Chapter 106: You Take the Soul Bone, I Claim the Soul Ring

Gu Rong and Dugu Bo, both titled Douluo Masters, locked onto each other the moment they appeared, their auras immediately identifying one another as opponents. In doing so, they paid no attention to their surroundings. After all, it was neither the place nor the courage for anyone below the titled Douluo or high-level Soul Douluo to interfere in their duel.

Yet Ning Rongrong’s sharp shout caught their attention. Though both merely glanced briefly, the moment they noticed Xiao Wu, her desperately concealed soul beast aura was fully exposed, leaving her no place to hide.

Boom!

Almost instinctively, Gu Rong and Dugu Bo launched themselves fiercely toward Xiao Wu.

Gu Rong’s soul power was higher, and with his ability to traverse space, he naturally moved faster than Dugu Bo. But in the blink of an eye, a gaunt yet powerful skeletal hand had already firmly grasped Xiao Wu. To be safe, he activated his soul power, knocking her unconscious.

“Grandpa Bone, what are you doing? Xiao Wu is my friend, let her go!”

The sudden turn of events stunned everyone. Ning Rongrong was equally bewildered, her delicate face filled with anxious pleas directed at Gu Rong.

Gu Rong, who had always doted on Ning Rongrong, shook his head and said, “Rongrong, do you realize your friend is not human, but a soul beast that has transformed after one hundred thousand years?”

A soul beast transformed after one hundred thousand years?

At these words, everyone except Dugu Bo was shocked. All eyes fixed on Xiao Wu in Gu Rong’s grasp—shock, fear, and even greed flickered within them.

“One hundred thousand-year soul beast!”

Ning Rongrong covered her mouth in astonishment, still unwilling to believe it. “Grandpa Bone, you must be joking. Xiao Wu is clearly human!”

“Rongrong, you don’t understand,” Gu Rong sighed deeply. He was only human after all, and feelings could not be so easily dismissed. Ning Rongrong had lived closely with this transformed soul beast for nearly two years, and as fellow young women, a deep friendship had naturally formed. How could she accept such a revelation so suddenly?

But for the future of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Clan, such a one hundred thousand-year transformed soul beast could not be spared.

Patiently, Gu Rong explained, “When a soul beast reaches the cultivation level of one hundred thousand years, it gains the chance to transform into human form, for only humans have the possibility to break through to the pinnacle. When a soul beast transforms, its original form becomes its martial soul, and all previous cultivation disappears—it must start anew. To most soul masters, a transformed soul beast is indistinguishable from a human, and only those at the titled Douluo level can detect the lingering soul beast aura.”

He glanced briefly at Dugu Bo nearby; after all, besides himself, Dugu Bo was the only other titled Douluo present.

Dugu Bo nodded. There was no point in denying the matter; with Ning Fengzhi’s shrewdness, even if he denied it, a Sword Douluo would be summoned to verify.

He gave a bitter glance at the Golden Iron Triangle—those three who had attracted his attention with their martial soul fusion technique to summon the Radiant Holy Dragon. Because of that distraction, he failed to notice earlier the true identity of the transformed soul beast accompanying them.

Had he discovered it sooner, he would never have allowed such a beast to appear before the Bone Douluo...

With the confirmation from two titled Douluos, Ning Rongrong finally accepted the truth: her close companion was indeed a one hundred thousand-year transformed soul beast. Her once rosy face turned pale with shock.

Ning Rongrong and Xiao Wu’s relationship was good, but it had not reached the level of transcending species as in the original tales—they had simply not shared enough experiences.

The one hundred thousand years referred to the soul beast’s cultivation, not its actual lifespan. But as Gu Rong explained, the martial soul of a transformed soul beast is its true form. Clearly, Xiao Wu’s original form was a Soft-Boned Rabbit—a soul beast neither of formidable bloodline nor power. To reach one hundred thousand years cultivation, it would have taken at least sixty to seventy thousand years.

Heavens, Ning Rongrong herself, even if her age were multiplied a hundredfold, would not amount to a fraction of that!

And yet she had lived intimately with such an ancient beast, sharing meals and shelter, sometimes whispering women’s secrets, even sleeping in the same bed.

The thought sent chills down Ning Rongrong’s spine.

Beside her, Ning Fengzhi’s expression was equally complex. A one hundred thousand-year transformed soul beast was indeed a treasure, but it had to fall into the hands of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Clan to be beneficial.

Seeing Dugu Bo’s cold sneer and Yang Wudi already clutching his broken soul spear, Ning Fengzhi understood that such a prize was not something the clan could handle alone.

Dugu Bo grinned at Ning Fengzhi and said, “Clan Master Ning, a one hundred thousand-year transformed soul beast is rare indeed. Don’t think the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Clan can monopolize it!”

“That goes without saying,” Ning Fengzhi nodded. He wished to avoid conflict with the Nine Star Hall unless absolutely necessary. As long as Dugu Bo’s demands were reasonable, a harmonious resolution would be best.

“I wonder what Poison Douluo will say...”