Golden Dragon Claw, Thousand-Year Soul Spirit

If Golden Scale could help Tang Wulin absorb the remaining thirty percent of the Golden Dragon King seal, then Tang Wulin's current predicament would be easily resolved.

Thinking of this, Yao Lao hurriedly voiced his idea to Old Tang.

After hearing Yao Lao out, Old Tang fell into deep thought.

"I am not familiar with spirit souls, nor have I ever come into contact with one, but I think the method you mentioned is worth a try. If it fails, I will still step in to save Tang Wulin."

"I suppose you old thing still have a shred of conscience."

Having received Old Tang's agreement, Yao Lao transmitted his voice directly to Tang Wulin: "Wulin, your current situation is dire. You likely cannot absorb the remaining thirty percent of the Golden Dragon King seal within your body, but Old Tang and I have just discussed a solution. It is very likely that your spirit soul, Golden Scale, can help you absorb that thirty percent. You must find a way to recall Golden Scale and let it assist you."

Tang Wulin's consciousness was already very blurred at this moment, and he was operating the Burning Mantra almost entirely on instinct, yet he still heard Yao Lao's voice. However, he could not speak and was unable to respond.

So that's it. No wonder I kept feeling a force rampaging through my body.

Unable to reply to Yao Lao, Tang Wulin began to rely on his final shred of consciousness to recall Golden Scale.

Outside, Yao Lao had initially thought Tang Wulin had completely lost consciousness when he didn't respond, and he had nearly asked Old Tang to intervene and save him.

But once Golden Scale transformed into a streak of golden light and burrowed into Tang Wulin's body, Yao Lao understood that Tang Wulin was already following his instructions.

"Golden Scale, help me! Eat that mass of power!"

Tang Wulin shouted to Golden Scale in his heart.

Whether Golden Scale truly understood Tang Wulin's plea or was simply acting on instinct, it began to chase the remaining thirty percent of the Golden Dragon King's power within Tang Wulin's body.

The speed was not fast, but it was steady; every minute or two, Golden Scale would absorb a portion of the Golden Dragon King's power.

Correspondingly, Golden Scale's appearance changed as it absorbed more power.

Originally, there were only two small dots on its head, but soon, those dots grew larger and spread out, forming the shape of dragon horns.

Immediately following this, four golden claws grew out from beneath its body one after another. The golden scales on its body became increasingly lustrous, its eyes grew brighter, and several long, slender whiskers sprouted.

Finally, when the last bit of the Golden Dragon King's power was consumed by Golden Scale, a scale on its forehead became exceptionally striking, as if a crown had been placed upon it.

"Hoo~"

Tang Wulin let out a long breath and slowly opened his eyes.

"Yao Lao, Old Tang!"

"Is it over?" Yao Lao asked softly.

Tang Wulin nodded with a smile of someone who had survived a catastrophe: "It's over."

Yao Lao laughed heartily, walked over, and patted Tang Wulin on the shoulder: "Hahaha! I knew you kid could do it!"

"Ouch!" Tang Wulin pouted and said.

Tang Wulin then gently opened his palm, and a bone-chilling white flame appeared: "Yao Lao, your Bone Chilling Flame."

Yao Lao nodded slightly, reached out and grabbed at the void, and the Bone Chilling Flame returned to his hand before dissipating.

"Tang Wulin, you did very well," Old Tang said as he walked over. "Barring any accidents, you will be safe for the next few years. However, you must not waste your time, because the power of the next layer of the Golden Dragon King seal will be even more powerful and violent. You must improve your cultivation, spiritual power, and physical strength as quickly as possible."

Tang Wulin nodded earnestly: "Old Tang, when is the deadline for the next seal, and what heavenly treasures will I need?"

"Since this seal was broken ahead of schedule, the next one will also be triggered earlier—before you turn fourteen. As for the necessary heavenly treasures, I have already imprinted them into your memory; you can collect them slowly."

Sure enough, Tang Wulin felt four items appear in his memory, but because his head was still throbbing, he did not examine them closely.

"Since you are fine, I will take my leave. You can feel the benefits brought by this breakthrough, and you can continue to practice the Burning Mantra technique from Yao Lao. That technique is very powerful and does not lose to any technique in this world."

After saying this, Old Tang transformed into a streak of golden light and burrowed into Tang Wulin's body.

"My right hand?" Tang Wulin raised his right hand to look at it. He didn't notice any changes, though his strength seemed to have increased quite a bit.

But the moment Tang Wulin clenched his right hand, a feeling of violence surged into his heart. A layer of golden scales began to surge over his right hand, stopping only when it reached his shoulder. The golden scales on his palm became even denser, and his five fingers transformed into the shape of dragon claws.

"This is...?"

Tang Wulin tried clenching his palm.

Power. Such immense power.

Tang Wulin had never felt such formidable strength before; he felt as though he could send a soul-guided car flying with a single punch.

Thinking of this, Tang Wulin gently pinched the bathtub with two fingers.

"Crack!"

The bathtub shattered instantly, and the remaining water drained away, leaving Tang Wulin sitting on the floor.

"Your dragon claw is quite unique. Not only is it powerful, but it also seems to possess a crushing property," Yao Lao observed from the side.

"Is this the power of the Golden Dragon King?" Tang Wulin looked at his arm covered in golden scales, which shimmered with iridescent light.

Tang Wulin tried to retract the golden scales, and it happened without a hitch; with a mere thought, his entire arm returned to normal.

Tang Wulin swung his arm again, and his strength was indeed much greater than before.

Thinking of this, Tang Wulin released his martial soul.

A cluster of Blue Silver Grass appeared directly in Tang Wulin's palm. Compared to before, the Blue Silver Grass had become much thicker, and golden veins had emerged upon it. Tang Wulin tried pulling on the grass and found it to be much tougher than before.

What shocked Tang Wulin even more was that the spirit ring rising beneath his feet was no longer golden, but a deep shade of purple.

Purple represented a thousand-year spirit ring; had his spirit soul evolved into a thousand-year spirit soul again? This was far too sudden!

Tang Wulin sensed his condition and realized his spirit power level had also risen to rank thirteen, a full two-level increase from before.

"Wulin, release Golden Scale and let's take a look," Yao Lao reminded him from the side.

"Alright!"

Tang Wulin responded and immediately released Golden Scale.

In an instant, Tang Wulin was shocked once more.

Was this really the little snake Tang Wulin knew?

Golden Scale could now be fully described as a golden dragon. Not only was its body a size larger than before, but it had also grown dragon horns, dragon claws, dragon whiskers, and dragon scales; it no longer looked like a snake in any way.

Furthermore, because Yao Lao had previously tempered it with the Bone Chilling Flame, Golden Scale's body had originally been mottled with some white scales. Now, however, after absorbing thirty percent of the Golden Dragon King's power, its entire body was covered in golden scales, much like the golden scales on Tang Wulin's right hand, with iridescent light flowing across them.

"I owe this all to you, Golden Scale!" Tang Wulin reached out and gently tapped Golden Scale on the head.

Golden Scale seemed to understand Tang Wulin's words, extending its tongue to lick his finger.