External Soul Bone

Flender was locked in battle with a Soul Beast. Dark red all over and several dozen feet tall, it was a lesser dragon Soul Beast shaped like a Western dragon, with a pair of enormous wings and formidable strength. (Most dragon-type Soul Beasts on the Douluo Continent took the form of Western dragons.)

"This Soul Beast is called an Earthflame Tyrant Dragon. Like the Dragon Flame Beast from before, it's a lesser dragon Soul Beast with tremendous offensive power." Grandmaster, Tang Xuan, and Tang San watched from the sidelines as Grandmaster explained.

"It's around six thousand seven hundred years old. This species produces high-quality Soul Rings, and its various attributes are very well suited to Xuan."

The Earthflame Tyrant Dragon had already exchanged dozens of blows with Flender. For a thousand-year Soul Beast to hold its own against a high-level Soul Saint for so long showed just how powerful it was. Yet under Flender's relentless assault, it gradually began to falter.

Seizing an opening, Flender raked a claw across its belly, leaving a bloody hole. Then he struck again, sending it flying.

Flender dusted off his hands as he watched the Earthflame Tyrant Dragon trace an arc through the air. Before it could land, however, Tang Xuan attacked.

"First Soul Skill: Sword Slash!" Tang Xuan swung his sword, cleaving into the Earthflame Tyrant Dragon. It was blasted away once more and crashed heavily to the ground.

"Xuan, its weak point is its eyes!" Grandmaster called from the sidelines.

Sword in hand, Tang Xuan leaped forward and drove his blade into the Earthflame Tyrant Dragon's eye. It struggled desperately, thrashing its body until Tang Xuan lost his balance and was flung away. He somersaulted in midair and landed firmly on the ground, but the Godslayer Sword remained embedded in the dragon's eye.

The Earthflame Tyrant Dragon's struggles grew increasingly frenzied as it thrashed in every direction. Tang Xuan and the others backed away to avoid its rampage.

Blood poured from the Earthflame Tyrant Dragon's wounds as it continued to thrash violently, wrecking its surroundings. Blood sprayed everywhere, turning the scene into something resembling an enormous slaughterhouse.

Its life finally reached its end. The Earthflame Tyrant Dragon collapsed heavily to the ground and slowly died. A deep purple Soul Ring condensed from its body and floated above the corpse.

"Xuan, hurry and absorb the Soul Ring. That battle caused quite a commotion, and the smell of blood is thick. Other Soul Beasts will probably arrive soon. We need to be quick."

Tang Xuan wasted no words. He sat cross-legged on the ground and began absorbing the Soul Ring. Drawn by his power, it slowly drifted above his head, and the energy within began flowing into his body.

As Tang Xuan absorbed the Soul Ring, Grandmaster and the other two stood guard. Tang San kept scattering lime powder, trying to mask some of the heavy stench of blood.

None of them noticed the faint light flickering along the Godslayer Sword embedded in the Earthflame Tyrant Dragon's corpse. It illuminated the blue-black blade, giving it an eerie appearance. Every few flickers, the Earthflame Tyrant Dragon seemed to shrink a little.

When the vast Soul Power within the Soul Ring entered his body, Tang Xuan felt little pain. This proved that his physical training had worked. The enhancement from absorbing his first Soul Ring had also made his physique even stronger.

Tang Xuan guided the powerful Soul Power through his limbs and bones, flushing every meridian in his body. At times, he allowed it to accumulate within his meridians to expand their capacity. After working on his meridians, he turned to his Soul Cores.

Absorbing the Soul Ring posed little difficulty for Tang Xuan, but he insisted on creating more trouble for himself.

Tang Xuan poured all the Soul Power in his body into his two Soul Cores, along with the energy carried by the Soul Ring. Within his awareness, the two Soul Cores kept swelling under the immense influx of Soul Power, like a pair of balloons. The Soul Cores were part of his body, bound to him as one. If they exploded, he would suffer severe injuries at best and be crippled at worst. Tang Xuan therefore dared not push too far. He carefully maintained the balance, withdrawing some Soul Power whenever the cores reached their limit, then slowly feeding it back in. He repeated the process to expand his Soul Cores.

This cycle continued for an unknown length of time. His two Soul Cores were now four times their previous size, and the violent energy pouring into his body from the Soul Ring gradually settled. Tang Xuan had successfully absorbed the Soul Ring.

Outside, Grandmaster and the others saw the Soul Ring settle firmly around Tang Xuan, whose aura gradually stabilized. They relaxed, knowing this meant his absorption was nearly complete.

But just as everyone thought it was about to end, something unexpected happened. Tang Xuan suddenly cried out in pain, his entire body convulsing.

What's happening? Haven't I already refined all the Soul Ring's energy? Why is it suddenly running wild again? Tang Xuan wondered as he endured the tremendous pain.

