Azure Thunder Dragon Hawk of Eight Thousand Years

Gui Mei frowned.

The state of this soul beast was clearly abnormal; otherwise, it would never have charged toward the camp while knowing full well that Titled Douluo were ahead.

Yue Guan, in another tent, woke up at the same time.

He quickly stepped out of his tent and arrived at Gui Mei's side.

"Old Ghost, what is it?"

"A soul beast."

Gui Mei stared ahead.

"It's approaching rapidly."

Yue Guan sensed that aura as well.

The two men exchanged no further words, their soul power already circulating in unison as they prepared to take the beast down before it could breach the camp.

Behind them lay the tent where Bibi Dong and Lu Chen were resting.

Regardless of why this soul beast was approaching, they could not allow it to disturb His Holiness the Pope.

However, before the two could make a move, an even stronger aura suddenly erupted from behind them.

The tent flap was pulled aside.

Bibi Dong had already stepped out.

Her expression was cold, and her eyes held the clear displeasure of someone whose sleep had been interrupted.

She had just been holding Lu Chen, enjoying a rare, peaceful dream, only to be jolted awake by the encroaching aura of that soul beast.

This put her in a very foul mood.

Especially since the Rakshasa Evil Thought had been suppressed, she hadn't slept this comfortably in a long time.

Now, the tranquility she had finally attained had been ruined by a blind, reckless soul beast.

Bibi Dong looked toward the direction of the aura, her voice icy.

"I'll go."

Yue Guan and Gui Mei, who had been on the verge of acting, stopped in their tracks upon hearing those two words.

The next moment, Bibi Dong's figure had already bypassed them and vanished into the darkness.

Lu Chen was awake by now as well.

He stepped out of the tent and remained in the camp to wait.

Given his current strength, there was no point in rashly following when facing a soul beast bold enough to approach Titled Douluo.

Since Bibi Dong had already taken action, he only needed to wait for the result.

Deep in the forest, a cyan-green figure charged forward at high speed.

It was not particularly massive in size, but it possessed incredible velocity.

Its broad wings swept over the treetops, wreathed in cyan lightning, and its head and torso bore distinct draconic features.

Bibi Dong recognized the soul beast with a single glance.

An Azure Thunder Dragon Hawk.

It possessed dragon bloodline, lightning affinity, and flight capabilities.

Judging by its aura and size, its age was roughly eight thousand years.

The anger in Bibi Dong's eyes dissipated slightly, replaced by a hint of surprise.

They had spent the entire day searching without finding a suitable dragon-type soul beast.

She hadn't expected an eight-thousand-year-old Azure Thunder Dragon Hawk to deliver itself to their doorstep in the middle of the night.

Though she didn't know why it had ignored the pressure of Titled Douluo, it didn't matter.

What mattered was that its bloodline, attribute, and age all met the requirements for Lu Chen's first soul ring.

Bibi Dong watched the rapidly approaching Azure Thunder Dragon Hawk and said indifferently, "A stroke of luck."

"You will serve perfectly as my disciple's first soul ring."

As her voice fell, her figure vanished in an instant.

The Azure Thunder Dragon Hawk seemed to sense the danger; the cyan lightning on its wings intensified, and its speed surged as it attempted to veer off to the side.

But the gap between it and Bibi Dong was simply too vast.

The next instant, Bibi Dong appeared directly above the Azure Thunder Dragon Hawk.

Deep purple soul power condensed rapidly in her hand.

She did not use enough force to kill it outright, instead striking down with a palm aimed at the creature's body.

The purple soul power struck its target instantly.

The Azure Thunder Dragon Hawk let out a sharp cry, and the cyan lightning wrapped around its body shattered instantly.

The powerful impact caused its body to lose balance; several bloodied feathers were shaken loose by spirit power, and dragon blood sprayed down from its wounds.

Following this, it plummeted heavily from mid-air.

A dull thud echoed from the ground.

The Azure Thunder Dragon Hawk still tried to struggle to its feet, but Bibi Dong had already landed beside it.

