Sword Douluo on the Brink of Death

"Uh... well..."

Ye Yun scratched his head, a few traces of embarrassment on his face, his gaze drifting unconsciously toward Di Tian beside him.

Di Tian said nothing. He simply raised his other claw and pressed it against the scales on his arm. His five fingers clenched hard, then tore viciously.

With a series of crisp ripping sounds, several dark-gold dragon scales were forcibly torn off, and blood instantly seeped from the wound.

Ye Yun felt his teeth ache just watching it. It looked painful, no different from ripping out an entire fingernail while still alive.

But when he looked at Di Tian again, his whole face was as cold as ice, as if he had merely plucked off a leaf at random. Not the slightest trace of pain showed on him.

He directly thrust his still-bleeding arm forward, holding it out in front of Ye Yun.

Impressive. You're the real ruthless one!

Ye Yun gave him a thumbs-up, then drew the blood into a test tube.

"Here, this is how it's used. I plan to draw blood from every type of Soul Beast, then use technology to create artificial soul rings according to the abilities in their bloodlines.

"I guarantee they'll be exactly the same as current soul rings. Later on, we might even be able to customize soul skills.

"I'm sure Soul Masters would rather use this kind of artificial soul ring, where they can know the soul skill in advance, than hunt Soul Beasts and gamble."

Gu Yuena picked up the test tube and gently shook it before her eyes. Her brows immediately furrowed.

The authority held by that Aeon of Erudition was actually this overwhelmingly powerful?

Even innate abilities passed down through generations in the depths of one's bloodline could be directly stripped away and extracted.

Just what were these dragon descendants, burdened with the power of the Aeon of Permanence?

She raised her eyes to look at Ye Yun and spoke calmly.

"You are indeed not simple. Though your cultivation is rather weak, in terms of wisdom, you stand at the very top among everyone I have ever seen. Speak. How do you need us to assist you?"

"It's nothing difficult."

Ye Yun raised his hand and pulled a large pile of test tubes and blank labels out of his storage ring, placing them all on the ground in one go.

"There are countless kinds of Soul Beasts across the continent. It's impossible for me to personally collect blood from each one. I'll have to trouble you with this. Of course, the older the better.

"After collecting the blood, draw the corresponding appearance on the label according to the Soul Beast species, then stick it to the outside of the test tube to distinguish them. That's all."

Gu Yuena nodded slightly, then turned her head and ordered:

"Di Tian, I leave this matter to you. Take Bi Ji and the rest of the ferocious beasts with you to handle it."

"I respectfully obey my lord's command." Di Tian bowed in acceptance.

He put away the pile of test tubes and labels on the ground and walked out of the barrier.

Xiong Jun, who was bored out of his mind outside, saw Di Tian come out and hurried forward to ask.

"Di Tian, what's that thing in your hand?"

As he spoke, Xiong Jun extended two sharp claws, wanting to pinch up a test tube and examine it closely.

But Di Tian kicked him away.

"These are not for you to play with. My lord has ordered us to collect the blood of every kind of Soul Beast into these things, then attach portraits to distinguish them. They need to be high-level ones."

After that, Di Tian told all the ferocious beasts everything that had happened inside the barrier, leaving nothing out.

"What? You want us to draw on this thing?"

Xiong Jun reached out and scratched his messy head, lowering his gaze to stare at the test tube in his palm. The tube was thin and narrow, not even as thick as one of his fingers.

Wasn't this purely making things difficult for a bear?!

His eyesight was already not that good to begin with, and even looking at tiny objects took effort. Now he had to paint on a glass tube this small? Just thinking about it made his head hurt.

Beside him, Zi Ji's brows were tightly furrowed, her heart full of irritation. Painting and the like should just be left to them. She would be responsible for making those Soul Beasts bleed, wouldn't that be fine?

Mm~ As expected, I'm clever as ever.

The other ferocious beasts all looked as if they were facing some deep and bitter grudge. What proper beast would stop cultivating and go learn painting?

Wasn't that neglecting one's proper work?

Just as all the ferocious beasts were at a complete loss, Bi Ji slowly stepped forward and spoke in a calm, gentle voice:

"Leave it to me. I learned a little before when I was bored. I can handle this small matter."

