With Tang San’s strength he could absorb a six thousand year spirit beast’s spirit ring. Right now with these three safeguards, he naturally had a very large chance of success when absorbing a Pit Demon Spider that had just entered the ten thousand year level. This was also an important reason why he dared make the attempt.
Plan and practice will always be different. Right now this also went for Tang San’s circumstances. Without truly trying, he would never have been able to know just how tremendous the spirit power of a ten thousand year spirit ring was.
The split second that black energy flow reached his right hand and entered his body, Tang San only felt the surrounding light dim, as if he was submerged in a tidal wave that reached the sky.
This was in no way an exaggeration. The spirit ring’s energy that entered him filled every nook and corner of his body in a split second. There wasn’t even any need for him to circulate it himself, that enormous energy already forced the motion.
The Pit Demon Spider’s spirit power wasn’t as overbearing as the Man Faced Demon Spider’s, but it was brimming with a dark and cold feeling. Cold like that was different from the cold of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, it was a cold that evolved from the depths of the mind, a dark and cold attack on the psyche.
Part 3 (TL by Fraustarrow)
Tang San’s nerves seemed to have already grown numb in this cold. The three original spirit rings oscillated with frightening speeds over him, making him look like he was encased in a giant yellowish-purple cocoon.
The rank-bypassing absorption this time brought not only pain to Tang San, but also a horrifying feeling. His preparations were indeed perfect. The energy from the Ice and Fire Ying Yang Well successfully filtered the impurities out of the Pit Demon Spider spirit ring. However, the energy was still too massive for Tang San at that moment. Every attack made Tang San feel like he was tossed around ruthlessly, as if his body wasn’t his anymore, and all he could do was watch detachedly. The feeling of no control was even more unbearable than the pain that came with the Man Faced Demon Spider spirit ring.
With last time’s experience, Tang San knew that he couldn’t do anything about it except wait and strengthen his resolve. No matter what happened to his body, he knew he couldn’t panic. Or else, in a moment, he would be engulfed by the massive energy.
A black current unceasingly flowed out of the ten thousand year Pit Demon Spider, constantly getting absorbed by Tang San. The glow on his three spirit rings slowly faded, replaced with a layer of black currents. Tang San’s bones continuously emitted bursts of cracking noises. The black current entered from every pore and into every energy channel.
Very soon, Tang San discovered every time the massive black energy passed through the broken open Yang Linking Meridian and Penetrating Meridian, the energy would weaken a bit, as if the two meridians were absorbing energy as well. This feeling made Tang San instantly elated. He vaguely understood that the existence and breaking open of the eight extraordinary meridians helped specially with absorbing foreign energy.
It was a pity he only had two meridians broken through. If he had more than four broken through, the absorption of this ten thousand year spirit ring might become a piece of cake.
Gradually, the pain appeared. It was a swollen pain. From the outside, Tang San’s body didn’t change, but in his senses, he clearly felt his entire body swell up like a giant balloon, as if it could explode any second.
Although the black current stored up within his body was absorbed continuously by Tang San’s Penetrating Meridian and the Yang Linking Meridian, the energy coming in was also getting greater and greater. Every bone and energy channel of his was tingling, as if innumerable ants were crawling over him.
The Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well and the two immortal herbs he once ate started to show their uses. After experiencing the process of Ice and Fire Alchemical Body, Tang San’s energy channels had become very durable. Though the black current kept expanding his energy channels, the elasticity of his energy channels meant there were no signs of rupturing.
The Pit Demon Spider’s spirit ring energy, though massive, wasn’t endless. When the output of energy reached it’s extreme, Tang San’s energy channels had been filled to a very horrifying degree. But even then, he still persevered. At that moment, no pain could waver his resolve. For himself, and also for Xiao Wu, he knew he couldn’t fail.
The Pit Demon Spider’s body silently shattered, the result of losing all its energy. The only thing it could do now was become fertilizer for the ground.
