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#186
Poisonous dragon possession
Chapter 186 Poison Dragon Possession
The three of them transformed into three afterimages, swiftly traversing the Sunset Forest.
Dugu Bo took the lead, surrounded by a green aura of soul power, and the ancient trees and vines that blocked his path all gave way.
Chu Xinghe followed closely behind, each step leaving a faint trail of flames on the ground, which vanished in an instant.
Dugu Yan followed lightly at the back. Her evolved Azure Dragon Martial Soul allowed her to move with ease through the dense forest, her graceful figure resembling a swimming dragon.
Two hours later, a swampy area shrouded in gray-green mist came into view.
Strange bubbles occasionally rose from the murky water, and the air was filled with a pungent smell of sulfur and decay.
This is the Poison Dragon Pool recorded in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School's scriptures, the habitat of the 40,000-year-old soul beast, the Abyss Poison Dragon.
"Be careful." Dugu Bo lowered his voice, and the pressure of a Title Douluo-level aura surged into the pool like a tide.
The calm water began to churn violently, the silt at the bottom of the pool was stirred up, and the entire swamp began to tremble.
With a deafening roar, a giant, jet-black dragon burst forth from the water.
It was over fifteen meters long, each scale gleaming with a cold, metallic sheen, and its scarlet vertical pupils flashed with a cunning light.
The Abyss Poisonous Dragon circled once in mid-air, then suddenly changed direction and pounced on Dugu Yan, whose soul power fluctuations were the weakest among the three.
A cold glint flashed in Chu Xinghe's eyes, and his sixth spirit ring instantly emitted a dazzling black light: "Blazing Flame Domain!"
In an instant, the area within a 50-meter radius centered on him turned into a sea of fire.
The blazing golden-red flames instantly evaporated the water in the swamp, and even the air was distorted and deformed by the high temperature.
The abyssal serpent's attack missed its mark, and Chu Xinghe's figure had already disappeared from the spot. The next moment, he appeared behind the serpent, his right fist wrapped in raging flames, and slammed hard into its back.
The venomous dragon roared in pain and swung its thick tail, but it was stopped halfway by a green barrier.
Dugu Bo stood with his hands behind his back, a cold smile on his lips: "Beast, your opponent is over there."
Chu Xinghe seized the opportunity, and his third spirit ring lit up: "Tyrannosaurus Fury!"
His entire body was engulfed in golden-red flames, his muscles bulged, and his strength instantly increased several times over.
A whip kick, like a battle axe, slammed down heavily on the venomous dragon's neck. The hard scales were dented by the blow, and dark green blood seeped out.
The abyssal serpent was utterly enraged. It opened its blood-red maw and spewed out a cloud of dark green venomous dragon breath.
Chu Xinghe neither dodged nor evaded, but crossed his arms in front of his chest, and a barrier of flames appeared out of thin air, evaporating all the poison.
At the same time, his figure disappeared again, teleporting to the top of the venomous dragon's head, and his fists rained down like raindrops.
"Boom boom boom!"
Each punch carried immense force, causing the venomous dragon's head to slam down repeatedly.
It twisted its body frantically, trying to fight back with its sharp claws, but it could never catch a glimpse of Chu Xinghe.
Within the Blazing Domain, Chu Xinghe could teleport at will, and with the amplification from Tyrannosaurus Fury, he completely suppressed this 40,000-year-old soul beast.
The battle lasted a full ten minutes.
The abyssal serpent's attacks were getting weaker and weaker, but the number of wounds on its body was increasing.
One of its eyes was blinded, a piece of its tail was broken off, and its once majestic scales were now tattered and broken.
Finally, the ferocious beast could no longer hold on and crashed heavily onto the scorched swamp, panting for its last breath.
"Sister Yan Yan, make your move!" Chu Xinghe withdrew his hand and retreated, and the blazing domain dissipated.
Dugu Yan was already poised to strike, and her fifth spirit ring unleashed a deep black light: "Azure Phosphorus Black Poison!"
She parted her lips slightly, and a stream of highly concentrated black venom shot out like an arrow, precisely plunging into the gaping maw of the venomous dragon.
A chilling hissing sound rang out, and the venomous dragon's body corroded and dissolved at a speed visible to the naked eye.
It writhed and struggled in agony, but could not stop death from coming.
After just over ten breaths, the abyssal venomous dragon that dominated the Poison Dragon Pool finally stopped struggling, and a deep black soul ring slowly rose from its corpse, radiating a heart-palpitating energy fluctuation.
Dugu Bo stroked his beard with satisfaction: "Not bad, exactly 43,000 years of cultivation, a perfect match for Yan Yan's physique."
A black spirit ring hovered in front of Dugu Yan, its energy fluctuations of 43,000 years surging like a turbulent undercurrent, each movement carrying the ferocious aura left by the Abyss Poison Dragon.
Dugu Yan sat cross-legged, her emerald green soul power slowly overflowing from her body, carefully touching that profound energy.
"Buzz—" The soul ring suddenly contracted, transforming into a jet-black stream of light that pierced into her brow.
In an instant, Dugu Yan's body trembled violently, veins bulged on her forehead, and her originally rosy cheeks instantly lost their color.
