Inside the Luminous White Space, Su Zhen sat cross-legged on the ground, cultivating.
Suddenly, a wave of air formed from black lightning surged out of Su Zhen's body and spread throughout the space.
Su Zhen opened his eyes. A flicker of lightning flashed in their depths. He let out a breath and stood up.
"A month has passed. I've finally broken through to level sixty."
If the Soul Masters outside heard Su Zhen's words, they would probably collapse on the spot. A twelve-year-old Soul Emperor, breaking through from level fifty-nine to level sixty in just one month—that was something they wouldn't even dare imagine. "Genius" was no longer enough to describe him. Only a peerless monster could barely keep pace with Su Zhen.
"Not bad. A twelve-year-old Soul Emperor. If those major powers outside found out, they'd probably stop at nothing to assassinate you."
Gu Yuena came over from the side, her gaze fixed on Su Zhen in shock. Even a transformed Soul Beast couldn't cultivate this quickly.
"I'm only a Soul Emperor. I'm still far from having the strength to take revenge."
"I like that you're neither arrogant nor conceited. Now it's time to begin the first step of our cooperation."
"Di Tian."
Gu Yuena called to the side. Di Tian appeared at once and bowed to the Silver Dragon King.
"My lord, what are your orders?"
As he bowed, Di Tian stole a glance at Su Zhen beside him. This little fellow he'd personally brought here had actually broken through to Soul Emperor in just one month.
"Bring the Three-Eyed Golden Lion here."
"My lord, this..."
"Hmm?"
"Yes, my lord. I'll go at once."
Di Tian had been about to say something, but when Gu Yuena swept him with a glance, he hurriedly lowered his head and agreed. Then he vanished from the spot.
Before long, Di Tian appeared in the space with a radiant golden Soul Beast.
"My lord, I've brought the Three-Eyed Golden Lion."
"All right. You may leave."
"Yes."
Before leaving, Di Tian took a long, lingering look at the Three-Eyed Golden Lion, trying to etch its image into his heart. Ever since it was born, he had treated it like his own daughter. Now Gu Yuena had ordered him to bring it before Su Zhen, who had just broken through to Soul Emperor. Its fate was plain to see. But for the future of the Soul Beast Clan, he had to obey without question.
"Three-Eyed Golden Lion, I need you to sacrifice yourself to him."
After Di Tian left, Gu Yuena came before the Three-Eyed Golden Lion and pointed at Su Zhen. Her tone carried an unquestionable authority.
The Three-Eyed Golden Lion turned its gaze to Su Zhen. The moment it arrived here, it had sensed an intensely familiar feeling coming from this human.
"You're an Auspicious Beast too, aren't you? So I'm not the only lonely beast in this world. I have kin, too."
The Three-Eyed Golden Lion stared intently at Su Zhen, its enormous golden, vertical-pupiled eyes seeming to see right through him.
Su Zhen said nothing. In an instant, he completed Martial Soul Possession. His Thunder Prison Qilin Martial Soul, wreathed in black lightning, appeared inside the Luminous White Space, staining the flawless white surroundings.
The instant the Thunder Prison Qilin appeared, light burst from both it and the Three-Eyed Golden Lion. Black and golden light entwined and fused within the space.
"What a beautiful Martial Soul. It's almost as beautiful as me. No wonder you're my kin."
The Three-Eyed Golden Lion gazed fervently at the Thunder Prison Qilin behind Su Zhen. The feeling of kinship inside it surged out uncontrollably.
"Being one with such a beautiful Martial Soul wouldn't be a bad choice."
The Three-Eyed Golden Lion spoke softly, then began walking slowly toward the Thunder Prison Qilin.
"What!"
Su Zhen cried out in alarm. He couldn't feel his Martial Soul at all. His Thunder Prison Qilin Martial Soul had slipped beyond his control.
The Thunder Prison Qilin behind Su Zhen took a step forward the moment the Three-Eyed Golden Lion moved. At that instant, the Martial Soul came to life.
