember."

"The further the seal on the Golden Dragon King progresses, the stronger its power becomes, and the greater the risk also becomes."

"The sooner you break through under safe conditions, the more seals you will be able to actively control in the future."

"The more seals you can control, the longer you will be truly safe."

"But the earlier it is, the more urgent it is."

"To rush into things without adequate preparation is simply suicide."

Tang Wulin felt a chill run down his spine.

"Yes."

The golden light gradually faded.

Old Tang's figure also re-entered the light and mist.

Tang Wulin's consciousness slowly returned to his body.

The dormitory was quiet.

Xie Xie was still fast asleep, his breathing much more steady. Moonlight streamed in through the window, falling on the edge of the bed and illuminating Tang Wulin's right hand, which lay to the side.

He clenched his fist slightly.

A thousand-year-old soul.

Two millennium-old soul rings.

Mental cultivation.

The second Golden Dragon King seal.

The several roads that were originally scattered ahead are gradually converging together.

The door has appeared.

The next step is not to rush to break it open.

Instead, they hammered away, one hammer blow at a time, to solidify the path leading to it.