She released another wisp of spirit power, completely suppressing the Azure Thunder Dragon Hawk's ability to resist, yet she still left it with its final breath.

A spirit beast must be dealt the final blow by the spirit master who requires the spirit ring for it to be absorbed.

Therefore, Bibi Dong did not kill it outright.

She reached out, grabbed one of the Azure Thunder Dragon Hawk's wings, and quickly returned to the camp with it.

The entire process was extremely brief.

Yue Guan and Gui Mei had not strayed far from the camp before Bibi Dong reappeared in their line of sight.

When the two saw the spirit beast in her hand, they immediately recognized the Azure Thunder Dragon Hawk.

A flash of surprise crossed Yue Guan's eyes.

"An eight-thousand-year Azure Thunder Dragon Hawk?"

Gui Mei also glanced at Lu Chen.

The arrival of this spirit beast was indeed timely.

Bibi Dong did not respond to Yue Guan, instead tossing the dying Azure Thunder Dragon Hawk directly into the center of the camp.

The Azure Thunder Dragon Hawk landed on the ground, its body twitching slightly. The azure lightning on its body was now very faint, barely enough to sustain its breathing.

Lu Chen walked forward, observing the spirit beast before him carefully.

Dragon bloodline.

Eight-thousand-year age.

Lightning attribute.

These conditions were very close to what he had envisioned.

Bibi Dong took a purple dagger from her storage spirit tool.

However, she did not hand it to Lu Chen immediately, instead confirming one last time, "Xiao Chen, this is an Azure Thunder Dragon Hawk nearing eight thousand years."

"Its bloodline and attributes are suitable for your martial spirit, but the age is also approaching the upper limit you proposed yourself."

"If you regret it now, there is still time."

Lu Chen looked at Bibi Dong.

He understood that although Bibi Dong had agreed to let him attempt a thousand-year first spirit ring, she was still worried.

For an ordinary spirit master, eight thousand years for a first spirit ring was not simply exceeding the limit; it was completely beyond reason.

Once failure occurred, the consequences would be severe.

But with this Azure Thunder Dragon Hawk already delivered before him, Lu Chen could not give up.

He said earnestly, "Teacher, I do not regret it."

Bibi Dong gazed at him.

"Are you certain?"

"I am certain."

Lu Chen did not avoid her gaze.

A moment later, Bibi Dong handed over the dagger.

"Then kill it and prepare to absorb the spirit ring."

Lu Chen took the dagger.

The purple dagger felt slightly cool in his hand.

He walked in front of the Azure Thunder Dragon Hawk, looking at the dying spirit beast, and sighed softly in his heart.

He understood the relationship between spirit masters and spirit beasts.

If a spirit master wants to break through, they must obtain a spirit ring.

At least in the current Douluo Continent, this was a path no spirit master could bypass.

If the Azure Thunder Dragon Hawk before him were in peak condition, it would show no mercy if it encountered a weak spirit master.

In this world, the strong hunting the weak was simply the most common rule.

Lu Chen did not hesitate for long.

He gripped the dagger tightly, aimed at the Azure Thunder Dragon Hawk's head, and thrust it down with force.

The dagger sank into the vital point.

The Azure Thunder Dragon Hawk's body tensed abruptly, its wings struggling instinctively a few times, and a faint, low cry escaped its throat.

After a few breaths, it completely ceased all movement.

As the Azure Thunder Dragon Hawk died, specks of deep purple light began to coalesce above its corpse.

Soon, a deep purple spirit ring slowly emerged.

The spirit ring hovered above the Azure Thunder Dragon Hawk, radiating the spirit power fluctuations characteristic of an eight-thousand-year spirit beast.

Yue Guan and Gui Mei both turned their gazes toward Lu Chen.

Even as Titled Douluo, they had never personally witnessed a child who had just awakened their martial soul attempting to absorb a first spirit ring approaching eight thousand years.

Bibi Dong's expression became exceptionally grave.

"Begin."

Lu Chen nodded, wasting no time.