The raging Soul Power inside him surged incessantly toward his back. That was where the terrible pain came from, as though a blunt weapon were being driven through it.

Mixed with a scorching heat, the heart-piercing pain seared his nerves. No matter what he did, he could not bring the rampaging Soul Power under control. He could only grit his teeth and hold on.

"Aah!" Tang Xuan screamed under the intense pain.

Beside him, Grandmaster and the other two were like ants on a hot pan, frantic and at a loss.

"Teacher, hasn't my brother already finished absorbing the Soul Ring? Why is this still happening?" Tang San asked in a trembling voice. The sight of Tang Xuan's agony filled him with worry.

"Yes, Xiaogang. What's wrong with Xuan? Why would this suddenly happen?"

Their questions made it even harder for the already flustered Grandmaster to think calmly. He, too, paced anxiously back and forth.

While the three outside were tense, Tang Xuan's suffering had already reached its limit. His back felt as though it were about to burst. Yet he also felt as though light were finally coming into view, and the pain eased a little. Had his pain receptors gone numb? He did not know.

Suddenly, a pair of wings erupted from Tang Xuan's back, like fresh shoots breaking through the soil, though far more mighty and powerful. Startled, Grandmaster and the other two hurried forward to inspect them.

On closer inspection, the wings on Tang Xuan's back closely resembled those of the Earthflame Tyrant Dragon. Only their color differed: his were dark blue, while the dragon's had been dark red.

"Could this be an external Soul Bone?" Grandmaster exclaimed.

At his words, Flender asked excitedly, "Xiaogang, are you sure? Take another careful look."

Grandmaster studied Tang Xuan's wings closely. "I've never seen an actual external Soul Bone myself, so this is only a guess. But I can't think of any other explanation."

"If it really is an external Soul Bone, this boy Tang Xuan has gained an incredible haul this time. It's far more exciting than his Soul Ring."

"Teacher, Dean Flender, what exactly are you talking about?" Their conversation left Tang San lost in the clouds.

"San, once Xuan wakes up, I'll explain external Soul Bones to both of you."

Tang Xuan was like someone feeling his way through the night who had finally glimpsed the first light of dawn. The deathly pain gradually receded, and his consciousness cleared. He felt something hanging from his back.

He turned to look. It was a pair of wings.

Why have I grown wings? Did I really die? Am I in heaven now?

Wait, that's not right! The three people standing before him were Grandmaster, Dean Flender, and San. He wasn't dead!

Then these things on my back are... an external Soul Bone!

No way! Am I really that lucky? Tang Xuan could scarcely believe it.

Seeing Tang Xuan wake, Grandmaster said, "Xuan, retract the Soul Bone first. Control it just as you would your own arms." Following his instructions, Tang Xuan drew the wings back into his body. The sensation was extraordinary.

"Now I'll explain external Soul Bones to you."

"Besides the six Soul Bones for the head, torso, left and right arms, and left and right legs, there is another kind called an external Soul Bone. These are extremely rare treasures, second only to Hundred Thousand Year Soul Rings. What makes an external Soul Bone so precious is its ability to grow. It can evolve as its Soul Master grows stronger. With enough potential, it could even evolve into a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone."

"Xuan, remember not to reveal it casually to outsiders. An innocent man bears no guilt, but the jade he carries makes him guilty. Keep that in mind," Grandmaster warned.

"Teacher, I'll remember."

As for Tang Xuan's second Soul Skill, it was a powerful offensive skill. Its attack power was dozens of times greater than that of his first Soul Skill, and its attacks also carried the Earthflame Tyrant Dragon's dragon flames, dealing elemental damage. It also granted Tang Xuan immunity to fire.

Their Soul Hunting trip had reached a successful conclusion, and the four left the Star Dou Great Forest together.

Before they parted, Tang Xuan quietly offered Flender thirty thousand Gold Soul Coins in financial support. Flender's eyes went fixed at the sight of the glittering coins, but he still refused.

"Xuan, I can't accept this. I helped you and San obtain your Soul Rings at your teacher's invitation. There's no need to pay me."

Flender was not blindly greedy. He had gradually developed his miserly, money-loving nature to keep the academy running, continue educating students, and fulfill the ideal in his heart. He was still a thoroughly upright man.

"Dean Flender, this isn't just a token of thanks. It's also my investment in Shrek Academy." Seeing his thoughtful expression, Tang Xuan continued, "San and I have already decided to attend your Shrek Academy after graduation. To make our future academy life a little better, consider these coins my contribution toward improving its facilities."

Flender understood now and accepted Tang Xuan's support, quickly putting away the thirty thousand Gold Soul Coins. "Actually, the money isn't important. What matters most is that you're coming to study at my academy. That's what makes me happiest!" His smile was positively intoxicated by the spring breeze.

Tang Xuan thought, Then could you loosen your grip on the money a little?