The Soul Ring before him had long surpassed the lifespan that ordinary colors could determine.
It was exquisite and translucent, with various elemental lights subtly flowing within it, and twelve sword feather patterns were etched on its surface.
However, compared to this magnificent Soul Ring, Li Dixian's gaze was captivated by the twelve floating feathers, and his pupils constricted slightly.
"These are… Soul Bones?!"
He raised his hand, a hint of curiosity in his gesture.
His fingertips lightly touched the twelve sword feathers.
In an instant, to Li Dixian's astonishment, the twelve sword feathers transformed into streaks of light, shooting towards the spine in his back and instantly merging into it.
"Hoo…"
The jarring sound of bones exploding suddenly erupted from within Li Dixian's body.
Those twelve sword feathers, as if alive, combined to form a single bone, possessing an unstoppable sharpness, attempting to forcibly replace his original spine!
Li Dixian's face turned pale, and large beads of sweat burst from his forehead.
He gritted his teeth, his jaw clenching audibly.
An intense pain, as if his body was being torn apart, swept from his back through his entire body, making him almost suffocate.
Suddenly, the Azure Lotus Sword imprint appeared on his forehead.
Extremely sharp sword qi surged from his body.
Chii—!
The skin on Li Dixian's neck was pierced by an invisible sword qi, seeping out drops of blood.
Under the impact of both internal and external sword qi, his own spine gradually revealed a sword-shaped outline.
It was as if his entire being was transforming into an unsheathed, world-shaking sword.
The twelve sword feathers could no longer replace the "sword bone" that Li Dixian had naturally developed.
Instead, a trace of the twelve sword feathers' characteristics began to merge into Li Dixian's innate sword bone.
Pain!
Even more pain!
The pain of a true rebirth and transformation!
Li Dixian trembled violently, like a flickering candle in a fierce wind.
A trickle of crimson blood snaked down from the corner of his tightly pressed lips.
It was precisely in this extreme agony that he understood… the two previous times he had felt something foreign breaking out of his back, it was his own nascent sword bone awakening!
The ultimate sharpness of the Azure Lotus Sword, after several enhancements, seemed to be entering an unfathomable realm, and coupled with his clear and perceptive Sword Heart, it finally gave birth to Li Dixian's very own sword bone.
And these twelve sword feather Soul Bones from the Dragon-Headed Sword Falcon were the final spark that ignited and activated his own sword bone!
Crack—
Crack—
The sounds of bones breaking and reforming were incessant.
Although this was the growth of his own sword bone, the process was no different from a complete nirvana.
The clothes on his back were already soaked with blood, and fragments of his old spinal bones peeled off with the gore.
The new sword bone, fused with the unique properties of the twelve sword feathers, was becoming increasingly refined and sharp.
Even more peculiar was that this newborn spinal sword bone subtly exuded a hint of a strong, gnarled… dragon shape!
This sword bone had twelve segments.
The first segment shone with starlight, while the second presented a red and blue dual color, intertwined with ice and fire.
The remaining ten segments had not yet changed; they appeared as white as jade, possessing only a primal sharpness.
Time, in the midst of boundless pain, slowed as if solidified.
Finally—
When the last segment of the spine completed its transformation, all the intense pain receded like a tide.
Li Dixian slowly straightened his body.
His already tall and straight posture now resembled a world-shaking divine blade rising from the earth, piercing directly into the sky.
Streaks of sword qi suddenly spread out from him, pulverizing the already broken Soul Beast skeletons around him, stirring up layers of ripples in the blood on the ground, and silently adding deep sword marks to the hard cliff face.
The human cervical vertebra, supporting the head above and anchoring the feet below, is the pivot of the human body's dragon bone!
At this moment, Li Dixian's aura was so sharp that it was intimidating to look at, as if even his gaze was tempered with cold sword edges!
As his eyelids opened and closed, the air in front of him was actually cut by an invisible sharpness, creating subtle ripples!
"Hoo…"
Exhaling a long, turbid breath, Li Dixian's mind stirred.
Swish—
Swish—
Two clear, ethereal sounds of something cutting through the air rang out.
Two peculiar sword feathers, three feet and six inches long, floated in the air behind him.
One was like condensed starlight, dazzlingly brilliant, while the other flowed with both ice and fire colors, emitting both scorching heat and biting cold.
