External Soul Bone

In the darkness of night, four figures darted swiftly through the forest.

They finally stopped atop a concealed platform of massive stone.

Luo Wei halted and looked around before saying,

"We'll camp here tonight. The terrain is high, so Soul Beasts will have a harder time ambushing us."

The moment they landed, Tang Ya hurried over to Lu Chen and asked in a low voice,

"Little Chen, tell me already. What Soul Skill did that Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Ring give you? Is it powerful?"

As soon as she said that, Long Aotian perked up as well.

Although the Earth Demon Ape had only one innate ability, the enhancement effects differed depending on the age of the Soul Ring.

He was also curious how much of an improvement a Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Ring could bring.

Lu Chen did not answer directly. Instead, he smiled at Long Aotian.

"Ao Tian, how much does your first Soul Skill, [Demonic Ape Transformation], increase your strength and speed by?"

Long Aotian answered honestly,

"I only absorbed a seven-hundred-year Earth Demon Ape, so it increases my strength and speed by forty percent."

Lu Chen nodded and said casually,

"My [Demonic Ape Transformation] is slightly stronger than yours. Its base enhancement is ninety percent to strength and speed."

"Hm? That doesn't sound right!"

Long Aotian immediately frowned, his tone full of confusion. "How can a Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Ring only give that little of an enhancement?

A Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Ring is equivalent to a Soul Master's fifth Soul Ring.

A single-attribute enhancement Soul Skill should provide at least a hundred percent enhancement!"

He paused, then added, "For enhancement-type Soul Rings, the more focused the enhancement is, the greater the increase.

If it enhances the whole body, a Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beast can at most provide around fifty percent.

But [Demonic Ape Transformation] only enhances strength and speed. There's no way it should be only ninety percent!"

Lu Chen smiled and waved his hand. "I wasn't finished.

Maybe because I absorbed it beyond my level, this Soul Skill gains an additional one percent enhancement for every level of Soul Power I gain, on top of the base increase."

"What!"

Long Aotian cried out in shock, his eyes widening in disbelief. "How is that possible?!"

One percent per level might not sound like much, but this was a growth-type enhancement!

By the time he reached level ninety and became a Titled Douluo, combined with the base ninety percent, [Demonic Ape Transformation] could instantly provide a hundred and eighty percent enhancement.

Nearly double the improvement!

That enhancement value was even more terrifying than an ordinary sixth Soul Ring.

It was comparable to Soul Skills produced by seventy- or eighty-thousand-year Soul Beasts!

Luo Wei, standing nearby, was also startled by that number.

Her sixth Soul Skill was also enhancement-type, increasing Soul Power and speed, yet its enhancement rate was only one hundred and fifty percent.

She had never expected Lu Chen's first Soul Skill to possess such potential.

"Could it be that the Earth Demon Ape you absorbed had some special bloodline?" Luo Wei asked doubtfully.

Lu Chen shrugged and chuckled. "Who knows?

But the reason absorbing the Soul Ring took so long this time—

Besides the Soul Ring's age being too high, I also obtained a Soul Bone."

With that, he extended his right hand and willed it to move.

His previously ordinary right hand suddenly doubled in size, becoming covered in a layer of dark golden scales.

His fingertips transformed into sharp beast claws that radiated a chilling aura. They were precisely the claw form of an Earth Demon Ape!

"An External Soul Bone!"

Luo Wei, Tang Ya, and Long Aotian all cried out in shock, their eyes brimming with delight and envy.

An External Soul Bone was a priceless treasure even rarer than a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone.

And Lu Chen had actually obtained one while absorbing a Soul Ring!

"What kind of luck is that? You got an External Soul Bone from your first Soul Ring!"

Long Aotian was rather shaken.

Lu Chen had given him far too many shocks today.

"Little Chen, what Soul Bone Skill is that?" Tang Ya immediately asked.

"Void-Splitting Shock!"

Lu Chen lowered his head to look at his right hand and explained,

"When my right hand attacks, its claws unleash a powerful shockwave.

This shockwave not only deals direct physical damage, but can also pierce through defenses.

It causes resonant damage to an enemy's internal organs and bones.

And its effect can increase as the Soul Bone's age rises."

Everyone knew that the age of an External Soul Bone could be upgraded.

Although the Soul Skill of the Earth Demon Ape's External Soul Bone was not as powerful in single-target lethality as the Darkgolden Terrorclaw Bear's,

It was the most suitable one for Lu Chen.

He could imagine that if he unleashed the Heartburst Liberation Fist while under the effects of Void-Splitting Shock,

Its power would definitely rise to an entirely new level.

"Hiss, that's terrifying!"