She bit her lower lip tightly, her pearly teeth almost digging into her flesh, and large beads of sweat slid down her cheeks, leaving dark stains on her clothes.
That domineering energy surged through her body, sometimes churning her meridians like a venomous dragon's tail, and sometimes eroding her soul core like venom seeping in.
Dugu Bo stood with his hands behind his back, his fingertips swirling with pale green soul power, ready to suppress the out-of-control energy at any moment.
Chu Xinghe focused his attention and became vigilant, dispelling all the mosquitoes and poisonous miasma that might cause disturbance.
The night sky was filled with stars, and the cool moonlight shone through the mist of the Poison Dragon Pool, casting dappled shadows on the three of them.
Dugu Yan's aura fluctuated, and the illusory image of the Azure Phosphorous Dragon Martial Soul around her flickered in and out of focus, with fine cracks even appearing on her scales.
But she never loosened her clenched fists, her eyes burning with an indomitable will, allowing the violent energy to be tamed and absorbed little by little within her body.
As the brightest star in the night sky passed its zenith, the absorption process, which had lasted for three hours, finally came to an end.
The fluctuations of soul power around Dugu Yan stabilized, and the black aura between her brows completely dissipated.
She slowly opened her eyes, a dark green light flashing in them. Her aura was much stronger than before, and her soul power had successfully broken through to level sixty-two.
"How are you feeling?" Dugu Bo asked as he stepped forward, his eyes filled with undisguised satisfaction.
Dugu Yan moved her wrist, and the pale green dragon scales flashed across the panel surface: "It's amazing, it's like there's a power that can be unleashed at any moment."
With a thought, her sixth spirit ring lit up beneath her feet, and dark green spirit power surged throughout her body like a tide. "Sixth Spirit Skill: Poison Dragon Possession."
As soon as she finished speaking, her figure rose slightly, fine azure dragon scales appeared on her arms, her pupils turned into vertical pupils, and a faint poisonous mist swirled around her.
"All attributes have been increased by 50%, attacks will be inflicted with dragon poison, and the previous red poison berserk or blue poison paralysis effects can be randomly triggered." She tapped her arm lightly, and the dragon scales made a crisp sound. "Physical damage can be reduced by half, and poison attacks are completely immune."
Seeing the obvious changes in her, Chu Xinghe laughed and said, "Your strength has increased significantly now."
After tidying up their simple campsite, the three set off on their journey home under the cover of night.
The forest was quiet and still, with only the sound of footsteps echoing in the night.
Dugu Bo walked at the front, glanced back at his radiant granddaughter and the composed Chu Xinghe beside him, stroked his beard and chuckled, "I thought this trip would be more troublesome, but I didn't expect it to go so smoothly. With Yan Yan obtaining this soul ring, her future is promising."
A smile appeared on Dugu Yan's lips, and when she looked up, the starlight shone brightly in her eyes.
Chu Xinghe followed beside him, watching the two figures ahead, and felt a sense of relief.
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#187
The fusion of Dragon Skeleton Armor and Bone Dragon Armor Removal Technique
Chapter 187 The Fusion of Dragonbone Armor and Bone Dragon Armor Removal Technique
The training ground on the back mountain of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School was bathed in bright sunlight. The bluestone ground was polished smooth as jade by the years, and the air was filled with the unique, refreshing scent of soul power in motion.
Chu Xinghe's figure moved nimbly in the sunlight, the crimson flames around him leaping around him as if they were alive. The fire attribute soul power of the Tyrannosaurus Beast Martial Soul condensed into a ball of flame in his palm, casting mottled light and shadow on the ground.
"Drink!" he roared, and crimson light burst forth from his body. "Dragonbone Armor!"
With this low shout, countless crimson flames surged across his body like a tide, condensing on his skin into a shimmering suit of armor.
This was a defensive secret technique created by Bone Douluo with all his might. At this moment, flames spread along the seams of Chu Xinghe's armor, making the dragon head designs on his shoulder armor and arm armor even more ferocious. He raised his hand and threw a punch, the wind from his fist carrying flames as it grazed the ancient tree beside him, leaving charred marks on the bark instantly.
The armor carries the might of the dragon and incorporates the characteristics of his fire-attribute martial soul, enabling it to withstand strong attacks while also imbuing attacks with a burning power.
Under the shade of a tree not far away, Bone Douluo held a bamboo staff, his body surrounded by light gray spatial fluctuations, and the aura of his Bone Dragon Martial Soul was faintly visible.
Seeing Chu Xinghe stop, he slowly said, "You have mastered this Dragon Bone Armor. The fusion of the flames has improved since last month."
Chu Xinghe nodded upon hearing this, then quickly retreated, his hands flipping as ripples spread across the surface of his armor: "Bone Dragon Armor Removal Technique!"
This was also a soul skill created by Bone Douluo. With his movements, the heavy dragon skeleton instantly became light, and fine patterns appeared between the golden bone fragments, cleverly guiding the strong wind blowing in his face to both sides, turning into wisps of green smoke and dissipating.
But in that instant of transition, the flames around him dimmed noticeably, and there was a persistent lag in the connection between the two skills.
