"I'm fine. I'll be okay after resting for a bit."
"Really."
After Xiao Lin repeatedly assured the four of them, Yu Tianheng and the others finally felt relieved and left.
Once their figures disappeared completely from sight, Xiao Lin immediately collapsed weakly onto the ice shards.
To think—him, the team captain, actually getting bossed around by his own teammates and even being ordered not to cultivate for the rest of the day.
Fine. If he's not allowed to cultivate, then he won't.
Feeling the concern from his new teammates, Xiao Lin couldn't help but feel a bit pleased inside.
Before long, Xiao Lin took out the soul bone created by the Ice Dragon King from his storage soul tool.
When he saw this soul bone again, Xiao Lin couldn't help but feel shocked.
It was a blue soul bone only about the size of an index finger, shaped like a small turtle shell, surrounded by segments of tiny scales, with an extremely small Xuanwu head at the front.
This didn't look like a soul bone at all—it was basically a miniature Xuanwu.
"Old Ice? What is this?" Xiao Lin asked.
He had already concluded that this soul bone was most likely an external soul bone, but he was still curious how this had been done.
Could it be that the two Dragon Kings were already capable of mass-producing external soul bones?
External soul bones could all potentially be upgraded into divine artifacts.
In the original timeline, Tang San—perhaps because the quality of his martial soul had been ruined—ended up wielding the Sea God Trident all the time.
How foolish. A martial soul is closely tied to a soul master's life.
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say it's a product of life-and-death dual cultivation.
Not strengthening one's martial soul but instead playing around with the Sea God Trident—that was the height of stupidity.
But this also indirectly proved just how powerful divine artifacts were.
If the Ice and Fire Dragon Kings both had the ability to create external soul bones, didn't that mean he could mass-produce divine artifacts?
"Xiao Lin, stop letting your imagination run wild."
Very soon, the Ice Dragon King's voice echoed in Xiao Lin's ear.
After spending so much time with Xiao Lin, he already understood him extremely well.
Xiao Lin was someone who loved fantasizing, someone who liked using fantasies to motivate himself.
It was only because of all those wild ideas and unconventional methods that he didn't end up as nothing more than a dreamer.
"This is a finger bone. It can be considered an external soul bone, but not like what you're imagining. It's not something that can be replicated. Rather than saying I created an external soul bone, it would be more accurate to say that the beast remnant soul within this fossil was inherently capable of condensing an external soul bone."
The Ice Dragon King's explanation didn't disappoint Xiao Lin—this was quite normal.
Just like the human-faced demon spider Xiao Lin knew of, which could drop the Eight Spider Lances.
If he ever had the chance to obtain that spider's corpse, Xiao Lin might try using its beast remnant soul to create another external soul bone.
But considering attribute compatibility, Xiao Lin didn't pay much attention to the human-faced demon spider anymore.
"Even so, this is still really strong, alright?"
Xiao Lin stroked the finger bone, feeling a bit tempted to absorb it, but decided to hear the Ice Dragon King out first.
"The soul skill of this finger bone is Calm. It doesn't do anything else. If you want it, you can absorb it—just treat it as a soul power storage device."
The Ice Dragon King was rather disdainful of it. This soul bone's skill was not only trash, but also useless.
With Xiao Lin having the Coiling Dragon Staff, was he supposed to poke people with his finger?
Among experts of the same level, who would ever be killed by a finger poke?
If Xiao Lin knew what the Ice Dragon King was thinking, he would definitely say: Your vision is too narrow.
In other worlds, people had defeated bosses using that.
What's wrong with using a finger?
An indestructible finger could last a very long time, you know.
"Calm… can this Calm skill grow stronger as the soul bone upgrades?" Xiao Lin asked.
If it could, then when he went to the City of Slaughter later on, at least he wouldn't be disgusted by what happened there.
And if he ever inherited the God of Destruction's divine position—or any other divine position that was easily influenced—
He would still be able to maintain his true self.
