Golden Crocodile Gives a Bone

Arriving in the rear courtyard, Golden Crocodile led Jin Yan to the artificial mountain at its center, where water trickled down its rocky surface.

Golden Crocodile felt around beside the artificial mountain for a moment, then pressed hard on a crack between the stones.

With a series of mechanical clicks, the artificial mountain before Jin Yan rumbled apart, revealing a pitch-black entrance beneath it. Water flowed through the cracks in the mountain, yet a hazy golden barrier kept it from entering the opening.

"Let's go," Golden Crocodile said, taking the lead.

After the two entered the passage, the artificial mountain automatically closed again, leaving no trace visible from the outside.

The passage did not descend very far and consisted of flights of stone steps.

After walking for roughly two minutes, the space before Jin Yan suddenly opened up. It was much larger, and the Soul Guidance Lamps overhead emitted a gentle glow.

This was a space of roughly thirty cubic meters. The surrounding stone walls were made of sturdy granite blocks, each carved with recessed compartments holding objects of varying sizes.

There were weapons that radiated Soul Power fluctuations, costly crystals dropped by precious soul beasts, and rare medicinal herbs. Jin Yan even spotted two Soul Bones among them, both seemingly of ten-thousand-year quality.

In every corner of the stone chamber, numerous chests made of different materials were piled together. Some stood half-open, revealing precious calligraphy and paintings rarely seen outside, yet here they had simply been casually stacked in the corners.

Golden Crocodile felt around on one wall for a while before pressing a crack in it.

"Buzz, buzz."

With the sound, a metal box dropped from above the wall directly into Golden Crocodile's hand.

He handed the box to Jin Yan and said, "This is the gift I'm giving you. Open it and take a look."

Seeing Golden Crocodile's mysterious expression, Jin Yan knew that whatever was inside would not be ordinary. He guessed it might be a Soul Bone.

For his grandfather to cherish it so much, it had to be a Soul Bone at least fifty thousand years old!

The instant he opened the metal box, a vast surge of Soul Power burst forth from within. For a moment, the entire underground space seemed to freeze.

Inside the box lay a shrunken yet complete right arm bone. Its entire body was golden, and when Jin Yan focused on it, he seemed to see a savage, ferocious Golden Crocodile crouched upon the Soul Bone, roaring at the heavens.

Feeling its overwhelming Soul Power fluctuations and seeing how complete the bone was, Jin Yan seemed to realize something. He stared at Golden Crocodile Douluo in disbelief and asked, "Grandfather, could this be the Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone from the soul beast you killed when you broke through to Title Douluo?"

Golden Crocodile Douluo smiled without speaking. Everything was understood without words—this Soul Bone truly was a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone.

"Grandfather, such a precious Soul Bone... why didn't you keep it for yourself?"

A regretful look appeared on Golden Crocodile's face. "It's a right arm Soul Bone. I had already absorbed a right arm Soul Bone back then, so this one was left unused. I originally intended to pass it down to your father, but then that happened..."

At that, he sighed.

"Alas."

"Haven't you always wanted to absorb a thousand-year first ring? In that case, absorb this Soul Bone. It will give you another layer of protection."

Jin Yan took a deep breath, his gaze turning resolute. "Grandfather, rest assured. I will make the Clear Sky Sect and Tang Hao repay my parents' deaths a hundredfold!!"

"There's a quiet room over there. I used it when I broke through to Title Douluo. You can absorb the Soul Bone there. Absorbing two Soul Bones in a single day—you brat really are lucky."

By the end, Golden Crocodile could not help but laugh.

Hearing that, Jin Yan went to the adjacent quiet room, placed the Soul Bone against his right arm, and began absorbing it as he had done that morning.

With his physique remolded by a God King-level torso Soul Bone, he did not need to worry about his body being unable to bear absorbing two Soul Bones in one day.

Outside the quiet room, Golden Crocodile sensed the dense Soul Power fluctuations emanating from within and smiled silently. Even the wrinkles on his face seemed to smooth out.

Jin Yan was his only grandson left. Naturally, there was a reason he had so readily agreed to let Jin Yan absorb a thousand-year first ring.

In truth, after Jin Yan proposed that the age limit for absorbing soul rings had a substantial connection to one's physical constitution, Golden Crocodile had arranged for several soul masters who had eaten Whale Rubber and possessed powerful physiques to attempt absorbing soul rings beyond their limits.

After the Grand Pontiff personally observed them, he found that Jin Yan's theory was indeed correct.

Moreover, the theory had successful examples!

Star Dou Great Forest, core region.

Within the dark primeval forest, a cluster of flames abruptly flared to life, and the smell of blood spread through the surroundings!

Under normal circumstances, such a pungent bloody scent would have already drawn countless predators. Yet now, the area was unnaturally quiet.

Because a brutal battle had just taken place here.

Beside the campfire, Qian Renxue sat cross-legged on the ground. She wore a lavish golden outfit that accentuated her striking features and curvaceous figure, while five soul rings—yellow, yellow, purple, black, black—pulsed around her in sequence.

Beside Qian Renxue lay the corpse of a dragon-shaped creature covered in sharp keratin as keen as enormous swords.

"Do you think the Young Mistress can absorb this forty-thousand-year Sawtooth Stegosaurus as her fifth soul ring?"

Not far away, Snake Lance Douluo, who was keeping watch, asked Pufferfish.

"The Grand Pontiff personally examined the Young Mistress's physique, and the soul beast was also arranged by the Grand Pontiff. She should be able to do it. Didn't the Young Mistress safely absorb her fourth soul ring beyond her limit back then?" Pufferfish said.

"That's true." Snake Lance nodded, then added, "That brat from Second Worship's family is quite something. He should be awakening his martial soul this year, right? Hopefully, he has good talent. Otherwise, that fine brain of his would be wasted!"

Pufferfish's eyes suddenly lit up. "Stop talking. The Young Mistress is awake."

At that moment, Qian Renxue opened her eyes, and her five soul rings pulsed beneath her in sequence.

"Young Mistress."

Pufferfish and Snake Lance came over to her side.

Qian Renxue glanced at them. Her calm voice carried a trace of fatigue as she said, "Uncles, we have been away for too long. We need to return quickly."

"Yes."

The next day, Jin Yan slowly opened his eyes, and a gleam flashed through them before quietly fading.

He slowly rose to his feet, sensing the surging Soul Power within his body. His heart felt unburdened, and he had the urge to let out a long howl.

Golden Crocodile, who had sat cross-legged in the quiet room all night, also opened his eyes. Nothing showed on his face, but there was a smile in his eyes.

The door to the quiet room opened. Watching Jin Yan emerge, he said, "Let's go. I'll first take you to the Star Dou Great Forest to hunt a soul ring so you can break through."

After leaving the treasure vault, Golden Crocodile grabbed Jin Yan by the collar and flew toward the Star Dou Great Forest.

Spirit City stood at the central border between the two great empires, and the Star Dou Great Forest, which stretched across both nations, was practically within reach.

In less than half an hour, Golden Crocodile brought Jin Yan to the boundary between the mixed region and inner region of the Star Dou Great Forest.

This was the habitat of top-tier thousand-year soul beasts and soul beasts that had only recently broken through ten thousand years. Soul beasts with low cultivation but powerful bloodlines and species also often appeared here.

For example, the well-known Titan Giant Ape and others. Soul beasts from such powerful races almost lived in the mixed region from birth, and by a hundred years old, they could defeat ordinary thousand-year soul beasts beyond their level!