But things didn't go as they wished. A bright streak of lightning appeared on the Thunder Python's head.
"Tsk! Our luck's no good today. Dad, let's find somewhere else!"
Yu Hengqing looked away from the Thunder Python. It wasn't as if Thunder Valley was the only place where they could find one.
Just as Yu Hengqing was about to give up, Yu Yuanzhen suddenly patted him on the shoulder, signaling him to turn back and keep watching.
Yu Hengqing didn't understand why his dad still wanted to wait, but he knew his dad wouldn't put him in danger. A little longer wouldn't hurt.
Before long, the Thunder Python coiled in its leaf-covered nest suddenly lifted its head and warily scanned its surroundings.
As he watched the raised head, Yu Hengqing couldn't help glancing at Yu Yuanzhen. Seeing that his dad made no move, he patiently continued watching.
The instant Yu Hengqing looked back, a purple figure abruptly appeared beside the Thunder Python.
Boom!
A deafening crash rang out. The Thunder Python, coiled atop the fallen leaves, was sent flying by the purple figure. Two wounds deep enough to expose bone appeared on its body.
The gust from the Thunder Python's fall swept away the leaves covering its nest, revealing several snake eggs as large as watermelons.
After knocking the Thunder Python away, the purple figure didn't take the opportunity to attack it. Instead, it swiftly snatched one of the Thunder Python's eggs and disappeared from sight.
By the time the wounded Thunder Python came to its senses, the figure had already stolen its child.
The enraged Thunder Python opened its cavernous jaws. In an instant, it formed fist-sized balls of lightning and madly fired them in every direction, blasting clouds of dust into the air.
Seeing this, Yu Yuanzhen wrapped one arm around Yu Hengqing and pushed off with his legs, abruptly retreating.
Yu Hengqing hadn't even seen what the Thunder Python had done when he realized that everything around him was rushing backward at incredible speed.
Only after they could no longer hear the Thunder Python's frenzied explosions did Yu Yuanzhen set the Yu Hengqing he was holding down.
The moment Yu Hengqing was put down, he looked up at Yu Yuanzhen, excitement plain on his face.
"Dad, could that purple figure just now have been a Purple Lightning Marten?"
The Purple Lightning Marten was a top-tier lightning-attribute Soul Beast, with incredible speed and explosive power.
However, they were rare and elusive, so Yu Hengqing had never considered a Purple Lightning Marten as a target.
"Mm, it was a Purple Lightning Marten. And it still had some white fur that hadn't turned purple, which means it's probably around seven or eight hundred years old."
No matter how fast a Purple Lightning Marten was, it was nothing special in the eyes of Yu Yuanzhen, a Titled Douluo.
"Then how do we find it?"
Yu Hengqing understood that since Yu Yuanzhen hadn't acted earlier, he must have a way to find the Purple Lightning Marten.
"Purple Lightning Martens are fast, but they can't keep it up for long. On top of that, it's carrying a Thunder Python egg. It can run three or four kilometers at most. We can still catch up if we go now!"
Yu Yuanzhen answered Yu Hengqing with a confident smile.
To move faster, Yu Yuanzhen carried Yu Hengqing on his back, leaped into the treetops, and pursued the Purple Lightning Marten.
Just as Yu Yuanzhen had expected, they found the Purple Lightning Marten eating the Thunder Python egg in a tree about three kilometers from the Thunder Python.
From Yu Yuanzhen's back, Yu Hengqing craned his neck to stare at the Purple Lightning Marten. At last, he got a clear look at it.
The Purple Lightning Marten was about the size of a medium-sized dog. Apart from its two yellow forepaws, its entire body was pale purple.
According to the books, the Purple Lightning Marten was nearly eight hundred years old. Once the fur on its forepaws turned pale purple, it would become a thousand-year Soul Beast.
Yu Yuanzhen set Yu Hengqing down some distance away. Two yellow, two purple, and five black Soul Rings appeared beneath his feet.
"Fifth Soul Skill, Thunder Prison!"
Yu Yuanzhen raised a hand and clenched it toward the Purple Lightning Marten. A deep-blue lightning ball abruptly appeared, struck the creature, and formed a cage of lightning around it.
