After finishing his inspection of the soul bones, Zhu Ziyang was utterly shocked to find that his soul power had surged by five levels at once, reaching Rank 79. He was now only a single step away from breaking through to the Soul Douluo realm!
The discovery left him both astonished and thrilled. After all, it hadn't even been a full year since he became a Soul Sage. A seventeen-year-old Soul Sage had already been enough to make the late Mu En ecstatic before his passing—so what kind of storm would an eighteen-year-old Soul Douluo cause among the old monsters of Shrek Academy's Sea God Pavilion?
Zhu Ziyang couldn't imagine it, nor did he care to. He only knew one thing: he was about to break yet another record, one that might never be matched again.
But that wasn't all. His Holy White Frost Dragon Martial Soul had undergone another evolution after receiving the Ice Dragon King's bloodline. From a royal true dragon, it had ascended completely into a Dragon King—the Frost White Dragon King.
Though his current strength was not yet enough to truly bear the Dragon King title, it didn't matter. Once he ascended to godhood, he would naturally become a true Dragon King—not like Beast God Di Tian, who bore the name of Dragon King but not the reality. Of course, Zhu Ziyang admitted, at this moment he too was still a "false Dragon King."
With his personal changes settled, Zhu Ziyang moved on to claim the rewards for completing the Death God's Fifth Trial.
This reward surprised him. In addition to the usual ten percent increase in Godhood Affinity and two more Locking God Pillars, he received something extra—a strange circular disk.
"The Heavenly Stems Locking God Array?" Zhu Ziyang murmured, staring at the disk. It was clearly some sort of formation plate, but beyond its name, no other information was given.
Puzzled, he called out: "Xiaobai, are you there?"
"Speak," Xiaobai's voice answered curtly, clearly annoyed.
Unbothered, Zhu Ziyang asked, "What does this Heavenly Stems Locking God Array do?"
"As you can see—it's a formation plate," Xiaobai replied coldly. "Drip your blood upon it, and you'll learn everything you want to know."
"I see…" Zhu Ziyang muttered thoughtfully. "And how does it relate to the Locking God Pillars?"
"Recognize it as master, and it will tell you everything," Xiaobai snapped, impatience clear.
"Alright then, I won't bother you further," Zhu Ziyang sighed, resigned to Xiaobai's temper.
He pricked his finger and let a drop of blood fall onto the disk. At once, golden light shot from the plate, piercing into his forehead. Zhu Ziyang closed his eyes, absorbing the flood of information.
When he opened them again, his expression was filled with astonishment. The Heavenly Stems Locking God Array was indeed directly tied to the Locking God Pillars—it was created specifically for them. By using the array as a base, he could arrange ten Locking God Pillars into a grand formation infused with the power of the Heavenly Stems. This formation possessed terrifying sealing might: any creature entering would be bound completely, unable to use any power—unless they were a god at the level of a Lord God or above.
Though Zhu Ziyang didn't know what exactly a Lord God was, he still understood one thing—this formation was terrifying. At last, he realized the true purpose of the Locking God Pillars. What he now held was a trump card of immense power, though it would consume ten levels of his soul power to activate. For ambushes or planned battles, however, it was unmatched.
He smiled knowingly, then glanced at the eight remaining Locking God Pillars behind the Godhood Path. If ten could form the Heavenly Stems Locking God Array, then what about twelve? Fourteen? Sixteen? Eighteen? Could they create an even stronger formation? The thought made his heart stir with excitement.
Climbing upward, Zhu Ziyang reached the sixtieth step. The details of the Death God's Sixth Trial appeared upon the Locking God Pillars. He read it once—and immediately burst into laughter.
Godhood Affinity: 60%
Death God's Sixth Trial: As the inheritor of the Death God, strength is the only measure. You are but four steps away from divinity—push yourself harder, seek greater power!
Trial Content: Raise your cultivation to Rank 80, and without attaching an eighth soul ring to your first martial soul, slay a hundred-thousand-year soul beast.
Requirements: Time limit—one year.
Reward: Unknown.
Zhu Ziyang laughed so hard he nearly cramped. If this had been before he fused with the Ice Dragon King's torso bone, he might have worried about how to advance six levels within a year. But now? Just one level? Even if he spent his days idling about, half a year would be more than enough.
And as for killing a hundred-thousand-year soul beast without using his Scythe of Rest's eighth soul ring? That was laughable. Back when he first became a Soul Sage, ordinary hundred-thousand-year beasts were already no longer his match. Otherwise, he would never have dared to consider avenging Second Frost in the Extreme North.
"Heh." Zhu Ziyang chuckled, shaking his head. "Fine then. Let's set the Ice Demon Snow Soul King as the target of my Sixth Trial. I'll take this as the chance to avenge Frost."
Brimming with anticipation, Zhu Ziyang left the inheritance grounds and returned to the bottom of the frigid spring. The four dragon eggs were still incubating, but close to hatching—no more than fifteen minutes left. He decided to wait.
His gaze drifted to the Ice Dragon King's corpse. A pang of guilt rose in his heart. Before, he hadn't cared, but now, having received so much from her, to leave her remains unburied would be ungrateful.
He bowed deeply, then set to work. His hands turned to dragon claws, ripping through the eternal permafrost as though it were clay. Soon, he carved out a pit large enough for the Dragon King's body. After bowing once more, he whispered an apology, then carefully lowered the corpse inside.
He covered the pit with soil, then bowed again. "Thank you for your gift. Rest in peace."
The moment he finished, a blue-golden pearl burst from the grave, floating before his eyes.
"A dragon core?!" Zhu Ziyang gasped, stunned. He had thought the Ice Dragon King's core had long ago merged with the Icefire Well—but here it was, preserved.
If not for his respect in burying her, he would never have found it. This was her final gift.
Taking the dragon core in hand, a chilling cold seeped into his body, yet at the same time, the oppressive pressure of the Yin Spring's laws vanished. His whole being felt light and unburdened. Smiling softly, he tried to store it into his Starflame Ring—but to his surprise, the god-level core refused to enter. With no choice, he hung it around his neck.
Soon after, the dragon eggs cracked. Snow Empress and Lu'er emerged first, their appearances unchanged, though their soul bodies had grown denser and their strength had increased. The Ice Empress and Second Frost, however, experienced dramatic changes.
Both gained human forms. The Ice Empress appeared as a green-haired maiden, bearing a cold and regal beauty, her looks resembling Snow Empress by seventy percent, her aura equally dazzling.
Second Frost's transformation was even more striking. As Zhu Ziyang's closest soul spirit tied to his second martial soul, the Holy Silver Frost Dragon, her evolution was bound to be profound. With the Frost White Dragon King's rise, Second Frost herself ascended to the level of a Dragon King-class soul spirit. Her strength now rivaled Snow Empress herself.
Her human form, however, was less "perfectly human." A pair of dragon horns sprouted from her forehead, and a silver dragon tail swayed behind her. Yet her refined face, slender figure, and silver gown embroidered with dragons made her look every bit the image of a Dragon Princess.
Zhu Ziyang was deeply pleased with their new forms and power. Snow Empress and Second Frost now possessed strength equal to sixty-thousand-year soul beasts. Though he could not yet sustain both of their full powers at once, their combined presence was already overwhelming. Meanwhile, Ice Empress and Lu'er had grown to Soul Douluo-level might, which he could easily support fully.
"Alright, our task is complete. Let's go," Zhu Ziyang said with a smile. "We head for the Extreme North next—to complete the Death God's Sixth Trial!"
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