1st soul ring
I observed Xiao Wu's expression as she wrestled with her decision. First came horror at the realization of what I was proposing, then a flicker of expectation as she considered the possibilities I had laid before her. After a deep sigh of resignation, her features hardened with resolve.
"Okay, I will become your spirit ring," she declared, her voice steadier than I expected. "Whether you can bear it or not depends on you. Even with the sacrifice, I don't have a method to seal all my cultivation."
I smiled confidently at her concern. "Don't worry about that. I have my ways."
"Should I start now?" she asked, surprisingly eager despite her predicament.
Looking at her suspended form, I felt a moment of sympathy. "Well, I advise you to eat some carrots before sacrificing yourself. Who knows when you can taste them again in the future."
Her eyes lit up at the mention of her favorite food. "At least put me down first," she requested, glancing pointedly at the ropes still holding her aloft.
"Oh, I forgot," I admitted with a chuckle. "I have to acknowledge that your body is impressively flexible to remain bound this way."
Her face flushed crimson as she snapped, "Shut up!"
I freed her hands and carefully lowered her to the ground, but maintained the bindings around her legs and waist. No matter how cooperative she seemed, precaution was necessary when dealing with a protagonist of her caliber. I'd read enough stories to know how these things typically played out.
From her bag, I took out a bundle of fresh carrots that was stored. Xiao Wu's eyes widened at the sight, momentarily forgetting her situation. She took them eagerly and began devouring them one after another. As she ate, I noticed tears glistening in the corners of her eyes—not from sadness or fear, but from the bittersweet pleasure of savoring what might be her final meal.
"Humans are truly scarier," she murmured between bites, "but I will acknowledge that I have to rely on you to achieve my goal."
"Same for me," I replied solemnly. "I will have to rely on you to achieve my future goals as well."
When she finished the last carrot, she wiped her mouth with the back of her hand and met my gaze with newfound determination. "I am ready."
"Let's start then." I sat down cross-legged on the forest floor and pulled her onto my lap, keeping her body close to mine for the ritual.
"Is it necessary to hold me like this?" Xiao Wu asked with an indignant snort, squirming slightly in my embrace.
I smirked at her discomfort. "Well, your body feels so soft. And if I were a guy, there would be something poking you at your butt right now."
My statement drew a confused look from her. I remembered then that despite her age, Xiao Wu had no understanding of the differences between males and females. Her naivety was both amusing and somewhat endearing.
Before I could explain further, the ritual began of its own accord. A red light emanated from Xiao Wu's body, enveloping us both in its crimson glow. As the recipient of her sacrifice, I initiated the Conscious Spirit Ring technique.
Xiao Wu's entire cultivation flowed into me like a rushing river, warm and powerful. My martial soul, the Mystic Eye, activated in response, its pupil dilating as it absorbed the energy. A white soul ring formed around me, hovering and pulsating with raw power.
As seconds stretched into minutes, the ring's color began to change, shifting from pristine white to a pale yellow, then deepening into a richer golden hue. When I sensed the faintest trace of purple beginning to tinge the edges of the ring, I acted quickly. Using Conscious spirit ring technique I'd got and sealed Xiao Wu's remaining cultivation within my body—a reservoir of power I could tap into later to extend my spirit ring's age and potency.
The process completed with a rush of energy that left me gasping. Then, unexpectedly, a sharp pain shot through my lower back, near my tailbone. Reaching behind me, my fingers encountered something soft and fluffy where nothing had been before.
Is that an external soul bone? I wondered in shock. Wait, why the hell did I get an external soul bone instead of leg bone?
External soul bones were rare treasures that typically only manifested very rarely and even most popular just after 100,000 year soul ring. While I'd known Xiao Wu was special, this outcome exceeded my expectations.
Focusing inward, I examined my new abilities. My spirit ring had granted me two soul skills: "Charm" and "Teleportation." Charm was a group-effect skill that could induce confusion in multiple targets simultaneously, its effectiveness scaling with my mental power. Teleportation allowed me to instantly transport myself across short distances, the range increasing as my mental energy grew.