Li Dixian's gaze fell upon the nearby cliff face.
The two sword feathers transformed into streaks of light, precisely striking where his gaze was directed.
Zzz—
On the cliff face, a slight hiss, like a sharp blade cutting through silk, was heard.
Upon closer inspection, a section of the mountain rock was cut squarely, like tender tofu.
The two sword feathers flew back silently, once again floating behind Li Dixian.
Looking at the mirror-smooth cut surface of the mountain rock, Li Dixian's eyes gleamed.
"So that's it…"
"My innate sword bone perfectly possesses the characteristics of the Dragon-Headed Sword Falcon's twelve sword feathers, allowing it to contain twelve distinct types of elemental sword intent."
"Coincidentally…"
"The Azure Lotus Sword Song I comprehended follows an all-encompassing path."
"Now that I've comprehended two forms of the Azure Lotus Sword Song, these two elemental sword feathers correspondingly float behind me."
"If I comprehend all twelve forms of the Azure Lotus Sword Song one day, and the twelve sword feathers of different sword intents are unleashed together, who could stand against my sword's edge?"
Thinking of this, a deeper curiosity flashed across Li Dixian's handsome face.
"My great vertebral sword bone is divided into twelve segments; each time I cultivate a form of the Azure Lotus Sword Song, one of these segments can evolve."
"If the twelve forms of the Azure Lotus Sword Song are perfected, and the sword intent permeates all twelve segments of the sword bone, reaching directly to my cranial spiritual platform…"
"What earth-shattering changes would then occur…"
Li Dixian temporarily suppressed this thought that sparked his imagination.
His gaze turned to the magnificent Soul Ring floating before him.
He pulled out his clear spring wine pot and took a long swig.
Then, he sat down cross-legged.
"Next, it's time to absorb this Soul Ring!"
Li Dixian underestimated the terrifying power of the Dragon-Headed Sword Falcon's Soul Ring.
The energy it contained was imbued with sharp sword qi, making its absorption difficulty more than ten times that of the Three-Tailed Sword Scorpion King!
Even with the aid of the clear spring wine pot and the formidable strength of his Meltfrost Spirit Vein Body, the refining process remained long and arduous!
Chii—
Chii—
The Soul Ring's energy was like billions of sharp blades.
Li Dixian's body was already a bloody mess.
This bone-deep pain was no less intense than the integration of the sword bone.
And the most troublesome part was… deep within this magnificent Soul Ring, a trace of colorful blood lay dormant.
It was as hard as rock, completely unmoved.
Just as Li Dixian was almost overwhelmed by the excruciating pain and the will of the blood, a trace of peculiar fragrance subtly wafted into his nostrils.
A flash of inspiration struck Li Dixian's mind.
An invisible sword qi slashed towards the wondrous small tree above his head.
The mature flower bud fell in response, and he painstakingly tilted his head back; the flower landed perfectly in his mouth.
The petals melted instantly upon entering his mouth.
A warm, moist current surged through his limbs and bones.
In an instant, the rampant sword qi in the Soul Ring was calmed, and the trace of colorful blood deep within also seemed to be soothed.
Li Dixian's pained expression finally slowly relaxed.
Approximately half an hour later, Li Dixian suddenly opened his eyes.
Deep within his dark pupils, a sword wheel composed of twelve tiny sword feathers materialized.
Then, it returned to normal.
A Soul Power fluctuation far exceeding anything before surged from his body!
His Soul Power level dramatically climbed, rising from level thirty directly to level thirty-three.
At this moment, enlightenment dawned.
The skill bestowed by the third Soul Ring was clearly imprinted in his mind.
"This Spirit Ability is named…"
"Azure Lotus Twelve Tribulations!"
Li Dixian stood up tall, a smile playing on his lips.
"Whew, it's time to go back; everyone must be getting anxious."
Meanwhile, during their search for Li Dixian, Dugu Yan, Ye Lingling, and the other six, along with the disciples of the Wind Sword Sect, encountered a pack of Howling Moon Wolves.
Dozens of robust white giant wolves, their eyes gleaming with eerie green light, had surrounded them…
"Feng Jian, use your Spirit Ability to open a path! We must break through!" Dugu Yan shouted, her beautiful face grave.