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This awards ceremony was far grander than previous ones, thanks largely to the lavish prizes. This time, rewards were given to all three top teams. The third-place team received three spirit bones, each over a thousand years old.
With the opening of the Spirit Beast Illusion Realm, the number of spirit bones obtained has steadily increased. Some were damaged or broken during Tang San and Guang Ling's research, rendering them incomplete. They decided to repurpose these as prizes.
Although these spirit bones are only at the millennium level, they remain priceless on the Douluo Continent, where demand far outstrips supply. Previously, only the champions received rewards, while other teams could only expect recruitment offers and honors from their respective empires.
As the spirit bones were presented, many eyes lit up across the arena.
"The Spirit Hall is certainly generous, giving even third-place winners spirit bones," noted the Seventh Elder of the Haotian Clan. Although he didn't hold much respect for millennium-level spirit bones, if he had one in his possession, he'd undoubtedly absorb it.
After all, spirit bones at the ten-thousand-year level are so rare that even a titled Douluo like him would be wise to temper any unrealistic hopes of obtaining a full set.
Next, it was time for the second-place team, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, to receive their award.
Bibi Dong personally presented them with a ten-thousand-year spirit bone.
This announcement stirred nearly everyone present, their gazes brimming with greed. However, Bibi Dong's formidable presence, along with Tang San at her side, prevented anyone from acting rashly.
"A ten-thousand-year spirit bone! That's a true treasure in the Spirit Master world!" Tang Xiao swallowed unconsciously, calming himself. "Is the Spirit Hall really this generous?"
While he wasn't surprised that the Spirit Hall possessed ten-thousand-year spirit bones, he hadn't expected one to be awarded to second place. So, wouldn't the first prize be a fifty-thousand-year spirit bone, or perhaps multiple ten-thousand-year spirit bones? Last time, the champion team received several ten-thousand-year spirit bones, which Tang San had used as leverage to challenge Bibi Dong…
When it came time for the Spirit Hall team to claim their first-place prize, Bibi Dong presented them with three ten-thousand-year spirit bones.
This wasn't entirely unexpected; many had anticipated such a reward.
What everyone was more curious about, though, was what Tang San would offer.
Tang San did not disappoint. He brought out seven thick booklets and declared, "This is the Original Body Technique Manual. Spirit Hall members need to make a certain contribution to train in it. However, due to your success in capturing important figures of the Sun and Moon Empire, you are eligible to begin training immediately."
"Thank you, Your Holiness!" all seven recipients responded eagerly, accepting the manuals with eyes gleaming with excitement.
"Original Body Technique? What's that?"
"Could it be related to Spirit Hall's interest in gathering Spirit Masters with Original Body Spirits?"
"Maybe it's a special meditation technique created by Tang San."
"It must significantly improve training efficiency; otherwise, the Spirit Hall team wouldn't be this thrilled… It seems even Spirit Hall members need to make significant contributions to access it."
While the crowd buzzed with speculation, Tang San revealed another prize: seven small, translucent, bead-like crystals, each the size of a fingernail. Using his spirit power, he held them aloft before the seven winners and announced, "This is my second prize, an artificial spirit ring. This spirit ring is based on my ninth-ring ability. When you reach a bottleneck, you can absorb this ring. During absorption, it will adjust to your body, spirit, and soul, allowing it to reach the maximum age limit you can handle. The spirit ability it grants may not be the most powerful, but it will be the most suitable for your unique spirit."
Silence fell over the hall.
An artificial spirit ring?
World laws?
The Spirit Hall's Holy Son, the master of Spirit Theory, the Silver-Blue Count—Tang San—had reached a level where he could create spirit rings? This was power akin to that of the gods!
After his explanation, Tang San took out another artificial spirit ring bead and demonstrated its use before the crowd.
The audience watched in awe as, under the influence of spirit power, the bead dissolved, forming a white spirit ring. Its color shifted to yellow, then purple, then black, then red, and finally, an awe-inspiring golden hue. Tang San then waved his hand, dispersing the spirit ring back into the original bead form.
"If you have the ability, each of these artificial spirit rings can reach the level of a million-year ring," Tang San said, revealing his own nine spirit rings: eight gleaming gold, with one ring a unique shade of chaos. "Just like the first eight rings of my Blue Silver Emperor spirit, which are all at the million-year level."
The crowd's collective breath halted.
A million years? Was he even human anymore? Could it be that Tang San had broken through to the legendary hundredth level, ascending to godhood?
"We will give our utmost!" The seven members of the Spirit Hall team, eyes filled with admiration and reverence, took the artificial spirit rings with trembling hands, envisioning the possibility of one day possessing a hundred-thousand-year spirit ring…
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"Tang San's strength is almost excessive."
Within the Alliance of Transmigrators, Tang Louya's eye twitched. "Eight million-year spirit rings, plus that strange ninth ring… maybe it's even at the ten-million-year level. How does he manage it?"
Feng Ming sighed. "We're all transmigrators, so why are we so under-equipped? Is it just because he got to be the protagonist? Where's the fairness in that?"
Hawk, also shaken, regained his composure and added, "Don't be too down about it. At least we've managed to establish a connection with him, however tenuous… Besides, I'm close to reaching the Spirit Emperor level. Let's start preparing to head to Sea God Island. I'll fly you all there."
Hawk had deduced something—Tang San likely hadn't accepted any god's inheritance.
In the original work, the most generous deity in Douluo Continent was the Sea God; every resident of Sea God Island could take part in trials once they came of age. Unlike the Angel God or Rakshasa God, who were far more stingy.
And for Tang San to have eight million-year rings and a spirit ring of unknown age… it didn't seem humanly possible to achieve, but it also didn't appear to be the result of intervention by a deity.
The gods wouldn't be this reckless.
"To Sea God Island? Do you have a way to bypass the island's outer guardian, the Demon Soul Great White Shark?" Feng Ming asked excitedly.
"The New Tian Dou Federation confiscated several seafaring soul devices from the Sun-Moon Empire. If we borrow a fast, durable ship, it won't be a problem."
Hawk's mind was already working, though his expression reflected a mix of urgency and helplessness.
"For the Sun-Moon Empire's fleet to sail safely to Douluo Continent, even with the help of a guide like Xu Xing, their ships must have been capable of withstanding attacks from ten-thousand-year-level soul beasts. Otherwise, they wouldn't have arrived unscathed."
"We have to close the power gap with Tang San quickly. Otherwise, he could sever our connection at any moment on a whim."
"To have a voice, we need to wield the corresponding strength."
Feng Ming nodded thoughtfully, then asked, "Come to think of it, is the Emperor of the Sun-Moon Empire also a transmigrator?"
Hawk replied, "Definitely, but it doesn't matter now. Tang San's already taken care of him…"
(End of Chapter)