When Dugu Bo heard the effect of the soul skill True Dragon Soothes the World, his Adam's apple twitched slightly, and he slowly swallowed a mouthful of saliva.
He had just witnessed Yu Yuanzhen's terrifying offensive power with his own eyes. Yu Tianming possessed a positively mutated version of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon martial soul, with an attack power that even surpassed the original.
True Dragon Soothes the World not only could strike across space but, as a hundred-thousand-year soul skill, its damage would surely far exceed Yu Yuanzhen's ten-thousand-year soul skill.
Although Yu Tianming was still only a Spirit Douluo, many Title Douluo lacked strong defenses. As a control-type soul master, Dugu Bo didn't have a single defensive soul skill. If he were suddenly struck by Yu Tianming's cross-space attack, it would be enough to cost him his life on the spot.
Unlike Dugu Bo, who was horrified, Yu Yuanzhen was quite pleased to see his grandson gain such a powerful skill. Stroking his beard, he smiled and asked, "The soul skill from the Sky Azure Bull Python is impressive, but what about its soul bone skill?"
Yu Tianming seemed to recall something at the mention of the soul bone skill. A slight smile appeared on his lips. He waved his right hand, and the Ultimate Lightning in his palm shifted in color as elemental auras danced across the arcs of lightning.
"Maybe because the Azure Dragon aligns with wood, and wind and thunder are also wood-attributed, the first soul bone skill I got from the Sky Azure Bull Python is called Sky Azure Divine Thunder. It lets me attach the wood attribute to lightning, increasing its intensity. I think it could even infuse other elements too—forming things like Yin Lightning and Yang Lightning."
"My second soul bone skill is Wood Attribute Manipulation. Although it came from an animal-type beast, it lets me control plant growth and has a decent healing effect."
The skills sounded great, but Yu Yuanzhen shook his head. "Sky Azure Divine Thunder is fine. But Tianming, you don't lack healing, and plants aren't much for offense. Wood Attribute Manipulation feels a bit useless."
Yu Tianming didn't respond. He just smiled quietly. He was thinking about a perfect soul bone combination: the Mountain Dragon King's trunk bone was earth, and the Sky Azure Bull Python's right arm bone was wood. If he could gather metal, water, and fire soul bones, he would complete the five elements.
He had a hunch—once the five elements were gathered, the soul bones would undergo some kind of mystical transformation.
Just then, a distant roar broke his train of thought.
It was so far away that the sound had become faint by the time it reached them.
Yu Yuanzhen crossed his arms and smiled at Tianming. "Looks like the Titan Giant Ape is back. But the Sky Azure Bull Python is already dead—coming back now is just a death wish."
Yu Tianming, having just absorbed his eighth ring, was in good spirits and chuckled, "The Titan Giant Ape sure has an ugly roar. But its soul ring is still useful—we shouldn't waste it."
"In that case, let's leave quickly. If it recognizes our Blue Lightning Tyrant clan uniforms, that hundred-thousand-year beast could cause some trouble."
Half an incense stick later, the Titan Giant Ape returned to the heart of Star Dou Forest with Xiao Wu in tow.
But Yu Tianming and his companions were long gone. All that remained were charred tree branches and the mutilated body of the Sky Azure Bull Python hanging from a tree.
Xiao Wu's eyes welled up the moment she saw the still-recognizable massive head of the Sky Azure Bull Python. Holding the Titan Giant Ape's finger, she wept, "It's all my fault. If not for me, Er Ming wouldn't have been separated from Da Ming. If they hadn't split up, Da Ming wouldn't have had to face the enemy alone."
The Titan Giant Ape cared just as deeply for the Sky Azure Bull Python.
Looking at his dead big brother, then at Xiao Wu with tears like falling blossoms, his lantern-sized eyes filled with bloodshot rage. "Sister Xiao Wu, this isn't your fault. It's mine. I came back too late. I didn't reach Da Ming in time."