When the Three-Eyed Golden Lion saw the Thunder Prison Qilin take that step, its gaze immediately burned with excitement. It took another step, and the Thunder Prison Qilin followed. The Three-Eyed Golden Lion quickened its pace, and the Thunder Prison Qilin did the same.
The two enormous Soul Beasts raced toward each other through the Luminous White Space. Black and golden light drew closer, and in the next instant, the two colors entwined and wove together.
The Thunder Prison Qilin collided with the Three-Eyed Golden Lion. The moment they touched, the latter turned into countless golden specks of light that surged into the Thunder Prison Qilin, dyeing its black body gold.
At the moment of impact, Su Zhen sensed something. He sat cross-legged and began circulating the Lightning Heart Meditation Method with all his might. As soon as he closed his eyes, a white Soul Ring slowly appeared around him, nesting outside his previous five rings.
The Soul Ring's color changed as Su Zhen cultivated. It gradually shifted from white to yellow, then from yellow to purple. The purple deepened further. After some time, the ring, now so dark purple it was almost black, finally turned into a Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring. Six rings—purple, purple, purple, black, black, and black—slowly appeared around Su Zhen.
Nearby, the Thunder Prison Qilin and the Three-Eyed Golden Lion had also finished merging. A brand-new Qilin Martial Soul appeared inside the Luminous White Space. Its formerly black body was covered in radiant golden lightning patterns. Its two dragon horns and lion's mane had turned from black to gold, and golden flames burned beneath its four paws. The blood-red lightning pattern between its brows blazed fully, transforming into a third golden eye that set off its two black beastly eyes. The black lightning around it turned blood-red and coiled around the Thunder Prison Qilin's massive body.
"Aw—roar!"
The Thunder Prison Qilin raised its head and roared. Now a complete Auspicious Beast, it gained intelligence the moment the fusion was finished—childlike intelligence on par with a Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beast's, though it could no longer speak like the Three-Eyed Golden Lion had.
The Thunder Prison Qilin walked over on golden flames and lay down behind Su Zhen, guarding him as he meditated.
A Martial Soul with intelligence? How interesting.
Gu Yuena watched the Thunder Prison Qilin's every movement, as if she'd discovered a fascinating new toy.
A quarter of an hour passed before Su Zhen finally ended his meditation. The Sixth Soul Ring around him settled into its final form as a black Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring.
Su Zhen stood and turned to look at the Martial Soul lying behind him. Gazing at the Thunder Prison Qilin's lively eyes, he felt as though he were looking at a pet.
My Martial Soul is me, yet I think of it as a pet. Does that make me my own pet?
Su Zhen shook his head sharply, flinging the strange thought from his mind. When he reached out to touch the Thunder Prison Qilin's head, it rubbed its own against his hand.
"All right, how long are you going to play with your own Martial Soul?"
Gu Yuena's icy voice sounded from the side. Interrupted, the Thunder Prison Qilin shot her an unhappy look, then turned into a streak of black light and darted into Su Zhen's body.
"How do you feel? After absorbing the Three-Eyed Golden Lion, you're now the only Auspicious Beast on the entire Douluo Continent."
"I feel complete. A lot of things have appeared in my mind, and my spiritual power has risen to the level of a Titled Douluo. Most importantly, I can conceal my aura."
As Su Zhen spoke, he drew in his aura. In an instant, he became an ordinary person. Not the slightest trace of Soul Power or an Auspicious Beast's aura could be sensed.
"Now that we've achieved our goal, it's time to begin cultivating. Di Tian and the others will personally train you this time. With the resources of the entire Star Dou Forest at your disposal, you'll be able to grow as quickly as possible."
Gu Yuena pronounced what Su Zhen would be doing for quite some time to come.
Su Zhen walked out of the Luminous White Space. Outside, six enormous, mountain-like beastly figures surrounded the exit, waiting for him to emerge.
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