Chu Xinghe walked to the shade of a tree to wipe his sweat. Looking at the crisscrossing flame marks and energy trails on the ground, he frowned slightly: "Teacher, the two soul skills you created are both extremely exquisite. The Dragon Bone Armor's defense is impeccable, and the Bone Dragon Armor Removal Technique's energy dissipation is even more miraculous. But I always feel that they shouldn't be used in such a fragmented way."
Bone Douluo tapped the ground lightly with his bamboo staff, and the spatial soul power caused faint ripples to appear at the tip of the staff: "These two techniques each have their own focus. The Dragon Bone Armor is mainly for defense and enhancement, while the Armor Removal Technique is mainly for energy channeling. To have mastered them to this level of proficiency, you are already a rare genius."
"But they are all soul skills that you created with the Bone Dragon Martial Soul, so they are all connected by the same source!"
Chu Xinghe suddenly looked up, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "Look, the Dragon Bone Armor condenses the dragon's might into armor, and the Bone Dragon Armor Removal Technique borrows the dragon's might to transform power. Since they come from the same source, why can't they be integrated into a whole? This would allow the armor to channel energy at any time when defending, and not lose the armor's enhancement when dissipating power, thus forming a continuous combat force."
Bone Douluo's hand holding the staff suddenly stopped, and the tip of the bamboo staff scratched a deep mark on the bluestone.
His cloudy eyes suddenly widened, and the spatial fluctuations of his Bone Dragon Martial Soul became slightly disordered due to shock: "What did you say? You're fusing these two self-created soul skills?"
The thought exploded in his mind like a thunderbolt. He had never thought of combining the two skills when he created them. Chu Xinghe's idea completely broke through his inherent cognition.
Chu Xinghe nodded emphatically: "I tried to deliberately retain part of the energy core during the transformation and found that their dragon might origin can indeed sense each other. Perhaps breaking their boundaries can really form a stronger self-created soul skill."
Bone Douluo was silent for a moment, then suddenly burst into laughter, slamming his bamboo staff heavily in his palm: "Good lad! When I created them, I only thought about each one having its own function, but you've enlightened me! Soul skills should constantly break through; how can they remain unchanged?"
He took two steps forward, his spatial soul power and defensive aura intertwining around him to form a faint dragon-shaped phantom. He stared intently at Chu Xinghe, "Go ahead and try! These two techniques, once in your hands, might truly be given new life. If you can successfully fuse them, they will become new soul skills unique to you!"
Encouraged by his teacher, Chu Xinghe felt a surge of passion in his heart.
He suddenly stood up, and crimson flames rose up again, the fire attribute soul power of the Tyrannosaurus Beast and the dragon might of the Bone Dragon Technique intertwined to form a blazing dragon shape.
Sunlight streamed through the gaps in the leaves, illuminating his crimson crystalline armor, which shimmered brilliantly in the sunlight. Flames and energy patterns intertwined and swirled between the armor plates, as if two originally independent forces were slowly drawing closer under his guidance, as if a brand new fiery dragon were emerging from its cocoon.
...
A few days later, clouds of dust rose from the training ground behind the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, and Chu Xinghe's figure moved among the rubble and shadows.
He crossed his arms to protect his chest, and crimson crystal armor instantly covered his entire body. The Tyrannosaurus's fire-attribute soul power flowed along the patterns on the armor plates, condensing into a leaping flame dragon head at the shoulder armor.
"Boom!" He deliberately crashed into the oncoming stone pillar, and a golden-red halo erupted from the surface of his armor, shattering the hard bluestone pillar.
Chu Xinghe felt the surge of defensive power within his body, and his fist ignited with flames as he slammed it into the rock wall on the other side. The power of his fire soul skill increased dramatically under the armor's enhancement, blasting open a gap half a person's height.
"Now!" With a thought, he tried to activate the energy method of the Bone Dragon Armor Removal Technique while maintaining the armor form.
But as soon as the energy-guiding patterns appeared on the surface of the armor, the crimson crystals trembled violently, and the flames surged like an out-of-control wildfire, instantly shattering the armor into a sky full of sparks.
"Ugh!" Chu Xinghe groaned, thrown back by the energy, leaving several scorching marks on his arm.
This failure has been repeated dozens of times.
Each time he attempted to fuse the two energies, the conflict between them would cause his armor to disintegrate, resulting in either chaotic soul power or severe burns from the flames.
The ancient banyan tree under the shade of the tree remained silent, observing as the bamboo cane gently tapped against the palm of the hand.
After another collapse, Chu Xinghe clutched his numb chest and gasped for breath.
Bone Douluo finally spoke: "Removing the armor is not destroying the armor. You are currently using brute force to tear apart the energy. The defensive field of the Dragon Bone Armor and the conversion field of the Bone Dragon Armor Removal Technique should be like water flowing around a stone, not water and fire clashing. We need to find the symbiotic node between defensive energy and offensive energy."
"Symbiotic node…" Chu Xinghe looked at the remaining flames in his palm and suddenly remembered the energy analysis interface of the Digital Evolution System.
He sat cross-legged, immersing his consciousness into the system, watching the two mutually repelling energy curves on the virtual screen.
