Two External Soul Bones Revealed, Terrifying Stamina? Arrival at the Far North's Outer Reaches?

Yin Changqing squeezed his mother's hand and said gently, with quiet confidence:

"Don't worry, Mother. I know what I'm doing. I'd never gamble with my own foundation.

Unless I'm absolutely certain, I won't force myself to absorb a soul ring beyond my level."

Yin Yu looked at his son approvingly and said in a deep voice:

"Changqing has always been steady. He plans before he acts. He gets that from me.

Since he's confident he can absorb a sixty- to seventy-thousand-year soul ring, we need to rethink our goals in the Far North."

Tuoba Xi pulled over a map and pointed to a vast white region.

"The Far North is roughly divided by danger into the outer icefields, the Inner Ring Snowfield, and the Frozen Forest at its core.

Soul beasts aged sixty to seventy thousand years are virtually nonexistent on the outskirts. Most dwell deep in the inner ring or within Blizzard Canyon.

As for Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts, most hide in the Far North Core Circle."

Yin Changqing studied the map and calmly assessed it.

"The core circle is extremely dangerous. We shouldn't go there unless we have no other choice.

Our objective is clear: we'll operate only in the Inner Ring Snowfield and Far North Canyon."

"For Mother's ninth soul ring, we need to find a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast. Another Sub-Dragon would be ideal."

There was no need to explain what a hundred-thousand-year soul ring meant in this era.

With Tuoba Tingxue's current Taotie Holy Dragon Martial Soul, absorbing one would make her even more formidable!

Tuoba Tingxue nodded.

"A hundred-thousand-year soul ring would be best, of course.

But Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts are powerful and rare. It isn't the only option.

For my ninth soul ring, compatibility with my Martial Soul and a solid foundation matter most.

The Taotie Saint Dragon is already formidable. As long as the attributes match, an eighty- or ninety-thousand-year soul beast will be enough to carry me across the threshold to Titled Douluo."

Yin Yu waved a hand decisively.

"Don't worry, Ting Xue. No matter what it takes, we'll find you a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast on this trip to the Far North!"

Yin Changqing drew a circle along the edge of the inner ring on the map.

"As for my fifth soul ring, I'm looking for a sixty- to seventy-thousand-year soul beast with light or holy attributes, or an Aurora Sub-Dragon or one of the Frost Saint Dragon lineage native to the Far North.

Even a pure Dragon Emperor Variant would work for my fifth soul ring, so long as its body and Blood Qi are powerful enough."

"Good. Our targets are clear."

Yin Yu settled the matter.

"My father-in-law and I have entrusted all Sect affairs to our loyal elders, and the formation protecting the Sect has been fully activated.

There's no time to lose. We leave at dawn tomorrow!"

On the morning of the third day.

The four stood in the wind on a secluded departure platform behind the Holy Dragon Sect's main peak.

Dugu Bo, who was responsible for supporting and protecting them, was already waiting along the route beyond the Sect's perimeter.

"Let's go!"

With a low command, Tuoba Xi pressed a foot lightly against the ground. He shot upward as a streak of golden light, soaring into the clouds.

Yin Yu wrapped an arm around Tuoba Tingxue's slender waist. Black light surged around him as his vast Soul Power formed a tangible current of wind, lifting them both into the air after Tuoba Xi.

A pair of light-and-dark dragon wings suddenly spread behind Yin Changqing.

They were the External Soul Bone known as the Light-Dark Saint Dragon Wings!

A few years earlier, Yin Changqing had used trips to hunt soul beasts to stage chance discoveries and reveal both the Light-Dark Saint Dragon Wings and the Darkgolden Terrorclaw Right Palm Bone.

Now he relied on the extraordinary flight speed granted by his third Spirit Skill, Holy Dragon Light Wings.

Whoosh—

Golden light flashed. Yin Changqing tore through the sky close behind the other three, his speed no slower than theirs.

The four raced north, crossing the vast plains along the Heaven Dou Empire's northern border.

Wind howled around them. Yin Yu slowed slightly to fly beside Yin Changqing and turned to ask:

"Changqing, how much Soul Power does your flight skill consume?

The Far North is a long way off. If your Soul Power runs low, I can carry you for a while."

Yin Changqing looked at ease. Divine Light Soul Power flowed ceaselessly through him as he smiled.

"Don't worry, Father. My Holy Dragon Spring restores and replenishes my Soul Power extremely quickly.

The wings themselves consume very little. I could maintain this speed for three days and nights without trouble."

Tuoba Xi heard him from up ahead and could not resist looking back in admiration.

"The reserves of someone with two top-tier dragon Martial Souls really are extraordinary. An ordinary Soul Ancestor would be exhausted and forced to land after half an hour. Your stamina is far beyond what mine was at your age, Changqing."

Tuoba Tingxue's eyes shone with pride.

"Just look whose son he is.

But Brother Yu, are you sure Spirit Hall won't notice us heading north?"

Yin Yu's gaze chilled. After a moment's thought, he replied:

"Spirit Hall is focused mainly on the undercurrents within the two empires and the disturbances in the Star Dou Great Forest.

To them, the Far North is a barren wasteland with a harsh climate.

Besides, we've concealed our movements, and Old Poison has cleared every possible trace of spies from the outskirts. No word will get out."

Yin Changqing added:

"Even if Spirit Hall learns we're hunting soul beasts, it won't matter.

Grandfather has held the Sect together for years, and Mother is on the verge of advancing. By the time we return, the Holy Dragon Sect will have four Titled Douluo.

Then the balance of power will shift. They'll have reason to fear us, not the other way around."

"Haha! Exactly right, Changqing!"

Tuoba Xi was fired with confidence.

"Back then, I had no choice but to bow my head before Qian Daoliu and Golden Crocodile.

Once Ting Xue becomes a Titled Douluo and Changqing has a few more years to grow, why should the Holy Dragon Sect have to bow to Spirit Hall?"

He was only saying it to raise their spirits.

Tuoba Xi was not foolish enough to actually slight Qian Daoliu or Golden Crocodile.

Half a day later, they reached a sheer, snow-covered canyon.

The four descended slowly.

A green figure emerged silently from the shadows. It was Poison Douluo, Dugu Bo, who had arrived ahead of them.

"Sect Master, Brother Yin, Ting Xue, Changqing."

Dugu Bo greeted them with a clasp of his hands and a faint smile.

"I've searched a hundred-li radius. There are no scouts from any major power. The entrance to the Far North lies beyond this canyon."

Tuoba Xi returned the greeting with a nod.

"Thank you for the effort, Elder Dugu.

We'll be venturing deep into the Far North, where conditions are harsh.

Old Poison, you know medicines and poisons better than any of us. We'll rely on you to watch for soul beasts on the icefields that use icy poison or ambush their prey."

Dugu Bo laughed and waved a hand.

"You're too kind, Sect Master.

My Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor may dislike the cold, but dealing with vermin lurking in the shadows is easy enough.

Besides, with you three top assault specialists here, I'm really just along to see something new."

Yin Changqing stepped forward and handed Dugu Bo a warm jade pendant.

"Grandpa Dugu, this is Warm Sun Jade that I've nourished with Divine Light Soul Power. It can ward off the Far North's Yin Fiend Cold Poison. Please keep it on you."

Dugu Bo accepted the pendant. It felt smooth and warm in his hand, and a gentle warmth immediately spread through him.

Even the lingering chill within his body seemed to recede. Surprised, he said:

"Thoughtful as ever, young man. To these old bones, this pendant is a treasure."