Dugu Feng's mind was now entirely focused on his third soul ring and on the evolution of his Pearl.
The closer the Pearl drew to one hundred percent energy, the greater the hope of evolution!
That hope magnified endlessly in his heart.
Such expectation made Dugu Feng unwilling to waste even a single breath of time.
Upon returning to the clan, he immediately entered the underground cavern to detoxify the clan's soul masters once again.
Having done it once before, the process was now smooth and effortless.
In less than half a month, he completed it all.
The Pearl's energy rose another five points, reaching eighty-one percent.
That night—
Dugu Feng, together with Old Nine, appeared in the Sunset Forest.
"Young Master, my martial soul is the Nine Heavens Centipede, but among centipedes, the truly venomous soul beast is the Nine Heavens Dragon Centipede.
Such beasts are extremely rare, but in the Sunset Forest, it's possible to find them.
It will simply require your patience."
Old Nine chose his words carefully. He had never accompanied Dugu Feng before, and being tasked to lead him on a soul ring hunt made him act with great caution.
"No rush. Better none than the wrong one. We'll aim for a beast around four thousand years."
For his third soul ring, Dugu Feng had already decided that the target would be a centipede.
Another one of the Five Poisons.
When he first began cultivating, he'd considered intercepting Tang San in the Star Dou Great Forest and stealing the Human-Faced Demon Spider.
But his second ring had already been from an eighteen-hundred-year-old beast. That spider was only two thousand years, hence not suitable.
Besides, the birth of an external spirit bone was already filled with uncertainty.
Even if he obtained the spider, there was no guarantee he'd get the Eight Spider Lances.
After careful thought, he followed the clan's recommendation: the Nine Heavens Dragon Centipede.
As for the Eight Spider Lances? They weren't fully fused even after absorption.
In the future, if he wanted them, he could always seize them!
With preparation and calculation, success was inevitable.
His mind reined back to the present, senses spreading outward.
Traveling through the forest at night was dangerous.
But the Nine Heavens Dragon Centipede had a particular habit: it loved to bathe in moonlight.
On clear nights, when silver light spilled like gauze through the trees, covering the land and those were the easiest times to find it.
To Dugu Feng, the Sunset Forest was practically a "Forest of Poison Beasts."
Toxic soul beasts thrived here.
Suppressing his aura completely, he slithered forward like a lurking serpent, keeping pace behind Old Nine.
They scouted five possible locations where the Nine Heavens Dragon Centipede might appear, covering nearly a third of the forest, all without success.
For three more days, they left their tracks across the entire forest.
Finally, at the forest's edge, Old Nine's eyes lit up.
"There's the scent of the Nine Heavens Dragon Centipede here. No powerful soul beasts nearby...this must be its territory!"
Dugu Feng's heart stirred.
At last!
They concealed themselves in the trees, waiting patiently.
As dusk deepened, Dugu Feng felt it—
The ground trembled faintly.
Then suddenly two dark green horns pierced up from the soil, swaying as if probing the surroundings.
From the canopy, Dugu Feng and Old Nine stilled their breaths, a domain's power wrapping around them to suppress all leaks of aura.
The horns twitched for several minutes before a scythe-like centipede leg clawed out from underground.
The beast emerged swiftly.
In moments, its full body appeared.
Countless legs glistened with emerald sheen, moving so rapidly it seemed to glide across the ground.
Terrifying speed.
"It's the Nine Heavens Dragon Centipede… but its age has reached five thousand years. Young Master, shall we search for another?"
Old Nine's voice sounded directly in Dugu Feng's mind.
Before departure, they had tested his physical limits. Absorbing a four-thousand-year beast carried no risk.
But five thousand?
Dugu Feng's expression hardened. So be it. Five thousand, then five thousand.
His first two rings had both been taken above his level, yet the pain had never been unbearable.
Since the age of four, he had endured poison flares every single day. His tolerance for pain far surpassed ordinary soul masters.
This third ring—since fate placed it before him—he would gamble!
"Do it. This one!"
Dugu Feng's voice was firm.
Old Nine leapt forth, his body transforming into a massive centipede.
Martial Soul True Body!
The giant form rolled across the ground, barbed spines gleaming with venom.
Like serrated blades, they slashed across the Dragon Centipede's body.
With a single motion, its head and torso were nearly severed.
So violent!
Dugu Feng darted closer, firing streaks of Biling Finger Force.
The already-broken Dragon Centipede split clean apart.
Mixed poison seeped into its wounds, corroding from within.
Task done, he retreated hundreds of meters.
"Hisssss!"
A shrill screech split the night, chilling to the bone.
Though halved, the Dragon Centipede refused to die, thrashing madly across the ground.
Trees toppled, vegetation flattened into barren earth.
A hundred-legged insect doesn't die easily… especially one five thousand years old.
Old Nine, still in True Body form, kept vigilant, wary of scavenger beasts attracted by the commotion.
Dugu Feng's gaze never left the centipede.
The thrashing grew weaker.
Its horns drooped.
And at last—purple radiance gathered.
It was dying.
The glow condensed into a single soul ring, hovering over its carcass.
Dugu Feng's chest heaved.
Soul Elder… finally within reach.
With Old Nine guarding, he had nothing to fear.
He immediately sat cross-legged.
A yellow ring and a purple ring rose behind him.
From his shoulders, gleaming crystalline pincers extended, traced faintly with white lines—
The Killing God Domain's aura.
When fused with his soul skills, the domain resonated most naturally with his external spirit bone.
It spread outward, bolstering him, sharpening his mind to the peak.
He raised his right hand.
Guided by soul power, the Dragon Centipede's purple essence surged.
The instant it touched his energy, it became a torrent, pouring into his body.
Cold, brutal force flooded his meridians, rampaging like a wild beast.
"Come then!"
Dugu Feng's violet eyes shone, blazing with resolve.
He began fusing with his third soul ring.