External Soul Bone

Before Lin Yao could reply, the Soul Emperor planted both feet and charged across the pool. His hands had already transformed into wolf claws, which he thrust straight into the Shadow Earth Dragon's jaws.

The Shadow Earth Dragon's mouth jutted far out from its head. Now that the Soul Emperor had seized it with both hands, it had lost its main means of attack. Its claws scrabbled wildly at the ground, leaving it in a sorry state.

The Soul Emperor said nothing. He simply seized the opportunity to fling the Shadow Earth Dragon out of the bushes, sending it crashing hard onto the ground on the other side of the pool.

The Soul Emperor flipped the dragon onto its back, belly up. As its four legs began to flail, trying to right itself, the Soul Emperor tossed out a U-shaped shackle and pinned its neck to the ground.

After the shackle closed around the dragon's neck, the Soul Emperor rushed up to it and ran his fingers over its belly, as if testing how soft or tough its hide was.

"This is a Soul Beast around two to four thousand years old. You've had unbelievably good luck—finding a Soul Beast suited to you so quickly is rare even in the Star Dou Great Forest's Soul Hunting grounds." When the Soul Emperor looked up, a smile had already spread across his face. He beckoned to Lin Yao.

Lin Yao curled his lips into a smile, then stepped forward to look at the Shadow Earth Dragon.

The Shadow Earth Dragon's resentful gaze fixed on Lin Yao, its fury so intense it seemed ready to tear him to shreds. Lin Yao paid it no mind and raised his fist.

As his fist came down, black scales had already appeared on his hand, and the phantom of the Ender Dragon appeared behind him. He had activated Martial Soul Possession and Dragon Transformation at the same time.

In this state, this was the strongest punch Lin Yao could throw without using a Soul Skill. A sharp crack rang out as the bones in the Shadow Earth Dragon's neck fractured under his blow.

The Shadow Earth Dragon let out a scream and glared at Lin Yao with even greater hatred.

Lin Yao remained unmoved by its gaze and swung his fist again. A purple Soul Ring rose into the air as the Shadow Earth Dragon's blood spilled out.

Lin Yao sat cross-legged and reached out to guide the Soul Ring toward his Ender Dragon Martial Soul.

The Ender Dragon Martial Soul circled above Lin Yao's head. Each pass stirred up waves of Soul Power, gradually compressing the purple Soul Ring and drawing it into Lin Yao's body.

The Soul Emperor fell silent and leaned against a nearby tree, quietly guarding Lin Yao as he went through the Martial Soul Fusion process. In the Star Dou Great Forest, this was a crucial step.

During the absorption of a Soul Ring, a Soul Master was at their most vulnerable.

At that time, a Soul Master could not use Soul Skills to defend against a sneak attack. Without someone standing guard, even the weakest Ten-Year Soul Beast could kill a high-ranking Soul Master in an instant.

The Soul Emperor understood this well. Though he leaned against the tree trunk as if resting, his gaze continually swept in every direction, wary that some powerful Soul Beast might come to drink and interrupt Lin Yao's Soul Ring absorption.

Fortunately, Lin Yao's absorption this time did not take long. After only an hour and a half, he opened his eyes.

When he rose to his feet, Lin Yao had left his One-Ring Soul Master status behind and officially entered the Two-Ring stage.

Feeling the surging Soul Power within him, Lin Yao rolled his shoulders and stretched his limbs, then gave a satisfied shrug. "The Soul Skill I got from the Shadow Emperor Dragon is pretty good."

"Don't casually reveal your Soul Skills to anyone, not even people you know well." The Soul Emperor waved a hand, signaling Lin Yao not to tell him what the Soul Skill was. Then he walked over.

The Soul Emperor studied the Shadow Emperor Dragon's hateful gaze, then crouched down to search its body. "The odds of a thousand-year Soul Beast dropping a Soul Bone are slim, but with a look that hateful, it can't hurt to check."

Lin Yao knew what the Soul Emperor meant. He did not urge him to hurry, but watched his movements quietly, learning as he went. That way, he could put the knowledge to use when he had no Soul Emperor with him.

There was good reason to inspect every Soul Beast one killed. Even if Lin Yao, with his transmigrator's perspective, thought Soul Bones beneath him, he could still sell one through a merchant guild for a good price. It was certainly worth spending a little time looking.

When the Soul Emperor's fingers reached the Shadow Emperor Dragon's claws, his expression suddenly changed. Then, looking up in delight, he said, "My heavens! You really did make it drop a Soul Bone—and it's the most precious kind, an External Soul Bone!"

As he said "External Soul Bone," the Soul Emperor deliberately lowered his voice, afraid that some passing Soul Master might hear and demand a share.

An External Soul Bone could grow along with its Soul Master's level. So even a thousand-year External Soul Bone was still immensely valuable. Some people would even kill for one.

The Soul Emperor's eyes grew hotter and hotter. Lin Yao was already prepared to hand over the Soul Bone, but the Soul Emperor immediately cut open the Shadow Emperor Dragon's claw and placed the Soul Bone in Lin Yao's hands. "This is worth far more than a Soul Ring. Sit down and absorb it. I'll stand guard!"

Lin Yao was surprised by how firmly the Soul Emperor held back the greed in his eyes. Curious, he looked up at him and asked, "Uncle Lin, don't you want this Soul Bone?"

The Soul Emperor shook his head, then said, "Master Lin has shown me immeasurable kindness. This Soul Bone dropped while Young Master Lin was hunting for a Soul Ring, so it rightfully belongs to you. Hurry and absorb it. It's a treasure worth far more than a Soul Ring. If some expert comes along and tries to snatch it, we'll be the ones losing out."

Lin Yao took the Soul Bone and said to the Soul Emperor, "Then thank you. I'll tell my father about this and ask him to give you an additional reward."

As he spoke, Lin Yao took hold of the Soul Bone. It was a left-hand bone, so he gripped it with his left hand. The Soul Bone's energy immediately began flowing into it.

The Ender Dragon's Martial Soul imprint glowed brightly on Lin Yao's body, clearly helping him suppress the anger and unwillingness within the Soul Bone.

The Soul Emperor continued to keep watch over their surroundings, afraid that someone might interrupt the Soul Bone fusion.

Lin Yao absorbed the Soul Bone without a hitch. The process was even a little shorter than the time it had taken to absorb his Soul Ring.