Silver Dragon King, Gu Yue

"Xiao Wu, are you still the same Xiao Wu?" the Titan Giant Ape asked.

"Er Ming, I know what you mean," Xiao Wu said.

"Er Ming, take me to meet your master. Do you really think that a mere one-ring Soul Master like me could pose a threat to your master?" With a thought, Ning Qiu summoned his martial soul. Golden light gathered behind him, forming a Primordial Dragon Elephant covered in dragon scales.

"An Auspicious Beast martial soul?" the Titan Giant Ape cried out.

Dragons ruled the waters, while elephants reigned supreme on land. As for the Primordial Dragon Elephant, it had been the ruler of both land and sea in ancient times. Never before, from antiquity to the present, had anyone possessed such a martial soul.

"Bring him over."

A woman's voice echoed in the Titan Giant Ape's mind.

"As you command, Master." The Titan Giant Ape bowed toward the core region of the Star Dou Great Forest, then extended its hand toward Ning Qiu. "Get on."

Ning Qiu held out his hand to Xiao Wu. Her face reddened as she placed her hand in his. Together with Ning Qiu, she stepped onto the Titan Giant Ape's palm.

Seeing this, the Titan Giant Ape's eyes brimmed with jealousy.

"Grandpa Jack, come with me too," Ning Qiu said, looking at Old Jack.

"Me?" Old Jack looked at the Titan Giant Ape, then at Ning Qiu. "Can I?"

"Of course. This is a rare opportunity," Ning Qiu said with a smile.

Upon hearing that, Old Jack stepped onto the Titan Giant Ape's palm. Following Ning Qiu and Xiao Wu, he stood on the Titan Giant Ape's shoulder. His aged heart pounded wildly.

Old Jack had never dreamed that one day, he would ride a hundred-thousand-year soul beast—the forest's king, the Titan Giant Ape.

The Star Dou Great Forest was fraught with danger, but with the forest's king, the Titan Giant Ape, escorting them, every soul beast along the way prostrated itself on the ground, not daring to show the slightest disrespect. Ning Qiu got his wish and arrived unobstructed at the edge of a lake.

Passing through a dense grove, the view before them suddenly opened up. An incomparably beautiful scene lay before Ning Qiu.

The clear little lake made the surrounding air more humid. Towering trees around it were reflected upon its surface. Sunlight shone down, making everything on the ground appear crystalline through its reflection in the water.

"Humans?"

On the lake's surface, an Emerald Swan noticed the Titan Giant Ape's return. Its sapphire-blue eyes fixed upon the three figures standing on the Titan Giant Ape's shoulder.

"Titan Giant Ape, why have you brought humans here?" The Emerald Swan spoke human language as it questioned the Titan Giant Ape.

Splash!

Countless droplets of water turned into dazzling, brilliant light. A gigantic bull's head more than four meters across suddenly emerged from the water. Blue scales glinted as its enormous body rose into the sky. This colossal creature had the head of a bull, but below its neck was the body of a giant python.

Ning Qiu knew that this suddenly appearing behemoth was Da Ming—the Sky Azure Bull Python.

"Second Brother, have you lost your mind?" The Sky Azure Bull Python spoke in human language, its icy gaze like swords as it fell upon Ning Qiu and Old Jack.

"Da Ming, long time no see. Have you missed me?" Xiao Wu smiled sweetly.

"Xiao Wu, long time no see," the Sky Azure Bull Python greeted.

"Da Ming, they mean no harm. They are both my human friends," Xiao Wu said.

"Xiao Wu, you should know how deeply Di Tian hates humans. It just so happens that Di Tian is not here today. Before he discovers them, hurry and take your human friends away," the Sky Azure Bull Python kindly advised.

"Bi Ji, Big Brother, you misunderstand. Master was the one who ordered me to bring them here this time," the Titan Giant Ape explained.

"Master?"

"Master?"

The Sky Azure Bull Python and Emerald Swan both sounded deeply astonished.

"I gave the order."

A wonderfully pleasant voice sounded from all around them. They heard the voice, but saw no one.

A silver radiance bloomed over the water at the center of the lake. The light condensed into the shape of a dragon.

"A dragon?" Old Jack's eyes widened.

The dragon upon the lake stretched for hundreds of zhang. With a flash of light, it transformed into a woman.

Her long silver hair cascaded down her back all the way to her ankles. Not only was it silky smooth, but it also possessed the texture of silver crystal. Her beauty was beyond description; no words could do justice to her peerless face.

Her fair skin was slightly pale, and her eyes were violet. Even dressed in nothing more than an ordinary white shirt, she still looked exceptionally alluring. Her eyes were incomparably beautiful, framed by curled lashes. Her violet pupils were clear and translucent, and especially when a trace of confusion filled her gaze, she inspired an irresistible urge to cherish her.

"Master!"

"Master!"

"Master!"

The Sky Azure Bull Python, Bi Ji, and the Titan Giant Ape all respectfully bowed deeply to the woman slowly descending from the air.

"Master!"

Xiao Wu dropped to one knee, showing the woman immense respect. She tugged at Ning Qiu's clothes, signaling for him to kneel before the woman as well. Yet Ning Qiu remained motionless, his gaze fixed directly on the silver-haired woman approaching them.

Old Jack was different. He immediately followed Xiao Wu's example and knelt on one knee. In Old Jack's view, if even hundred-thousand-year soul beasts had to kneel and submit to her, then kneeling himself could not possibly be wrong.

"Why do you not kneel?" the Silver Dragon King asked calmly.

"Why should I kneel?" Ning Qiu retorted.

"Impudent! How dare you disrespect Master!" The Titan Giant Ape turned its head, glaring furiously at Ning Qiu standing on its shoulder.

The Silver Dragon King raised a hand, signaling the Titan Giant Ape to stay calm.

"As expected of a human who possesses the Primordial Dragon Elephant martial soul." The Silver Dragon King sized Ning Qiu up, then asked, "You said you were looking for me?"

Ning Qiu nodded.

"Speak. What is it? For the sake of the Primordial Dragon Elephant bloodline flowing through your body, I'll give you one minute to state your case," the Silver Dragon King said.

"I want to discuss a deal with you," Ning Qiu said.

The Silver Dragon King smiled, the smile filled with disdain. It seemed to say: What deal could I possibly make with a human like you?

"The continent is currently ruled by humans. That is an indisputable fact. Soul Masters can live for more than a hundred years. Over the course of a Soul Master's life, they may need as few as one soul ring or as many as nine. On average, every Soul Master needs four or five soul rings in their lifetime. Soul beasts, however, are different. Their cultivation is a long process. If this continues, Soul Masters will inevitably reach a point where there are no soul rings left to obtain. And when that day comes, it will also be the end of soul beasts."

Ning Qiu stared intently at the Silver Dragon King. The Silver Dragon King had already wiped the disdainful smile from his lips and was staring back at Ning Qiu. Ning Qiu knew that his village's first upgrade trial mission finally had a chance of being completed.