The Goal for the Next Stage

"The essence of Xiong Jun consumed in condensing my soul rings was actually replenished here."

After sensing this change, Dai Mubai was truly stunned.

Xiong Jun's essence was finite. By his estimate, it would support him until he condensed his sixth soul ring at most.

It might not even be enough for that.

Every bit he used meant one bit less remained.

Ultimately, Xiong Jun was only a ferocious beast over four hundred thousand years old. Being able to support the condensation of a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring was already no easy feat.

When the time came, he would have to hunt powerful soul beasts to improve his soul rings.

He really did not dare venture lightly into the depths of the Star Dou Great Forest.

After all, he had more or less tricked Di Tian. If Di Tian discovered it, who knew what might happen?

Although Di Tian spent most of his time sleeping, it was not the ten thousand ordinary chances one feared, but the one exception. What if?

Thus, this remained a relatively pressing matter for him.

He had never expected that the dragon energy he absorbed while condensing a soul ring here could replenish Xiong Jun's essence expended in the process.

Although it was not entirely restored and replenished.

When he had condensed his second soul ring earlier, he had consumed roughly forty to fifty thousand years' worth of essence, while only about twenty thousand years' worth had been restored, barely reaching half.

Even so, it was still an enormous surprise.

Dai Mubai made up his mind. Whenever he condensed his second soul ring in the future, he would come to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.

Then he began examining his second soul skill.

His second soul skill, Tiger King's Roar.

A pure spiritual power attack and an area-of-effect soul skill. The instant Tiger King's Roar was unleashed, it formed a spiritual domain of suppression and destruction within a thousand-meter radius.

It was not merely a spiritual power attack; it also carried an infrasound attack. Even the infrasound alone could directly destroy a person's body and internal organs.

Apart from those whose spiritual power exceeded his or who possessed means of resisting spiritual power, neither soul masters nor soul beasts could withstand it.

"This soul skill is rather powerful. Not only does it attack the soul directly, it also ignores defenses to attack the internal organs. A pity it can only last a few dozen seconds. Otherwise, it could rival domain-type and rule-type soul skills."

After understanding his second soul skill, Dai Mubai was filled with wonder.

He was very satisfied with this soul skill.

Then he sensed his soul power. Just as he had guessed earlier, it had risen straight to rank 30.

In other words, if he wished, he could condense his third soul ring right now.

"I just wonder whether I can attempt a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring for my third soul ring."

After the thought arose, Dai Mubai himself laughed.

There was a fundamental difference between a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring and a Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring, unless he was as lucky as before and could obtain another wisp of a Dragon King's divine power.

But the chances of that happening were slim.

At this moment, he felt a vague sense of anticipation, as well as some worry.

If he really could directly condense a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring as his third soul ring, it would be utterly outrageous and heaven-defying.

But if he truly succeeded, he would have to keep worrying about his supply of essence being insufficient.

Still, no matter what, he would do his best to try.

There was no hurry to condense his third soul ring now. He would attempt it after his Indestructible Vajra advanced another step.

With that thought, Dai Mubai ended his cultivation and slowly opened his eyes.

"Kid, how do you feel? Are you all right?"

Seeing Dai Mubai open his eyes, Dugu Bo hurriedly asked with concern.

This was not merely a matter of completely curing the poison. If something really happened to Dai Mubai here with him, who knew what that senior might do?

He knew all too well how savage and overbearing that senior was.

He was someone who would not listen to reason at all.

"Thank you for your concern, Senior. I've never felt better."

As he spoke, Dai Mubai took a jade porcelain vial from his Storage Soul Tool and began drawing his own blood.

"Senior, according to the detoxification method my teacher provided, storing the toxins in a soul bone and combining that with the advanced method of condensing a Poison Pellet to form a poison-attribute soul core will be enough to support your lineage all the way to the end. But the snake venom in your body and Miss Dugu's has already become like a chronic disease. Even if you successfully condense poison-attribute soul cores, they can only keep condensing newly generated snake venom. They cannot resolve this stubborn existing venom."

