The radiant crimson glow of the sixth Soul Ring faded slightly, settling into a stable, potent hum around the newly transformed woman. The majestic Golden Dragon spirit projection behind her pulsed with power before slowly receding back into her form, its essence now fully integrated.
She stood tall, a figure of breathtaking beauty and terrifying potential, adorned with six soul rings that screamed defiance against the norms of human cultivation. Four black, one near-red, one pure blood-red. A Soul Emperor forged in mere moments.
Silence, thick and stunned, hung over the clearing. Scarlet King stared, slack-jawed (all three of them). Bi Ji's emerald eyes were wide with awe. Zi Ji's predatory calm was shattered, replaced by fascinated shock. Even Di Tian, the Beast God, seemed to be processing the impossible sight before him.
Then, something else happened.
Resting within the woman's newly formed human hand, an object materialized seemingly from nowhere. It shimmered with golden light, coalescing rapidly. It was bone, yet more than bone. A rib, impossibly long and imbued with draconic power, pulsed with energy.
Before their eyes, the rib bone flowed like liquid gold, reshaping itself, elongating, solidifying. Within seconds, it transformed into a magnificent spear.
The spear shaft glowed with a soft golden light, etched with intricate dragon scale patterns. The spearhead was wickedly sharp, shaped like a dragon's claw, radiating both immense physical power and a hint of sacred fire and light. It hummed with energy, clearly a spirit bone, but one that had taken the form of a weapon intrinsically linked to its owner.
The Golden Dragon Spear. Born from her very essence as the Three-Eyed Golden Lion.
'A spirit bone… weaponized?' Bi Ji breathed internally, astonished. 'Formed from her own body upon transformation… I've never seen such a thing!'
Zi Ji's eyes narrowed further. 'That spear… it resonates with her spirit perfectly. An external manifestation of her core power. Dangerous.'
Scarlet King just blinked. 'Okay, now she has a pointy stick too? A really powerful pointy stick? This is getting ridiculous.'
Di Tian observed the spear, recognizing the signature of the lion's core spirit bone. 'Integrated weaponization… seamless fusion upon transformation… Interesting adaptation.'
Even Song Qing felt a flicker of surprise. He knew spirit bones could be external, but this immediate transformation into a perfect weapon upon shifting forms was unexpected. 'Her own rib bone became her spear… fitting, I suppose. Directly channeling her Golden Dragon power.' He quickly regained his composure, his face betraying none of his internal thoughts.
The newly formed woman looked down at the Golden Dragon Spear in her hand, feeling its familiar weight, its connection to her soul. It felt… right. An extension of herself.
Song Qing took a decisive step forward, breaking the stunned silence.
The warm, vibrant green light of the Verdant Embrace faded instantly. The spectral image of the Primordial Life Tree vanished.
In its place, an entirely different energy exploded outwards.
Cold. Dark. Ancient. Abyssal.
An overwhelming draconic pressure slammed down on the clearing, far more potent, far more terrifying than the Golden Dragon's aura had been.
Behind Song Qing, the air shimmered, coalescing into the vague, immense outline of a colossal dragon wreathed in shadows and dark, flickering flames. Its presence screamed of primordial chaos and absolute dominance.
The Abyssal Demonic Dragon God Emperor spirit possessed him.
His emerald eyes seemed to deepen, gaining an unsettling purple glint. His aura shifted, becoming sharp, predatory, radiating a chill that had nothing to do with temperature.
The effect on the powerful spirit beasts was immediate and stark.
Scarlet King yelped mentally and physically took a step back, despite already knowing this power. 'Yep, there it is! Still terrifying!'
Bi Ji gasped, her gentle life energy recoiling instinctively from the oppressive darkness. 'Such power! So different from the life essence before… It feels… dangerous.'
Zi Ji hissed softly, her purple eyes widening in genuine shock this time. Her own Abyssal Demon Dragon Empress spirit, usually proud and dominant, felt… suppressed. Not aggressively attacked, but simply… overshadowed. Like a noble facing an emperor.
