Chapter 88: Divine Bone Dragon Transformation, Snow Empress Reborn, Class 9 Spirit Guidance Master and Vajra Douluo (II)

Word Count: 3,560 Words

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"Smack them hard in the face..."

After reading Bone Douluo Gu Rong's resentment-filled message, Ling Bai sighed:

"This is beyond absurd. The Seven Kill Sword and the Divine Bone Dragon Transformation have two great inheritors. One is me, and the other is still me..."

Having taken the item, fulfilling the senior's wish was only right. Ling Bai raised his right hand and placed it beside his face, while his left hand went 'pah' as it slapped firmly. The crisp smacking sound echoed in the small room.

"Senior Bone Douluo, your inheritor has defeated Senior Sword Douluo's inheritor. Thank you for your gift."

Making a small joke with Bone Douluo, Ling Bai restrained his smile and gave a deep bow. Then he took the Divine Bone Dragon Transformation scroll and turned to leave. With his current abilities, he was far from being able to control those three Titled Douluo-level bone dragons. Cultivating and mastering Bone Douluo's lifetime knowledge in the Divine Bone Dragon Transformation would surely solve his urgent needs.

"Hmm?"

Ning Fengya wore a puzzled expression in the underground of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan. After opening the Heaven's Treasury, the Clan Head would establish a spiritual connection with it and constantly sense the status of every treasure. Just a second ago, she discovered that the Divine Bone Dragon Transformation had been taken.

'What does Xiao Bai want with it?'

Even after much thought, Ning Fengya could not figure it out. Last time, he took the Seven Kill Sword Technique because his Angel Sword suited sword techniques, but the Divine Bone Dragon Transformation was aimed solely at bone dragons, which seemed unrelated to his two Martial Spirits.

'Alright, alright, this kid is keeping secrets again.'

Ning Fengya was very familiar with Ling Bai's personality, having watched him grow up. She absolutely did not believe he would act without purpose. Surely, he must have a way to obtain or had already obtained a bone dragon!

Just then, Ling Bai slowly walked out of the Heaven's Treasury and saw Ning Fengya, her lips slightly curved and her face clearly showing that she had figured out the truth. He said:

"Aunt Ya, I'm done."

"Good."

After closing the spatial gate of the Heaven's Treasury, Ning Fengya lightly cleared her throat and asked him:

"Xiao Bai, the Extreme North is extremely dangerous. The average strength of the spirit beast groups there surpasses those in the Star Dou Forest, not to mention the harsh icy environment and the elusive Calamitous Ice Devil. This surveillance assignment is worthy of its red-grade designation. Let Xie Qin accompany you."

"Fengya, do you not want me anymore?"

A head suddenly popped out from the shadows, eyes misty with tears, voice filled with misery and grievance.

Ning Fengya clenched her fists, and the veins on her smooth forehead appeared to bulge. Through gritted teeth, she said:

"Before I get angry, get back on your own!"

"Got it, boss."

Shadow Dragon Douluo Xie Qin immediately became obedient. The speed at which he retracted his head was even faster than when he had stuck it out.

Ling Bai didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Shadow Dragon Douluo Xie Qin liked to pop out and act silly when he had nothing to do, never feeling comfortable unless he was scolded. He was just like a middle school boy trying to attract the attention of the girl he had a crush on by sneakily tugging her ponytail. Truly, he was the type of hopeless case who would not succeed even if Ning Fengya married three times!

"No need, Aunt Ya. I'll go by myself. You and Uncle Xie can't always help me."

"Alright. I've prepared some items for you to handle the harsh environment of the Extreme North."

Ning Fengya handed Ling Bai a Storage Spirit Guidance Device. He accepted it, expressed his thanks, and immediately set off.

With the speed of the Seraphim, he took only a day and a half to reach Dragon City even without going all out. Gazing into the distance, he could vaguely discern the outline of a majestic, enormous city that looked even more impressive under the brilliant lights.

