Chapter 102: Ten-Thousand-Year Fourth Soul Ring
In the central depths of Sunset Forest, within a narrow valley, a streak of green light fell upon a towering tree. As the glow faded, two figures appeared—Dugu Bo and Zu Zong, here to hunt soul beasts.
"Boy, you really think such a narrow valley will have the soul beast you need?" Dugu Bo asked.
Zu Zong nodded. "I've been here before. I once sensed a dragon-like beast without claws in this area. We've searched everywhere else, and this is the only place left unchecked."
In truth, Zu Zong had never seen it directly. Two months earlier, while helping Yu Tianheng search for his fourth soul ring, he sensed a dragon aura here with his Blue Silver Domain. Its aura was similar to Yu Tianheng's Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon. He guessed the clawless form by comparing it to the Sky Blue Bull Python.
Dugu Bo's eyes narrowed. "Could it be the Azure-Eyed Flood Dragon?"
"You've seen it?" Zu Zong asked in surprise.
Dugu Bo shook his head. "Not with my own eyes. But decades ago, when I was a Soul Emperor, I heard of an Azure-Eyed Flood Dragon here. With less than ten thousand years of cultivation, it gravely wounded several Soul Sages."
Zu Zong was stunned. "Under ten thousand years, and it could rival the Titan Giant Ape?"
Dugu Bo nodded. "But after that, it vanished. I've searched many times without success. Who would think it hid in such a small valley? I'll go take a look."
With that, he leapt down. Moments later, the valley shook violently. Rocks tumbled, dust rising.
Dugu Bo flew out first, his face full of excitement. Behind him came a deafening roar as a flood dragon burst forth—azure eyes, hooked nose, spiked body, over ten meters long.
"Haha! Boy, your luck's good. It really is the Azure-Eyed Flood Dragon from decades ago," Dugu Bo laughed.
Zu Zong smiled. "Then I'll trouble Senior Dugu to subdue it."
In his mind, he called out, "System, scan this flood dragon."
[Ding, system scanning...]
[Soul Beast: Azure-Eyed Flood Dragon
Cultivation: Ten thousand five hundred years
Traits: Strength, speed, endurance, soul power absorption, extreme binding and destructive power.]
Zu Zong sighed. "As expected, a ten-thousand-year soul beast. And with great potential."
Meanwhile, Dugu Bo unleashed his Martial Soul True Body. His Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor clashed with the flood dragon. Despite its age, it managed to hold its ground briefly, proving its fearsome strength.
But it could not last. Soon it was struck by Dugu Bo's venom, collapsing on the ground with no power to resist.
Zu Zong frowned. "So its weakness is poison. But once I absorb it, that flaw will disappear."
Dugu Bo looked at him. "Brat, are you sure? This beast has already surpassed ten thousand years."
Zu Zong nodded silently. Raising his right hand, a faint white glow spread across his skin. From his palm, the Blue Silver Emperor emerged—dark blue tinged with black, patterned with streaks of gold.
Three glowing rings—yellow, purple, and purple—rose from beneath Zu Zong's feet, circling his body in steady rhythm.
Since becoming a soul master, this was the first time he had withdrawn the disguise of the "Blue Silver Domain," revealing the true colors of his spirit rings.
"The second ring is a thousand years," Dugu Bo exclaimed in shock. What kind of monster was this boy? And what was this ability to alter the colors of spirit rings?
Zu Zong nodded. "My first ring is close to six hundred years. The second ring is one thousand one hundred. The third ring is nearly three thousand. Now, do you think I can absorb this ten-thousand-year soul beast?"
"But I remember your rings were yellow, yellow, and purple before. Could it be…?" Dugu Bo asked.
Zu Zong's lips curved faintly. "So you've guessed it. Yes, it's the domain. When I awakened my martial soul, it came with a domain. I named it the Blue Silver Domain. The first ability of this domain is disguise—it can alter the colors of my rings at will, or even completely conceal one."
Dugu Bo sucked in a cold breath. Even with his composure, he could not hide his astonishment.
"No wonder your second skill could resist the violet poison I released after activating my martial soul," he realized. "In that case, the choice is yours. But I warn you, this Azure-Eyed Flood Dragon is no ordinary ten-thousand-year beast. It may rival those of twenty or thirty thousand years."
With that, Dugu Bo sat cross-legged on the ground, closing his eyes to quietly await Zu Zong's absorption.
Zu Zong drew the spirit ring into his body and released the Eight Spider Spears. For safety, he did not approach directly. Instead, he pulled out a sword, infused it with soul power, and pierced the dragon's eye with incredible speed, driving the blade straight into its brain. The flood dragon shuddered, its life force beginning to fade.
Sensing its weakened state, the Eight Spider Spears thrust mercilessly into its vital points.
The dragon's body trembled violently. A surge of savage energy coursed through the Eight Spider Spears into Zu Zong's body. To his surprise, after circulating once through his meridians, this violent energy returned to the Eight Spider Spears, condensing into his spine. The bones of his spine and the ribs where the Eight Spider Spears were attached grew scalding hot, as though they were a bottomless abyss devouring the power.
Zu Zong's face showed astonishment. "What kind of flood dragon is this? In the original, wasn't it said the Eight Spider Spears could only fully absorb energy from soul beasts of the same origin, like the Man-Faced Demon Spider? Why does this dragon also work?"
This was the first time since obtaining the Eight Spider Spears that Zu Zong used their devouring skill—this time, against an Azure-Eyed Flood Dragon.
Unable to understand it, he simply stopped thinking. If it could be devoured, then he would devour it. Perhaps this would even evolve the Eight Spider Spears.
As Zu Zong continued to absorb, the flood dragon's life force was drained completely, vanishing into nothingness.
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