In the deep and dark space, loneliness seemed to have become the eternal theme, like the night just before dawn, cold and empty.
Shen Hanyu released his spiritual power outward, casually sitting cross-legged to the side, his expression relaxed, showing no trace of tension at all. Instead, he appeared leisurely, as if on vacation.
The heaven and earth origin energy here was incredibly dense, a rare and precious place for secluded cultivation in the entire world.
Moreover, since the remnant souls of the Ice Dragon King and Fire Dragon King were unwilling to show themselves for some unknown reason, he naturally wouldn't provoke them. After all, they had once been at the level of First Class Gods. Even though they had been dead for who knows how many years, no one could say for sure how much strength they still retained.
Entering this place had been a dangerous decision. Shen Hanyu would be lying if he said he wasn't nervous, but so far, he and Tianmeng had been here for nearly a month, and the Ice and Fire Dragon Kings remained silent. Wasn't this a kind of indirect disregard and tacit approval?
Tianmeng was still absorbing the heaven and earth origin energy and power here. Endless streams of energy continuously surged into its body, turning into the steps for its advancement.
As time passed, the originally dim tenth golden pattern on Tianmeng's body gradually became brighter. Now, it was only lacking a final trigger for Tianmeng to break through and become the continent's first true million-year soul beast.
Though there was a lot of "water" in this million-year soul beast status of his, the cultivation years were indeed there. Unfortunately, the quality of the Ice Silkworm clan was just like that. Other soul beasts at a million years would become kings and ancestors, but for Tianmeng, there probably wouldn't even be a million-year heavenly tribulation.
If it hadn't met Shen Hanyu, it would likely have been treated as a rechargeable battery by those ferocious beasts in the Star Dou Great Forest, exploited for tens of thousands of years, and eventually ended up suffering alongside Huo Yuhao...
As the saying goes, as long as you're willing to endure hardship, you'll never run out of hardships to eat.
Those words truly made sense.
......
The energy within Tianmeng's body had already reached its peak, capable of breaking through at any moment.
Shen Hanyu stood not far away, his gaze profound, with milky-white cold qi emanating from his body, making him very conspicuous in the darkness.
With a crisp, cracking sound, Tianmeng's body slowly floated upward. The tenth golden pattern symbolizing a million-year cultivation finally fully formed and gently settled onto Tianmeng's body.
At this moment, Tianmeng also underwent considerable changes. Its originally enormous body shrank once more. On its jade-like white body, a strand of gold appeared, emitting a faint golden light and carrying a solemn aura.
The breakthrough had been suspiciously easy...
As expected, the heavens were too lazy to even grant it a tribulation...
Shen Hanyu found it somewhat amusing. To be treated with such disdain by the heavens as a million-year soul beast, Tianmeng truly was one of a kind, like scorpion shit, unique.
Tianmeng suddenly opened its eyes wide, joy bursting forth from them. It twisted its transformed body and quickly came before Shen Hanyu, excitedly saying:
"Hanyu, I did it! I really became the unprecedented million-year soul beast! I'm going to reunite with Bingbing soon! Hahahaha..."
Shen Hanyu smiled lightly in response and said:
"Congratulations, Tianmeng. Now, you've finally achieved your wish..."
Tianmeng gratefully rubbed against Shen Hanyu and said:
"Hanyu, this is all thanks to you. Originally, with my cultivation speed, it would have taken me a very long time to break through. I never expected that a dream I needed ten thousand years to fulfill would be completed in just over a month here. Rest assured, I'm not the kind of ungrateful person. Prepare yourself, I'm ready to sacrifice myself to you as your seventh soul ring at any time. No matter what happens in the future, I'll always be with you..."
Shen Hanyu nodded solemnly, revealing a sincere smile.
He could fully sense Tianmeng's genuine heart; this was complete trust, and something called friendship.
"No need to wait. We can do it now. I'm already eager to possess the continent's first million-year-level soul ring. We've been here for quite some time; everything needs to be done quickly."
Shen Hanyu said softly, while shifting his gaze upward, as if he could see through the deep spring water to the alternating days and nights above, so wonderfully vibrant.
Tianmeng nodded, proudly raising its head and saying:
"Then get ready, Hanyu. As the continent's first million-year soul beast, I'll definitely be gentle with you~ Hehehehe..."
Shen Hanyu ignored Tianmeng's usual craziness and continued softly:
"Remember, condense the soul bone into the skull. I've already made arrangements for the other soul bone positions. And with your attributes, condensing a spiritual-attribute skull bone is naturally the best."
Tianmeng nodded and said:
"Hanyu~ Here I go then. You need to prepare yourself. My energy is too vast; you just absorb as much as you can, and I'll handle the rest."
Shen Hanyu nodded, then sat cross-legged on the spot, quietly waiting.
Tianmeng retreated a few steps. A countless number of past scenes flashed through its small eyes. It then took a deep breath, and dazzling golden light burst from its body.
The ten golden patterns seemed to come alive, frantically surging as they enveloped Shen Hanyu one by one from top to bottom.