Dragon City was the human city closest to the Extreme North. Spirit Masters entering the Extreme North to hunt spirit beasts would all resupply here, gradually building its reputation as the number one city in the northern Heavenly Soul Empire.

Ling Bai used Thousand Illusion Charming Appearance to disguise himself as the black-haired, black-eyed Evil Spirit Master Ning Bai and draped himself in a coat made from the pelt of a 10,000-year Flame Lion King. With this guise, he smoothly passed through Dragon City's gates.

'Aunt Ya is really thoughtful...'

Inside the Storage Spirit Guidance Device lay a full set of thick clothing made from the pelts of 10,000-year fire-attribute spirit beasts. Specially dyed white to blend into the environment of the Extreme North, the clothing radiated warm heat once worn. The low temperatures near the Extreme North in Dragon City could not affect him at all.

A 30,000-year Calamitous Ice Devil had been appearing in villages near Dragon City, wantonly destroying farmland and houses and causing the villagers immense suffering. Ling Bai planned to find an inn for the night and investigate the affected villages tomorrow.

He found a decent tavern, booked a room, and ordered several dishes at once. Then he sat down to await the taste of Dragon City's specialty cuisine.

At a table two seats away, more than a dozen young men and women had gathered. None appeared older than fifteen or sixteen. Most striking were a girl with pink hair and a youth with short blue-purple hair. The former was pounding the table while shouting at the latter:

"Hey, Yu Tianlong, have you heard about the Calamitous Ice Devil causing trouble recently?"

"Mm."

"I, Nan Qiuqiu, went outside the city alone yesterday to stake out the Calamitous Ice Devil, and I actually ran into it! I immediately rushed up and fought with it for three hundred rounds. The battle was so intense that the sky darkened and the sun and moon lost their light!"

"And then?" Yu Tianlong asked curiously.

Nan Qiuqiu raised her cute little chin high and proudly declared, "It didn't harm a single hair on me. I escaped back to Dragon City completely unscathed!"

Yu Tianlong pondered for a moment and tentatively said, "I get it, but the battle seems a bit one-sided..."

"What did you say?! What kind of words are those!"

Nan Qiuqiu's face filled with dark lines as she stubbornly retorted, "The Calamitous Ice Devil is a variant of the Ice Devil Titan. Its 30,000 years of cultivation far surpass me, a Spirit Ancestor. The fact that I could escape is already impressive. If it were you, you'd kneel immediately!"

As she spoke, she discreetly signaled to her fellow sect members. The disciples of the Earthdragon Sect received the message and began to stand up for their young sect master.

"Sister Qiuqiu is mighty and domineering!"

"Sister Qiuqiu is invincible!"

"Earthdragon Sect is number one in Dragon City!"

Yu Tianlong forced a smile. "Did you call me out to eat just to show off that you escaped from the Calamitous Ice Devil?"

"Heh heh heh, accept your fate, Yu Tianlong!" Nan Qiuqiu placed her hands on her hips and let out an evil laugh befitting a dragon king. "The era of the Heavenly Dragon Sect suppressing the Earthdragon Sect will become history. The time has come for the Earthdragon to rise and take over!"

"Big sister, keep your voice down!!!"

Noticing the strange gazes from the surrounding patrons, Yu Tianlong felt so embarrassed that his toes could have dug out a three-bedroom apartment. He especially wished he could travel back an hour and slap himself hard. Why had his brain short-circuited and agreed to come out to eat with Nan Qiuqiu? Otherwise, he would not be socially dying now.

In fact, Yu Tianlong had misunderstood. The Heavenly Dragon Sect and the Earthdragon Sect had never bullied anyone; they often helped villagers solve problems. With an excellent reputation in Dragon City, the gazes from the tavern's patrons were filled only with good-natured teasing.

