NOVEL WEB Chapter 145: Chapter 145
"Gu Ran, what is your soul skill? Is it related to the soul?" Jun Tianlin asked, observing closely.
"Yes, boss. All the souls devoured by the Netherworld Spirit Horse are attached to this spirit ring. And because it hadn't had time to digest the Death Dragon it had just absorbed before its death, the soul of the Death Dragon was preserved almost completely intact. However, its intelligence was destroyed when I absorbed the spirit ring." Gu Ran explained
"The soul skill that this spirit ring grants me is called Ghost Bones. It attaches all those souls to the bones fired by my skeleton warhorse. I can control the attack angle at will. At the same time, because these bones are infused with a ghostly aura, anyone struck by them will temporarily fall into a frenzy, as if possessed by an evil spirit."
"A very unique attack." Jun Tianlin pondered. Gu Ran's soul skill bore some resemblance to Tang San's hidden weapon technique, Bat Wing Reincarnation, but it was far more powerful.
Bat Wing Reincarnation was one of the Tang Sect's hidden weapon techniques. The thrown weapons would strike wherever the user intended based on their angle and force. However, once released, their trajectory was fixed and couldn't be altered. Gu Ran, on the other hand, could control his attacks freely until his soul power was exhausted.
"But what about the complete soul of the Death Dragon you mentioned? The soul skill you just described doesn't seem to reflect that."
"Hey, boss, let me show you." Gu Ran grinned and demonstrated his fifth soul skill, Bones of Ghosts and Gods, on the spot.
Hundreds of sharp bones wrapped in black mist shot out, weaving through the trees or precisely striking individual leaves. This perfectly showcased the skill's first characteristic—the ability to move at will.
"Bones of Ghosts and Gods, gather!"
Gu Ran clasped his hands together, and all the scattered bones assembled and forming a massive Death Dragon skeleton.
"Boss, this is how I use the Death Dragon's soul. Once this giant bone dragon is attached to its soul, it fights automatically without my control. Except for the lack of flesh and blood, it retains all the Death Dragon's aura and attack power. And since I destroyed the beast's will when absorbing the spirit ring, this new will is my own—it obeys my commands completely."
'This... this is practically the summoning of a bone dragon in undead magic. I didn't expect Gu Ran to gain such an ability. His fifth soul ring is so powerful that even an ordinary Spirit Emperor might struggle against him.' Jun Tianlin sighed inwardly.
In the future, this new generation of Bone Douluo would surely surpass Gu Rong. The title of the strongest attack and defense spirit master might very well belong to Gu Ran.
"Well done, Gu Ran. Our trip was not in vain—this is truly a formidable soul skill." Jun Tianlin patted Gu Ran's shoulder approvingly.
Gu Ran rubbed the back of his head, a little embarrassed "Hehe, this is all thanks to you, Boss. Without you, I wouldn't have obtained such a powerful spirit ring."
At that moment, Jun Tianlin suddenly thought of something and walked toward the Death Dragon's body. Though soulless but its massive dragon form remained intact and standing eerily still.
"Collect!" Jun Tianlin activated the soul guide belt at his waist and absorbing the Death Dragon into storage.
This belt had been a gift from Ning Fengzhi. The space inside the Ruyi Treasure Bag wasn't large enough, so for Jun Tianlin's birthday, Ning Fengzhi had spent a fortune to customize this storage soul guide belt. Not only did it boast an enormous capacity, but like the Ruyi Treasure Bag, it could store living beings. It was far more valuable than Tang San's Twenty-Four Moonlit Bridges.
"Boss, why did you collect the Death Dragon's body?" Gu Ran asked curiously.
"This Death Dragon isn't dead. Though its soul is gone, its heart is still beating, and its blood still flows—it remains alive. Have you forgotten what Teacher Qin Ming said? To truly kill a soul beast like this, both its body and soul must be destroyed. Otherwise, in time, a new soul will be reborn within it." Jun Tianlin smiled "So now, as long as someone can break its body, they can obtain a ten-thousand-year soul ring—one without any soul shock."
"Tianheng and Sister Yan Zi are about to break through to level fifty, right? This sub-dragon soul beast and already over ten thousand years old, will be perfect for them. Rather than wasting it, we'll gift it to them."
"Boss, you're always thinking ahead. Now we won't have to make another trip to Sunset Forest next time." Gu Ran grinned, following Jun Tianlin out of the forest.
They first returned to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan and reported Gu Ran's advancement to his master, Gu Rong. When Gu Rong learned that Gu Ran had not only reached Spirit King level but had also gained such a powerful fifth soul skill, he couldn't contain his joy.
Chen Xin, standing nearby, scoffed "Your disciple is only this strong because of my disciple. Without Jun Tianlin, Gu Ran would probably still be hovering around level forty, if not lower."
Gu Rong was momentarily speechless. The facts were undeniable.
"Alright, alright, it's true. But can't you let me bask in the glory for a bit?" Gu Rong said in frustration "I've already given up on the idea of Gu Ran catching up to Jun Tianlin—it's simply impossible."
"Hmph, at least you know it now." Chen Xin smirked triumphantly.
These two had been rivals for life, neither willing to yield to the other. But when it came to their disciples, Gu Rong had to admit defeat.
Watching them bicker, Dugu Bo felt a twinge of envy. He wished Jun Tianlin would give his own Yan'er a similar opportunity.
But he also knew that now wasn't the right time. The secrets of Phantom Water Thunder and the Holy Spirit Realm couldn't be revealed to outsiders before Jun Tianlin reached level seventy.
Though Dugu Yan was his granddaughter but she was also Yu Tianheng's fiancée and making her practically part of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.
Noticing Dugu Bo's expression, Jun Tianlin walked over and reassured him "Don't worry, old monster. Sister Yanzi has always treated me well. I won't forget her. While I may not be able to secure her fifth spirit ring but I promise to help her obtain the best ones for her sixth through ninth."
"Haha, much appreciated, little monster." Dugu Bo chuckled. Jun Tianlin was right—there was no need to rush. Given Jun Tianlin's character, he would never forget those who had been kind to him.
After staying at the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan for over half a month, Jun Tianlin and Gu Ran set off once again and returning to Heaven Dou Royal Academy.
Everyone was astonished to see Gu Ran return as a Spirit King with a new soul ring.
What had happened? Gu Ran, who had once been middle-ranked in their group, had suddenly surged to second place?
Following Jun Tianlin's prior instructions, Gu Ran attributed his breakthrough to his master, Gu Rong, claiming that Gu Rong had used an exclusive secret technique applicable only to bone-type martial spirits.
The others found it plausible. After all, if such a powerful method worked for everyone, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan would have been the continent's number one force long ago.
But this revelation deeply unsettled Yu Tianheng. As the heir of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, he had now been surpassed twice by the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan's successor. If word got out, how could he maintain his reputation?
Determined to catch up, Yu Tianheng threw himself into intense training for the next ten days and vowing not to fall behind Gu Ran any further.