The Dragon Clan's Stern Father First Showed His Edge!

"A Soul Spirit balanced in every aspect? You sure dare to dream, kid..."

Big Bai and Xiao Bai grumbled.

Like human Soul Masters, Soul Beasts naturally developed with particular strengths.

Honestly, a Soul Spirit balanced in every aspect was an even taller order than one that excelled to the utmost in a single aspect.

Even Leng Yaozhu, the knowledgeable and experienced vice master of the Spirit Pagoda, sank into thought.

"First, it definitely has to fly, because flying Soul Beasts are far faster than those on the ground."

"Second, it needs both offense and defense, and it has to have a fire attribute..."

Countless Soul Spirits flashed through Leng Yaozhu's mind, but she quickly ruled out every last one.

Seeing his teacher rack her brains, Li Zha added, "Teacher, if a normal Soul Spirit won't work, we could consider a defective one."

"Li Zha, have you gone crazy?"

Bai Haoze felt Li Zha's forehead. "You don't have a fever?"

Bai Zhicen explained, "Li Zha, do you know what a defective Soul Spirit is? Some are inherently incomplete, like certain trash Soul Spirits manufactured by the Spirit Pagoda. Contracting with those would only hold a Soul Master back."

"Others are violent Soul Spirits that refuse to contract with human Soul Masters by nature. Force a contract on them, and they might even self-destruct."

Bai Haoze agreed:

"Exactly, Li Zha. Rather than risk absorbing a defective Soul Spirit for the sake of all-around balance, you'd be better off choosing one of those four from earlier."

"It's not like you can only absorb one Soul Spirit. With your talent, you could reach the summit just the same by having several Soul Spirits with different strengths in the future."

Li Zha shook his head.

The Dragon King era wasn't Douluo I or Douluo II.

For starters, a single thousand-year Soul Spirit provided two Soul Skills. A ten-thousand-year one provided more, and a hundred-thousand-year Soul Spirit... went without saying!

In other words, the number of Soul Spirits a Soul Master could contract with was limited to begin with.

Second, having different Soul Spirits focus on different strengths was certainly good, but coordinating several Soul Spirits naturally couldn't compare to one that had everything it needed within itself.

"Different Soul Spirits working together can't react nearly as quickly as one Soul Spirit acting on its own. Timing matters most in battle, and victory or defeat often comes down to a hair's breadth. If possible, I'd still prefer my first Soul Spirit to be more balanced."

Having said that,

Li Zha turned to Leng Yaozhu. "Teacher, you know I lost my parents when I was little..."

Big Bai and Xiao Bai were speechless. Come on, weren't you only six now?

Leng Yaozhu's heart immediately softened at his words. "Let me think. I'll definitely find you a Soul Spirit you're happy with."

Though she said that, Leng Yaozhu finally felt at ease inside.

She had been worried that Li Zha couldn't escape the shadow of losing both parents. Seeing him face reality so easily now put her much more at ease.

After speaking, Leng Yaozhu sat down and rapidly flicked through the soul-powered screen.

The Spirit Pagoda had tens of thousands of Soul Spirits. Even she didn't know about many of them. If she searched, she might really find something.

While they waited,

Big Bai and Xiao Bai roped Li Zha into playing gomoku.

It was a little game Li Zha had taught the two of them not long ago, with simple rules that were easy to pick up.

The two sisters had been having a wonderful time playing it lately.

Two hours passed,

And Leng Yaozhu said with a smile, "Found it!"

Li Zha and the other two immediately stood up. Leng Yaozhu pointed at a thousand-year Blazing Flame Dragon on the soul-powered screen.

"If I hadn't specifically searched, I wouldn't even have thought the Spirit Pagoda still had a dragon Soul Spirit!"

Even Leng Yaozhu herself was surprised.

Dragon Soul Beasts were rare and hard to find.

Their bloodlines naturally suppressed other Soul Beasts, making them extremely powerful.

Legend had it that the ruler of the Star Dou Great Forest, Beast God Di Tian, was a pure-blooded Golden-Eyed Black Dragon King.

He had even once been one of the Dragon God's guards.

Besides Di Tian, the Hell Demon Dragon King also held a place among the ten great ferocious beasts, showing just how powerful dragon Soul Beasts were.

But after the Dragon God ascended and vanished, dragon Soul Beasts had all but disappeared.

Who knew when the Spirit Pagoda had acquired this Blazing Flame Dragon? Though it wasn't a dragon breed as powerful as Di Tian, it was still a pure-blooded true dragon.

