As the Skydream Iceworm had said, Tian Lin's current absorption of a 40,000-year-old soul ring was exceptionally effortless. The spiritual shock of the ten-thousand-year soul beast was completely nullified by his million-year spiritual skull bone combined with his external soul bone, leaving no challenges at all.
Due to the influence of this million-year skull bone, the Flame Golden Eyes in the same part of Tian Lin's body had also been enhanced. The quality of his external soul bone now seemed to be approaching the ten-thousand-year level.
In just one hour, Tian Lin stood up effortlessly. Not only had he absorbed the soul ring and stabilized his soul power, but he had also fully mastered his new soul skill.
"Xiao Tian, you've been obsessing over this fifth soul skill for so long. Why not show it to me now?" Skydream Iceworm asked curiously.
"No need to demonstrate. It's a support-type soul skill. It fuses the lightning of the fourth soul ring with the water of the fifth soul ring to create a magical sword skill, Illusory Water Thunderstorm. Its effect is a wide-range, all-attribute enhancement, with the degree of enhancement controllable by my will," Tian Lin explained.
"An all-attribute enhancement? That's a bit underwhelming for you. Didn't you say you belong to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan? Aren't they all support-type soul masters?" Skydream Iceworm sounded disappointed. It had expected Tian Lin's highly anticipated fifth soul skill to be something extraordinary. Judging from its tone, Tian Lin knew it had misunderstood.
"Brother Skydream, Illusory Water Thunderstorm is not as simple as you think. This skill doesn't function like the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, which boosts the attack and defense attributes of the enhanced individual. My skill directly raises their cultivation level. For example, if a soul master is at rank 31, I can instantly elevate them to around rank 37. With their level increased, their attack, defense, speed, and soul abilities will naturally improve. That's what I mean by all-attribute enhancement," Tian Lin explained.
"This skill has two major advantages. First, unlike the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, my enhancement method is different, meaning it can stack!"
Under normal circumstances, a soul master can only receive one type of enhancement at a time. If the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan's enhancements could all be applied to someone like Chen Xin simultaneously, they wouldn't fear even the Spirit Hall. Chen Xin's strength would skyrocket several times over, enough to defeat even Qian Daoliu.
One of the most significant advantages of Tian Lin's skill was that, due to its unique enhancement method, it could stack with other boosts. Combined with Ning Fengzhi's Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, it could instantly double the combat effectiveness of Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo.
Skydream nodded in agreement. "Hmm, when you put it that way, this skill doesn't seem so pointless. What's the second advantage?"
"The second advantage is far more profound," Tian Lin replied with a mysterious smile. "I just mentioned the example of a rank 31 soul master. But what if the soul master is at rank 39? I can push them to rank 40. Now tell me, what would a soul master do upon breaking through rank 40?" Tian Lin asked Skydream Iceworm with a sly look.
"Breaking through rank 40? They'd go hunt a soul beast for a soul ring, of course. Wait... are you saying...?" Skydream was taken aback. If this were true, the strategic implications of Tian Lin's skill would be immense.
"That's right. My soul skill genuinely raises cultivation levels. A soul master I enhance to the point of advancing can hunt a soul beast and acquire a soul ring. Even if I later withdraw my enhancement, most of them will officially break through rank 40 due to the soul power provided by the soul ring."
"Even in cases where some fail to advance due to weaker soul rings, causing them to return to rank 39, the acquired fourth soul ring will remain as a gray, unusable ring. However, their bottleneck will have been broken, leaving only soul power accumulation. Even a talentless person could easily progress with a bit of effort."
"In other words, from now on, anyone under my protection—including myself—will have no bottlenecks in cultivation!" Tian Lin declared proudly.
"Alright, Xiao Tian, you've completely won me over today," Skydream Iceworm said, astounded. Having lived for hundreds of thousands of years, it had never encountered someone as monstrous as Tian Lin. Not only was Tian Lin incredibly powerful, but his presence alone could transform the fate of an entire faction. Any sect fortunate enough to have Tian Lin would find it nearly impossible not to rise to prominence. "But Xiao Tian, with your current support abilities, you're starting to resemble the ultimate tool soul master. Most of your abilities are about helping others grow stronger."
Tian Lin smiled faintly at the comment. "If being a tool is what it takes, then so be it. After all, I've never been alone. I have brothers, family, loved ones, and a sect. As long as it's for those who matter to me, I'll gladly play the role of a tool!"
"Alright, Brother Skydream, I've been out for a while now. I should head back to check on things. Brother Tianheng and the others may have already returned from Suoto City. Speaking of which, I need to apologize to them for leaving the team without notice." With that, Tian Lin summoned his sword and flew toward Heaven Dou City.
...
However, instead of returning to the academy immediately, he decided to visit his sect first.
Unexpectedly, the disciples at the sect were ecstatic upon seeing him. "Young Master Tian Lin, you've finally returned! We've been searching everywhere for you!"
"Searching for me?" Tian Lin was confused. He distinctly remembered informing Ning Fengzhi about his plans to go out. It wasn't like he had gone missing, so why were they so worried?
What he didn't know was that during the time he was absorbing the million-year soul ring and was on the brink of death, his parents and Master had sensed something was wrong.
Jun Tianhai and Mo Lan, unable to put their minds at ease, had come to the sect to inquire about Tian Lin. From Chen Xin, they learned that even he had a bad premonition about Tian Lin's condition. As a result, everyone had been on edge, worried sick about him.
Tian Lin soon realized that the coordinates on his soul tool had been erased. "Who deleted my coordinates?" he wondered.
"Xiao Tian, it was me," Skydream Iceworm admitted. "When you were absorbing the soul ring, I noticed someone trying to track your location. Worried they'd interrupt, I erased your coordinates. Sorry, Xiao Tian, I didn't know it was your Master trying to find you."
"It's fine, Skydream. You were being considerate, and I won't blame you for that," Tian Lin reassured it. The coordinates could easily be reset. It wasn't a big deal.
After learning the full story, Tian Lin hurried into the sect. His parents had been staying there for days, unable to leave without confirming his safety.
When Tian Lin found them, he immediately knelt. "Father, Mother, it was unfilial of me to make you worry."
"As long as you're safe, that's all that matters. I've been uneasy these past few days, but now that I see you're fine, I can finally rest easy," Mo Lan said, hugging Tian Lin tightly.
Little did she know, Tian Lin had indeed brushed past death recently. He chose not to tell her the truth, to spare her from further worry.
However, Chen Xin, who had reached rank 98, saw through Tian Lin's transformation immediately. His disciple had inexplicably become a Soul King, with a soul power level of at least rank 55 or 56. Moreover, his soul power was exceptionally refined, clearly not the result of any shortcuts or corrupt methods.
Chen Xin had complete faith that his disciple would never stoop to working with evil soul masters. He trusted Tian Lin's character wholeheartedly.
Since Mo Lan and the others were still present, Chen Xin refrained from questioning Tian Lin further. That night, after Tian Lin had settled his parents down and stayed with them until they fell asleep, he returned to the Seven Treasure Hall.
There, Ning Fengzhi, the three other titled Douluos of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, and Chen Xin were waiting for him.
Tian Lin greeted them one by one. "Uncle Ning, Bone Grandpa, Master, Old Monster!"
Chen Xin spoke calmly, "Xiao Tian, don't you think there's something you need to explain to me?"