Even though the Eight-Winged Black Gold Dragon was a Super Soul Beast, it had only four thousand years of cultivation. It could barely hold its own against Li Fu, who had the cultivation of a Soul Saint. After half an hour of fighting, it gradually began to lose ground.
Highly intelligent, it knew it had picked a fight with someone far beyond its reach. It roared, unleashed all its power, and sent three wind blades hurtling toward Li Fu, looking ready to fight to the death.
Li Fu didn't try to meet the attack head-on. He dodged nimbly, body taut as he prepared for the Eight-Winged Black Gold Dragon to charge at him in a desperate last stand.
"Roar!!!!"
The Eight-Winged Black Gold Dragon roared at the sky and glared viciously at Li Fu, memorizing his appearance. Then its eight enormous black wings beat hard, and it wheeled around and fled.
It wasn't a hot-blooded beast. Knowing it was outmatched and still fighting to the death would be foolish.
If it could win, it fought. If it couldn't, it ran. That had always been its rule.
At the sight, Li Fu was dumbfounded, and Qin Yuan was stunned.
Wait, hadn't it just roared at the sky as if it was about to fight to the death? Why was it running away?
Seeing the top-grade Soul Ring about to escape, Qin Yuan panicked and hurriedly shouted to Li Fu:
"Uncle Fu, don't let it get away! I've got to have it!"
Li Fu immediately nodded and activated his Martial Soul Avatar. A gigantic Shadow Leopard appeared and raced after the Eight-Winged Black Gold Dragon.
But Li Fu soon realized that with its eight dragon wings, the Eight-Winged Black Gold Dragon was far too fast. He couldn't catch up, and the distance between them kept growing.
Seeing this, Li Fu's gaze grew exceptionally firm, as if he had made up his mind.
It was time to repay his debt of gratitude.
He grunted. A rich crimson glow suddenly spread across his sleek black fur, and his speed surged. His power surged several times over as well, rising to rival that of a Soul Douluo.
The distance between Li Fu and the Eight-Winged Black Gold Dragon shrank before their eyes.
Before long, Li Fu caught up. The Eight-Winged Black Gold Dragon was horrified, unable to understand how the human's speed had suddenly increased so much.
Even more terrifying, the human before it was far stronger than he had been moments ago. It was no match for him.
Under Li Fu's powerful assault, the Eight-Winged Black Gold Dragon soon let out a heartrending wail, blood spraying through the air as the Shadow Leopard he had transformed into nearly tore it apart.
At last, the Eight-Winged Black Gold Dragon crashed to the ground. It lay in a deep crater, on the verge of death, its eyes fixed on Li Fu with terror and hatred.
Li Fu stared coldly at it without a word, then turned and left. Before long, he returned with Qin Yuan.
The Eight-Winged Black Gold Dragon could only watch helplessly as the young human approached with a sword. It struggled with all its might, but to no avail. In the end, it died with its resentment unfulfilled.
A Deep Purple Soul Ring slowly took shape above the Eight-Winged Black Gold Dragon's corpse, profound and beautiful.
"Uncle Fu, stand guard for me."
Qin Yuan gave the order, then sat down on the ground in high spirits and began absorbing the Soul Ring.
Li Fu came out of his Martial Soul Avatar state. His face was as pale as paper. He suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood, his breath grew feeble, and his back hunched as if he had aged more than a decade in an instant.
His old eyes rested on the handsome young man seated in the crater, absorbing the Soul Ring. His expression was complicated yet relieved, and he smiled to himself with a lightness in his heart:
"I've finally managed to repay one ten-thousandth of the young master's boundless kindness."
His thoughts drifted back to that night five years ago. Qin Yuan had given him the chance to avenge the deaths of all his loved ones. Back then, he had sworn to serve the boy with his life.
Suddenly, he grunted. Blood welled at the corner of his mouth, his face grew even paler, and his body swayed before he collapsed to the ground. He panted violently, weak and badly injured, looking as if he were close to death.
Heh, I really am old and useless now. I just hope I can hold on until the young master leaves the Star Dou Great Forest... Li Fu gave a self-mocking smile.
Immersed in refining the Soul Ring, Qin Yuan had no idea what was happening to Li Fu. He was simply surprised to discover that the Soul Ring of the Eight-Winged Black Gold Dragon, despite its mere four thousand years of cultivation, was far harder to refine than the Three-Clawed Dark Gold Dragon's. It put him under tremendous pressure.
No wonder it's a Super Soul Beast... Qin Yuan felt both awe and excitement. He knew his Second Soul Skill would probably exceed his expectations.
Three hours passed, and dusk slowly fell. Qin Yuan finally finished absorbing the Eight-Winged Black Gold Dragon's Soul Ring.
His Soul Power began to climb once more.
Rank 26... Rank 28... Rank 29...
Just as expected, his Soul Power easily broke through Rank 30.
In the end, his Soul Power Level settled at Rank 32!
At the same time, information about his Second Soul Skill appeared in his mind.
Second Soul Skill—Golden Dragon God Transformation: All attributes increased by 100%, with no negative effects, lasting for one hour.
"All attributes increased by 100%!!!"
Even though he had been expecting it, Qin Yuan was still deeply shaken.
He clearly remembered that in the original story, Oscar's Fourth Soul Skill, Excited Pink Sausage, increased all of the user's attributes by only 10% after consumption, with no side effects. That alone had already been astonishing.
His own skill, however, brought a terrifying 100% increase to all attributes, also without any side effects.
Qin Yuan leapt to his feet in excitement. As expected of a Soul Ring from the Super Soul Beast Eight-Winged Black Gold Dragon!
Just as he was about to share his joy with Li Fu, he suddenly noticed that Li Fu, at the edge of the crater, was deathly pale. His breathing was as faint as a candle flickering in the wind, as if it might go out at any moment.
"Uncle Fu, what happened to you?" Qin Yuan hurried over, shocked and worried.
"Heh, young master, I'm fine." Li Fu smiled weakly. "It's just that from now on, Li Fu won't be able to stay by your side anymore. Please forgive me."
Qin Yuan fell silent for a moment, then sighed.
"I wondered why Uncle Fu's power suddenly surged while fighting the Eight-Winged Black Gold Dragon. There had to be a price, but I didn't expect the side effects to be so severe. I didn't think this through."
"Young master, it's my fault. It has nothing to do with you," Li Fu said hastily.
"Heh, Uncle Fu, you were my very first guard." Qin Yuan gave a quiet chuckle. "I can't let you die just like that."
"But, young master, I..." Li Fu began, then hesitated.
Qin Yuan said nothing. With a smile, he slowly raised his right hand and placed it against Li Fu's hunched back. He circulated his Soul Power, and a dense white light appeared in his palm.
The light was soft, warm, and sacred, filled with an overwhelming vitality and power of purification. Even the Life Goddess would have been so astonished that she couldn't speak.
The white light flowed into Li Fu's nearly lifeless body. His vitality, on the verge of extinction, was like a parched field blessed by a timely rain, quickly bursting back into life.
Even his old injuries began to recover rapidly, healing completely.
Li Fu's eyes widened, his mouth fell open, and he froze in place. Shock and fear filled his face.
"What... what is this?"
Looking at the stunned, speechless Li Fu, Qin Yuan smiled faintly.
"You can think of it as a kind of healing Soul Skill."
"A healing Soul Skill?" Li Fu had never seen one that could replenish a person's very life force.
Qin Yuan didn't explain further. After all, [Life Miracle] was a divine gift he had obtained along with his cheat-system panel. It wasn't a Martial Soul, but its effects were incredibly powerful.
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