Level 52! One Soul Skill, Two Release Methods?

Dark gold light erupted from the eyes of Dugu Ce, shining directly onto the Lava Poison Earth Dragon.

The Earth Dragon's movements suddenly stalled, and a layer of grayish-white stone patterns emerged across its body.

But it remained frozen for less than two seconds before those stone patterns were shattered by the magma power within its body.

Two seconds was enough.

Dugu Ce descended from the sky, his right leg wrapped in dark gold flames, and smashed it fiercely onto the Earth Dragon's skull.

"BOOM--!"

The Earth Dragon's massive body was sent flying sideways by this kick, slamming into the inner wall of the volcanic crater and causing the entire volcano to tremble slightly.

Golden Crocodile Douluo raised an eyebrow:

"The power of this kick... it's almost catching up to the full-force strike of a Spirit Douluo."

Dugu Ce landed back on the rock, catching his breath as he stared at the Earth Dragon embedded in the crater wall.

A crack had split the Earth Dragon's skull, and dark red blood flowed down its scales.

But it was not dead yet; the orange-yellow light in its eyes had instead become even more violent.

"ROAR--!"

The Earth Dragon tore itself free from the rock wall, its scales bristling and the bone spurs on its spine snapping off.

They transformed into dozens of dark red bone-spur darts, raining down upon Dugu Ce like a torrential storm.

A death throe?

Dugu Ce took a deep breath and thrust both hands forward.

The brilliant golden spirit power of the Radiant Sacred Dragon in his left hand manifested into a light shield, blocking his front.

The dark gold flames of the Calamity Sacred Dragon in his right hand condensed into a fire snake, meeting the incoming bone spurs.

"Puff, puff, puff--"

The bone spurs struck the light shield, exploding into clusters of dark red poisonous mist.

The fire snake pierced through the mist, coiled around the Earth Dragon's neck, and tightened its grip.

The Earth Dragon struggled desperately, its giant tail thrashing wildly and sending debris flying as it smashed against the crater walls.

But that dark gold fire snake was like maggots on rotting bone, coiling tighter and tighter as the scorching poisonous fire seeped into the gaps of its scales, burning its flesh.

Dugu Ce leaped from the rock and landed on the Earth Dragon's head.

He pressed his right hand against its cracked skull, pouring the dark gold flames of the Calamity Sacred Dragon directly into its brain.

"Die."

The Earth Dragon let out a shrill, mournful cry, its massive body convulsing violently a few times before finally falling still.

A black spirit ring rose slowly from the Earth Dragon's corpse.

Fifty-eight thousand years.

Although the age was high, it had not yet reached one hundred thousand years; it remained a ten-thousand-year-level black spirit ring.

Dugu Ce jumped down from the Earth Dragon's head, sat cross-legged on the rock within the crater, and began to draw the spirit ring toward him.

Golden Crocodile Douluo leaped down from the edge of the crater, standing not far away with his hands behind his back, watching quietly.

The black spirit ring descended slowly, settling around Dugu Ce.

The moment the spirit ring entered his body, a violent surge of lava power flooded his meridians, scorching every inch of his flesh.

Dugu Ce let out a muffled groan as the Dark Gold Dragon Pattern on his chest suddenly flared to life.

The Ice and Fire Golden Body activated automatically, suppressing the violent energy.

Half an hour later.

The spirit ring stabilized completely on Dugu Ce; his fifth spirit ring, black, fifty-eight thousand years.

Dugu Ce opened his eyes and let out a long breath.

Within the emerald-gold light of his eyes, a hint of dark red lava color had been added.

"How is it?"

Golden Crocodile Douluo asked.

Dugu Ce stood up, stretched his limbs, and raised his right hand.

His fifth spirit ring lit up, and a scorching lava power condensed in his palm.

"Two spirit skills.

To be precise, it is one spirit skill with two ways of manifestation.

The first is called 'Magma Burst', which converts spirit power into a jet of magma; upon impact, it triggers an explosion, accompanied by burning and poison damage.

The second is called 'Earth Dragon Roll', which uses spirit power to trigger a small-scale earthquake. Enemies within the range will be unable to stand steadily for five seconds."

"One burst, one crowd control."

