Golden Dragon and Silver Dragon

Xuan Hao retracted the phantom of the Golden Dragon behind him. The brilliant golden light dissipated, and the suffocating pressure vanished along with it.

He scratched his head, accepting Hu Liena's incoherent evaluation without complaint; after all, in this world, being called a "freak" was sometimes an affirmation of one's strength.

He turned to look at Bibi Dong and asked curiously, "Sister, you said earlier that it couldn't manifest directly in humans, so does that mean it can happen indirectly?"

"Correct." Bibi Dong nodded slightly and explained patiently, "The bloodlines of overly powerful ancient soul beasts cannot be directly inherited by humans, but their branched bloodlines can."

"For example, the Dark Gold Bear, which possesses a thin bloodline of the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear, or various sub-dragon species that possess a trace of a true dragon's bloodline."

"If a soul master with these martial souls is gifted, capable of absorbing high-quality soul rings that are highly compatible with their own martial soul, and cultivates to a sufficiently high realm—"

"Usually after reaching the seventieth level Soul Saint realm and activating their Martial Soul True Body—the martial soul has a chance to undergo bloodline atavism, evolving toward the powerful creature at its source."

"By that time, the soul master's body, having been baptized by seventieth-level soul power and strengthened by seven soul rings, is strong enough to naturally withstand the power of the evolved martial soul."

Speaking of this, Bibi Dong walked straight up to Xuan Hao.

"Since it is confirmed that your martial soul is the Golden Dragon, then next, I need to test your current physical limits to determine the age of your first soul ring."

Bibi Dong raised her hand, a soft radiance of soul power glowing in her palm. "A Titled Douluo can simulate the energy impact of a soul ring on your body through the projection of soul power and spiritual power. This process will be extremely painful, perhaps even more uncomfortable than absorbing a real soul ring, because I will continuously increase the pressure until you reach your limit. Try to endure it."

Xuan Hao took a deep breath and stood straight. "Bring it on."

"Good." Bibi Dong did not stand on ceremony. She was also filled with curiosity about this body capable of bearing the Golden Dragon martial soul.

As her palm moved slightly, a massive yet precisely controlled surge of soul power instantly poured into Xuan Hao's body, accompanied by a powerful spiritual pressure simulating the lingering resentment of a dead soul beast.

"Ugh!"

Xuan Hao let out a muffled groan, his face instantly turning deathly pale as the veins on his forehead bulged.

One hundred years... two hundred years... four hundred years...

The surprise in Bibi Dong's eyes grew deeper. Four hundred years was already the theoretical limit for a normal soul master's first soul ring, yet other than his pale complexion, the boy's body hadn't trembled in the slightest.

Five hundred years... six hundred years... eight hundred years...

Hu Liena watched from the side, her heart racing. She clearly remembered that when she tested her own first soul ring limit, she felt as if her body were splitting apart by the time she reached four hundred and thirty years.

Nine hundred years... nine hundred and fifty years... nine hundred and ninety-nine years!

When the pressure reached that critical point, Xuan Hao finally couldn't help but sway, a trace of blood spilling from the corner of his mouth. However, it was as if something within him had been activated; a faint Dragon Roar echoed, and he forcibly withstood the pressure.

"That's enough."

Bibi Dong instantly withdrew her soul power. Looking at Xuan Hao, who was gasping for air, her expression was as if she had seen a ghost.

"Anything under a thousand years, you'll be fine."

"What?!" Hu Liena exclaimed, her voice cracking. "Under a thousand years? Doesn't that mean nine hundred and ninety-nine years? Teacher, you aren't joking, are you? My second spirit ring's limit was only eight hundred years!"

Bibi Dong ignored her disciple's wails, her gaze burning as she looked at Xuan Hao.

Xuan Hao wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. Although he felt as if every bone in his body was about to fall apart, he still felt a small sense of pride upon hearing this result.

However, he quickly thought of something and asked tentatively, "Then... what about a thousand-year spirit ring?"

"Since nine hundred and ninety-nine years is fine, a thousand years is only one year more, right? It should be about the same, shouldn't it?"

"No." Bibi Dong's expression turned serious in an instant, and she sternly cut off his train of thought. "A century and a millennium, though only a year apart, represent a qualitative leap."