"Fine, then we'll rely on you, Bi Ji. I'll go pass the word down."

With that, Xiong Jun leapt high into the air, jumping out from the bottom of the Lake of Life. The other ferocious beasts also flew out one after another.

The Azure Bull Python and Titan Giant Ape stared at the several figures with overbearing auras and went dumb on the spot, huddling in the corner and trembling, not daring to move at all.

Xiong Jun stood tall in a high place, raised his head, and let out a furious roar.

"ROAR—!!!"

The deafening roar spread out in layer after layer, echoing through the entire Star Dou Forest.

At the same time, in another region of the Star Dou Forest.

Ning Fengzhi brought Bone Douluo, Gu Rong, and followed the phone's location signal all the way to the dense woods where the Phantom Fox clan lived.

The eighty-thousand-year Phantom Fox King entrenched in the forest sensed intruders and sprang to its feet in an instant.

The moment it detected the soul-power fluctuations of a Titled Douluo, its fur bristled, and it immediately assumed an extremely guarded attacking stance.

Its sharp fangs were bared, its eyes vicious and violent as it fixed its stare on Ning Fengzhi and Gu Rong, firmly blocking them from the Phantom Foxes of its clan.

Ning Fengzhi raised a hand to stop Gu Rong, who was about to strike, then spoke calmly, his tone carrying not the slightest hostility.

"Fox King, we mean no harm. We're not here to start a fight. My daughter and her companion are currently within your territory."

[??? You're a transformed Soul Beast too ???]

The Phantom Fox King tilted its furry fox head slightly, most of the wariness in its eyes fading, leaving only bewilderment.

Its heart was filled with confusion as it muttered inwardly:

What exactly was going on with the Soul Beasts of Star Dou Forest these days? Why had more and more Soul Beasts been transforming into human form in recent years? In the past, one might not see even one in ten thousand years, yet now they seemed to be everywhere.

Ning Fengzhi's expression remained calm, and he did not deny it. Since he currently possessed the identity of a hundred-thousand-year Soul Beast transformed into human form, there was no reason not to use it.

He said softly, "Fox King, could you call my daughter out?"

The Phantom Fox King nodded readily, then turned toward the depths of the dense forest and let out two crisp fox cries.

[A-Da! Bring those two little girls out! Their elders have come looking for them!]

Gu Rong, standing to the side, was instantly full of question marks, completely baffled.

Back when the Synesthesia Beacon was implanted, he had not been present at all. At this moment, all he could hear was the Phantom Fox King's fragmented, yipping fox cries, and he had no idea what they meant.

But looking at Ning Fengzhi, he remained perfectly composed, as if he completely understood fox language, even nodding slightly at the right moment in response.

Gu Rong inwardly cried that this was absurd. If he had not followed Ning Fengzhi for decades and known the sect master's background so well, he would have suspected that Ning Fengzhi was secretly a hundred-thousand-year Soul Beast in transformed form!

Before long, the branches and leaves in the dense forest rustled, and Ning Rongrong came out quickly from between the trees, holding Xiao Wu's hand.

At this moment, Ning Rongrong and Xiao Wu looked especially haggard.

Their eyes were bloodshot, swollen red from crying, their small faces deathly pale and still shaken with fear.

The instant she saw who had come, Ning Rongrong's eyes heated, and she choked out, "Dad! Grandpa Bone! You're finally here!"

She could no longer hold back her emotions and quickly ran forward, throwing herself tightly into Ning Fengzhi's arms.

But only a moment later, she suddenly remembered Sword Douluo, who was gravely injured and unconscious.

She hurriedly grabbed Ning Fengzhi's wrist and anxiously dragged him toward the depths of the dense forest, her voice carrying an uncontrollable sob and panic:

"Dad, hurry and save Grandpa Sword! He was badly injured by a mysterious person, and even his martial soul was crushed by him!"

Hearing this, Ning Fengzhi's expression changed drastically, and his heart sank. Not daring to delay in the slightest, he immediately followed the direction Ning Rongrong indicated and strode quickly into the dense forest.

Gu Rong's expression also turned grave in an instant, and he hurriedly followed.