Dragon Blood Vine

The trio walked along, screening as they went.

Until they passed a shaded slope in a dense forest.

Hu Liena paused her steps and pointed at the vines entwined around an ancient tree ahead:

"Little Junior Brother, look, what is that?!"

Ling Xiao looked in the direction she pointed, his pupils slightly constricting.

A vine, pitch-black from end to end, was densely wrapped around the ancient tree.

The vine was covered in fine, sharp barbs, radiating a cold, chilling soul power fluctuation.

Ghost Vine.

One of the common plant-type control soul beasts on the Douluo Continent.

Known for parasitism, confinement, and devouring life force.

In the original work, Tang San's second soul ring came from a six-hundred-year-old Ghost Vine, and its soul skill, Parasite, was a classic plant-type control ability.

Ling Xiao's gaze fell upon the Ghost Vine, a flicker of interest crossing his eyes.

The control ability of the Ghost Vine was quite suited to his needs.

It was also more compatible with his plant-type martial soul.

The next moment, he frowned and shook his head.

"No, the age is too low."

This Ghost Vine was only around three hundred years old.

Three hundred years was a decent choice for the second soul ring of an ordinary Soul Grand Master.

But for Ling Xiao, it was far from enough.

Moreover, the Ghost Vine was one of Tang San's iconic soul rings.

He had no need to walk the path others had already trodden.

His Demon Fruit Tree martial soul possessed infinite possibilities.

He wanted to forge a path of his own.

Although Hu Liena felt it was a pity, she respected Ling Xiao's choice.

The three bypassed the patch of Ghost Vines and continued deeper into the Star Dou Forest.

The further they went, the higher the level of the soul beasts in the forest became.

The aura of thousand-year soul beasts appeared more and more frequently.

Chrysanthemum Douluo's expression grew increasingly vigilant, keeping Ling Xiao and Hu Liena firmly protected behind him.

The aura of a Titled Douluo radiated faintly, deterring the high-level soul beasts that were stirring in the surroundings.

"Senior Yue Guan, have we gone too deep?"

Hu Liena looked at the impenetrable ancient trees surrounding them and couldn't help but whisper.

"Rest assured, Saintess, with this subordinate here, there will be no problem."

Chrysanthemum Douluo replied immediately.

"Even if we encounter a ten-thousand-year soul beast, this subordinate has the confidence to retreat with both of you unscathed."

The confidence of a level ninety-five Titled Douluo was not just empty talk.

After walking for a while, Ling Xiao suddenly stopped.

His gaze locked onto a crevice in a giant rock not far ahead.

The sides of the crevice were steep stone walls.

A vine, crimson from end to end, coiled upon the giant rock like a massive dragon.

The vine was as thick as an arm, covered in red patterns resembling dragon scales.

The branches extended for dozens of meters, covering the entire giant rock.

At the tips of the vines bloomed blood-red flowers, radiating a rich soul power fluctuation, luring in prey.

"That is... Dragon Blood Vine?!"

Chrysanthemum Douluo's pupils shrank, and he blurted out.

Dragon Blood Vine, an ultra-rare plant-type soul beast.

It lived by consuming the blood of soul beasts and possessed extremely strong physical defense and wide-range entanglement and confinement abilities.

The vines were incredibly tough, impervious to blades and spears, and the accompanying dragon might could forcibly suppress the flow of soul power.

Ling Xiao's eyes lit up.

The age of this Dragon Blood Vine had reached eight hundred years.

Hu Liena also grew excited.

"Dragon Blood Vine! This should meet your requirements, little junior brother!"

Chrysanthemum Douluo's expression was somewhat grave.

He said to Ling Xiao:

"Lord Ling Xiao, although this Dragon Blood Vine fits your needs, its eight-hundred-year age makes it quite a stretch to absorb!"

"Once the soul ring energy goes berserk, the best case is damage to your martial soul foundation, and the worst case is death by bodily explosion!"

Acting under the orders of His Holiness the Pope, he had to ensure Ling Xiao's safety.

Ling Xiao's gaze remained fixed firmly on that Dragon Blood Vine.

A year of bitter training in spear techniques had greatly improved his physical body and meridians.

