With a heavy thud, a black-scaled serpent covered in crimson fleshy tumors collapsed onto the ground. Its blood spilled from its jaws, soaking into the soil, and an acrid, poisonous stench instantly filled the air.
Even Ming Hongchen was left staring in shock. "What kind of soul beast is this? Its blood alone carries such a deadly poison?"
He had never heard of such a creature on the Sun-Moon Continent.
"A mutated species," Dugu Bo explained calmly. "It's called a Poison Miasma Serpent. According to ancient records, it only exists in this Poison Miasma Zone and supposedly carries dragon bloodline. Beyond that, little is known. Mentions of this beast are rare and scattered."
"Are you sure this is safe? That serpent had a cultivation of 35,000 years." Xu Fengya frowned deeply.
"Rest assured," Dugu Bo said flatly. "If Xiao Hai chose it, he naturally has absolute confidence."
Xu Fengya's mind turned quickly. 'Could it be for a soul bone?' She remembered Dugu Bo had already annihilated the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. As one of the continent's peak soul master clans, they were bound to have stockpiled soul bones. It wasn't impossible he had given one or two to his granddaughter to strengthen her body.
Still, for a soul master at rank 50 to absorb a 35,000 year soul ring—it left her inwardly shaken.
Unfortunately, Yang Yunhai's publicly released theory of absorbing higher-aged rings only went as far as the fourth ring. The evaluations for the later rings had not been published. Judging by this, the theory must only be perfected up to the fifth ring. Either way, such a precious secret was not something she could simply ask for.
'What a pity this young man is not of our Sun-Moon Continent. If only… perhaps I could even have matched him with my granddaughter.'
While her thoughts ran, Dugu Yan had already sat cross-legged by the serpent's corpse under Yang Yunhai's indication, drawing the soul ring toward herself.
Ming Hongchen sighed quietly to himself. 'This journey to this continent has been rich indeed.' He glanced sideways at Yang Yunhai, unable to hide a flicker of embarrassment. 'Truly, this young man and Dugu Bo have given far more than I ever expected.'
Hours later, Dugu Yan's absorption was complete. Her eyes snapped open, gleaming with power.
"Yan Yan, how was it?" Dugu Bo asked first.
"Rank 53," Dugu Yan replied with a bright smile. "The new soul skill is called Poison Explosion. When my toxins invade an enemy's body, I can remotely detonate them. The effect comes in two forms: one, a direct explosion—though the force is limited, within the body the damage is severe. Two, the poison itself instantly intensifies, spreading throughout the body with explosive speed."
Ming Hongchen and Xu Fengya were both stunned speechless.
Such a skill was terrifying. Was it the result of absorbing beyond her limit?
"Good, good!" Dugu Bo laughed heartily, his face splitting into a wide grin.
Yang Yunhai also smiled, nodding softly toward Dugu Yan. She returned his look with a radiant smile of her own.
Before long, the group packed up and ventured deeper into the zone.
Not long after, someone shouted:
"Look at that— a 50,000 year Paralysis Poison Dragon!"
"And what kind of soul beast is this? It's covered in toxic flowers!"
"Don't look at me, I've never seen it before!"
The deeper they went, the more bizarre and unknown the soul beasts became. Even their ecosystem seemed alien compared to the outside world.
As time wore on, vegetation thinned and thinned. The soil gradually turned a faint red. Another kilometer forward, the earth was completely barren. Red mist hung thick, veiling the ground in bloody fog. Everyone's brows furrowed as they stepped into the strange zone.
"I can't sense any plants inside… nor any beasts," Yang Yunhai said grimly. "And this red mist suppresses spiritual power."
"Respected one," Yao Ling's voice echoed into his mind, "I can faintly feel a powerful life force deep within. It belongs to some kind of soul beast, but I cannot discern its species or cultivation. Still, I am certain its vitality is immense."
Deprived of his body and power after sacrificing himself, Yao Ling's perception was far weaker now.
"Xiao Hai, you and Yan Yan stay here," Dugu Bo ordered.
