[Ding, Soul Bone fusion successful. Congratulations to the host on obtaining a Red-Eyed Golden Dragon External Soul Bone (285,069 years)!] [Red-Eyed Golden Dragon External Soul Bone: When the Soul Bone is used, a small golden dragon will circle the host's body, the host's hair will turn golden, and parts of the body will be covered in scale armor. Soul Bone Skills: Flight: Gain the Golden Dragon's ability to fly for a short time, supported by Soul Power. Enhancement: Enhance all attributes by 80%. Defense: Gain a 70% defensive boost from the Golden Dragon. Dragon Scale Armor: Special armor formed from Red-Eyed Golden Dragon scales. Increases the host's movement speed by 60% and chance of dodging attacks by 30%. Each use of Dragon Scale Armor consumes one-quarter of the host's Soul Power. Dragon Transformation: When attacking, both fists transform into golden dragon heads, containing the terrifying strength of the Red-Eyed Golden Dragon and possessing extremely powerful offensive capabilities!] [Friendly reminder: Due to the Soul Bone's excessively high age, the host cannot use it for now!]
"Noice!"
Thoroughly satisfied, Cao Yu put the Soul Bone into his system space. But he still could not use it, so he could only feast his eyes on it.
Then he put the Soul Bone fusion platform into his storage ring.
He looked at the seven Soul Power Enhancement Cards lying quietly in his system space.
It had taken him a full four or five years to save up just these few.
He had to admit that they were truly rare, second only to the Limit Douluo Experience Cards.
However, he was in no hurry to use them, because the higher his level became, the harder it would be to advance. During the early stages of cultivation, his level rose faster instead.
So he planned to save them for later.
He would rely on himself to raise his Soul Power Level in the early stages.
Cao Yu accepted the missions and muttered to himself, "Which one should I finish first?"
He was more inclined toward the second main mission.
After all, it had a clear time limit.
He did not want to watch helplessly as that Bastard Sect ruined a girl from a respectable family.
Unfortunately, Cao Yu did not have a Black Tortoise Divine Pill right now either.
Suddenly, Cao Yu's eyes lit up.
He had thought of a good idea. Why not go straight to the Black Tortoise Sect and rob them?
"That makes sense. That makes perfect sense!"
"I have an Experience Card anyway. That Bastard Sect can't do anything to me."
Cao Yu laughed. "Hahaha, I'm really... so bad!"
He glanced at the system's notification and felt his head ache.
This would not do!
"Since Jiang Nannan is in the Dou Ling Empire, that damned Black Tortoise Sect is there too!"
He took out a map of the continent. The Dou Ling Empire was actually so far away, with the Star Dou Great Forest sandwiched between it and the Star Luo Empire.
Going straight through the Core Circle was already the shortest route.
There was another, relatively safe route, but it would be much longer, and he might not make it in time.
That route passed through the Heaven Dou Empire before circling around to the Dou Ling Empire.
"Too far!"
Only then did Cao Yu realize it. "No! I have to leave right now, or I won't make it."
He hurried out of his room and explained things to his parents and grandfather.
"Mom, Dad, Grandpa, the seniors are taking me out to gain experience. I won't be back for the next few days."
"Be careful, then, and listen to the seniors!"
"Got it."
With these "seniors" at Cao Yu's side, his grandfather and the others felt relatively reassured.
So, much of the time, they did not stop him, though they still worried.
His grandfather and parents watched Cao Yu leave, then sighed and returned to the Cao Clan estate.
The Star Luo Imperial Family, Heavenly Water Douluo, and the others usually looked after the Cao Clan, so Cao Yu did not worry about any unrest befalling the clan after he left.
As for the Holy Spirit Cult, that battle had severely damaged its strength. Never mind harboring any ill intentions toward the Cao Clan-those Evil Soul Masters could not avoid them fast enough.
He used an Experience Card. A Shadow Clone lifted the remaining nine with Soul Power, then held Cao Yu in his arms and flew rapidly into the distance.
