Chapter 175: Terrifying Spirit Ring Configuration
The black level corresponded to Title Douluo-level powerhouses.
Yet, Ning Rongrong had received the same top-tier assessment as the Sea God Douluo, Bo Saixi. The fact that she obtained the Top Seven Assessments clearly demonstrated her immense potential.
They had always known that Ning Rongrong's Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, after its evolution, possessed limitless potential.
But this time, Ning Fengzhi and the others could more directly perceive just how extraordinary her talent was, and they couldn't help but feel overjoyed for her.
Of course, the biggest surprise was Su Mo.
Su Mo had actually received the Sea God's inheritance trial.
They had always believed that gods were merely legends.
When they heard that Ning Rongrong's spirit power had already broken through to Spirit Emperor, Ning Fengzhi and the others were even more ecstatic.
"So, Rongrong and the others won't be able to return to participate in this year's Spirit Master Tournament?" Ning Fengzhi pressed further.
"Mn, it'll be several years before they can come back," Su Mo nodded.
"What a shame. Otherwise, the entire continent would have witnessed just how outstanding our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan's little princess is!" Ning Fengzhi sighed, regretful that Ning Rongrong wouldn't be able to compete.
"Indeed, it would've been wonderful if Rongrong could return," the Bone Douluo also sighed with some disappointment.
"Su Mo, if Rongrong has already broken through to Spirit Emperor, what about your current spirit power level?" The Sword Douluo, however, turned the question to Su Mo's strength.
Since Su Mo's return, he had found himself unable to sense Su Mo's spirit power level at all.
The Sword Douluo had some suspicions, but he still didn't dare confirm them.
"Sword Grandpa, I've already reached rank 71—Spirit Sage!" Su Mo smiled.
Buzz—
As he spoke, his spirit rings materialized one after another.
Yellow, Purple, Purple, Black, Black, Red, Red!
Two blood-red hundred-thousand-year spirit rings shone blindingly.
"Am I seeing things?"
"Another hundred-thousand-year spirit ring…"
"..."
When they saw Su Mo's spirit ring configuration, the Bone Douluo and the others widened their eyes in shock, staring incredulously at Su Mo's seventh spirit ring.
They already knew about Su Mo's sixth spirit ring being a hundred-thousand-year one—after all, they had helped him obtain it.
But his seventh spirit ring hadn't been like that!
"This was a reward from completing the Sea God's trial…" Su Mo retracted his spirit rings while briefly explaining the concept of divine-bestowed spirit rings.
"To think one could directly condense a hundred-thousand-year spirit ring… Now I truly believe in the existence of the Sea God!"
"Who else but a deity could possess such power?"
After learning how Su Mo obtained his seventh spirit ring, Ning Fengzhi and the others were filled with awe, further solidifying their belief in the existence of gods.
"A 19-year-old Spirit Sage… Su Mo, you're truly extraordinary!"
"Have you returned this time to participate in the Spirit Master Tournament?"
After recovering from his shock, Ning Fengzhi asked whether Su Mo had come back to compete.
Hearing this, the Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo exchanged strange glances. They could already imagine the sheer terror Su Mo's spirit power level and spirit rings would instill in the world once he appeared in the tournament.
At the same time, they felt that if Su Mo really participated, it would be nothing short of bullying.
Other academy teams might not even have a single Spirit King, while Su Mo was already a Spirit Sage—and one with two hundred-thousand-year spirit rings, no less.
How were the other teams supposed to compete?
Su Mo wouldn't even need his teammates. He could sweep through every opponent alone.
"Mn, historically, no one has ever won two consecutive championships. I thought I might as well try," Su Mo chuckled.
He couldn't outright say that he was participating to crush Yu Xiaogang, so he simply gave a casual reason.
"That's true. If you really achieve back-to-back championships, your name will be known across the entire continent!"
"No—even without winning, just appearing in the tournament will be enough to make you famous!"
"A 19-year-old Spirit Sage… You've already rewritten the record for the youngest Spirit Sage in history!"
Ning Fengzhi laughed, not opposing Su Mo's decision.
Participating in the tournament would also earn Su Mo greater prestige.
No matter what, this was a good thing for him.
After meeting with Ning Fengzhi and the others, Su Mo left the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan and headed for the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy.
It was time to report in.
As for who the current members of the Heaven Dou Imperial Team were, Su Mo couldn't care less.
No matter who his teammates were, as long as he was there, he was confident in sweeping through every competing team.
---
"Teacher Muge, do we really have to keep waiting for Senior Su Mo and the others?"
"They still haven't come to the academy. They probably don't plan to participate in this tournament, right?"
"Even if they come now, there's no time for them to integrate with the team!"
"What's going on with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan?"
"If they aren't coming, shouldn't they at least inform us?"
"..."
At the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy, members of the Heaven Dou Imperial Team once again questioned their instructor about Su Mo and the others.
The fact that Su Mo's trio had never shown up yet still occupied three starting spots had left the team members somewhat dissatisfied.
They knew how powerful Su Mo's group was—with them, they'd likely secure another championship.
But since the formation of this new team, Su Mo and the others had never reported in, which displeased them.
Especially since the seven of them had spent so much time bonding and training together, they now saw themselves as the true core of the team.
"Enough!"
"Unless Su Mo and the others don't show up, those starting spots are reserved for them!"
"This was the academy's request—for them to delay graduation so our Heaven Dou Imperial Team could continue bringing glory to the empire!"
Instructor Muge immediately shut down their complaints.
"..."
Hearing this, the team members fell silent, though their dissatisfaction remained.
"Instructor Muge, long time no see."
