Douluo Dalu: The Abandoned Child

Dugu Bei sat cross-legged on the frozen battlefield, his gaze locked onto the brilliant red soul ring hovering above the lifeless body of the Evil Spirit Orca King. The sight of the 100,000-year soul ring filled him with anticipation.

This was a moment he had long awaited, a significant milestone in his cultivation. He knew absorbing a soul ring of this level would be exponentially more difficult than anything he had encountered before, but he was prepared.

Without hesitation, Bei adjusted his breathing and focused his mind, entering a meditative state. He slowly guided the red soul ring toward him, allowing its energy to merge with his own.

Almost instantly, he realized something was wrong. Unlike his previous experiences, where soul rings were absorbed quite smoothly, this one resisted violently. It wasn't just a powerful energy, it was filled with a deep, unrelenting grievance and boundless hatred.

A sharp pain erupted in his mind, and the world around him shifted.

Bei found himself submerged in the vast depths of the ocean. He was neither floating nor swimming; he simply existed within the dark abyss. A malevolent energy swirled around him, pressing down on his very soul. From the shadows of the ocean depths, countless pairs of blood-red eyes emerged, filled with malice and vengeance. The resentment of the Evil Spirit Orca King surged toward him like a tidal wave, its fury and hatred manifesting into devastating soul attacks.

The sudden assault took him by surprise. This was his first time experiencing something like this, an attack that directly targeted his spirit. He realized he was in the middle of a soul shock. In all his years of absorbing soul rings, he had never encountered such a phenomenon.

Why now? he questioned himself. Why didn't this happen before when I absorbed 10,000-year soul rings? Bei had started to think he was somehow immune to soul shocks, but unfortunately, he wasn't completely right.

Before he could piece together an answer, the attacks intensified. The resentful will of the deceased orca king battered his soul, each strike more vicious than the last. It was relentless, attempting to tear apart his very existence. His consciousness trembled under the pressure, his mind on the verge of shattering. It was too much.

Maybe if he had experienced soul shocks against weaker beasts, before, we could be more prepared to face the soul shock of a 100,000-year soul beast, but that wasn't Bei's case.

For the first time in years, Bei felt powerless, he didn't know what to do.

Just as he thought his soul would be ripped apart, a golden light burst forth from the depths of his consciousness. The overwhelming pressure that threatened to consume him dissipated instantly. From the brilliant glow, a familiar object emerged, the Dragon Slaying Saber.

The divine weapon had been dormant for a long time. Bie could use it, but it felt "empty" and had lost the ability to move by itself. However, now it radiated unparalleled might. As soon as it appeared, the presence of the Evil Spirit Orca King's lingering will began to disintegrate. The saber devoured the hatred, resentment, malice, and everything left grom the beast's soul. The oceanic abyss around him trembled, and within moments, the soul shock was completely neutralized.

Bei gasped as he felt the burden on his mind vanish. His soul was no longer under attack. Instead, a deep silence filled his mental space. The Dragon Slaying Saber remained suspended in the golden light, emanating an ancient aura. Just as it began to fade back, a deep, guttural voice rumbled through Bei's consciousness.

"More."

The voice was primal, filled with an insatiable hunger. It made Bei doubt if his Devouring Domain came from his first martial soul or his second one.

Then, as quickly as it had appeared, the Dragon Slaying Saber vanished once again.

The suffocating oppression was gone, and he finally understood why he had never experienced soul shocks before. The Dragon Slaying Saber was a divine weapon that absorbed the souls of the dragons it slew to strengthen itself. However, it seemed it was not limited to dragon souls, it could consume any soul. It had been protecting him all along, silently devouring the resentful wills of the beasts he had slain.

Now, it was demanding more.

Bei took a deep breath, steadying his emotions. Though the experience had shaken him, he was still in the middle of absorbing the 100,000-year soul ring. The process wasn't over yet. Though the soul shock had been neutralized, the raw power of the soul ring was still a formidable challenge to integrate. But compared to the agony he had just endured, this final stretch was something he could handle.

With renewed focus, he closed his eyes and continued the absorption process, determined to complete his breakthrough.