Obtaining the Fifth Soul Ring

"This..."

The ministers below looked at one another. Qian Renxue's expression suddenly turned cold and terrifying as she stared at Jiang Mian, speechless for a long while.

If Jiang Mian controlled all the armies under heaven, then she, the Emperor of Heaven Dou, would be nothing more than a figurehead, without even the right to speak.

Throughout history, had there been few cases of holding the emperor hostage to command the feudal lords?

"Your Majesty need not worry too much," Scarlet King said. "Jiang Mian's unwavering loyalty to Your Majesty is plain for all to see. If Your Majesty is unwilling to grant even such a small request, would that not chill the hearts of everyone under heaven?"

Bear Lord chimed in, "Exactly. Your Majesty must not chill the hearts of everyone under heaven!"

This was forcing the palace!

Qian Renxue gripped the dragon throne, fury blazing in her heart, yet she did not dare show it. With Bear Lord and Scarlet King acting as Jiang Mian's bodyguards, even she did not dare act too presumptuously.

"Fine." Qian Renxue gritted her teeth and slowly rose to her feet. Her tall, graceful figure seemed to rule over the world. "I grant you command over all the armies under heaven."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Jiang Mian abruptly stood, perfectly embodying the air of a powerful court minister.

What was so fun about being emperor? Being the powerful minister who could control the emperor was far more interesting.

"This minister shall take his leave." Looking at Qian Renxue's ashen face, Jiang Mian could not help laughing wildly inside. He suppressed the curl of his lips and departed leisurely with Bear Lord and Scarlet King.

"His heart deserves condemnation!" Qian Renxue turned away and bit her lip hard. She did not dare let the ministers see her like this. She had endured hardship as an undercover agent for more than ten years, only to make a wedding dress for someone else. Who could possibly accept that willingly?

"Your Majesty, shall I kill him?" Snake Spear Douluo suddenly asked.

Qian Renxue looked at him, her gaze seemingly saying: You want to kill Jiang Mian? How much did you drink to get this drunk?

"Interesting." Jiang Mian hummed a tune as he followed Bear Lord and Scarlet King out of the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace. A black-and-white eagle falcon swooped down and landed steadily before him.

"A Night Roaming Falcon Nana tamed?" Jiang Mian raised his arm, letting the Night Roaming Falcon perch on it, then expertly removed the note tied to its leg.

This Night Roaming Falcon was kept in a Soul Tool by Hu Liena year-round, specifically for delivering urgent intelligence. It could travel ten thousand li by day and eight thousand li by night, making it exceptionally fast.

"Jiang Mian, Chrysanthemum Ghost Douluo has left with the Spirit Hall Soul Masters under orders. My brother has broken through Rank 50. Please hurry to Divine Eagle Canyon and help him obtain his fifth soul ring."

"That kid Xie Yue broke through Rank 50?" Bear Lord looked at the note with a gratified expression. "Worthy of being my disciple. Truly gratifying."

"That brat Yan!" Scarlet King's face darkened. His fists clenched with cracking sounds as he wished he could punch Yan to death.

"In that case, let's set out and help Yan obtain his fifth soul ring." Jiang Mian patted Bear Lord on the shoulder and laughed. "As his master, shouldn't you show a little something?"

"Are you asking me to capture a hundred-thousand-year soul beast and have it sacrifice itself to Xie Yue?" Bear Lord stroked his chin teasingly.

"That would work too." Jiang Mian smiled faintly.

Some rejoiced while others grieved. Scarlet King followed behind the two, so angry he could barely contain himself. How had he been blind enough to accept Yan as his disciple? What regret!

"Look at Scarlet King's face. He looks like he ate shit. Hahahaha." Bear Lord leaned close to Jiang Mian's ear and laughed at Scarlet King without restraint.

"Shh." Jiang Mian gave Bear Lord a look, signaling him to say less. If Scarlet King truly lost his temper and the two started fighting here, would they not smash the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace to pieces?

Divine Eagle Canyon was located on the border between Spirit Hall and the Heaven Dou Empire. Many low-level Soul Masters who did not dare enter the Star Dou Great Forest to obtain soul rings usually chose this place instead.

Though the soul beasts here were not particularly high-level, their numbers were no less than those in Sunset Forest. Furthermore, several powerful soul beasts guarded the deepest part of the canyon.

Bear Lord carried Jiang Mian on his back while Scarlet King followed behind the Night Roaming Falcon. With their terrifying strength, they were no slower than even the speed-specialized Night Roaming Falcon.

In less than half a quarter hour, they caught up to Xie Yue's group.

"Sister Nana, Zhuqing." Jiang Mian descended from the sky and landed directly atop the carriage. Hanging upside down, he poked his head through the carriage window. "Hello."

"Your entrance is quite unique." Hu Liena handed him a piece of fruit, thoughtfully bringing it to Jiang Mian's lips.

Jiang Mian did not refuse. He opened his mouth and caught the fruit, then leaned forward and fed it directly into Hu Liena's mouth.

