The soul ring had an age of 100,000 years, although it was sealed.
Still, the two soul skills it granted could be used by Diyi Hong.
The first soul skill: Titan Heavy Claw!
A purely offensive soul skill. Its original power even surpassed the explosive ring of the Great Sumeru Hammer, though it required some charge time.
Due to the ring being sealed, its current strength was capped at the 71,000-year level.
The second soul skill: Power of the Earth!
Control the power of the earth for one's own use. Manipulate terrain freely—trap, lock down, or annihilate enemies.
Its potential depended entirely on the user's imagination.
This too was restricted to 71,000 years of power.
In contrast, the external soul bone from the Titan Giant Ape's left palm had no such restrictions.
Beyond the massive boost to physical strength, it also bestowed two 100,000-year soul bone skills:
Soul Bone Skill: Gravity Swamp!
An evolved form of the Titan Ape's gravity domain. The area of control was reduced, but the gravitational strength could now reach terrifying levels!
Of course, energy consumption doubled in comparison—a minor limitation.
Soul Bone Skill: Titan Sky Cannon!
Using gravity manipulation to instantly compress the surrounding air into a lethal beam of force—physically erasing the target.
To put it simply—it's an air cannon.
But Diyi Hong had other thoughts.
If he could compress air, why not just compress the enemy directly?
Why take the scenic route?
That would be putting the cart before the horse.
"Er Ming!!!"
Xiao Wu's scream jolted Diyi Hong from his thoughts. She threw herself onto the headless corpse of the giant ape, sobbing uncontrollably.
"Oh, you're awake," Diyi Hong said casually. "Seems like you two were close. I came to save you, by the way."
Xiao Wu trembled, head down, not daring to meet his gaze.
She was afraid the hatred in her eyes would provoke Diyi Hong's killing intent.
After all, who wouldn't hate the man who just killed her childhood playmate?
"Diyi…" Xiao Wu clenched her fists. "You can resurrect, right? Er Ming is my brother… can you do it?"
"Of course I can," Diyi Hong nodded. "But you probably can't afford the price. And more importantly—are you sure you even want to?"
Xiao Wu's heart lifted—then dropped into despair, followed by hesitation.
How could she not want to bring Er Ming back?
"Soul beasts can't become gods. That's just how the world works. That's why they try to transform into humans."
Diyi Hong explained calmly:
"Every 100,000 years, a soul beast must undergo a tribulation. If it survives, it gets another 100,000 years. If it fails—it's wiped out."
"But now that Er Ming is my soul ring and soul bone, as long as I become a god, he'll ascend with me—eternal life included."
"So, do you still want to revive him?"
Xiao Wu looked up blankly.
Wait… is that possible?
Diyi Hong was shrouded in mystery—able to produce immortal herbs, spirit skills, and slaughter a Titan Giant Ape alone.
Even absorbing a 100,000-year soul ring was nothing to him.
His chances of becoming a god?
Extremely high.
Compared to letting Er Ming forge his own uncertain path, maybe attaching himself to Diyi Hong wasn't such a bad idea after all…
"No!" Xiao Wu said defensively. "How do I know you're telling the truth? What if Er Ming's soul is already gone?!"
Diyi Hong just rolled his eyes.
Xiao Wu paused, finally realizing—
This man could kill a peak Titan Giant Ape alone. Why would he need to lie to a three-ringed Soul Master who was secretly a soul beast?
And with Diyi Hong's Four-Life Martial Soul, he had no reason to keep her alive just to kill her later.
If he wanted her dead, she'd already be dead.
There was no deception. Just brute, unmatchable strength.
Xiao Wu gave a bitter smile.
She stood up slowly, her eyes complicated as she looked at Diyi Hong.
She should hate him. He killed her brother.
But now… she might owe him for giving Er Ming a shot at godhood?
