A black-ranked spirit soul, with a fully developed intellect and the ability to assist its Soul Master in battle, could finally be considered a true "Soul Ring Spirit" rather than a mere intelligent soul ring.
After evolving into a black-ranked spirit soul, Red Ruby awakened a new soul skill: Jade Luan's Dance. This ability provided Jing Shaoyu with continuous healing and soul power regeneration, a remarkable support skill.
In addition, Red Ruby was no longer just a decorative attachment. Its raptor-sized body had gained immense speed and strength. From now on, it could actively participate in battles, assisting Jing Shaoyu on the frontlines—one of the hallmarks of a black-ranked spirit soul.
"Red Ruby, come here!" Jing Shaoyu called out, raising his left arm.
"Chirp!" Red Ruby let out a crisp cry before swooping down onto his arm. Its soft pink talons gripped his forearm gently, their rounded tips surprisingly non-threatening. Red Ruby folded its wings and affectionately nuzzled Jing Shaoyu's cheek.
Now over a meter long, Red Ruby wasn't particularly large among bird-type soul beasts, especially in the ten-thousand-year category. After all, didn't Leng Yaozhu's Blazing Flame Eagle Emperor have individual feathers exceeding two meters in length?
However, Jing Shaoyu didn't care about size. Red Ruby wasn't meant for head-on combat, and a smaller frame made it more versatile. Even the famed Emerald Swan Bi Ji, whose body data was stored in the Spirit Pagoda, was only about ten meters long despite being a six-hundred-thousand-year soul beast. For non-combat-oriented soul beasts, smaller sizes often had survival advantages—smaller targets were harder to hit.
"Shaoyu, let's head out," Leng Yaozhu called, walking over with a purple-black skull in her hand—the remains of the Evil-Eyed Tyrant.
"Alright!" Jing Shaoyu replied, though he couldn't help but glance at the soul bone. A ten-thousand-year soul bone! Leng Yaozhu holding it so casually seemed a bit excessive.
"This soul bone isn't for you," Leng Yaozhu said with a knowing smile. "Every ten-thousand-year soul bone in the Spirit Pagoda is uniquely numbered. Even I need formal approval to use one, let alone gift it to someone."
"I was just curious," Jing Shaoyu said, scratching the back of his head with a sheepish smile.
"Curiosity is normal," Leng Yaozhu chuckled, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "When I first saw a ten-thousand-year soul bone, I was just as curious and excited. Here, take a look to satisfy your curiosity. That way, when you get your own someday, you won't lose your composure."
She handed the Evil-Eyed Tyrant's skull to Jing Shaoyu, who instinctively accepted it. A chilling sensation instantly surged up his arm, making him shiver. Ten-thousand-year soul bones were indeed extraordinary, and his eyes filled with awe.
After leaving the Advanced Spirit Ascension Platform, Leng Yaozhu turned to Jing Shaoyu. "Shaoyu, you should rest for now."
"Yes, Teacher," Jing Shaoyu agreed but couldn't resist asking, "Aren't you resting, Teacher?"
"I need to reconstruct the Evil-Eyed Tyrant for the platform. It can't go without a guardian," Leng Yaozhu explained.
"Oh, I see." Realizing her next tasks involved classified operations, Jing Shaoyu wisely retreated to his room without further questions.
The Next Morning — Leng Yaozhu's Workshop
When Jing Shaoyu entered, he noticed Leng Yaozhu watching him intently, her expression unusually serious.
"What's wrong, Teacher?" he asked, his heart sinking slightly at her demeanor.
"Come here, Shaoyu," Leng Yaozhu said, gesturing for him to approach. Her tone was grave.
Curiosity piqued, Jing Shaoyu quickly stepped forward and followed her gaze to a screen.
On the screen was a tranquil circular lake nestled in a secluded valley. The lake's clear surface reflected the vibrant greenery surrounding it. Various plants with red, green, yellow, and white hues flourished around the lake, while the valley walls were alive with lush vegetation. It was a picturesque and serene landscape, a perfect retreat into nature.
"What is this place, Teacher?" Jing Shaoyu asked, puzzled. "It doesn't seem particularly remarkable."
"Be patient," Leng Yaozhu replied. "You'll see it soon."
"It?" Jing Shaoyu caught onto the hint. Given that this was the Spirit Pagoda, what else could warrant her attention besides a spirit soul?
He focused on the screen, and thankfully, he didn't have to wait long. Three or four minutes later, a majestic creature emerged, leisurely approaching the lake to drink.
"It's a… unicorn!" Jing Shaoyu exclaimed, his face a mix of astonishment and disbelief.
Indeed, the creature on the screen resembled the mythical unicorn. It was nearly five meters long and over two meters tall, its body covered in radiant golden fur. Large white wings adorned its sides, and its entire form shimmered with a rainbow-like sheen, exuding purity and holiness.
The creature's body was horse-like, but a long, spiral horn extended from its forehead. The horn was crystalline and emitted a prismatic glow under the sunlight. Its black-and-white eyes sparkled with intelligence, and its elegant mane, reminiscent of a lion's, added an air of majesty.
Its movements were gentle and unhurried, each step radiating peace and dignity. Anyone who saw it would feel an inexplicable sense of calm, their worries momentarily fading away.
"Yes, this is a unicorn," Leng Yaozhu confirmed, her tone calm yet tinged with pride. "Specifically, it's a Divine Unicorn with the bloodline of the mythical Tianlu."
"A Divine Unicorn with Tianlu bloodline!" Jing Shaoyu's surprise deepened, and his eyes lit up with excitement. If he couldn't see Leng Yaozhu's intentions now, he'd be unworthy of his title as a prodigy.
Unicorns were already rare and prized among soul beasts. A Divine Unicorn, the king among unicorns, was revered for its unmatched auxiliary abilities, comparable to the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda. The appearance of such a creature could singlehandedly shift the balance of power among soul beast clans.
Born with intelligence, a sense of morality, and a natural affinity for life and light, Divine Unicorns were the epitome of purity. Jing Shaoyu immediately understood that this Divine Unicorn was meant to become his second spirit soul.
If it were an ordinary Divine Unicorn, he might have hesitated. But with the addition of the Tianlu bloodline, hesitation was unnecessary. This soul spirit was tailor-made for him!
The Tianlu was a mythical ancient beast, a symbol of fortune and wisdom. Its horn, known as the Horn of Fate, was said to influence destiny, ward off evil, and cure ailments. Legends claimed that those blessed by the Tianlu were destined for greatness.
A Divine Unicorn with Tianlu bloodline, no matter how faint, was more than capable of reaching the ten-thousand-year level. Based on its appearance and horn, this one seemed to have a cultivation level of fifty-thousand years.
"Teacher, how strong is its Tianlu bloodline?" Jing Shaoyu asked, barely able to contain his excitement.
"One percent," Leng Yaozhu replied with a smile. "So, what do you think? Would you like this Divine Unicorn as your second spirit soul?"
"Absolutely!" Jing Shaoyu agreed without hesitation.
"But…" Leng Yaozhu's smile turned wry. "Its cultivation level is fifty-thousand years, and it's an unyielding spirit soul. For someone at your current level, it might be too much to handle."
Jing Shaoyu's excitement dimmed slightly. Leng Yaozhu was right—no matter how confident he was, a fifty-thousand-year spirit soul was beyond his current capabilities.
"So, I have a suggestion," Leng Yaozhu said. "You might want to consider it."
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