Tribulation Blood Eagle

"What? A Second Thousand-Year Ring? You're being far too reckless. Do you know the fundamental difference between a Hundred-Year Soul Ring and a Thousand-Year Soul Ring?"

Although Dean Shui had long anticipated that Ji Wuming would request a Second Thousand-Year Ring, he was still somewhat surprised when Ji Wuming stated the exact age.

In the history of Soul Masters on the continent, no one had ever hunted a Thousand-Year Soul Beast for their Second Soul Ring.

"I know. A Thousand-Year Soul Ring is a qualitative leap. The energy contained within it far surpasses that of a Hundred-Year Soul Ring. All these years, I've eaten Soul Beast meat and undergone Water Pressure Body Forging to better withstand the immense energy brought by a Thousand-Year Soul Ring."

Ji Wuming did not mention Whale Rubber's specific effects. His gaze became exceptionally resolute as he continued,

"Dean, I believe in my physique theory. Only by breaking through the limits of what my body can endure can a Soul Master with innate level-three Soul Power like me become the strongest in the world in the future."

Dean Shui looked at the deeply determined Ji Wuming before him and said, "All right. What type of Soul Beast do you want?"

"A Tribulation Fierce Eagle. It would be fine even if it were one or two hundred years younger."

Dean Shui silently nodded. Ji Wuming had indeed made an excellent choice of Soul Beast, but he still said with some concern,

"A Tribulation Fierce Eagle would suit you well, but isn't the age you chose a little too high?"

Even judging by the physique theory proposed by this outstanding student, Ji Wuming, the age was still somewhat high—nearly twice that of an ordinary Soul Master's Second Soul Ring.

"Rest assured, Dean. A 1,600-year Soul Ring is within the range of my calculations. There won't be much of a problem."

"That's good. However, Tribulation Fierce Eagles generally only appear in areas where thunderstorms occur. If we go to sea regions with Thunderstorm Weather year-round, there are countless Ten Thousand Year Soul Beasts within them. That would be no different from seeking our own deaths. We can only try our luck in some other sea regions. If Thunderstorm Weather appears, we might encounter a few."

Dean Shui wore a faintly troubled expression. Ji Wuming also knew the difficulty was considerable. Now that he had to find a flying Thunder Attribute Soul Ring, the odds of encountering one would inevitably be much lower.

"Dean, it's fine. I can wait."

"Good. Then let's leave now."

After Dean Shui handed some of the academy's work over to Director Lu and several other teachers, he took Ji Wuming out to sea in search of suitable thunderstorm weather.

After nearly a month of searching and waiting, the two successfully encountered Thunderstorm Weather at the boundary between the shallow sea and the deep sea. The fishing vessel did not dare enter the thunderstorm zone and could only leave them there.

"I hope this medium-scale Thunderstorm Weather can draw some Tribulation Fierce Eagles here!"

Dean Shui activated his Third Soul Skill and carried Ji Wuming through the air. As they ventured deeper toward the center of the storm, more and more scorched fish corpses floated across the sea's surface. From time to time, Tribulation Fierce Eagle corpses also fell from above.

"Aren't Tribulation Fierce Eagles group-type Soul Beasts? How did so many die at once? Could the thunderstorm be too powerful?"

Not long after Dean Shui spoke, thunder boomed within the storm clouds several thousand meters overhead. An eagle wrapped in purple lightning arcs, with scarlet eyes, appeared at the center of the thunderstorm. Dean Shui was immediately delighted.

"That Tribulation Fierce Eagle is surrounded by purple lightning. It looks like it has reached the Thousand-Year Soul Beast level."

The age of a Tribulation Fierce Eagle's Soul Ring was easy to distinguish. Yellow lightning arcs represented a hundred years, while purple lightning arcs represented a thousand years, and so on. Its size represented its exact age, growing one meter every two hundred years. Upon reaching the Thousand-Year Soul Beast stage, its body would shrink to five meters, and a plume feather would grow from its head.