Huh? Thinking about it that way, wouldn't this prevent Little San from becoming that idiotic version in the second part?
Should he give it to Little San?
Or maybe just stop Little San from inheriting the Asura God altogether?
Although Little San was fairly just in this life, he still came from an ancient sect that walked the line between good and evil.
Making him a law enforcer of the God Realm really wasn't suitable.
"Of course it can. All external soul bones have that capability."
After receiving confirmation from the Ice Dragon King, Xiao Lin nodded in satisfaction.
That meant it didn't matter who he gave it to.
Would Xiao Wu still become the sheath of the Asura God Sword in this life?
With this soul bone, would things be better? Would it filter things more cleanly, without problems?
Also, Xiao Wu's attack methods—though she had the refined steel dagger forged by Little San—still wouldn't keep up with their growth in the long run.
Hmm, it would be best to have the Dragon Kings make a few more external soul bones.
Xiao Lin told the two Dragon Kings his request, asking whether there was any hope of making another external soul bone if he could obtain the Xuanming Stone in Tang San's possession.
However, the result disappointed him.
Neither Dragon King had any confidence—this external soul bone was entirely luck-based.
Xiao Lin had simply been lucky this time.
Next time, it might just be an ordinary ten-year soul bone.
If that were the case, then forget it.
The fact that Xiao Lin had even thought about Little San and the others already showed how considerate he was.
For now, he wouldn't absorb this soul bone either.
Once he obtained a new external soul bone, he would then give this one to Little San or Xiao Wu.
Xiao Lin was generous to his brothers, but only when he himself didn't lack anything.
Who feeds their brothers with their own flesh and blood?
He wasn't Wu Dalang, and Little San wasn't Wu Erlang.
Alright then—since fossil soul bones were viable, he would have to look for other fossils in the future.
With that decided, Xiao Lin immediately dashed out of the Imperial Battle Team's territory and ran toward the library. He wanted to see whether the geographical changes of the Heaven Dou Empire had been recorded.
He also wanted to look for Qian Renxue—she still owed him those special Spirit Hall books.
Watching Xiao Lin's near-instant movement, Yu Tianheng and the others were stunned.
He had looked so weak just moments ago, and now he was perfectly fine?
As expected of Xiao Lin—his body really was something else.
Considering that all of them had eaten immortal herbs, Yu Tianheng and the others didn't find it strange.
…
On the other side, at Ning Fengzhi's residence.
As Ning Fengzhi listened to Gu Rong's report, his eyes immediately darkened.
"Uncle Gu, are you certain that the Thousand-Faced Guest was recruited by Dai Mubai, the third prince of the Dai family of the Star Luo Empire?"
"Yes," Gu Rong nodded. "Last night, when I questioned people in the black market, their descriptions all matched Dai Mubai perfectly. Dai Mubai had just separated from Ma Hongjun and the others, which led to Oscar being captured."
Since everything lined up, there was no way it was false.
"This is troublesome. Although Dai Mubai of the Star Luo Empire is useless, he's still a prince. Our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect can't take his life."
It wasn't that Ning Fengzhi feared the Dai family of Star Luo, but the Dai family was the imperial family. What if they went all out and started a war?
"We can't take his life—for now. Once the struggle for the crown between Dai Mubai and his brother is over, we can make our move."
Gu Rong snorted coldly. Anyone who nearly put Rongrong's life in danger—he would never let them go.
"I'll have to trouble Sword Uncle to go to Star Luo City. I want an explanation from the Dai family. That should temporarily placate Xiao Lin and the others."
"I believe with some extra money and treasures, Xiao Lin definitely won't refuse. Also, that Thousand-Faced Guest must be dealt with."
"We'll lure the snake out of its hole. Uncle Gu, please help me keep an eye on Xiao Lin."
The corners of Ning Fengzhi's mouth lifted slightly, revealing a fox-like smile.
"Alright."
"Alright."
As Chen Xin and Gu Rong agreed, the three exchanged glances and then smiled knowingly.
(End of Chapter)