Knowing Early How Harsh the World Could Be; Ziwei Star Palace—Illusion Breaking Eyes

Knowing Early How Harsh the World Could Be; Ziwei Star Palace—Illusion Breaking Eyes

Within the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Eye, Ling Qianyue endured indescribable pain as the two extreme forces released by the Extreme Cold Yin Spring and Blazing Hot Yang Spring continuously tore at him from within.

The source powers of water and fire surged through his meridians. The two torrents circulated through his body, then, refined by his Star Acupoints, flowed into his Dantian from opposite sides.

The vortex formed by the Star Luo Spirit Pearl gradually grew fuller. As it spun madly, it faintly began shifting from its original gaseous state toward a liquid state and started compressing.

After an unknown amount of time, Ling Qianyue opened his eyes.

That layer of starlight appeared in his eyes once more, but this time, it seemed even deeper. If its shape were broken down, one could see that the starlight was formed from the hundred stars of the Ziwei Star Palace.

"Illusion Breaking Eyes," Ling Qianyue murmured.

He looked around, and the effects of these eyes immediately revealed themselves.

The space, originally warped and distorted by the interweaving of ice and fire, became clear in his vision. All illusions and falsehoods had nowhere to hide.

The mist born of extreme power, the interlacing lights and shadows, and the hidden undercurrents all seemed like a beautiful married woman falling into the hands of the burly man next door.

In an instant, they were stripped of all disguise and laid bare before his eyes.

A trace of joy rose in Ling Qianyue's heart as his gaze turned toward the spring at the depths of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Eye.

As he focused his mind, the spring, which had originally seemed like an abyssal gaze containing nothing at all, gradually revealed a different sight beneath his Illusion Breaking Eyes.

Crimson red and icy blue threads of extraordinarily faint soul power drifted slowly within, like willow fluff in the wind and ripples upon water.

Ling Qianyue hesitated for a moment before deciding to investigate below. Star power formed a shield around his body.

The spring was not large, only wide enough for one person to pass through carefully. Ling Qianyue drew himself in and resolutely swam inside.

After diving an unknown distance, Ling Qianyue felt an unprecedented pressure bearing down on him.

Two terrifying pressures of entirely different natures enveloped both body and mind, making it impossible for him to dive any farther.

"Zhanxing."

Damn!

Ling Qianyue sighed inwardly. Within the sight of his Illusion Breaking Eyes, two masses of light had already appeared in the far distance.

"If I'm not mistaken, those must be the lingering dragon souls of the two Ice and Fire Dragon Kings who perished here. Unfortunately, with my current strength, I can't take them away."

Ling Qianyue did not linger and swam straight upward.

"The dragon souls of these two Dragon Kings probably only acknowledge the Dragon God bloodline, the Golden and Silver Twin Dragons." Ling Qianyue shook his head. "I can only come back later. I wonder whether the residual power in the dragon souls of these two God Kings is still god-level."

"Splash—"

Ling Qianyue burst out of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Eye, sending water flying everywhere. He quickly put on his clothes and looked around.

"Where's my bargain-bin teacher?"

Ling Qianyue froze. His Illusion Breaking Eyes activated again, and he controlled the Shattered Star Sword, turning it into an anchor that drove firmly into the valley's hard stone wall, allowing him to pull himself upward.

After climbing to the mountaintop and returning to the spot where Dugu Bo had carried him down, he looked around with a trace of concern in his eyes.

At last, he spotted a figure standing in midair atop a mountain peak several hundred meters away.

Dugu Bo stood there, but his bearing was entirely different from before. His green hair had returned to grayish-black.

His withered body had become upright and powerful, while his aged face seemed to have turned back time, regaining vitality and vigor.

The jade-green poisonous mist that had once lingered around him had now transformed into strands of deep Earth Dragon Qi, circling his body like agile earth dragons swimming through the air.

Then he softly chanted:

"In youth, I knew the world's harsh strife, yet still let my soaring dreams sweep through the skies.

In middle age, bereft of kin, my hatred ran as deep as an abyss; Jade Phosphorous gnawed my bones, scorching my heart inch by inch.

By fortune, the golden gourd cleansed my old veins; poison spent, the elixir was born, and a new heaven shone.

Today, poison rises where layered clouds gather; the dragon's roar pierces the heavens' highest peak!

Hahaha!"

"Shattering the old shackles of the past, only today do I know who I truly am! Abyssal Poison Dragon Emperor!"

"Roar—"

Dugu Bo's aura suddenly began to soar. The Earth Dragon Qi around him seemed to answer his call, gathering into a towering dragon phantom that faintly emerged behind him.

The dragon's figure was enormous. Its serpentine body coiled like a mountain, covered entirely in dark green scales whose edges gleamed with a dark golden luster.

A pair of spiraling dragon horns grew from its head, while its pupils remained the vertical slits of a serpent.

Four dragon claws grew from its belly, each with three talons. A mist of intertwined dark gold and deep green spread around its body.

The mist possessed both the steady, heavy presence of an earth dragon and the cold, sinister trickery of the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor.

Dugu Bo leaped into the air and stood between the poison dragon's horns. The corners of his mouth lifted slightly as a voice transmission reached Ling Qianyue.

"Qianyao, my disciple, what do you think of your master's Abyssal Poison Dragon Emperor Martial Soul?"

Ling Qianyue's mouth twitched. "Impressive. Very impressive."

"Kehehe."

Dugu Bo gave an odd laugh and flew over. The enormous Abyssal Poison Dragon Emperor Martial Soul slowly dispersed behind him, turning into strands of Earth Dragon Qi that merged back into his body.

He patted Ling Qianyue on the shoulder, satisfaction shining in his eyes.

"Good kid. You actually managed to withstand that rotten spring water. Mm, not bad."

Dugu Bo pulled out a mirror from who knew where. Looking at his rejuvenated face, he nodded repeatedly. "This old man finally understands why that rotten chrysanthemum likes women's trinkets. Tsk, tsk."

He put away the mirror and looked at Ling Qianyue. "Qianyao, I truly never expected that such a simple fruit could directly remake my body and grant me new life.

Originally, I had only hoped to purge the toxins from my body. I never imagined this thing would directly evolve my Martial Soul. Not only was my poison cultivation unaffected, it even improved somewhat. My Soul Power has also risen by one level, reaching level 92.

Though both you and I have secrets we haven't told each other, and though I initially accepted you as a Registered Disciple only because I valued your outstanding talent and Martial Soul abilities, there is no doubt that you have shown my Dugu family great kindness.

No need to say anything else. From now on, on this Douluo Continent, this old man will protect you."

Ling Qianyue was moved. "Teacher, you give me too much credit. If I achieve anything in the future, I will certainly repay you."

Dugu Bo chuckled. "It's rare to see such a serious expression on you. Heh, let's make this clear first—if it's a certain-death situation, I won't be going. Come on. We'll sort out the things here, then help you obtain your third soul ring while we're at it.

Once we get it, we'll head straight back to Heaven Dou City. We can't delay for even a moment.

This old man can't wait to have Yan Yan consume this Earth Dragon Golden Gourd. I never expected the earth itself could provide energy to my Martial Soul. Immortal herb, immortal herb! Hahaha! My Yan Yan will gain many levels of Soul Power at once, and there won't even be any side effects.

Oh, right. The matter of Whale Rubber has caused quite a stir across the continent recently. You were the first to discover this thing's use. Do you have any in stock?"

Ling Qianyue directly handed him three pieces of high-quality thousand-year Whale Rubber and a quarter piece of ten-thousand-year Whale Rubber.