This whole thing is so surreal…
"Instead of dwelling on the dead," Diyi Hong said, "maybe worry about your boyfriend. He saw you get taken and immediately gave chase. Now he's stuck fighting a Human-Faced Demon Spider—and he's not doing well."
Xiao Wu instantly panicked.
"Then go save Xiao San!"
Diyi Hong didn't budge.
Tang San wasn't out of energy yet. No need to rush.
Besides—
Diyi Hong raised a brow.
"That Titan Ape dared to attack me and snatch you right in front of me. That was a slap in the face. That's why I came after him."
"But Tang San? I barely know him. Why would I save him?"
"Anyone foolish enough to rush into the mixed zone without considering their strength deserves the consequences."
Xiao Wu stomped her foot.
"Then tell me where he is—I'll go myself!"
Diyi Hong just spread his hands.
"I don't owe you anything. Why would I tell you?"
Xiao Wu was furious.
But powerless.
"Then what are you going to do?" she asked through clenched teeth.
Finally, the right question.
Diyi Hong glanced toward the live broadcast room.
'Alright, chat—any ideas?'
["God of Emotions": Let Xiao Wu die for Tang San! Make that bastard suffer! Let him beg for resurrection! And put a chastity belt on her—the kind that bounces anyone off if they try to hold hands!]
[User "God of Emotions" sent a gift: "God-Given Soul Ring" x10]
Tsk tsk.
Classic Tang San karma from the God of Emotions.
But why was he sending divine soul rings?
Diyi Hong already had over 50. His Four-Life Martial Soul could easily be maxed.
Selling one in the [Live Broadcast Room Mall] only netted 5,000 points.
Not worth it.
Still—
'God of Emotions' suggestion can be considered later.'
'Any other bosses have ideas?'
["Phoenix God": I want Tang San to suffer the pain of watching his beloved die of old age… but that might be a bit hard to pull off right now.]
["God of Speed": Xiao Wu just had bad taste in men. Tang San's the problem—she's innocent.]
["Nine-Colored Goddess": Just follow the God of Emotions' plan. I nearly cried when I saw them in the Valley of Love.]
["God of Emotions": YES! DO IT!]
Alright then.
"God of Emotions, send me the full plan. I'll cooperate fully."
["God of Emotions": Roger that!!! I'll make sure he suffers!!!]
[User "God of Emotions" sent a gift: "Emotion Consciousness" x10]
["God of Emotions": This is a thank-you gift.]
[「Emotion Consciousness」×1]
[Please implant this into Xiao Wu's spiritual world. It's set so that if Tang San physically touches her, he'll be blasted to death.]
Diyi Hong smirked.
Smart guy.
"Alright, alright, no rush. Take your time to think."
He turned to Xiao Wu, who was still pacing anxiously.
"How about this—there's a place nearby that seems to be a divine inheritance site. Want to come explore it with me?"
"If you get the god's inheritance, it's yours."
"But anything else we find along the way belongs to me."
"How about it?"
Xiao Wu was stunned.
She was asking for help, and now he was offering her a chance to become a god?
Who's helping who here?
But now wasn't the time to argue—she agreed without hesitation.
"No problem! Just hurry up and save Xiao San!"
"No hurry."
Diyi Hong raised a hand and summoned a ray of multi-colored emotion consciousness.
"That divine test site has a unique requirement: only those with pure bodies can enter."
"To ensure you don't, uh, lose that purity before we get there, you'll need to accept this consciousness. It won't do anything normally—but if you have intimate contact with the opposite sex, it'll trigger punishment."
"Do you agree?"
Xiao Wu didn't think too hard. She snatched the emotion consciousness, which flowed into her spiritual world through her palm.
Done.
["God of Emotions": HAHAHAHAHA! Tang San! Look where you've ended up! This is retribution!!!]
Better keep broadcasting for the God of Emotions.
Later, there'd be plenty of footage to show—like Tang San getting flung across the battlefield.
If it made the god happy, maybe he'd throw some more divine gifts.
Isn't that how this works?
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