'This pressure…!' she thought, stunned. 'It's stronger than mine! Deeper! It feels… almost like… like Lord Di Tian's own level of draconic authority, but… darker? Abyssal? How?! My bloodline is from one of the Nine Dragon Kings! His shouldn't surpass it!'
Di Tian himself went utterly still. His massive golden eyes fixed on Song Qing, truly fixed on him now, seeing past the human facade to the terrifying spirit within. He felt it. A deep, primal resonance within his own Golden-Eyed Black Dragon King soul. A pressure that mirrored, yet twisted, his own divine draconic lineage.
'This feeling…' Di Tian's ancient mind raced, searching through millennia of memory. 'This specific resonance… This level of authority… It resembles… her.'
The Silver Dragon King. The other half of the original Dragon God, the master of elements.
'But this isn't her elemental mastery,' Di Tian analyzed rapidly. 'This is darkness. Abyssal power. Like Zi Ji's lineage, yet… elevated. Evolved? Mutated to an impossible degree? As if one of the Demon Dragon Kings somehow reached the potency of the Dragon God himself… but through the abyss instead of pure creation force? Impossible!'
The implications were staggering. This human didn't just have a powerful spirit; he potentially wielded a spirit on par with the fragmented power of the original Dragon God.
The newly transformed woman, Song Cai'er, felt the pressure most acutely. Her Golden Dragon spirit, moments ago radiating majestic power, now felt like a candle flickering before a hurricane. It wasn't being attacked, but the sheer presence of Song Qing's spirit was immensely suppressing. She instinctively wanted to kneel, her bloodline screaming deference to a higher draconic authority.
'Qing… his spirit… it's… it's so much stronger than mine…' she realized with a jolt of awe and a strange thrill. 'Even the Golden Dragon bows before it…'
Scarlet King, seeing the looks on the others' faces, felt a perverse sense of satisfaction. 'Heh. Now you see what I had to deal with! Not so easy now, is it?' He conveniently forgot he'd been smacked around by Di Tian just moments earlier.
Song Qing ignored the palpable shockwaves his spirit possession caused. His focus was elsewhere. He looked at the stunning woman before him, still slightly dazed by her transformation and his overwhelming aura.
"You stand before us," Song Qing said, his voice slightly deeper now, resonating with the power of his spirit, "but you lack a name befitting your new form."
Song Cai'er blinked, pulled from her awe. "A name?" she repeated, her melodic voice hesitant.
"Yes. The designation 'Three-Eyed Golden Lion' no longer suits you," Song Qing stated calmly. "What human name do you desire?"
She tilted her head, thinking. Her memories of humans were fragmented, mostly gleaned from terrified intruders Scarlet King had dealt with. "I… I heard some names… whispered in fear…" she offered tentatively. "Like… Yue? Or Feng? There was a woman named Mei once, she screamed quite loudly…"
Song Qing's expression remained impassive, but inwardly he winced. 'Yue, Feng, Mei… fine names, but utterly generic. And tainted by her memories of Scarlet's… interactions. No.'
"None of those suit the presence you now command," he stated firmly, dismissing them instantly. "Your beauty, your power, the auspicious light you carry… they require something more fitting."
He paused, considering. Then, a decision formed. "You came into this new life through my guidance, under my protection. It is only right you carry my lineage."
He looked directly into her sapphire eyes. "Your family name shall be Song."
Her eyes widened slightly. His family name? The same as his? It felt… incredibly intimate. Significant.
"And for your given name," Song Qing continued, a faint, almost imperceptible softening around his eyes, "I shall call you… Cai'er."
He spoke the name softly. "Cai. Meaning brilliance, splendor, color. It reflects the light you carry, the majesty of your Golden Dragon spirit, the vibrant hues of your hair, and the sheer beauty of your current form."
He offered a minuscule smile. "Song Cai'er. Does this name please you?"
