Dugu Yan at Level 41, a 40,000-Year-Old Ink-Scaled Illusion Python, and an 80,000-Year-Old Purple Gold Dragon-Horned Python?!

"4,500 years old, a Black Swamp Poison Viper?"

Huang Yan nodded slightly, his tone casual.

"The age is just right.

After last night's marrow-cleansing and body-tempering, her physique can absorb a Spirit Ring of this age with no trouble.

Go catch it."

"Please wait a moment, young master. This old man will be right back."

Dugu Bo's figure flashed, transforming into a streak of green light that vanished from the spot.

A moment later, a dull thud rang out.

A foul-smelling giant snake, over seven meters long, was hurled heavily before them.

The Black Swamp Poison Viper had been completely crushed by Dugu Bo's pressure. It lay on its last breath, unable even to hiss.

"Yanyan, go ahead."

Dugu Bo dusted off his hands, as if he had merely crushed an ant.

"Thank you, Grandpa! Thank you, young master!"

Dugu Yan's beautiful eyes lit up. Without hesitation, she stepped forward and condensed her Soul Power into a blade, driving it cleanly into the viper's vital spot.

A deep purple Thousand-Year Soul Ring slowly rose into the air.

Dugu Yan immediately sat cross-legged, drawing the Spirit Ring into her body and beginning to absorb it.

With the Jade Scale Snake Venom in her body no longer a concern, and Huang Yan's Ultimate Fire having tempered her, the entire process went unexpectedly smoothly. She finished in less than half an hour.

"How does it feel?"

Huang Yan looked at Dugu Yan as she opened her eyes and asked calmly.

Dugu Yan rose to her feet, feeling the surging Soul Power within her. Her face was alight with excitement.

"Reporting to you, young master, it went very smoothly!

My fourth Soul Skill is 'Poison Swamp Mire.' It can greatly restrict enemies' movement over a wide area, and it also carries potent numbing and corrosive toxins.

And my Soul Power has completely stabilized at Level 41!"

"Not bad."

Huang Yan nodded, then turned his gaze toward Meng Shu and Chao Tianxiang.

"Yanyan's Spirit Ring is taken care of. Next, we need to find one for Chao Tianxiang.

A snake-type Spirit Beast between 30,000 and 50,000 years old..."

Seeing this, Meng Shu immediately stepped forward and respectfully volunteered.

"Young master!

Senior Poison Douluo has already taken action. This time, let this old man scout ahead for my wife's Spirit Ring!

I'm at Level 90 now, and my perception has improved greatly. I'm sure I can find a suitable target for her as quickly as possible and not waste your time."

"Mm. Go ahead.

There's no harm in making a little noise."

Huang Yan waved his hand, his expression calm and utterly confident.

"Since we're looking for one with a high cultivation, we'll keep heading deeper in. If anything foolishly gets in our way, kill it."

"As you command, young master!"

Meng Shu's spirits soared. Gripping his Dragon-Head Cane, he strode ahead of the group.

Leading them, he marched deeper into the Star Dou Great Forest.

The group followed Meng Shu, weaving swiftly through the dense forest.

About an hour later, Meng Shu abruptly stopped in front, his eyes shining.

"Young master!

There's a big one resting in the swamp three li ahead!"

He turned around, excitement in his voice.

"If my senses are right, it should be an Ink-Scaled Illusion Python with a cultivation of around 40,000 years!"

Chao Tianxiang was overjoyed.

"An Ink-Scaled Illusion Python?

Its scales are hard as iron, and it's incredibly fast. It can also release phantom images to confuse its enemies.

If I absorb its Spirit Ring, my Martial Soul Avatar will surely become much better at keeping me safe and defending me!"

Huang Yan nodded slightly and replied casually.

"Forty thousand years. That should be within your limit.

Meng Shu, since you found it, you can deal with it.

It'll be a good chance for me to see your strength after breaking through to Level 90."

"This old man won't disappoint you, young master!"

Meng Shu let out a shout, and his mighty Level 90 Soul Power burst forth.