After a moment, the Titan Giant Ape calmed slightly. His not-so-bright mind finally turned to revenge. "Sister Xiao Wu, we don't even know who killed Da Ming this time. When you return to the human world, please keep an eye out for signs of a hundred-thousand-year soul ring. That might help us track down the murderer."
Xiao Wu nodded through her tears.
At that moment, Yu Tianming had already reached the outskirts of Star Dou Forest. He sensed a strong older couple and their granddaughter nearby, hunting soul beasts.
The couple moved unusually slowly, probably due to their martial souls. They couldn't even catch up to a mere thousand-year soul beast.
It seemed like an ordinary soul-hunting trio. But the man's martial soul was a dragon-headed staff, and the woman's was a snake-headed staff. They called their granddaughter Meng Yiran.
Yu Tianming immediately recognized them as the famed Dragon and Snake couple. Their joint attack was barely equal to an average Title Douluo—not much use to him. But their granddaughter, Meng Yiran, had a hidden weapon specialty.
Though her skill was nowhere near Tang San's level, if she ever learned his techniques in the future, her interest in hidden weapons would make her very useful.
He stopped flying and smiled at Yu Yuanzhen and Dugu Bo. "Grandfather, don't be in such a rush to return. I've sensed a few soul masters who would be perfect for the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon clan."
"Oh? Who are they that even you find them suitable for our clan?"
"Grandfather, have you heard of the Dragon and Snake duo?"
Even as the leader of one of the three upper sects, Yu Yuanzhen had heard of them. "I've heard their combination attack rivals a Title Douluo. Decent strength, but what makes them suitable for us?"
Yu Tianming smiled faintly. "Their martial souls are a dragon staff and a snake staff. Since there's both dragon and snake, they're naturally a good fit for our clan. More importantly, I feel they're fated to be connected to us."
Yu Yuanzhen laughed heartily. "If you think so, let's meet this so-called Dragon and Snake duo."
He led the way, flying toward them. Dugu Bo, following behind, started to get suspicious. 'Didn't Tianming say the same thing when he recruited me? Something about fate and dragons?'
When the trio landed in front of them, the Dragon and Snake couple didn't recognize Tianming or Dugu Bo but immediately spotted Yu Yuanzhen, the sect leader. They hurriedly bowed, "Meng Shu and Chao Tianxiang greet Lord Thunder."
Meng Yiran blinked at the three newcomers, then followed her grandparents' lead and bowed.
Meng Shu stepped forward with a smile. "This is my granddaughter, Meng Yiran. We're just trying to get her third soul ring. If we've disturbed you, we ask your forgiveness."
Dugu Bo glanced at the fifteen- or sixteen-year-old Meng Yiran and thought, 'Could Tianming be after this girl? Poor Yanyan may have a rival.'
Of course, cultural norms in Douluo Continent were different from Earth. Dugu Bo's first reaction wasn't "my granddaughter-in-law is cheating," but rather, 'This girl's looks don't compare to Yanyan's, and her family's strength isn't on par with mine. She's no real threat.'
Yu Yuanzhen didn't notice Dugu Bo's thoughts. He kindly waved his hand. "No need to be so formal. We're not here with any bad intentions."
Yu Tianming stepped forward with a smile. "I heard your martial souls are a dragon staff and a snake staff. Are you hunting sub-dragon beasts?"
The couple exchanged a glance, unsure of his intentions, but answered honestly. "We were looking for a sub-dragon beast for Yiran, but only found a Man-Faced Demon Spider. It got away."
"In my opinion, sub-dragon beasts are more suitable for dragon-type tool souls. Man-Faced Demon Spiders are rare and hard to gauge in age—the risks are too high."
Then Tianming changed tone. "If the Dragon and Snake couple are willing to join the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon clan, we'll provide sub-dragon soul rings for free. And we'll honor Elder Long as a clan elder."