When he stood up again, Chu Xinghe did not rush to condense the complete armor, but first let the crimson crystal form a palm-sized core area on his chest.
He controlled the fiery soul power to circulate within the core, while simultaneously guiding the energy to slowly overflow using the Bone Dragon Armor Removal Technique.
This time, he deliberately slowed down the pace, allowing the defensive energy and the transforming energy to slowly intertwine at the core edge.
"Buzz—" The crystal core in his chest suddenly lit up with a dazzling crimson light, and fine flame patterns spread outwards from the core.
When he activated the armor removal technique, the core did not collapse. Instead, it erupted with a fan-shaped shockwave of flames, blasting away all the rubble within three meters.
"It's done!" Chu Xinghe's eyes lit up with surprise. Although the shockwave's range was limited and its power was still weak, this attack, generated by the fusion of two skills, proved that the symbiotic node did indeed exist.
Bone Douluo stroked his beard and chuckled, pointing his bamboo staff at the energy core on his chest: "You're a promising student. This node is the soul of the Dragon Armor. From now on, you must let it spread like wildfire until it covers every inch of the armor."
Under the sunlight, the fiery red core on Chu Xinghe's chest continued to pulsate, like a newly born spark, waiting for the moment to spread like wildfire.
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#188
Self-created soul skill Flame Dragon Armor
Chapter 188 Self-created Soul Skill: Flame Dragon Armor
To perfect his new soul skill, Chu Xinghe entered the fire attribute mimicry training area of the Heaven Dou Royal Academy for seclusion.
The fire-attribute mimicry training area of the Heavenly Dou Royal Academy is perpetually scorched by heat waves, and the rock walls gleam with a dark red luster as if burned by flames.
Chu Xinghe's figure weaved through the scorching air currents, the crimson soul power of the Tyrannosaurus Beast Martial Soul surging within his body like boiling magma.
"Exploding Dragon Breath!" He opened his mouth and spewed out a thick torrent of flames. The golden-red dragon breath slammed into the rock wall in front of him, exploding into a sky full of sparks with tremendous force.
Before the flames died down, he quickly formed hand seals, and crimson flames instantly covered his entire body, forming a dragon skeleton armor. The dragon heads on the shoulder armor spewed flames. Then, he twisted his waist, and energy ripples appeared on the surface of the armor. The power of the armor removal technique flowed along the flame patterns.
The entire set of movements was fluid and smooth, yet there were still slight hesitations at the transitions.
This training has been going on for a full two weeks.
From the first light of dawn to the last twilight of the day, he battles against the scorching rock walls, letting the violent energy of the exploding dragon breath wash over his armor, honing the finer details of the connection between his two skills in the extreme heat.
The fiery red energy core on his chest became increasingly solid, and the range of each armor-removing impact expanded from the initial three meters to seven meters.
That afternoon, the energy in the mimicry zone suddenly became extremely unstable.
When Chu Xinghe activated the Exploding Dragon Breath again, the rock wall did not collapse as usual, but instead trembled and emitted an eerie red light.
"Not good!" Alarm bells rang in his mind. Just as he was about to retreat, the entire rock wall suddenly exploded, and countless scorching hot rocks rained down on him like a storm, blocking all escape routes with a piercing whistling sound.
In that life-or-death moment, Chu Xinghe pushed his soul power to its limit, causing the crystal surface of the Dragon Bone Armor to shine with a dazzling light, while simultaneously pushing the energy circulation of the Bone Dragon Armor Removal Technique to its extreme.
The energy core in his chest suddenly expanded, and the crimson armor around him transformed into a lifelike phantom of a fire dragon, its head held high and its tail outstretched.
"Roar—" The fire dragon phantom let out a deafening roar, which was neither purely defensive nor simply a force deflection.
The rubble was instantly engulfed in flames upon impact with the fire dragon. At the same time, the fire dragon suddenly unleashed a fan-shaped shockwave of flames, igniting the air within a ten-meter radius. With a deafening roar, a massive crater several meters deep was blasted into the opposite rock wall.
The moment the skill was completed, Chu Xinghe clearly felt the bottleneck of soul power that had been accumulating in his body for a long time suddenly shatter. The surging energy flowed through his limbs and bones like a flood bursting its banks, and his soul power level soared in resonance, steadily remaining at level sixty-three.
He raised his hand to remove his armor, looking at the energy core in his chest that was still slightly warm, feeling the smoothness of the two skills merging into one, and an indescribable excitement welled up in his heart.
The fiery figure of the Flame Dragon Armor in "Armor Hero" fighting against the flames flashed through my mind, gradually merging with the phantom of the fire dragon swirling around me at this moment.
Chu Xinghe clenched his fist, feeling the surging power within his body, and softly named this brand-new self-created soul skill: "From now on, you will be called Flame Dragon Armor."
The scorching air currents brushed against his cheeks, the rock walls of the mimicry zone were still slowly peeling away, and Chu Xinghe's brand-new soul skill had been officially born in the flames.
...
On the plaza of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School.
Chu Xinghe stood quietly in the center of the square, his hands hanging naturally at his sides. The air around him was rippling slightly due to the subtle surge of his soul power.
