After bidding farewell to Huo Zhan, Yu Luomian led the group deeper into the mine.
Deeper inside, more and more fragments of Flaming Sun Iron glimmered along the stone walls. Strange plants clung to the rocky surfaces, glowing faint red and softly illuminating the mine.
As the group advanced, a fiery orange Fire Element suddenly emerged from a side tunnel.
Yu Luomian quickly instructed the others, "These low-level Fire Elements are mindless and not suitable for Ah Zhu. They won't attack us, and we have no reason to harm them."
Dugu Bo sneered, "These creatures are quite peculiar indeed."
Just as Yu Luomian said, the Fire Element paid them no attention and wandered off into another tunnel, aimless and dazed.
As they ventured further, the number of red plants increased, and more and more Fire Elements drifted about in the mine's depths, sluggish and confused.
In this eerie and surreal atmosphere, a golden-red Fire Element suddenly flashed across a fork in the tunnel.
It moved so abruptly that Yu Luomian didn't even have time to activate his Lightning Dragon Claw.
Dugu Bo, startled and afraid the Fire Element would escape, shouted, "Eighth Soul Skill: Time Freeze!"
With the activation of his skill, all Fire Elements within several hundred meters froze in place. Even the flames on their bodies became completely still, frozen in motion.
Yu Luomian and Ah Zhu, who were still able to move, turned to Dugu Bo with astonished expressions.
Normally, control-type skills only restrict an enemy's movements. But Dugu Bo's Time Freeze seemed to actually suspend time—the flames on the Fire Elements were frozen mid-leap.
Facing their amazed gazes, Dugu Bo smiled faintly. "This move only works well on low-level enemies. Against stronger opponents, it's far less effective."
Even so, both were in awe of "time," one of the most mysterious forces.
After explaining, Dugu Bo sighed and said, "That Fire Element just reached 2,000 years. The gap from the 1,200-year limit for a third soul ring is too large—Ah Zhu likely can't absorb it."
Yu Luomian chuckled, "Ah Zhu has a century-old soul bone. I think she can give it a try."
"I also feel that this Fire Element is a perfect match for me," said Ah Zhu.
Dugu Bo glanced at Yu Luomian's hidden right hand and sighed again. "Since you're both confident, then give it a shot."
Without hesitation, Ah Zhu stepped forward and stabbed the Fire Element's core with a longsword.
As the core shattered, its flames extinguished instantly, and a purple soul ring slowly rose from the fragments.
Three hours later, Ah Zhu opened her eyes.
Still in her Martial Soul possession state, she now had two crimson horns on her forehead, and her legs had turned into a serpent's tail. After absorbing the Fire Element, her dark red scales now gleamed brighter.
Seeing this, Dugu Bo, also a serpent-type Soul Master, smiled. "This little girl's Martial Soul is of dragon lineage. Her bloodline is quite extraordinary."
Yu Luomian shook his head. "Her dragon bloodline is far too thin—at best, it's a half-dragon Martial Soul."
He then looked at Ah Zhu kindly. "Come on, tell us what soul skill you got. You took so long to absorb the ring, we old men were worried."
Ah Zhu replied, "It was a bit difficult to absorb, but the soul skill is quite good."
Her serpent scales flashed red, and the surrounding temperature rose slightly.
She conjured a brilliant flame in her palm and smiled, "My third soul skill is called True Flame of Soul Refinement. It boosts fire damage by 150% and also adds substantial spiritual damage."
Yu Luomian, who knew her previous soul skills, exclaimed, "Then if this stacks with your second skill, wouldn't the spiritual damage be terrifying?"
Ah Zhu activated her second soul ring. The flame in her palm dimmed slightly but thickened in appearance. "Combining Soul-Corroding Demonic Fire and True Flame of Soul Refinement causes spiritual damage to stack. Within five breaths, a Soul Master of the same level would be rendered unable to fight."
In the world of Douluo, Soul Masters generally have weak spiritual defenses, making mental attacks particularly effective.
Dugu Bo remarked, "A 150% fire damage boost isn't particularly high. Judging by what you said, it seems most of this 2,000-year ring's value lies in its spiritual attack."
Yu Luomian nodded in agreement.
Beast-type Soul Masters usually gain self-enhancement soul skills as their third ring, often with substantial boosts.
For instance:
Dai Mubai's White Tiger Vajra Transformation doubles his attack, defense, strength, and resistance to status effects.
Ma Hongjun's Phoenix Wings Ascend grants temporary flight, boosts firepower by 70%, and expands attack range by 50%.
Yu Tianheng and his brother's Wrath of Thunder induces berserk mode, doubling lightning power and increasing soul power by 50%.
All of these are from 1,200-year soul rings, yet offer near 100% enhancement to multiple attributes.
Though Ah Zhu's 2,000-year soul ring only enhances fire damage by 150%, it compensates by providing immense spiritual damage.
Once she secured the soul ring, the group began making their way back to the surface.
Inside the mine, there was no concept of day or night. Several hours later, they finally emerged into the open air, just as the eastern sky was beginning to brighten.
Having been stifled in the mine for so long, Dugu Bo was in high spirits and laughed heartily, "The dawn light is perfect. Why don't we set out immediately and help Elder Yu get his eighth soul ring?"
Yu Luomian had been stuck at Soul Sage for decades and longed for his eighth ring, so he was more than willing. Laughing just as heartily, he said, "Then let's follow Elder Dugu's suggestion—off we go!"
One was a Titled Douluo, the other a sect elder.
Ah Zhu had no say in the matter and could only quietly follow behind them.
Near a hilly region in the southern Star Dou Forest lived a group of Emerald Jade Wyverns.
These wyverns nested among the tall, dense forests of the hills. They were ferocious carnivores, covered in olive-green, spiked scales, with fan-shaped crests on their heads and forked tails. When charged with electricity, their heads, wings, and tails would emit a green glow—hence the name Emerald Jade Wyverns.
This particular group had claimed a vast territory, and many members of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan favored hunting them for soul rings.
(End of Chapter)
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