Those Who Dare Not Cause Trouble Are Mediocrities? Ma Hongjun Causing Trouble Mindlessly!

"Don't worry. I never fight a battle without preparation."

Zhou Tao said with a smile.

"I recently used a secret treasure to temper my body, completing a second transformation of my physique. Bearing a Ten-Thousand-Year Spirit Ring won't be a problem at all."

Upon hearing this, Dugu Bo immediately raised his brows.

"Tell me, what secret treasure is it?"

"Whale Rubber."

Zhou Tao answered calmly.

"Isn't that something noble families use as a tonic and aphrodisiac?"

"It can actually temper one's muscles, bones, and physique?"

"Disciple, don't try to fool this old man."

Dugu Bo's face was full of disbelief as he questioned him.

"The nobles do indeed use Whale Rubber as an aphrodisiac, but I happened to discover its true use in ancient medical texts."

"Swallowing Whale Rubber directly can greatly temper the body and strengthen one's foundation."

"It actually has such an effect? Then I'll have Yanyan eat some later as well."

"Kid, do you still have any Whale Rubber? Give me a few pieces."

"Of course I do."

Zhou Tao replied and casually took out two pieces of Whale Rubber, handing them to Dugu Bo.

After Dugu Yan consumed the Whale Rubber, her physique improved by leaps and bounds, and her Soul Power naturally broke through to level thirty.

She could now enter the forest with Zhou Tao to hunt Spirit Beasts.

Star Dou Great Forest.

Zhou Tao, Dugu Bo, and Dugu Yan entered the forest, searching everywhere for a Ten-Thousand-Year Thunderous Hell Prison Vine.

After searching for several days straight, the three of them still failed to find a Thunderous Hell Prison Vine of a suitable age.

These plant-type Spirit Beasts were already scarce to begin with and exceptionally difficult to find.

It was not until they passed through a canyon that the group finally encountered something unusual.

The skies for miles around were clear, yet heavy storm clouds hung over the canyon alone.

Lightning churned within the clouds, arcs of electric light constantly tearing through the sky as bolts of thunder struck the depths of the canyon one after another.

One glance was enough to tell that this place was far from ordinary.

"Teacher, let's go take a look."

Such a strange sight stirred Zhou Tao's curiosity.

He had already thought of a rare Spirit Beast—the Thunderous Hell Prison Vine.

The three entered the canyon together.

As the dark clouds slowly dispersed, a vine appeared in the heart of the canyon. Its entire body was dark red, while crackling arcs of lightning coiled endlessly around its branches.

It truly was a Thunderous Hell Prison Vine.

Zhou Tao could barely contain his delight.

He had finally found one of the finest plant-type Spirit Beasts.

Legend had it that

when a Thunderous Hell Prison Vine was first born, it resembled a tender bamboo shoot, no more than a short stalk.

Only an environment filled with thunderstorms could support its growth and development.

It had to endure strike after strike of lightning in order to accumulate cultivation and increase its age.

Yet lightning was violent and tyrannical. With the slightest mistake, a Thunderous Hell Prison Vine would be reduced to charcoal by a massive bolt.

However, this vine possessed extraordinarily powerful vitality. So long as it was not completely burned away, it could be reborn amid lightning, its branches growing ever more vigorous and lush.

This showed that the Thunderous Hell Prison Vine not only possessed top-tier lightning-element attacks, but also terrifying vitality that was nearly impossible to overcome.

For the Ancient Tree of Life Martial Soul, this was an incomparably suitable Spirit Ring.

Zhou Tao examined it carefully and determined that this Thunderous Hell Prison Vine had roughly fifteen thousand years of cultivation.

Its age perfectly matched his needs.

"Teacher, this will be my Third Spirit Ring."

Zhou Tao pointed at the Thunderous Hell Prison Vine in the canyon, his voice brimming with excitement.

Seeing that his future grandson-in-law had chosen it, Dugu Bo could not help but feel a headache coming on.

That was because

although this Thunderous Hell Prison Vine only had fifteen thousand years of cultivation, its actual combat power was enough to rival a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast.

On top of that, its pure lightning power naturally countered him, someone skilled in poison.

But he had no other choice.

Since his future grandson-in-law had set his sights on this Spirit Beast, then as an elder, even if he had to exhaust all his cultivation, he would help him take it down!

"Jade Phosphorus Serpent, possess me!"