As for Ten Thousand Year Tribulation Fierce Eagles, they would be devoured by the Lightning Force contained in their bodies and reduced to ashes. Thus, Ten Thousand Year Tribulation Fierce Eagles had rarely appeared across the entire continent.

At that moment, the Tribulation Fierce Eagle in the sky detected the aura of the two humans. With a cry that pierced the heavens, it swooped down, preparing to kill Ji Wuming and Dean Shui.

As the Tribulation Fierce Eagle drew closer, its full form finally came into view. Dean Shui's expression tightened, his face becoming especially grave.

"No. This isn't a Tribulation Fierce Eagle, but a Tribulation Blood Eagle. It killed all the Tribulation Fierce Eagles. It is already over eight meters long, around 1,600 to 1,700 years old. Its age is too high. We should find another one."

"A Tribulation Blood Eagle!"

Ji Wuming was overjoyed. Tribulation Blood Eagles were violent and bloodthirsty by nature. Only one Tribulation Blood Eagle could exist within a single thunderstorm, which explained the many fish and Tribulation Fierce Eagle corpses floating on the water.

Moreover, its killing attribute had allowed it to break through the limitations of the Tribulation Fierce Eagle. If it became a Ten Thousand Year Soul Beast, its bloodthirst would be no less than that of an Evil Spirit Orca pack.

"Dean Shui, there's no better choice. I'll choose it."

"What? This—"

Before Dean Shui could continue questioning him, a piercing eagle cry made them even more vigilant. Countless plume feathers crackling with purple lightning arcs shot toward them.

"Second Soul Skill, Feather of Ice!"

Countless crystalline feathers shot from Dean Shui's back, flying straight toward the diving Tribulation Blood Eagle.

The Tribulation Blood Eagle spread its wings, and the purple lightning arcs around its body became even more violent. Countless eagle feathers shot explosively toward the crystalline feathers. The two kinds of feathers collided, creating tremendous power.

Rather than fleeing, the Tribulation Blood Eagle became even more excited. It swiftly slowed its dive, gathering purple currents around its beak.

"First Soul Skill, Ice Seal!"

Dean Shui, who had already flown high into the sky, rapidly unleashed his First Soul Skill. Just before the Tribulation Blood Eagle could charge up and release its strongest skill, he sealed it in ice, causing it to fall from the sky.

But as the most overbearing of Thunder Attribute Soul Beasts, how could it be restrained by a mere control-type Soul Skill? The purple glow within the ice grew increasingly intense, weakening the effect of Ice Seal as the ice cracked faster and faster.

"Fifth Soul Skill, Ice Cone Burst!"

A black Soul Ring beneath Dean Shui's feet rose rapidly. To avoid killing the Tribulation Blood Eagle, the shattered ice quickly condensed into one tiny, sharp Ice Cone after another.

The instant the Tribulation Blood Eagle completely broke free of Ice Seal, hundreds of Ice Cones shot directly toward it.

Boom—

A furious bolt of purple lightning struck the incoming Ice Cones, followed by a second and third bolt of purple lightning.

But how could a skill released by a mere Thousand-Year Soul Beast withstand the power of a Ten Thousand Year Soul Skill? After the first Ice Cone broke through the purple lightning and pierced the Tribulation Blood Eagle's body,

it let out a miserable cry, and the effect of its Soul Skill gradually weakened.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—

As more and more Ice Cones pierced the Tribulation Blood Eagle's body, Dean Shui revealed a satisfied smile.

"Burst!"

The Ice Cones within the Blood Eagle's body exploded at his command. Countless fragments of ice scattered violently through its body, staining everything with blood.

Bang—

Severely wounded, the Tribulation Blood Eagle fell toward the sea below. Dean Shui hurriedly reminded him,

"Xiao Ji, this is a good opportunity. Finish it quickly."

Ji Wuming did not hesitate in the slightest. He immediately unleashed his First Soul Skill, seizing the moment as the Tribulation Blood Eagle fell. He threw the Blood Spear, which pierced straight through its head and penetrated its entire body. The Tribulation Blood Eagle died completely.