A wave of vicious aura was already seeping out from behind the massive metal door.
Boom! A muffled thud echoed from the depths of the cavern.
Boom! Boom! Boom—! With each rumble, a hulking figure slowly stepped into Gu You's line of sight.
It was completely covered in dark violet-black scales, more than fifteen meters in length, and weighed well over ten thousand jin. Its four limbs pressed against the ground, with a thick, powerful tail swaying behind it. Each step caused the metal floor beneath it to tremble.
At first glance, it looked like an enormous lizard. But on closer inspection, its head was much larger than a typical lizard's, and two curved horns protruded from its crown, arching upward.
'A Demon Lizard Dragon...'
Gu You's heart trembled. He had encountered thousand-year Demon Lizard Dragons in earlier trials, and while they were formidable, they hadn't shocked him. But this one… this was a ten-thousand-year beast.
Such a soul beast existed only in ancient records. In the Age of Legends, the Demon Lizard Dragon was a fearsome subspecies of the Earth Dragon line—massive in build, terrifyingly fast, and innately proficient in manipulating darkness. It was infamously violent, killing not for food, but for pleasure. Just like the Man-Faced Demon Spider, it was reviled even within the soul beast world.
Legend had it that the Demon Lizard Dragon was nearly exiled from the dragon race due to its bloodlust. Heaven and Earth themselves imposed a limit, capping its cultivation at under ten thousand years. If it went beyond that, the destruction it could unleash on the environment and soul beast ecosystem would be unimaginable.
The beast's oppressive presence thickened in the air as it suddenly lifted its head and unleashed a piercing shriek toward the sky.
The sound tore through the air like a mental spike. The spiritually weaker Xie Xie and Xu Lizhi both turned pale.
Gu You narrowed his eyes. 'A ten-thousand-year Demon Lizard Dragon… this is a miracle in itself. It'd be ideal for a power or agility-type Soul Master. But it's not right for Yuanen Yehui. Once we're out, I'll get her a millennium-grade version. Or maybe a better match will show up further ahead.'
He speculated this Demon Lizard Dragon may have mastered the extreme attribute of darkness. Its horns were nearly full-fledged dragon horns—signs of genuine dragon evolution. If this one had broken the cultivation cap, then its destructive power would be immeasurable once it matured.
'It's a savage soul beast, but I have confidence I can domesticate it. Turn it into a docile dragon baby.'
The Dragon God's Soul-Crushing Domain slowly faded. Gu You could control who it affected. Anyone he permitted inside would suffer no mental harm.
But the domain had a downside—it severely hindered visibility. Everything turned a deep violet, making it hard to see clearly.
Gu You charged the Demon Lizard Dragon. The Violet-Gold Terror Claws extended and sharpened. Each fingertip stretched over ten centimeters long, gleaming coldly with a chilling aura—seeming capable of tearing through anything.
The Demon Lizard Dragon had a temper to match its notoriety. The moment Gu You charged, it considered it a challenge. With a shriek, it slammed its massive tail against the ground and launched forward like a missile.
Despite its colossal size, it moved with terrifying speed.
Six gill-like wings unfolded from its back, allowing it to hover. Its tail whipped up a vortex of wind, and darkness surged around it. In the blink of an eye, it was upon Gu You, jaws wide open.
"Roar—!"
Just then, a deep, resonant dragon's roar thundered out. Yuanen Yehui and Le Zhengyu, watching from afar, saw Gu You's body blaze with violet-gold light. His form seemed to expand midair, and a violet-gold soul ring manifested.
The once domineering, bloodthirsty Demon Lizard Dragon suddenly froze midair. Under the stunned gazes of the group, its six wings lost their strength. Its massive body plummeted to the floor with a resounding boom.
The dragon once cast out by the Dragon God, now stood before a new Dragon God—how could it not tremble?
The entire team was left dazed by the impact. Meanwhile, Gu You descended from above, the Violet-Gold Terror Claws shimmering with light. With a shk! the claw pierced directly into the back of the Demon Lizard Dragon's skull—his entire arm sinking in.
The beast's massive body convulsed violently before falling still.
A dark soul emerged from its corpse, a smaller spectral version of the Demon Lizard Dragon. Its figure quivered uncontrollably in the air.
Gu You looked down on it.
"Why won't you look me in the eyes?"
The soul let out a rasping whimper.
Gu You closed his eyes.
"From this day on, you are no longer an exile. The Dragon God of the past is dead. I… am the new order. Times change, and so does law. Will you follow me, and bear witness to godhood?"
His voice grew quieter, until only the Demon Lizard Dragon could hear it.
Screech—!
The soul howled. Black smoke surged from its form, its eyes burning with madness and submission. It was willing.
Gu You absorbed it into his spiritual world. Simultaneously, he added a few restrictions—no senseless killing of soul beasts. Everything else was allowed. It was to help guard the Tree of Life as well.
Even though beasts killed in his mental domain could revive, the Demon Lizard Dragon's nature was too feral. It would kill even its own kind. If allowed to rampage, it would drain Gu You's strength restoring everything it destroyed. Best to keep it sealed until it was time to kill for real.
…
The fiftieth and sixtieth floors shared the same gate—a boss fight, so to speak.
The metal door creaked open. This time, Gu You didn't sense any ominous killing intent.
But suddenly, the air shifted.
A scent floated in—fresh and dry, like sunshine on warm stone.
Gu You's eyes sharpened. In the next moment, a deep thunderclap rolled through the hall. A bolt of lightning crashed down, striking him and everything nearby in a split second.
BOOM—!
Electricity surged throughout the chamber. A dazzling light burst forth, and Gu You's body flickered as an explosive force enveloped him. He grunted, his limbs briefly numb.
But in the very next instant, four rings of blood-essence lit up beneath him. The air raged with life force, and his aura swept across the room. The second ring shone brightly.
Violet-Gold Dragon Armor!
Purple-gold scales quickly covered his entire body. The numbing effect vanished instantly.
(End of Chapter)
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