But Yu Tianlong couldn't stay another moment. He hurriedly said, "That Calamitous Ice Devil attacked Moonlight Village today. My dad personally took action and severely injured it. The Calamitous Ice Devil barely escaped with its life back to the core region of the Extreme North and will probably need to recuperate and hide for many years."

"What?!"

Nan Qiuqiu was shocked. They had lost; the Earthdragon Sect had completely lost!

At the same time, Ling Bai's hand that was picking up food paused slightly. It ran away; the Calamitous Ice Devil had actually run away!

The two were deeply distressed. One showed it on her face while the other concealed it in his heart.

'The surveillance assignment requires capturing or killing the Calamitous Ice Devil. Looks like I'll have to chase it to the core region of the Extreme North...'

Initially, Ling Bai had planned to wait in the villages frequently troubled by the Calamitous Ice Devil. But plans had changed; he would now have to venture deep into the Extreme North!

…

Early the next morning, Ling Bai left Dragon City alone and braced himself against the bone-chilling gale winds as he headed straight for the Extreme North.

It was winter – the worst time to enter the Extreme North, when the environment grows even harsher and temperatures drop lower than usual. Starved spirit beasts normally confined in the core region would wander out toward the outer region, as the Calamitous Ice Devil had, greatly increasing the chance of encountering powerful spirit beasts. Unless a Spirit Master's strength or team lineup was sufficiently strong, they generally would not dare to set foot into the Extreme North's territory.

"Demon Spider Summon."

Switching to his second Martial Spirit, the Death Abyss Spider Emperor, Ling Bai summoned thousands of small Demon Spiders. The area in the Extreme North was even vaster than the Star Dou Forest, and because it was bitterly cold and barren with few beasts, relying on himself alone would likely take ages to find his target. Deploying the Demon Spiders to search would save both time and effort.

"Find a gigantic spirit beast, severely injured, ice attribute weakened, and an aura of calamity."

"Chitter chitter chitter!"

As soon as they emerged, the Demon Spiders shivered in the freezing wind and snow of the Extreme North. After a few seconds of adapting to the environment, they accepted the order and scattered in all directions. The tiny purple-black Demon Spiders hid within the thick ice and snow.

Using the Spider Emperor Sense to avoid spirit beasts, Ling Bai advanced straight into the depths of the Extreme North. Before long, he saw dazzling emerald-green lights continuously flickering in the sky, blooming with a beautiful, brilliant radiance. Were it not for the extreme climate here, it might have been considered a picturesque paradise.

"The unique perpetual night environment of the Extreme North's core region..."

Ling Bai's vigilance was at its peak as his Spider Emperor Sense operated at full power. The most terrifying aspect of the Extreme North was its overall strength—especially the abundance of 100,000-year spirit beasts in the core region. Due to the harsh environment and the single attribute of the spirit beasts, few Spirit Masters dared venture deep to hunt them. Consequently, as long as the species were powerful, they could generally cultivate smoothly to 100,000 years.

"Death Realm."

The spider web patterns on his body flickered briefly as a layer of purple-black membrane silently adhered to his skin. The ultra-low temperatures of the Extreme North's core region were definitely not something the pelt of the 10,000-year Flame Lion King could withstand. He had no choice but to release the innate domain of the Death Abyss Spider Emperor, the Death Realm, using Ultimate Death to destroy nearby ice elements and maintain his body temperature.

When hungry, he ate hard cornbread; when thirsty, he swallowed a few mouthfuls of snow. After several hours, just as he was about to build an ice house to rest, the Demon Spiders sent back excited signals.

Shifting his vision to the Demon Spiders, he saw a colossal creature over fifty meters tall. It had a blue face with fangs, and on closer inspection its ugly facial features bore a vague resemblance to those of humans. Unlike the pure white fur of the Ice Devil Titan, the Calamitous Ice Devil was entirely jet-black, exuding an aura of calamity and misfortune. Legend had it that anyone who killed a Calamitous Ice Devil would be cursed and plagued by disasters and bad luck.

