Stripping spirit rings was like Tang Hao's earlier self-vivisection of spirit bones; the greater the spirit ring's age, the more agonizing the stripping process.
Unlike self-vivisection of spirit bones, though not permanently sealing spirit power by two ranks, it would cause a drastic drop in spirit power cultivation. The severe damage to the flesh and meridians within the body was secondary; the most unbearable was the heavy blow to the soul.
Even though Tang Hao possessed enough patience and deep affection to wait for A Yin to transform back from a spirit beast into a human, regardless, the benchmark for spirit beasts to transform had to be a hundred thousand years of cultivation as the energetic medium constituting the body.
A Yin, by nature pure and kind, was unwilling to devour other spirit beasts to enhance her cultivation, like they normally would.
She preferred to cultivate slowly. Fortunately, the ice and fire yin-yang eyes provided an exceptionally advantageous illusionary realm. Furthermore, after Tang Sui had left previously, Tang San had attempted to feed A Yin's Blue Silver Emperor本体 with his own refined blood. A Yin's current cultivation was nearing seven thousand years, which was already considered fast.
But both she and Tang Hao knew that no matter how fast, the time it would take for her to transform from the Blue Silver Emperor back into a human would ultimately be hundreds of years.
If Tang Hao were still at the Titled Douluo power level, hundreds of years would still feel like an eternity to a Titled Douluo.
Soul Masters who cultivated to the Titled Douluo realm could extend their lifespan to 300 years. To live beyond that, they had to continuously increase their spirit power.
Starting from level ninety, each advancement in spirit power could add several hundred years to their lifespan.
But how much longer could Tang Hao live?
Between a pair of lovers, the one left behind was the most desperate.
This was something both Tang Hao and A Yin understood very clearly. Yet, neither of them mentioned it.
Tang Hao knew that if things continued like this, his wife would eventually make a choice that neither he nor their children would want to see.
Therefore, when Tang Sui mentioned that there might be other ways to revive his wife early, Tang Hao was moved.
"Stripping spirit rings?! No! Absolutely not!"
A Yin's voice was laced with panic. A phantom soul light condensed above her Blue Silver Emperor本体, floating to Tang Hao's side. A soft hand, covered in a faint glow, rested on the back of Tang Hao's left hand, which he had mimicked with his spirit power. Her delicate face was filled with refusal, and her gentle blue eyes were clouded with sadness. "Your father has already lost one leg and one foot. If he were to strip a hundred-thousand-year spirit ring, both his body and soul would suffer severe damage!"
Tang Hao looked at the tears welling up in his wife's eyes and sighed inwardly, "A Yin..."
He patted A Yin's hand reassuringly with his other calloused right hand, then looked at his youngest daughter with a solemn expression, suppressing the rekindled excitement in his eyes. His voice grew hoarse, "Sui Sui, what certainty do you have?"
"Tang Sui, the price human spirit masters pay for stripping spirit rings and the resulting trauma are immense. Although you are already on the path to godhood, you are not a true god. Achieving a win-win situation is exceedingly difficult. I do not advise you and your father to take this risk."
The Sky Blue Bull Python also joined the plea.
Tang Sui heard the Sky Blue Bull Python's concerns, but her decision to conduct an experiment showed no sign of wavering. "I know. So, without absolute certainty..."
[The resurrection power of the Azure Maiden's Chamber is absolute, though it may be restricted and weakened afterward.]
[After all, it is a power from another world.]
Hei Mian's voice suddenly chimed in. Tang Sui, who had been speaking, paused slightly. Amidst the bewildered gazes of Tang Hao and the others, Tang Sui smiled reassuringly at them, then closed her eyes, as if entering a meditative state, but in reality, she was communicating with Hei Mian.
'I know what you mean. It would be simpler and more direct to approach it through Mother. But I believe that even if Mother agreed, Father would never allow it.'
Tang Sui sighed. 'Although I am a cherished child of theirs, even with absolute certainty, I can guarantee with a hundred percent conviction that Father would never let Mother take even the slightest risk.'
'...As if they would agree to you experimenting on other spirit masters.'
Yuan Mian couldn't resist interjecting.
Then it was subjected to the 'seal' treatment twice—
[Shut up.]
'You shut up.'
Fu Shen sighed in a tone that said, 'I knew it.' "Yuan Mian, why do you always bring up what's taboo? Unlike Xiao Hei and me, we only consider things from the little master's perspective."
[...I'm not that close to you.]
Hei Mian said with a half-cold, half-disgusted tone. The next second, it was also silenced.
The other masks remained as quiet as chickens, but the narrow fox eyes of Hu Mian occasionally flickered with light, as if mocking. Although they didn't say it aloud, their silent psychological activity, filled with ridicule, was transmitted to all the masks through their damned telepathy.
Fu Shen: '......'
These guys...
'In any case, we have to find some unlucky souls for experiments. Without harming our own spirit masters, we can pick some extremely wicked individuals. Leaving them alive is also a calamity, so it's better to drain their existence value.' Tang Sui said after a moment of hesitation.
Even if it wasn't for A Yin this time, the matter of using the Azure Maiden's Chamber's power for resurrection was something she had no experience with, and she didn't know how potent the aftereffects would be. She still needed to try.
[I think you'd better wait for Tang San.] [It's been more than half a year since his seventh trial. According to the original trajectory of fate, it won't be long before Tang San can pull out the Sea God Trident and completely control the divine power of the Sea God's Light. Reviving the Blue Silver Emperor will also be much easier.]
[With the double assurance of you and Tang San, Tang Hao won't have to strip his hundred-thousand-year spirit ring. As for the energy the Blue Silver Emperor needs, don't you have plenty of it?]
Hei Mian's words acted like a spiritual awakening for Tang Sui, whose thoughts had entered a misconception.
Right, how could she forget that her brother had the Sea God's Light!
The trajectory of fate in this lifetime was not as tragic as before.
Sister Xiao Wu did not die, and Da Ming and Er Ming were still alive. Apart from needing Mother to regain her human form, they did not need to pay any greater price.
Tang Sui's eyes, filled with realization, opened to meet four pairs of concerned and puzzled gazes. Sudana Novel Network
"Sui Sui, you just..."
Tang Hao began hesitantly.
Tang Sui blinked and said calmly, "I was just communicating with Xiao Hei... ah... my other personality. She knows more than I do."
Tang Hao's eyes lit up. "Then, what certainty do you have?"
"Hao!" A Yin pursed her lips disapprovingly.
Tang Sui shook her head. "No need to strip spirit rings, Father. Xiao Hei just told me another good piece of news. We have another reliable method that won't hurt anyone!"
She thanked her brother for being the child of destiny in this world.
Upon hearing this, A Yin also looked over in surprise. "Another... method that won't hurt anyone?"
"What method is it?!" Tang Hao's gaze couldn't help but show a hint of anxiety. "Is there anything I can do to help?"
Feeling that her father was about to transform into a "Jijiji King" (a reference to a meme), Tang Sui awkwardly shifted her gaze to the ground not far away, her voice a little quiet. "This, we'll have to wait for Brother to come back..."
—Author's notes—
Mo Li succumbed, so she'll honestly wait for her brother to carry her.