Battle Lion

Tang Chen hurried forward to help Yang Sheng up. "Chief Yang, there's no need for ceremony. The Four Single-Attribute Families joined our Clear Sky Sect a century ago. For over a hundred years, you've served with the utmost care, never once slacking. When disaster struck our sect, the four families stood by us through thick and thin, sharing the same boat through every storm. Now that our sect has gained something good, how could we forget you?"

At Tang Chen's words, Yang Sheng dropped to one knee again.

"From this day forward, the Breaking Clan will follow the young sect master's lead, even unto ten thousand deaths!"

Tang Yue was delighted to see his son show such skill and generosity.

"Well said! Well said indeed! From now on, my son's will is the will of the Clear Sky Sect."

Tang Chen helped Yang Sheng up once more. "Chief Yang, let's choose Immortal Herbs for you and my father first. You two can take them here, and once you've broken through, we'll choose herbs for everyone else."

With that, Yang Sheng and Tang Chen searched the Herb Garden for an Immortal Grade herb suited to Tang Yue.

After discussing it, they agreed that the Eight-Petal Immortal Orchid suited him best.

The Eight-Petal Immortal Orchid had a gentle, lasting effect. It cleansed impurities from the body, strengthened one's foundations, increased cultivation speed, and stabilized Soul Power so it was less likely to run wild.

Tang Yue had become a Titled Douluo many years ago. He had fought countless battles in his youth, and some hidden injuries had long since sunk deep into his bones. They were not fatal, but they would torment him in old age. The Eight-Petal Immortal Orchid could heal those injuries and increase his cultivation speed. It was an excellent fit.

After hearing Yang Sheng's explanation, Tang Yue nodded. His reasoning made sense.

He put the Eight-Petal Immortal Orchid into his mouth, chewed it a few times, and swallowed.

A sweet orchid fragrance instantly filled his mouth. As soon as he swallowed it, he sat cross-legged and circulated his Soul Power, guiding the gentle medicinal energy through every limb and bone.

Warm Soul Power flowed throughout his body, forcing his hidden injuries out through his pores until a thick crust of blood covered his skin.

Before long, Tang Yue had refined nearly all of the medicinal energy.

His cultivation rose from rank ninety-five to rank ninety-six, bringing him into the ranks of the Super Douluo.

Tang Yue had now risen from fourth to third among humanity's strongest, surpassing Golden Crocodile Douluo.

Once Tang Yue had finished absorbing the herb, he and Tang Chen went to find an Immortal Grade herb for Yang Sheng.

Yang Sheng found an Ink Jade Divine Bamboo that suited him extremely well, but he wanted to save it for Yang Wu. After all, Yang Wu was more talented and younger. He was certain to become a Titled Douluo one day, perhaps even a Super Douluo.

Tang Chen could not change his mind, so he had to look for something slightly less suitable.

In the end, they found a Heaven-Breaking Sword Orchid. Though it was not a perfect fit, the orchid's piercing edge had much in common with the Soul Breaking Spear.

Yang Sheng ultimately chose the Heaven-Breaking Sword Orchid.

After absorbing it, Yang Sheng advanced smoothly from rank eighty-four to rank eighty-five, and the Soul Breaking Spear became twice as sharp!

Once they had chosen Immortal Herbs for everyone else, Tang Yue gathered up everything else worth taking.

Then the three of them set out to obtain Tang Chen's Soul Ring.

This time, they went neither to the Star Dou Great Forest nor to the Sunset Forest. Instead, they headed for the Molten Mountain Range, known as Douluo's foremost volcanic region!

"The third Soul Ring I've chosen for you is a Battle Lion!" Tang Yue said.

At his words, Yang Sheng immediately recalled the beast.

Battle Lions lived at the southernmost edge of the Molten Mountain Range, with the sea to the south and the molten volcanoes to the north.

It was one of nature's great wonders.

Battle Lions were known as the fairest Soul Beasts, and they had two defining traits.

First, if you defeated one head-on, it would willingly sacrifice itself for you.

Second, absorbing its Soul Ring was guaranteed to grant the Duel Domain!

Duel Domain: After activating this Soul Skill, the user summoned the Duel Domain and drew an opponent into another space. The opponent had to face the user in a direct duel. Neither side could dodge the other's attacks, and neither could leave unless they flew to a certain height.

Thinking of this, Yang Sheng promptly explained to Tang Chen how formidable Battle Lions were.

Tang Chen's eyes lit up as he listened.

It's perfect for me!

The Soul Masters he had failed to beat before had all relied on their superior speed. With this, none of them would be able to dodge his Soul Skills.

Who could beat me then?

Tang Chen could not help bursting into laughter.

He urged Tang Yue to take him to obtain the Soul Ring at once. He could hardly wait.

They flew all the way to the southernmost edge of the Molten Mountain Range.

The moment they arrived, they spotted three Battle Lions.

The largest was just over ten thousand years old.

Tang Chen's eyes gleamed. "Father, Chief Yang, I want that ten-thousand-year one."

Both men hurried to stop him. "Chen! Young sect master! You can't!"

Tang Yue spoke first. "Chen, a Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beast is nothing like a thousand-year one. Being strong enough physically doesn't mean you can absorb its ring. A Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beast—"

He stopped. Both men froze at the same time.

If Tang Chen defeated the Battle Lion head-on, it would sacrifice itself. A sacrifice would bring no Soul Shock.

The two older men flushed with embarrassment. Yang Sheng went on, "Young sect master, even if your body is strong enough and you won't face Soul Shock when absorbing its ring, defeating it head-on is nearly impossible. You're only a Two-Ring Soul Grandmaster. How can you compare with a Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beast?"

Tang Yue spoke up. "Yang Sheng, you can trust Chen on this. In a head-on fight, his strength is no less than that ten-thousand-year Battle Lion's."

Seeing the same confidence on both their faces, Yang Sheng said no more.

I hope he really is that strong, Yang Sheng thought.

Tang Chen leaped down, landing right beside the ten-thousand-year Battle Lion.

"Hey, I want to duel you," Tang Chen said.

The Battle Lion understood human speech. It nodded.

Then it activated its Duel Domain.

The man and the beast were instantly drawn into another space.

The more Tang Chen looked at the Battle Lion, the more he liked it.

He shouted with delight.

"Come on! Let's fight to our hearts' content!"

Tang Chen summoned his Clear Sky Hammer. "First Soul Skill: Clear Sky Power! Second Soul Skill: Heaven and Earth Reversal!"

His strength tripled. Veins bulged along his arms, and his aura surged as the Battle Lion's condition began to decline.

The Battle Lion refused to back down and let out a furious roar.

"Roar!"

Man and beast charged each other at full strength.

Tang Chen brought his hammer down on the Battle Lion's front paws. Crack! Both paws shattered.

The blow drove the Battle Lion back.

A moment later, the Battle Lion steadied itself and charged again.