In the Core Circle of the Star Dou Great Forest.
An enormous white worm was imprisoned in a cage, unable to move.
A group of Ferocious Beasts radiating terrifying presences sat around him.
A closer look would reveal gas being continuously drawn out of the great white worm's body, then absorbed bit by bit by these Ferocious Beasts.
The great white worm cried out, wanting to weep but having no tears, "Di Tian, please let me go! There's really nothing left. Not... a single bit!"
His voice was hoarse and sounded somewhat weak. Who knew how long he had been shouting?
Yet these Ferocious Beasts kept their eyes closed, paying him no heed as they greedily absorbed the Soul Power within his body.
Only the Three-Headed Scarlet Devil Mastiff, the Scarlet King, opened his eyes from time to time to check on the Emperor Auspicious Beast, the Three-Eyed Golden Lion, nearby.
The Scarlet King feared a repeat of what had happened last time, so he did not dare immerse himself too deeply in this feast of Soul Power.
The Auspicious Beast, who resembled a golden lion, lay on a broad stone slab, her eyes downcast and her spirits low.
An unknown amount of time passed.
The Ferocious Beasts stopped absorbing the great white worm's Soul Power, then abruptly raised their heads toward the sky.
The Scarlet King's gaze grew grave as he said, "Boss, humans have intruded into the Core Circle again."
The powerfully built Xiong Jun pounded his chest and roared furiously, "Which fool with a death wish is it this time? Do they really think they can come to the Star Dou Great Forest whenever they please?"
"Di Tian, this time I'll definitely..."
Only when the distant dark figures gradually approached did Di Tian shake his head, his expression somewhat helpless.
"He's about to break through to Soul Elder already? I haven't prepared the second Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast yet."
Xiong Jun also saw who was coming and immediately changed his tune. "This time I'll definitely... pretend I didn't see anything."
Di Tian and the others could not help glancing at him. This was the first time they had realized how cowardly Xiong Jun could be.
The beast in question pretended not to notice and continued muttering something to himself.
The Three-Eyed Golden Lion, who had been sleeping on the stone slab, immediately got up. Her eyes grew round and bright, and her dejected look vanished in an instant.
"He's here again."
In less than a day.
With the Shadow Clones' help, Cao Yu had crossed half the Star Dou Great Forest.
Now, he had finally reached the Core Circle.
He looked down.
He spotted several familiar figures.
Looking at the Three-Eyed Golden Lion, Cao Yu greeted her. "Little Gold, long time no see. Have your injuries healed?"
"And Little Bull, don't forget your promise back then. Have that Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast ready for me, or you'll get what's coming to you."
Without stopping, he let the Shadow Clone carry him out of the Star Dou Great Forest.
The Ferocious Beasts below looked helpless as they let these people fly over their heads. Was this not naked provocation?
Although they dearly wanted to knock them out of the sky, the Limit Douluo at his side were no ordinary opponents!
The Three-Eyed Golden Lion watched the figures gradually departing through the sky. Was he saying hello to me?
"After all these years, he actually hasn't forgotten me."
She let out a roar, seemingly answering the figure in the sky.
But her voice was soon drowned out, because the great white worm was crying out even more pitifully.
"Save me!"
"Hey! Human, look at me! Look at me! Get me out of here!!"
"Human, don't go! Don't... don't go! Boohoo... boohoo..."
"My life is so miserable! Boohoo... boohoo!"
Two streams of phantom tears flowed from the corners of his eyes.
The great white worm gazed longingly at the figures departing in the distance, his heart turning half cold.
"Was that great white worm the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm?"
Cao Yu had naturally heard his cries, but he did not intend to save him.
After all, the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm would eventually escape from the Star Dou Great Forest.
There was no need to offend these Ferocious Beasts too much. If pushed to the brink, even a desperate dog would leap over a wall.
Cao Yu gathered his thoughts, turned his gaze into the distance, and hurried toward the Dou Ling Empire.
(End of chapter)