The night was as dark as ink. In the center of the valley where the Yin-Yang Well of Ice and Fire was located, a bonfire crackled and popped. The flickering flames dispelled some of the chill and brought warmth and light.
Beside the fire, Chen Yi held a huge golden-brown, juicy, and fragrant beef leg. Without any regard for appearances, he took a big bite, chewed vigorously, and squinted his eyes in satisfaction. The meat was tender, the fat bursting between his lips and teeth. Mixed with special spices, the flavor greatly comforted his stomach.
However, his gaze kept drifting toward the old man sitting opposite him—the high-ranking and powerful Elder of the sect.
The Grand Elder at this moment was completely different from the one Chen Yi had seen when he infiltrated the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well half a month ago. His originally gray hair had turned gray-black, the deep wrinkles on his face had faded considerably, and his skin had a healthy glow. He looked at least ten years younger.
What caught Chen Yi's attention even more was the aura emanating from him. In the past, Chen Yi could still detect a hint of his depth with his spiritual power, which far surpassed that of his peers. But now, the Elder's aura was as calm and unfathomable as a deep pool or an ancient well. If Chen Yi hadn't known his background well, he would have almost thought that the person sitting in front of him was just an ordinary old man with a vigorous spirit.
This was by no means a regression in cultivation; on the contrary, it was a manifestation of a surge in strength and a new level of control over one's own aura.
Chen Yi swallowed the meat in his mouth with difficulty, then gulped down a mouthful of water. Finally, unable to contain his curiosity, he asked,
"Elder, you… the change is too great! It's been less than half a month, and not only do you look younger, but your aura… I feel like your cultivation level has already firmly crossed the threshold of level ninety-six, and it seems it's not just a simple entry level, right?"
As Chen Yi spoke, he was rapidly calculating in his mind.
Although the Grand Elder had previously touched the threshold of level ninety-six, that one step was nothing short of an insurmountable chasm for a Titled Douluo. Normally, without special opportunities, one might not be able to break through even after years or decades of arduous cultivation. Even with the help of a soul core and an astonishing understanding of martial souls, it should still have taken at least one or two years for the Grand Elder to achieve this breakthrough.
Yet in just over ten days, the Grand Elder's strength seemed to have increased by at least one significant level.
Chen Yi had previously scanned the entire Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well with his spiritual power, confirming that there were no traces of immortal herbs being picked. Having ruled out consuming immortal herbs as the most direct shortcut, he simply couldn't understand how the Grand Elder had achieved such a leap in such a short time.
After reaching level 95, each level of advancement in the Titled Douluo realm became incredibly difficult. It required not only the accumulation of soul power, but also a deeper understanding of one's own martial soul. Apart from those with almost cheating talents like Bibi Dong and Tang San, who possessed twin martial souls, almost no one could improve this quickly.
Hearing Chen Yi's question, the Grand Elder smiled slightly and reached out to stir the campfire, making the flames burn brighter. The leaping firelight reflected in his deep eyes, as if stars were floating within them.
He didn't directly answer the question about his cultivation level. Instead, he spoke in a tone tinged with emotion and respect.
"It was those two dragon-shaped deities… who bestowed some benefits upon me before their divine consciousness completely dissolved into the world."
"A dragon-shaped deity?" Chen Yi was taken aback at first, then suddenly understood.
The Yin-Yang Well of Ice and Fire was the place where the Ice and Fire Dragon Kings had fallen; their corpses and divine power had transformed into this treasure land. The "dragon-shaped deities" mentioned by the Grand Elder naturally referred to the remaining divine thoughts of the Ice and Fire Dragon Kings.
So it was a gift from the Ice and Fire Dragon Kings… That makes sense.
Even the smallest gift from gods was an unimaginable opportunity for a mortal soul master. It might contain an understanding of the rules of heaven and earth, pure primordial energy, or enlightenment directly targeting the origin of a martial soul. This was far more profound and fundamental than merely consuming a single immortal herb.
The Grand Elder had already reached the threshold of level ninety-six, and his accumulation was more than enough. What he lacked was a higher-level guidance and the catalyst for a qualitative change in his energy. The lingering divine thoughts of the Ice and Fire Dragon Kings perfectly filled this crucial gap.
Thinking of this, Chen Yi's doubts disappeared, replaced by genuine joy. The Grand Elder was a close and trusted pillar of the sect, and his improvement in strength was a tremendous boon for both the Body Sect and Chen Yi himself.
Seeing that the Grand Elder seemed unwilling to discuss the specifics, Chen Yi wisely refrained from pressing the matter. Everyone had their own secrets and opportunities; digging deeper wouldn't be appropriate.