Caught completely off guard, the Purple Lightning Marten was knocked unconscious by Yu Yuanzhen's Thunder Prison. Its fur stood on end, and the stench of singed hair filled the air.
Yu Yuanzhen appeared beside the lightning cage in a flash. With a wave of his hand, he dispersed the lightning, then carried the half-dead Purple Lightning Marten over to Yu Hengqing.
"Xiao Qing, take the dagger I put in your Storage Soul Tool. Stab it in the forehead and let it pass without pain!"
At his words, Yu Hengqing quickly took a forearm-length dagger from his Storage Soul Tool. A chill emanated from its blade.
Yu Hengqing gripped the dagger in both hands and plunged it down.
But the resistance he expected never came. The dagger sank into the Purple Lightning Marten's forehead as easily as if it were tofu.
Yu Hengqing pulled the dagger out. Not a drop of blood stained the blade.
The dagger's performance made Yu Hengqing's eyes light up. The weapon in his hands was definitely top quality!
"The dagger you're holding was forged by a master smith from Millennium Black Iron found in the Far North."
Seeing Yu Hengqing's interest in the dagger, Yu Yuanzhen gave him a brief introduction.
As Yu Yuanzhen spoke, a deep yellow Soul Ring slowly formed above the Purple Lightning Marten's corpse.
"Absorb the Soul Ring first!"
Looking at the Soul Ring above the Purple Lightning Marten's body, Yu Yuanzhen urged Yu Hengqing, who was still absorbed in the dagger.
At his words, Yu Hengqing put away the dagger, sat cross-legged, and guided the Purple Lightning Marten's Soul Ring onto his Martial Soul.
The instant the Soul Ring enveloped Yu Hengqing, its powerful Soul Power surged into his meridians.
Good thing my meridians have already been strengthened by Whale Rubber. I can handle this immense Soul Power with ease.
Yu Hengqing circulated his Soul Power with all his might, working to refine the Soul Ring's power flooding his meridians.
Just then, Yu Hengqing suddenly remembered that he hadn't absorbed the Purple Lightning Marten's lightning power yet.
Yu Hengqing immediately slowed the Soul Ring absorption and instead roused Leiyi's power, trying to absorb the lightning remaining in the Purple Lightning Marten's body.
Just as he'd expected, drawn by Leiyi's power, wisps of purple lightning drifted from the Purple Lightning Marten to Yu Hengqing, coursing over his skin.
Watching Yu Hengqing, Yu Yuanzhen narrowed his eyes. It seemed he had underestimated his son's external Martial Soul. It could actually absorb the lightning power within a Soul Beast.
It looks like Xiao Qing's Martial Soul has the potential to evolve a second time. Once he's strong enough, I'll take him to the back mountain.
I refuse to believe I can't pass it. If my son has the talent to become a god, he should be able to pass too!
At the thought of the trial in the back mountain, Yu Yuanzhen's resentment welled up again. He truly had no idea where he'd fallen short.
Since the Purple Lightning Marten wasn't very strong, the purple lightning didn't last long before Yu Hengqing absorbed it completely. He once again focused on absorbing the Soul Ring.
After the Soul Ring's power completed one full cycle through Yu Hengqing's body, his Soul Power, which had been stuck at level ten, finally began to change.
Yu Hengqing's Soul Power Level rose steadily: level eleven, then level twelve.
When Yu Hengqing's Soul Power Level reached thirteen, the Soul Ring's power had been completely depleted, and his aura stopped changing.
As for the Purple Lightning Marten's remnant soul, it barely put any pressure on Yu Hengqing.
Not only was Leiyi guarding Yu Hengqing's mental space—if the Purple Lightning Marten's remnant soul took one step in, it would be struck to ashes the next—but Yu Hengqing's current mental strength was enough to keep it from making waves.
Yu Hengqing opened his eyes, a flash of purple light in them, and the Soul Ring was drawn into his body.
"What's your first Soul Skill?"
Yu Yuanzhen, who was tending the campfire, asked softly as Yu Hengqing stood up.
"Quick Attack. An explosive Soul Skill!"
Before you continue