What exactly did Zhu Ziyang see?
A dragon!
No—more precisely, it was a silver giant wolf on the verge of transforming into a dragon. In the dim light, Zhu Ziyang saw its massive figure. Its body was covered in silver dragon scales, a pair of silver dragon wings extended from its ribs, and dragon horns crowned its wolfish head. Fortunately, its eyes were tightly shut, giving Zhu Ziyang just enough time to flee.
Without hesitation, he forcibly suppressed the fear gripping his heart and the weakness in his limbs, turned around, and bolted for the exit of the cave. Every movement was light and deliberate—he didn't dare disturb the giant wolf slumbering within.
The cave was only four or five meters deep, yet to Zhu Ziyang, it felt like a journey lasting a millennium.
Once he finally emerged, he didn't waste a second. He sprinted toward the village. He had to tell Zhu Changhe and Hong Zhen—warn them never to return to the back mountain. In fact, they should report this immediately to Dragon City and request aid from high-level soul masters.
Because that wolf... was a one hundred thousand year soul beast!
Zhu Ziyang had already identified it. It was a Northern Extreme Dragon Wolf, a subspecies soul beast possessing the bloodline of a true dragon! Even though the silver dragon wolf's appearance slightly differed from the traditional dragon wolves he'd seen recorded, Zhu Ziyang was certain. It was a dragon wolf—and one with dragon wings and foot-long horns, on the verge of transforming into a true dragon. And it had reached the terrifying stage of a one hundred thousand year soul beast!
He ran with everything he had toward North River Village. He had to warn them.
A one hundred thousand year soul beast!
If that thing descended upon Anyang City, which didn't even have a single Soul King to defend it, the outcome could only be total destruction. Zhu Ziyang wouldn't risk betting on the hope that this was some benevolent ancient beast. Even if it was, its kindness surely wouldn't extend to humans.
But his hopes were shattered almost instantly.
Before he had run ten meters, Zhu Ziyang came to a dead stop.
Frozen.
Paralyzed.
An overwhelming fear swallowed his mind. If not for the pride instilled in him by the Great Light Mantra, holding him up with stubborn dignity, he might have already collapsed to his knees.
Standing before him was a silver giant wolf, five meters long and nearly two meters tall, eyes like silver slits locked on him. Its body was covered in shimmering dragon scales, wings drooping at its sides. Beneath those wings, a horrific wound stretched from its waist to its abdomen, oozing with a grayish mist—death energy. The injury was held together only by a thin layer of frost. If not for that icy seal, its internal organs would already be spilling out.
Even as fear consumed him, his martial soul's powers allowed him to sense that the gray mist wasn't foreign. It was the wolf's own death energy—meaning its life was hanging by a thread.
And that terrified him even more.
Who could predict what a dying one hundred thousand year soul beast might do? If it lost control and went berserk, it could destroy an entire city in a single rampage.
Zhu Ziyang dared not move.
In front of such a creature—even one that was fatally wounded—a mere Soul Elder like him was less than an insect. It could kill him with a glance.
Was this the end?
Would he die here, cut down before his prime? Was this the cruel fate of a genius cursed by heaven itself?
Zhu Ziyang's mind spun through a storm of thoughts.
But the silver dragon wolf didn't strike.
Instead, it tilted its head, sniffing at him curiously. That single motion nearly made Zhu Ziyang wet himself. He thought it was about to eat him alive. But to his surprise, it didn't attack. From an angle he couldn't see, a complex mix of joy, resolution, hatred, and sorrow flashed in the dragon wolf's eyes.
"Are you afraid?"
A cold female voice rang out.
Zhu Ziyang blinked in shock, glancing toward the source. The voice had come from the silver dragon wolf. It was looking at him with keen interest.
Heat rushed to his face, and he replied stiffly, "Of course I'm afraid! Kill me if you must, but don't torture me like this!"
"Why would I kill you?" the wolf spoke again, voice cold but curious.
