The moment Nan Zhuliu opened his eyes, his deep, burning gaze fell straight on the Cang Thunder Beast's hind legs.
"What is it?" Jiang Jingyan asked.
Nan Zhuliu kept it brief. "There seems to be a soul bone."
After absorbing the Cang Thunder Beast's soul ring, he had sensed a faint connection between its soul ring and its corpse. Presumably, it could only be a soul bone.
At the mention of a soul bone, Jiang Jingyan was overjoyed. She hurriedly called Nan Zhou back, and each of them cut open one of the Cang Thunder Beast's hind legs.
Before long,
"Found it!"
Jiang Jingyan raised a bone that looked like a leg bone and radiated black light. Its dense soul power fluctuations made even the surrounding air grow thick and viscous.
Nan Zhou leaned closer, his eyes full of wonder and fascination, clicking his tongue in amazement. "So this is what a soul bone looks like. What a treasure."
Jiang Jingyan looked at Nan Zhuliu. "Zhuliu, a soul ring and soul bone from the same soul beast can only produce their greatest effect when used by the same soul master. There's no time to lose. Hurry and absorb this soul bone."
Nan Zhuliu shook his head. Although a matching soul ring and soul bone could each produce their greatest effect, how could he, who knew the opportunities in the original story so well, settle for absorbing a mere ten-thousand-year soul bone?
Unless it offered a heaven-defying soul skill like the Ice Explosion Technique, Nan Zhuliu's first choice would definitely be a hundred-thousand-year soul bone. In terms of attribute increases alone, a ten-thousand-year soul bone fell far short of a hundred-thousand-year one.
Besides, with the Golden Dragon King Bloodline, it would hardly be excessive for him to go to Dragon Valley and swipe a million-year true dragon soul bone someday, would it?
Excessive?
Even if it was, he'd swipe it anyway.
Seeing Nan Zhuliu refuse, Nan Zhou hurriedly said, "Zhuliu, this is a soul bone! Absorbing it can greatly improve all your attributes, and you'll gain another powerful soul skill as a trump card. Hurry and absorb it."
Nan Zhuliu still shook his head. "I know, but I don't want to make do with ten-thousand-year soul bones. I want to collect a full set of hundred-thousand-year soul bones. You and Mom should have this one."
Hearing Nan Zhuliu's bold declaration that he wanted a full set of hundred-thousand-year soul bones, Nan Zhou and Jiang Jingyan exchanged a glance. Rather than finding his ambitions wildly unrealistic, they were filled with pride and gratification.
"Zhuliu, I'm not trying to dampen your enthusiasm, but you need to think this through. Hundred-thousand-year soul beasts are rare to begin with. Countless soul masters never encounter even one in their entire lives, let alone collect a whole set of hundred-thousand-year soul bones. That's practically impossible."
"It's precisely because I've thought it through that I don't want to absorb a ten-thousand-year soul bone," Nan Zhuliu said firmly.
Jiang Jingyan sighed softly. "Then I'll keep this soul bone for you for now. It won't be too late if you change your mind later."
"There's really no need. Soul bones can improve your constitution and increase your chances of breaking through. You and Dad have shortcomings in your innate aptitude. Soul bones and your next few soul rings are among your few chances to make up for them. You really don't need to consider me."
Nan Zhou said without hesitation, "Honey, your talent was better than mine to begin with, and your attributes share the same origin as the Cang Thunder Beast's. This soul bone suits you best. Hurry and absorb it. We'll stand guard for you. Don't let Zhuliu's kindness go to waste."
Since Nan Zhou had brought Nan Zhuliu into it, Jiang Jingyan could hardly refuse again. She put away the Cang Thunder Beast's leg bone for now, intending to absorb it once they returned.
Looking at his father, whose expression held some disappointment but whose eyes held even more doting affection, Nan Zhuliu comforted him quietly. "Dad, don't worry. You'll have whatever Mom has too."
Nan Zhou immediately beamed. "Then your dad will be counting on you in the future, Zhuliu."
Nan Zhuliu chuckled too. "Of course."
The three tidied up, then headed toward the exit of Star Dou Great Forest.
"Judging by the date, Shrek Academy should be starting its term soon, shouldn't it?" Jiang Jingyan said.
Nan Zhuliu nodded. "There should be about half a month left."
Nan Zhou and Jiang Jingyan were both fairly traditional people of the Dou Ling Empire. Although they were not the sort of fanatical ringleaders of Shrek glory fans, Shrek Academy did bear the title of the continent's number one soul master academy. As parents, they naturally wanted to give their child the best.
Moreover, Shrek Academy had a legacy stretching back ten thousand years and countless records. Perhaps it would have a way to resolve the draconic traits on Nan Zhuliu's body. After discussing it, the couple had secured him a place to register for Shrek Academy's admissions.
Nan Zhou sighed softly. "Your mom and dad aren't strong. Even getting your third soul ring has been a little beyond us. Your fourth soul ring will need to be around thirty thousand years old, at the very least. By then, not only will we be unable to help much, we might even hold you back."
"We've thought it over and over. Across the three nations of the original continent, only Shrek Academy has the strength to help you obtain your later soul rings. And you won't face all the restrictions that come with joining a clan or sect."
Nan Zhuliu curled his lip. Help him obtain soul rings?
Did that mean the kind of help where he had to place in the top three in the freshman assessment before Shrek would offer obtaining a soul ring as a reward, like handing out alms?
Wow, how very precious.
Such a great kindness was more than he could bear.
Just as they rounded a bend, Nan Zhuliu and his parents ran into a soul master team of five men and one woman who seemed to have just finished hunting for a soul ring.
One of them was feeling around for something on the corpse of a ten-thousand-year Mighty Vajra Bear, while the others stood in a circle.
The three had made no particular effort to conceal themselves. The soul master team immediately noticed their movements and turned wary gazes toward them. A few were even ready to attack at any moment.
In Star Dou Great Forest, the greatest danger to soul masters was not the soul beasts whose hatred of humans was etched into their bloodlines, but their fellow soul masters.
Under normal circumstances, soul master teams hunting for soul rings would avoid other soul master teams whenever possible.
As luck would have it, just then, the soul master searching the ten-thousand-year Mighty Vajra Bear's corpse suddenly raised a bone radiating dense black light in his blood-drenched hands and said delightedly, "It's a right arm bone!"
In an instant, the three felt as though wolves surrounded them. Killing intent lay bare, and an unstoppable chill crept up their spines.
The other side had twice as many people as their group of three, and their strength was difficult to gauge. But since they had managed to take down a ten-thousand-year Mighty Vajra Bear, they had at least two or three Soul King-level soul masters. There was also the possibility that one of them had absorbed a ten-thousand-year soul ring and broken through to become a six-ring Soul Emperor.
Considering all these factors, taking a humble stance first was the best solution.
Nan Zhuliu instantly weighed the stakes. "Sorry. We happened to be passing through and inadvertently disturbed you. We'll leave right away."
As he spoke, the three slowly backed away.
But the six members of the soul master team exchanged glances and nodded slowly, then swiftly surrounded the three.
At the sight, their hearts abruptly sank.
Nan Zhou stepped forward, shielding his wife and son behind him, and said gravely, "Friends, what is the meaning of this?"
"The meaning?" The tall, powerfully built middle-aged man standing before them opened his mouth in a cruel grin. "Only the dead keep secrets, so we'll have to ask you to die."