But when she saw the person was Yu Tianming, she froze.
After a while, she looked toward Yu Tianming's forehead—now without the Sea God Trident mark—and spoke with some suspicion, as if thinking he was an imposter. "Brother Tianming, where's your Sea God Trident mark?"
Yu Tianming met Dugu Yan's gaze, full of disbelief and hope, and rubbed his brow with a smile. "I've just received another god's inheritance, so the Sea God's legacy disappeared. Ah Zhi said her Sea God trial changed as well—maybe the same happened to you?"
Dugu Yan looked thoughtful, let her guard down, and nodded in acknowledgment.
Yu Tianming then revealed his soul rings, six black, one red. He smiled again. "After losing the Sea God's inheritance, some of the divine power remained in my soul rings. So now, like you, all my rings are at least black."
"Congratulations, Brother Tianming," she said, though still confused. "But how did you get into Slaughter City? And how did you find the Hell Slaughter Arena's resting room?"
"Remember my soul bone skill, Driving Clouds to Chase the Moon? I sneaked into Slaughter City and used that skill to get to you."
After explaining, Yu Tianming eagerly pulled out a soul bone from the Blue Silver Emperor. It was the color of blue silver grass, laced faintly with golden threads, emanating a terrifying aura.
Dugu Yan, who already had an 80,000-year soul bone, had a sharp eye. She stared at it in disbelief. "Is this a hundred-thousand-year soul bone? You disappeared for a year and came back with something this valuable! If you absorb this, your strength will skyrocket."
Yu Tianming shook his head and chuckled. "I gained a lot over this year—not only reaching Rank 80, but also inheriting a god more powerful and better suited to me than the Sea God. As for this soul bone, I don't plan to absorb it. I want you to have it."
"This... this hundred-thousand-year soul bone is for me?" Dugu Yan was stunned.
This was no ordinary item—hundred-thousand-year soul bones could be passed down for generations. Nothing in the Douluo Continent could match its value. That Yu Tianming would give it away instead of using it himself was beyond shocking.
Seeing the look in her eyes, Yu Tianming said with a gentle smile, "This soul bone doesn't suit me, but it suits you perfectly. I promised I'd give you something better than the Sea Dragon's soul bone. Now I'm fulfilling that promise."
He was sincere. As a top-tier beast-type soul master, plant-type soul bones didn't suit him. He could already fly and heal himself, so the bone's skills were redundant. But for Dugu Yan, who had transitioned into a power-type soul master, it was perfect. A hundred-thousand-year plant soul bone would greatly enhance her body, and its skills would compensate for her weaknesses—lack of recovery and aerial combat ability.
Dugu Yan was too touched to speak.
Seeing her speechless, Yu Tianming smiled and handed her the soul bone. "The next Slaughter Duel hasn't started yet. Hurry and absorb this."
Dugu Yan wiped away tears and said, "But a hundred-thousand-year soul bone might take a long time to absorb. Will I miss the next duel?"
"Go ahead. I have a way to speed it up. You'll make it."
Trusting him, Dugu Yan sat cross-legged and began absorbing Tang San's mother's right leg bone.
As she absorbed, divine power imbued with multicolored light flowed gently from Yu Tianming's hand like fragrant mist, surrounding her and infusing her body. The Blue Silver Emperor's soul bone began glowing softly with blue light.
Half an incense stick's time later, Dugu Yan stood up, pleasantly surprised. "Brother Tianming, what did you do? Absorbing a hundred-thousand-year soul bone was easier than a ten-thousand-year one!"
Yu Tianming didn't answer. Instead, he took out the Evil God Pearl left behind by the Dark Evil God Tiger.
Its divine soul and cold energy had long dissipated. Now it looked like a dull, gray bead—but the soul power within was still incredibly pure.
He handed the Evil God Pearl to her. "This is the one left behind by the Dark Evil God Tiger. Paired with its soul ring, it'll benefit you a lot."
Dugu Yan looked at the bead, remembering the events from a year ago. Her voice trembled. "You fell into the spatial rift for this... I kept thinking maybe I could inherit a god's power and find you again."
Yu Tianming was touched but didn't reply. He simply signaled her to begin absorbing.
Understanding, Dugu Yan stopped being sentimental and held the bead in her hand. As her soul power flowed, gray mist streamed into her body.
At the same time, the sixth soul ring she got from the Dark Evil God Tiger began to flash. The pearl, like silk unraveling, slowly vanished as the energy merged into her.
Her body trembled violently. Her pale skin began to glow with a rosy luster, and sweat the size of beans dripped onto the floor of the Hell Arena, forming wet spots.
A year ago, she hadn't fully absorbed the Dark Evil God Tiger's essence. The Evil God Pearl was its true core.