"Ah." Hu Liena's cheeks instantly flushed crimson. She shyly covered her mouth, her body unconsciously pressing closer to Zhu Zhuqing.

"Jiang Mian..." Looking at Jiang Mian's handsome face, as though it had been exquisitely sculpted by the heavens, Hu Liena's heart began to race.

"Jiang Mian, how did it go?" Zhu Zhuqing smiled with her eyes as she supported the lovestruck Hu Liena. "Has the situation in the Heaven Dou Empire stabilized?"

"Don't worry." Jiang Mian jumped into the carriage and smiled. "The overall situation has been settled. Those troublemakers cannot stir up much of a storm."

After all, strength reigned supreme in this world. Qian Renxue had two Titled Douluo by her side, while behind her stood Qian Daoliu of the Elder Hall as her trump card. Presumably, no one would be foolish enough to seek death.

Other than those pedantic scholars who wanted to leave their names in history.

"Disciple, you've truly done your master proud." Bear Lord appeared beside Xie Yue, rubbing his head as he laughed heartily. "Not bad, not bad."

"Master." Xie Yue smiled sincerely. "It was Master who taught me well."

"You did well yourself." Bear Lord shook his head, then suddenly said seriously, "No need to flatter your master."

"I sincerely thank Master for your teachings. I'm not flattering you." Xie Yue smiled.

"Then I won't waste words." Bear Lord looked at Xie Yue approvingly, his eyes filled with boundless affection. "Keep it up. Strive to reach that height as soon as possible."

"I definitely will." Xie Yue nodded firmly.

Yan, on the other hand, received no such treatment. He followed behind Xie Yue, driving a carriage alone. Scarlet King sat quietly beside him without saying a word.

Yan swallowed, his heart practically rising into his throat. His legs trembled uncontrollably, and his back was already soaked through with sweat.

Bear Lord glanced at Scarlet King's dark expression behind them and felt indescribably pleased. He smiled and said, "You did well. I should reward you with something."

"Then I won't stand on ceremony with Master." Xie Yue's eyes lit up. He knew Bear Lord's identity. With strength like Bear Lord's, how could his reward possibly be ordinary?

"You can try absorbing this Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear torso bone." Bear Lord took out a torso bone radiating dazzling light from his personal storage space. "It was left behind when a hundred-thousand-year Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear failed its tribulation long ago. I kept it as a memento, but now I'll give it to you."

Xie Yue was so shocked that he stood straight up from the carriage. His lips trembled, his eyes widened enormously, and he exclaimed, "A hundred-thousand-year soul bone!"

The corners of Jiang Mian's lips rose slightly. Bear Lord had intended to give him this torso bone back then, but Jiang Mian had not thought much of it.

All his soul rings were of ferocious beast grade. Absorbing soul bones with lower cultivation would instead drag down his cultivation attributes.

"Thank you, Master." Xie Yue dropped to his knees before Bear Lord and kowtowed heavily. Bear Lord calmly accepted three kowtows before helping him up. "But let me warn you in advance. A wisp of my old companion's remnant soul is attached to this soul bone. If you displease it, your life may be in danger. Have you thought it through?"

"If one does not enter the tiger's den, how can one catch tiger cubs?" Xie Yue's gaze was exceptionally firm. "This disciple is unwilling to fall behind others. Since it can increase my strength, what does this little risk matter?"

"You've got spirit. Then begin absorbing it. I'll guard you." Bear Lord said calmly, "Don't worry. I won't let you die."

"Thank you, Master." Xie Yue clasped his fists in salute, then immediately sat cross-legged and began absorbing the priceless torso bone.

This hundred-thousand-year Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear torso bone was truly priceless beyond measure. A hundred-thousand-year Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear was several times stronger than an ordinary hundred-thousand-year soul beast and could not be matched without a powerful Titled Douluo.

Moreover, even killing a hundred-thousand-year Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear did not guarantee a soul bone would drop, let alone a torso bone, whose rarity was second only to a skull bone!

A torso bone enhanced the entire body. Not only did it make a Soul Master's physique stronger, it could also push back the limit on the age of soul rings they could absorb.

After Xie Yue absorbed this hundred-thousand-year torso bone, his fifth soul ring could at minimum be a thirty-thousand-year soul ring.

One had to know that even a Soul Saint might not successfully absorb a thirty-thousand-year soul beast's soul ring!

Zhu Zhuqing watched, happy for him but also somewhat envious. She had lived in the Star Dou Great Forest for so many years, yet Di Tian had never given her a single soul bone. Perhaps she had always been an outsider.

Hu Liena was naturally sincerely happy for her brother. Even Spirit Hall did not possess such a hundred-thousand-year soul bone. With her brother obtaining such an opportunity, how could she not be delighted?

Jiang Mian carefully noticed Zhu Zhuqing's state. He suddenly wrapped an arm around her and said calmly, "Zhuqing, I think you understand."