Tears welled instantly in Cai'er's sapphire eyes. Not tears of sadness, but overwhelming joy and belonging. Song… Cai'er. Her name. Given by him. Carrying his lineage. It felt perfect. More than perfect.
"Yes!" she breathed, nodding vigorously, the ethereal energy clothing shimmering around her. "Oh, yes, Qing! I love it! Song Cai'er… It's beautiful! Thank you! Thank you!" She beamed, a smile so radiant it seemed to outshine the ambient light, momentarily eclipsing even the imposing pressure of his spirit.
Bi Ji smiled gently. 'Song Cai'er… A lovely name indeed. Fitting.'
Zi Ji gave a slight, almost imperceptible nod. 'Acceptable. Better than Yue or Mei, certainly.'
Di Tian remained silent, but acknowledged the significance. Giving her his name… it bound her to him in the human world. A calculated move.
Scarlet King grumbled mentally. 'Song Cai'er? Hmph. Should've stuck with 'Goldie'. Easier to remember.'
"So," Scarlet King spoke up, deciding to break the moment, still slightly wary of Song Qing's activated spirit. "Now that… Song Cai'er… is named and transformed… why, exactly, are you still looking like you're about to tear down a mountain, Holy Son? Planning on impressing the ladies some more?" He gestured vaguely towards Bi Ji and Zi Ji with one of his heads.
Zi Ji shot Scarlet a warning glare. Bi Ji simply ignored him.
Song Qing turned his gaze towards Scarlet King, his expression unreadable under the influence of the Abyssal Demonic Dragon God Emperor.
"My spirit remains active for a simple reason, Great Scarlet King," Song Qing explained calmly, his voice echoing slightly with power. "Now that Cai'er has achieved human form and possesses six soul rings, she requires immediate acclimatization."
He looked back at Song Cai'er, who was still beaming about her new name. "She needs to understand how to fight as a human. How to wield that spear. How to control the immense power contained within those six rings. She needs to learn the nuances of her innate skills – Ultimate Strength, Ultimate Fire, Ultimate Light, her powerful mental energy, her Golden Dragon's Perception, Pride, and Resilience."
He gestured slightly between himself and Cai'er. "Therefore, we spar."
'Spar?!' Cai'er's excitement faltered slightly, replaced by nervousness. 'Fight… Qing? Now? But I don't even know how to stand properly yet!'
Scarlet King blinked his six eyes. "Spar? Right now? After all that?"
"Precisely," Song Qing confirmed. "Theory is useless without practice. And there is no better way to rapidly integrate new abilities than through controlled combat." His gaze on Cai'er sharpened slightly, losing its earlier softness, becoming instructive. "Consider this your first lesson, Cai'er. Prepare yourself."
Cai'er swallowed nervously but nodded, gripping the Golden Dragon Spear tightly. Her earlier joy was replaced by determined focus. She wouldn't disappoint Qing!
'This should be fascinating,' Di Tian thought, settling his immense form slightly, preparing to observe. 'Her potential versus his anomalous power and guidance.'
'Let's see what the little girl can do,' Zi Ji mused, crossing her powerful forelimbs, her gaze fixed on the pair.
Bi Ji watched with a mixture of apprehension and hope. 'May she learn quickly and safely.'
Song Qing took a few steps back, creating space. He didn't draw a weapon. His hands remained empty.
"Cai'er," he began, his voice calm but carrying authority. "Your Golden Dragon spirit grants you immense innate advantages. Ultimate Strength means your physical blows carry incredible weight. Ultimate Fire and Light infuse your attacks with devastating elemental power. Your perception is sharp, your pride fuels your will, and your resilience allows you to endure."
He gestured towards the spear. "That spear is an extension of your soul. Feel its connection. Channel your power through it."
He raised one hand slightly. "Forget complicated techniques for now. Focus on instinct. Feel your power. React. Attack me."
