Chapter 78: The Third Soul Ring, the Nine-Heavens Dragon Centipede
All of Dugu Feng's thoughts were now focused on his third soul ring and the evolution of the spirit orbs in his body.
The closer the energy within those orbs came to one hundred percent, the greater the hope of evolution.
That anticipation fueled an endless drive in his heart.
This kind of expectation made Dugu Feng unwilling to waste even a second.
After returning to the family estate, he went straight into the underground cavern to help detoxify the clan's spirit masters once again.
With his previous experience, the process was far smoother this time.
In less than half a month, the energy within his orbs had risen by another five points, reaching eighty-one percent.
That night, Dugu Feng and Elder Jiu appeared within the Sunset Forest.
"Young Master, my martial soul is the Nine-Heavens Centipede, but among all centipedes, the truly venomous type is the Nine-Heavens Dragon Centipede.
They are extremely rare, but they can still be found here in the Sunset Forest.
It will just require your patience," Elder Jiu said carefully. He had not spent much time with Dugu Feng before, so on this first trip accompanying him to hunt a soul ring, he was extra cautious.
"No rush. Quality over quantity. Aim for one that's around four thousand years old," Dugu Feng replied calmly.
For his third soul ring, the soul beast he sought was precisely a centipede.
It was one of the Five Great Venoms.
At first, Dugu Feng had even thought about going to the Star Dou Forest to snatch the Man-Faced Demon Spider that Tang San had absorbed.
But since his second soul ring was already from an eighteen-hundred-year-old beast, that two-thousand-year-old spider wouldn't have suited him.
Besides, external spirit bones were born out of rare chance. Even if he found that same Man-Faced Demon Spider, there was no guarantee he'd obtain the Eight Spider Lances.
After some thought, Dugu Feng decided to follow his family's advice and hunt for the Nine-Heavens Dragon Centipede's spirit ring instead.
As for the Eight Spider Lances? It wasn't like Tang San's fusion with them was irreversible.
There would be opportunities to seize them later.
With preparation and timing, success would be almost certain.
Refocusing his mind, Dugu Feng sharpened his senses.
Traveling the forest at night was dangerous, but the Nine-Heavens Dragon Centipede had a peculiar habit—it enjoyed basking in moonlight.
The past few nights had been clear. The bright moonlight—like a veil of silver silk—filtered through the branches, blanketing the earth.
Such nights were the best time to find the creature.
Dugu Feng always thought the Sunset Forest should be called the Forest of Venom Spirits.
Everywhere he turned, toxin-based spirit beasts thrived.
Moving silently, Dugu Feng concealed his aura completely, following closely behind Elder Jiu like a coiled serpent.
They passed through five areas where the centipede might appear, covering almost a third of the forest, but found nothing.
Three more days passed as their footprints spread across the wilderness.
Finally, at the forest's edge, Elder Jiu's eyes lit up.
"There's the aura of a Nine-Heavens Dragon Centipede here. No strong beasts nearby. That means this must be its territory."
A trace of delight crossed Dugu Feng's face.
At last, a lead.
They hid nearby, quietly waiting for the centipede to appear.
As dusk deepened, Dugu Feng felt the vibrations.
The ground trembled faintly.
Then, two dark green horn-like feelers poked up from the soil, swaying back and forth as if probing the surroundings.
Perched high in the trees, Dugu Feng and Elder Jiu masked their presence completely.
Dugu Feng even used his domain power to shield them both.
After several minutes, sharp, scythe-like legs emerged from the ground.
The centipede surfaced quickly.
In seconds, its full body came into view—hundreds of legs, all glimmering emerald green. As it crawled, it looked as though it were gliding across the earth, incredibly fast.
"It's a Nine-Heavens Dragon Centipede—but its age seems around five thousand years, Young Master. Should we keep searching?" Elder Jiu spoke telepathically, his cautious voice echoing in Dugu Feng's mind.
Before leaving, Dugu Feng had tested his body's endurance. Absorbing a four-thousand-year-old ring would be no problem.
Five thousand?
He hardened his resolve. Five thousand it was.
His first two soul rings were also obtained above his level, yet neither had caused unbearable pain.
After all, since the age of four, he had endured the agony of recurring poison flares. His tolerance for pain was unmatched.
For this third soul ring, since fate had brought the beast before him—he would take the gamble.
"Let's do it. We're taking this one!" Dugu Feng said decisively.
Elder Jiu's body leapt into the air, transforming mid-flight into a massive centipede.
His true martial soul form emerged.
The giant centipede rolled across the ground, its massive body crushing branches and roots beneath it. Dugu Feng saw glinting venomous spikes all along its back, sharp as saw-teeth.
They sliced viciously across the Nine-Heavens Dragon Centipede, nearly cleaving it in half.
The attack had struck precisely at the junction between its head and body.
Such brutal power—Elder Jiu was truly fierce!
Dugu Feng rushed forward. Streams of jade-green poison shot from his fingertips like arrows.
The creature's nearly severed body split completely apart.
At the same time, Dugu Feng's mixed venom seeped into its wounds.
Once his work was done, he quickly retreated several hundred meters.
"Hiss!"
A sharp, ear-piercing screech tore through the night air.
The bisected Nine-Heavens Dragon Centipede wasn't dead yet.
It thrashed violently along the ground, toppling nearby trees and flattening everything in its path.
The saying "a centipede does not stiffen even in death" couldn't be truer here.
Especially when that centipede had lived for five thousand years!
Elder Jiu, maintaining his martial soul true form, kept a vigilant watch.
After all, such noise could easily attract opportunistic predators looking to snatch their prey.
Dugu Feng's gaze locked onto the dying centipede. Its movements grew weaker, and its long antennae drooped.
A cluster of violet light was forming.
Almost dead!
He moved closer as faint purple motes gathered and condensed into a distinct soul ring around the creature's body.
Excitement flooded him—he was about to step into the Spirit King realm.
With Elder Jiu protecting him, Dugu Feng feared no danger.
He immediately sat cross-legged.
Two soul rings—one yellow, one purple—rose behind him, while from his shoulders, sharp pincer claws protruded.
They shimmered like silver crystals, etched with faint white patterns.
That was the aura of the Slaughter God Domain.
This domain, when integrated with his soul abilities, resonated most naturally with his external spirit bone.
The bone itself acted like his weapon spirit—perfectly suited for the killing domain.
As his domain spread out, it amplified his entire being.
He entered his peak state.
Then, extending his right hand, Dugu Feng guided his soul power forward.
The violet energy from the centipede's corpse touched his soul energy, bursting forth like a waterfall of pure light, pouring into him.
That enormous, fierce energy carried a cold, ruthless quality.
Before Dugu Feng could even brace himself, it rushed through his meridians with unstoppable force.
"Come on!"
His eyes shone with a piercing purple hue as he began fusing the third soul ring.
(END CHAPTER)
Thank you for the support, friends. If you want to read more chapters in advance, go to my Patreon.
Read 20 Chapters In Advance: patreon.com/Bankai10