"Of course I understand." Zhu Zhuqing pursed her lips and said, "What is mine will always be mine. What does not belong to me cannot be held onto no matter how tightly I grasp it."

"Mm." Jiang Mian affectionately stroked Zhu Zhuqing. He suddenly felt a little guilty. Back then, Di Tian had offered Jiang Mian a whole set of high-grade soul bones, but Jiang Mian had refused. Thinking about it now, if he had accepted then, Zhuqing might have benefited from his favor and received one or two soul bones herself.

"Zhuqing, I won't let you suffer." Jiang Mian's tone was low but firm. "What they have, you will eventually have as well."

"I don't want it." Zhu Zhuqing shook her head and answered stubbornly, "I will rely only on my own efforts. If I can only obtain such things through someone else's charity, then I would rather not accept such handouts."

Jiang Mian looked into Zhu Zhuqing's clear, spirited eyes and fell silent. He respected her choice.

"Ah!"

Xie Yue suddenly let out a heart-wrenching scream. Jiang Mian frowned slightly and looked at Bear Lord. "What's happening?"

"Normal." Bear Lord said calmly. "My old companion has begun testing him."

"Xie Yue is your direct disciple." Jiang Mian sighed.

"I believe in him." Bear Lord appeared completely confident. "My disciple will not be stopped by this obstacle. If he wishes to reach that level, this little difficulty is nothing."

Xie Yue let out another agonized scream. Every pore on his body opened as bloody sweat continuously flowed out.

The torso bone slowly adhered to Xie Yue's body and was nearly about to fuse successfully.

"Brother." Although Hu Liena worried about Xie Yue, she did not rashly disturb his absorption of the soul bone.

Zhu Zhuqing and Jiang Mian watched without blinking. If Xie Yue truly faced danger, Jiang Mian would drag him out even at the cost of backlash. He had Jade Swan Bi Ji's healing technique; at worst, he could save him afterward.

A red beam shot into the sky as Xie Yue's chest began radiating brilliant light. Bear Lord slapped his thigh and said, "Worthy of being my disciple."

"It worked." Jiang Mian smiled. "Xie Yue really withstood the impact of a hundred-thousand-year soul beast's remnant soul."

"After all, it's my old companion. It gave me some face." Bear Lord laughed. "It sensed that my aura was here, so it was not in a position to make things difficult for Xie Yue."

"This power." Red light glowed from Xie Yue's eyes as he looked at his hands. Vast Soul Power continuously coursed through his body.

"The soul skill granted by the torso bone should be the Dark Gold Dreadclaw of our Dreadclaw Bear lineage." Bear Lord said, "Though its damage is not as powerful as my Sky Rend Claw, it is still a top-tier killing skill."

This was also why Jiang Mian had been unwilling to absorb soul bones. He possessed all the soul skills of soul beasts, so he had no need for soul bone skills at all.

"I feel that my Soul Power has risen another two ranks." Xie Yue gently exhaled, and ripples of Soul Power instantly spread around him. "This feeling is truly wonderful."

"You're already Rank 52?" Jiang Mian glanced at him slightly, a sense of crisis rising in his heart. It seemed he needed to train properly after returning. If he kept idling through life, Xie Yue would surpass him.

"Master, look, other masters are giving out hundred-thousand-year soul bones. How about rewarding me with something too?" Yan scratched his head and looked at Scarlet King somewhat sheepishly.

"Fine." Scarlet King nodded expressionlessly.

"Master, you're really giving me something?" Yan suddenly became excited. Waving his arms, he laughed loudly. "Thank you for your generous favor, Master. This disciple will certainly not disappoint you."

"Come, get closer." Scarlet King clenched his fist and held it before Yan. "The reward you want is right here."

"Master, don't joke..."

Before Yan could finish, Scarlet King threw a devastating uppercut. Yan flew into the air with a puff, landing squarely atop the carriage.

"You have neither diligence nor talent superior to others, yet you still want a reward?" Scarlet King roared. "When you surpass Xie Yue even once, I'll dig a bone out of my own body and give it to you. How about that?"

"Why do I feel like Scarlet King's Dao heart is about to collapse?" Jiang Mian laughed without the slightest sympathy. "Xie Yue, you're working too hard. How is Yan supposed to catch up to you?"

"He cannot compare to Xie Yue." Zhu Zhuqing spoke up fairly. "Everyone has seen Xie Yue's efforts. Yan's talent is about the same as Xie Yue's, but when it comes to hard work, he falls far behind."

"Heaven moves with vigor; a noble person must strive unceasingly." Jiang Mian sighed. "Xie Yue, you've truly made me feel a strong sense of crisis as well."

"You flatter me." Xie Yue smiled faintly and pointed toward the canyon ahead, where steep cliffs resembled an eagle striking the heavens. "That is Divine Eagle Canyon ahead. We've arrived."

Just as Jiang Mian looked toward Divine Eagle Canyon, a rough and ill-timed voice sounded from beside them. "This tree was planted by me, this road was opened by me..."