At the edge of the square, the Ancient Banyan Tree of Bone Douluo stood smiling, its cloudy eyes gleaming with anticipation.
Sword Douluo Chen Xin stood with his hands behind his back, his silver-white hair fluttering in the breeze. His sharp gaze, like a drawn sword, was focused intently on Chu Xinghe, waiting to witness the true power of this newly created soul skill.
"Teacher, Sword Douluo, please look." Chu Xinghe took a deep breath, and as his chest rose and fell slightly, the fire attribute soul power of the Tyrannosaurus Beast Martial Soul suddenly erupted.
Crimson flame patterns, like awakened serpents, rapidly flowed and spread across the emerging black dragon skeleton, piecing together a suit of armor covering the entire body in just a few breaths.
The dragon head design on the shoulder armor is lifelike, with fangs bared and mouth constantly spewing out inch-long flames. Crimson patterns rise along the bone seams, eventually condensing into a swirling vortex of fire on the head, radiating a scorching and domineering aura.
"Impressive aura." Sword Douluo Chen Xin twitched his fingertips slightly, and a condensed light blue sword aura shot out from the air.
This sword energy, seemingly as light as a feather, carried the precise control unique to a Title Douluo, aiming straight for Chu Xinghe's heart with a sharp whistling sound.
Sword Douluo's move was both a test and a trial of the armor's defensive limits.
"Clang!" The crisp sound of metal clashing echoed across the square.
The sword energy struck the center of the armor precisely, and the crimson flame patterns lit up instantly upon impact, forming a dazzling shield of light.
The blue sword energy was instantly deflected, arcing through the air before turning into specks of blue light that dissipated into the air like shattered stars.
Chu Xinghe stood motionless, his armor completely unmarked, its defense so formidable that it drew attention.
"The defense is acceptable." A hint of approval flashed in Sword Douluo's eyes, and his fingertips trembled slightly again as he prepared for the next round of testing.
Chu Xinghe, however, had already made the first move.
His thoughts shifted again, and fine energy ripples appeared on the surface of his armor, giving the originally heavy dragon skeleton a touch of liveliness.
"Flaming Dragon Armor, Armor-Disarming Charge!"
He let out a deep shout and detonated the energy conversion method of the Bone Dragon Armor Removal Technique and the flame soul power.
The energy core in his chest suddenly expanded, and the crimson flames erupted like a dormant volcano, forming a fan-shaped shockwave that surged forward.
The bluestone pavement within a ten-meter radius was instantly scorched black, and the hard stone made a slight cracking sound under the high temperature. Gravel and dust flew everywhere in the air, carried by the shock wave.
The bluestone railings at the edge of the square were swept by the shockwave, and fine cracks appeared on them. The power of this attack was comparable to the full-force attack of an ordinary Soul Emperor.
Gu Rong, the Bone Douluo, stroked his white beard and exclaimed in a loud voice: "To create a divine technique with a mortal body, combining strength and gentleness, offense and defense in one, such comprehension and perseverance, this child's potential has far exceeded my expectations."
His gaze toward Chu Xinghe was filled with satisfaction, and he gently shook his hands behind his back.
Sword Douluo Chen Xin nodded slowly, his slender fingers hanging down naturally: "It can perfectly integrate defense and attack, and retain the characteristics of fire completely. In actual combat, it will surely have endless variations. With this skill, you can be invincible among Soul Masters of the same level."
Though the words were simple, the approval was unmistakable.
Chu Xinghe removed his armor, the crimson embers still dancing in his palm, carrying a familiar scorching heat.
He gazed at the clear burn marks on the ground, feeling the smooth flow of soul power within his body, and silently murmured in his heart: "The passion and protection from my previous life in 'Armor Hero,' those beliefs about courage and justice, have finally been rekindled in another way on this Douluo Continent."
The wind from the square brushed against his cheeks, and Chu Xinghe's heart was filled with pride.
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#189
To the Far North
Chapter 189 Journey to the Far North
The council hall of Duke Xinghe's mansion was warm and inviting. Around a carved round table, Chu Xinghe, Dugu Yan, Zhu Zhuqing, and Ye Lingling sat together, with a map of the Tiandou Empire on the table.
Chu Xinghe tapped the table lightly with his fingertips, his gaze sweeping over the three of them: "Have you all encountered bottlenecks in your cultivation recently? My Flame Dragon Armor needs to be honed in actual combat, and Sister Yan Yan's Poison Dragon Possession also needs to be perfected in actual combat."
Dugu Yan chuckled upon hearing this: "Indeed, if you spend all day in the Duke's mansion practicing poison techniques against wooden stakes, even the best soul skills won't produce a killing intent."
Although she broke through to level 62 after absorbing a 40,000-year soul ring, she always felt that the connection between her poison skills in actual combat was not smooth enough.
Zhu Zhuqing tucked her long black hair behind her ear, a hint of agreement flashing in her cool eyes: "Cultivating behind closed doors is too slow. My Netherworld Cat Martial Soul needs the stimulation of a complex environment."
The explosive power and reaction speed of speed-type Soul Masters should be honed in real combat.
