While the spirit ring's age limit was manageable before, reaching 90,000 years presented a challenge for Ghost. Sweat streamed down his face; as the spirit ring's age limit continuously increased, so did the pressure Ghost endured.
When it reached the 99,999-year limit, it became a threshold for Ghost. What flowed from his pores was no longer just sweat, but sweat mixed with blood.
100000
Ghost finally endured this stage. The color of his spirit ring instantly changed from black to red. However, Ghost still didn't stop, choosing to continue absorbing until he reached his limit at 115,000 years.
The age limit of this spirit ring was ultimately fixed at 115,000 years.
Ghost opened his eyes, looking at the crimson spirit ring among his other spirit rings, his heart filled with excitement.
It is said that to become a Limit Douluo, one must at least possess a red 100,000-year spirit ring. Ghost didn't believe he would become the legendary Limit Douluo, but a 100,000-year spirit ring raised his potential limit after becoming a Titled Douluo.
On the other side, Chrysanthemum was also full of envy for Ghost. Not every Spirit Master about to be promoted to Titled Douluo had the physical quality to absorb a 100,000-year spirit ring. Ghost had now crossed the threshold of absorbing a 100,000-year spirit ring, which meant his future achievements would at least be at the Hall of Worship level.
Some of the Elders in the Hall of Worship didn't even have 100,000-year spirit rings.
"Tell me, what abilities did this spirit ring grant you?" Qian Xunji asked.
Ghost could not hide his excitement. He said, "Reporting to Your Holiness the Pope, this spirit ring condensed two Spirit Abilities for me."
"The first Spirit Ability is Infinite Ghost Shadow Bombardment. As long as I have enough spirit power, I can split into endless ghost shadows to bombard enemies. The targets struck by my ghost shadows can ignore physical defense and attack the spiritual level," Ghost explained.
"A spiritual ability, then what about the second Spirit Ability?" Qian Xunji asked.
"This…" Ghost hesitated slightly.
Qian Xunji said, "Speak."
"My second Spirit Ability is Soul Domination," Ghost said. "This Spirit Ability grants me the power to dominate the souls of the deceased. I can extract the souls of the dead and use them as puppets for my bidding, or I can devour and refine them to enhance my strength."
After saying this, Ghost cautiously looked at Qian Xunji.
The Spirit Ability he had derived perfectly fit the definition of an Evil Soul Master. One had to know that Spirit Hall had zero tolerance for Evil Soul Masters.
Qian Xunji smiled and said, "If that's what you're worried about, Elder Ghost, you needn't be. Have you forgotten my Good Disciple's Spirit? Evil Soul Master, having an Evil Spirit does not necessarily make one an Evil Soul Master. Power itself has no good or bad. It depends on the person using it. If you abuse this power, then you are an Evil Soul Master."
Ghost smiled with relief and said, "Your Holiness the Pope, this power of mine will never be abused. Even if I use it, it will become a sharp blade in your hands."
Qian Xunji nodded with satisfaction. He suddenly had a plan for Ghost.
"Alright, it's your turn," Qian Xunji said, looking at Chrysanthemum. "Now you know what to do, right?"
Chrysanthemum nodded and said, "Your Holiness the Pope, Chrysanthemum understands."
With that, Chrysanthemum sat cross-legged, took out the spirit ring bead, and began to refine and absorb it.
Qian Xunji watched Chrysanthemum's transformation.
When absorbing spirit rings below 10,000 years, only physical quality matters. However, above 10,000 years, one will experience a spiritual impact. Therefore, absorbing higher-aged spirit rings depends on two aspects:
One is physical quality, and the other is the spiritual level.
Among Chrysanthemum and Ghost, one uses the Qirong Tongtian Chrysanthemum as his Spirit, which can forge an indestructible body, while the other uses Ghost as his Spirit. Chrysanthemum excels in physical quality, and Ghost excels in the spiritual aspect. However, Ghost has three Spirit Bones, while Chrysanthemum only has the two Spirit Bones given by Qian Xunji, so there is a question of whether he can withstand a 100,000-year spirit ring.
Under the gaze of Ghost and Qian Xunji, the spirit ring Chrysanthemum was absorbing reached the 10,000-year mark.
Ghost began to struggle at 90,000 years, but for Chrysanthemum, difficulties already appeared at 85,000 years.
90,000, 91,000, 92,000
"Hold on, Chrysanthemum!" Ghost said.
Chrysanthemum didn't speak but gritted his teeth and nodded.
He hadn't expected the difference to be so great due to one less Spirit Bone compared to Ghost.
But whether to repay the Pope or for his own future, Chrysanthemum could not allow his absorption of the spirit ring to stop below 100,000 years.
Finally, with Chrysanthemum's gritted teeth persistence, the black spirit ring transformed into a red 100,000-year spirit ring, and he persevered for a long time afterward before stopping.
100,400 years, this was the final age limit of Chrysanthemum's spirit ring, a little less than Ghost's, but at the 100,000-year spirit ring stage, the difference wasn't that significant.
Chrysanthemum opened his eyes, looking at the last ring of his spirit rings, so excited that he embraced Ghost:
"Old ghost, did you see? I also have a 100,000-year spirit ring!"
"Alright, Chrysanthemum, don't disgust me. Quickly tell me your Spirit Abilities," Ghost said.
Chrysanthemum reluctantly let go of Ghost, then sensed his Spirit Abilities: "This is..."
"What's wrong?" Qian Xunji asked.
Chrysanthemum directly unleashed his Spirit Avatar, a chrysanthemum bloomed, followed by a golden-yellow Domain. Ghost and Qian Xunji were enveloped within this Domain.
Ghost said in shock, "This is, a Domain…"
"Your Holiness the Pope, this is my Domain, Golden Chrysanthemum Domain. Friendly members within my Domain will condense an indestructible golden light shield. The golden light shield forms with the Domain, and it is difficult to break my golden light defense without breaking the Domain or consuming my spirit power," Chrysanthemum explained.
"I'm jealous," Ghost said enviously.
"A defensive Domain, quite good," Qian Xunji nodded and said.
This Domain was decent, but it hadn't reached the pinnacle. If Chrysanthemum had infinite spirit power, then friendly personnel within the Domain's coverage would be indestructible, but he didn't have infinite spirit power after all. This Domain might have a better effect when defending against some of Tang San's Hidden Weapons.
After absorbing the 100,000-year spirit rings, both Chrysanthemum and Ghost's levels also rose to 92, officially becoming Titled Douluo.
"Confirm your titles, and I will inform the Hall of Worship to crown you."
"Your Holiness the Pope, my title will be a single character: Ju," Chrysanthemum said.
"Your Holiness the Pope, my title will be a single character: Gui," Ghost said.