He gripped his Dragon-Head Cane and shot forward like a streak of light.

The others immediately followed.

In the Black Mud Swamp ahead, a gigantic python as thick as a water barrel lay coiled, its entire body pitch-black.

It flicked its crimson tongue, warily watching Meng Shu charge toward it.

"Beast, die!"

Without wasting words, Meng Shu's Dragon-Head Cane swelled in the wind, transforming into a gigantic, single-horned light dragon.

Bearing down with terrifying pressure, it smashed viciously into the Ink-Scaled Illusion Python.

The 40,000-year-old Ink-Scaled Illusion Python tried to fight back, but the phantom images were shattered at once under the absolute power of a Quasi-Titled Douluo at Level 90.

Its hard scales were smashed until its flesh was a bloody mess. Its enormous body crashed down beside the mire, utterly unable to fight.

"Wife, finish it off!"

Meng Shu leaned on his cane and called back.

"Coming!"

Chao Tianxiang walked forward, her face full of excitement. Her Martial Soul appeared, and she cleanly stabbed the giant python in its seven-inch spot.

A deep black Spirit Ring slowly rose into the air.

Chao Tianxiang immediately sat cross-legged and began drawing in the Spirit Ring.

Watching this, Huang Yan spoke calmly.

"Quick and decisive. Your Soul Power at Level 90 is indeed much more substantial than before."

"Thank you for the praise, young master. It's all thanks to the medicine you bestowed!"

Meng Shu hurriedly bowed, then asked with some anticipation.

"Young master, once my wife finishes absorbing her Spirit Ring, shall we continue deeper and find high-year targets for you and this old man?"

"Mm."

Huang Yan looked toward the deepest part of the Star Dou Great Forest, his tone even.

"We've already come across a 40,000-year-old Spirit Beast. Go farther in, and it won't be hard to find ones over 70,000 years old.

I hope we run into some interesting prey on this trip."

Two hours later.

The black light around Chao Tianxiang faded inward. She slowly opened her eyes and stood up, her expression excited.

"Thank you for making this possible, young master!"

Chao Tianxiang bowed deeply, unable to hide her delight.

"My Seventh Soul Skill, 'Serpent Cane True Body,' doubles all my attributes and boosts my defense and poison power by another two hundred percent!

Now, even if I face an ordinary Soul Douluo, I can hold my own!"

"Congratulations, Grandma!"

Meng Yiran cheered happily from the side.

"Congratulations, old woman!"

Meng Shu was beaming too.

"Let's go."

Huang Yan didn't say much, merely nodding.

"Now that Chao Tianxiang's Spirit Ring is taken care of, we'll head straight to the edge of the core area.

From here on, the targets are all over 70,000 years old."

Everyone's spirits lifted. They immediately gathered themselves and followed closely behind Huang Yan, racing deeper into the Star Dou Great Forest.

As they ventured farther in, the light around them grew dimmer, and the pressure emanating from the Spirit Beasts became increasingly terrifying.

Ordinary ten-thousand-year Spirit Beasts sensed Dugu Bo and Meng Shu's auras and fled far away, not daring to come anywhere near.

Half a day later.

Suddenly, a low dragon's roar mixed with a violent, rank-smelling gust of wind came from a valley ahead.

The surrounding leaves rustled from the force.

Dugu Bo and Meng Shu, who had been scouting ahead, stopped at the same time, their expressions turning grave.

"Young master,

What a violent aura!"

Green light flickered in Dugu Bo's eyes as he spoke in a low voice.

"From the disturbance, it's at least a beast with a cultivation of over 70,000 years!"

Meng Shu stared fixedly toward the valley and drew in a sharp breath. His voice trembled with excitement.

"Young master!

It's a Purple Gold Dragon-Horned Python!

And judging by its pressure, its cultivation is definitely over 80,000 years!

This python carries an exceptionally pure True Dragon bloodline within it. It's the very Ninth Spirit Ring this old man has dreamed of!"