Little Silver crouched on Yu Tianlong's shoulder. Its silvery-white fur was dotted with mysterious purple markings, and a small bump on its forehead gave off faint elemental fluctuations.
For the past six months, it had gone to Dugu Bo's residence for an "extra meal" once every half month. The total amount of poison it had absorbed was already considerable, and its control over poison grew stronger by the day.
"Plenty of vitality... Let me think." Dugu Bo rubbed his chin, searching his memory for Soul Beasts in the Sunset Forest that fit the bill. "In this area... I've got it."
He suddenly stopped and pointed southeast. "There's a stretch of volcanic rock over that way. A Soul Beast called the Blazing Sun Snake lives there. It naturally controls fire-element energy and has extremely vigorous blood and qi. It's one of the strongest Soul Beasts of its rank. If we can find one of a suitable age, it would be a good choice."
"The Blazing Sun Snake?" Yu Tianlong's eyes lit up. "Then that's the one!"
The two changed direction and headed for the volcanic rock field Dugu Bo had mentioned.
About half an hour later, the vegetation around them gradually thinned, replaced by patches of dark red rock and cracked earth. The air reeked of sulfur and scorched soil, and it was much hotter than in the forest.
"We're here." Dugu Bo stopped and sharply surveyed the rocky terrain ahead.
"Blazing Sun Snakes like to live in hot places like this. They usually hide in rock crevices or burrows. Be careful. They're very fast, and they can spit out scorching flames."
As soon as he finished speaking, a crimson shape suddenly shot out from behind a huge rock about twenty meters ahead!
It was a giant snake about four meters long and as thick as a bowl, its body covered in fiery red scales that shimmered with scorching light beneath the sun.
Its head was triangular, and its vertical pupils glowed like burning coals. Its tongue flicked in and out of its mouth, each breath sending out a wave of heat that made the sand and gravel on the ground sizzle.
Most striking was the row of raised, fin-shaped scales along its back. They looked like flames and swayed slightly as it moved.
"A Blazing Sun Snake! Judging by its size and aura... it's at least three thousand five hundred years old!" Dugu Bo's eyes narrowed. He instinctively stepped forward, ready to attack.
But Yu Tianlong held out a hand to stop him. "Senior, let me handle it."
"You?" Dugu Bo furrowed his brow. "This is a Soul Beast that's lived for over three thousand years. Even with your First Soul Ring boosting you, you—"
Before he could finish, Little Silver on Yu Tianlong's shoulder moved first.
"Luo!"
Little Silver gave a clear cry and leapt from Yu Tianlong's shoulder, tracing a silvery-white arc through the air as it pounced toward the Blazing Sun Snake. At the same time, it opened its tiny mouth, and an invisible suction force spread from within.
Sensing danger, the Blazing Sun Snake suddenly opened its jaws. A blazing red fireball gathered deep in its throat, about to shoot out!
But before the fireball could leave its mouth, a powerful suction force seized it. It turned into streams of crimson energy that broke free of the snake's control and surged toward Little Silver!
"Hiss?!" A humanlike look of shock flashed through the Blazing Sun Snake's vertical pupils.
It had lived for over three thousand years, yet this was the first time it had ever encountered an opponent that could directly absorb its flames!
Little Silver hovered in midair, excitement sparkling in its glassy eyes as it frantically absorbed the fire-element energy the Blazing Sun Snake spewed out.
A faint crimson glow gradually spread over its silvery-white fur, its colors interweaving with the purple markings and making it look especially uncanny.
As its flames were steadily drawn away, the firelight around the Blazing Sun Snake's body visibly dimmed.
It hissed furiously and tried to pull back its flames, but Little Silver's suction clung to it like a maggot burrowing into bone. It couldn't shake free!
At that moment, while the Blazing Sun Snake was distracted by Little Silver, Little Gold sprang into action!
"Roar—!"
A low, resonant growl rose from Little Gold's throat. Its cry was no longer the childish "Luo, Luo" of half a year ago. Now it carried a hint of true dragon might!
It drove off with all four legs, stamping two deep prints into the ground. Its body shot forward like an arrow loosed from a bow, reaching the Blazing Sun Snake in the blink of an eye!
Sensing the deadly threat, the Blazing Sun Snake twisted desperately, trying to whip Little Gold with its tail.
But with most of its flames drained by Little Silver, its speed and strength had plummeted. Its tail had barely lifted when Little Gold's right claw came crashing down with enough force to tear through anything!
"First Soul Skill, Golden Dragon Claw!"
Golden light burst forth! Little Gold's right claw instantly swelled, covered in an even denser layer of golden dragon scales. Five claws, several inches long and gleaming with dark golden light, sprang from its fingertips!
A vicious phantom of the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear coiled around the claws, while deeper within, an even more ancient and noble dragon's might stirred awake!
"Riiip!!!"
The golden claw-light slashed through the air, leaving a dazzling streak behind.
The Blazing Sun Snake's tough body, covered in crimson scales, was like paper before Little Gold's claws. They tore through it with ease!
Blood sprayed across the dark red rocks, sizzling as it struck.
The Blazing Sun Snake didn't even have time to cry out. One claw severed its head and the upper part of its body. The rest of it thrashed and writhed wildly on the ground, but soon lost its strength, collapsed, and lay still.
A deep purple Soul Ring slowly rose above the snake's corpse.
Instantly slain.
An instant kill through perfect teamwork.
Dugu Bo stood not far away, watching with his mouth slightly agape. For a long moment, he couldn't close it.
He had been ready to step in and rescue Yu Tianlong. He had even planned out several ways to handle things if the fight took an unexpected turn.
But... he hadn't even had time to lift a finger, and the battle was already over?
Little Silver dropped from the air and landed lightly on Yu Tianlong's shoulder. It burped, puffing out a wisp of smoke with a spark in it, its glassy eyes full of satisfaction.
Apparently, the fire-element energy it had just absorbed had filled it halfway.
Little Gold stood beside the Blazing Sun Snake's corpse and lowered its head to sniff the steaming blood. A flicker of desire crossed its eyes, but it restrained itself from devouring the carcass on the spot. Instead, it turned to Yu Tianlong, waiting for its master's order.
Yu Tianlong looked at the Blazing Sun Snake's corpse, its head severed with a single claw, then at the slowly spinning purple Soul Ring. The corner of his mouth twitched.
"Good grief... When did you two learn to work together?"
He had planned to fight it himself and test what he'd gained from training over the past six months. But the two little fellows hadn't given him a chance to step in. They'd done the job themselves.
And they'd worked together with such seamless coordination. Little Silver absorbed the flames and weakened the enemy, while Little Gold dealt the finishing blow head-on.
They had clear roles and moved as smoothly as flowing water, as if they'd rehearsed it countless times.
"Luo!" Little Gold lifted its head and cried proudly, as though saying, "Of course! Who do you think we are?"
"Luo, Luo!" Little Silver refused to be outdone. It bounced twice on Yu Tianlong's shoulder, then rubbed its cheek against his face as if asking for praise.