Several hours later, Zhu Zhuqing slowly opened her eyes. Meeting Yang Yunhai's gaze, she smiled faintly and rose to her feet. As she approached, Chrysanthemum Douluo asked first, "Zhuqing, how is it?"
"Rank 63," she replied.
"My new soul skill is Dark Domain. It spreads a barrier of darkness, erasing all non-dark attribute energies. Within the barrier, vision is stripped away, soul power recovery is restricted, and my own attributes are enhanced in all aspects."
'It was clearly limited by her Martial Soul, producing only a dark-element soul skill. To obtain the Dark Devil God Tiger's full abilities, she would still need to fuse with that pearl.' Yang Yunhai thought this to himself and nodded with a smile.
"A very good soul skill."
Restraining the opponent while enhancing herself—its effect was nearly equivalent to a domain. Truly excellent.
Moreover, her Martial Soul had strengthened after absorbing the soul ring, even gaining additional traits. Because the Dark Devil God Tiger had condensed its essence into a pearl, the inherited abilities were fewer and less obvious. But Yang Yunhai's powerful Spiritual Power allowed him to sense the subtle changes.
He was certain: once Zhu Zhuqing absorbed that pearl, all of these abilities would fully manifest.
"Indeed, it's good. It can practically serve as a domain," Chrysanthemum Douluo said with a nod.
Yang Yunhai sighed inwardly. A pity there was no external soul bone. Of course, he knew it was impossible—the Dark Devil God Tiger had already condensed its essence into that pearl, which was itself equivalent to a special external soul bone.
"Xiao Hai, should we return to Heaven Dou City for a while?" Chrysanthemum Douluo asked.
Yang Yunhai shook his head. "Since I promised Bo Saixi we'd return within a month, we cannot break our word. A round trip to Heaven Dou City would waste too much time."
"Besides, it would delay Zhuqing's assessment. Forget it. Once we reach Hanhai City, we can let Spirit Hall send a letter back to report our safety."
"Alright." Chrysanthemum Douluo nodded.
Ghost Douluo then said, "Should we capture the Sky Azure Bull Python from the core area and take it along? At Yan Yan's current speed, she'll reach rank 70 in about two months. Bringing the python back to Sea God Island now would save time and spare us another trip."
"My storage space might not be enough," Yang Yunhai admitted, turning toward Chrysanthemum Douluo.
"If I empty my things, it should barely fit," Chrysanthemum Douluo replied. "But to prevent it from waking up midway, it's best to prepare a strong narcotic."
"The herbs I carry are mostly for medicinal baths, nourishing in nature. I lack the proper materials."
"Harvest directly from soul beasts nearby and refine it according to the prescription," Ghost Douluo said coldly.
Chrysanthemum Douluo fell silent.
Yang Yunhai knew exactly which prescription he meant. He nodded slightly. "That works."
"Then let's transfer the herbs." Chrysanthemum Douluo spoke seriously.
He moved the fresh herbs from his soul tool into Yang Yunhai's jade gourd. Back when Yang Yunhai and Ghost Douluo had traveled to the other continent, the journey had taken more than four months, consuming most of their supply. The remaining herbs were not many, but still enough to fit inside.
Three hours later, with the narcotic prepared, the four took to the skies toward the core area.
It was already deep into the night. No moon, no stars, only darkness. When they arrived, the Titan Giant Ape was asleep on the shore.
It had moved to a new location from the previous lakeside, but Yang Yunhai's Blue Silver Grass perception allowed him to find it.
From above, Yang Yunhai did not hesitate. He raised his hand, gathering lightning, and hurled it down.
Crack!
The bolt struck the Titan Giant Ape on the head.
The beast roared in pain and woke instantly.
Lightning flashed across the sky. Thunder rumbled. The Sky Azure Bull Python also stirred, the lake boiling as it rose.
"It's you again, damn humans!" the Titan Giant Ape bellowed, pounding its chest. "Er Ming, don't fight them, run!"
Knocked unconscious twice before, the Sky Azure Bull Python knew it wasn't their match. Lightning surged at its horns as it shouted in warning.
Reluctant though it was, the Titan Giant Ape turned and fled.
"Polar Stillness Domain!"
High above, Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo unleashed their fusion domain. Light erupted, rippling through the air. Both the python in the lake and the Titan Giant Ape froze in place.
"Spiritual Shock!"
Yang Yunhai rushed forward, his gaze locking onto the python.
With the foundation of the Myriad Demon King's soul skill, this kind of basic spiritual attack was nothing to him.
His Spiritual Power condensed, magnified by the Wisdom Skull Bone and the Evil Eye external bone. It burst from his brow like a cannon shell, twisting the air before striking the python squarely between the eyes. The arcs of lightning at its horns dissipated instantly.
Another blast followed. The python's eyes rolled back, its body twitching.
Yang Yunhai acted decisively. From his soul tool, he pulled out a barrel of potion, pried open its mouth, and poured the liquid in.