Holding the warm herbal tea, Ye Lingling added softly, "My healing soul skill also needs to deal with all kinds of extreme injuries. If I always treat minor injuries and pains, my soul power growth will be slower and slower."
Although her Nine Heart Begonia is powerful, it needs to break through its healing limit in actual combat.
Chu Xinghe's eyes flashed with anticipation, and he leaned forward slightly: "I have a suggestion, how about we go to the far north and form a temporary mercenary group?"
Seeing the curious looks from the three, he continued, "There are not only high-age soul beasts there, but also many caravans that need protection. Taking on missions can earn you commissions, and fighting can hone your combat skills—it's a win-win situation."
"The far north?" Dugu Yan raised an eyebrow, her soul power rippling at her fingertips. "I've heard that it's a land of ice and snow, and home to extreme ice-attribute soul beasts, which can bring out their potential. Will my Azure Phosphorous Dragon Poison change in low temperatures? I might as well go and test it out."
Zhu Zhuqing tapped her fingertips lightly on the edge of the table. Speed-type Soul Masters are far more sensitive to their environment than ordinary people: "The icy terrain of the far north is suitable for stealthy attacks, and the Netherworld Shadow Clone can play a greater role. However, the low temperature will accelerate the consumption of Soul Power, so we need to prepare cold-weather gear in advance."
Ye Lingling had already begun to plan: "There are many rare medicinal herbs in the far north, which may be able to refine into pills that can resist cold and heal injuries. I should also test the efficiency of my Holy Healing Barrier in low-temperature environments."
Seeing that the three were interested, Chu Xinghe pressed on, saying, "Our teamwork can be honed during missions. Zhu Qing will be in charge of reconnaissance and raids, Ling Ling will provide continuous healing, Yan Yan will control the area with her poison skills, and I will attack head-on. This combination will definitely be able to establish a foothold in the far north."
"Caravan escorts allow us to adapt to the environment first, and then take on higher-level missions to venture deeper into the ice plains." He picked up the map on the table and traced his finger across the northern region. "It's perfect – we can earn money to buy resources, improve our combat skills, and collect rare materials."
Dugu Yan nodded first, her emerald green eyes sparkling with excitement: "It's settled then! I'll go back and prepare poison powder and cold-resistant medicine, and make sure the soul beasts in the far north experience the power of the new soul skill."
Zhu Zhuqing stood up, her figure flashing past the window like a ghost: "I will remove the low-temperature adaptation mode of the wrong soul power now."
Ye Lingling carefully folded the map: "I will contact the pharmacy to prepare the medicinal materials, and at the same time study the characteristics of the herbs in the far north."
Chu Xinghe watched the three of them get busy, and a smile appeared on his lips.
...
As dawn broke, a slight noise came from the north gate of Tiandou City.
Chu Xinghe, Dugu Yan, Zhu Zhuqing, and Ye Lingling stood in front of the city gate. The cold wind blew up the corners of their clothes, but it could not dispel the anticipation in their eyes.
Without further ado, the four exchanged smiles and, stepping through the still-lingering morning dew, officially embarked on their journey to the far north.
Over the next few days, they traveled day and night across vast plains and sparse forests.
As we continued northward, the road beneath our feet gradually became covered with a thin layer of frost, and the air grew colder day by day, even the sunlight seemed to have lost its warmth.
As the outline of undulating snow-capped mountains appeared at the edge of the field of vision, a majestic pass standing on the edge of the wilderness finally came into view.
The walls of Zhenbeiguan are made of dark blue-green rocks, and the surface of the walls is covered with gullies eroded by wind and snow and engravings left by swords. From a distance, they look like a giant beast lurking on the edge of the snowfield, exuding a murderous aura.
After entering the city, the cold wind carried the sounds of clashing metal and rough conversation.
The streets were crowded with mercenaries clad in heavy leather armor, most of them with gleaming weapons hanging from their waists, their faces bearing the marks of time, and exuding the fierce aura of seasoned warriors.
This is the last supply point on the way to the far north, and also a gathering place for various mercenary groups, with caravans and soul masters coming and going in an endless stream.
"The Mercenary Guild is just around the corner." Zhu Zhuqing's sharp eyes spotted the stone building with the bronze wolf head emblem first.
The four walked through the bustling crowd, pushed open the heavy wooden door, and entered the guild hall.
The hall was brightly lit, and dozens of wooden tables were filled with mercenaries drinking and resting. When they saw four young figures walk in, many of them cast curious glances and whispered among themselves.
Ignoring the stares of those around him, Chu Xinghe walked straight to the registration counter in the corner and said to the staff member who was writing with his head down, "Hello, we want to register a mercenary group."
The middle-aged man in charge of registration looked up and was visibly taken aback when he saw the four young faces. He then couldn't help but put down his pen: "Young men, are you sure you want to register? The mercenary groups in the far north are not to be trifled with."
He pointed to the rating notice hanging on the wall and patiently explained, "The mercenary groups of the Mercenary Guild are divided into five stars. A one-star mercenary group must have the strength to steadily hunt hundred-year-old soul beasts, and the team must have at least three Soul Masters of level 40 or above."
Two-star mercenary groups can hunt thousand-year-old soul beasts. Their core members must be level 40 Soul Masters, and they must be led by Soul Kings.
