A Fatal Blow-Th-This Is a Soul Bone?!

"Uh, no. If I used that move, this stupid turtle would probably be reduced to ashes."

Xu Bayan thought for a moment. The black-red glow in his palm faded, and he extended a single index finger instead. A point of dark-red light gathered at its tip.

Then he raised his hand and pointed.

A dark-red beam of energy, thinner than a thumb, instantly struck the light armor on the Mutated Dragon Scale Turtle.

Crack!

The light armor shattered like glass, even leaving a hole that pierced through the turtle shell.

However, because Xu Bayan had aimed at the edge rather than a vital point, the Mutated Dragon Scale Turtle was not killed in a single blow.

Seeing the light armor break so easily, Xu Bayan looked puzzled.

"Didn't you say it was immune to energy attacks?"

Xu Huxiao was at a loss for words, but he still said, "The Dragon Scale Turtle's Energy Armor isn't absolutely immune to energy-type Soul Skills. There's a limit."

"Father, your attack was too powerful, and..."

"And what?"

"And, Father, your fifth Soul Skill wasn't merely an energy attack, was it? It must have also contained Bloodline Power condensed into tangible form. Otherwise, with such a small output, it couldn't have pierced this Mutated Dragon Scale Turtle's light armor so instantly."

Xu Bayan laughed heartily. "I was going to set a little trap for you, but I didn't expect you to be so observant. Not bad. You truly are my son."

"..."

During the father and son's conversation, after enduring its initial fear of death, the Dragon-Scaled Black Tortoise seemed to have snapped entirely. Both turtle and snake roared in fury, becoming incredibly crazed under the pain.

Hiss-raaah!!

Yet no matter how mad it became, under the crushing pressure of that powerful Soul Power aura, it had no way to move significantly.

Unable to move did not mean it could not retaliate.

Because this Dragon-Scaled Black Tortoise possessed another innate ability: Energy Reflection!

Its Shadow Armor had shattered, but it had already absorbed fifty percent of the energy from Xu Bayan's Blood Demon Annihilation Cannon.

After the purple python on its back let out a hiss, its jaws opened beyond ninety degrees. A purple energy sphere began gathering before its mouth.

One inch, two inches... half a meter, one meter!

In the blink of an eye, a purple energy sphere one meter in diameter had formed before the purple python's gaping jaws.

But it did not stop. After a single breath, the energy projectile had grown to an astonishing two meters across.

What is this, some kind of Spirit Bomb?

Although Xu Huxiao inwardly mocked it, delight appeared in his eyes.

Just as he had imagined, this was the Dragon-Scaled Black Tortoise's Energy Reflection!

However, the enormous purple energy sphere felt far less threatening than the energy beam his father had fired from his finger.

The energy was too dispersed, and it had only absorbed fifty percent of the attack's power.

Sure enough.

When the purple python flicked its head and spat the purple energy sphere toward them, Xu Bayan simply lifted his hand and gave it a light wave.

Bang.

The enormous purple energy sphere exploded in midair. Under Xu Bayan's control of Soul Power, it made a sound no louder than a fart.

After destroying the reflected energy sphere, Xu Bayan said:

"Son, is there anything else you want to see? If not, I'll send this Mutated Soul Beast on its way."

"No, Father. Do it."

Receiving his answer, Xu Bayan walked toward the Dragon-Scaled Black Tortoise step by step. The closer he came, the weaker the Soul Beast's roars became.

Its blood was already completely out of its control, and even its heartbeat moved entirely in rhythm with Xu Bayan's footsteps.

When Xu Bayan finally stomped the turtle shell to pieces, the Mutated Soul Beast was thoroughly on the verge of death.

Then, before Xu Bayan could call out to him, Xu Huxiao stepped forward with a short blade and delivered the Soul Beast a fatal blow.

A dense purple Soul Ring slowly condensed above the Dragon-Scaled Black Tortoise's corpse.

This was an eight-thousand-two-hundred-year purple Soul Ring!

Xu Bayan kicked aside the turtle shell and was about to speak when his gaze suddenly sharpened. He stared intently at the turtle head beneath the shell.

A tempting strand of black light was peeking out from there.