"I see, congratulations, Elder! This is an incredible stroke of luck!"
The Elder nodded with a smile, said nothing more, picked up another piece of roasted meat, and began to eat slowly and deliberately.
For a moment, only the crackling of the campfire, the sound of the two chewing, and the ever-present steaming and flowing of the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Spring filled the valley. A peaceful and harmonious atmosphere quietly spread between them.
After a satisfying meal (mostly because Chen Yi ate to his heart's content), he patted his slightly bulging belly, leaned back against a warm rock, and let out a long sigh. Although the environment of the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well was extreme, this scene was surprisingly pleasant.
Just then, the Grand Elder washed his hands with the water beside him, turned his gaze to Chen Yi, his eyes filled with gentle inquiry, and asked in a slow voice,
"Little guy, you've been busy talking about me. What about you? What benefits did you gain under the Yin-Yang Well of Ice and Fire? Judging from your aura, although your soul power level hasn't improved much, your blood and energy are much stronger and your foundation far more stable than before. There's also a hidden power that makes even me feel a trace of uneasiness."
Upon hearing the Elder's words, Chen Yi couldn't help but smile slightly, which eventually blossomed into an undisguised smile brimming with excitement and confidence. That smile, illuminated by the campfire, seemed to radiate with brilliance.
Before he finished speaking, a glint flashed in Chen Yi's eyes, as if he had made a decision. He took a long, deep breath that seemed to draw in the energy dissipating from the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well.
The next moment, something unexpected happened!
"Boom—!"
An indescribable, overwhelming aura suddenly erupted from Chen Yi's body. It was not the pressure of soul power level, but some kind of higher-level life pressure!
Under the impact of this sudden energy release, the clothes on his upper body instantly turned into countless fragments, scattering like butterflies and revealing his lean, well-proportioned, and smoothly contoured body. On his bronze skin, faint patterns of pale gold and crimson emerged, like some ancient totem, full of power and mysterious beauty.
Most eye-catching of all was the strange thing that suddenly unfolded behind him—it was not a wing of light formed from soul power, but a real combination of bones and energy!
A pair of enormous and magnificent wings suddenly unfurled behind Chen Yi, with a wingspan of nearly three meters. The left wing was ice-blue, as if carved from ancient ice, while the right wing was fiery red, as if forged from hellish lava. Ice and fire—two extremely opposing attributes—coexisted perfectly on these wings at this moment. Red and blue light intertwined and flowed, radiating an ancient dragon's might that made one's soul tremble.
"This is… an external soul bone?!"
The Grand Elder's pupils suddenly contracted. Even with his current state of mind and cultivation, he couldn't help but exclaim in a low voice, his face filled with shock.
He could clearly feel the terrifying energy contained within those wings. It was something that no ordinary soul beast could bestow. Its quality was so high, and its aura so ancient and majestic, that it even far surpassed the hundred-thousand-year soul bone of the Body Sect!
In particular, the dragon aura, intertwined with ice and fire, was of the same origin as the Yin-Yang Well of Ice and Fire, yet even purer and nobler!
"Frost-Ending Heavenly Wings."
Chen Yi felt the effortless control he had over the wings on his back, and the exhilarating fusion of ice and fire power with his own soul power. His tone carried a hint of pride.
"One of the gifts from the Ice and Fire Dragon Kings."
However, just as the Grand Elder was still submerged in the shock brought by the Frost-Ending Heavenly Wings, Chen Yi slightly raised his hands.
"Clang—!"
A clear, melodious sound like a dragon's roar suddenly rang out, accompanied by the crisp sound of metal clashing.
On Chen Yi's hands, the external soul bone that had originally belonged to the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear—the Dark Gold Dreadclaw—had undergone a drastic change.
The original dark-gold claws on his left hand had transformed into an azure dragon claw like ice crystal, with sharp talons and an aura of coldness that seemed capable of freezing the soul; the right hand had transformed into a crimson dragon claw like lava, with tiny yet terrifying flames leaping at the tips, radiating a scorching aura that could incinerate everything.
One blue, one red—the two external soul bones in the shape of dragon claws exuded an even sharper and more domineering aura than before. The ferocious aura belonging to the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear seemed to have been completely refined and sublimated, merging into the ultimate attributes of the Ice and Fire Dragon Kings and the majesty of the dragon race.
The Ice and Fire Dragon Claws opened and closed slightly, causing the surrounding air to hum under immense pressure. On the left, chilling air condensed into fine frost, while on the right, heat distorted the very space.
These already incredibly powerful external soul bones had undergone a qualitative leap after fusing with the Ice and Fire Dragon Kings' primordial power!
PS: Bonus chapter at 100 Power Stones