Actually, Ma Hongjun wasn't entirely sure if it was an external soul bone. Strictly speaking, the Flood Dragon Scales weren't part of its skeletal structure, but rather its skin.
However, the process of obtaining the Flood Dragon Scales was similar to that of an external soul bone.
The condition for absorbing an external soul bone was first to absorb the soul ring of the soul beast that dropped it.
Tang San's Eight Spider Lances were the eight spider legs of the Human-Faced Demon Spider, which was his third soul ring.
The Flood Dragon Scales, like the eight spider legs, were among the most prominent and valuable parts of this soul beast.
In fact, there aren't many records of external soul bones, and they aren't necessarily limited to bones. They are usually things that drop from soul beasts by chance. Generally, the soul master and the soul beast absorbing the soul ring must be very compatible for it to gain some kind of talent from the soul beast.
The Water Flood Dragon has dragon blood, and Ma Hongjun has a dragon soul within him. Just now, when he absorbed the soul ring, he sensed the dragon soul's movement, so obtaining this Flood Dragon Scales was very likely related to the dragon soul.
External soul bones are rare, and records about them are scarce. Most people who know a little about them rely on theory, speculation, and conjecture, unlike soul bones which have been verified countless times.
"I've only heard of external soul bones, but I've only heard of two kinds: one is the wing bone extended from the spine, resulting in wings; the other is the coccyx extended from the tailbone, resulting in a tail,"
Zhao Wuji said thoughtfully. His understanding of external soul bones came entirely from rumors, and he had never seen one.
Ma Hongjun's thinking was richer than theirs. The clash between the two worldviews gave him a novel perspective.
In Ma Hongjun's view, external soul bones were just a theoretical term. Unlike soul bones, which act internally, external soul bones act externally. From the wings, tail, and spider legs, it can be seen that they combine what the human body lacks but what the soul beast excels at. The six major soul bones are consistent with the
human skeleton and anyone can possess them, but external soul bones are extremely demanding. The human body doesn't have them, and when absorbing a soul ring, the human body must be perfectly compatible with that soul beast to have a chance of obtaining one.
So, the same principle applies to the dragon scale armor and the external soul bone. Even if it's not a soul bone, there's not much difference; their essential functions are the same.
"Don't worry about whether it's a bone or not, as long as it's beneficial to you. The dragon scale armor has very high defense; try it out first."
Zhao Wuji said nonchalantly. He didn't like studying theoretical things; practically speaking, he just wanted to see if it was beneficial. If it was useful, he didn't care what it was, he'd just use it.
"How do I test it? With a knife?"
Ma Hongjun was talking when he suddenly felt a chill down his spine. He turned around and saw Dai Mubai staring at his buttocks with a sinister grin.
"Hey, don't move, or you might poke the wrong thing."
Ma Hongjun turned around, and Dai Mubai was already holding a golden pellet, which was originally aimed at his buttocks, but now, because of the turn, it was aimed at his crotch.
"Your fiancée's!" Ma Hongjun covered his groin with both hands, cursing inwardly.
"To test its defensive capabilities, I think there's nothing better than using Dragon Beard Needles; our strongest penetrating weapon right now is the Dragon Beard Needles. Other ordinary weapons are out of the question; they can't possibly break through the dragon's scales." Dai Mubai continued with a wicked grin, walking behind Ma Hongjun.
Ma Hongjun dared not turn around again, quickly summoning blue dragon scales to cover his entire body.
Zhao Wuji, hearing this, chuckled and echoed, "Hmm, that's not bad. The needles you used are indeed very penetrating, and we just saw the defensive power of these dragon scales. The Dragon Beard Needles shouldn't be able to penetrate them. Let's try it, we'll see."
"Hey, wait, wait, I'm still not convinced. Let me try first."
Ma Hongjun quickly stopped him, then took out the Dragon Beard Needles and fired seven in succession at the already dead water dragon.
"Clang clang clang clang clang clang clang!"
Seven needles hit the same scale in succession, leaving no damage, only seven tiny needle holes, which had no effect whatsoever.
Seeing the result, Ma Hongjun felt relieved, arched his backside slightly, and said fiercely,
"Come on!"
"Hehe!"
Dai Mubai had already injected his soul power into the Dragon Beard Needle, and the slender needle flew out from his hand.
"Hiss!"
Instead of the expected clanging sound, Ma Hongjun gasped in pain.
It was like being a child and getting a shot from the doctor; he had mentally prepared himself for a while, but after a brief and terrifying pain, he felt nothing.
The Dragon Beard Needle didn't completely pierce his buttocks. The defense of the dragon scales was still considerable; the needle only went in to the tip before being clamped down by the dragon scales.
"Hiss!"
Ma Hongjun hissed in pain again.
After losing its soul power, the Dragon Beard Needle tried to curl up, but because of the hardness of the dragon scales, the half of the needle that had entered his buttocks was pulled out again.
This feeling was just like when a needle was pulled out; the pain was excruciating, catching him completely off guard.
"Damn it, his fiancée, in this situation, still managed to give me a full acupuncture treatment," Ma Hongjun complained.
