In the Skydream Iceworm's tiny golden eyes flickered a trace of human-like excitement.
"Who would've thought I'd run into a human with a spiritual-type martial spirit here? What a pity I can't shed tears—otherwise I'd be bawling right now. Eleven years old, yet with soul power already at rank thirty. Among human soul masters, that's a top-level genius, isn't it? Even rarer, his physique is strong enough to withstand more of my origin power. This must be heaven's will, sending you to save me—or no, heaven sent me to guide you."
But while it indulged in its own emotions, Xu Zihuang's figure had long since vanished.
"Damn! Do you really have to be so scared of me? Haven't you seen the world?!"
The excitement froze on its face. Its huge body stiffened mid-wriggle, for the chilling aura crawling across its skin made it instinctively glance back—only to see the Dark Devilgod Tiger's massive paw descending.
The tiger's paw, wreathed in black miasma, slammed heavily onto its plump body. At once, the ten golden rings on its skin flared to life, dazzling light covering its entire form.
Though it was knocked senseless, it suffered little damage thanks to the shell it had shed upon reaching the million-year level.
"A tiger doesn't roar, and you think I'm a sick cat?" the Skydream Iceworm glared fiercely at the Dark Devilgod Tiger.
"Not playing with you anymore!"
It perfectly demonstrated how to speak the harshest words in the most cowardly way.
The ten golden rings on its body pulsed like living things. Suddenly, a cluster of radiant golden light tore free from its body, leaving behind only a thin golden membrane.
This light was its origin and spiritual power. By separating it, there was no turning back.
Yet it felt no regret—only relief, even joy at escaping death.
Its plan all along had been to find a soul master with a spiritual martial spirit and become a spiritual soul ring. And this peerless prodigy Xu Zihuang was the perfect choice.
Without Xu Zihuang, it had only two paths left: to be devoured by the Dark Devilgod Tiger, or to use its overwhelming spiritual power to lure those terrifying figures from the Star Dou Forest's core.
Either way, it would die.
"Roar—"
The Dark Devilgod Tiger, stunned by the Iceworm's move, hesitated only briefly before chasing after the fleeing golden light. Its own origin had been wounded. Only by devouring the Iceworm's origin could it grasp a thread of survival.
In the Star Dou Forest's outer reaches, Xu Zihuang sprinted at full speed, every muscle and nerve taut.
He had to guard against the Dark Devilgod Tiger that might come after him, while also watching for other beasts that could appear at any time.
Fortunately, he hadn't gone too deep. At his current speed, an hour would see him out of the forest.
Suddenly, the Skydream Iceworm's shameless voice rang out in his spiritual sea.
"Don't run, don't run, I won't hurt you."
Xu Zihuang glanced back. What entered his sight was a rapidly enlarging ball of golden light.
"I'm not afraid of you—I'm afraid of that Dark Devilgod Tiger!" Xu Zihuang cursed under his breath. His clenched fists bulged with veins from the surge of emotion.
The moment he saw that golden light, he knew it was too late.
The Iceworm might not excel in combat, but its million years of cultivated spiritual power were far beyond what he could resist now.
As the light touched his brow, a chill spread through his body, clouding his mind. Ten golden rings wrapped around him, while streams of white radiance poured into him.
"What a monstrous physique! If I hadn't glimpsed part of your memories, I'd have thought you were one of those ten-thousand-year beasts reborn as human. Huh? Twin martial spirits? Destruction and Ultimate Thunder?! Silver-Scaled White Whale?! Demonic Killer Whale?! And your first soul ring is already at a thousand years?!"
As it imprinted part of Xu Zihuang's memories, the Skydream Iceworm grew ever more shocked—but soon ecstatic.
"Heh heh, I really struck gold this time!"
Invisible spiritual power spread outward as its origin and spirit flooded into Xu Zihuang, blanketing a hundred kilometers in an instant.
Though not destructive, the shock numbed the minds of all creatures within its range—even the pursuing Dark Devilgod Tiger faltered.
Meanwhile, the white radiance on Xu Zihuang's skin faded, replaced by an icy-blue glow before returning to normal.
His mind cleared. At once he checked himself.
His soul power was still rank thirty. His spiritual power had not grown at all.
Just as doubt arose, a voice sounded in his mind.
"So, your name is Xu Zihuang."
He recognized it—the Skydream Iceworm.
It spoke with unsettling familiarity.
Xu Zihuang's thoughts churned. Never had he imagined he would fuse with the Skydream Iceworm like this.
"Aren't you curious about me? Let me introduce myself. I am the embodiment of heroism and chivalry, the perfect blend of wisdom and beauty, king of soul beasts, peerless existence, who has cultivated for a million years and set the longevity record of the Douluo Continent—the Skydream Iceworm. You can call me Brother Skydream."
Its tone brimmed with pride. How strange, it thought. Shouldn't he be awestruck by me? But this kid didn't even speak—he just ran.
"A million-year soul beast? Then can you deal with that Dark Devilgod Tiger?" Xu Zihuang sneered coldly, drawing his Whale Tooth dagger again, holding it in reverse grip before him.
Through the sight of his Golden Eyes martial spirit, he sensed the dimming light around him. In the outer forest, only that tiger could manage this.
For dragging him into this mess, he naturally felt resentment. But now their fates were tied—one's rise was the other's rise, one's fall the other's fall. And besides, the Iceworm had been one of his main goals for entering the forest.
"Uh… about that. I already abandoned my body to reside in your spiritual sea. I can't unleash my peak strength." The Iceworm's tone grew awkward.
"But I'll support you. I probed earlier—its origin is wounded, its life draining fast. If we put all our effort into escape, it shouldn't catch us."
It then added, mumbling,
"Once I become your spiritual soul ring, you'll see how powerful I really am."
Xu Zihuang didn't answer. His focus sharpened—for the Dark Devilgod Tiger was closing in fast.