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In the office hall of the Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda Sect, both Sword Elder and Ning Fengzhi were visibly astonished.
"Uncle Gu, are you saying that Yang Xiong truly absorbed a 540 year soul ring for his first ring? And that the soul beast wasn't a Mysterious Turtle but the legendary Mysterious Turtle of the Abyss?"
Bone Elder nodded. "Even I nearly made a mistake—it was definitely a Mysterious Turtle of the Abyss, with an age between five hundred forty and five hundred fifty years."
"Although Yang Xiong endured considerable pain during the absorption process, he succeeded. His soul power has reached level thirteen. Based on my observations, consuming century-grade whale glue likely boosts the absorption potential of soul rings by about one hundred years. However, the effects of millennium-grade or ten-thousand-year whale glue might not be so straightforward—I can't even estimate how much they could enhance."
Ning Fengzhi nodded. "This is indeed a tremendous surprise. Using whale glue to increase the absorption potential of soul rings can significantly enhance physical conditioning and the intake of soul ring energy, greatly benefiting soul master cultivation. Whale glue truly deserves to be called a treasure."
"And this Yang Xiong has exceeded my expectations. He identified the Mysterious Turtle of the Abyss solely based on images and descriptions. Even Elder Lin Gong was almost deceived."
Lin Gong had been personally chosen by Ning Fengzhi to be Ning Rongrong's homeroom teacher. Though his soul power level was relatively low, his expertise in education and knowledge of spirits placed him among the sect's top talents. In fact, he had even been Ning Fengzhi's own homeroom teacher during his schooling days.
Bone Elder, however, couldn't help but feel resentful. "If only this kid had discovered the secret of whale glue earlier! Then our Rongrong's first soul ring could have been boosted significantly, perhaps even breaking through the limits of the Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda Spirit."
Ning Fengzhi sighed inwardly. Yang Xiong, who was the same age as Rongrong, had taken over a year and a half longer than her to break through to level ten. The gap between them was simply too vast to compare.
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After returning home, Yang Xiong's soul power spiraled out of control. His spine and ribs felt excruciating pain, as if all his bones were on the verge of shattering.
In truth, Yang Xiong had sensed something unusual about his body immediately after absorbing the soul ring. It felt as though something was growing within him. However, surrounded by others, he could only summon his Body Spirit to suppress the strange sensations in his bones.
Once home, the tension in his body seemed to ease, but his bones began growing uncontrollably, quickly filling most of the room.
When the frenzy subsided, Yang Xiong found himself encased in what resembled an enormous turtle shell. His spine and ribs had fused into a single structure, forming a massive turtle carapace.
This carapace differed from any ordinary turtle shell. It enveloped his entire body—not just his back, but also his chest and abdomen, resembling a suit of armor. The only downside was that the large shell on his back looked rather ungainly.
While turtle-type soul beasts were known for their robust backs, their chests and abdomens were equally strong, covered by thick plating—though less conspicuous than their dorsal shells.
Yang Xiong's external soul bone was unlike anything ordinary. Not only did it extend from his spine, but his ribs appeared to have transformed as well, resembling armor covering his entire chest and abdomen.
Yang Xiong tapped on his back shell and chest plate, marveling at their incredible defense. Both his front and back were fully protected, and his bones had grown significantly stronger. Moreover, the shell had two states. In its normal form, it only shielded his chest and back, with the back portion covering his muscles.
In its full form, however, the shell expanded to colossal proportions, completely encasing his body—even his head and limbs were protected.
Yang Xiong named this shell the Xuan Ming Armor. At its current age of five hundred years, he believed it would continue to evolve, potentially becoming a full-body suit of armor in the future.
If the Xuan Ming Armor were to reach ten-thousand-year levels, it might become impervious to any attack.
The armor also granted him a formidable soul skill: Impregnable Fortress. This ability allowed him to summon the Xuan Ming Armor to block both physical and energy-based attacks. However, against opponents two major realms above him, the armor's defense would weaken.
Yang Xiong initially lamented his choice. While external soul bones were rare in the Douluo Continent, they were often extraordinary. For instance, Tang San's Eight Spider Lances, Huo Gua's Dark Golden Terror Claw, and Bibi Dong's Six-Winged Violet Light Wings were all considered top-tier and visually impressive. In contrast, his turtle shell felt decidedly underwhelming.
However, upon reflection, Yang Xiong realized that his Body Spirit was relatively weak in its early stages, especially in close combat where injuries were common. Despite its appearance, the Xuan Ming Armor provided comprehensive defense. Even without summoning it, his ribs gained enhanced resistance, protecting vital areas like his chest and abdomen. It was undoubtedly the most suitable choice for his Body Spirit.
Moreover, the armor possessed powerful shock-absorbing capabilities, safeguarding his internal organs from severe damage and providing an additional layer of defense.
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What truly delighted Yang Xiong, however, was his first soul skill.
Taking a gamble, he hadn't expected such success. His first soul skill turned out to be the most terrifying aspect of the Mysterious Turtle of the Abyss—its Space attribute.
Xuan Ming Replacement: Within a certain range, instantly switch positions with an opponent. Once locked onto an unsuspecting foe, escape was nearly impossible. The effective range was one hundred meters, with greater enemy strength requiring more soul power consumption. (Similar to Xu Sanshi's soul skill in Douluo II)
Yang Xiong believed this skill had immense potential. For example, swapping places with the air around an opponent could function like teleportation—perhaps even better. This ability would significantly compensate for his weaker early-game combat prowess.
Yang Xiong experimented with his soul power to manipulate the Replacement. It wasn't merely an extension of his spine but seemed to integrate with the bones of his chest, abdomen, and back.
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Author's Note: Initially, the armor is called the Xuan Ming Armor, but it will later evolve into the Xuan Wu Armor. After much thought, I believe armor suits a Body Spirit far better than wings or claws. (Xuan Wu is a divine beast in mythology)
Previously, I've written about wings and claws, such as the Eight Spider Lances. This time, a full-body turtle shell feels more appropriate.
Most external soul bones are claws, wings, or similar structures, like the Eight Spider Lances. However, armor seems far more fitting for the protagonist's spirit.
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