Chapter 70: Jinbao Evolution, Opportunity.
With Su Ye's current strength, hunting thousand-year soul beasts was as easy as child's play.
After acquiring the three-thousand-year Sword Tiger soul ring, Zhu Zhuqing went on to absorb an eight-thousand-year Ghost Hidden Cat soul ring. Surpassing the typical age limit gave her an immediate breakthrough to level 42.
Compared to Zhu Zhuqing, Ning Rongrong's martial soul, the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda, demanded a more refined choice. The soul ring couldn't have dark or evil attributes—gemstone-type soul beasts were the most compatible.
Eventually, she managed to wait for a suitable soul beast: a two-thousand-year-old Three-Colored Golden Crystal Crocodile. With its ring, Ning Rongrong gained her third soul skill—Attack Boost.
> "The choice of soul skills for the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda depends on both my needs and those of my teammates," she explained.
"Before, I had to rely on myself, so I chose strength and speed boosts.
But Zhuqing isn't a sensitive attack-type soul master. If I enhance her attack power, it boosts our overall team strength the most."
Su Ye couldn't argue with that logic.
It was just like practicing Baji Fist in the real world—soul mastery on the Douluo Continent was a form of inherited martial heritage.
For outsiders who arrive in this world, there's no guarantee they even have a martial soul. And if they do, their innate soul power tends to be extremely low, making it difficult to cultivate and grow stronger.
On the other hand, families with soul master lineages are a different story. Not only are they born with powerful martial souls (barring mutations), but even their soul skills follow established paths.
Their soul ring configurations are often optimized—the ideal choices for the family's soul master children to hunt and absorb.
Su Ye couldn't help but recall a saying:
> "How can three generations of wealth lose to your ten years of hard work?"
These long-standing soul master clans are like ladders built over time, always placing their descendants far ahead. Without the fusion system, Su Ye wouldn't even reach their level no matter how many tricks he tried.
Martial souls… soul beasts… soul skills… medicinal herbs…
This world was far bigger than the original work described. There was no simple path illuminated by a protagonist's halo.
Su Ye had to admit—his previous assumptions were far too naïve.
After a few days of rest, the power of the immortal herbs fully merged with his body.
Originally at level 37, Su Ye's cultivation had now neared level 50 thanks to the effects of herbs like Hunyuan Immortal Grass and Star Luo Spirit Bamboo.
> "After absorbing the Hunyuan Immortal Grass, the Yin-Yang Wuji Technique now runs on its own," he thought.
"Though my speed has slowed due to the high level, gaining nearly ten levels per year is something most can only dream of."
But cultivating soul power wasn't his primary concern anymore.
Standing beside the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well, Su Ye's determined gaze reflected the twin lights of red and white.
His real goal: combat strength.
Combat power came from two key areas:
1. Soul Techniques – such as the Tiangang Divine Fist, which could unleash formidable power in actual battle. A good soul bone could greatly increase this too.
2. Martial Soul Evolution – enhancing combat strength through superior soul rings and unlocking deeper potential within the martial soul itself.
> "If the resting place of the Ice and Fire Dragon Kings has soul bones, that would be ideal," he thought.
"If not, their dragon corpses alone hold incredible power. If I can fuse that into the Golden Phoenix…"
Su Ye's heart raced with excitement, but then he frowned.
He remembered that dragon souls guarded the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well.
Even if a half-step God King-level Dragon King was dead, its soul might not be fully extinguished. If it attacked, Su Ye's current strength wouldn't be enough to defend himself.
His concern wasn't without reason. But after some thought...
> "Would I accidentally awaken the dragon soul?"
He considered the possibility low. Every time a remnant dragon soul had appeared, it had weakened. As long as the Yin-Yang Well wasn't destroyed, that kind of disaster probably wouldn't occur.
Taking a deep breath, Su Ye's eyes became resolute.
> "No tiger cubs without venturing into the tiger's den.
No matter what, I have to go down and take a look!"
Still, he didn't rush in blindly. Without proper preparation, it would be too dangerous.
---
A few days later...
A low roar echoed through the valley.
The fire-elemental energy in the air stirred wildly. In a distant corner, a blaze of red light flared up—eye-catching and powerful.
Out from the flames ran a small golden cub, howling proudly as it darted around Su Ye, showing off.
Jinbao had changed.
Its fur, originally red and gold, now bore flame-shaped cloud patterns—an exotic, regal look. The surrounding flames were more focused, charged with a calm, explosive energy. The sheer heat was enough to make one's heart race.
Zhu Zhuqing smiled lightly.
> "Looks like Jinbao got quite the benefit from eating that immortal herb."
Ning Rongrong pouted enviously.
> "Seriously. That's a fairy grass! Even Titled Douluo would fight over it—and Jinbao got it for free!"
Despite her words, she genuinely liked the clever little cub. Her eyes sparkled as she looked at him.
Su Ye gave Jinbao a signal with his eyes.
> "Jinbao, try out your new power."
Receiving the order, the two Jinbaos jumped into the air. They puffed up their cheeks and sniffed sharply, releasing trails of white-hot steam from their nostrils.
Boom!
With a roar, they opened their mouths wide—and a terrifying fire burst forth. The flames rapidly gathered into a huge fireball and merged.
With a violent boom, the ground erupted. Crystal mines cracked, and rocks melted into magma.
In front of them was now a ten-meter-wide, half-spherical pit filled with lava—an awe-inspiring sight.
The air fell silent.
Ning Rongrong had just been about to pet Jinbao but quietly pulled her hand back.
Creepy.
Looking at Su Ye and Jinbao—the powerful master and beast duo—she felt a cold chill run down her back.
A soul master with a hidden ten-thousand-year soul ring, disguised as a hundred-year one, capable of challenging Titled Douluo…
A puppy-like pet that looked harmless, but could release terrifying destruction…
Anyone who crossed them was doomed!
> "Su Ye… is Jinbao really that strong?" Zhu Zhuqing asked in shock.
They had always treated Jinbao like a cute mascot, never imagining he was this powerful.
Just that one attack alone meant she, even as a Soul Sect, would be no match. He had to be at least Soul King-level.
Su Ye gave a wry smile.
> "Jinbao's always had good strength. He's just timid and rarely uses it."
"The Cockcomb Phoenix Sunflower he ate is a strong fire-attribute immortal herb. It suits him perfectly."
Looking at the now awe-inspiring Jinbao, Su Ye couldn't help but feel a surge of joy.
The opportunity… had finally arrived.
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