At present, the Calamitous Ice Devil was lying on the ice and snow, its entire body marked by charred scars from lightning strikes. Its flesh was turned outward in a miserable state. Luckily, the ultra-low temperatures of the Extreme North's core region had stopped its bleeding, barely preserving its life.

Suddenly, the Calamitous Ice Devil rolled over and got up. It possessed an Innate Spirit Skill called 'Calamity Foreboding,' which sensed impending, life-threatening danger. Just moments ago, Calamity Foreboding had activated, meaning its death was imminent!

Refusing to sit and wait for death, the Calamitous Ice Devil endured the pain and took off running. With its massive fifty-meter-tall body and powerful legs, it covered a hundred meters in a single stride. It ran at full speed toward the central area of the Extreme North's core region for a full hour before it felt safe enough to sit down and rest.

Crunch!

"Roar?"

BOOM—

It seemed to have sat on something; the moment it lifted its bottom, a tremendous explosion erupted, and a blood-red mushroom cloud appeared in the Extreme North.

The Calamitous Ice Devil was blown to pieces, its mangled head coincidentally rolling to Ling Bai's feet. He picked it up to bring back to Shrek Academy as proof. As he gazed at the metallic storm concealed within the blood-red mushroom cloud in the distance, he wondered in confusion:

"Who is talented enough to set up Spirit Guidance Device traps in the Extreme North? Judging by the power, this thing is at least Class 7.

Today's a good day; I've effortlessly completed the red-grade surveillance assignment..."

Immediately after, he suddenly looked up toward the distant, stormy sky where gale winds raged. Beneath the dazzling, gorgeous emerald-green aurora canopy, a woman was silently suspended!

"That is...?"

…

In a certain place within the core region of the Extreme North, a triangular purple light barrier blocked the invasion of wind and snow. Two figures sat cross-legged on the ground, looking at each other with bored expressions.

The middle-aged man with a long face and hooked nose suddenly trembled, bumped the shoulder of the sturdy man beside him, and said, "Xiong Mo, one of my Class 7 Spirit Landmines was triggered by a spirit beast."

Xiong Mo glanced at him, speechless. "Xu Cong, are you stupid? Isn't it normal for spirit beasts to appear in their own gathering grounds?"

Xu Cong nodded. "I suppose you're right..."

"We've been in the core region of the Extreme North for over a month now. When will that great opportunity you mentioned arrive?" Xiong Mo stood up and questioned. Although he wasn't tall, the aura emanating from his bulging muscles was exceptionally imposing.

"Be patient."

Patting Xiong Mo's shoulder, Xu Cong pointed to the snow mountain five hundred meters ahead and said, "There's a snow lotus pond ahead. Judging by the aura, there must be a 100,000-year Snow Lotus inside!"

"Why didn't you say so earlier? I'll go grab it!"

When Xu Cong saw Xiong Mo roll up his sleeves and prepare to charge recklessly, he hastily pulled him back and rebuked angrily:

"Idiot! Is your brain made of muscle?!"

Xu Cong then threw a piece of metal toward the snow mountain. In the blink of an eye, a sky-blue light flashed by, and the metal turned into a pile of dust that scattered.

"Uh..." Xiong Mo's eyes widened.

"A barrier set up by a 100,000-year spirit beast. I guess this lotus pond is the result of that spirit beast's painstaking efforts over tens of thousands of years, and now it's harvest time."

Xu Cong's eyes glinted sinisterly as he continued, "Records in the Illustrious Virtue Hall state that a 100,000-year Snow Lotus has the heaven-defying effect of allowing a 100,000-year spirit beast to rebuild as a human. That spirit beast knows it cannot overcome the Heavenly Tribulation, so it's seeking another path; reborn as a human, betting on that road to Godhood.

We just need to wait patiently for this tremendous fortune to arrive, and when the 100,000-year spirit beast is transforming, we seize it!"

"Will this really work?" Xiong Mo observed the terrifying power of the barrier with apprehension.