Cai'er took a deep breath, trying to push down her nervousness. She focused, feeling the thrumming power within her, the connection to the spear. Okay. Instinct. Attack.
She gripped the spear tightly, channeled her innate strength, and lunged forward!
It wasn't elegant. Her human form was still unfamiliar. Her lunge was more of a powerful stumble, the spear thrust wildly, aimed generally at Song Qing's chest.
Song Qing didn't even flinch. With blinding speed that seemed impossible for his frame, he sidestepped the clumsy thrust.
Whoosh!
"First Soul Ring: Abyssal Void Dash!"
He reappeared instantly a few feet to her side, leaving a faint shadowy afterimage where he'd been.
Cai'er stumbled past, surprised by his sudden disappearance. She spun around, trying to locate him.
"Too slow, Cai'er," Song Qing's voice came calmly from her flank. "Your strength is immense, but uncontrolled. Your speed needs refinement. You relied only on raw power, telegraphing your move completely."
He didn't attack back immediately. He observed.
"Think. You possess Ultimate Light. How can light be used defensively? Offensively?" he prompted.
Cai'er frowned, concentrating. Light… defense… offense… An idea sparked. She focused, drawing upon the power of her second soul ring.
"Second Soul Ring: Radiant Dragon Scale Shield!"
Golden light erupted around her, coalescing into shimmering, overlapping dragon scales made of pure light energy, forming a protective barrier that enveloped her torso and arms. Simultaneously, she felt a surge of warmth, a defensive light bolstering her spirit.
'Good,' Song Qing thought approvingly. 'She connected light with defense. A basic but crucial step.'
"Better," he commented aloud. "A solid defensive foundation. Now, offense. You felt my speed. How do you counter speed? How do you project your power?"
He moved again, circling her slowly. "Your spear is not just for stabbing. Think about its range. Think about your innate fire."
Cai'er watched him circle, her mind racing. Range… fire… Her third ring pulsed.
"Third Soul Ring: Scorching Dragon Lance!"
She channeled her Ultimate Fire attribute through the Golden Dragon Spear. The spearhead ignited, blazing with golden-white flames hotter than any forge. Instead of thrusting, she swung the spear in a wide, fiery arc, sending a wave of scorching energy towards Song Qing!
The heat washed over the clearing. Scarlet King instinctively shielded his less-fireproof heads.
Song Qing met the wave head-on.
"Fourth Soul Ring: Frost Spike Barrage!"
A volley of razor-sharp spikes, black as night and radiating an unnatural chill, erupted from his hands, colliding with the fiery wave.
HSSSSSSSSSSSS!
An explosion of steam and conflicting energy filled the air. The intense heat met the abyssal cold, neutralizing each other in a chaotic display.
"Interesting choice," Song Qing commented through the dissipating steam. "Fire against my perceived element. But notice how my frost neutralized your flames. Consider the properties. How could you make your fire overcome cold? What enhances fire?" He subtly hinted at combining attributes.
Cai'er frowned again, processing his words. Enhance fire… maybe with light? Her fourth ring resonated.
"Fourth Soul Ring: Dragon King's Decree!"
This wasn't a direct attack. Instead, golden light flared in her sapphire eyes. An immense wave of pure draconic pressure, specifically targeted, slammed into Song Qing. It was augmented by her powerful mental energy, seeking to stun, to overwhelm his will. Simultaneously, she channeled both Ultimate Fire and Ultimate Light into her spear.
"Third Soul Ring: Scorching Dragon Lance!" (again, but enhanced)
The spearhead blazed even brighter, the flames now tinged with pure, radiant light, making them feel even hotter, more potent, harder to extinguish. She thrust forward powerfully!
Song Qing felt the Dragon King's Decree wash over him. The draconic pressure was significant, far stronger than he expected from a newly formed Soul Emperor. It pressed against his own spirit's aura.
'Impressive mental strength and pressure,' he noted. 'The Skull of Destiny enhances her innate abilities significantly, even without using its active skill.'