Dugu Bo's expression turned grave as he gave a low shout and activated his Martial Soul possession.

"Eighth Soul Skill, Time Stasis!"

He immediately used his ultimate move, instantly pinning the Thunderous Hell Prison Vine firmly in place.

Immediately afterward, boundless poison poured forth, layer upon layer corroding and heavily wounding the vine's main body.

"Thank you for your help, Teacher."

Zhou Tao quickly stepped forward, preparing to deliver the Thunderous Hell Prison Vine its final blow.

He gripped his long blade and swung with all his strength, severing the vine's main trunk and ending the Spirit Beast's life.

Countless black specks of light drifted from the vine's remains, slowly gathering together to form a dense, heavy Ten-Thousand-Year Spirit Ring.

Before long, a complete black Spirit Ring floated above the vine's remains.

Zhou Tao sat cross-legged and calmly drew in the Spirit Ring to begin absorbing it.

The circulation of Soul Power within his body began to turn. Drawn by his will, the black Ten-Thousand-Year Spirit Ring slowly rose and settled around Zhou Tao's body.

The next instant,

a vast and violent surge of Soul Power, carrying endless crackling lightning, violently flooded into every limb and bone of Zhou Tao's body.

At the same time, a powerful spiritual shock erupted from within the Spirit Ring and drilled straight into Zhou Tao's sea of consciousness.

This was the Soul Shock one would encounter only when absorbing a Ten-Thousand-Year Spirit Ring.

Tearing pain swept through his entire body. The skin across Zhou Tao's body split inch by inch, with thin streams of crimson blood continuously seeping out.

Fortunately, with the Blue Silver Emperor Right Leg Bone empowering him, his self-healing ability far surpassed that of ordinary people.

Whenever his body was damaged, immense vitality would continuously surge forth from within him to repair his wounds.

Even if a limb were severed, it could grow back and be restored.

Relying on this formidable recovery ability, Zhou Tao gritted his teeth and endured the terrifying backlash of the Ten-Thousand-Year Spirit Ring's Soul Power.

After a long while, Zhou Tao slowly opened his eyes.

A brand-new black Spirit Ring floated beside him.

At that moment, a series of dense cracking sounds came from Zhou Tao's spine.

A section of dark purple bone slowly extended from within his body. It was lustrous like jade, its surface covered in the unique lightning patterns of the Thunderous Hell Prison Vine, and its shape resembled a segment of emerald bamboo.

The entire External Soul Bone completely emerged from his body and fell to the ground, transforming in an instant into a dark purple spear over two meters long, its sharpness chilling.

It was actually a rare External Soul Bone.

Seeing the floating purple spear, Dugu Bo's eyes widened in astonishment.

"You brat, your luck is truly blessed by the heavens."

Dugu Bo could not conceal the envy in his voice.

Even as a Titled Douluo, he had never possessed such a precious External Soul Bone.

This time, Zhou Tao successfully obtained his Third Soul Skill—the Thunderous Hell Prison Vine Whip.

Upon activating the Soul Skill, he could extend endless vines to Entangle and bind his enemies while simultaneously drawing down countless bolts of lightning to bombard them. Its power was incomparably tyrannical.

After obtaining the Spirit Ring, the three left the depths of the Star Dou Great Forest together.

They arrived at a small town on the outskirts of the forest.

Compared to before, the town had become even more prosperous and bustling, with Soul Masters from all over constantly passing through.

Dusk slowly descended.

The three found the finest inn in town, intending to rest for the night before deciding what to do the next day.

"Zhou Tao, I'm hungry. Shall we go eat?"

The moment they entered the inn's main hall, Dugu Yan wrapped herself around Zhou Tao's arm and coquettishly spoke in a soft voice.

Seeing this, Zhou Tao helplessly turned toward Dugu Bo and asked,

"Teacher, would you like to join us for something to eat?"

"You two can handle it yourselves. I'll return to my room and rest first."

After tossing out those words, Dugu Bo returned to his room alone to rest.

Dugu Yan pulled Zhou Tao to a bustling little restaurant, ordering an entire table full of dishes in one breath, looking ready to feast to her heart's content.

"I want an order of roasted rabbit meat..."

Just as the two were bent over their food, enjoying the meal, two figures suddenly walked up to their table.

"Boss Dai, look at this chick. She's quite pretty."

Ma Hongjun's shifty eyes locked directly onto Dugu Yan, his gaze filled with greed.