Yan's Cry Drives Them Back, Rings Fall in Judgment

Yan's Cry Drives Them Back, Rings Fall in Judgment

"Impudent!"

"How dare you!"

The commander of the Royal Imperial Guard and the Spirit Hall Officer shouted in fury at the same time! They had never expected Dugu Yan to defy them so forcefully! A mere Soul Elder—Dugu Yan had just broken through to Level 31—actually dared to confront representatives of three top powers at once! In particular, killing intent flashed through the Spirit Hall Officer's eyes as the terrifying pressure of a peak Soul Sage crashed down upon Dugu Yan like a mountain!

"Dugu Yan! Don't think that having Dugu Bo backing you means you can disregard all rank and propriety! The energy disturbance here is no trivial matter and must be investigated! Ling Feng is someone Spirit Hall has placed great importance on. If he has gone missing here, you cannot escape responsibility! Move aside! Otherwise..." His withered hand rose, dark green Soul Power gathering in his palm and radiating a heart-chilling corrosive aura. He was clearly prepared to force his way through!

Just as the tension reached its peak!

"Hiss—ROAR—!!!"

A cry that seemed to come from the depths of the netherworld suddenly exploded over the valley without warning, filled with boundless savagery, coldness, and the terrifying majesty of a fresh transformation! It was not a human voice, but the roar of a primordial giant serpent! The horrifying pressure within it descended with a boom like ten thousand towering mountains, mixed with a strange venomous force that seemed capable of corroding souls!

Thud! Thud!

Under this sudden, terrifying pressure that far surpassed an ordinary Titled Douluo, the Spirit Hall Officer and the Soul Sage from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect seemed to have been struck in the chest by an invisible Great Hammer. Their faces instantly turned paper-white. With muffled groans, their knees buckled beyond their control, and they fell to their knees! Every bone in their bodies groaned as the circulation of their Soul Power came to an immediate halt!

Only the Soul Douluo-level commander of the Royal Imperial Guard barely managed to remain standing. Even so, his entire body shook violently, his blood and qi churned like boiling water, and his face was filled with utter horror and fear! This pressure... was more than twice as powerful as the Poison Douluo Dugu Bo they knew?! Worse still, the terrifying venomous force within it, seemingly able to dissolve Soul Power and corrode one's will, made even his Soul Douluo cultivation tremble to its core!

"Who gave you mongrels the nerve to threaten my granddaughter at my place of seclusion?!"

A cold, hoarse voice filled with endless fury and killing intent rang through the depths of the three men's souls like an icy wind from the netherworld! Along with the voice, the dense seven-colored mist in the valley churned violently. A vague, thirty-meter-tall phantom of the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor flickered within the fog! Its enormous snake eyes, like two burning jade-green ghost flames, looked down upon them without the slightest trace of emotion! The aura it emitted had reached the terrifying Peak Level 95! It also carried an unprecedented depth and oppressive force that drove one to despair!

The Poison Douluo! Dugu Bo!

And his strength had skyrocketed, his aura becoming terrifying enough to suffocate them! He had emerged from seclusion?!

"P-Poison Douluo, please calm your anger!" The commander of the Royal Imperial Guard was scared out of his wits. Suppressing the trembling of his soul, he hurriedly bowed, his voice shaking. "We came here under His Highness the Crown Prince's orders to investigate. We had absolutely no intention of offending you! Disturbing your seclusion is a crime deserving ten thousand deaths! We shall take our leave at once! At once!" At this moment, he only wanted to flee this horrifying place immediately! What investigation mission? What immortal herbs? None of it was more important than his life!

The Spirit Hall Officer and the man from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect were even more terrified, so frightened that they could barely speak. They simply kowtowed desperately, with none of their former arrogance remaining.

"Get out!"

The cold rebuke exploded like thunder, carrying an unquestionable will of destruction!

As if granted amnesty, the three men scrambled and fled frantically from the valley in utter disarray. They wished they had grown a few more legs and did not dare look back! They feared that if they were even a moment too slow, the terrifying phantom of the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor would swallow them whole, leaving not even ashes behind!

Watching the three vanish beyond the valley's Poisonous Fog like beaten dogs, Dugu Yan finally relaxed her taut nerves and let out a long breath. Her back was already soaked in cold sweat. She looked toward the center of the valley and saw that the enormous jade cocoon had vanished. A tall, upright figure stood there with his hands behind his back, bathed in seven-colored mist.