"That is why a medicinal catalyst is needed. After tempering my body with the Eight-Cornered Mystic Ice and Infernal Delicate Apricot, I have already reached the point of being immune to all poisons. My blood is that medicinal catalyst."

"With the blood's help, Senior, you can eliminate those stubborn toxins that cling like festering sores to the bone."

"But ultimately, none of these methods completely treats the root cause."

At this point, Dai Mubai took a carefully sealed immortal herb from his Storage Soul Tool.

"The Earth Dragon Golden Melon is an immortal herb containing rich dragon energy and the earth attribute. Its dragon energy can support a martial soul's evolution toward a dragon martial soul, while its earth attribute allows it to withstand stronger toxins. It is enough to support a transformation of Miss Dugu's martial soul at the level of its very essence, resolving the problem of the Jade Phosphor Snake Poison at its root..."

As he spoke, Dai Mubai handed that Earth Dragon Golden Melon to Dugu Bo.

"This..."

At this moment, Dugu Bo's mind had ground to a halt.

Whether it was a complete detoxification method or martial soul evolution, neither was something he had ever heard of before.

This debt of gratitude was far, far too great.

So great that he could never repay it.

For an instant, the thought even arose in Dugu Bo's mind of killing Dai Mubai so that he would no longer have to shoulder this debt.

There was no helping it. A great favor could become like a great feud.

But the moment that thought surfaced, he snuffed it out.

For one thing, Dugu Bo was not that sort of person to begin with. Repaying kindness with kindness and vengeance with vengeance-that was who he truly was.

As for the other reason, it was naturally Dai Mubai's terrifying teacher.

If he actually did such a thing and that person came in person, then no one would truly be able to protect him.

"Mubai, I won't stand on ceremony with you over this Earth Dragon Golden Melon."

Looking at the box Dai Mubai held out, Dugu Bo did not know how to put his gratitude into words.

"This is what you deserve, Senior."

Dai Mubai smiled calmly.

He had chosen this immortal herb for Dugu Bo after careful consideration.

The reason was simple. The Earth Dragon Golden Melon grew deep underground, and Dugu Bo had not known when he dug it up.

Thus, he did not know that this immortal herb had been obtained from his own Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.

Doing this would allow this favor to yield greater benefits.

It would also make Dugu Bo overlook the value and effects of those immortal herbs.

"Mubai, whatever you want to do next, I'll make all the arrangements."

Although Dugu Bo now wanted to completely resolve the snake venom at once, and also wanted to take his granddaughter to attempt martial soul evolution, he still suppressed his excitement to receive Dai Mubai and settle him in first.

"Senior, there's no need to be so courteous."

"Next, sorry for the trouble, but please help me teach that subordinate of mine a lesson. Then I'll leave the Heaven Dou Empire for a while and travel elsewhere to gain experience."

"My teacher has also assigned me other tasks to handle."

Dai Mubai did not intend to stay here long. He planned to return and begin condensing his third soul ring after his Indestructible Vajra advanced another step.

As for the time ahead, naturally, he would have a good look around and experience the local customs of the Douluo Continent before going to Shrek Academy.

Although Shrek Academy was terrible, it did have some promising talent.

The two he valued were Oscar and Ma Hongjun.

Oscar went without saying. Bringing him into the fold would provide the greatest assistance.

As for Ma Hongjun, the fellow had a terrible reputation and was a magnet for trouble, but so what?

He had a trait that the others did not.

He was brainless and easy to bring into the fold.

As a superior, one need not fear subordinates being brainless, having problems, or having flaws. What one feared was subordinates being too clever and having too many ideas.

As for his flaws, they were nothing at all.

His lust could easily be dealt with through money. As for causing trouble, a little discipline would suffice.

Without having to expend much, he could make the other party obey his every command. What was wrong with that?

He was no moral saint. In a world where the strong reigned supreme, fussing over so-called morality was laughable.

Placed in the same circumstances, he might even do worse than Tang San in minor matters of personal morality.

But from a broader perspective, once he achieved success and renown, what would any of that amount to?