Chapter 94: Spirit Saint

Two days later.

The ice field remained silent, save for the occasional crash of waves against the frozen, bloodstained ice. Dugu Bei had spent two long days in deep meditation, struggling against the overwhelming energy of the hundred-thousand-year soul ring he was absorbing. It had been the most grueling process he had ever endured. The malice nature of the soul ring had been relentless, attempting to erode his consciousness and break him from within.

Even without the remaining of the Orca King's soul, it was a big challenge for him. But he had endured.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Bei opened his eyes. A surge of power flooded his body, and he inhaled deeply, feeling more alive than he had in years. As he straightened himself, he noticed something peculiar, everyone else had distanced themselves from him. Confused, he scanned the surroundings.

Liu Erlong, Dugu Xin, and the others stood far away, watching him warily. Their expressions were mixed with awe and a bit of fear. It was only then that Bei realized why.

The entire area around him had been filled with an ominous, oppressive aura for the past two days. The malevolent energy from the Evil Spirit Orca King's soul ring had created an unseen force field, preventing anyone from approaching him without being somehow affected by such malicious intent. Only now, with his absorption complete, had the air finally cleared.

Standing up, Bei smiled faintly and raised his hand. With a thought, his spirit rings emerged, encircling him in a dazzling display of power. Two purple, four black, and now a single, radiant red ring. The sight of it sent shivers down the spines of those watching.

"He did it..." Dugu Xin muttered, his voice barely above a whisper. "A hundred-thousand-year soul ring, I knew he was going to do it at the end, but seeing it is still impressive."

"He is a genius like no other." Lie Erlong whispered back. Then she saw what Bei did next and said, "I take it back, he is no genius, he is a monster." 

Bei didn't plan to summon his spirit rings just to show off. A spark of excitement ignited in his eyes. He had been waiting for this moment. Without hesitation, he activated his newest ability. "7th Spirit Ability: Evil Devourer Spider Emperor Avatar."

A thunderous pulse of energy erupted from his body. In an instant, his form shifted as it grew stronger and more monstrous. His silhouette elongated, and his once human-like figure transformed into something huge and terrifying.

The massive spider form he had previously known was no more. Instead, his new shape was almost like a human with six monstrous spider legs extended from his back, elevating him off the ground. His arms became longer and more powerful, his fingers tipped with razor-sharp claws. His skin darkened, covered in a scary black exoskeleton that pulsed with dark green energy. It was no longer the Poison Devouring Spider Emperor. His Martial Soul had become something more.

The Evil Devourer Spider Emperor.

Bei could feel it, the drastic change in his martial soul. The overwhelming hunger, the insatiable desire to consume. But it was not just poison he could devour now. He could feel something else flowing into him.

Negative emotions.

Fear. Hatred. Despair. Rage.

The moment he transformed, everyone else felt a suffocating wave of unease and dread. Even the most battle-hardened among them flinched involuntarily, their bodies reacting on instinct.

Bei flexed his claws experimentally, feeling an immense surge of power within him. His mind raced as he tested his new form and processed the sensations. "So this is the true power of the Evil Devourer Spider Emperor..." he murmured to himself.

His new ability wasn't just about the transformation. In this form, all of his abilities required half the usual spirit energy. He could fight longer, attack harder, and endure more.

The true terror of his avatar form lay in its ability to mentally and emotionally affect his enemies. Their negative emotions would weaken them before the battle even began. Bei thought about mixing this ability with the new ability of his Eight Spider Lances and destroying the minds of his enemies in the process.

Liu Erlong's eyes widened as she observed him. "This is beyond anything I've seen before."

Dugu Xin nodded solemnly. "His martial soul has evolved. And not just in appearance, its nature itself has changed."

Bei slowly deactivated his avatar form, his body returning to normal. Even in his human state, he could feel the remnants of his transformation, lingering just beneath the surface. He had new powers and now he needed time to master them to fully understand his martial soul again.

Then, as his breath steadied, he realized something else. His spirit power had skyrocketed. He had been stuck at Rank 70 for so long, but in the end, it was worth it.

He clenched his fists, testing the flow of energy within him.

Rank 75. And he was already on the verge of reaching Rank 76.

He let out a deep breath. The struggle of absorbing a hundred-thousand-year soul ring had been immense, but the rewards had far surpassed his expectations. His patience had paid off.

As his gaze fell upon the silent battlefield once more, his eyes landed on the massive corpse of the Evil Spirit Orca King.

He wasn't done yet. There was still one last thing he had to claim.

Bei took a deep breath and began walking forward to the towering corpse of the fallen beast.

The soul bone still remained. And he intended to take it.