Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring

A pitch-black soul ring quietly rose from above the Dreadclaw Bear's head.

For soul beasts, every stage of cultivation—ten thousand years, thirty thousand years, fifty thousand years, seventy thousand years, and one hundred thousand years—brought a clear leap in strength.

This Dreadclaw Bear was only around fifteen thousand years old, making it a first-tier soul beast. But it was still a lesser branch of the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear, with an exceptional bloodline. When its soul ring appeared, the pressure it brought was likely no weaker than that of an ordinary thirty-thousand-year soul ring.

Looking at the black soul ring radiating a savage aura, Dugu Chen did not dare let his guard down. He hurriedly sat cross-legged before the Dreadclaw Bear after releasing his Martial Soul, circulating his Soul Power to draw the black soul ring toward himself.

At once, his Sea of Consciousness shuddered violently. An intense spiritual aura surged straight into it, while the Soul Power within his body also began to churn fiercely.

The immense spiritual fluctuations and terrifying impact of Spiritual Power and Soul Power caused a burst of violent swelling pain throughout Dugu Chen's body, carrying a maddening intensity. This was the difference between a Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring and other soul rings: soul tremors.

The Soul Power in his body surged wildly as though boiling, yet Dugu Chen remained exceptionally calm. He controlled his Spiritual Power to resist the immense Spiritual Power crashing into him, gradually assimilating and absorbing it, while simultaneously circulating his Soul Power through his meridians.

Although his bones, meridians, and muscles were all beginning to ache and swell with pain, the expression on his face did not change. To become strong, one needed unwavering will. He had long cultivated a resolute character.

Seeing Dugu Chen's calm expression and the golden light continuously flickering across his body, Dugu Yan, Oscar, and the arriving Dugu Bo relaxed slightly.

The golden light on Dugu Chen's body gradually spread, and even the Kirin Martial Soul behind him seemed to have been coated in a thin golden film.

The dead Dreadclaw Bear also began emitting a dazzling golden light. Its pair of enormous front claws seemed to be drawn by something, resonating with the golden radiance on Dugu Chen's body.

Boundless golden light pierced through heaven and earth. The Dreadclaw Bear's claws transformed into golden rays, slowly following the pull and fitting over Dugu Chen's claws.

Golden flames burned over both the Dreadclaw Bear and Dugu Chen, as the former's Golden Bloodline continuously flowed into his claws.

The golden flames blazed ever fiercer, and the Dreadclaw Bear's body gradually faded away. As its final strength vanished, its remains scattered into the wind.

Watching this strange scene, Dugu Bo and the other two were at a loss. Fortunately, Dugu Chen's expression remained unchanged throughout, indicating that everything was going smoothly.

A black soul ring settled after Dugu Chen's third purple soul ring. His aura rapidly changed, and he leapt into the ranks of a level forty-one Soul Ancestor.

When the final golden light faded, the golden radiance covering Dugu Chen's body completely disappeared. However, his red dragon claws, now larger and sharper, bore several golden patterns.

No one knew how much time passed outside.

When Dugu Chen opened his eyes again, he sprang to his feet and stretched his body with force. A powerful sense of strength immediately filled him from head to toe.

His body had become more flexible, and the breakthrough in Soul Power had once again brought a leap in his overall strength.

With a thought, four soul rings—yellow, purple, purple, and black—rose beneath his feet, and violent Soul Power instantly swept across the area.

Although that Dreadclaw Bear had cultivated for over ten thousand years, because he possessed an Ultimate Attribute and required more Soul Power than ordinary soul masters, he remained at level forty-one. However, he could already sense the bottleneck. After stabilizing his cultivation for a while, he would be able to break through.

Once he calmed his mind, he noticed that night had fallen again. Dugu Bo and the other two stood nearby, guarding him.

"Congratulations, junior brother. Your fourth ring is a Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring. Your Soul Power should be higher than level forty-one, right? Looks like you'll surpass your senior sister soon."

Dugu Yan stepped forward and hooked her arm around Dugu Chen's. This had already become her exclusive privilege.

Hearing the sigh in Dugu Yan's voice, Dugu Chen smiled and said to the three of them, "Not yet. Soul masters with Ultimate Attributes cultivate very slowly between levels thirty and seventy, and require more Soul Power than ordinary soul masters. This time, I only reached around the peak of level forty-one."

"That's still quite good. But Chen'er, do you feel unwell anywhere?" Dugu Bo asked, his tone carrying a trace of unease.

"What is it, Teacher?" Noticing Dugu Bo's concern and seeing that Dugu Yan and Oscar also looked worried, Dugu Chen was somewhat puzzled.

"Brother Chen, when you were absorbing the soul ring just now..." Oscar vividly recounted Dugu Chen's condition from earlier.

After hearing Oscar's description, Dugu Chen frowned and carefully considered what had happened to him. The golden light from the Dreadclaw Bear had probably been its Golden Bloodline—but did his own Martial Soul possess a Golden Bloodline as well?

It seemed the changes in the Golden Crocodile King's Martial Soul last time had not been an illusion. His own Martial Soul possessed a Golden Bloodline, which was why absorbing these two soul beasts with Golden Bloodlines had activated it.

Soul beasts with Golden Bloodlines possessed extraordinarily powerful bodies. It seemed his physical strength was not merely due to the enhancement from his Martial Soul.

No matter what, this was a good thing. One day, the power of his bloodline would reveal itself.

Dugu Chen then explained his speculation to the three of them. Naturally, Dugu Bo and the others were happy that Dugu Chen possessed a Golden Bloodline.

