"Wait!" Yu Tieshan hurriedly grabbed Yu Hong. "That's a six-hundred-year Soul Beast! You're only level 10. You won't be able to withstand a six-hundred-year Soul Ring!"
According to common knowledge on the Douluo Continent, when a Soul Master acquired their first Soul Ring, it was best to choose a Soul Beast between one hundred and four hundred years old.
Those with better talent could try one over four hundred but under five hundred years old. Those with exceptional talent could try one around five hundred years old.
But six hundred years?
That was suicide!
"Captain Yu, my constitution is rather special," Yu Hong said calmly. "I can withstand a six-hundred-year Soul Ring."
"You..." Yu Tieshan furrowed his brows. "Do you know what you're saying? If you fail to absorb a Soul Ring, the consequences range from serious injury to death!"
"I know." Yu Hong nodded. "But I'm confident I can do it."
Yu Tieshan fell silent.
He remembered the rumors about Yu Hong over the past four years.
The boy trained and cultivated desperately every day. He never slacked off or complained.
In four years, he had gone from level 0.5 to level 10. His perseverance and hard work were plain for the whole clan to see.
Besides, the deputy clan leader thought very highly of the boy and had specifically instructed him to take good care of Yu Hong.
"Are you really confident?" Yu Tieshan asked again.
"I am." Yu Hong's tone was firm.
Yu Tieshan took a deep breath, then finally nodded. "All right, let's try. But be careful while absorbing it. If anything feels wrong, stop immediately. Understand?"
"Understood."
Yu Tieshan turned to the other team members. "Get ready. Our target is that Sun-Day Dragon Lizard. Remember, don't injure its vital organs. Yu Hong has to kill it himself."
"Yes!"
The group spread out and quietly surrounded the Sun-Day Dragon Lizard.
The Sun-Day Dragon Lizard seemed to sense something. The short horns on its head suddenly lit up, and it leaped off the boulder.
"Attack!"
At Yu Tieshan's command, several figures rushed forward at once.
The Sun-Day Dragon Lizard let out an angry hiss and opened its mouth, spitting out a beam of searing light.
That was its attack, the Sun-Day Ray.
Yu Tieshan darted aside to evade the beam, then struck the Sun-Day Dragon Lizard with his palm.
The Sun-Day Dragon Lizard's body stiffened, and its movements visibly slowed.
The other team members seized the chance to close in, using various methods to restrain it.
In less than the time it took to brew a pot of tea, the Sun-Day Dragon Lizard had been subdued. It lay motionless on the ground, with only the short horns on its head still flickering in defiance.
"Yu Hong, come over!" Yu Tieshan called.
Yu Hong stepped forward and drew a short knife from his waist.
He had prepared it specially before setting out. Its blade was sharp and gleamed coldly.
The Sun-Day Dragon Lizard fixed its eyes on Yu Hong, fury and resentment filling its gaze.
Without hesitation, Yu Hong raised the short knife, aimed at its vital organs, and plunged it down hard.
Thwack!
Blood spurted out. The Sun-Day Dragon Lizard's body thrashed violently a few times, then gradually fell still.
At the same time, a yellow ring of light rose from the Sun-Day Dragon Lizard's body.
The Yellow Soul Ring slowly spun in the air, radiating a mysterious glow.
Yu Tieshan's expression grew grave. "Yu Hong, are you really going to absorb it? It's not too late to change your mind!"
Yu Hong shook his head and sat cross-legged beside the Sun-Day Dragon Lizard's corpse.
He closed his eyes and began guiding the Yellow Soul Ring into his body.
The Yellow Soul Ring slowly descended and entered Yu Hong's body.
The next moment, a surge of violent energy poured into him.
It was like a frenzied beast, rampaging through his meridians and trying to tear his body apart.
Yu Hong's face turned pale in an instant, and fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.
Damn, it really is powerful... he cursed inwardly, but he didn't panic.
Over the past four years, he had taken Whale Rubber every day, and his body had long since been strengthened to an astonishing degree.
The energy surge would have been more than an ordinary level 10 Soul Master could withstand. Though painful, it was still within Yu Hong's limits.
He gritted his teeth and circulated his Soul Power with all his might, refining the violent energy bit by bit.
Time passed, second by second.
Yu Tieshan and the other team members watched Yu Hong nervously, ready to rush in and save him at any moment.
A quarter of an hour passed.
Yu Hong's face remained pale, but his body showed no abnormal signs.
Half an hour passed.
Yu Hong's breathing gradually steadied, and color began to return to his face.
An hour passed.
Buzz!
A yellow light burst from Yu Hong, and the Yellow Soul Ring hovered steadily beneath his feet.
Yu Hong opened his eyes and let out a long breath of stale air.
"Success!"
Yu Tieshan and the other team members all breathed a sigh of relief, their faces bright with excitement.
"Yu Hong, how do you feel?" Yu Tieshan hurriedly asked.
Yu Hong stood up and stretched, feeling the surging power within him. The corners of his mouth lifted slightly.
"Great. Better than I expected."
Yu Hong looked down at the Yellow Soul Ring beneath his feet, his heart full of joy.
He had successfully absorbed the six-hundred-and-twenty-year Soul Ring of the Sun-Day Dragon Lizard!
His level had now reached 11, though unfortunately, much of his Soul Power had been absorbed by the White Stone of the Ancients.
Just as Yu Hong was lamenting that, he noticed something unusual about his Martial Soul.
Yu Hong didn't summon his Martial Soul to inspect it. He planned to take a closer look after returning.
As for his Soul Skill, it was called Burst Stream of Destruction.
Yu Hong was very familiar with Burst Stream of Destruction.
Burst Stream of Destruction was a Normal Spell Card exclusive to Blue-Eyes White Dragon. Its effect was to destroy all monsters on the opponent's field. It could only be activated if Blue-Eyes White Dragon was on his field, and his Blue-Eyes White Dragon couldn't attack during the turn he activated it.
Yu Hong was a little puzzled. How could the White Stone of the Ancients unleash Burst Stream of Destruction?
At the same time, he was curious about what effect Burst Stream of Destruction would have as a Soul Skill.
Still, this skill made Yu Hong even more certain of one thing.
His Jade Egg Martial Soul was the White Stone of the Ancients, and his Martial Soul could definitely evolve into Blue-Eyes White Dragon.
"All right, let's head back."
The group left the Soul Hunting Forest and headed back toward the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.
Along the way, Yu Tieshan and the other team members kept glancing at Yu Hong, their eyes filled with amazement.
They had witnessed the whole process of Yu Hong absorbing a six-hundred-and-twenty-year Soul Ring. The shock of it still lingered in their hearts.
A level 10 Soul Master absorbing a Soul Ring from a Soul Beast over six hundred years old was an exceedingly rare occurrence across the entire Douluo Continent.
What was more, Yu Hong's Martial Soul was that Jade Egg, which looked completely incapable of attacking.
"Yu Hong, you really have hidden depths," Yu Tieshan couldn't help exclaiming. "You actually endured a Soul Ring over six hundred years old."
Yu Hong smiled. "I was just lucky."
"Lucky?" Yu Tieshan shook his head. "Luck can't explain this. Your physical strength is greater than that of many level 20 Soul Masters. How exactly have you been training these past four years?"
Before you continue