Golden Crocodile Douluo nodded.

"It suits your Calamity Sacred Dragon perfectly. How much did your soul power rise?"

"Level fifty-two."

Dugu Ce closed his eyes to sense the change. "The energy within this Earth Dragon was quite substantial; my soul power jumped up by a full level."

"A twelve-year-old level fifty-two Soul King..." Golden Crocodile Douluo laughed heartily. "If that girl Bibi Dong learns of this news, I fear she won't be able to sleep at night."

Dugu Ce retracted his martial soul and glanced at the corpse of the Earth Dragon.

Golden Crocodile Douluo waved his hand casually, a streak of golden soul power cleaving the dragon's corpse open to extract a dark red bone from within.

"A ten-thousand-year Lava Poison Earth Dragon right arm bone. Do you want it?"

Golden Crocodile Douluo tossed the soul bone in his hand, looking toward Dugu Ce.

Dugu Ce shook his head. "Teacher, keep it for now. I haven't decided how to configure the soul bone slots on my body yet, so there is no rush."

"Very well, this old man will hold onto it for you."

Golden Crocodile Douluo tucked the soul bone away and leaped into the air. "Let's go, back to the mountain. Your grandfather and the others must be growing impatient."

The two transformed into streaks of light, leaving the volcanic crater and heading straight for True Dragon Mountain.

True Dragon Mountain, the summit.

The sky had already darkened, and several bonfires had been lit among the mountains.

Dugu Ce and Golden Crocodile Douluo landed on the stone terrace, where Dugu Xuan, Dugu Bo, Dugu Yan, and Yu Yin were all waiting.

"Ce'er!"

Yu Yin stepped forward to take her son's hand, looking him up and down to confirm he was uninjured before letting out a sigh of relief.

"Did it succeed?"

Dugu Xuan stared at the new black soul ring manifesting beneath his grandson.

"It succeeded."

Dugu Ce raised his right hand, his fifth soul ring lighting up as dark red lava surged in his palm. "A fifty-eight-thousand-year Lava Poison Earth Dragon. Two soul skills: one burst, one control. My soul power is at level fifty-one."

Dugu Bo drew a sharp breath. "A fifty-eight-thousand-year fifth ring? My own fifth ring was only a little over twenty thousand years..."

"That is why you are the Title Floor Tile, while Ce'er is the Sect Master of the Dragon-Serpent Sect."

Dugu Xuan delivered the jab without a hint of mercy.

Dugu Bo glared at him but did not refute the claim.

Golden Crocodile Douluo scanned the surroundings and asked, "Is that group led by Yu Chengsi still on the East Peak?"

"They are," Dugu Yan nodded. "They caused a scene again during the day, claiming that the people from the West Peak were bullying them with their numbers and demanding to move their camp elsewhere."

"Move elsewhere?" Dugu Ce sneered. "They want to shift toward the core area, don't they? Great-uncle, can the Myriad Poison Array be activated yet?"

Dugu Bo chuckled. "At any time."

As long as this old man activates the formation, that area of East Peak will turn into a death zone within half an incense stick of time.

Not a single person inside will be able to get out.

Then we act tonight.

Dugu Ce looked toward Golden Crocodile Douluo.

Teacher, I need to borrow your reputation.

Just say that the Second Worship of Martial Soul Hall is inspecting True Dragon Mountain, and order everyone on East Peak to remain in their camp, forbidden from stepping out.

Golden Crocodile Douluo raised an eyebrow:

Are you trying to pin the blame on this old man?

No.

Dugu Ce shook his head.

It is just to make Yu Chengsi and the others stay obediently in their camp so they don't run around.

Once the poisonous mist dissipates, outsiders will only assume they trespassed into a forbidden zone themselves; it will have nothing to do with the Dragon-Serpent Sect.

Golden Crocodile Douluo laughed:

You brat, you have too many schemes. Fine, this old man will play along with your little act.

Dugu Ce turned to look at Dugu Xuan and Dugu Bo:

Grandfather, Grand-uncle, you two go guard the perimeter of East Peak first; don't let anyone escape.

Sister, take Mother to West Peak and tell Yu Chengzhi's side that no matter what commotion they hear tonight, they are not to leave their quarters.