Coupled with his mental strength, he could already rival a Soul Elder.

"Senior Yue Guan, I know there are risks. But fortune favors the bold!"

Ling Xiao turned his head to look at Chrysanthemum Douluo, his tone calm yet firm.

"I have the confidence to absorb this soul ring."

Seeing the determination in Ling Xiao's eyes, Chrysanthemum Douluo was momentarily at a loss for words.

This Lord Ling Xiao was gentle and refined, yet stubborn to the bone.

Once he made a decision, it was hard to change.

While Chrysanthemum Douluo hesitated, Hu Liena also spoke up:

"Senior Yue Guan, I believe in little junior brother. He has never done anything he wasn't sure of; since he says he can do it, he definitely can!"

"We will accompany him, so there certainly won't be any problems!"

She possessed a near-blind trust in Ling Xiao.

From a year ago until now, Ling Xiao had created too many miracles.

She believed this time would be no different.

Chrysanthemum Douluo took a deep breath and finally gritted his teeth, nodding:

"Fine! Since Lord Ling Xiao has decided, this subordinate will obey!"

"Many thanks, Senior Chrysanthemum."

Ling Xiao nodded slightly, a trace of gratitude flashing in his eyes.

The next moment, Chrysanthemum Douluo's expression turned sharp.

The aura of a Titled Douluo was released without reservation!

A terrifying pressure swept across the forest like a tsunami.

The clawing, thrashing Dragon Blood Vine trembled frantically under the pressure of the Titled Douluo.

All its vines curled up together like a lamb waiting for the slaughter.

What did it matter if it was a top-tier plant-type soul beast?

In the face of an absolute gap in rank, it didn't even have the qualifications to fight back.

"Lord Ling Xiao, do it! It cannot harm you in the slightest!"

Chrysanthemum Douluo said in a deep voice.

Ling Xiao nodded and gripped the long spear in his hand.

With a light step, his figure shot forward like an arrow.

The spear in his hand carried the force of a thousand jun, piercing precisely into the main vine of the Dragon Blood Vine.

The spear tip punctured the dragon-scale-like skin of the vine, and crimson sap sprayed out like blood.

The Dragon Blood Vine tried to struggle, but was pinned firmly in place by Chrysanthemum Douluo's pressure.

With a twist of the spear, the core of the Dragon Blood Vine was shattered.

A ring of dazzling yellow soul light rose from the corpse of the Dragon Blood Vine.

Its color was more than a shade deeper than an ordinary hundred-year soul ring.

Rich soul power fluctuations radiated outward.

Ling Xiao did not hesitate; he immediately sat cross-legged and reached out toward the soul ring.

The yellow soul ring was drawn over, settling onto him and wrapping his entire body within it.

The majestic and violent energy of the soul ring surged into his body like a rushing river, rampaging through his meridians.

Even though Ling Xiao felt a tearing pain in his meridians, he did not falter.

The Heaven Origin Soul Art was pushed to its limit, and the phantom of the Demon Fruit Tree slowly unfolded behind him.

Its branches and leaves swayed gently, absorbing the violent soul ring energy bit by bit, circulating it through his meridians until it finally flowed into his dantian sea.

Deep within his mental sea, the Demon Fruit Tree emitted waves of joyful tremors.

Once the spirit ring absorption was complete, the second fruit would be ready to ripen.

Time ticked away, second by second.

The progress of the spirit ring absorption advanced steadily.

Chrysanthemum Douluo and Hu Liena stood by his side, watching his condition with total focus while remaining vigilant of their surroundings.

Just then, a chaotic sound of footsteps and voices suddenly drifted over from not far away.

"Keep your spirits up! We are getting closer to the heart of the forest; stay close to the group and do not act on your own! We could encounter a thousand-year spirit beast at any moment!"

A familiar voice rang out.

Hu Liena's expression shifted as she looked toward the direction of the sound.

A group of spirit masters dressed in blue attire was walking toward them.

It was none other than a party from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.

Leading the group were Yu Tianheng and Yu Tianxin.

Behind them followed a crowd of collateral disciples.

The two sides met abruptly in the forest.