Mo Chen stood like an unshakeable mountain, firmly shielding Qian Renxue behind him. His eyes, flickering with purple light, were locked onto the smoke. In a split second, he sensed something amiss and pulled Qian Renxue aside without a moment’s hesitation.
At that same instant, an arrow condensed from flowing water streaked toward them, accompanied by a sharp, piercing whistle. Facing this sudden attack, a cold glint flashed in Mo Chen’s eyes. He spun his body violently, flying into the air and kicking the incoming arrow with tremendous force. A loud "bang" echoed out; the impact knocked the arrow off course, yet it did not shatter. Immediately, Mo Chen reached out and accurately grabbed the tail of the arrow.
Almost simultaneously, a purple-black longbow materialized in his other hand, emanating an ancient and mysterious aura. It looked like a peerless divine weapon; its string was drawn tight, as if it could unleash world-destroying power at any moment. Mo Chen swiftly notched the captured arrow onto the bow and channeled his potent Soul Power into it. In an instant, the once transparent, colorless water arrow was cloaked in a layer of roaring purple flames, making it appear like a ferocious fire dragon, its presence terrifying.
With a sharp "swish," the arrow, wreathed in purple fire, shot into the depths of the smoke like a shooting star chasing the moon. A moment later, a muffled groan of pain drifted out from the haze, followed by a torrent of water vapor gushing forth.
As the smoke gradually dissipated, the scene became clear. Danyu stood there, one hand tightly clutching a horrific, jagged wound on his chest, blood seeping steadily between his fingers. He leaned weakly against a large tree, his face as pale as paper, his expression filled with boundless agony.
"You won... but... in the end, you still lost to your own instincts," Danyu said with great difficulty, forcing himself to speak through the searing pain. With every word, a trickle of crimson blood dripped from the corner of his mouth, blooming into shocking flowers of blood on the ground.
Mo Chen let out a cold snort. The shimmering longbow in his hand vanished like dust blown away by the wind, dissolving into specks of starlight. Mo Chen now radiated a bone-chilling aura, as if a demon god from the deepest hell had descended upon the world. His eyes, once deep like pools of water, were now filled with endless cruelty and bloodlust, striking terror into the hearts of all who looked upon him. His presence was sharp, like a drawn blade piercing the soul. From afar, he looked like a god of slaughter who had walked out of a sea of corpses, carrying a world-shattering pressure.
On the other side, despite Danyu being severely wounded—so badly that even standing was a struggle—a faint, lingering smile remained at the corner of his mouth.
"Dragon-type Martial Souls all possess some level of defect," Danyu said slowly. "My Water Dragon, the partial dragonification of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon, and your Torch Dragon’s madness and bloodlust." He raised a hand to point at the pair of slightly protruding dragon horns on his forehead to show Mo Chen.
While dragonification increases a user’s strength, it also causes severe deviations. Danyu, having grown dragon horns on his head, possessed great mental strength, but as a result, his physical defense had become very weak.
Qian Renxue, standing to the side, naturally noticed the change in Mo Chen and felt a surge of worry. She reached out and took hold of his fist, which was clenched in a frenzy. The moment their hands touched, Mo Chen’s body shuddered as if struck by an electric current, instantly turning rigid. The cruel aura surrounding him vanished, and the purple light in his eyes slowly faded.
Just as Danyu had said, every time Mo Chen activated his Martial Soul, that peerless power surged like a tide, inevitably affecting his reason to some degree. This influence was subtle, yet like a viper hidden in the shadows, waiting for a chance to deliver a fatal blow. Once Mo Chen’s mind was swayed by the powerful soul, he would change completely. His usual gentle, humble nature would disappear, replaced by endless mania and bloodlust—a madness that seemed capable of burning everything to ash, chilling the blood.
On the battlefield, Mo Chen could vent this mania through the blood of his enemies. But here in a place of peace, with nowhere to release his inner restlessness, the only way for him to regain his sanity was through combat. After a short, intense exchange, the waves in Mo Chen’s heart finally settled. Danyu, who had been on the verge of death, began to recover as he was given a moment to breathe. Fortunately, Mo Chen had pulled back at the critical moment, or else, in his near-berserk state, Danyu would have surely perished.