Pain started sliding down from its peak. Not only the Penetrating Meridian and the Yang Linking Meridian, but accompanying the circulation of spirit power, Tang San’s normal energy channels started absorbing the foreign energy as well, merging it into his Mysterious Heaven Skill.
The reason the energy within spirit rings could be absorbed is because after the energy of the spirit beast forms a spirit ring, it splits into two parts. One is pure and filtered energy to raise the spirit master’s rank, letting them gain the next title, and the other big half inherits the spirit beast’s characteristics. This different energy condenses into a spirit ring, becoming the spirit master’s spirit ability.
Accompanying the gradual decrease in swelling, pain decreased as well. The feeling of relaxation lulled Tang San’s weary mind. It was in the last part of the absorption that he slowly fell into slumber, letting the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well nourish his body.
If anyone could see Tang San’s face, they would discover his face was continuously changing colors. A moment white, a moment red, a moment black. And other than the original two yellow and one purple spirit rings, a black spirit ring was slowly appearing from the misty currents.
Perhaps Tang San wasn’t the only one that had a ten thousand year spirit ring for his fourth spirit ring, but undeniably, he was one of the more gifted ones. Blue Silver Grass had evolved once again. So what if it was Blue Silver Grass? So what if it was a trash spirit? Under Tang San’s effort, it still held the same power as formidable spirits of equal rank.
……
“Xiao Gang, tell me the truth. How are you going to manage your relationship with Erlong?”
Flender stared at Grandmaster, his gaze very angry.
Grandmaster stared blankly back at Flender,
“I don’t know.”
“You don’t know? Twenty years. Tell me, how many twenty years does a person have? A woman’s youth was wasted in vain just because of your ‘I don’t know’. Though I’m your brother, I still really want to slap you.”
Grandmaster smiled bitterly:
“Slap then, but leave me a breath to stay alive. I don’t want to make Erlong sad if I die. In reality, even I want to slap myself. This is all my fault, but Erlong bears the same amount of pain, if not more, than me.”
Looking at Grandmaster’s smile that looked worse than crying, Flender went silent. He also knew that Grandmaster didn’t do anything wrong. If he really took in Liu Erlong, then it would be incest. Grandmaster rejected Liu Erlong not because of himself, but for Erlong’s reputation. He didn’t want Erlong to take up such a heavy shame because of himself. At that time Grandmaster chose to leave because of that very reason. However, he didn’t anticipate that Liu Erlong loved him that deeply, always painfully waiting for him until now.
Flender sighed,
“Xiao Gang, is there really no way? If it keeps going like this, though you guys haven’t had incest, you guys will spend the rest of your lives in pain! You should be able to see, other than you, Erlong can’t love any other man. If you really must keep hurting her like that, then why don’t you just leave. At least, she won’t be able to see you, and she might feel better.”
Grandmaster silently nodded his head,
“I’ll leave after we go back. You’re right, I shouldn’t stay with her and let her feel this pain. Flender, it’s been this many years and I never said thank you. For our relationship, you’ve also borne pain. Sorry, Flender.”
>
Flender’s eyes moistened,
“What silliness are you spouting. I’m your big brother. I was before, I am now, and I will be, forever. I don’t need you to say thanks, I just want to see you happy with Erlong. Do you understand? Xiao Gang, you bastard, why are you so obstinate? Don’t tell me you can’t go live in seclusion after you join with Erlong? If you don’t tell anyone, who will know of your sibling relationship?”
Grandmaster raised his right fist and hammered his left chest,
“But, I can’t lie to my heart. I really can’t.”
Flender suddenly had a flash of intuition and thought of a possibility.
“Xiao Gang, tell me, do you love Erlong?”
Grandmaster stared unexpectedly,
“Boss Fu, are questions like that still meaningful? If I didn’t love her, then would it still be this way?”
Flender suddenly had a devious smile,
“Then good, I’m sure Erlong loves you deeply as well. Then, spiritually you guys have had incest already, I can say as much.”
“You…..”
