After a quick meal of dry rations, Gu Xuan returned to the edge of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. Suddenly, eight sharp blades tore through the back of his clothes, shimmering with a cold, resplendent light.
Each of the eight blades was 1.5 meters long. Even when not fully unfurled, their total wingspan reached nearly three meters. Each blade appeared to be the embodiment of a dragon; the scales, the head, the claws, and the tail were all clearly visible—majestic and extraordinary.
Gu Xuan focused his mind, and the eight dragon-swords behind him expanded. Interestingly, the hilt of each sword was not directly fused to his vertebrae. Instead, there were circular depressions along his spine where the rounded ends of the hilts rested. They were held in place by an intense gravitational pull of soul power; without looking closely, one would think they were physically joined, but in reality, there was a faint gap bridged by threads of pale blue energy.
As the eight dragon-swords fanned out like the wings of an eagle, soul power surged through Gu Xuan's body. Translucent wings of pure energy manifested along the edges of the blades. With a gentle flap of these sword-wings, Gu Xuan shot upward, soaring into the high heavens.
When fully extended, the hilts maintained a distance of about twenty centimeters from his back, suspended by soul power traction. Watching Gu Xuan soar through the air, Ning Rongrong and Dugu Yan were filled with envy, their previous worries completely replaced by awe.
In just one week, Gu Xuan had completely integrated the External Soul Bone into his body. His gains weren't limited to reaching Rank 40; his physical constitution had undergone a massive transformation. Based on his raw physical strength alone, Gu Xuan felt that absorbing a thirty-five-thousand-year soul ring for his fourth slot was well within the realm of possibility.
Gu Xuan moved with incredible speed in the sky. Although the Sword Dragon Eight Wings didn't provide a specific percentage speed boost, their base flight speed was already comparable to an Agility Type Soul Master of the same level. More importantly, the bone's primary function was offensive.
Having perfectly fused with the bone, Gu Xuan inherited two top-tier skills from the Sword-Winged Demon Dragon. They were Flying Dragon Piercing Heaven and the Eight Directions Hexagram Sword Array.
Beyond these, Gu Xuan discovered there was significant room for creative application. For instance, the eight dragon-swords could detach from his back, allowing him to control them remotely to strike enemies. However, with his current level of mental control, he could only maneuver two swords simultaneously; coordinating all eight at once was still beyond him.
This meant he would have to start practicing the "Heart Separation Control" technique. He hadn't needed it before, but now it was a necessity. Once he could command all eight blades at once, he would be able to fight—and win—against opponents significantly higher in level, even without using traditional soul skills. After all, the Sword Dragon Eight Wings originated from a ninety-three-thousand-year beast; its latent power was far beyond what an average person could withstand.
The bone also gave Gu Xuan a deeper insight into the Way of the Sword. He planned to study swordplay under Chen Xin in the future to ensure the Sword Dragon Eight Wings were used as lethal weapons, not just stylish ornaments.
After circling the area, Gu Xuan descended slowly. Ning Rongrong and Dugu Yan immediately crowded around him. Dugu Yan was relatively composed, but Ning Rongrong grabbed her "dear Brother Gu Xuan's" arm, begging for a flight.
If Dugu Yan hadn't been there, Gu Xuan might have indulged her. But with his girlfriend watching, he had to maintain boundaries. He was a man of culture—not a brainless one. If he acted too intimately with Ning Rongrong in front of Dugu Yan, he would lose the "initiative" in his relationship.
He declined Ning Rongrong's request and turned the conversation back to them. "How is your cultivation coming along?"
Ning Rongrong pouted but answered honestly. "It's alright. The natural energy here is incredibly dense; it helps quite a bit."
Dugu Yan added with a smile. "Rongrong is working very hard. She's only twelve and already at Rank 37. She's almost caught up to her big brother."
Gu Xuan chuckled and patted Ning Rongrong's head. "This girl only works hard when there's an audience. When you're not looking, she's lazier than anyone."
"No way!" Ning Rongrong huffed. "Sister Yan, don't listen to him. He's just jealous that his sister is catching up." She then leaned in to whisper in Dugu Yan's ear. "Sister Yan, let me tell you—before we went to the academy, Brother Gu Xuan promised me a gift if I caught up to him. I bet he just hasn't prepared it yet, so now he's trying to talk his way out of it..."
Listening to Ning Rongrong's chatter, Dugu Yan couldn't help but giggle. The girl was undeniably adorable, and even Gu Xuan felt a pang of protectiveness toward her. But with Dugu Yan present, he knew better than to play favorites with his "sister" while his girlfriend was standing right there!
After explaining the gains from his External Soul Bone, Gu Xuan turned his attention to his fourth soul ring. But before that hunt, he had one more task: consuming the Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew. It had been over five months since he took the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass and the Infernal Delicate Apricot, and their effects had been fully refined. It was now safe to take the next Immortal Herb.
He plucked the Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew and sat by the spring, focusing all his energy on refining its medicinal power. Unlike other herbs, this one didn't raise soul power; its sole purpose was to enhance Spiritual Power.
At Rank 40, Gu Xuan's Spiritual Power was already near the level of a Soul King. He estimated that after refining this herb, it would jump to the level of a Soul Emperor, especially since his natural mental foundation was already strong. The herb's energy was gentle, and the refining process was smooth.
Three hours later, Gu Xuan opened his eyes. His heterochromatic pupils flashed with a sharp, crystalline light. His prediction was correct—his Spiritual Power now rivaled that of a Rank 63 Soul Emperor.
With this level of mental strength, absorbing a twenty-five-thousand-year ring for his fourth slot would be easy. He could even potentially push for a thirty-thousand-year ring. Furthermore, the herb would continue to have a passive effect, ensuring his mental growth stayed ahead of the curve for years to come.
With his foundation solidified, Gu Xuan began planning his fourth ring. He already had a target in mind—the same species that provided Gu Rong's eighth ring. His goal was a twenty-eight-thousand-year Spatial Demon Dragon.
This creature was actually an offspring of the dragon Gu Rong had hunted years ago. Gu Rong had tracked it in the Star Dou Great Forest about a year ago and found it still alive and thriving. Originally, Gu Rong wanted to save it for Gu Xuan's sixth ring, but Gu Xuan felt that with his current body and spirit, he could handle it as his fourth.
(End of Chapter)
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