Dugu Bo! He was no longer a withered old man! His body stood tall and straight like a pine tree, while his face had returned to that of a middle-aged man. His skin was smooth and firm, and his dark green hair had become thick and jet-black, hanging loosely over his shoulders. Most chilling of all were his eyes, deep jade-green like ten-thousand-year frozen pools. Light flashed brilliantly within them whenever they opened or closed. His body radiated an aura as vast as the sea, restrained and profound, yet carrying a terrifying presence that seemed capable of withering all things! A Peak Level 95 Titled Douluo! His martial soul had transformed, and the venom at the source of his being had become his own to wield! At this moment, he could truly be called—the Poison Emperor!

"Grandpa!" Dugu Yan rushed over and excitedly threw her arms around Dugu Bo's arm.

Dugu Bo gently patted his granddaughter's hand, but his gaze turned toward the direction where Ling Feng was concealed. His deep jade eyes were filled with unprecedented gratitude and a trace of complexity. He knew that his rebirth was entirely thanks to that mysterious young man! Just then, from deep within the valley, a sacred and majestic wave of Soul Power filled with the aura of judgment and destruction suddenly erupted!

Buzz—!

A dazzling golden pillar of light shot into the sky! Within it, one could vaguely see the phantom of a solemn angel with golden wings on its back, wielding a lightning spear! Powerful Soul Power pressure spread outward alongside a sacred aura of light! Two yellow Soul Rings floated at the base of the pillar, followed immediately by the rapidly condensing, solidifying outline of a third Soul Ring!

The Soul Ring was a deep purple throughout, yet even deeper and more condensed than an ordinary thousand-year Soul Ring. It radiated the heart-chilling pressure of a ten-thousand-year soul beast! Golden sacred patterns flowed across the purple Soul Ring like living creatures, emanating the supreme aura of judgment and adjudication!

A ten-thousand-year God-Bestowed Spirit Ring! Ling Feng had absorbed it successfully! He had officially broken through and become a three-ring Soul Elder!

The golden pillar of light slowly receded, revealing Ling Feng's figure. He was still seated cross-legged, but his aura had completely changed! His Soul Power was vigorous and condensed, having clearly reached Level 31! A faint golden halo seemed to shroud his body, sacred and majestic. Most eye-catching were the three Soul Rings slowly pulsing beneath his feet: yellow, yellow, purple! The deep purple Soul Ring seemed carved from amethyst, while the golden patterns flowing over it made it even more mysterious and powerful!

Ling Feng opened his eyes. Lightning seemed to flash in the depths of his golden pupils, and a sharp, powerful aura naturally rose from him. He slowly stood up, sensing the surging power within him and his comprehension of his third soul skill. A confident curve lifted at the corner of his lips.

Third Soul Skill: Domain of Judgment!

Effect: Unleashes a domain with the power of the Judgment Angel. Within the domain, the concentration of light elements greatly increases, vastly strengthening the power of the user's and allies' light-attribute soul skills (base increase: 30%). At the same time, the domain possesses a weak "judgment" effect, continuously reducing the Soul Power activity and defensive strength of enemies within the domain (base reduction: 10%). The effect is doubled against targets with dark or evil attributes! The domain's range and effects increase with Soul Power.

A powerful domain-type soul skill! And a growth-type one at that! Ling Feng was overjoyed. The soul skill granted by this God-Bestowed Spirit Ring perfectly suited his martial soul. It was practically tailor-made for him!

"Congratulations, little brother Ling Feng, on your successful breakthrough and obtaining a ten-thousand-year Soul Ring!" Dugu Bo—the Poison Emperor—laughed heartily, his voice carrying genuine warmth and a faint, barely perceptible reverence. He approached with Dugu Yan. His attitude toward Ling Feng had now completely changed, shifting from initial exploitation and wariness to genuine gratitude and regard, even carrying a hint of treating him as an equal. How could someone capable of helping him achieve such a heaven-defying transformation possibly be ordinary?

"Thank you for guarding me, Senior." Ling Feng cupped his hands in return. His gaze swept over the newly reborn Dugu Bo, and he felt sincerely happy for him as well. A Peak Level 95 Poison Emperor ally was invaluable.

"Haha, this old man should be the one thanking you!" Dugu Bo laughed loudly, his voice shaking the valley. "If not for your guidance, little brother, this old man would still be struggling and sinking in that sea of poison, and Yan Yan too..." He looked at Dugu Yan, his eyes full of affection and relief. "I will remember your great kindness for the rest of my life! From this day onward, this Ice and Fire Immortal Grass shall be your home, little brother! Take whatever you fancy here and use it as you wish! If anyone dares harm you, they will first have to ask whether my Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor agrees!"

With a grand sweep of his hand, he pointed toward the herb garden, his spirit soaring to the heavens. At this moment, he had every right to say such words!

Ling Feng's heart settled, knowing that his greatest gain was already in hand. He looked at the purple-gold Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum, his gaze burning. "Senior, the time has come to completely cure Miss Yan's poison affliction!"