Long Aotian drew in a cold breath, his face full of envy. "This kind of Soul Skill is perfect for our Body Martial Souls.

If you pair it with that fist technique of yours, it'll be practically invincible!"

Lu Chen smiled and patted Long Aotian on the shoulder. "Don't worry. We'll have Soul Bones in the future."

That Darkgolden Terrorclaw Bear that Huo Yuhao had fused with in the original story was still in the Star Dou Forest.

Unfortunately, that one was also a right-hand Soul Bone.

Otherwise, Lu Chen could have "Darkgolden Terrorclaw" on his left hand and "Void-Splitting Shock" on his right.

His power would be completely maxed out.

The nights in the Star Dou Forest were especially eerie, with beast roars coming from every direction.

Sometimes low and mournful, sometimes shrill and piercing, they echoed through the pitch-black woods.

Two tents had already been erected atop the giant rock.

Tang Ya and Luo Wei shared one, while Lu Chen stayed with Long Aotian.

Since Long Aotian needed to absorb a Soul Ring tomorrow, he had specifically volunteered to take the first half of the night watch, while Lu Chen would take the second half.

As for Elder Luo Wei, she had long since crawled into her tent to sleep, with no intention of keeping watch at all.

With a Super Douluo like her present, ordinary Soul Beasts did not dare approach in the first place.

"Brother Lu, it's your turn to keep watch."

Long Aotian walked over with a yawn, a trace of exhaustion in his eyes.

Lu Chen slowly opened his eyes, exhaled a breath of stale air, then rose and pushed open the tent flap.

The instant he stepped out, he suddenly spotted a slender figure sitting beneath a large tree not far away. It was Tang Ya.

He walked over and asked curiously, "Sister Xiao Ya, why are you still awake so late?"

Tang Ya wore a fitted outfit, sitting curled up with her arms around her knees and her head buried against them.

Only after hearing his voice did she slowly raise her head, her eyes slightly red, and say softly,

"I... I miss my parents."

Lu Chen sighed inwardly and sat beside her, comforting her in a firm voice.

"Sister Xiao Ya, don't worry. Once we return from the Star Dou Forest, I'll accompany you to Heaven Dou City and help you avenge Uncle Tang and Aunt Tang.

We'll make the Ironblood Sect disappear from the continent completely!"

Tang Ya turned her head and looked at this younger brother who was younger than her, yet protected her at every turn. Tears could no longer be held back as they slid down her cheeks.

"Little Chen, am I useless? I'm almost eleven now, but my Soul Power is only level twenty-two.

If you hadn't given me that meditation method, I'd probably still be stuck at level twenty-one.

I want to become stronger quickly, but I don't dare..."

She abruptly stopped halfway through.

Biting her red lips tightly, her eyes darted away, and she did not continue.

Seeing this, Lu Chen's heart stirred, and he tested her.

"Looks like you already know about the true power hidden within your Blue Silver Grass, Sister Xiao Ya?"

"What power? What are you talking about?"

Tang Ya's eyes flickered with panic. She gave an awkward smile and tried to hide it.

"Sister Xiao Ya, are you unwilling to trust even me?"

Lu Chen stared directly at her. His gaze was clear, yet carried a faintly penetrating force.

Tang Ya felt guilty beneath that gaze.

Instinctively, she shrank her neck back and avoided his eyes.

She gave a dry laugh. "Little Chen... why are you looking at me like that? It's kind of scary."

"Sister Xiao Ya."

Lu Chen's voice was very soft, yet carried an undeniable seriousness. "We grew up together and are as close as siblings.

Over the past six months, you suffered the pain of losing your family. Has your Martial Soul... undergone some 'changes' that frighten you?"

The moment the words "frighten you" left his mouth, Tang Ya's delicate body trembled violently.

The color instantly drained from her originally rosy face, leaving it deathly pale.

She bit her lower lip hard, struggle and fear surging in her eyes.

Her hands clenched tightly around the corners of her clothes until her knuckles turned white.

After a long while, it was as though all strength had been drained from her. She lowered her head dejectedly.

Her voice was barely louder than a mosquito's buzz, carrying a faint tremble.

"You... you noticed it all, didn't you?

That aura... and that desire to devour, to destroy everything..."

She suddenly lifted her head, her eyes filled with tears.

Her expression was almost pleading. "Lu Chen, I'm so scared! I know you hate Evil Soul Masters the most. Uncle and Auntie died at their hands...

If my Blue Silver Grass really turns into something that evil, will you... will you hate me the way you hate them?

Then kill me, or... leave me forever?

I've already lost my parents. I can't lose you too..."

By the end, her voice choked up. Unable to hold it in any longer, her shoulders trembled slightly as she began to cry.