His own Third Soul Ring: Dragon's Might! flared automatically, a focused burst of his abyssal draconic pressure meeting hers head-on, neutralizing the stunning effect, though he felt the sheer weight of her will.
He met the light-infused fiery spear thrust not with ice, but with raw abyssal power.
"Third Soul Ring: Abyssal Draconic Claw!"
A massive claw, formed of swirling darkness and void energy, materialized, catching the blazing spearhead.
CLANG!
The sound echoed metallically. The claw held firm against the combined force of Ultimate Strength, Fire, and Light. Sparks flew as abyssal energy clashed with divine flames.
"Good!" Song Qing praised, genuinely impressed this time. "Combining attributes! Adapting! Much better!"
He pushed the spear back forcefully, creating distance.
Cai'er stumbled back a step, feeling the raw power behind his claw. She was learning, adapting quickly under his guidance. The initial confusion was fading, replaced by the thrill of battle, the joy of wielding her newfound power.
She gripped her spear, readying herself. Her eyes shone with determination.
Song Qing observed her stance, her growing confidence. 'She's adapting faster than anticipated. Excellent potential.'
He decided to increase the pressure slightly, test her defenses more thoroughly.
"Sixth Soul Ring: Gravity Dominion!"
He didn't target her directly yet, but focused the intense gravitational field in a small area directly in front of her, aiming to impede her movement if she charged again.
Cai'er immediately felt the shift, the air thickening before her, an unseen weight pressing down. She hesitated, unsure how to proceed.
"Obstacles require adaptation, Cai'er," Song Qing prompted calmly. "You have strength. You have light. You have fire. You also have inherent resilience. Can you push through? Or go around?"
She considered. Pushing through the gravity felt difficult. Going around seemed wiser. She feinted left, then used her innate agility, surprisingly nimble in her new form, to dart right, attempting to flank him.
Song Qing reacted instantly. "First Soul Ring: Abyssal Void Dash!" He teleported a short distance, maintaining his position relative to her, denying the flank.
He then launched a controlled offensive.
"Fourth Soul Ring: Abyssal Flame Dragon Breath!"
A stream of black flames, carefully controlled in intensity and range, shot towards her Radiant Dragon Scale Shield.
The black flames hissed against the golden light scales. Cai'er felt the shield weakening rapidly under the corrosive heat, her soul power draining faster to maintain it.
'His flames… they feel like they're eating the light!' she realized with alarm.
"Defend and counter!" Song Qing instructed sharply. "Don't just endure!"
Instinct took over. While maintaining the shield with her left hand implicitly, she gripped her spear with her right, channeling her near-red fifth ring's power.
"Fifth Soul Ring: Sovereign Golden Burst!"
Instead of a focused attack, she unleashed a blinding explosion of pure golden energy – a mix of potent light and draconic power – radiating outwards from her body! It wasn't just light; it carried concussive force.
The black flames were momentarily blown back by the sheer radiant force. Song Qing shielded his eyes briefly from the intense flash, using his Void Dash to create more distance instantly.
The Sovereign Golden Burst dissipated, leaving Cai'er panting slightly, her shield flickering but holding.
'A defensive AoE burst… combined light and draconic force… Smart improvisation,' Song Qing assessed approvingly.
Di Tian watched the exchange intently. 'She learns rapidly. Her instincts are sharp. And his guidance… precise, effective. He pushes her without overwhelming her.'
Zi Ji nodded slightly. 'The brat knows how to teach, I'll give him that. And the girl's got power. That burst was potent.'
Bi Ji sighed in relief. 'She defended well.'
Scarlet King was just trying to keep up. 'Okay, shield, fire, ice, steam, pressure, claw, gravity, black fire, golden flash… Got it. Mostly.'
Cai'er felt a surge of confidence. She had defended, countered! She looked at Qing, ready for the next exchange.
Song Qing met her determined gaze. He allowed a genuine, predatory smile to touch his lips, visible even under the spirit possession's influence.
