Chapter 9: Nether Drake Douluo and Death Petal Sword Douluo, Yu Feng's Thoughts on the Black Blade
The soft orange hue of dawn spilled into the room as Yu Feng quietly exited the chamber of Yu Lei and Chen Meilin. The discussion through the night had been thorough, intense, and filled with warmth. Plans for establishing their clan had been finalized.
He had also told his parents about Fortissax's spirit ring—how its age had undergone another mysterious transformation. The truth of Fortissax being no ordinary dragon was already clear to the three of them, and every change only added to its profoundness.
It was decided that before anything else, Yu Lei and Chen Meilin would absorb their God-given spirit rings first. Afterward, they would accompany Yu Feng to Star Dou Forest to assist him in obtaining his first two rings. Yu Feng, of course, had no objections. In fact, it was all part of his silent calculations.
Returning to his room, Yu Feng took one glance at Fortissax—still curled up peacefully, the little dragon's body glowing faintly with flickers of red lightning even in sleep. Smiling, Yu Feng gently pulled a blanket over him and sat down beside him cross-legged.
Strength. That was his ultimate pursuit. No matter how powerful the force behind you may be, without the strength to wield it, it was meaningless. And in this world, he refused to be powerless.
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Ten days later...
In the dim light of early morning, inside Yu Feng's room, two figures sat side by side on the bed—one young man, silent and composed, the other a coiled dragon resting lazily, small but emanating a quiet storm of power.
Yu Feng's transformation over the last ten days was almost unreal.
He had fully mastered the first chapter of the Death Sutra, and his once-leaking aura had vanished entirely. The heavy, oppressive death energy that clung to him before had now been refined and restrained within his meridians, hidden beneath the surface like a black ocean.
His once white hair and red eyes—side effects of the unstable death power—had returned to their natural black hue. But it was not a permanent change. Whenever he invoked the death energy at full power, his appearance would revert—his hair turning snow-white, his eyes glowing crimson like ancient blood. A terrifying omen of slaughter.
He had also cut his hair short into a textured French crop, the same style he wore in his past life. It was more practical for training, and he had no patience for maintaining long hair. Besides, he found the changing hair amusing—once his power surged, it would grow long again anyway, as if refusing to be tamed.
Suddenly, a wave of immense pressure descended outside the room, crashing into it like a silent storm.
"Feng'er! Feng'er!" Two powerful voices rang out in unison—one deep and steady, the other cool and gently resonant. The voices cut through the door like blades.
Fortissax instantly snapped awake. Red lightning flared across his body as he snarled toward the entrance, baring his fangs and flashing sharp, crimson-tinged eyes. Yu Feng chuckled and reached out, stroking the little dragon's head.
"Relax, Fortissax. It's just Mother and Father."
The little dragon blinked, then gave a light growl in acknowledgment before leaping up and curling atop Yu Feng's head—his favorite perch. There, he closed his eyes once more, completely relaxed.
Moments later, the door opened, and the two walked out into the courtyard.
Yu Lei and Chen Meilin were already approaching. Their auras were so vast now that the very air bent slightly around them. Each step they took resonated with silent strength.
Yu Lei crossed a ten-meter distance in a single stride, his presence bringing with it a gust of wind. He looked down at Yu Feng with pride.
"Father, Mother," Yu Feng said calmly, "you've absorbed the God-given soul rings and stepped into the realm of Title Douluo, haven't you?"
"Of course," Yu Lei replied with a smile. In the next moment, he released his martial soul. Nine soul rings hovered beneath his feet—yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black, black, red-gold. The golden luster and terrifying pressure shocked even Fortissax into lifting his head slightly.
"Red-gold soul rings..." Yu Feng murmured.
Yu Lei nodded. "With the God-given rings and the strengthening from the Death Sutra, Lin'er and I managed to absorb spirit beasts of 400,000 and 500,000 years."
Chen Meilin followed suit, revealing her nine rings—yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black, black, red-gold.
Yu Feng's eyes momentarily widened as he saw the five-layer golden brilliance on his father's nine soul rings and the four-layer glow on his mother's nine soul ring. It wasn't just rare—it was unthinkable in the Douluo Continent.
Even finding a 200,000-year-old soul beast was nearly impossible, let alone absorbing one. Most soul masters didn't dare step into the Lake of Life in the Star Dou Forest, where such ferocious beasts dwelled. Not even the Extreme North offered a safer path.
That's why Yu Feng had chosen to give them the God-given soul rings—it was his way of pushing his family to a place unreachable by normal means.
"Hehe," Yu Feng grinned. "Then should I now respectfully address you as His Majesty the Nether Drake and Her Majesty the Death Petal Sword?"
He lifted Fortissax into his arms and gave a mock bow with a sly smile. "This junior greets Nether Drake Douluo and Death Petal Sword Douluo!"
Chen Meilin laughed and bent down, hugging them both—Fortissax to her left, Yu Feng to her right.
Yu Lei watched with a soft smile, his stern face filled with satisfaction.
After a few moments of warmth and laughter, Yu Feng turned serious again. "Father, Mother, what levels did you reach after absorbing the rings?"
Yu Lei puffed his chest slightly. "I'm now peak Level 94, just a step away from Level 95. I expect to break through in half a year. And your mother is also at Level 94, though early-stage. It may take a bit longer for her."
Chen Meilin gave a small nod. "We both gained three levels directly from the ring absorption. It's the benefit of those beasts being so ancient."
After more talk, Yu Feng informed them of his decision—it was time for him to absorb his first God-given soul ring.
However, he had made a choice over the last ten days.
He would not attach any soul rings to Maliketh's Black Blade—at least not yet. Despite being his second martial soul, the blade was not something he intended to bind within the limits of the Douluo system. That sword carried the Rune of Death, also known as Destined Death, and Yu Feng had seen just a fragment of its potential.
To him, it was far beyond anything this world had to offer—an existence that should only be unleashed when he himself stood as a god. Why waste its potential? Why impose shackles on a divine weapon?
If his theory proved wrong, he could always use his own power later to condense soul rings upon it. Moreover, Maliketh's Eight Inheritances were still hidden within the blade. Who knew what secrets lay dormant?
So for now, he would walk the divine path with Fortissax, while the black blade would rest at his side like a silent reaper, waiting.
Waiting to awaken.