Recruiting someone on the spot like this was abrupt, leaving Meng Shu and Chao Tianxiang unsure of how to respond. They instinctively looked toward Yu Yuanzhen.
"Tianming's will is my will. Of course, if you don't want to join, that's also fine."
With the sect master's assurance, Meng Shu composed himself and cupped his fists. "Thank you for the offer. But joining a sect is no small matter. I hope you'll allow us time to consider."
Yu Tianming upped the offer. "Though you use tool souls, they carry dragon blood like ours. Since fate has brought us together, we'll provide the soul ring free of charge—just come visit the clan as guests."
Having roamed the continent for years, the Dragon and Snake couple knew how treacherous people could be. Their first thought was that this was a trap. But given Yu Yuanzhen's strength, if he wanted to kill them, he didn't need schemes. So they hesitated.
"Tianming's word is mine too. One soul ring—as a gesture of friendship."
Hearing Yu Yuanzhen's words, the couple bowed again. "Many thanks, Lord Thunder. We'll accept the kindness."
Seeing them agree, Yu Yuanzhen flew into the sky. With a wave of his hand, his Super Douluo power wrapped the trio and whisked them away toward the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon clan.
As Tianming and the Dragon and Snake couple returned to the clan, they ran into a familiar young man.
He stood around two meters tall, with bulging muscles and a heroic frame. His black buzzcut resembled Hanamichi Sakuragi's. Though his features were still youthful, he radiated determination.
This young man was none other than Tianming's cousin, Yu Tianheng—Yu Yuanzhen's biological grandson—whom he hadn't seen in three years.
Tianheng had been training at Thunderclap Academy for the upcoming tournament and missed Tianming's recent return. Now, home for a visit, he had run into Tianming by chance.
Tianming beamed and strode over. "Three years apart and you're not even saying hello? You're leading Thunderclap Academy now, already set to win the tournament!"
Tianheng scratched his head. "It's just been so long—I was caught off guard. As for winning, I might still beat Tianxin, but if I face you, wouldn't I lose for sure?"
"My spirit power is too high, so I won't compete this time. The honor of champion is yours to take." Tianming clapped him on the shoulder, unconcerned.
Now a Spirit Douluo, almost a Title Douluo, he had no reason to bully Soul Sovereigns and Soul Kings. Plus, after collecting tens of thousands of dragon-type soul bones from Dragon Valley, he had no interest in the tournament's rewards. He'd leave the games to Tianheng.
After some brief catching up, Tianheng glanced at Meng Yiran beside them and asked a bit shyly, "Is this your girlfriend, big brother? My future sister-in-law?"
"Don't get ahead of yourself. She's just a guest—we only met today. I'm about to help her get her third soul ring."
Hearing that, Tianheng's eyes lit up, and he quickly volunteered. "In that case, how about I escort them to Thunder Forest?"
Meng Yiran, already a young woman of fifteen or sixteen, understood his intent right away. Her cheeks flushed, and she turned her head shyly.
Yu Yuanzhen chuckled and said to the couple, "This is my grandson, Yu Tianheng. He's already a Soul King—perfectly capable of helping with the soul ring. Why not let him escort you?"
The couple, of course, understood the meaning behind this. Yu Tianheng was Yu Yuanzhen's grandson, a Soul King, and quite handsome—what's not to like?
They smiled and agreed, "Then we'll trouble young Tianheng."
After they left, only Yu Yuanzhen and Dugu Bo remained with Tianming.
Tianming took out a large lead box and handed it to Yu Yuanzhen. "This is a set of ten-thousand-year soul bones I acquired. They're all lightning-elemental dragon types. Please pass them to Tianheng for me."
Yu Yuanzhen's eyes flickered. Even he hadn't collected a full set of lightning dragon soul bones—and Tianming just casually handed them over.
Still, as the clan leader, he maintained composure and said solemnly, "These are precious for our clan. Are you sure you don't want to reconsider?"
(End of Chapter)
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