Journey to Thunderbolt Canyon

At that moment, Dugu Bo stood within Dugu Yan's Sand Domain, smiling brilliantly as he rubbed a small pinch of Flying Sand between his fingers.

"Yanyan's First Soul Skill is quite effective. The Flying Sand contains the stimulating effect of her previous First Soul Skill, Red Mist, but that stimulation has become weakening. Unfortunately, the weakening effect is halved—only ten percent of its original strength!"

"I wonder how Kid Ji will deal with it?"

After waiting for a while without Ji Wuming making a move, Dugu Yan finally lost her patience.

"Second Soul Skill, Ground Wave Mud Swamp."

The ground around them began to soften and roll in layers like waves, while a sheen of green water surfaced atop the swamp.

Yet her Second Soul Skill, which should have slowed Ji Wuming and poisoned him with Paralysis Poison, had no effect whatsoever. He ran across it as if walking on solid ground.

Dugu Yan stamped her foot in frustration. "Are you going to attack or not? All you know is how to run away."

However, the instant she finished speaking, Ji Wuming had already figured out both her First and Second Soul Skills. He immediately unleashed his First Soul Skill, Battle Spear Flood Dragon Transformation.

Wielding the Blood Thunder Battle Spear, he charged at Dugu Yan within the Sand Domain.

"Little brother, don't worry. This match will be over soon! If you get hurt, I'll personally apply medicine for you, and while I'm at it..."

Dugu Yan let her imagination run wild, then immediately mobilized her Soul Power and unleashed her First Soul Skill again. The Flying Sand became denser and even more ferocious.

"Pfft—"

The tiny grains of sand tore through Ji Wuming's clothes all over his body. When Dugu Yan realized she could not hear any movement, she jumped up excitedly, delighted by her impending victory.

Little did she know that in the very next moment, a chilling sensation descended upon her. The spear blade was pressed directly against her neck as Ji Wuming said calmly,

"You lost!"

"How is that possible? My Sand Poison actually doesn't work on you?"

As the Sand Domain dissipated, Dugu Yan turned to look at Ji Wuming behind her, her expression growing even more astonished.

"You cheated! You must have put on Protective Armor beforehand. My Sand Domain can slice through clothing, so why can't it hurt your exposed skin?"

"Grandfather, this isn't fair!"

Dugu Yan ran to Dugu Bo's side, tugged on his right hand, and protested indignantly.

Dugu Bo smiled at his granddaughter, who was acting spoiled beside him. "Yanyan, this boy didn't wear any defensive armor. You lost."

Still, Dugu Bo had become even more curious about Ji Wuming. From what he had observed, Ji Wuming had defeated Yanyan, who possessed two Soul Rings, without using a single Soul Ring skill. How had he done it?

"Kid, do you have a Second Martial Soul? Or perhaps a Soul Bone with a decent Soul Skill inside you?"

Ji Wuming immediately answered Dugu Bo's question.

"Senior, how could I possibly have a Second Martial Soul? Although my skin became somewhat paler during my Martial Soul Evolution, it has not become any less rough. This is the result of years of body tempering."

"Miss Dugu Yan's First and Second Soul Skills are both excellent, but what I cultivate is a basic Leg Technique. Combined with my unusually rough skin, a little Flying Sand and mud swamp cannot cause me any real harm."

"So that's how it is. I never expected you to practice other techniques in your spare time away from cultivating your Martial Soul. Not bad!"

Dugu Bo found the boy before him increasingly unfathomable. Not only did he possess an exceptionally detailed understanding of Martial Souls, he also had two other techniques comparable to Self-Created Soul Skills.

Was this what Sea God Island was capable of nurturing in a Soul Master?

"Little sister, now that your Martial Soul has evolved, it shouldn't be called the Jade Phosphorous Serpent anymore!"

Though Ji Wuming had won, Dugu Yan was quite displeased by his calling her little sister. He could clearly call her Yanyan, so why did he have to call her little sister?

Still, he had a point. Her current dragon-type Martial Soul ought to have a new name. After thinking for a moment, she smiled at Ji Wuming.

"Brother Ji, why don't you name it for me?"

Ji Wuming pondered for a moment. "Your Martial Soul shares the same lineage as Senior's. Then let's call it the Rock Domain Poison Dragon!"

"Alright, I like that name."

