An Unexpected Turn

Yu Leiting fell silent for a moment, then finally nodded helplessly.

"All right, young master." Yu Leiting looked at Yu Xiaogang. "We'll help you subdue this Thunder Lizard. But you must be careful when absorbing its Soul Ring. If anything feels wrong, tell us immediately, and we'll help you stop the absorption."

"I know, I know." Yu Xiaogang waved impatiently. "Hurry up and get to it!"

Yu Leiting took a deep breath and turned to the other team members.

"Get ready. Our target is that Thunder Lizard. Remember, don't hit anything vital. The young master has to kill it himself."

"Yes!"

The eight men spread out and quietly surrounded the Thunder Lizard.

The Thunder Lizard seemed to sense the danger. It snapped its eyes open, the two feelers on its head trembling violently as the light of its electric orb suddenly grew blindingly bright.

"Roar!"

The Thunder Lizard let out an angry roar and spat a thick bolt of lightning from its mouth.

"Scatter!"

Yu Leiting shouted and blurred aside, dodging the lightning bolt.

The other team members dodged as well, launching attacks on the Thunder Lizard from different directions.

The Thunder Lizard was ferocious, but facing eight experienced Soul Hunters, it gradually fell behind.

After the time it took for a stick of incense to burn, the Thunder Lizard had been completely subdued, lying motionless on the ground.

"Young master, it's ready," Yu Leiting called.

Yu Xiaogang stepped forward and drew a dagger from his waist.

He gazed at the enormous Thunder Lizard before him, his heart brimming with excitement and anticipation.

A six-hundred-and-fifty-year Soul Ring!

Thirty years older than Yu Hong's!

Once he absorbed this Soul Ring, he'd be able to leave Yu Hong in the dust!

"Die!"

Yu Xiaogang raised the dagger and plunged it viciously into the Thunder Lizard's vital spot.

"Splurt—"

Blood gushed out. The Thunder Lizard's body thrashed violently a few times, then gradually fell still.

At the same time, a yellow ring of light rose from its body.

Yu Xiaogang's eyes shone with a frightening brightness. He couldn't wait to sit cross-legged and began guiding the Soul Ring into his body.

The yellow Soul Ring slowly descended and entered Yu Xiaogang's body.

The next moment...

"Ah!!!"

Yu Xiaogang let out a piercing scream.

An utterly violent surge of energy flooded into his body, like ten thousand bolts of lightning striking him all at once, leaving him in unbearable agony.

"Something's wrong!" Yu Leiting's face changed drastically. "The young master can't take it! Quick, help him stop absorbing it!"

The violent energy rampaged through Yu Xiaogang's body, as if countless sharp blades were hacking through his meridians.

Yu Xiaogang's face turned deathly pale. Beads of sweat rolled from his forehead, and his whole body trembled violently.

"Ahhh!!! It hurts!!!"

His screams echoed through the entire forest, sending nearby birds and beasts fleeing in every direction.

Yu Leiting and the others hurried forward, but didn't dare intervene rashly.

Once the process of absorbing a Soul Ring began, outside interference could cause even greater harm.

But if they did nothing, in his current state, Yu Xiaogang might well be burst apart by the Soul Ring's energy!

"Elder Yu! Quickly!" Yu Leiting shouted toward the back of the group.

An old man in white robes hurried over.

This elder was Yu Qingfeng, one of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's rare healing-type Soul Masters. His Soul Power had reached level sixty-three.

Yu Yuanzhen had specifically placed him in the group as a precaution.

No one had expected that precaution to be needed.

Yu Qingfeng went to Yu Xiaogang's side and pressed both hands against his back. A gentle green light welled from his palms and slowly flowed into Yu Xiaogang's body.

"Young master, stop resisting and let the Soul Ring dissipate on its own!" Yu Qingfeng said gravely.

But how could Yu Xiaogang hear him?

His mind was consumed by pain. He couldn't think about anything at all.

The violent energy rampaged through his body, and every impact made him feel as though he were about to be torn to pieces.

"No, he's already lost consciousness!" Yu Qingfeng frowned deeply. "We have to forcefully stop the absorption!"

He increased the flow of Soul Power. The green light grew more intense, and with his other hand, he gently struck Yu Xiaogang's chest.

The yellow Soul Ring shuddered violently, then was forced out of Yu Xiaogang's body.

The Soul Ring, separated from its host, drifted in the air for a moment. It gradually dimmed, then finally dissolved into specks of light and vanished.

The six-hundred-and-fifty-year Thunder Lizard Soul Ring was gone just like that.

But no one cared about that now.

Everyone's attention was fixed on Yu Xiaogang.

Yu Xiaogang's body slumped to the ground, his face as pale as paper, a trace of blood still at the corner of his mouth.

His breathing was weak and rapid. He looked as if he could stop breathing at any moment.

"The young master's meridians are severely damaged. He needs treatment immediately!" Yu Qingfeng said gravely, his hands constantly releasing healing Soul Power.

Green light enveloped Yu Xiaogang's body, slowly repairing his damaged meridians.

The minutes ticked by.

After a quarter of an hour, Yu Xiaogang's breathing finally steadied somewhat, and his face changed from deathly pale to merely pale.

"He's stable for now." Yu Qingfeng let out a long breath. Fine beads of sweat had appeared on his forehead. "But his meridians are too badly damaged. He needs proper recuperation back home and must not cultivate for at least three months."

Yu Leiting's expression was grim.

Three months without cultivation?

Wouldn't that mean the gap between Yu Xiaogang and Yu Hong would only grow wider?

"Let's get back first," Yu Leiting said gravely. "Lift the young master. We're returning to the clan immediately!"

"Yes!"

Two team members carefully lifted Yu Xiaogang, and the group hurried toward the Soul Hunting Forest's exit.

Yu Qingfeng stayed by Yu Xiaogang's side the entire way, continually channeling healing Soul Power into him to keep his vital signs stable.

The journey, which would normally have taken half a day, took them only two hours.

By the time they returned to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, it was completely dark.

"Quick! Take the young master to the infirmary!" Yu Leiting shouted.

The servants who had been waiting at the entrance hurried over, placed Yu Xiaogang on a stretcher, and rushed toward the clan infirmary.

Yu Qingfeng went with them. He needed to work with the other healing-type Soul Masters at the infirmary to give Yu Xiaogang more comprehensive treatment.

Yu Leiting went alone to Yu Yuanzhen's residence.

He had to report what had happened to the clan leader.

Though he knew the news would make the clan leader very unhappy.

Yu Yuanzhen's study was brightly lit.

Yu Leiting stood before the desk with his head bowed, reporting everything that had happened in the Soul Hunting Forest, from beginning to end.

Behind the desk, Yu Yuanzhen's expression grew grimmer by the moment.

"What did you say?" Yu Yuanzhen's voice was low and heavy. "Xiaogang failed to absorb the Soul Ring?"