For the Samsung Mercenary Group to deal with a ten-thousand-year-old soul beast, it must have a level 60 Soul Emperor in command.
Four-star mercenary groups can challenge 30,000-year-old soul beasts, while five-star mercenary groups are capable of hunting beings that are over 50,000 years old.
Every star level this mercenary group gains is earned by risking their lives.
Chu Xinghe smiled slightly, releasing his soul power without reservation. Six soul rings—yellow, yellow, purple, black, black, and black—rose in succession beneath his feet, radiating a steady energy fluctuation as they swirled. The fourth, jet-black soul ring, in particular, gleamed with a deep luster under the firelight, attracting the attention of the surrounding mercenaries.
Immediately afterwards, Dugu Yan also released her own spirit rings. The six spirit rings—yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, and black—were equally dazzling, and the emerald green spirit power fluctuations carried a faint aura of poison.
The hall fell silent instantly; the noisy conversation abruptly ceased, and all eyes were focused on the two pairs of spirit rings.
Gasps of astonishment filled the air, with one person exclaiming in a low voice, "The fourth spirit ring is ten thousand years? This defies all logic!"
"Two Soul Emperors at level 60-something? How is that possible at such a young age!"
Even the usually composed staff member suddenly stood up, his eyes wide open.
He trembled as he pulled out the star rating manual, his fingers swiping rapidly across the page: "According to the regulations... a team with two Soul Emperors directly meets the standard of a three-star mercenary group and can take on missions to hunt soul beasts of ten thousand years or more."
He quickly retrieved the registration form and seal, his attitude becoming much more respectful. "Please fill in the name of the mercenary group."
Chu Xinghe took the quill pen, the fiery image of the Flame Dragon Armor erupting flashing through his mind, and solemnly wrote three words in the blank space of the registration form: "Flame Dragon Squad".
The staff stamped the bronze seal of the three-star emblem and handed Chu Xinghe a token engraved with the team's name: "This is your mercenary group's token. Holding it allows you to accept missions of three stars and below. The far north is dangerous. We wish you all the best."
Chu Xinghe took the token and exchanged smiles with the three of them. The token felt slightly cool to the touch, and the engravings on it seemed to still retain traces of soul power.
The mercenaries in the hall were still whispering among themselves, their eyes filled with shock and curiosity.
Thus, the name of the Flame Dragon Squad left its first clear mark in the mercenary guild of Zhenbei Pass.
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#190
First Task
Chapter 190, First Mission
As soon as the mercenary group registration was completed, Chu Xinghe turned to the staff behind the counter and asked, "Do you have any suitable missions for us right now?"
The middle-aged staff member quickly put down the token in his hand and rummaged through a drawer to find a stack of mission scrolls: "The three-star mercenary group can accept a wide range of missions, including caravan escort, resource exploration, and soul beast hunting. I wonder which type of mission you would like to take?"
Chu Xinghe and Dugu Yan exchanged a glance and pondered, "We've just arrived at Zhenbei Pass and aren't familiar with the environment of the far north. Let's take on a less difficult mission first so everyone can get used to the climate and the habits of the spirit beasts here."
The staff member nodded, his fingers quickly flipping through the scroll: "I see... Recently, most of the missions on the edge of the far north involve hunting hundred-year or thousand-year-old soul beasts, which doesn't meet the minimum standards for a three-star team. Wait a moment, here's a suitable one."
He pulled out a pale yellow scroll, unfolded it, and read aloud, "The mission issuer is a level 50 offensive-type quasi-Soul King. The requirement is very clear: to hunt a ten-thousand-year-old Soul Beast. The specific type is not specified; you need to negotiate and determine it with the issuer."
"No restrictions on the type?" Chu Xinghe took the scroll and examined it closely. "That's perfect. We can choose suitable targets based on the actual environment. It's indeed suitable for familiarizing ourselves with the conditions in the far north."
The staff member recorded the information in the register: "This Soul King is already waiting at Zhenbei Pass. The mission has a one-month deadline. Upon success, in addition to a commission of 20,000 gold soul coins, the auxiliary materials from the soul beast will be split according to standard practice. Should I confirm the acceptance now?"
"Confirm acceptance," Chu Xinghe nodded.
The staff stamped the mission confirmation seal and handed Chu Xinghe a hard card and a note: "This is the mission voucher, which has the mission number and basic information on it. The Soul Master who issued the mission is staying in room 502 of the Wellington Hotel in Zhenbeiguan. You can go directly there to discuss the specific type of Soul Beast with him."
Chu Xinghe took the voucher and note and carefully put them away. He then gestured with his chin to the three of them and said, "Get ready. We'll go to the Wellington Hotel to meet the releaser and find out his needs before we formulate a hunting plan."
The mercenaries in the hall watched them leave, still discussing this unexpected young mercenary group.
...
In room 502 of the Wellington Hotel, Ge Zhenhai paced back and forth, his brow furrowed.
As a Soul Master born into a commoner family, he knew all too well the difficulties of the cultivation path.
At the age of forty-eight, to have cultivated one's soul power to the level fifty quasi-soul king realm is an achievement that is difficult for ordinary people to attain.