In the original story, this very pearl traveled to the Heavenly Jewel Change world, turning a powerless mortal into a top general under Tang San. It was no wonder absorption was so difficult.
Seeing her in pain, Yu Tianming infused her with his Dragon God–enhanced divine power, calming her instantly.
Soon, Dugu Yan finished absorbing the pearl. Her soul power hadn't changed much, but a tail had grown from her back—like the Dark Evil God Tiger's—a segmented bone tail with a deadly spike at the end.
"Yan Yan, this pearl gave you an external soul bone! That's incredible!"
Dugu Yan looked at the tail, still unfamiliar with it. She swayed it experimentally.
Then, seemingly thinking of something, she activated her Martial Soul. Dark green scales covered her skin, but her legs remained human. The Evil God tail stayed intact.
She smiled. "This makes battle easier. I've got a tail for offense, and I can still use my legs to kick."
"So, what skills did you gain?" Yu Tianming asked.
Pointing to her right leg, Dugu Yan replied, "This soul bone gave me healing and flight. Now I can fight in the air without wings, and I won't fear getting injured anymore."
She then touched her new tail and continued, "The bone tail from the Dark Evil God Tiger is extremely sharp and boosts my toxins. Anyone who touches it dies. Its skill can pierce space and break most defenses."
Yu Tianming nodded. Both abilities matched the beasts they came from and perfectly strengthened her, filling in her weaknesses.
Just then, the bell for the Hell Slaughter Arena rang.
Dugu Yan looked up with a smile. "Time for the duel. Let's talk after I win."
She turned, walked down the narrow corridor, and disappeared through the iron gate.
Back then, Hu Liena entered Slaughter City with only Rank 50 power and one external soul bone. Yet she managed to win a hundred battles.
After her Seagod Island trials, Dugu Yan had reached the level of Soul Emperor. As a power-type soul master with three passive skills, she was like a tiger among sheep in the arena.
Now, after gaining both a hundred-thousand-year soul bone and an external one, with four in total, she quickly killed the nine others in the arena.
Then, she registered again and returned to the resting room.
Seeing Yu Tianming, her bloodstained robes still clinging to her, she didn't say a word—she simply tore them off, leaving only her two treasure armors.
"Brother Tianming, do you have water? I've been in Slaughter City for six months. The water's only for drinking, so I haven't bathed."
Yu Tianming took out a soul tool ring gifted by Ning Fengzhi, filled it with fresh water, and handed it to her. "This ring holds 27 cubic meters of water. Enough to last you years here."
Since he now had the Mountain Dragon King's soul bone space, the ring was redundant—perfect for gifting.
Dugu Yan slid it on, grinning. "You've given me so many treasures today. One more storage ring won't hurt."
Then, right in front of him, she took off her treasure armor. Though she'd fought for half a year, her skin remained smooth and soft—like fine jade.
Seeing Yu Tianming's expression, she smiled, lifted her hand, and summoned a clear stream from the ring.
After absorbing two immortal herbs, her skin had undergone a strange change. The water washed away blood and grime, revealing her sculpted form—graceful and supple, snow-white and tinged with pink.
After rinsing off, she beamed at Yu Tianming. "I'm not young anymore. Most girls my age are married with kids."
"Let's hold our wedding at the sect in a few years."
She said nothing more and dove into his arms.
Moonlight through the open window, candlelight snuffed, robes removed.
Shared laughter behind drawn curtains, fragrant orchids in full bloom.
Afterward, Yu Tianming looked at the blushing Dugu Yan in his arms and said, "The King of Slaughter doesn't like new Killing Gods appearing. Now that I've grown strong enough, I'll reveal myself—stop him from pulling dirty tricks and harming you."
The King of Slaughter had once tried to kill Tang San and Hu Liena, who were backed by Tang Hao and Bibi Dong, respectively. He even sent vicious beasts to kill Tang San on the Hell Road.
When Yu Tianming crossed it, his powerful physique had drawn out the Three-headed Bat King and the Ten-headed Sun Serpent—both beasts used against Tang San and Hu Liena.
Now, empowered by the Dragon God, his soul power had become divine. Though he couldn't beat Tang Chen yet, he could handle the puppet controlled by the Nine-headed Bat King. If he could lure him out, maybe he could strike down the Shura God's candidate.
Then he'd help Dugu Yan begin her own Shura God trials.
A few days later, Yu Tianming began appearing regularly on Slaughter City's streets. Most evil soul masters who had witnessed his kills were gone, but the Hell Messengers who worked there still recognized him—the fastest to win 100 battles, known as the "Hell Demon Dragon."
On the dome of the Slaughter Arena, in a vast dark chamber, sat a throne adorned with blue and purple crystals, shaped like a watchtower.
(End of Chapter)
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