"Chen'er, I suspect that Dreadclaw Bear also gave you two soul bones. Sense them carefully," Dugu Bo said as he stroked his beard.

Huh!!!

This Dreadclaw Bear's service was so thorough. Looks like I should erect a monument for it and thank Brother Bear for his gift.

Dark crimson light surged as Dugu Chen completed Martial Soul Possession. After sensing carefully, he raised his pair of thick dragon claws. Looking at the golden patterns on them, excitement gradually rose in his heart.

He raised his right hand, which transformed into a Golden Dragon Claw. Golden light swirled around it as he swung it toward the sky. A terrifying golden claw projection over thirty meters long shot upward into the heavens.

Upon closer inspection, one would find red Dragon Scale patterns along the five bright golden blade-like streaks.

With such an ultimate sharp aura, it could likely tear apart any soul master below level seventy with ease.

As Dugu Bo and the other two watched the claw projection soar skyward, they felt that even their vocabularies were inadequate. You're telling me an attack capable of threatening a Soul Saint was unleashed by a Soul Ancestor? Either you're insane, or I am.

It took Dugu Bo quite some time to recover. "Chen'er, this is—"

Dugu Chen said excitedly, "Teacher, these are the two External Soul Bones granted to me by the Dreadclaw Bear—the Palm Bones. Combined with my dragon claws and Ultimate Attribute, they form the Kirin Sky-Tearing Claw, which possesses both tearing and burning effects. They have also fused with my dragon claws, greatly enhancing the sharpness of my hands even without being activated."

"External Soul Bones—"

Dugu Bo and the other two stared at Dugu Chen's palms in astonishment. They were no ignorant novices in the world of soul masters, so they understood the value of External Soul Bones. These were soul bones capable of growth, no less valuable than Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bones—and there were two of them. Even given their relationship, the three of them could not help feeling a little envious.

Dugu Bo let out a deep sigh. "Good, very good. This way, you won't have to worry about exposing them when you use them. Though we aren't afraid of trouble, it's best not to invite unnecessary complications. You have just broken through and need to properly comprehend your gains. I still have some medicine that hasn't been prepared, so I'll be leaving first."

With that, he hurried away. If he did not leave soon, Dugu Bo would start feeling as though his decades of cultivation had all gone to the dogs. This was far too demoralizing. It seemed he needed to send the boy out—he couldn't be the only one suffering this blow.

After Dugu Bo left, Oscar tactfully found an excuse to go cultivate as well.

Seeing that only he and Dugu Yan remained, Dugu Chen took her hand and strolled around.

"Senior Sister, you haven't run into any difficulties in your cultivation lately, have you?" Dugu Chen asked as he gently rubbed her delicate, soft hand.

Feeling the tingling sensation in her palm and seeing that Dugu Chen had already grown taller than her after absorbing his fourth Soul Ring, Dugu Yan unconsciously tightened her hold on his arm.

Sensing Dugu Yan's response, Dugu Chen's movements grew even gentler.

Dugu Yan's face reddened slightly. "Junior Brother is getting worse and worse. With the help of Immortal Herbs, if Senior Sister still had problems cultivating, wouldn't that mean I'd be letting down all your effort?"

Dugu Chen nodded. After taking Immortal Herbs, there was no need to worry about bottlenecks, at least before Rank 70.

"Senior Sister, have you thought about what you want to do afterward?"

Seeing Dugu Yan's puzzled look, Dugu Chen continued, "We can't keep cultivating bitterly at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Eye forever, can we?"

Dugu Yan smiled softly. "Wherever Junior Brother goes, I'll go. Don't even think about leaving me behind."

Those words sent ripples through Dugu Chen's heart. Looking into Dugu Yan's violet eyes, he said gently, "Alright. Junior Brother will never leave Senior Sister behind for the rest of his life."

In high spirits, Dugu Yan leaned against Dugu Chen's shoulder, her hand clutching his arm even tighter.

After Dugu Yan went off to focus on her cultivation, Dugu Chen erected a gravestone for that Dreadclaw Bear. After all, Brother Dreadclaw Bear had truly been far too generous.

Feeling the surging power within his body, a faint smile appeared on Dugu Chen's lips. He suddenly clenched his fist, and his well-coordinated muscles radiated a sense of overwhelming strength. With just a casual swing, he produced a sonic boom.

Afterward, Dugu Chen sorted through what he had gained this time while considering his future plans.

This time, he had confirmed that his martial soul possessed the Golden Bloodline. In the future, he would need to absorb more Soul Rings of that kind, though that would narrow the range of Soul Beasts available to him even further.

He had also obtained two External Palm Bones, inheriting the Dreadclaw Bear's strongest Soul Skill. With the enhancement of his Fourth Soul Skill, it was probably no weaker than a true Dark Gold Dreadclaw.

The explosive Soul Skill of the Power Attack System granted by his fourth Soul Ring, along with his Soul Bone skill, made up for his lack of offensive methods. Aside from being somewhat slow—though over short distances, his explosive bursts of power, backed by his formidable physique, were no worse than those of an agility attack system—and his inability to fly, he basically had no other weaknesses.

In the end, he had still embarked on the path of an all-round Soul Master. All he could say was that his first few Soul Skills had been too good.

Although his current strength was enough to take Dugu Yan and Oscar out to travel the continent, his age was still a major obstacle. Dugu Bo likely would not agree, so it seemed he would have to spend a few years living the life of a student.

He also had to take advantage of these relatively peaceful years on the continent to befriend Qian Renxue, cling to her thigh first, and develop himself properly for another stretch.