As the morning sun rose over the clearing outside the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, two teams stood ready for departure. After brief discussions, they decided to split up: Li Zhaoyan and Yang Wudi would head north to the cliffs to hunt the Armor-Rending Eagle, while Dugu Bo would lead the others westward to the ancient forest in search of the Spirit Nurturing Tree.
"The Armor-Rending Eagle excels at aerial attacks. We'll need to be cautious," Li Zhaoyan reminded Yang Wudi.
Yang Wudi nodded. "My Soul Breaking Lance could use some practical testing against airborne targets."
After bidding farewell to the group, the two hurried northward.
Dugu Bo's team consisted of Ye Qingwan, Marco, Ye Lingling, and Dugu Yan. Unfolding a map, he pointed westward. "The Spirit Nurturing Tree grows deep within the ancient forest. Though it possesses no offensive capabilities itself, it's often guarded by Soul Beasts."
Ye Qingwan spoke softly, "With you leading us, Senior, we should be able to obtain the Spirit Ring without trouble."
The team moved west, soon entering the dense ancient woodland. Towering trees blocked out the sky, casting deep shadows where damp, earthy scents hung heavily in the air.
"Watch your step," Dugu Bo warned. "This place likely harbors venomous insects and snakes."Marco summoned Azure Flames to illuminate their path, the azure flames dispelled the forest's chill." Ye Lingling followed closely behind, her Nine Heart Begonia Spirit ready to provide healing at a moment's notice.
Suddenly, a low growl echoed from ahead. Dugu Bo raised a hand, signaling the team to halt. "We've got company!"
Through the thicket, they spotted a spirit tree emitting a gentle white glow. Standing about three meters tall, its branches and leaves shimmered like jadeite, with pale green vines entwined around its trunk. Beside it lay a massive black tiger, its paws large as palm fans, radiating a ferocious aura.
"It's the Spirit Nurturing Tree!" Ye Qingwan exclaimed in delight. "And that beside it... a twenty-thousand-year Giant Claw Black Tiger!"
Sensing intruders, the Giant Claw Black Tiger immediately rose with a thunderous roar. Its four-meter-long body was covered in glossy black fur, but most striking were its enormous claws—dagger-sharp and gleaming coldly.
"Fall back," Dugu Bo commanded, stepping forward. "I'll handle this black tiger."
The Jade Horn Golden Scale Serpent Spirit materialized as Dugu Bo's Spirit Rings ignited around him. Feeling the pressure of a Titled Douluo, the black tiger instinctively retreated half a step, but its duty to guard the spirit tree kept it from fleeing.
"Seventh Spirit Ability: Spirit Avatar!" Dugu Bo directly unleashed his ultimate technique.
The Jade Horn Golden Scale Serpent's true form manifested, its massive body coiling between the trees. Dugu Bo targeted the black tiger, firing multiple poison darts from the serpent's jade horn.
The tiger nimbly dodged, swiping its giant claws at the serpent's body. But the golden scales provided formidable defense, leaving only faint white scratches where the claws struck.
"Incredible defense!" Marco marveled.
Dugu Bo snorted coldly, unleashing a rain of poison darts toward the black tiger. Unable to evade them all, the tiger took a hit to its hind leg, the wound rapidly blackening and festering.
"The poison darts are more corrosive than before!" Dugu Yan exclaimed excitedly.
With a pained howl, the black tiger turned to flee. But Dugu Bo gave no quarter, enveloping it directly with his sixth Spirit Ability, "Jade Phosphor Poison Fire." After struggling briefly within the divine light, the tiger finally collapsed, lifeless.
A black ten-thousand-year Spirit Ring rose from the tiger's corpse.
"Done," Dugu Bo said, retracting his Spirit. "Qingwan, go absorb the Spirit Nurturing Tree's Spirit Ring."
As Ye Qingwan approached the spirit tree, Marco called out, "Wait! Those vines on the trunk... they look like Life Spirit Vines!"
Everyone looked closely and indeed discovered that the vines entwined around the Spirit Nurturing Tree were no ordinary creepers. The vines were pale green with intricate patterns on their surface, emanating an aura of life.
"It really is Life Spirit Vine!" Dugu Bo exclaimed in surprise. "Now I remember—Spirit Nurturing Tree and Life Spirit Vine share a symbiotic relationship!"
Ye Lingling asked curiously, "A symbiotic relationship?"
Dugu Bo explained, "The Spirit Nurturing Tree provides nutrients to the Life Spirit Vine, while the Life Spirit Vine protects the tree from pest damage. This Life Spirit Vine... has approximately twelve hundred years of cultivation."
Marco's eyes lit up: "Twelve hundred years... perfect for Lingling! The life attribute of Life Spirit Vine aligns perfectly with the Nine Heart Begonia!"
Ye Qingwan said joyfully, "What an unexpected delight! A Spirit Nurturing Tree, complete with a Life Spirit Vine."
After careful observation, Dugu Bo remarked, "The Life Spirit Vine is wrapped around the tree trunk. We need to carefully separate it without damaging the main body of the Spirit Nurturing Tree."
He gently parted the vines and discovered tiny rootlets at the connection points between the vine and the tree trunk. "These rootlets are absorbing nutrients from the Spirit Nurturing Tree but won't harm it."
Ye Lingling asked softly, "How should I absorb the Life Spirit Vine's Spirit Ring?"
