Yu Xiaogang is a kept man, how dare he call himself a Master?

Deep within the mixed zone of the Star Dou Great Forest.

Qian Anci sat cross-legged on a bluestone, deathly aura slowly circulating around his body.

The spirit ring of the thousand-year Death Scythe Dragon Lizard he had just hunted was now completely absorbed, and he was quite satisfied with the power of his first spirit skill, Guidance of the Underworld Path.

However, he was more concerned with the first spirit ring of his second martial soul.

"Castorice."

He called out in his heart, his consciousness sinking into that desolate underworld.

A pale purple figure stood silently atop the Bone Dragon, the Underworld Flower on her skirt flickering in and out of view amidst the gray mist.

She lowered her eyes to look at him.

"Anci, you called for me."

"Has the spirit ring for the second martial soul finished condensing?"

Castorice nodded slightly, her slender fingers tapping the void.

In an instant, a pale purple spirit ring phantom slowly rose behind her.

"The first spirit ring of Pollux—[Dragonfall Ring]."

Her voice carried a hint of distance.

"Within the bloodline of the dragon race flows the negative emotions from when the Dragon God fell."

"Anger, unwillingness, resentment... after countless years, they have settled into the purest source of death."

"This ring was condensed using the authority of the underworld."

Qian Anci's pupils constricted.

The negative emotions of the fallen Dragon God?

That was the legacy of hatred left by the legendary co-ruler of spirit beasts and the God of War of the Divine Realm!

"What... what are the abilities of this ring?"

Castorice's lips curled upward: "It is very simple—"

"Any dragon-type spirit beast or martial soul will be suppressed in your presence."

She paused, her voice taking on a note of solemnity: "And the spirit skill..."

"[Dragon Fall Breath]."

"Using the Resentment of the Dragon God as a catalyst, with a single breath, all things wither."

Qian Anci's heart shook violently.

This was a divine skill specifically designed to target the dragon race or dragon-type martial souls!

How many dragon-type martial souls were there on the Douluo Continent? The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon, the Bone Dragon, the Fire Dragon...

If this ring truly possessed such power, wouldn't he hold the absolute advantage when facing these opponents in the future?

"However..." Castorice's voice faltered, "With your current physical condition, using this ring will consume even more than your first martial soul."

"Furthermore, this ring is currently only a ten-year spirit ring; it can only suppress dragon bloodlines below five thousand years."

"As you harvest more death in the future, it will naturally grow."

"That is enough."

Qian Anci slowly opened his eyes, a flash of gray light vanishing from his pupils.

He stood up and cast his gaze toward the deeper parts of the forest, where mist churned and low, muffled beast roars could be heard.

"My first spirit ring is already a thousand-year one, so my second spirit ring..." He paused, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes, "...naturally cannot be inferior."

"I need to find a suitable spirit beast, starting at at least three thousand years."

He brushed the dust from his robes and turned toward the two Title Douluo standing with their hands behind their backs.

"Elder Azure Luan, Elder Golden Crocodile, I wish to continue deeper."

Azure Luan Douluo frowned slightly: "Young Master, your first spirit ring is already a thousand-year one. If your second spirit ring exceeds the limit again..."

"I know what I am doing."

Qian Anci's expression was calm.

"Besides, my first spirit ring is already a thousand-year one; if my second spirit ring were less than that, wouldn't people laugh at me?"

Golden Crocodile Douluo grinned, revealing his stark white teeth: "Good lad!"

"I thought you were already planning to hunt a ten-thousand-year spirit beast for your second ring!"

Qian Renxue stood to the side, her golden eyes filled with a trace of complexity.

She opened her mouth, but ultimately did not stop him, only saying softly: "Anci, do not push yourself."

"Do not worry, Sister."

Qian Anci nodded slightly toward her and turned to walk into the depths of the forest.

Half a day later.

The four of them arrived at the edge of a mountain valley.

This place was completely different from the gloomy swamps on the periphery; the vegetation was lush, full of vitality, and the air was permeated with a rich aura of life.

Yet, in this place where life flourished most, a highly dangerous soul beast lay in wait.

"That is..."

Azure Luan Douluo's pupils constricted slightly as he pointed toward a massive blue rock in the center of the valley.

Coiled upon the rock was a giant python, its entire body crimson red. It bore a single horn on its forehead, and there were faint protrusions beneath its belly—a sign that it was on the verge of evolving into a flood dragon!

The scales covering its body pulsed like flickering flames, and with every breath, scorching dragon's breath erupted from its nostrils.

"A Red Fire Flood Python, possessing a thin trace of dragon bloodline in its body. Its cultivation... is approximately four thousand years."

