With the participation of Kong Deming, Su Yu's progress in Soul Guide Ring technology advanced rapidly.
After all, Kong Deming's first Martial Soul had long reached the level of linked rings, and in soul-guiding device technology, he was superior to Su Yu.
Up to the fifth level and below, Su Yu dared to say he was no worse than his mentor, but in higher-level soul-guiding theory, he was still lacking.
During this half month, he also studied soul-guiding theory.
He had already mastered fifth-level soul-guiding theory, and he had self-studied most of the sixth-level theory, which he fully absorbed under Kong Deming's guidance while beginning to understand seventh-level theory.
Indeed, with the amplification of Basic Battle Armor, Su Yu crafted by hand a sixth-level soul-guiding device using Soul Emperor's strength.
A sixth-level flying soul-guiding device.
Soul-guided Wings, temporarily configured for his Basic Battle Armor, were an attempt at Intermediate Battle Armor wings.
It's currently in a trial operation; if the effect is promising, he will continue upgrading the soul-guiding array within, reaching seventh level and incorporating it into the core array of Intermediate Battle Armor.
...
For the Seventh Soul Ring, Kong Deming needs to find the soul ring most suitable for his Sun Martial Soul.
The Red Gold Bird actually fits his Sun Martial Soul quite well and was initially planned as his seventh soul ring.
Already having absorbed the hundred-thousand-year Red Gold Bird at the fifth ring, he now has to seek another hundred-thousand-year soul beast.
"Rumors have it there's a Fire Phoenix trace on the southern coast of Sun and Moon Continent, but no definite information, making it hard to find.
Southwest there is a Dragon Valley, which has always been extremely dangerous; even Super Douluos face near-certain death, but it's said to have fierce fire attribute aura fluctuations, suspected to be a hundred-thousand-year fire attribute Dragon Race soul beast."
Kong Deming knows the hundred-thousand-year soul beasts within the Sun and Moon Empire thoroughly.
Every time Su Yu listens to him discuss the whereabouts of these hundred-thousand-year soul beasts, he winces.
How long has the Sun and Moon Royal Family been thinking about these hundred-thousand-year soul beasts?
Finally, Kong Deming decides to head south along the perimeter of Evil Demon Forest.
Evil Demon Forest lies on the west side, so heading south first to Sun and Moon Empire's southwest coast to see the Dragon Valley, if it meets the criteria, they will hunt it; if it doesn't, they'll try their luck finding the Fire Phoenix.
...
The process of finding a soul ring is tedious.
Finding a suitable soul ring often takes quite a long time, especially involving the seventh soul ring, which requires a hundred thousand years.
The mentor and student took ten days this time to finally locate the Dragon Valley.
Su Yu waited outside for half a month before the teacher returned.
This time, no battle occurred, indicating Kong Deming didn't find a suitable target.
"Alas, there are plenty of dragon attribute soul beasts in Dragon Valley, but they are mutated by Dragon Qi.
The very depths of Dragon Valley harbor a space rift, chaotic Space power, with dense dragon attribute bloodline power emanating, creating the Dragon Valley.
Yet even with my strength, I can't ensure my own safety in that space rift."
A space rift—it's fine if it's a passage, but if it's merely caused by spatial tearing, entering means certain death.
That Fire Dragon aura also mingles from within the space rift.
Preliminary judgment suggests the space rift isn't just a simple tear; it probably connects to some terrifying region.
"The aura emanating through the space rift far surpasses typical hundred-thousand-year soul beasts; that Fire Dragon is likely at Fierce Beast level.
Moreover, besides the Fire Dragon aura, there is a lot of True Dragon aura."
Kong Deming didn't recklessly enter.
Listening to the teacher's words, Su Yu felt shaken.
If that's the case, then this Dragon Valley might be connected to that Dragon Valley he remembered?
Not rushing in was indeed the right choice by the teacher.
Su Yu recalled correctly that the space within the Dragon Valley Mini-World is extremely unstable, seemingly only allowing Soul Masters below Soul King to enter.
"Teacher, is the space rift stable?"
If he remembered correctly, that Dragon Valley is indeed a treasure land.
"The space rift is fairly stable, but spatial storms are intense, and on the other side, the True Dragon aura is extremely strong."
"Teacher, perhaps we should explore with soul-guiding devices; after all, that's True Dragon aura." Su Yu suggested.
Having Elder Yi in mind, judging the danger of the space rift should be feasible.
When using soul-guiding devices to explore, they can guide in the right direction and have a try.
Kong Deming listened to Su Yu's words and hesitated. The space rift leads to the unknown, which is most unpredictable.
However, if merely using soul-guiding devices to explore, it's worth trying first.
Kong Deming grabbed Su Yu, using Soul Power to shield him, and led him deeper into Pseudo Dragon Valley.
Dragon attribute soul beasts sensed Kong Deming's powerful Soul Power aura and wisely refrained from causing trouble.
"This is the space rift."
Kong Deming put Su Yu down and instructed him to stay put and not get swept into the space rift energy.
"The other side of this space rift is indeed formidable."
Approaching the space rift, Elder Yi from Su Yu's Sea of Spirit spoke.
"The other side is all True Dragons; translated to your Douluo Continent's soul beast years, they're at least hundred-thousand-year level, likely many at Fierce Beast level.
However, besides these dragon attribute auras, there's also a hint of deathly aura.
It's likely filled with dead dragons over there..."
Su Yu narrowed his eyes, realizing instantly.
It appears the other side is indeed the Dragon Valley he recalls.
"Elder Yi, is the space passage stable? In our current state, is there hope of passing through?"
Su Yu queried in his Sea of Spirit.
"Space power is chaotic, but an eighth-level soul-guided protective shield can withstand it."
Su Yu felt relieved.
Just an eighth-level soul-guided protective shield.
The teacher has plenty of them.
This is the advantage of studying under Kong Deming.
Were this at Shrek, even if there were such an opportunity, there'd be no eighth-level soul-guided protective shield for him to test with.
"Teacher, I think we should attempt to venture in.
I can't sense any life aura."
"What?" Kong Deming doubted his hearing.
Such rich Qi and Blood Power, intense True Dragon Bloodline aura, are you saying there's no life aura?
But Su Yu possesses Ultimate Life; after instinctively questioning, Kong Deming didn't continue to doubt him.
No life aura!
Is the other side a land of death?
"You should check again carefully; is there a trace of Life Force at all?"
Su Yu shrugged, pretending to fully activate his Spiritual Power to sense the presence of Life Force.
"None."
Kong Deming's thoughts stirred.
Such dense True Dragon Bloodline aura, yet no Life Force?
"Teacher, can you create a soul-guiding device to explore first? It would be best if it can send a signal back, with a strong signal strength."
"I'll try!"