"Another day?" Yu Yuanzhen's smile stiffened slightly, then quickly returned to normal,
"Hunting a Soul Ring is all about timing. Since we've already reached the Star Dou Forest, why put it off? Don't worry. With me here, there won't be any danger."
"That's right, cousin." Yu Xiaogang, who had been silent all this time, suddenly spoke. His voice trembled a little, but he still tried to keep it calm,
"Father's right. Since we're here, we might as well get it over with. We've been looking forward to your third Soul Ring for a long time..."
Yu Tianlong's gaze swept over the father and son's faces, and the last glimmer of hope in his heart died.
He saw the guilt and unease in Yu Xiaogang's eyes, and the unyielding resolve buried deep in Yu Yuanzhen's.
This wasn't "concern." This was "reaping the harvest."
This was the moment they had been waiting for.
"The clan head is right." Yu Tianlong drew a deep breath, knowing there was no way he could leave today, no matter what.
He was facing a Titled Douluo. Even if he fought with all his might, he couldn't possibly escape under a Titled Douluo's watchful eye. Since escape was impossible, he could only adapt to the situation.
"Then I'll have to trouble you, clan head." He lowered his head, concealing the chill in his eyes.
"Clan head, I want a Soul Beast with spatial attributes!"
"A Soul Beast with spatial attributes? Shouldn't you be looking for one with stronger vitality?"
Yu Yuanzhen looked puzzled.
Yu Tianlong made up an excuse, saying his Little Gold had asked for one.
Yu Yuanzhen nodded in satisfaction. "That's more like it. Wait here. I'll be right back."
Before his words had even faded, he vanished from the spot, leaving behind only a faint ripple of Soul Power.
Yu Tianlong stood where he was, clenching and unclenching his fist inside his sleeve.
He glanced at Yu Xiaogang nearby. The latter had his head lowered and didn't dare meet his eyes, just grinding the dirt beneath his toes over and over, looking ill at ease.
"Xiao Gang," Yu Tianlong suddenly said.
Yu Xiaogang's body shuddered. He raised his head, his gaze wavering. "W-what is it, cousin?"
"You've made quite a bit of progress these past two years." Yu Tianlong's tone was flat, revealing no hint of his feelings. "You're level eleven now. That couldn't have been easy."
"I-it's all thanks to your teaching..." Yu Xiaogang's voice grew quieter and quieter, until the last few words were almost inaudible.
Yu Tianlong said nothing more. He no longer needed to confirm anything.
About the time it takes an incense stick to burn, a violent surge of Soul Power came from deep within the forest, accompanied by a shrill beast's cry. Then all fell silent again.
A moment later, Yu Yuanzhen reappeared before Yu Tianlong. In his hand, he held a small Soul Beast.
It was a rabbit.
But it was no ordinary rabbit. Its entire body was a translucent silver-gray, as if it had been condensed from moonlight. Its eyes were a deep purple, as though they held the stars within.
Its limbs were long and powerful, and faint glimmers of distorted space shone at the tips of its claws. Even in death, it was still surrounded by an almost imperceptible ripple of spatial energy.
"A mutated Soul Beast, a Space Rabbit."
Yu Yuanzhen tossed the rabbit down in front of Yu Tianlong, a hint of pride in his voice,
"It's about five thousand years old and possesses an extremely rare spatial attribute. It took quite a bit of effort to catch it. This little thing was incredibly fast. If I hadn't sealed off the surrounding space with a Titled Douluo's domain, it might really have gotten away."
He looked at Yu Tianlong, a trace of anticipation in his eyes.
"Didn't you say you wanted a Soul Beast with spatial attributes? This one should fit the bill, right? Absorbing its Soul Ring might give your Luo Sanpao a spatial ability. That's an extremely rare power."
Yu Tianlong looked at the Space Rabbit's corpse on the ground, then at the deep-purple Soul Ring floating above it, and sneered inwardly.
The Space Rabbit was indeed an extremely rare mutated Soul Beast. Its Soul Ring could indeed grant a Soul Master an ability related to space.
For any Soul Master, it was a top-tier Soul Ring they could only dream of obtaining.
But the problem was, he hadn't wanted the Soul Ring for himself at all.
He'd asked for a Soul Beast with spatial attributes, never expecting Yu Yuanzhen to actually bring him one—and an exceptional mutated specimen, at that, with five thousand years of cultivation.
This "sincerity" was enough to make one's blood run cold.
"Thank you, clan head." Yu Tianlong put on an expression of overwhelming gratitude. "This Space Rabbit is exactly what I wanted."
"Good." Yu Yuanzhen nodded with a smile. "Begin absorbing it. Xiao Gang and I will protect you."
He stepped back a few paces, seemingly to give Yu Tianlong room. But in truth, he and Yu Xiaogang stood on either side, subtly forming a pincer and blocking off any route Yu Tianlong might use to flee.
Yu Tianlong saw it all, and the last trace of hesitation in his heart vanished.
He walked up to the Space Rabbit's corpse, crouched down, and laid his hand on its cold fur.
"Little Gold, Little Silver, come out."
Golden and silver light flashed at the same time, and the two Luo Sanpaos appeared beside him.
As soon as Little Gold appeared, it sensed the oppressive atmosphere in the air. Its dark-golden eyes warily swept over Yu Yuanzhen and Yu Xiaogang, and a low growl of warning rumbled in its throat.
Little Silver also sensed that something was wrong. Its silvery-white fur stood slightly on end, and purple patterns rippled across it as it went on guard.
"Don't be nervous," Yu Tianlong soothed softly. Then, under the watchful eyes of Yu Yuanzhen and Yu Xiaogang, he did something no one had expected.
He stepped aside, yielding the Space Rabbit's corpse and the purple Soul Ring to Little Silver.
"Little Silver, you absorb this Soul Ring."
Little Silver froze for a moment, confusion flickering in its glassy eyes. But trusting its master, it didn't hesitate. It stepped forward, opened its mouth, and began absorbing the Soul Ring with spatial attributes.
Yu Yuanzhen's brows furrowed slightly.
Wasn't the Golden Luo San Pao built for strength? Why was he having the Silver Luo San Pao absorb a spatial Soul Ring? What was the boy thinking?
But he didn't stop him. As far as he was concerned, the result would be the same whichever Luo Sanpao absorbed the Soul Ring.
Once Yu Tianlong finished absorbing the Soul Ring and his Soul Power was greatly depleted, leaving him weak, that would be the perfect moment for the father and son to act.
By then, whether golden or silver, both would become nourishment for Yu Xiaogang's Luo Sanpao.
The corner of his mouth curled into an almost imperceptible sneer as he continued to wait in silence.
Meanwhile, Yu Tianlong silently counted the time.
He knew that during the process of absorbing the Soul Ring, he really would be left in a weakened state. But that didn't mean he would lie down and wait to die.
What ability Little Silver would gain after absorbing the spatial Soul Ring was something even he couldn't predict. But one thing he was certain of:
If it came to that, he would show this father and son what it meant to be a cornered beast fighting for its life.