Having repeatedly vented his frustrations about Dai Mubai on his fiancée, Ma Hongjun suddenly realized he had developed a deep obsession with Zhu Zhuqing, Dai Mubai's fiancée, whom he hadn't even met yet but was about to.
Thinking of Zhu Zhuqing, the acupuncture suddenly didn't hurt anymore.
"Consider it compensation for trying to seduce your fiancée later!"
Ma Hongjun chuckled mischievously, turning to look at his good brother, thinking to himself,
"Brother's wife, you're too kind!"
Dai Mubai and Zhao Wuji both stared at Ma Hongjun in surprise.
"How about another injection?"
Dai Mubai tentatively suggested. Ma Hongjun's appearance seemed to have opened a new world for him, making him believe that there really were people who enjoyed being tortured, that there really were people who enjoyed this kind of fun, being tortured while simultaneously finding pleasure.
"Young man, you really know how to have fun!"
Zhao Wuji said, shaking his head with a world-weary look, as if he were too old to understand the world of young people, and walked away with his hands behind his back.
"You haven't..."
"Get lost!"
Ma Hongjun knew he had been misunderstood. This was something he couldn't clear his name even if he jumped into the Yellow River. In the future...
With a bitter face, Ma Hongjun covered his head and ran away.
...
Soto City, Xiang Family.
Xiang Chengxian was summoned back by the Xiang family head, who hoped she would help the family participate in the year-end family soul-fighting competition.
"You are still a member of the Xiang family. Although we neglected you in the past, the family has not treated you unfairly since your martial soul awakened. Even if you want to leave, you should still do your part for the family," an elder said.
Xiang Chengxian said, "Is that what you call neglecting me?"
"Xiang Chengxian, helping the family fight is our bounden duty. The family nurtured you, and you repay the family so heartlessly.
It's just a matter of letting you participate in a Soul Battle, and the elders have to beg you. You're just a junior, and you have no manners at all."
"You're just as useless as your father, afraid of failure, so you dare not participate in the Soul Battle."
"You're a Soul Master with such good talent, why don't you cultivate properly and insist on opening a hotel? Can't you have any fighting spirit?
Or do you think that earning gold soul coins can surpass the family? Hmph, without strength and without the family's protection, you can't keep any business."
"You are a member of the Xiang family, you should remember some kinship. Now is the time when the family needs you. Don't be heartless."
...
The middle-aged man sitting at the head of the table said, "Enough, Second Brother, shut their mouths, all of you."
"I admit, the family nurtured me, but my contributions to the family over the years have far exceeded the resources they've given me.
Don't talk to me about family ties; you've never given us any.
I can walk my own path; I don't need the family's protection. I've said it before: I'm leaving the Xiang family, and I have nothing to do with you anymore."
Xiang Chengxian was cold at this moment; the ruthless faces of these people were still deeply etched in her mind.
From childhood, her family had been neglected and bullied. Her father, because of the extremely low quality of his awakened Black Tiger Martial Soul and lack of innate soul power, couldn't become a Soul Master and suffered discrimination and bullying within the family.
Large families are different from smaller ones; this is a small empire, a small society, intolerant of the weak. Even if someone is willing to help you, many more will come to humiliate you.
The Xiang family was never a kind family; they were brutal to outsiders and not gentle to their own family, especially those they looked down on, whom they considered a disgrace to the family.
The harsh words spoken earlier were mostly from Xiang Chengxian's second uncle's lineage and the family head's lineage.
As the family grew, so did its branches, each a small family competing with one another.
Xiang Chengxian's branch suffered greatly because her father couldn't become a Soul Master.
Xiang Chengxian was bullied a lot during her childhood, the most vivid memory being the beatings and abuse she received from Xiang Chengsheng. This left her with childhood trauma, and her diligent cultivation was an attempt to avenge that hatred and overcome the trauma.
Those who insulted and slandered her father never avoided her, causing him to live a life of self-blame and inferiority.
No one cared about her except her parents, and she had no playmates.
Therefore, she only wanted to provide a better life for her parents and escape this family filled with pain.
The Grand Elder was a relatively rational member of the family. This year was the Xiang family's best chance of victory; the Soul Battle required members to be under twenty, and Xiang Chengsheng was already past that age. However, the Xiang family still had Xiang Chengxian and Xiang Chengwang, while the Gan and Bei families' most outstanding members were Gan Shuang and Bei Han. In terms of strength, the slightly older and already Soul Master Xiang Chengxian and Xiang Chengwang were clearly superior.
"Chengxian, you are now the strongest among the younger generation in the family. Only with your participation in the family's Soul Battle can the family possibly win.
I won't talk about family sentiment with you; I know the family owes you too much over the years.
You run a clothing store now, right? The clothing industry in Soto City is basically controlled by the Ganbei family. If you can participate in this Soul Battle, I can find a way to increase the stakes and get them to include their clothing businesses in this year's competition.
If you can help us win this year, including our family's clothing industry, the entire clothing industry in Soto City will be yours.
As for whether you want to leave the family afterward, that's up to you.
What do you say?" After
the First Elder finished speaking, he looked at Xiang Chengxian.
"First Elder, no!"
"Shut up!"
The First Elder stopped the others from interrupting and continued to wait for Xiang Chengxian's reply.
"Okay, I promise!"