"You are the Vajra Douluo after all, and don't forget my specialty as a Class 9 Spirit Guidance Master," Xu Cong said confidently with a smile.

"Sealing..."

Xiong Mo pondered for a moment, then turned his head and said, "But didn't you just break through to become a Class 9 Spirit Guidance Master? You only have one Class 9 God Sealing Altar on you..."

"Class 9 is Class 9, regardless of when the breakthrough occurred. Your three great empires don't even have a single Class 9! If I hadn't offended the Hall Master of the Illustrious Virtue Hall and the Sun Moon Empire's imperial family, how could I, a dignified Class 9 Spirit Guidance Master, have fallen to the point of worrying about money? So here's the plan. You contact the Starlight Auction House. After I seal that 100,000-year spirit beast and bring the God Sealing Altar to sell, it'll fetch at least 100 million spirit gold coins! I'll take eighty percent, you get twenty, and we'll never have to worry about money again!"

Wealth moves people's hearts. Xiong Mo couldn't help but laugh as he said, "Heh heh heh, I'm from the Star Luo Empire and have some connections there. The Starlight Auction House hopes to establish long-term cooperation with you and is willing to halve their commission!

But come to think of it, why did you offend the Sun Moon imperial family and the Hall Master of the Illustrious Virtue Hall?"

"Don't mention it!"

Xu Cong sighed, then said, "Ten years ago, an incomparably beautiful woman named Feng Yu came to Mingdu City. She led a group of people to establish the Linglong Pavilion and recruited imperial nobles and Spirit Guidance Masters everywhere, gradually expanding their influence.

After two years, once Linglong Pavilion had gained a foothold, she started trafficking Spirit Guidance Devices. The Sun Moon Empire's Spirit Guidance Devices were resold to the Three Great Empires for at least eight times the original price!

At that time, I was the chief researcher of the Illustrious Virtue Hall. She promised to split the profits with me 50-50, so I became the intermediary to help sell the Spirit Guidance Devices produced by the Illustrious Virtue Hall.

In the end, the truth came to light. Jing Hongchen, that old coot, disregarded our past relationship and expelled me without a second thought. He even contacted the imperial family to announce nationwide that no sect or academy was allowed to accept me.

During the period of smuggling Spirit Guidance Devices, I fell in love with Feng Yu. I wanted to marry her and elope to the three great empires, but Feng Yu said she was a 'money-sexual'; she loved money more than anything in her life. Unless I brought 100 million spirit gold coins to propose, she wouldn't consider marrying me."

"Brother Xu, although I, Old Xiong, have remained unmarried all my life, I feel like she might be playing you," Xiong Mo said hesitantly.

"No, Feng Yu has her own difficulties!"

Xu Cong's spittle nearly sprayed into Xiong Mo's mouth as he exclaimed, "Feng Yu told me that she has an evil older sister who bullied her since childhood by snatching her candy and money. As they grew up, it became even worse; if her older sister was even slightly displeased, she would beat and scold her. In the end, she directly expelled her from the sect.

After wandering for several years, hiding here and there, Feng Yu had no choice but to flee to the Sun Moon Empire to find peace, where she started the business of smuggling Spirit Guidance Devices—all to exact her day of revenge when she returned as a holy maiden to deal with her cruel and heartless sister!

She's just a girl with no sense of security. If she likes spirit gold coins, I'll give her spirit gold coins!

I want to support her!

I want to give everything for her!"

Xu Cong transformed into a warrior charging for love, his whole being seeming to burn with passion. This prompted Xiong Mo to cover his mouth with one hand and curse in a low voice, "Shut up, you lovesick fool! Something's coming."

A woman descended from the sky above the snow lotus pond. Her pure white hair cascaded down her back to her waist, and her flawless features seemed to gather all the elegance of this snow-white land.

"A humanoid spirit beast... Wait, a humanoid spirit beast from the Extreme North?!"