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Just as they had barely left, a deep, thunderous explosion erupted from the center of Thunder Canyon. Two blue lightning bolts, like startled dragons, crashed down in response.
This overwhelming force stirred all the spirit beasts within Thunder Canyon into a frenzy, sending them fleeing toward the outer areas.
Dugu Bo watched the mass exodus and quickly grabbed Ignaz and Dugu Yan, leaping onto a giant tree.
"Little Iggy, help me take a good look at these fleeing spirit beasts. See which one might be suitable as Yan Yan's third spirit ring."
"Yan Yan, you need to be careful in your selection, too. It's rare to have such an easy opportunity to hunt for spirit rings!"
Dugu Bo extended his Titled Douluo-level spiritual power in all directions, searching for a suitable spirit beast.
Meanwhile, Ignaz used his own spiritual power to investigate. Suddenly, both the old man and the young man simultaneously spotted a seven-meter-long giant python with a brownish body crawling at high speed. They exclaimed in unison:
"It's an Earth Dragon Python!!!"
"Where? Where is it?"
Dugu Yan looked excited as she searched in the direction Ignaz and Dugu Bo were staring, but she couldn't see the Earth Dragon Python anywhere.
Under Dugu Bo's guidance, Dugu Yan had learned a lot about Earth Dragon Pythons. They were among the few sub-dragon species of spirit beasts in Thunder Canyon, and one of the rare snake-type creatures with earth attributes.
To adapt to the environment, they had deliberately abandoned their toxicity and cultivated earth attributes to resist lightning strikes. Moreover, because they carried a sub-dragon bloodline, they possessed both flexibility and tremendous strength.
Ignaz pointed to a location, directing Dugu Yan's attention there, and added:
"Little sister, judging by its appearance, this Earth Dragon Python is between 1,800 and 1,900 years old—perfect for your third spirit ring!"
However, Dugu Bo's brow furrowed deeply. The limit for a third spirit ring was around 1,700 years, and this spirit beast clearly exceeded that by about 100 years. Absorbing it would be risky, possibly life-threatening.
Ignaz, noticing his concern, immediately explained:
"After little sister absorbed the immortal herb, not only did her martial spirit evolve, but her physical constitution also underwent a qualitative leap. Absorbing a spirit ring slightly over the limit shouldn't be a problem."
"It's hard to find a spirit beast I like, and even harder to find one that suits me. Grandpa, didn't you say before that the Earth Dragon Python was a good match for me? Then I'll choose it."
Although Dugu Bo remained uneasy about Dugu Yan's decision, he chose to let her try. He had personally experienced the effects of the immortal herbs, after all.
Two minutes later, the Earth Dragon Python finally entered Dugu Yan's field of vision. Only then did Dugu Bo make up his mind—suitable spirit beasts were extremely difficult to find, and sub-dragon species even more so.
He immediately flew down, releasing his Titled Douluo aura. The fleeing spirit beasts took detours to escape.
Before the Earth Dragon Python, still mixed in with the crowd, could react, a punch landed squarely on its vital seven-inch spot, sending it flying and breaking a giant tree.
"Hisss—"
The tremendous force made the Earth Dragon Python emit a pained hiss. Just as it prepared to use all its strength to escape Dugu Bo's grasp, he followed up with his "Medusa's Gaze." A green light shot rapidly toward it, completely petrifying the back half of its body.
Dragging its heavy form, it couldn't even use its spirit abilities. Still struggling, the Earth Dragon Python took three more punches from Dugu Bo before falling unconscious.
Dugu Bo hoisted the python and flew back up the tree to Dugu Yan's side.
"Yan Yan, kill it and make it your third spirit ring!"
Without hesitation, Dugu Yan drew a completely green dagger and stabbed it into the Earth Dragon Python's vital spot. A purple spirit ring appeared.
Dugu Yan calmed her emotions, sat cross-legged, and used her spirit power to draw the purple spirit ring above her head. The absorption process went smoothly, without any pain. She even grew noticeably taller, with certain areas becoming more shapely.
Within two hours, Dugu Yan opened her beautiful eyes and looked at her grandfather and Ignaz, who had been watching over her, her face full of joy.
"Grandpa, my spirit power actually jumped directly to level 36!"
"Oh! Level 33—"
Dugu Bo paused, suddenly realizing something was off. He looked at his granddaughter in surprise.
"What did you say? Level 36? Shouldn't it be between level 32 and 33? How did you gain three full levels at once?"
He turned to Ignaz, who was currently staring intently at the lightning-ravaged area. In that moment, Dugu Bo thought of the Land Dragon Golden Melon again. After consuming it, his own spirit power had risen by three levels. When given to young people, the boost would be even greater.
It seemed that, aside from the spirit ring bonus, one Land Dragon Golden Melon had raised Yan Yan's spirit power by seven or eight levels.
And Ignaz had eaten two of them—just how much would his spirit power increase? Would he need to absorb a fifth spirit ring right after the fourth?
"Big Brother Ignaz, you look so serious—is there a spirit beast you need in the center of Thunder Canyon?"
Dugu Yan leaned forward, hands behind her back, as she asked.
"That's right. There should be a spirit beast I want located in the center of the thunderstorm."
"Could it be the Thunderclap Hell Vine?"
At that moment, Dugu Bo looked at the storm still raging in the center of Thunder Canyon and roughly guessed what Ignaz was thinking.
"Exactly—it's the Thunderclap Hell Vine. Judging by the undiminished thunderstorm, it should be there."
Hearing Ignaz's confident tone, Dugu Bo was truly amazed. He had only briefly mentioned the Thunderclap Hell Vine before, never expecting Ignaz to choose such a top-tier plant-type spirit beast for his fourth spirit ring.
Looking at the violent storm, if the Thunderclap Hell Vine was really there, its age would be no small matter.
Dugu Bo looked at Ignaz in astonishment and said again:
"Little Iggy, if a Thunderclap Hell Vine really exists there, it wouldn't be less than 10,000 years old. Can your fourth spirit ring handle a ten-thousand-year spirit ring?"
When Dugu Yan heard this, her eyes filled with worry.
"Big Brother Ignaz, absorbing a ten-thousand-year spirit ring as your fourth—isn't that too risky? How about choosing one with a lower age, like six or seven thousand years? That wouldn't exceed the limit by too much."
"Senior, little sister, you need to have confidence in me. I've absorbed two immortal herbs, and both my second and third spirit rings are lightning-attribute, giving me natural resistance to lightning. Plus, my martial spirit is extremely powerful—I can handle a ten-thousand-year spirit beast's spirit ring."
Ignaz's eyes were full of determination. In truth, his greatest secret was that his third spirit ring was already a ten-thousand-year spirit ring. That was where his confidence came from in facing the Thunderclap Hell Vine.
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~ Push the story forward with your Power Stones