Initial Comprehension of the Laws, Leaving the Lake for the North

Ling Yun sat in the crystal space beneath the lake for seven days and seven nights.

During those seven days, he completely immersed himself in the insights into the Dragon God Laws imparted by the Silver Dragon King. That vast body of knowledge was like a brand-new door opening before him, elevating his understanding of his own power to unprecedented heights.

The Chaos Dragon God Martial Soul inherently contained the ultimate mysteries of power and creation. Now, with guidance on the Laws from the Silver Dragon King, a legitimate inheritor of the Dragon God's legacy, many previously hazy primordial powers became clear.

His understanding of the Dragon Emperor Earthshaker Wave deepened. It was no longer limited to physical impact; he had begun to touch upon the edges of the Laws of Vibration and Shattering. With a single punch, he could stir the pulse of the earth, shaking the enemy's Soul Power and even their soul from within!

The Dragon God Sky-Rending Claw had likewise become sharper, faintly capturing a hint of spatial tearing. Wherever the claw wind passed, the air rippled with subtle distortions.

More importantly, he had gained preliminary affinity with and control over the seven basic elements. Though he lacked the myriad techniques of Soul Masters specialized in elemental arts, he could now, with every gesture, draw upon the surrounding water and earth elements to assist his offense or defense, making his combat style more versatile and unpredictable.

The Nine-Heart Begonia Emperor Martial Soul benefited greatly as well. The Law of Life was one of the fundamental Laws that formed the world and was closely connected to creation. Ling Yun's use of life energy became increasingly refined, vastly improving his healing effects. He even began attempting to transform life energy into offensive means, such as draining an enemy's life force or creating thorny vines of life to bind them.

On the seventh day, Ling Yun slowly opened his eyes. The divine light in his gaze was restrained, and his aura had become ever more profound. Although his outward Soul Power Level remained controlled at around level fifty—disguised—his true combat strength had once again undergone a qualitative leap. Now, without revealing all his trump cards, he was confident he could confront any Titled Douluo below level ninety-five head-on!

"It seems you've gained quite a bit." The Silver Dragon King's voice rang out with a trace of satisfaction. Ling Yun's talent and comprehension had once again exceeded her expectations.

Ling Yun rose to his feet and gave the Silver Dragon King's phantom a slight bow. "Thank you for your gift. I will never forget this favor."

The Silver Dragon King's phantom nodded. "You deserve it. Remember our contract. Your path is still long, and the waters of the God Realm run deeper than you imagine. Before gaining absolute strength, you must keep a low profile and bide your time."

"I understand." Ling Yun nodded. He understood the principle that the tallest tree in the forest would be the first to be felled by the wind.

"What do you plan to do next?" the Silver Dragon King asked.

"This place is good, but it is too comfortable. I need more battles and opportunities to temper myself," Ling Yun said. "I plan to visit the Extreme North."

The Extreme North was another perilous region of the continent. Its environment was harsh, its soul beasts powerful, and legends spoke of treasures such as the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Eyes, as well as ancient ruins that might exist there. It was an excellent place to rapidly increase one's strength.

"The Extreme North..." The Silver Dragon King pondered for a moment. "Its environment is unique, and it is indeed suitable for training. But be careful. There are several powerful beings in the Extreme North, powerful enough that even I must be wary of them. Especially Ice Empress and Snow Empress in the core region. They are the rulers of the Extreme North, their strength comparable to Peak Douluo. Their personalities... well, are rather unique. Unless necessary, try not to clash with them."

Ice Empress? Snow Empress? Ling Yun's heart stirred. They seemed to be characters who appeared in the latter half of the original story, and they were extraordinarily powerful.

"I'll be careful." Ling Yun committed the information to memory.

"Since that is the case, I won't keep you any longer," the Silver Dragon King said. "Take this scale. It contains a trace of my primordial aura. Within the Star Dou Great Forest, it can command the vast majority of soul beasts. Crush it if you encounter danger, and I will sense it as well."

A palm-sized silver Dragon Scale, smooth and warm as jade, floated before Ling Yun.

Ling Yun accepted the Dragon Scale. It felt faintly cool in his hand, and he could sense the vast power contained within. It was equivalent to both a protective talisman and a token.

"Thank you. Take care." Ling Yun put away the Dragon Scale, said no more, and turned to leave the crystal space.

He burst from the lake and returned to the island at its center. Xiao Wu, Da Ming, and Er Ming had been waiting for a long time. All of them could sense the increasingly unfathomable aura around Ling Yun, as well as the noble majesty that shared the same origin as the Silver Dragon King. Their attitudes became even more respectful.

"Ling Yun, are you leaving?" Xiao Wu asked reluctantly. Their time together had made her deeply dependent on and respectful of him.

"Yes." Ling Yun nodded, looked at Xiao Wu, and said, "Now that you have taken human form, remaining in the forest is not a long-term solution. Though the human world is complicated, it is also a stage for growth. Take care of yourself."

He then looked at Da Ming and Er Ming. "You two take care as well. I hope that by the next time we meet, you will both have fully recovered."

Da Ming and Er Ming let out low roars in response.

Ling Yun no longer lingered. With a flash, he transformed into a streak of light and shot into the sky, speeding northward.

His destination: the Extreme North!

A new journey and new challenges awaited his conquest. And his legend would spread from the Star Dou Great Forest to that frozen snowfield.

The storms gathering over the continent began to converge faster with every step he took.