Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Bone

"What is this?"

There were countless things shaped like pearls. From its appearance alone, Wang Nan could not tell what this object was.

"This is a pearl. More precisely, it is a Mermaid's Tear. Just as on the continent, all kinds of soul beasts live in the ocean as well. Since we soul masters are greatly weakened at sea, the number of soul beasts there exceeds that on land."

"Beneath the Ice Sea in the far north lives a type of soul beast similar to a mermaid. When they are overcome with grief, they shed tears that condense into pearls containing their pure Spiritual Power. This pearl was obtained by a soul master who ventured deep into that region."

"I have heard that mermaids also have a Royal Family. The pearls formed from their tears are golden, and their effects far surpass those of ordinary pearls. Unfortunately, I have only heard of them and never seen one myself."

Wang Nan picked up the pearl, and a gentle, waterlike sensation immediately spread from his palm. The waters in his Spiritual Sea stirred, greedily absorbing the Spiritual Power radiating from it.

"Thank you, Elder Lin." Wang Nan returned the pearl to its box and put it away.

"It is merely a little trinket. The real highlight comes next." As Lin Huiqun spoke, another woman stepped forward from behind her, holding a tray with both hands. On it lay the Crimson-faced Ape Right Arm Bone.

"This soul bone came from a ten-thousand-year Crimson-faced Ape. Generally speaking, a soul bone produced by a ten-thousand-year soul beast would cost around two million Gold Soul Coins. However, the ability it grants is only suited to Tool Soul Masters, so its value has been heavily discounted."

"Additionally, Gathering Treasures Pavilion offers discounts to Shrek Academy disciples. I can sell it to you for nine hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins. Your current credit limit is sufficient. Now it depends on whether you are willing to accept."

Soul bones differed from Soul Rings. Aside from Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts, other soul beasts had less than a one-in-a-thousand chance of producing a soul bone. Therefore, soul bones had always been extremely scarce. Some soul masters might not even gather a full set of six soul bones after reaching the rank of Titled Douluo.

With such an opportunity before him, Wang Nan was bound to buy this soul bone. As for the debt of nine hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins, that was the least of his concerns. The value a high-level soul master could bring was immeasurable. Once he became stronger, Gold Soul Coins would be nothing more than a string of numbers to him.

"Mm. Then I have decided to use my credit limit to buy it."

"Good."

As soon as she finished speaking, the woman presented the tray to Wang Nan. Besides the soul bone, there was also a Black Card on the tray.

"Your previous assessment was a Purple Rating. Your rating has now risen. Apart from this soul bone, you will enjoy the same treatment as an Inner Courtyard Disciple at Gathering Treasures Pavilion in the future. Visit more often when you have time."

Seeing Wang Nan nod, Lin Huiqun smiled. "All right. I know your mind is entirely on this soul bone right now, so I will not keep you any longer. Hurry back to the academy."

Wang Nan rose and bade her farewell. Once outside Gathering Treasures Pavilion, the Customer Service attendant who had brought him there earlier came up to him again.

"VIP, would you like us to take you back?"

Wang Nan nodded in agreement.

That night, Wang Nan sat cross-legged on his bed. He took out the soul bone from his Storage Soul Tool and examined it carefully in his hand.

Strangely enough, although this soul bone had come from a soul beast, it looked just like a human one. Its structure and proportions were extremely similar to a human right arm bone. At that moment, it emitted a faint glow, its fingers loosely curled as though grasping something.

Wang Nan hesitated no longer. After adjusting himself to his best condition, he activated his Soul Power. Under its influence, the Crimson-faced Ape Right Arm Bone transformed into Black Liquid and merged into Wang Nan's right arm.

Soul masters faced no age limit when absorbing soul bones. Even a one-ring soul master could absorb a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone. Thus, Wang Nan chose to absorb it now, lest complications arise from delay.

"Chirp chirp—"

As the soul bone entered his body, Wang Nan's right arm felt cool and gentle, as though he were standing amid the morning mist. Then, several faint Birdsong calls sounded by his ear.

At first, Wang Nan thought birds were flying past outside the dormitory. But soon, the calls grew more numerous and louder, until crisp birdsong filled his surroundings.

"Wang Nan" shook his head, raised his arms, and stretched lazily. He immediately felt much lighter. The Flock of Birds around him was startled by his movement and spread their Wings, taking off in a flurry.

"Wang Nan" chuckled. He pushed off with his feet and leaped forward, his tail swaying constantly to maintain balance. Then, with all four limbs facing downward, he landed lightly on the ground.

After taking two steps forward, he spotted what seemed to be nuts left behind by squirrels on the ground. He picked one up and saw that the flesh inside had already been hollowed out, so he tossed the shell aside.

"Boring, boring."

"Wang Nan" repeated the words several times, then reached out to pluck a few Wild Fruits and put them into his mouth.

"Peh, peh. These Wild Fruits are astringent and hard to swallow. No good, no good."

After taking a few more steps, he saw several Wild Rabbits hiding in the grass ahead. He rubbed his chin, picked up a stone from the ground, and threw it over. The rabbits scattered in panic.

"Heh heh, Wild Rabbit meat is tough and stringy. Not worth wasting my teeth on. Go on, get lost."

A few more steps later, the view suddenly opened up. He had reached the mountain peak, and stretching before his eyes was a vast range of rolling mountains.

Dressed all in white, "Wang Nan" stood out conspicuously atop the blue-green summit. An Ape-eating Eagle in the sky immediately locked onto him, beating its wings as it flew toward him.

"Wang Nan" was completely unafraid. He raised his right hand, and a smooth, straight branch unexpectedly appeared in it out of thin air. No, more accurately, it had not appeared from nowhere—it had always been in his hand. This branch had accompanied him for more than ten thousand years and had long become a part of his body.

With a light flick, it could pick up nuts from the ground. With a forward thrust, it could retrieve a Wild Fruit when drawn back. It was clearly just a bare branch, yet it moved as flexibly as a right hand, making one overlook its very existence.

Wang Nan suddenly understood. He had not truly arrived in this mountain forest. Instead, he was witnessing some of the Crimson-faced Ape's firsthand experiences through the process of fusing with the soul bone.

As the soul bone fused further, the Coiling Dragon Staff was released and fell into his right hand. Soul Power continuously flowed into it, and the Coiling Dragon Staff grew longer and heavier. Then, a vast surge of Soul Power rushed from the Coiling Dragon Staff back into Wang Nan's body, washing over him again and again.

Wang Nan had originally thought "as easy as moving one's arm" was merely a figure of speech describing the skill granted by the soul bone. He had never expected it to mean exactly that.

This soul bone allowed the body and weapon to undergo an initial fusion, thereby improving a soul master's control over their weapon. However, this soul bone's previous owner had not been a Tool Soul Master, so it did not know that it could bring even greater changes to one.