Both are excellent skills, I thought with satisfaction. Versatile and powerful.
The external soul bone provided two additional abilities: "Nothingness," which could negate 100% of physical attacks and 80% of spiritual assaults, and "Invincible Golden Body," granting complete invulnerability and doubling my internal strength for three seconds, with the duration increasing by one second for every ten levels I gained and it both got cooldown 1 hours.
These were perfect survival skills that complemented my combat style. I couldn't have asked for better abilities—certainly preferable to flashy but impractical techniques like "Waist Bow" or "Instant Kill Eight Stage Drop" that some spirit masters ended up with.
As I explored my new powers, I noticed subtle changes in my Mystic Eye. It had always granted me enhanced perception, but now it could discern new elements in the world around me. When I attempted to use Teleportation, I could actually see the spatial elements that facilitated the technique—like invisible threads connecting different points in space that I could grasp and manipulate.
If Xiao Wu is a space-attribute soul beast, then I must be seeing the space elements that assist in executing the skill, I realized. An interesting bonus. This must be what my Mystic Eye is truly about—perception according to the elemental affinity of my soul ring.
"Oh, so this is what you call a conscious spirit ring," a familiar voice suddenly chirped.
I nearly jumped out of my skin as a translucent figure of Xiao Wu materialized from my spirit ring, hovering beside me with her legs crossed as if sitting on invisible furniture. She looked exactly as she had before the sacrifice, pink dress and all, though her form was slightly transparent and outlined with a golden glow.
"What the—" she gasped, staring at her apparition. Her surprised tone confused me.
"You didn't know what a conscious spirit ring was? Oh, I forgot you are literally illiterate."
She tilted her head, ponytail swinging. "I knew the concept, but experiencing it is different. It's actually quite comfortable in here."
"Yeah," I replied, still processing her manifestation. "How do you feel now?"
Her transparent lips curved into a sly smile. "First I was scared, but now I'm glad that I did this. This way, only you will be working, and I will easily become a god with your promise."
What the fuck? When did this idiot develop a brain? I thought, stunned by her cunning observation. I hadn't even considered that angle.
While I was still reeling from this revelation, a notification appeared in my consciousness:
[Miraculous rank achievement: Get 100,000 year soul ring as first ring || Claim: Soul Beast Evolution Stone.]
[Miraculous rank achievement: Damaged Child of Destiny's luck || Claim: Custom God level Martial spirit.]
[Miraculous rank achievement: Plot destroyer || Claim: Plot modifying card X 1.]
My eyes widened in shock. "HELL YEAHHHHHHHHHHH!" I shouted, punching the air in triumph. This was beyond anything I could have hoped for—a system reward that could potentially catapult me to the pinnacle of power in this world.
Xiao Wu's translucent form floated closer, eyeing me with newfound wariness. "Are you sure you're the same person who made me this scared earlier?"
"Don't get comfortable," I snapped, composing myself quickly. "You think you're just going to relax while I do all the work? That's not how this partnership is going to function."
Her translucent form flickered indignantly. "What do you mean? I've already sacrificed myself! What more do you want?"
"Your continued contribution," I replied coldly. "Have you heard of the Nine Breaths Convincing Qi technique?"
She crossed her arms defensively. "No. What is it?"
"It's an ancient breathing technique that refines the vitality of heaven and earth. One exhalation and one inhalation is called a breath." I explained, my voice taking on a lecturing tone. "The supernatural power of nine breaths forms a cycle through nine breathing rhythms, allowing the practitioner to breathe in vitality, capture its source, and refine it into the body."
"And why should I care about this?" Xiao Wu asked suspiciously.
"Because you're going to practice it," I stated firmly. "As a conscious spirit ring, you exist within my spiritual space but maintain your own consciousness. If you practice this technique, it will accelerate my cultivation speed exponentially—which means we'll reach our goals faster."
Her transparent eyes narrowed. "No. I've already given you enough. I'm not becoming your cultivation puppet."