Moments later, using the soul tool Chrysanthemum Douluo had prepared, he sealed the Sky Azure Bull Python away.
Only then did he rise into the air. Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo withdrew their domain, and the four left swiftly.
"Da Ming!"
The Titan Giant Ape regained control and spun around, only to see the python gone.
Its eyes widened in shock. With several leaps, it plunged into the lake, arms sweeping frantically through the water, but found nothing.
"Roar!"
It pounded its chest and howled to the heavens. "Humans, I will never forgive you!"
Then, wiping tears from its eyes, it sat heavily in the lake.
After a long time, it finally recovered. Its gaze turned hateful as it looked into the distance. Then it leapt ashore and fled in another direction.
With its current strength, it was no match for those humans. Only by hiding and cultivating could it hope for revenge.
'Da Ming, Sister Xiao Wu… I will avenge you both!'
It ran, vowing silently in its heart.
---
More than ten days later, in the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace.
"As long as they're safe." Qian Renxue let out a quiet sigh of relief after reading the letter from Dugu Bo.
"Don't worry. With Old Ghost and Old Chrysanthemum by his side, nothing will happen," Dugu Bo said with a nod. "Didn't Xiao Hai say he'd be back in a few months?"
"What we need most now is to consolidate control over the empire's military and government, to prepare for the next step."
"Mm." Qian Renxue's gaze turned icy. "Only Prince Xue Xing and the duchies remain. Tomorrow I'll summon their leaders to the capital to discuss the empire's new direction, and settle the issue of military authority. If they willingly surrender, they'll live wealthy lives."
"And if they don't…"
"Then they'll have only themselves to blame for my ruthlessness."
"Grandpa Dugu, tomorrow I'll also invite Ning Fengzhi. It's time we put our preparations into action."
"Good." Dugu Bo nodded. "Cleansing those corrupt nobles who oppress the people will only benefit the empire."
---
Meanwhile, Yang Yunhai and his group returned to Sea God Island.
After a brief reunion, Zhu Zhuqing continued her Sea God's Light Assessment.
Yang Yunhai accompanied Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo to a secluded valley, where they released the unconscious Sky Azure Bull Python.
Time had been too short to prepare medicine strong enough to keep a 100,000-year soul beast unconscious for two months. Though Sea God Island had plenty of sea soul beasts, they were unfamiliar with them, and substitutes were difficult to find. The python couldn't be guaranteed to stay docile inside the soul tool, so Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo had to remain on guard.
To make things easier, Ghost Douluo suggested crippling its mind—turning it into a fool or a plant beast.
The method was simple: Yang Yunhai would repeatedly unleash Spiritual Shock, breaking down its mind completely.
Cruel, yes. But no better option existed. Yang Yunhai agreed.
They began at once.
Chrysanthemum and Ghost Douluo used their Martial Soul Fusion Skill to restrain the python while Yang Yunhai struck again and again with Spiritual Shock, until foam spilled from its mouth.
"Should've captured the Titan Giant Ape too," Chrysanthemum Douluo muttered when it was done.
"The Titan Giant Ape's soul ring suits Zhuqing, but not as her seventh. Taking it would only waste two powerful soul skills. And for the eighth, the time frame is too long," Ghost Douluo said coldly. "If you want to raise it on Sea God Island for years, I won't object."
"…" Chrysanthemum Douluo stiffened, embarrassed. "I was just saying."
"…"
Through divine sense, the Sea God also fell silent, watching from Sea God Hall as they brought back a 100,000-year soul beast.
By rights, he should have been pleased. The python was perfect as Dugu Yan's seventh soul ring. But seeing Yang Yunhai crush its mind into idiocy, he realized this so-called Child of Nature was ruthlessly cruel.
It seemed Yang Yunhai truly had no intention of pursuing self-cultivation toward God King.
On the Douluo plane, if one could gather the faith of both humans and soul beasts, there was hope of ascending as a God King. But Yang Yunhai was slaughtering every 100,000-year beast he encountered—Soft Bone Rabbit, Sky Azure Bull Python, and perhaps soon the Titan Giant Ape. At this rate, the high-level soul beasts of Star Dou Forest would be wiped out.
Without beast leaders, how could the faith of the soul beast race be gathered?
Back when he himself had ascended, the Sea God had been aided greatly by sea soul beasts. Conquered and subdued, entire clans had chosen to worship him. Without their faith, the scattered islanders and sea soul masters alone would never have been enough.
But now? With Yang Yunhai cutting off such a vast portion of faith, Ascension towards God King was impossible.
Which meant… he would pose no threat to the God Realm.
'Well, Destruction and Life truly chose a ruthless successor. But what's that to me? By then, I won't even be in the God Realm anymore.'
Relieved by the thought, the Sea God cut off the connection, clasped his hands behind his back, and strode out of the temple.
(End of Chapter)
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