It was a black skull.

They had hit the jackpot!

Xu Bayan picked up the intact black skull, his breathing quickening.

"A Soul Bone! Hahaha, my luck really is extraordinary. I actually came across a Soul Bone just like this."

Looking at the Soul Bone in his father's hand, Xu Huxiao felt an intense desire from both his body and Martial Soul to absorb it.

But his will was exceptionally strong, and he easily suppressed that desire.

"Father, is this the treasure Soul Masters dream of, a Soul Bone?"

"Yes, and it's even a relatively rare complete Head Soul Bone. So, son, do you want it?" Xu Bayan shook the Soul Bone in his hand.

"I do."

Xu Huxiao answered without the slightest hesitation.

Upon hearing his answer, Xu Bayan directly tossed the Soul Bone to Xu Huxiao and said:

"Then it's yours. You must have learned some knowledge about Soul Bones at the academy. The reason all Soul Masters pursue Soul Bones so madly is not only because they can provide an additional skill, but also because, just like Soul Rings, absorbing a Soul Bone improves a Soul Master's physique in every aspect. Soul Skill power is affected by age and has an upper limit, but what makes Soul Bones precious is that they can grow alongside the Soul Master. The power of Soul Bone skills has tremendous room for growth."

Xu Huxiao looked at the Soul Bone in his hand. Rather than putting it away immediately, he said sincerely:

"Father, I want to know whether absorbing this Soul Bone can make up for the Soul Power Level you lost. If it can, then I don't want it."

"More than gaining a Soul Bone skill, I want Father's body to recover."

That was his genuine thought. He did not intend to absorb this Soul Bone as his own Head Soul Bone; he had another use in mind for it.

Although it was better to absorb Soul Bones earlier, according to his plans, he had other choices with greater age for a Head Soul Bone in the future.

For example, the reward from the future National Soul Master Tournament.

For example, a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone guaranteed to drop and transform into the most suitable Soul Bone for its user.

Moreover, this Soul Bone's skill overlapped somewhat with the Soul Ring skill he was about to absorb. Both were defensive Soul Skills.

[Item]: Head Soul Bone (Dragon-Scaled Black Tortoise)

[Effect]: After absorption, grants diamond-shaped light armor capable of defending against physical attacks.

[Value]: Four million Gold Soul Coins

[Description]: There are countless roads, but safety comes first. As long as you wear me, safety is guaranteed—even a tractor can take the highway.

The descriptions were getting stranger and stranger. Xu Huxiao could not be bothered to complain.

This was information obtained through the Eye of Omniscience. Clearly, this Soul Bone skill was merely a simple defensive skill.

He did not want it.

Therefore, if this Soul Bone could help his father, he would not choose to absorb it.

Xu Bayan looked deeply gratified. He rubbed Xu Huxiao's head and said, "Keep it, silly boy. Absorbing this Soul Bone can't restore my level, and one more Soul Bone skill won't do much to improve my strength."

"But if you absorb it, it'll be a great help once you grow stronger in the future."

"Still, you're following the path of a powerful attacker. Judging from that Mutated Soul Beast's performance, this Soul Bone will probably provide you with a defensive Soul Skill."

"That overlaps somewhat with the Soul Ring you're about to absorb, but it's fine. Just store this Soul Bone for now. If you find a better one before level fifty, replace it."

"If you don't, then absorbing a Soul Bone will definitely be of enormous benefit to your future path as a Soul Master."

"Mm. Thank you, Father."

Xu Bayan had considered everything thoroughly, so Xu Huxiao did not need to explain further. Since it was useless to his father, he directly stored it in the Twin Dragon Rings.

"Huxiao, since you want to try absorbing a Thousand-Year Soul Ring, begin. I'll protect you. Don't be afraid—absorb it without worry. Even if you fail, nothing will happen."

That was the confidence of a Titled Douluo who had once reached beyond level ninety-five and comprehended Force.

An ordinary Titled Douluo would not dare say such words, but Xu Bayan was different. Combined with his Bear King Bloodline, his mastery over blood and vitality could be said to be unmatched, which was why he dared make such a claim.

