After a brief discussion, the group decided to head first for the northeast, a region infamous for its poisonous miasma, to find a suitable soul beast for Dugu Yan.
Before long, they stepped into a forest shrouded in drifting violet mist. For ordinary soul masters, this miasma spelled certain death, but for this party, it was nothing.
After half a day's trek, they found—at the base of a shadowy cliff—a cave with a foul-smelling, deep entrance. The odor was not just of decay, but carried a chilling, sinister sense of dread.
"Interesting."
Dugu Bo paused outside, a spark of interest in his emerald eyes.
"The virulence here is powerful—likely mixed with a psychological component."
As a poison expert, Dugu Bo could judge much from mere scent and residual energy alone. Flicking his finger, a condensed beam of emerald-green toxin shot into the cave like a living thing.
A shriek, full of soul-shaking rage and violence, erupted from within.
The ground trembled; rocks shattered as a giant, shadowy figure burst forth—a colossal serpent over thirty meters long!
Its entire body was cloaked in dark amethyst, crystalline scales that gleamed coldly in the dim light, an ominous, twisted horn crowning its triangular head.
Blood-red slit pupils glared at the intruders with killing intent and icy savagery.
"Amethyst Python?"
Snake Lance Douluo's surprise was obvious.
"Truly rare. Star Dou Forest is deeper than I thought."
Others immediately recognized it. The Soul-Devouring Amethyst Python was an aberration among snake-type soul beasts—a living nightmare. Its venom could corrode flesh, invade the mind, and even attack the spirit. Alongside the Soul-Devouring Demon Spider, it ranked as one of the greatest soul master terrors, but was almost never seen—dwelling in only the most dangerous locales.
Dugu Bo gave the python a once-over and nodded with satisfaction.
"Over thirty meters in length, horned—distinct though not yet fully formed—and spiral patterned… Its age should be around 28,000 to 30,000 years. A perfect fit."
He turned to his granddaughter.
"Yanyan, what do you think?"
Dugu Yan's eyes sparked with excitement and greed. The snake's venomous, corrosive nature was exactly the complement her Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor poison needed.
"Grandpa, this is the one!"
Dugu Bo moved as if to step forward, but Chen Yi gently stopped him.
"Senior Dugu, let me handle the heavy lifting. Would you please keep watch?"
Without waiting for a reply, Chen Yi stepped forward—purple-gold lightning flared around him, forming armor-like plating.
Six radiantly spinning soul rings appeared beneath his feet—two purple, three black, one dazzling red, the latter exuding an astonishing aura that instantly calmed the ambient poison.
Even Snake Lance and Porcupinefish Douluo couldn't suppress a twitch of envy. Though titled Douluo, they each had yet to acquire a single hundred-thousand-year-old soul ring.
The amethyst python, sensing the overwhelming presence Chen Yi emanated—especially the red ring's crushing vitality—felt an instinctive fear pass through its scarlet eyes, but its ferocity prevailed. Roaring, it lunged, maw open wide, exhaling a poisonous breath laced with both psychic shock and venom straight at Chen Yi.
His expression unfazed, Chen Yi raised his right fist. Instantly, the Thunder God Staff condensed in his grasp; lightning crackled at his feet. He shot into the air as if by teleportation.
"Thunder Prison!"
His deep voice echoed as a domain blossomed invisibly outward, enveloping the python. In an instant, countless bolts of purple-gold lightning—like a storm of divine rage—rained down, striking the behemoth relentlessly.
Ka-boom! Boom! Boom!
Thunder crackled endlessly. Against this torrent of lightning, the python's venomous breath was snuffed out. Its armored scales burned, splitting as it writhed, sending mental shockwaves at Chen Yi—utterly futile against the thunder's dominion.
After barely a dozen breaths, the once-terrifying snake was nothing but a charred heap, barely breathing.
With practiced ease, Chen Yi stowed his thunder staff; the air stilled. Landing gently, he called to Dugu Yan:
"Yan, come here."
Dugu Yan took a deep breath and strode forward, staring at the dying python. When a pitch-black soul ring slowly floated upwards, she sat cross-legged without hesitation and began her absorption.
From Chen Yi's intervention to Dugu Yan's absorption, it all took but a moment.
Qian Renxue observed in silence, her golden eyes growing grave. Even after reaching the rank of Quasi-Soul Sage, her odds of besting Chen Yi seemed slim. What weighed on her most was his cultivation speed: obtaining a hundred-thousand-year spirit ring not long ago, leaping instantly to level 63, then rising swiftly to level 66 in just over half a year.
If anything, his unique nature had only slowed his early progress—otherwise, he'd be even stronger. She grit her teeth, feeling a fierce surge of rivalry and frustration, mixed with a certain inescapable admiration.
Completely opposite Qian Renxue's complicated emotions, Dugu Bo was ecstatic.
His granddaughter, though not as gifted as Chen Yi, Qian Renxue, or the ultimate ice Shui Bing'er, was still among the top talents of her generation. Finding such a matching soul beast boded well for her future.
"Good, Yan's settled. Next, we'll search for Lingling's spirit beast," Dugu Bo said happily.
The Nine-Heart Begonia Martial Soul always produced wide-area healing skills, making its requirements for the beast's attribute much broader. But for the best results and minimal side effects, spirit beasts of the life or light attribute were most suitable.
Right then, Qian Renxue interjected:
"As it happens, I know the perfect candidate."
All eyes turned to her—after all, as the prime inheritor of the Angel bloodline, she likely had more detail on light- and life-type soul beasts than anyone.
"While I sought my own fifth ring, I once passed a quiet lake in the northwest and spotted, from a distance, a Sacred Feather Spirit Crane. Judging from its aura, it should have just crossed the ten-thousand-year threshold. The perfect age for Miss Ye. But it's extremely wary, and its home is very well hidden. I didn't disturb it at the time since my goal lay elsewhere."
"A Sacred Feather Spirit Crane!?"
Ye Cien gasped; Dugu Bo and the others were just as surprised.
Such a bird, pure in both life and light, was the greatest prize for a healing spirit master—its ring greatly boosted healing powers, granted powerful purification and buffing effects, and was exceedingly rare.
"Alright!" Chen Yi decided.
"Once Yan finishes and recovers, we'll head straight for the Sacred Feather Spirit Crane."