I laughed darkly. "You don't have a choice. This is the deal now. Besides, it benefits you too. The faster I cultivate, the sooner I can resurrect you and find your mother."
"You're lying," she accused. "You just want to use me more."
"Think, Xiao Wu," I pressed. "The Nine Breaths technique can be practiced at all times—while walking, sitting, lying down, eating, or sleeping. If you continuously cycle through the breathing patterns, you'll draw in the natural vitality around us and refine it. My body will absorb this refined energy, accelerating my cultivation. The faster I advance, the sooner I can fulfill my promise to you."
"And if I refuse?" she challenged, her transparent form flickering with defiance.
I smiled coldly. "Then It will be your loss, if I might not even survive from my future enemy and we both are finished. And we both are literally in same boat now."
Her eyes widened in alarm. "You wouldn't."
"I would," I replied without hesitation. "But it doesn't have to be that way. Cooperate, and your time as my spirit ring can be pleasant. Resist, and... well, you're already familiar with my methods."
A tense silence hung between us as she considered her options. Finally, she sighed in resignation.
"Fine. Teach me this Nine Breaths technique."
"Good choice," I said with satisfaction. "I'll guide you through the process."
Over the next hour, I instructed Xiao Wu in the fundamentals of the Nine Breaths Convincing Qi technique. Despite her reluctance, she proved to be an apt pupil, quickly grasping the complex breathing rhythms and energy flows. I could feel the difference immediately—with each cycle she completed, warm currents of refined energy flowed through my meridians, strengthening my cultivation base.
"Remember," I instructed as she practiced, "nine complete breathing cycles form one greater cycle. The breathing must be deep and rhythmic, drawing in the vitality of heaven and earth with each inhalation, and refining it with each exhalation."
"This is... different than I expected," she admitted reluctantly. "I can actually sense the natural energy flowing through the cycles."
"Of course you can," I replied. "You're a 100,000-year spirit beast. Your sensitivity to natural energy is far greater than most cultivators'."
As Xiao Wu continued to practice, I took stock of my current situation. The absorption of such a powerful spirit ring had dramatically increased my cultivation level. I was now at Level 16—far higher than most spirit masters achieved with their first ring. Had I not sealed a portion of Xiao Wu's cultivation power, I likely would have surpassed Level 20, but my body couldn't hold so much energy.
I decided to save the system reward for later use. The "Custom God level Martial spirit" was too valuable to claim hastily, especially when I was still recovering from the absorption process. Better to wait until I had a clearer understanding of how to maximize its benefits.
"Keep practicing," I instructed Xiao Wu as I gathered my belongings. "Remember, even while I'm walking, sleeping, or eating, you should maintain the nine-breath cycle. The technique works regardless of what my physical body is doing."
"For how long?" she asked, her voice tinged with resignation.
"Continuously," I replied simply. "Day and night. This technique works best when practiced without interruption."
She looked at me in horror. "That's impossible! No one can maintain a cultivation technique without rest!"
"Just kidding, at least 10 hours a day'" I countered. "And anyway you're a conscious spirit ring without a physical body. You don't need sleep or rest the way humans do. And since you have nothing else to do with your time..."
Her translucent form flickered with anger, but she didn't argue further. She knew I was right—she had literally nothing else to occupy her existence now.
As I began the journey back to Nuoding City, I could feel Xiao Wu reluctantly maintaining the Nine Breaths cycle. With each completed cycle, waves of refined energy flowed through my meridians, strengthening my cultivation base at an accelerated rate. By my estimation, this technique would at least triple my cultivation speed—perhaps more, given Xiao Wu's exceptional nature as a 100,000-year spirit beast.
"Thanks for believing me," I murmured, knowing Xiao Wu could hear me through our spiritual connection. "And fear not, the rewards will be worth it. With your help and my knowledge, we'll fulfil our goal."
No response came from within, only the steady rhythm of the Nine Breaths technique continuing its endless cycle. I smiled to myself as the lights of Nuoding City appeared on the horizon. Everything was proceeding according to plan—better than planned, in fact.