Grandmaster was furious. That was all he was trying to protect, but when he looked at Flender’s eyes, he couldn’t think of a single rebuttal. He was right, they were in love, so spiritually they have gone off track already. If it wasn’t incest then what was it?
“Flender, I know you mean well. But, spiritual is spiritual. At least, our bodies are both still pure.”
Flender smiled slightly and said,
“As long as you admit you’ve had spiritual incest. And also, I believe, it will stay that way. Since you’ve already had incest spiritually, why don’t you merge with her spiritually? No need for real titles, just the recognition from each other. You can totally be a couple spiritually!”
Grandmaster this time really blanked out.
“Flender, I don’t get what you mean.”
Flender said exasperated,
“You’re that smart, what don’t you understand? My idea is simple. You can merge still and become a couple, just don’t change your titles. According to your current idea, as long as there isn’t a bodily relationship, it isn’t called incest. You can start at emotions and stop at motions. Then, as long as you are in love spiritually and keep pure bodies, then who can gossip about you?”
Chapter 089: Tang San’s Fourth Spirit Ability
Part 1 (TL by Bagelson)
Hearing Flender’s words, Grandmaster heart beat, and he muttered:
“Is, is something like this really possible?”
Flender grandiosely said:
“Is there anything impossible? At least like this, both your hearts will feel a lot better. As long as you defend that last perimeter and keep apart every night, is there anything bad about being able to feel each other’s love? Let alone cousins, even if you were siblings, so what? You are only kind to and love each other, so outsiders will only see the affection of siblings, even that conservative heart of yours wouldn’t have any objections.”
Listening to Flender, Grandmaster stood there completely lifeless like a sculpture. After a very long time, a sentence fiercely leapt out of Grandmaster’s mouth,
“Flender, why didn’t you say so long ago.”
Leaving behind these words, Grandmaster sharply dashed away, dashing towards Liu Erlong as if flying. As a result of his speed, the teardrops he left in the air formed graceful strings of water.
‘Erlong, Erlong, I can finally love you fairly. As long as I can love you, what need is there for being physical? Spiritual love is already enough!’
Watching Grandmaster’s receding back, Flender’s face showed a heartfelt smile. ‘Xiao Gang, you idiot, being together rubbing heads day after day, don’t tell me you can truly hold back?’
Seeing Grandmaster madly dashing over, Liu Erlong’s heart couldn’t help skipping a beat.
Grandmaster rushed over in front of Liu Erlong, staring at Liu Erlong’s somewhat perplexed beautiful eyes, suddenly he fiercely spread his arms and used all his strength to embrace Liu Erlong to his chest,
“Erlong, I’m sorry.”
Just these three words seemed to open a sluice gate for tears. Liu Erlong just felt everything before her eyes go fuzzy, and right now she couldn’t use even the slightest bit of her more than seventieth ranked spirit power. She completely softened in Grandmaster’s embrace, tears flooding down.
She had already waited far, far too long for these words. Twenty years, just like Flender said, it had already been twenty years! How had she dealt with these twenty years? Even if she was even stronger on the surface, in the end she was still a woman. What woman didn’t long to be cherished by her beloved? What woman didn’t long for her own happiness?
Perhaps it was because this happiness really arrived too suddenly, but Liu Erlong only felt her body flutter like in a dream, as if everything was imaginary.
Flender quietly waved his hand to Zhao Wuji, Xiao Wu and the others. Everyone slowly retreated to the side, setting aside a wide space for Grandmaster and Liu Erlong alone.
Outside of the poison formation, because the Aromatic Silk Beauty Immortal Treasure disappeared, the last remaining spirit beasts also unwillingly left, and along with their disappearance, the surroundings went quiet.
“Xiao Gang, Xiao Gang, do you know how long I’ve waited? More than seven thousand days and nights[1].
Do you know how I’ve endured? You really won’t escape, you really want to be with me?”
Liu Erlong lost her voice from crying, leaning over Grandmaster’s shoulder and mumbling.
