As Qiang Ming stepped out from the depths of the cave, the heat and scent of blood and transformation still clinging to his skin, he spotted his master already waiting for him near the entrance.
Tian Jue Dui stood motionless, arms crossed, black swirling eyes fixed on him with impossible intensity. The man seemed both detached and invested, as though he was observing a piece of art that had turned out just right—and was now wondering how far he could break it down again.
Qiang Ming walked until they stood face to face.
He waited.
The master finally spoke.
"Good job surviving the Atavism Procedure," Tian Jue Dui said, voice matter-of-fact. "Yours was the most diluted bloodline I've ever brought to its ancient peak and still seen survive. A miracle, really."
He then smirked.
"But the more important part in your case is this—your dormant second Martial Soul is now awakened. Which makes you a Twin Martial Soul holder. And not just any Twins… both of yours are mutated."
Qiang Ming blinked.
Even after all that had happened—after enduring weeks of reconstruction, absorbing essence blood, fusing with a soul bone, speaking with an ancient lion spirit—this revelation still caught him off guard.
Tian Jue Dui continued, the words rolling off his tongue like history being rewritten.
"Your second spirit isn't just a Three Eyed Golden Lion… it's a Three Eyed Golden Lion King. Rare beyond reason. Your ancestor who triggered this lineage must have been either ridiculously lucky… or outrageously powerful."
He tilted his head, examining his disciple with a flicker of admiration.
"This means you'll have a natural advantage over almost every feline-type Martial Soul in existence. And more importantly, you won't be suppressed. Not by bloodlines. Not by beasts. Not even by the pure lineage of other Three Eyed Golden Lions."
Qiang Ming swallowed, but nodded.
"Your body's been strengthened—obviously. Your mental power's increased as well. Now," Tian Jue Dui said, stepping back, "show me. Release your second spirit."
Qiang Ming didn't hesitate. He focused, inhaled slowly—and unleashed the beast within.
Four black rings materialized in the air around him. The first two shimmered with a lighter obsidian hue, refined but not yet ancient. The third was pitch black, dense as void. The fourth… the fourth radiated not only depth, but danger. It had a crimson streak, as if the edge of the ring itself bled.
Then the changes began.
The golden hue in Qiang Ming's irises overtook the remaining violet. His third eye snapped open in a radiant flash. Crimson red. Pulsing like a second heart. The air around him warped with heat and power.
Tian Jue Dui observed in silence for a few moments, then gave a slow, satisfied nod.
"Jin Shi was a powerful hundred-thousand-year beast. He sealed his true strength inside you, otherwise your body would've exploded from the four red rings he carries. But as you grow, those seals will unravel. And every ring from him… will be red."
He gestured for Qiang Ming to continue.
"Go on. Tell me the ring abilities."
Qiang Ming steadied himself and began listing them one by one.
1st Ring Ability – Golden Lion Mental Thorn
"It's a psychic strike through the third eye. I form a thorn of mental power and stab it into the enemy's mind. It causes pain, breaks focus, and if the opponent is weak-willed… it can kill."
2nd Ring Ability – Golden Lion Fire Claws
"Manifestations of Jin Shi's claws—draconic, razor-edged, and wreathed in Absolute Fire. My attacks burn through soul shields and armor unless the enemy holds an Absolute Element of their own. Even then, it won't be pleasant for them."
3rd Ring Ability – Golden Lion Body
"A pure physical buff. Increases all of my physical stats by 40% so long as I can sustain the stamina cost. It will grow stronger as I cultivate."
4th Ring Ability – Golden Lion King's Roar
"A dual-domain roar. It disorients both mind and body, especially those beneath me in power. Even those stronger can be stunned if their will is weak. Sometimes… a golden crown shadow appears over my head when I use it."
Tian Jue Dui nodded, pleased.
"Excellent. A brutal, versatile, and effective toolkit."
Then he raised a hand.
"Now, let's discuss your other half—the Blackstone Abyss Hammer. Do you still want to nurture the Abyss Soul Hammer further, or would you rather bond it with a new spirit?"
Qiang Ming frowned, folding his arms.
"The Abyss Soul Hammer is nearly a ten-thousand-year-old Spirit Soul by now. Its growth has been directly shaped by the hammer's Destruction energy. They're practically one and the same now. Replacing it would just be… unnecessary."
He looked up with certainty.
"I'll bring the Abyss Soul Hammer to the ten-thousand-year threshold. Once I become a Spirit King… I'll search for a second Spirit Soul to complement it."
Tian Jue Dui smiled slightly.
"Smart. No need to fix what isn't broken."
"Now… what about Jin Shi's Skull Bone? What's its function? And your Lich's Hands—have they changed too?"
Qiang Ming tilted his head thoughtfully. In a flash, the skeletal arms appeared behind him.
The changes were subtle. But they were there.
"The black fog isn't needed for protection anymore. The bone has hardened—it's stronger now. Where the Hands used to be about 150% of my normal arm strength… they're now 200%."
He flexed them as he spoke.
"And the Skull Bone—it helps regulate the third eye. It cushions my mind every time I open it fully, so I can keep it active longer without backlash. I can even conceal it now, unless someone has a way to sense bloodlines or Spiritual Fluctuations."
Tian Jue Dui chuckled.
"Good. That bone's more than a shield—it's the key to mastery. You'll see."
He turned, walking a few steps away before looking back.
"Now that your curse is broken, we begin real training. I'll help you develop physically, refine your mental power, and deepen your Martial Soul mastery. But more than that—"
His eyes gleamed with wicked delight.
"I'll also train you in everything. You're already a Four-Star Blacksmith, so now you'll learn the other three secondary professions."
Qiang Ming tensed.
"All three?"
"Machine Design, Manufacturing, and Repair," Tian Jue Dui confirmed. "You'll become a Quadruple Saint. Why? Because you won't have teammates to build your Battle Armor. So unless you want to end up being someone's bitch, you'll make your own."
Qiang Ming scowled, clearly unenthused. Tian Jue Dui grinned.
"Don't whine. You have photographic memory now, thanks to your third eye. You're built for this. We've got the whole year—and I'll make sure you're whipped into shape long before it ends."
The master's grin turned feral.
"Heh… you'll thank me later."
Qiang Ming, for the second time in his life, felt true, existential dread.