The Ten-Thousand-Year Third Ring

Then the Martial Fighting Lion let out an angry roar.

"Roar!!!"

The Martial Fighting Lion's strength doubled, and flames burst across its body.

Seeing this, Tang Chen said, "Looks like it's about to unleash its big move."

Tang Chen began gathering power too.

"Clear Sky Nine Absolutes, Pierce Character Art!"

Their attacks collided head-on, releasing energy that seemed capable of destroying heaven and earth.

With the evolved Clear Sky Hammer, Tang Chen still had the edge in strength.

After the beating Tang Chen had given it, the Martial Fighting Lion submitted.

It then dispelled the Duel Domain.

Seeing the man and the beast emerge, Yang Sheng let out a breath of relief. Tang Yue, as always, had trusted Tang Chen.

Whatever else happened, Tang Chen had great respect for a warrior like the Martial Fighting Lion.

The Martial Fighting Lion honored their agreement. After bidding farewell to its two children, it walked up to Tang Chen.

Mighty Soul Power erupted around the Martial Fighting Lion. With a lion's roar, its body rose into the air. A faint, beast-shaped flame kindled across its skin, and a blood-red ring spread outward, forming a sacrificial field. The surrounding plants trembled as Soul Power surged toward Tang Chen.

Tang Chen sat cross-legged on the ground, taking in that immense Soul Power with all his might.

His level climbed at astonishing speed.

Level thirty-one!

Level thirty-two!

Level thirty-three!

Level thirty-four!

Level thirty-five!

In one breath, Tang Chen had reached level thirty-five.

Before long, he finished absorbing the power.

Yang Sheng stepped forward to congratulate him. "Congratulations, Young Sect Master! You're only eight this year, yet you've already become a Soul Elder. Your strength can even rival a Soul Emperor's!"

All of Tang Yue's thoughts came down to one sentence: "Good son. You're stronger than your father."

Tang Chen summoned his Soul Rings.

Three rings—one yellow, one purple, and one black—circled his body.

Tang Chen sensed the lion once more, then felt over the Martial Fighting Lion's body with his hands.

He muttered under his breath, "No Soul Bone this time?"

Yang Sheng was so exasperated he laughed.

He was already a Soul Douluo and didn't have a single Soul Bone. The Young Sect Master was still a child and already had two, yet he complained it wasn't enough! (Yang Sheng only knew about the Golden-Haired Lion Mastiff's Palm Bone and the Eight-Armed Demon Ape's Arm Bone.)

Tang Chen then told Yang Sheng and Tang Yue that he had reached level thirty-five and successfully gained the Duel Domain.

Neither man had the strength to complain anymore. He was advancing far too fast.

Yang Sheng couldn't help remembering himself at eight years old. Back then, he had only been a Soul Master.

At the thought, Yang Sheng shook his head.

"All right. Now that Chen'er has absorbed his third Soul Ring, let's go," Tang Yue said.

Tang Chen and Yang Sheng nodded.

Tang Yue then took them and flew toward the Clear Sky Sect.

As they passed a volcanic crater, a long rumble sounded, like a volcano erupting.

A giant beast over fifty meters tall appeared. Its body was crimson streaked with black, and molten golden light flowed through the gaps in its armor. Striking markings shone on both arms. Scorching waves rolled off it; every armored plate seemed to burn with subterranean fire, while its oppressive aura swept over everything.

This giant beast was an Earth Emperor more than 399,000 years old.

Tang Yue and the others were stunned at the sight of this Soul Beast.

They had never seen one so enormous. Its aura was terrifyingly powerful; even Tang Yue felt uneasy before it.

Just as the three of them were thinking it best to slip away, the beast spoke.

"Humans, come down. I have business with you."

The moment it opened its mouth, its imposing air vanished.

Still, its strength was real. Tang Yue and the others dared not keep it waiting and hurried down before it.

Tang Yue felt a little uneasy, but he wasn't afraid. He was a Titled Douluo, and no weak one. Even with those two burdens in tow, he could flee easily enough.

So he asked calmly, "Senior, what do you need from us?"

The giant beast replied, "I am the ruler of the Earth Soul Beast Clan, the Earth Emperor. I called you here because my time is nearly up. In less than ten years, I must face a Heavenly Tribulation, and there is no way I can survive it."

Tang Yue looked puzzled. "Oh? I know Soul Beasts face a Heavenly Tribulation when they break through to a hundred thousand years. Do they still face one after that?"

The Earth Emperor nodded. "Once a Soul Beast passes a hundred thousand years, it faces another tribulation for every additional hundred thousand years of cultivation. Each one grows stronger."

The Earth Emperor then showed them the claw marks on its back.

"I once believed I was the strongest of all Soul Beasts, so I went around challenging them. When I reached the Star Dou Great Forest, I encountered a black dragon Soul Beast. It had a special claw attack called Dragon God Claw. I let my guard down, and it caught me by surprise. Those strikes couldn't kill me outright, but the wounds they left cannot be healed. With my Heavenly Tribulation close at hand, I've decided to choose someone to sacrifice myself to."

Hearing this, Tang Yue asked, "But Senior, wouldn't you still die if you sacrificed yourself?"

The Earth Emperor shook its head. "I created a Secret Art that lets me attach part of my soul to a Soul Bone. If the one I sacrifice myself to becomes a god, they can use the remnant of my soul within the bone to revive me. I call it the God-Making Plan!"

Watching the Earth Emperor speak with such fervor, Tang Chen found something about it oddly familiar.

After thinking carefully, the image of a huge white silkworm suddenly sprang into his mind.

Holy shit! Isn't this the God-Making Method Sky Dream Ice Silkworm came up with?

At that thought, Tang Chen hesitated no longer. He stepped forward and said, "Senior, how about me?"

The Earth Emperor heard Tang Chen and turned its gaze on him.

One look was enough to give it a shock.

This little fellow was only eight, yet he already had level thirty-five Soul Power. He also seemed to have two Martial Souls.

The Earth Emperor was immediately tempted.

"If you want me to sacrifice myself to you," it told Tang Chen, "you must swear to revive me once you become a god."

Tang Chen couldn't help laughing when he heard that.

He was about to say something grand, but when he met the Earth Emperor's earnest eyes, the words would not come.

After a moment of silence, Tang Chen swore, "If the Earth Emperor sacrifices himself to me, Tang Chen, then when I become a god, I will revive the Earth King. If I break this oath, may heaven and earth strike me down, and may I never be reborn!"

The Earth Emperor was deeply pleased by Tang Chen's oath.