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On the mountainside, a snake-type spirit beast was undergoing a metamorphosis.
Its original species was no longer recognizable, but multiple parts of its body had already transformed into dragon-like features.
"This fellow's fortune is not shallow—it has managed to complete the transformation into a dragon despite only being four hundred years old," Chen Xin couldn't help but remark.
Given time, this spirit beast would undoubtedly become a dominant force among spirit beasts. Unfortunately for it, it had encountered them—its future was now impossible.
"If I'm not mistaken, it's about to transform into an Azure Dragon. Tianchen, let's wait here. Once it fully completes its dragon transformation, the soul ring it produces will benefit you the most!"
Ning Tianchen nodded earnestly.
A spirit beast transforming into a dragon was similar to a soul master evolving their martial soul. Such a feat required immense fortune to achieve.
In the Sunset Forest, the greatest stroke of fortune was the existence of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well—a treasure trove. Could it be that this creature had accidentally consumed one of the miraculous herbs growing there?
After a moment of thought, Ning Tianchen dismissed this idea.
The Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well had been claimed by Dugu Bo as his private garden, and the surrounding mountain was shrouded in toxic mist. A hundred-year-old spirit beast wouldn't be able to infiltrate such a place.
If the Sunset Forest had the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, there might be other opportunities lying around.
However, Ning Tianchen didn't plan to take the miraculous herbs from Dugu Bo just yet.
Dugu Bo was a man who valued loyalty and honor. While brute force might make him submit temporarily, it wouldn't win his genuine trust.
Though Ning Tianchen relied on the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, he also wanted to build his own power base.
After all, it wasn't wise to put all your eggs in one basket. Moreover, the Spirit Hall would later launch a soul-hunting operation against the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect. If he didn't prepare in advance, events would unfold exactly as they had in the original timeline.
…
Ning Tianchen and Chen Xin waited at the foot of the mountain for two days.
Early one morning, a dazzling green light erupted from the mountainside.
This spirit beast had fully completed its transformation into a dragon—it was now unmistakably an Azure Dragon.
Dragon-type spirit beasts possessed the ability to soar through the clouds. Sensing that its transformation had drawn the attention of powerful beings, it immediately took to the skies, attempting to evade pursuit.
"Sword Elder?" Ning Tianchen urged impatiently.
Chen Xin wasn't in a rush.
With his strength, no matter how this Azure Dragon tried to escape, he would still have the means to capture it.
The commotion caused by the Azure Dragon's transformation had attracted quite a few onlookers.
This creature was four hundred years old. For most soul masters, its soul ring was too high-level for a first soul ring and too low-level for a second soul ring.
Thus, most people eyeing the Azure Dragon weren't interested in its soul ring but rather its flesh and blood.
Chen Xin was alone—he couldn't both hunt the soul beast and ensure Ning Tianchen's safety.
"There's no need to rush. When the time is right, I'll take it down myself." With that, Chen Xin instructed Ning Tianchen to move in the opposite direction.
Finding an isolated spot, Chen Xin made a sword gesture with his right hand, manipulating the Seven Kill Sword to leave faint traces of sword qi around Ning Tianchen.
"The sword qi I've left around you is enough to fend off even a Soul Sage. Stay here and wait—I'll be back shortly."
The Seven Kill Sword descended beneath his feet, lifting him into the air.
His speed was incredible, leaving behind a silvery-white arc in the sky.
Ning Tianchen decided to sit cross-legged where he was.
Based on what he had learned from books and the sect's academy, he roughly understood how to absorb a soul ring.
With Chen Xin's strength, he wasn't worried about the Azure Dragon being snatched away. However, a four-hundred-year dragon-type soul ring was still a challenge for him.
"My physical condition is still too weak. If only I had a beast-type martial soul…"
Beast-type soul masters naturally had stronger physical constitutions than weapon-type soul masters. However, weapon-type soul masters weren't without advantages—they far surpassed beast-type soul masters in terms of spiritual power.
Strong spiritual power made it easier to withstand the mental shock (soul tremors) brought on by soul rings. But for soul rings below ten thousand years, only physical strength was tested.
"In the future, I really need to train my body more," Ning Tianchen muttered, scratching his head in frustration. He was dissatisfied with the fact that he had only been transmigrated for a month.
Not long after, Chen Xin returned, carrying the barely alive Azure Dragon.
Along the way, some unwise individuals had attempted to cause trouble, but upon seeing the nine soul rings beneath Chen Xin's feet, they quickly backed off.
As Ning Tianchen approached the Azure Dragon, he could clearly hear its labored breathing—it was exhaling but not inhaling.
Chen Xin calmly stated: "You should know that a soul ring can only be absorbed by the one who kills the spirit beast. Use your Seven Kill Sword martial soul to finish it off yourself."
Killing seemed easy, but it was hard to actually do it emotionally.
Struggling to overcome his mental resistance, Ning Tianchen raised the Seven Kill Sword and aimed it at the Azure Dragon's neck.
Closing his eyes, he tightened his grip and thrust with all his might. The sharp Seven Kill Sword pierced the Azure Dragon's neck without resistance, ending its life.
Perhaps he had hit a major artery—Ning Tianchen's body was soon drenched in splattered blood.
A yellow soul ring floated above the corpse. Ignoring the stench of blood, Ning Tianchen immediately sat cross-legged and used his willpower to guide the soul ring onto his martial soul.
"Good. It seems your theoretical knowledge hasn't fallen behind. Sit cross-legged, clear your mind, and try to fuse the soul ring with your martial soul," Chen Xin added. "I'll keep watch over you here."
As the soul ring's energy entered his body, the overwhelming surge of soul power brought immense pressure.
Enduring the pain and discomfort, Ning Tianchen continued absorbing the soul ring.
Chen Xin leaned against a nearby tree trunk, his heart involuntarily tightening.
A four-hundred-year dragon-type spirit beast was rarely successfully absorbed as a first soul ring. But if successful, it would provide immense benefits for Ning Tianchen's future cultivation.
If he failed, Chen Xin had the means to forcibly interrupt the absorption process. At worst, Ning Tianchen would only suffer from some latent ailments.
But with the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect's stockpile of rare treasures, treating these ailments wouldn't be an issue.
In this light, allowing Ning Tianchen to take this risk seemed well worth it.
Time ticked by, second by second.
Knowing Chen Xin was here, many soul masters wisely avoided the area to prevent unnecessary encounters.
By evening, as the soul ring absorption neared its end, Chen Xin finally approached the spirit beast's corpse and searched for any spirit bones.
"None? That's expected—the chances of a hundred-year spirit beast producing spirit bones are still too slim."
Chen Xin murmured softly.
Suddenly, Ning Tianchen let out a pained cry, his entire body tensing up once again.
"The soul ring absorption is almost complete—how is he still feeling pressure?"
Even the usually composed Chen Xin couldn't help but feel a bit panicked.
At this stage, the soul ring absorption could no longer be interrupted. Whatever Ning Tianchen was experiencing now, he would have to endure on his own.
Moments later, strange patterns began appearing on the surface of his Seven Kill Sword martial soul.
Upon closer inspection, these protrusions were dragon scales.
"A Dragon-Engraved Seven Kill Sword?" Chen Xin chuckled. "This kid really has good luck—absorbing a soul ring caused his martial soul to mutate."
Whether it was a beneficial or harmful mutation could only be determined by observing the results later.
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