Xu Huxiao sat cross-legged and calmed his mind. Hearing those words truly filled him with a sense of security.

But.

There was no way he could fail at absorbing a Soul Ring beyond his limit this time!

Because he still had a trump card he had not used.

Soul Power circulated around Xu Huxiao's body. In an instant, his arms transformed into Black Dragon-Scaled Arms edged in platinum, and his Martial Soul Possession was complete.

He raised his hand in a beckoning gesture, and the dense deep-purple Soul Ring slowly drifted toward him.

As it neared, he could feel just how enormous the energy contained within this eight-thousand-two-hundred-year Soul Ring was.

The deep-purple Soul Ring hovered above Xu Huxiao's head, then began to contract bit by bit and descend.

Xu Huxiao felt heavy, solid energy pouring into his body. Before long, it had filled every one of his meridians.

He had no choice but to close his eyes and focus fully on absorbing the Soul Ring.

Within his Martial Soul's inner vision.

His Platinum Dragon-Scaled Arms had transformed into two coiled Black Dragons. They roared toward the heavens and continuously devoured the purple-black Soul Ring energy from the Dragon-Scaled Black Tortoise.

Yet this Soul Ring energy, more than eight thousand years old, was as solid as a massive falling meteor.

What his Martial Soul consumed was merely the flaming aura scattered around that energy. The solid meteor core of true energy had barely diminished at all.

The purple-black Soul Ring energy carried immense pressure as it continuously pressed closer. Under that pressure, the two Black Dragons were already nearly unable to bear the burden.

If he did not take action soon, once the Soul Ring energy heavily damaged his Martial Soul, Xu Huxiao's body would also suffer severe backlash.

A Soul Master and Martial Soul were one body. They prospered together and suffered together.

The immense pressure felt by his Martial Soul was exactly what Xu Huxiao was feeling now. That suffocating sensation was extremely similar to when he had comprehended Sword Douluo Chen Xin's Sword Force.

"Eight thousand two hundred years, fifteen hundred years beyond my limit. As expected, it's no ordinary Soul Ring. But if this is all you've got, then obediently become my second Soul Ring."

"Dragon-Subduing Martial Dao Essence Realm, Blood-Essence Flower, bloom!"

With a thought from Xu Huxiao, a dark-red Blood-Essence Flower silently emerged from the palm of his right hand, which rested on his knee where no one else could see it.

This was the Blood-Essence Flower he had condensed after consuming the Demon Clam Pearl, together with countless heavenly treasures over the past two years.

It was proof that his blood and vitality had reached the first stage of the Martial Dao Essence Realm.

Yet this Blood-Essence Flower was not merely an outward sign of powerful blood and vitality. It truly contained stored, solidified Bloodline Power.

At a critical moment, it could release that Bloodline Power, increasing every physical attribute by seventy percent and entering the so-called Essence-Concentrating Cauldron State.

This differed from entering the Martial Dao Essence Realm during battle to double the power of his palm techniques.

Once he released and fused with this Blood-Essence Flower, it meant that Xu Huxiao had surpassed his previous physical limits!

As the Blood-Essence Flower in his palm spread out in a haze, a faint red blood-flame rose over Xu Huxiao's body as he sat cross-legged. The furrow in his brow gradually relaxed.

It seemed that the absorption of the Soul Ring energy was entering its ideal phase.

Seeing this, Xu Bayan looked puzzled and lowered the hand he had been about to use to interrupt the Soul Ring absorption.

His son had clearly reached the limit of his blood and vitality circulation, so why had his blood and vitality suddenly become vigorous again? And... it was far stronger than before!

It was somewhat similar to the feeling of condensing blood and vitality before releasing it again, but the secret method of solidifying and storing blood and vitality was something he had only comprehended after becoming a Soul Sage.

How had this kid managed it?!

This had to be a joke!!

Xu Bayan remained calm on the surface, but inwardly he was shocked beyond measure.

He had originally thought that his son would not give up until he hit a wall, and that failing to absorb a Soul Ring beyond his level would serve as a lesson. Xu Bayan had never imagined that a second Soul Ring could absorb one beyond five thousand years.

But now...

"Judging by the kid's condition, he's about to succeed!"