His martial spirit is an ordinary black bear. He has no illustrious background or powerful inheritance. Every bit of progress he makes comes from his daily hard work.
Ge Zhenhai looked down at the spirit rings at his feet, the four spirit rings—white, yellow, purple, and purple—slowly rotating.
The third spirit ring has just reached the thousand-year standard, and the fourth spirit ring is only two thousand three hundred years old. There is still a considerable gap between them and true genius spirit masters.
He knew in his heart that in order to break through to the Soul Emperor realm, his fifth soul ring had to reach the ten-thousand-year level. This was his last chance to reach a higher realm.
To this end, he took out his savings accumulated over the years and posted a mission in the Mercenary Guild to hunt for a ten-thousand-year soul ring. However, ten days passed and no mercenary group was willing to accept the mission because the commission offered was not generous.
As time went by, Ge Zhenhai grew increasingly anxious.
He knew that his age was catching up with him, and if he missed this opportunity, he would probably be stuck at the Soul King level for the rest of his life.
Just as he was feeling disheartened and preparing to lower his standards to find a two-star mercenary group to hunt down a high-age thousand-year-old soul beast, a knock suddenly sounded on the door.
Ge Zhenhai's eyes lit up, and he almost ran to the door, pulling it open abruptly.
However, when he saw the four young men standing outside the door, the anticipation on his face froze instantly.
The boy in the lead looked to be no more than sixteen or seventeen years old, with a tall and straight posture and clear eyes.
Behind him were three young girls, each with their own unique charm, but all with a youthful innocence on their faces.
The joy on Ge Zhenhai's face gradually faded, replaced by obvious disappointment.
He assumed it was just another group of young people who had heard about his near-Soul King strength and had come specifically to become his disciples.
Over the years, as his soul power has increased, many young people from common backgrounds have come to his door, which has become quite annoyed for him.
He composed himself and said calmly, "I don't accept disciples. You should leave now."
Chu Xinghe looked surprised, clearly not expecting such a response.
He paused for a moment before clearing his throat and explaining, "You've misunderstood. We're from the Mercenary Guild and accepted the mission you gave us to hunt down the ten-thousand-year soul ring."
"What?" Upon hearing this, Ge Zhenhai's face flushed red instantly, and his tone became agitated. "What's going on with the Mercenary Guild? Such an important mission as hunting a ten-thousand-year-old soul beast, and they actually sent a few young people like you to handle it?"
He grew angrier as he spoke, his hands unconsciously clenching into fists. This was a matter of utmost importance concerning his future cultivation path; how could he treat it so lightly?
Seeing this, Chu Xinghe was both amused and exasperated, knowing that he couldn't gain the other party's trust without demonstrating his strength.
He said no more, and his soul power suddenly erupted. Six soul rings, yellow, yellow, purple, black, black, and black, rose up in succession beneath his feet, emanating a steady and powerful energy fluctuation as they swirled.
The fourth, jet-black, ten-thousand-year soul ring, in particular, gleamed with a deep luster in the room, causing the air to tremble slightly.
Ge Zhenhai froze on the spot, his eyes wide open, his mouth slightly agape but unable to utter a sound.
He had lived most of his life and seen many Soul Masters, but he had never seen such a young Soul Emperor, let alone one whose fourth Soul Ring was at the ten-thousand-year level!
This completely shattered his understanding of Soul Master cultivation, leaving him momentarily speechless.
After the initial shock, Ge Zhenhai quickly bowed and clasped his hands, his face full of guilt and apology: "I'm so sorry! I was blind and offended the Soul Emperor. Please don't take it to heart!"
He apologized while secretly worrying, fearing that the young Soul Emperor would abandon the mission because of his rudeness, which would completely shatter his hopes.
Chu Xinghe waved his hand dismissively, withdrawing his soul power and soul rings: "It's alright, it's good that the misunderstanding has been cleared up."
He looked at the middle-aged Soul Master in front of him and could feel the thirst for strength in the man's excited expression. "We are the newly formed Flame Dragon Squad, and we need a mission to familiarize ourselves with the far north environment. Your mission is very suitable."
Ge Zhenhai finally breathed a sigh of relief, a genuine smile appearing on his face: "Thank you for not holding it against me, Lord Soul Emperor! With your help, we will definitely succeed this time!"
"Meet at the North Gate of Zhenbei Pass at eight o'clock tomorrow morning," Chu Xinghe said. "We will prepare the necessary supplies in advance, and then we will set off directly for the Soul Hunt in the far north."
Ge Zhenhai nodded hurriedly in agreement, his tone extremely solemn: "Okay! I will definitely be there on time and won't be late! Please rest assured, just tell me what you need me to prepare in advance."
Chu Xinghe shook his head: "No need, just make sure you're well. We can discuss which soul beast to hunt on the way." With that, he turned and left with Dugu Yan and the other two.
Watching the four figures depart, Ge Zhenhai rubbed his hands together excitedly, a renewed glimmer of hope rekindling in his heart.
He returned to his room, paced back and forth a few steps, and couldn't hide the smile on his face. Perhaps this time, he could truly seize the last opportunity and break through to the Soul Emperor realm he had always dreamed of.
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