Three-Thousand-Year Golden-Eyed Black Dragon, Di Tian's Goodwill

Qiangu Xiaoye did not hold back in the slightest. A top-tier soul beast like this was something one could only hope to encounter, so he immediately unleashed his full strength.

The Dark Coiling Dragon Staff erupted with a terrifying aura. Yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black, black—two yellow, two purple, and four black. The optimal Soul Ring configuration pulsed beneath his feet.

The fifth black Soul Ring on Qiangu Xiaoye's body flashed, and his Fifth Soul Skill activated instantly.

His Fifth Soul Skill was a buffing ability that could also be used on an opponent, making them endure even greater gravitational pressure.

With a flick of his hand, a black dragon covered in black scales burst forth from the Coiling Dragon Staff in his grasp.

It exhaled dragon breath, pinning the nearby herd of Radiant Holy Horses and the Golden Crocodile firmly in place.

Then, without hesitation, he brought the three children before the mutated Radiant Holy Horse and the Golden Dragon Crocodile.

"Xiaoxue, Jin Chen, kill them and obtain your first Soul Rings."

Qian Renxue and Jin Chen nodded, both activating their Martial Soul Possession. Holding the Angel Sacred Sword, Qian Renxue slew the dual-attribute Radiant Holy Horse in a single strike. A purple thousand-year Soul Ring then appeared above its corpse.

Jin Chen did the same. His right hand transformed into a Golden Claw, and before the Golden Dragon Crocodile's despairing eyes, he ripped open its belly.

A purple Soul Ring rose as well, though this one was only just over a thousand years old.

But for Jin Chen, it was enough.

The quality of a soul beast already determined the effect of the first Soul Ring it produced. It could not possibly be poor.

The two sat cross-legged, drawing the Soul Rings before them and forming hand seals as they began absorbing them.

Just as both of them entered the proper state, Golden Crocodile Douluo emerged from the shadows.

"Grandpa Golden Crocodile? I never expected you to be the one secretly escorting us!"

Ling Feng said in delight.

"Yes. You three are far too important to Spirit Hall. This old man will not allow anything to happen to you."

Qiangu Xiaoye stepped forward. "Uncle Golden Crocodile, has something changed?"

As their hidden protector, Golden Crocodile Douluo would generally not reveal himself voluntarily.

"Yes. This old man has constantly felt as though there were something caught in my throat, as if someone were watching from behind us."

"This feeling cannot be false. That terrifying presence is certainly no weaker than the Great Enshrined."

Upon hearing this, Qiangu Xiaoye immediately sensed trouble.

What kind of powerhouse was the Great Enshrined? As one of Spirit Hall's upper ranks, he knew this better than anyone. He might not be invincible across the continent, but he was still a terrifying existence among the top three.

Yet Golden Crocodile Douluo had sensed someone no weaker than him. This was absolutely not good news.

"So, should we leave as soon as possible?"

"Correct. This old man will remain here to watch over the three children. You two should enter the mixed zone and capture that Dark Evil Dragon for Xiao Feng."

"Remember, go all out. We must not remain here long!"

The premonition in Golden Crocodile Douluo's heart grew increasingly intense. Even he was not confident he could contend with that terrifying being lurking behind them.

Ling Feng also sensed that something was wrong at that moment. It was a response from his Martial Soul bloodline.

Could it be him? Shouldn't he be sleeping beneath the Lake of Life right now? How could he have awakened?

Could my Martial Soul's pure dragon bloodline have drawn him here?

The person Ling Feng referred to was naturally Di Tian.

As the Golden-eyed Black Dragon King, invincible beneath the godly rank, it would not be difficult for him to sense Ling Feng.

"This is troublesome. If he bears hostility toward me, then even with Grandpa Golden Crocodile here, we may not escape death."

Ling Feng sighed, though he was not in a hurry. If Di Tian harbored ill intent, they could not run. If he did not, there was no need to run.

Qian Renxue and Jin Chen continued absorbing the power of their thousand-year Soul Rings, while Golden Crocodile Douluo guarded the three of them, openly displaying the strength of a peak Rank 98 Titled Douluo.

Meanwhile, at the bottom of the Lake of Life.

"What an interesting fellow. Such pure dragon bloodline and physical strength are rare among humans."