Grandmaster nodded sharply,
“Erlong, I’m sorry, I swear, afterwards I will never again run from our feelings. Even if we perhaps can’t be like normal married couples, I will definitely always guard at your side and love you.”
Immediately, Grandmaster explained the idea Flender spoke about before. Liu Erlong constantly leaning against his chest listened quietly, and as she heard Grandmaster speak about having the love of a husband and wife but without the true time of a husband and wife, she understood. Grandmaster still couldn’t completely throw off that obstruction. But, after waiting for so many years, with great difficulty getting the man before her to agree not to run away, at least he agreed to stay at her side and love her, why would she force him for more?
Perhaps it was because of taking Xiao Wu as an adopted daughter had greatly influenced Liu Erlong’s emotions, but right now in her heart she only felt like letting nature take its course. Obediently within Grandmaster’s embrace, first being together with the person she loved was most important.
After an hour, Zhu Zhuqing had smoothly absorbed the Phantom Tiger’s spirit ring and returned together with Dai Mubai. It seemed that her aura had become even colder, her countenance with a bit of heroic spirit, and she was also a little bit taller. Even though she still didn’t have Xiao Wu’s height, only looking at external appearances she already felt like she had the grace of an adult beauty.
The addition of the spirit ring’s properties would no doubt cause a certain change in the Spirit Master’s body. Even though the Shrek Seven Devils were still very young, they still had at least three spirit rings, and the additional energy from the spirit rings promoted their physical growth. Their faces still possessed the innocence of childhood, but by external appearances they were already close to adults. Compared to one year ago, everyone seemed to have grown several years. As long as they didn’t tell anyone, it would perhaps be very difficult for someone to imagine that the youngest of the Shrek Seven Devils still hadn’t turned fourteen.
The next to return was Ning Rongrong, and her face wasn’t as pale as Oscar’s. Previously when Liu Erlong butchered the Unicorn Armored Beast, Oscar had kept her company at her side the whole time, covering her eyes, constantly comforting her at her side. Once Ning Rongrong began to absorb the spirit ring, Oscar had run aside to vomit. After vomiting, he cleaned up the terrifying mess Liu Erlong had made. Consequently, after Ning Rongrong absorbed the spirit rin
g she hadn’t seen any nauseating scene, and her condition was instead much better than Oscar.
By now, of the Shrek Seven Devils only Tang San still didn’t return, and everyone quietly waited within the poison formation.
Liu Erlong nestled against Grandmaster’s chest, and with her eyes closed fell asleep. For twenty years she hadn’t slept as smoothly as she did right now. Seeing the contented smile she revealed as she slept, Grandmaster had a kind of indescribable satisfaction in his heart.
Flender and Zhao Wuji sat on the other side speaking about something in low voices. Watching Grandmaster and Liu Erlong’s current appearances, Flender’s heart relaxed a lot, his face revealing a difficult to conceal smile.
Zhu Zhuqing silently sat together with Dai Mubai. Even though her expression was still cold, she didn’t oppose Dai Mubai sitting practically pasted to her.
Ning Rongrong and Oscar’s situation was about the same, only Ning Rongrong’s expression was instead tender, taking the initiative to lean on Oscar’s shoulder, talking to him about something with a smile on her face. Judging by her excited smile, she should have obtained no small benefit from the fourth spirit ring.
Fatty had consumed a lot of spirit power before and leaned alone against a big tree cultivating, condensing his spirit power. Xiao Wu wasn’t far away, and though with the condition of her injuries what she should do the most was harmonize her spirit power to heal, she couldn’t calm her heart.
The others had all returned, and they only lacked Tang San, how couldn’t she be anxious? Sitting and leaning back, she she constantly prayed silently for Tang San. And not just her, no matter the others’ expressions, deep in the corners of their eyes was some worry. Even though Tang San himself said he had absolute certainty, but, the spirit ring level gap was really too large.
Douluo Dalu - Volume 01-48 Page 159