"It seems I'm a little late."
Just then, Su Mo's voice rang out behind them.
"Su Mo!"
Instructor Muge turned around in pleasant surprise. "You brat, you finally showed up!"
Delighted, he then noticed that Ning Rongrong and Ye Lingling weren't present. "Where are Rongrong and Lingling? Didn't they come?"
"Senior Su Mo!"
"Senior Su Mo!"
"..."
The seven members of the Heaven Dou Royal Team immediately changed their expressions upon seeing Su Mo, greeting him excitedly.
While they had some dissatisfaction with him, their admiration for Su Mo was genuine.
Su Mo and Ning Rongrong were legends at the Heaven Dou Royal Academy.
Not long ago, Su Mo had even publicly shared two secret techniques—Spirit-Artifact Unity and Refining Artifacts into Spirits—earning their deep respect and admiration.
"Hello, juniors!" Su Mo nodded at them before answering the instructor. "Teacher Muge, I'm the only one who returned this time. Rongrong and Lingling are tied up with other matters, so they won't be joining this tournament."
"Ah, just you alone?"
The instructor couldn't hide his disappointment.
If all three had returned, he would have felt absolutely confident about winning the championship.
But with only Su Mo, the outcome seemed uncertain.
"Su Mo, what's your current spirit power level? You must be at least a Spirit King by now, right?"
The instructor quickly asked about Su Mo's strength, and the seven team members also turned their attention to him, eager to know.
"..."
Su Mo was momentarily speechless.
Did they really have so little faith in him?
But he didn't blame them. Before him, no one under 25 had ever reached Spirit Emperor, let alone Spirit Sage. It was understandable that they didn't dare imagine it.
Buzz—
Without wasting words, Su Mo directly summoned his spirit rings.
"Ah—!"
"Seven spirit rings… You've broken through to Spirit Sage?!"
"Two hundred-thousand-year spirit rings… How is that possible?!"
"Is this Senior Su Mo's true strength?"
"My god, am I hallucinating?"
"..."
The moment Su Mo's spirit rings appeared, the entire team and the instructor were stunned, staring wide-eyed at the dazzling display.
A Spirit Sage at his age was already beyond their wildest dreams, but two hundred-thousand-year spirit rings? They rubbed their eyes, wondering if they were seeing things.
"You… You're already a Spirit Sage?"
After a long pause, the instructor finally wiped his eyes and asked in disbelief.
He needed to hear it from Su Mo himself—otherwise, he wouldn't believe it.
He, a mere Spirit Emperor, had been surpassed by his own student. It was hard to accept!
"That's right. I'm currently a rank 71 Spirit Sage."
Su Mo nodded, then retracted his spirit rings.
"..."
The instructor was left utterly speechless, his mouth hanging open in shock.
"Ahhh—!"
"As expected of Senior Su Mo! He's incredible!"
"With Senior Su Mo, the championship is definitely ours again!"
"No doubt about it!"
"..."
Unlike the instructor, the team members erupted into cheers, their earlier dissatisfaction completely forgotten, replaced by pure awe.
A Spirit Sage!
Su Mo simply smiled, humoring his juniors before pulling the instructor aside for a private discussion.
"Teacher Muge, I won't be staying with the team full-time. I have other matters to attend to."
"Take this. For the matches, arrange things as you see fit. Whenever you need me to step in, just channel spirit power into this jade token, and I'll appear immediately."
Su Mo handed over a pre-made teleportation marker.
"Ah…?"
The instructor's mind short-circuited. What was Su Mo talking about?
"Teacher Muge, this is a self-created spirit skill of mine—it allows ultra-long-distance teleportation…"
Su Mo had no choice but to explain further.
"Ah…?"
The instructor was even more bewildered. Such a self-created skill existed?
Finally, Su Mo personally demonstrated by teleporting the instructor to the Star Dou Great Forest and back, finally convincing him.
By then, the instructor was looking at Su Mo as if he were a monster.
It was hard to believe someone could be so absurd—breaking through to Spirit Sage so quickly, possessing two hundred-thousand-year spirit rings, and even creating such an insane teleportation skill.
Was this the genius who had uncovered the secrets of Spirit-Artifact Unity and Refining Artifacts into Spirits?
"Su Mo, I feel like you're more deserving of the title 'Grandmaster' than that guy from Shrek Academy!"
The instructor even compared Su Mo to Yu Xiaogang, clearly favoring Su Mo.
"Please, no. Let Yu Xiaogang keep that title."
Su Mo refused outright.
To him, the title "Grandmaster" carried the same dubious prestige as self-proclaimed "experts" in his past life.
After sending the instructor back to the academy, Su Mo left for the imperial capital.
He was going to meet Qian Renxue.
Mainly because Bibi Dong missed her—it had been almost a year since their last meeting.
"Su Mo, you're back?"
"Did you… not receive the Sea God's inheritance trial?"
Qian Renxue was pleasantly surprised to see Su Mo but also worried that he had failed in his goal.
"Don't worry, Sister Xue. I've already obtained the Sea God's inheritance trial. I just came back specifically for the tournament."
"After all, I promised you—I have to help the Heaven Dou Empire secure another championship!"
Su Mo smiled.
"You didn't have to come back for that. I'd be happier if the Spirit Hall team won!"
Qian Renxue rolled her eyes. Her earlier request for Su Mo to delay graduation and compete again had purely been part of her act as the Crown Prince.
"You said you obtained the Sea God's inheritance trial? Is it true?"
She quickly shifted the topic, more interested in Su Mo's trial than the tournament.
...
(End of Chapter)
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