"Moreover, the bloodlines of the Radiant Sacred Dragon and Dark Sacred Dragon can actually coexist within a single human body. Truly astonishing."

"This human child may be worth cultivating. He may not necessarily be unable to become a god in the future."

"If he is grateful, perhaps he may become the hope of our Soul Beast Clan."

Having made up his mind, Di Tian immediately gave his orders.

"Zi Ji, make the trip yourself."

"A junior of the Golden-Eyed Black Dragon Clan, around three thousand years old, is gravely wounded and on the verge of death. Even I can do nothing for it. Let it become that boy's first Soul Ring."

"Yes!"

A strange expression appeared on Zi Ji's face.

The Golden-Eyed Black Dragon Clan had been guards of the Dragon God. Ever since the Dragon God's fall, their bloodline had dwindled. Every Golden-Eyed Black Dragon was incomparably precious; even in death, they would never become a human's Soul Ring.

"Oh, and find another dragon of the Light Attribute with the same cultivation age. Let us see which one that boy chooses."

"Make it look like two soul beasts fought over territory and both were severely injured. Understand?"

"Understood!"

Zi Ji departed.

Within the mixed zone, Qiangu Xiaoye and Tuoba Yue'er searched together for traces of the Dark Evil Dragon.

Suddenly, Qiangu Xiaoye waved his hand. "There is the sound of fighting ahead. Two dragon-type soul beasts—one Light Attribute and one Dark Attribute. Their cultivation ages are suitable."

"Quickly, end this fast!"

Without the slightest hesitation, Qiangu Xiaoye directly activated his Seventh Soul Ring: Martial Soul Avatar.

He transformed into a massive black dragon and flew straight toward the source of the battle.

Why was Qiangu Xiaoye called a genius? Part of the reason lay in his Seventh Soul Skill. Like Snake Lance Douluo, it allowed his weapon Martial Soul to transform into a beast, granting him exceptional combat power.

At this moment, his combat strength was already no weaker than that of an ordinary Rank 92 Titled Douluo.

Tuoba Yue'er likewise transformed into a White Armored Earth Dragon and followed close behind.

Late at night...

Qian Renxue and Jin Chen were nearly finished absorbing their Soul Rings when news finally arrived from the mixed zone.

"Xiao Feng, your parents have returned."

Golden Crocodile Douluo was overjoyed. At dusk, he had sensed the aura of the person watching them from the shadows disappear. Now, a suitable Soul Ring had been found for Ling Feng as well.

Before long, Qiangu Xiaoye and Tuoba Yue'er came dragging a massive black dragon toward them.

The black dragon was not small. Its golden eyes were filled with resolve, as if it were gambling everything it had on a single chance.

Only after arriving beside Ling Feng did they lay the black dragon on the ground.

"Uncle Golden Crocodile, this black dragon's cultivation age is suitable as well, but it is not a Dark Evil Dragon. The dragon aura within it is far too pure."

Qiangu Xiaoye was also puzzled. This black dragon, over 2,900 years old, was simply too rare, to the point that he could not even determine what race it belonged to.

Golden Crocodile Douluo examined it from top to bottom but could not provide a definite answer either.

"It is indeed rare. It possesses only pure dark energy and dragon bloodline, without any other impure attributes. It is nearly one hundred percent compatible with Xiao Feng's Dark Sacred Dragon."

"Forget it. Since we found it, it is Xiao Feng's opportunity. It will serve as his first Soul Ring."

Ling Feng stepped forward and looked at the Golden-Eyed Black Dragon, his expression somewhat strange.

The presence from earlier had definitely been Di Tian. He had already taken notice of him; otherwise, he would not have sent a Golden-Eyed Black Dragon of precisely the right cultivation age to serve as his first Soul Ring.

A black dragon with golden eyes was Di Tian's true form—the Golden-Eyed Black Dragon Clan.

Still, Ling Feng did not stand on ceremony. Di Tian had only one intention: to change the current situation of the soul beasts.

Ling Feng held no prejudice against soul beasts. On the contrary, he disdained the gods of the God Realm. There was naturally no reason he could not cooperate with Di Tian.

"As my first Soul Ring, your bloodline will not be wasted."