Wang Xing's idea was quickly put into action. Several low-year-class spirit beasts became Wang Nan's practice targets along the way. Advancing by alternating between movement and rest, and after repelling several attacking beasts, the two finally reached their destination.
Obtaining a soul ring was never a matter of blind luck. As Wang Xing had said earlier, he had been to the Star Dou Great Forest several times before and had naturally taken note of a few spirit beasts suitable for Wang Nan. Their first target was a four-hundred-year-old Green-Scaled Python living in this area.
"This is the place." The number of spirit beasts around them had noticeably decreased, but neither of them relaxed. As the largest spirit-beast habitat on the Douluo Continent, the Star Dou Great Forest had no areas devoid of spirit beasts. A decrease in number could only mean that a stronger creature lived here and had claimed this territory.
After waiting for a while and seeing no movement, Wang Xing took a small bottle from his storage soul guide and sprinkled some of the liquid inside.
"This is a mixture made from the urine of other spirit beasts. I added something to make the scent disperse more easily. Spirit beasts have a strong sense of territory, so this should draw the Green-Scaled Python over. Let's hope it hasn't been killed by someone else," Wang Xing sighed.
Fortunately, the worst did not happen. Before long, a massive python about seven or eight meters long appeared slowly before them.
Its body looked similar to an ordinary python—brown throughout, with leopard-like black markings on its back—but what stood out most was the large emerald-green scale covering its head, translucent and glimmering under the sunlight.
Wang Xing released his martial soul. Yellow, yellow, purple, purple, purple—five spirit rings revolved rhythmically around his Coiling Dragon Staff.
"Looks like our luck's pretty good." After observing for a moment and confirming the beast's age, Wang Xing no longer hesitated. Power gathered beneath his feet as his body leapt into the air. His third spirit ring shone with a faint purple glow, and the Coiling Dragon Staff in his hand swung out, tearing through the air with a sharp, whistling sound.
The Green-Scaled Python showed no sign of retreat. It coiled itself tightly like a spring, its head locked on Wang Xing. When its body compressed to the limit, it suddenly exploded forward—reaching Wang Xing in the blink of an eye.
Bang!
But the power difference between a hundred-year spirit beast and a Spirit King was far too great. The Coiling Dragon Staff descended, and the once-menacing spirit beast instantly went still.
Wang Xing nudged the limp python twice with his foot to confirm it had only fainted, then waved to his son. "Nan'er, come here. Your first soul ring is ready."
"What is this?" Wang Nan's eyes lit up as he examined the strange python before him. The Green-Scaled Python's head scale would vary in appearance depending on its environment, but the one before him had a scale covering its entire head—a clear sign it was extraordinary.
"I wouldn't pick something ordinary for you," Wang Xing said, pointing to the green scale atop the python's head. "See that? It seems to have been influenced by a dragon-type spirit beast. That's not a snake scale—it's a dragon scale."
"A dragon scale? It can transform into a dragon?" Wang Nan exclaimed, recalling countless tales from his previous life about serpents evolving into dragons.
"Of course not. It's only a mutation caused by exposure to draconic aura. Dragons are the highest class of spirit beasts—you can't just become one."
"I see." Wang Nan didn't press further. From what he knew, a black dragon resided deep within the Star Dou Great Forest—it was better not to talk too much about dragons here.
"Alright, prepare to absorb the soul ring. With your physical strength, a four-hundred-year ring shouldn't be a problem. Don't be nervous—take it slow. I'll be watching. If anything goes wrong, I'll step in."
"Okay." Wang Nan nodded. His Coiling Dragon Staff expanded, thrusting down on the python's head. The green scale shattered, and a yellow spirit ring slowly rose.
Wang Nan sat cross-legged beside the python. As his staff came into contact with the spirit ring, his consciousness suddenly slipped from his body and entered his spiritual sea.
Why now? Wang Nan's heart tightened. He had experienced this once before—during his martial-soul awakening, when the light orb had first appeared in his spiritual sea. He hadn't expected the same thing to happen during soul-ring absorption.
He quickly examined his state and found that his physical body was still in meditation. Normally, he would have stopped to investigate what was going on, but this was a critical moment in soul-ring absorption—he couldn't afford any distractions.
Just as he prepared to return to his body, an uninvited guest appeared in his spiritual sea. Brown-scaled body, black markings, green head scale—the very same Green-Scaled Python he had just slain materialized before him.
What's going on? Could this be because of the soul-ring absorption? Wang Nan guessed. After all, this wasn't the first spirit beast he had killed, and none of the others had appeared here—so this had to be connected to the ring.
"I've heard that during absorption, one's consciousness clashes with the will of the spirit beast inside the ring," he thought. "But I've never heard of the beast manifesting directly within the spiritual sea. Still, this isn't the time to wonder why. I need to deal with it first—there's a soul ring waiting for me out there."
Facing a hundred-year spirit beast, Wang Nan dared not be careless, but he wasn't overly anxious either. He had entered his spiritual sea countless times and knew its rules inside out.
Here, he could sense the slightest disturbance immediately. His spirit-formed body could teleport anywhere within this space, and even if it were destroyed, as long as the lake beneath him remained, he could re-form again.
With such an advantage, even a hundred-year beast wasn't unbeatable.
The Green-Scaled Python didn't understand what was happening, but instinct drove it to lunge at him. Its enormous body didn't hinder its speed; compared to the Tree Snake he had fought earlier, it was much faster.
Unfortunately, Wang Nan could sense every shift within his own spiritual sea. The python's movements were detected the instant they began. His figure flickered continuously, dodging each attack with ease.
As he grew accustomed to the python's assault patterns, Wang Nan moved his mind. Ripples spread across the lake beneath him, and a staff condensed from spiritual energy flew into his hands. He unleashed his practiced staff techniques—within a few rounds, the python couldn't even touch the corner of his robe, while Wang Nan landed several strikes in return.
Still, the Green-Scaled Python was a hundred-year spirit beast. His attacks didn't finish it off; instead, they provoked its ferocity. The green scale atop its head gleamed, streams of azure light spreading over its body as its speed surged even further.
What a pity. If this were the outside world, I'd never dodge that. But here in my spiritual sea, teleportation is only a thought away.
After several failed charges, the python seemed to tire, halting its assault. Man and beast stared at one another for a brief moment—then Wang Nan struck first, instantly appearing behind it and swinging his staff in a series of probing blows.
(End of Chapter)