"Excellent, Cai'er," he praised, his voice holding real warmth now. "You learn faster than any one I have ever encountered."
He shifted his stance slightly. "Now… let's test that sixth ring of yours. Show me the power of a Hundred-Thousand-Year skill, born from your own essence."
He didn't attack. He waited, inviting her strongest blow.
Cai'er felt a thrill course through her. His praise, combined with the challenge… She gripped the Golden Dragon Spear, pouring her soul power, her will, her very essence into her final, blood-red ring.
The Golden Dragon Spear began to glow with an almost unbearable intensity. The air crackled. The Golden Dragon spirit projection flickered into existence behind her again, larger, more solid than before, roaring silently.
"Sixth Soul Ring: Golden Dragon Sovereign Judgement!"
She didn't thrust or swing. She raised the spear high, and pointed it directly at Song Qing.
From the tip of the spear, a beam of pure, solidified golden light erupted. It wasn't just light; it was infused with Ultimate Strength, making it feel tangible, heavy. It contained the searing heat of Ultimate Fire. And it carried the undeniable weight of draconic authority and auspicious destiny. It was a beam designed not just to destroy, but to judge, to overwhelm, to dominate.
The beam shot across the distance instantly, aimed squarely at Song Qing.
The sheer power radiating from it made Bi Ji gasp and instinctively raise a protective wing of light. Zi Ji's eyes widened, recognizing the level of destructive force. Scarlet King whimpered and ducked behind a slightly charred rock.
Di Tian watched, impassive but intensely focused, ready to intervene if necessary, though curious to see how the human would handle this level of power.
Song Qing faced the incoming beam of sovereign judgment. He didn't dodge. He didn't block with a simple claw.
He met it head-on.
"Sixth Soul Ring: Abyssal Gravity Lance!"
He thrust his hand forward. Abyssal energy and intense gravitational force condensed instantly into a piercing lance of pure darkness, seeming to devour the light around it.
The lance shot forward, meeting the Golden Dragon Sovereign Judgement beam mid-air.
KRA-KOOOOOOOM!
The impact was deafening. An explosion of pure energy erupted – blinding gold warring against light-swallowing darkness. Shockwaves ripped outwards, flattening nearby volcanic rock formations, kicking up clouds of dust and debris. The ground beneath them trembled violently.
For a moment, the two beams held, locked in a struggle of opposing, immense forces. Golden light pushed against abyssal gravity. Sovereign judgment clashed with consuming darkness.
Then, with a final, earsplitting CRACK, both beams shattered simultaneously, dissolving into swirling motes of residual energy that slowly faded.
Silence fell once more, broken only by the ringing in everyone's ears (or auditory receptors, in Di Tian's case).
Song Cai'er stood panting heavily, her spear lowered, staring in disbelief. Her ultimate attack… neutralized.
Song Qing stood calmly, his hand lowered, the Abyssal Demonic Dragon God Emperor's pressure receding slightly. He looked at Cai'er, his expression holding clear approval.
"Magnificent power, Cai'er," he stated, his voice carrying clearly in the aftermath. "Truly worthy of the Golden Dragon."
He then deactivated his spirit possession. The overwhelming pressure vanished instantly, returning him to his normal state, though his emerald eyes still held a lingering intensity.
"That," he concluded, offering her a genuine smile, "is enough for your first lesson. You have adapted remarkably well."
He turned to the stunned onlookers. "Great Beast God, Lords, Lady Beasts," he addressed them formally. "As you can see, Song Cai'er possesses immense potential, and learns with astonishing speed. Her path, I believe, is clear."
Di Tian stared from the exhausted but exhilarated Song Cai'er to the composed Song Qing. He had witnessed power, adaptation, guidance, and a clash of forces that hinted at cosmic significance.
His decision, made earlier based on hatred and potential, now felt cemented by undeniable proof.
This human, Song Qing, was indeed the key. The key for Spirit Beasts to rise.