Tianmeng itself transformed into streaks of white light halos, slowly entering Shen Hanyu's body.
Shen Hanyu's body couldn't help but tremble. The energy of a million years was immensely vast. Even though his sixth soul ring had absorbed a hundred-thousand-year soul ring, compared to the energy from Tianmeng's million-year soul ring now, that previous absorption seemed like child's play.
Tianmeng's slightly solemn voice also sounded in Shen Hanyu's ear:
"Hanyu, steady your mind. Absorbing my energy can't be rushed. Just circulate your soul power with all your might, the rest, I'll take care of."
Shen Hanyu didn't dare to be careless. The soul power in his body circulated at an exaggerated speed. The white light halos that Tianmeng's body had turned into ultimately entered Shen Hanyu's body without any major issues.
Tianmeng laughed loudly in Shen Hanyu's mental sea. On its usually frivolous face, a trace of ferocity actually appeared as it roared:
"I've finally been liberated! I've been hiding for a full million years. Today, let me truly let loose for once..."
Immediately after, a terrifying spiritual fluctuation madly surged outward from within Shen Hanyu's body. Even the waters of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well could not block it, causing the spring to boil and churn wildly.
The terrifying spiritual fluctuation rushed straight into the clouds, then spread in all directions across the continent.
In the stone cave, Dugu Bo, who had been watching his granddaughter cultivate, flashed a look of astonishment in his eyes. He quickly appeared above the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, sensing that spiritual power which even he couldn't resist, and murmured to himself:
"Kid, what on earth have you done? This old man has lived nearly a hundred years, and a little monster like you truly makes this old man feel ashamed. I'm old... I'm old..."
Dugu Bo was also alarmed. Looking at the constantly churning spring water below, his eyes were filled with complexity. Finally, he gently walked back into the stone cave...
On the other side, in Tiandou City.
At the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Clan residence, a handsome middle-aged man with an elegant temperament was conversing with two elders.
One of the elders, a white-haired old man, had an icy cold aura, sharp and terrifying like an unsheathed sword.
The other elder was tall and gaunt to an extreme, emanating a thick dark aura. His body seemed devoid of flesh, like a massive skeleton, yet his vital blood energy remained vigorous, exuding the aura of a dragon martial soul.
Sensing this terrifying spiritual fluctuation, the three simultaneously froze, then quickly walked out of the hall.
The white-haired elder let out a low shout, and a deep voice rang in everyone's ears:
"All members of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Clan, do not panic. Those within the clan enter a defensive state. Notify the clan disciples outside, if there is no urgent matter, return to the clan at the fastest speed!"
Ning Fengzhi and Gu Rong also hurried out. The former asked the elder in the sky:
"Uncle Jian, can you confirm where this fluctuation is coming from?"
Sword Douluo Chen Xin slowly descended from the sky, stepping on his Seven Kill Sword. Frowning, he murmured:
"Just who possesses such powerful spiritual power? Is it someone from the Spirit Hall?"
Ning Fengzhi and the Bone Douluo beside him exchanged a glance, both seeing immense shock in each other's eyes.
Sword Douluo seemed to finally react to Ning Fengzhi's earlier words. Seeing that nearly all the clan disciples were sitting cross-legged on the ground, he then said:
"Fengzhi, Old Bones, the owner of this spiritual power is at least a Peerless Douluo-level expert..."
Although Gu Rong was extremely shocked, he couldn't help asking:
"Old Swordsman, are you certain? Is there truly a Peerless Douluo with such powerful spiritual power in this era? Why has there never been the slightest rumor on the continent?"
Sword Douluo, unusually, did not quarrel with Bone Douluo and nodded quite seriously.
"My father was once a level 97 Super Douluo, just one step away from level 98 Super Douluo. But compared to this spiritual power, my father's spiritual power seems utterly insignificant. From this, it can be seen that this unknown expert is definitely a Peerless Douluo-level powerhouse."
Gu Rong wanted to say something, but was interrupted by Ning Fengzhi waving his hand.
Ning Fengzhi let out a low sigh and said:
"Regardless of whether Uncle Jian is correct or not, such terrifying spiritual power is something even the Spirit Hall's Pope does not possess. For such a powerhouse to suddenly appear, whether it's good or bad for the current continental situation, who knows..."
The Sword and Bone titled Douluo exchanged a glance and said nothing...
......
Similar events occurred in the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan and the Tiandou imperial family. Suddenly, the entire Tiandou City became lively.
Various sects and forces sent out personnel to search for the owner of this spiritual fluctuation. Even Spirit Hall received the news at the first moment. It was said that the Pope attached great importance to this matter and dispatched Chrysanthemum Douluo that very day to lead Spirit Hall personnel to investigate the truth...
Naturally, Shen Hanyu, who was still absorbing his million-year seventh ring, had no idea that Tianmeng's merely releasing its spiritual power fully had caused such a huge commotion on the continent.
Even if he knew, he probably wouldn't have much to say. After all, now he already had the confidence to face the investigations and pressure from these forces...