"When a spirit beast's cultivation breaks through the thousand-year mark, its soul power undergoes a transformation. The energy impact contained within the spirit ring increases geometrically. Your body might barely be able to withstand the energy, but your Spiritual Power would absolutely not be able to hold up against the soul impact of a thousand-year spirit beast."

"There is no retreating once you begin absorbing a spirit ring. Once you start, if it is too full, it will overflow, and if it overflows, you will surely die! Do not gamble your life on that illusory, insignificant year."

Scolded by Bibi Dong, Xuan Hao immediately quieted down.

"Understood. You are right to lecture me, Sister."

After the turmoil of the test, the three continued on their way.

However, luck is sometimes a truly metaphysical thing.

Although they had Bibi Dong, a top-tier radar, they spent the entire afternoon encountering spirit beasts that were either too low in age or completely mismatched in type.

They were either century-old plant-type spirit beasts or some strange, bizarre insects.

By the time night fell and the forest turned pitch black, they still had nothing to show for their efforts.

Bibi Dong was in no rush; she led the two to a sheltered highland.

"Nana, go set up the tent."

After instructing Hu Liena, Bibi Dong turned to look at Xuan Hao. "Come with me."

Xuan Hao's heart skipped a beat.

In the middle of the night, a man and a woman alone... pfft, an orphan and a widow... that wasn't right either.

In any case, the atmosphere of this private conversation made him instinctively feel a trace of unease.

But he still followed her obediently.

The two walked to the base of a massive ancient tree. By the faint moonlight, Bibi Dong turned around, her gaze like a torch as she stared at Xuan Hao.

"The Golden Dragon is a Soul Beast of pure power, possessing the most extreme physical destructive force. It could even be said that it is the bane of all those flashy, elemental tricks."

"However, when I was testing your physical limits during the day, I sensed another fluctuation within your body besides that overbearing power."

Xuan Hao's heart skipped a beat.

"Furthermore..." Bibi Dong reached out, her fingertips wreathed in a faint glimmer of light. "After entering the Star Dou Great Forest, the elemental energy here is far richer than in the outside world. My Spiritual Power senses that the surrounding wind, fire, water, earth... all the elements are faintly gravitating toward you, showing a sense of... affinity."

"A pure power Martial Soul cannot possibly attract elements; it would even repel them."

Bibi Dong stepped forward and leaned down, her pale purple eyes staring straight into Xuan Hao's flustered gaze.

"So, little one, you've been hiding your true strength."

"You must have another Martial Soul."

Although it was phrased as a question, her tone was that of a certain statement.

Xuan Hao retreated half a step in embarrassment, his back pressing against a tree trunk.

He knew that in front of the meticulous observation of a Titled Douluo, especially one like Bibi Dong who was herself an expert with Twin Martial Souls, it was nearly impossible to keep hiding forever.

Moreover, since he was already on the pirate ship... ah, no, since he had already accepted Bibi Dong's help, continuing to hide and hold back would only seem insincere and easily invite suspicion.

"Alright, Big Sister is truly impressive; nothing can be hidden from you."

Xuan Hao sighed and, as if resigning himself to his fate, extended his left hand.

"Roar—"

This time, the Dragon Roar was different from the low, majestic one before; it was clearer and more high-pitched, as if it had descended from the nine heavens.

The elements in the surrounding space instantly grew restless, and colorful specks of light gathered frantically.

Above the palm of Xuan Hao's left hand, a miniature dragon with a body of pure silver and extremely graceful lines slowly emerged.

Its scales possessed a strange, semi-translucent texture, as if condensed from the crystals of countless elements. With every breath, it inhaled and exhaled the elemental energy of heaven and earth.

The Lord of Elements—Silver Dragon!

Bibi Dong was completely stunned.

She looked at the silver dragon radiating a dreamlike luster, then recalled the peerlessly overbearing Golden Dragon from earlier that day. At this moment, the ancient knowledge regarding Soul Beasts in her mind seemed to suffer a violent shock.

"Silver Dragon..."

Bibi Dong murmured to herself, her eyes filled with disbelief. "In the theoretical consensus of the Spirit Master World, all dragon-type Soul Beasts that control elements can be traced back to the Silver Dragon lineage. But the true Silver Dragon, like the Golden Dragon, is a primordial creature that exists only in myths and legends."

"The Golden Dragon controls extreme power and destruction, while the Silver Dragon controls extreme elements and creation."

"These two diametrically opposed, and one might even say mutually exclusive, powers..."

"Actually... appeared on the same person?"