"Then… then what do you want, big sister dragon wolf?" Sensing a sliver of hope, Zhu Ziyang immediately softened his tone. If begging could save his life, he'd throw away his pride.
"Release your dragon-type martial soul."
Zhu Ziyang hesitated, but didn't dare disobey. With a thought, his Frost Tyrant Dragon martial soul appeared—frosty white dragon scales crawled over his arms and cheeks, his pupils narrowed into vertical slits, his body grew taller and stronger.
"Frost Tyrant Dragon?" The silver dragon wolf stared at him in surprise. A gleam of excitement lit up her eyes. "This… must be fate."
"What?" Zhu Ziyang didn't catch her words.
"Human, you're very lucky," she said slowly. "Because I will offer myself to you as a sacrifice."
"What?" Zhu Ziyang froze, mouth agape, utterly dumbfounded. Was this a joke? A one hundred thousand year soul beast randomly showing up just to sacrifice itself to him? Even fantasy novels wouldn't dare be this outrageous!
"You've seen it—I'm gravely wounded and won't survive. I have a great enemy I cannot defeat. I will sacrifice myself to you, and in return, you must avenge me."
Zhu Ziyang couldn't speak. He could only listen.
"Our bloodlines are highly compatible. After I sacrifice myself, your Frost Tyrant Dragon will evolve into a true dragon. This is a great gift. If you're lucky, you may even inherit my extreme element and my fate energy."
Zhu Ziyang remained silent. What could he say? It wasn't as if he had any right to refuse.
"Before that, you must swear an oath," she said sharply, her silver eyes gleaming. "Swear to avenge me! What is your name?"
"Zhu Ziyang," he replied obediently.
"Good. Repeat after me," she said solemnly, her eyes shining with mysterious brilliance.
"I, Zhu Ziyang, swear before the will of the world—"
"I, Zhu Ziyang, swear before the will of the world—"
"That within a hundred years—"
"That within a hundred years—"
"I will avenge the Silver Dragon Wolf. If I break this oath, let death take me."
"I will avenge the Silver Dragon Wolf. If I break this oath, let death take me."
As the final word left his lips, a silver dragon-shaped projection burst from the wolf's eyes and soared into the sky, vanishing into the heavens. At the same time, a silver stream-like mark appeared on Zhu Ziyang's brow, then sank into his skin. He immediately understood—the vow had taken effect. A binding oath was now imprinted upon his soul.
"Good," the Silver Dragon Wolf said with satisfaction. Though her gaze dimmed, it was filled with warmth—and cold, unrelenting vengeance. "Do not forget the vow you made today."
She had been born under the heavens' blessing as a beast of fortune. If it hadn't been for complete despair, she would never have made this choice. But if she was to die, she would drag her enemy down with her.
Her eyes were now ice-cold with hatred and resolve.
As Zhu Ziyang stood there, stunned and overwhelmed by shock, curiosity, and awe, the Silver Dragon Wolf's massive body suddenly burst into silver flames—ethereal and dreamlike, but devoid of heat. In the blink of an eye, the flames consumed her.
Zhu Ziyang stood naked within the fire, his clothes burned away, yet the flames were strangely gentle, even warm. His second martial soul surfaced—the Frost Tyrant Dragon—and frost-white dragon scales were quickly overtaken by the silver fire.
"Per our agreement, I will become the soul ring of your Frost Tyrant Dragon martial soul. I will use my strength to help evolve your bloodline. How far it evolves will depend on you." Her voice echoed in his mind. "Even if you cannot inherit my extreme element, you must become a true dragon."
With those final words, the silver flames blazed brighter. The Silver Dragon Wolf's form vanished, replaced by a silver dragon-shaped flame that shot directly into Zhu Ziyang's body.
"Don't forget. Avenge me!" came her last whisper.
And then Zhu Ziyang fell into unconsciousness.
(End of Chapter)
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