Ming Hongchen instantly understood, turning to his wife. "Fengya, guard Xiao Hai and Miss Yan here. I'll go with Brother Dugu."
"Be careful," Xu Fengya said firmly.
"Don't worry." Ming Hongchen nodded, exchanged a glance with Dugu Bo, and the two shot upward into the blood mist.
The crimson haze roiled, swallowing their figures.
Half a quarter of an hour later—
Mooaaargh!
A strange sound rang out, half like a child's wail, half like a dragon's cry.
Yang Yunhai's face darkened. "What is that?"
"Fengya, take the children and run!" Ming Hongchen's voice thundered from the fog.
Before his words faded, Dugu Bo's curse followed. "Damn it, what the hell is this thing!?"
"Respected one!" Yao Ling's urgent warning resounded. "It's a plant-type soul beast. Its roots are spreading this way. I cannot identify the species or exact cultivation, but its spiritual presence is terrifying—at least 200,000 years!"
Yang Yunhai didn't hesitate. He grabbed Dugu Yan's waist and soared backward. "Senior Xu, we retreat now!"
'He can fly?' Xu Fengya was startled, but followed swiftly without pause.
The three of them raced out of the red-soaked earth, pushing another several hundred meters before finally stopping.
Whoosh, whoosh!
Moments later, Dugu Bo and Ming Hongchen shot out of the fog, landing hard on the ground, both slightly short of breath.
"Go," Dugu Bo barked. "We'll explain on the way!"
"Alright." Yang Yunhai nodded, carrying Dugu Yan as they fled. "Grandfather, what was it?"
"A monstrous plant, crimson from root to crown," Dugu Bo spat as they ran. "Its lower body is rooted in a pile of shattered rocks, but countless branches spread out, draped with blood-colored leaves like an entire grove. Around it stretched a bloody swamp littered with beast bones. Its upper body was bare, serpentine like a dragon, over 30 meters long, with limbs sprouting from the sides and claws at the ends. Its head—pure dragon, with eyes that gleamed blood-red."
"Before we even drew near, its vines lashed out of the swamp like whips. They kept growing longer, chasing after us endlessly. I've never seen such a bizarre soul beast in my life."
"Fortunately, Brother Ming and I approached from the air, skirting the mist. Otherwise, we might not have made it back."
"From its aura, it was easily a 100,000 year level beast."
"Respected one, I too have never heard of such a species," Yao Ling confirmed gravely.
"It must be that the red soil zone is its root system's territory," Ming Hongchen added. "The corpses in the swamp prove it has been hunting beasts for centuries. No wonder we saw none on our way here. And—its resistance to cold is terrifying. My ice-based poison had almost no effect."
"Fortunately, its offense seems simple. Mainly vine lashes, with some minor spiritual disturbance," Dugu Bo said grimly. "But its vines multiplied endlessly—one split to two, two to three, until dozens were chasing us."
Yang Yunhai's eyes narrowed. "Then it should be a mutated plant beast, life attribute as its core, with some spiritual attribute on the side. The dragon form likely stems from faint dragon bloodline, like many beasts here. Its feeding on corpses explains its strength… but its intelligence must be very low. Otherwise, with such power, it could have left to hunt across the continent long ago."
'Did it lose its wits after devouring too many beasts? Or was it born this way?'
"No matter what," Dugu Bo chuckled grimly, "once you reach rank 90, Xiao Hai, we'll come back for it."
He dared not reveal in front of outsiders that his grandson-in-law could already absorb 100,000 year rings.
'100,000 year soul ring…' Both Ming Hongchen and Xu Fengya exchanged a glance, hearts filled with envy. Such rings were rare enough—finding one matching their attributes was rarer still.
"Grandfather, that's still a long way off," Yang Yunhai said evenly. "If I'm not mistaken, that zone must be the very core of the Poison Miasma Zone. Since it's already occupied by that beast, there's no point pushing deeper. We should return."
"Agreed," Ming Hongchen said at once.
"Fine by me," Dugu Bo nodded.
And so, the group turned back, making their way toward the outer edge of the Sunset Forest.
(End of Chapter)
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