Dugu Bo watched the two children, who had already become fast friends, with his hands clasped behind his back. He asked happily,

"Yanyan, Kid Ji, both of you have reached the Soul Master bottleneck. Tell me what Soul Rings you need, and Grandfather will catch them for you."

Dugu Yan kept glancing at Ji Wuming and paid no attention at all to what her grandfather had said. It was not until Dugu Bo coughed angrily twice that she finally noticed him.

"For my Third Soul Ring, Grandfather can choose it for me!"

"What about you, Kid Ji?"

Ji Wuming looked at the curious Dugu Bo. Rather than giving him a precise answer, he gave him a general direction.

"Senior, can you take me to Thunderbolt Canyon? I want my Fourth Soul Ring to be a Thunder Attribute Soul Ring, though I haven't decided on the specific Soul Beast yet."

In truth, Ji Wuming had long since decided which Soul Beast he wanted for his Fourth Soul Ring—the Thunderous Hell Vine. Thunderbolt Canyon was filled with violent Lightning Force, making it the most suitable place for Thunder Attribute Soul Beasts to cultivate. There was surely some trace of a Thunderous Hell Vine there.

Moreover, Thunderbolt Canyon was one of the best places for him to temper his body. If he could absorb the Thunderous Hell Vine's Soul Ring, then with the Indestructible Vajra Body, he would be even more confident in Thunder Body Tempering.

However, he did not know whether the Thunderous Hell Vine was truly within Thunderbolt Canyon, nor whether its age would exceed his expectations. Thus, he did not tell Dugu Bo about this plan.

"Thunderbolt Canyon? That is indeed a good place!"

Dugu Bo knew Thunderbolt Canyon extremely well. It was shrouded in dark clouds year-round and filled with Thunderstorm Weather. Even the lakes within the canyon's forests were streaked with frenzied electric arcs.

It was an excellent habitat for Thunder Attribute Soul Beasts, and it was also very close to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. One could say that Thunderbolt Canyon was the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's hunting backyard.

"Grandfather, then let's hurry to Thunderbolt Canyon!"

"Alright. There are also some Sub-Dragon Species Soul Beasts in Thunderbolt Canyon. One of them should be suitable as your Third Soul Ring!"

Dugu Bo immediately led the two eastward. Along the way, he gave them a detailed introduction to the Soul Beasts found throughout Thunderbolt Canyon.

"Kid Ji, have you decided what Soul Beast you need?"

He wanted to see what kind of Thunder Attribute Soul Beast this boy would choose.

"Kid, Thunderbolt Canyon is different from other places. Only by deciding on a target early can we save time."

After traveling for a day and a night, the three arrived at a blue-black forest. As far as the eye could see, many trees bore signs of having been struck by lightning, and a strong scorched smell rushed toward them.

"Yanyan, Kid Ji, the thunderstorms here are extremely chaotic, and the Soul Beasts within are even more vicious! When searching for Soul Beasts here, stay close to me at all times."

"Alright!"

Dugu Yan vigilantly watched the changes in their surroundings, while Ji Wuming felt quite at ease, without the slightest sense of suppression or fear.

However, just as they entered the Thousand-Year Soul Beast region, a brown Flowing Rock Poison Python with three blue stripes along its back coiled atop a black dead tree, its snake eyes fixed tightly on the three people below.

"Crack—"

Three lightning spheres blasted toward them. Dugu Bo immediately unleashed his First Soul Skill, firing a black poison sphere toward them. The two energies collided and exploded, scattering several black poison feathers in every direction. Wherever they landed, flowers and grass withered while tree branches snapped.

The Flowing Rock Poison Python atop the tree sensed that the Soul Power fluctuations erupting from the green-clothed human before it exceeded its own. Just as it was about to flee—

"I am a Titled Douluo deliberately suppressing my Soul Power fluctuations. How could I let you escape?!"

"Medusa's Gaze!"

A jade-green beam shot from Dugu Bo's eyes, completely petrifying the fleeing Flowing Rock Poison Python.

"This 1,200-year-old Flowing Rock Poison Python is quite decent. If we truly cannot find a Soul Beast with Sub-Dragon Bloodline, you can absorb this Soul Beast's Soul Ring instead."

As the petrification skill of the 70,000-year Medusa, Queen of Snakes Head Soul Bone, its petrification could last as long as six hours. If he did not release the skill during that time, this Thousand-Year Soul Beast would surely die after six hours.

That should be enough time for them to choose a more suitable Soul Beast.