Leng Yaozhu guessed it was probably descended from some fire dragon.

It could fly and had a fire attribute. With four thousand years of cultivation, it could still crush ordinary ten-thousand-year Soul Beasts.

Most importantly, dragon Soul Beasts were generally balanced in every aspect!

Long-range attacks, combat techniques, offense and defense in one package-these made them kings among Soul Beasts.

Reading the information, Li Zha estimated that even if this Blazing Flame Dragon couldn't match the absurdly powerful Golden Lion Mastiff, it was still stronger than a dark gold terrorclaw bear.

Leng Yaozhu looked at Li Zha:

"Good thing I searched, or we'd have missed out badly."

"The only problem now is that this Blazing Flame Dragon is a violent Soul Spirit. Most dragon Soul Beasts are like that."

"They generally won't contract with human Soul Masters. They'd rather self-destruct than let themselves be claimed."

Hearing his teacher say that, Li Zha practically wanted to laugh.

Then what does our Lust Dragon Fish, who handed herself over for nothing, count as?

So much for the sovereign of all Soul Beasts. Not only did she hand herself over, she turned around and sold out all the Soul Beasts too.

The Golden-Eyed Black Dragon King Di Tian was ridiculous too, actually believing what human Soul Masters said. Otherwise, how could the Star Dou Great Forest have fallen this far?

Dragons are proud?

Li Zha only wanted to say one thing: Hard to say.

Leng Yaozhu asked with concern:

"Zha'er, are you really confident you can contract with it?"

Ever since rescuing Li Zha, Leng Yaozhu had felt guilty toward him.

After all, if she had arrived a little earlier, his parents might have been fine.

"Count on it!"

Li Zha chuckled.

If it were some other Soul Beast, Li Zha really wouldn't have been sure. But a dragon Soul Beast?

Sorry.

Ever heard of bonus damage against dragons?

"All right. I'll let you try."

With a beckoning motion of Leng Yaozhu's hand, a scarlet dragon over ten meters long appeared in the room.

Perhaps it was an illusion, but the instant the red dragon appeared, the temperature throughout the room seemed to rise considerably.

"Roar!"

The dragon let out a furious roar.

The noble dignity of a dragon made being picked over like prey a profound humiliation!

Thus, even after sensing three Titled Douluos in the room, the Blazing Flame Dragon showed no fear whatsoever!

Big Bai and Xiao Bai waved their fists at the Blazing Flame Dragon, seemingly cheering Li Zha on while also threatening the dragon to behave.

Leng Yaozhu turned to Li Zha and instructed him:

"Dragon Soul Beasts are highly intelligent and have powerful mental attributes. This Blazing Flame Dragon has four thousand years of cultivation, so it should be able to communicate with you."

"Try communicating with it directly first. If that doesn't work, I'll find another way for you."

Just look-this was the advantage of having a major sect at your back.

Without Leng Yaozhu, Li Zha knew that even with his bonus damage against dragons, he probably wouldn't have gotten so much as a glimpse of this Blazing Flame Dragon!

"Don't worry, Teacher."

Li Zha nodded and immediately released a thread of his spiritual power, reaching out to connect with the Blazing Flame Dragon.

Soon, the boy and the dragon established a connection.

"Hello."

Li Zha offered a polite greeting.

"Get lost!"

The Blazing Flame Dragon answered with a roar.

It gave Li Zha no chance whatsoever to say another word.

Presumably, this was why it had remained here as a defective Soul Spirit until now.

After all, no Soul Master would dare casually absorb a Soul Spirit that refused all communication.

Seeing this, Leng Yaozhu sighed inwardly. As expected, it wouldn't be so easy to handle.

"You refuse the toast only to drink the penalty wine, huh?!"

Li Zha summoned his Lotus Dharma Body Martial Soul. An enlarged phantom of Li Zha appeared, gazing at the Blazing Flame Dragon with eyes that regarded all living beings with indifference.

The formerly untamable Blazing Flame Dragon met that gaze, and its long body immediately began trembling uncontrollably like chaff in a sieve.

"I'll ask you one more time. Are you willing to..."

"I am! I am! Hurry up and put him away!"

Before Li Zha could even finish, the Blazing Flame Dragon agreed.

Li Zha smiled and withdrew his Lotus Dharma Body.

Still shaken, the Blazing Flame Dragon looked at Li Zha. For some reason, the moment this child's Martial Soul appeared, it had been terrified beyond measure!