"We need to remove the Life Spirit Vine completely from the tree," Dugu Bo said. "But we must preserve its vitality."
Under Dugu Bo's guidance, Ye Lingling carefully peeled the Life Spirit Vine from the tree trunk. The vine felt warm and smooth in her hand, radiating a rich life energy.
"Now eliminate the Life Spirit Vine and absorb its Spirit Ring," Dugu Bo instructed.
Ye Lingling gently broke the main stem of the vine, and a pale purple Spirit Ring slowly rose.
Sitting cross-legged, Ye Lingling began absorbing the Life Spirit Vine's Spirit Ring. Her Nine Heart Begonia Spirit automatically manifested, resonating with the life energy of the Life Spirit Vine.
"The life attributes are compatible; the absorption should proceed smoothly," Dugu Bo observed, monitoring the Spirit Ring absorption process.
Sure enough, in less time than it takes an incense stick to burn, Ye Lingling successfully absorbed the Spirit Ring. She opened her eyes, and her Nine Heart Begonia Spirit appeared more crystalline, with a faint glow shimmering on its petals.
Next, it was Ye Qingwan's turn to absorb the Spirit Nurturing Tree's Spirit Ring. She carefully severed the main trunk of the tree, and a black ten-thousand-year Spirit Ring emerged.
"A thirty-thousand-year Spirit Ring..." Dugu Bo expressed some concern. "Qingwan, proceed according to your capabilities."
Ye Qingwan nodded confidently. "The Spirit Nurturing Tree has a gentle nature; absorbing its Spirit Ring shouldn't be too violent."
She began absorbing the Spirit Ring, a soft white light enveloping her body. The Soul Power of the Spirit Nurturing Tree flowed into her like a gentle stream, making the process exceptionally smooth.
Half an hour later, Ye Qingwan successfully absorbed the Spirit Ring. She opened her eyes, and the quality of her Nine Heart Begonia Spirit had noticeably improved—the petals were thicker, and the healing glow more intense.
Ye Qingwan's eighth Spirit Ability.
A gentle radiance enveloped everyone, instantly dispelling their injuries and fatigue, while their Soul Power recovery rate significantly accelerated.
"Such powerful restorative effects!" Dugu Yan exclaimed in amazement.
Meanwhile, at the northern cliff, Li Zhaoyan and Yang Wudi were confronting two Armor-Rending Eagles. The eagles circled in the air, their sharp gazes fixed on the two men below.
"It seems they're unwilling to easily abandon their territory," Yang Wudi remarked, tightening his grip on the Soul Breaking Lance, a fighting spirit flashing in his eyes.
Li Zhaoyan smiled faintly. "Perfect timing to test the power of the Autumn Maple Domain."
He activated his Autumn Maple Domain, and the entire cliff was instantly blanketed with swirling maple leaves. The Armor-Rending Eagles' vision was disrupted, and their flight patterns began to falter.
"Now's the moment!" Yang Wudi seized the opportunity, his Soul Breaking Lance thrusting out like lightning.
A cold gleam flashed as the lance precisely pierced the wing joint of an Armor-Rending Eagle. Eagle feathers scattered everywhere while the wounded beast plummeted with a mournful cry.
The other Armor-Rending Eagle attempted to flee, but Li Zhaoyan had anticipated this. His Autumn Maple Domain operated at full power, maple leaves slicing through the eagle's wings like blades.
"Eighth Spirit Ability: Pierce Through!" Li Zhaoyan uttered softly.
An intensely condensed golden light shot from Li Zhaoyan's hand, resembling a sword that could pierce heaven and earth, instantly penetrating the vital spot of the Armor-Rending Eagle. Wherever the golden light passed, even the air emitted tearing explosive sounds, demonstrating astonishing penetrating power and destructive force.
The Armor-Rending Eagle didn't even have time to cry out before plummeting from the sky, its chest left with a shocking transparent hole.
"Incredible power!" Yang Wudi couldn't help but admire. "The penetrating force of this strike could probably pierce through even a Titled Douluo's defense."
The entire process flowed smoothly like floating clouds and flowing water - within moments, both ten-thousand-year Soul Beasts lay defeated on the ground.
"Good coordination." Li Zhaoyan retracted his domain with a slight smile.
Yang Wudi nodded: "The control effect of the Autumn Maple Domain is truly outstanding. Combined with your 'Pierce Through' technique, it's simply seamless."
Just as they prepared to absorb the Spirit Rings, Dugu Bo and the others arrived. Seeing the situation, Dugu Bo laughed: "You handled this quite easily."
Ye Qingwan added: "We were thinking of coming to help you."
Li Zhaoyan explained: "Merely two thirty-thousand-year Soul Beasts - what trouble could they possibly cause?"
After Yang Wudi successfully absorbed the Armor-Rending Eagle's Spirit Ring, the sharpness of his Soul Breaking Lance became more formidable than ever.
As the sun set in the west, the group gathered outside the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. This soul hunting operation concluded perfectly, with everyone obtaining suitable Spirit Rings.
Ye Qingwan smiled gently: "Who would have thought a single Spirit Nurturing Tree would also bring us the pleasant surprise of Life Spirit Vines."
Dugu Bo marveled: "The miraculous symbiotic relationships in nature are truly breathtaking to behold."