Azure Luan Douluo's expression was grave: "Young Master, this soul beast far exceeds the limit for a second soul ring. Even for you, since your first soul ring is already..."

Before his words could fade, a faint rustling sound suddenly came from the bushes on the other side of the valley.

"Who goes there!"

Golden Crocodile Douluo whipped his head around, his burly frame launching forward like a cannonball as he slammed a palm toward the thicket!

"Wait!"

A clear, resonant voice rang out.

Immediately, three figures leaped from the forest and landed at the edge of the valley.

The leader was tall and thin, wearing a square cap and a pair of crystal spectacles perched on the bridge of his nose. A pair of illusory wings flapped gently behind his back, keeping him suspended in mid-air.

His gaze was as sharp as an eagle's, and at this moment, he was staring fixedly at the purple soul ring behind Qian Anci, his face full of shock.

"A first soul ring... a thousand-year one?!"

He was followed by two others.

One was as burly as an iron tower, with knotted muscles and a fierce face; he was currently glaring at Golden Crocodile Douluo, his soul power surging faintly.

The other was a young man of about twenty, dressed in a green robe with a handsome face and a steady aura, who was observing Qian Anci's group with curiosity.

"Dean Flender, this..." the burly man whispered, "That child looks no more than six years old. How could his first soul ring possibly be a thousand-year one?"

"Shut up, Zhao Wuji!"

Flender gave a low reprimand, his eyes flashing behind his spectacles.

"I saw it clearly; that is indeed a thousand-year soul ring..."

He suddenly looked up at Azure Luan Douluo and Golden Crocodile Douluo, saying in a deep voice: "The two of you, this humble one is Flender, Dean of Shrek Academy, a level 75 Soul Saint."

"That Red Fire Flood Python is the target for my student, Qin Ming's, fourth soul ring. I hope you can grant us a convenience."

"Shrek Academy?" Golden Crocodile Douluo sneered, "Never heard of it."

His gaze fell upon the burly man, and he suddenly grinned, revealing stark white teeth: "However... Zhao Wuji? This Seat recognizes you!"

Zhao Wuji's expression shifted: "You..."

"A few years ago, there was a brat who relied on his Vajra Bear martial soul and his durability to provoke my Martial Soul Hall branch time and time again..."

Golden Crocodile Douluo flexed his wrists, his joints popping with a crisp sound: "What, is your skin itching for a beating again?"

Zhao Wuji's face flushed red, and he roared: "Old thing, back then you Martial Soul Hall relied on your numbers; what kind of skill is that!"

"Enough."

Azure Luan Douluo spoke indifferently, his cold gaze sweeping over the three from Shrek.

"Dean Flender, this Red Fire Flood Python was chosen by our Young Master first."

"Shrek Academy... if I recall correctly, it is merely an obscure third-rate school. How dare you contend with my Martial Soul Hall?"

Flender's expression darkened.

Qin Ming, standing behind him, stepped forward and bowed respectfully: "Two seniors, this junior is Qin Ming, a level 40 Soul Ancestor who has yet to absorb a fourth soul ring."

"This Red Fire Flood Python is of vital importance to this junior, I hope that..."

"Level 40?"

Qian Anci suddenly spoke, interrupting Qin Ming.

He stepped forward slowly, his plain white robes standing out strikingly in the vibrant valley.

Those bottomless eyes quietly appraised Qin Ming.

"You are level 40, and I am level 11."

His voice was calm, yet carried a chilling indifference: "But looking at you, you seem quite unconvinced?"

Qin Ming was stunned, then gave a bitter smile: "Little brother, you must be joking. How could I..."

"Anci!" Qian Renxue said urgently, "What are you doing?"

Qian Anci did not answer.

He merely raised his right hand slowly, the Scythe of Death coalescing in his palm as grayish-white death energy swirled around his body like a thin mist.

On that pitch-black blade, dark red patterns flickered in and out of existence, radiating a chill that made one's soul tremble.

"Dean Flender."

He turned toward the Soul Saint hovering in mid-air:

"You just said that my first soul ring violates the 'Ten Core Competencies'?"

Flender's brows locked tight: "That is correct!"

"One of the Ten Core Competencies of martial souls proposed by my good friend, Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang, is that 'the limit for a first soul ring must not exceed four hundred and twenty-three years.'

This thousand-year soul ring of yours is simply..."

"Yu Xiaogang?"

Upon hearing this, Qian Anci could not help but let out a scoff.

"Isn't that just a piece of trash who relies on women to feed him? Does he even deserve to be called a 'Grandmaster'?"