After much effort, Xiao Wu successfully condensed a spirit ring of about sixty thousand years, significantly surpassing the forty-thousand-year fourth spirit ring. Due to the effects of the immortal herbs she absorbed, she reached level fifty earlier than expected. Otherwise, her fifth spirit ring could have been even more powerful.
Following Su Ming's advice, Xiao Wu chose a spatial-related spirit ability for her fifth ring, rather than following her mother's choice of Soft Bone Lock. Although she initially hoped her new ability would be offensive, it turned out to be a control-type ability with spatial properties.
Her fifth spirit ability, Spatial Lock, can briefly seal off a small area, immobilizing anyone within and allowing her to attack with spatial rifts. Although Xiao Wu felt slightly disappointed, Su Ming was thrilled. Spatial-related abilities rarely fall short in power—any limitations usually stem from the user's skill.
Xiao Wu's skill offers powerful control: if the opponent is unable to break free from the spatial lock, they are essentially doomed. Once they're immobilized, Xiao Wu can use her Eight-Stage Explosive Throw for close-range combat or launch her self-created Tempest Kick from a distance. Alternatively, she could coordinate with her teammates for a group attack. It's practically a god-tier ability!
This Spatial Lock is far superior to Soft Bone Lock. The longer Xiao Wu's spirit power reserves last, the more she can extend the control duration. Later, with increased spirit power, the lock's effect will only grow stronger.
In recent news, rumors circulated through Heaven Dou City that the fourth prince, Xue Beng, collapsed from overexertion with a woman. If not for timely intervention, the consequences could have been disastrous. This scandal only heightened his reputation as a hedonistic prince—the first in history to faint from indulging too much. Furious, Emperor Xue Ye issued a decree banning Xue Beng from leaving his palace for a month.
Privately, Prince Xue Xing hired investigators to look into potential foul play. However, nothing conclusive emerged. Relieved, he ruled out the crown prince as a suspect, though the scandal had major repercussions. Xue Beng's chances at succession were now slim unless the crown prince committed a grievous offense—such as evidence proving he wasn't Emperor Xue Ye's biological son. However, that scenario was virtually impossible, given the royal family's spirit power lineage.
What Xue Xing never realized was that after Qian Renxue's message to Bibi Dong, the Spirit Hall's alchemists had worked tirelessly to concoct this unique aphrodisiac, which operated as a slow-acting energy drain. Bibi Dong, impressed by Qian Renxue's cunning, lent her the Ghost Douluo for support, keeping the Snake Spear Douluo as a backup aid for herself.
While Snake Spear Douluo's tasks became relatively light, Ghost Douluo's were far from easy. His job required close surveillance of Xue Beng, administering the drug discreetly at the right moment, whether in his water or in the air while he was asleep. Ghost Douluo found it grueling, having to watch over Xue Beng constantly without proper rest, until Xue Beng's confinement gave him a brief reprieve.
Given the drug's gradual effects, a mere month of rest couldn't restore Xue Beng's drained energy, despite his usual reliance on fortifying supplements, which now offered no relief.
Su Ming, aware of the developments, suspected Qian Renxue had taken his hint and set her plan in motion. Since Xue Beng enjoyed his façade as a debauched prince, why not let him perish within that role?
Early one morning, Su Ming arrived at the woods by the mountain to train with Ye Lingling. Now familiar with each other, Dugu Yan no longer joined them, leaving Ye Lingling's training in Su Ming's hands while she went with her grandfather to the Star Dou Forest to hunt spirit beasts.
Seeing Su Ming already there, Ye Lingling smiled. "Su Ming, you're always the first to arrive. It's almost embarrassing. I'm the one who needs to improve the most."
Su Ming shook his head. "Not at all; I just got here. With only six months until the Soul Master Tournament, we should take every opportunity to train. Word is that Spirit Hall may field a Spirit Emperor-level competitor, and I'm only a Spirit King. We have to work hard to stand a chance."
Ye Lingling:
She felt self-conscious. Though she'd been training hard these four months, she had only reached level thirty-nine, even with Su Ming's help—without him, her progress might have been half as fast.
Meanwhile, Su Ming thought to himself, "Ye Lingling's affection for me seems quite high, yet our spirit fusion still hasn't succeeded. We've tried merging our spirits, but each time, we just barely miss the mark and fail. Maybe we need one final push, a genuine shift in our bond, to reach that breakthrough."