Seeing Danyu begin to recover, Mo Chen looked guilty. He lowered his head slightly and said softly, "I apologize. My Martial Soul truly has some issues that are difficult to control. Causing you such severe harm is entirely my fault. Please, believe me—I will do everything in my power to make up for my mistake."
Mo Chen reached out with his right hand and brushed against the Spirit Tool hanging at his waist. A faint light shot out, and a glowing spinal bone appeared in his palm.
"This is a Soul Bone from an 80,000-year-old Flame Dragon Lizard. I hope you will accept it as a small compensation. With this, your defense should increase significantly." He held the bone out to Danyu with a sincere expression.
Danyu looked at Mo Chen’s sincerity and finally sighed. After ensuring his wounds were fully healed, he spoke in a detached tone: "I will not take the Soul Bone, but your condition is actually the easiest to resolve among all dragon-type Martial Soul defects."
At these words, Mo Chen, who had been looking down, snapped his head up. He stared at Danyu, eyes wide with shock, his mouth slightly agape as he tremblingly asked, "What? A Martial Soul defect... can actually be solved?"
Nearby, Qian Renxue, hearing this, was overcome with anxiety. She didn't hesitate, rushing over in small steps. When she reached them, her beautiful, bright eyes were fixed on Danyu with immense sincerity and urgency. "Can it really be solved? Can a Martial Soul's defect truly be remedied?"
Danyu nodded slightly to confirm. "Have you heard of the Withered Flower and the Capricorn Grass?"
Qian Renxue paused, searching her memory for these herbs. A moment later, she nodded as if awakening from a dream, though her face still held a trace of confusion. "I have heard of them, but... aren't they said to be incredibly rare and deadly poisons?" She had once heard of these herbs from a man known as Chrysanthemum Douluo, who was close to that woman. According to him, the toxicity of Capricorn Grass and Withered Flower was in no way inferior to the Blood-Colored Swan Kiss.
Danyu addressed her skepticism: "It is true that both herbs are highly toxic, but they possess a marvelous, little-known effect. With proper processing and refining, they can greatly enhance the upper limit of a person’s mental capacity. While absorbing a skull-based Soul Bone can increase one’s mental strength, these herbs produce a much more significant effect. In fact, only these two herbs can raise one’s mental limit."
Danyu paused, scanning Mo Chen and Qian Renxue to gauge their reactions. Mo Chen, being a warrior, hadn't understood a word; the art of medicine and healing was a mystery to him, so he just nodded vaguely. In stark contrast, Qian Renxue’s face lit up, her beautiful eyes shining with excitement. If a human were a container, the mental energy one could hold was limited. But if they could find these two, the Withered Flower and the Capricorn Grass, they could raise that ceiling! Such an amazing benefit was enough for even Chrysanthemum Douluo to label them "Immortal Grade."
Danyu continued, "However, the Withered Flower and Capricorn Grass are only part of it. To truly unlock their full medicinal efficacy, one more crucial thing is needed." He paused, thinking for a moment before deciding to go on. "A person's heart-blood, and it must be refined using an exotic fire." He turned his gaze to Mo Chen. "If I am not mistaken, the black-purple fire released by your Martial Soul is the legendary exotic fire, isn't it? Unfortunately, you cannot use your own..."
Danyu’s words struck Mo Chen like a heavy hammer. He had been so excited about the prospect of fixing his Martial Soul, but now he withered like a frost-bitten eggplant. After all, losing a single drop of heart-blood would drastically lower a person's cultivation talent and future potential. If he couldn't use his own, his long-awaited solution was once again beyond his reach.
"Put the matter of the heart-blood aside for now. You can find the Withered Flower in Divine Eagle Valley. Since you defeated me, I will honor the rules I set and lead you there," Danyu said with a blank face, his tone as flat as water. As a guide, everyone set their own unique rules based on their personality and experience. Some sought wealth, others status or beauty, but Danyu sought exhilarating battles.
"To be able to fight me like that, and being a Spirit Master with such healing capabilities—honestly, I admire you," Mo Chen said, his gaze intense as he locked eyes with Danyu. "If you are interested, would you consider following me to the military camp?"
Danyu was taken aback, clearly not expecting such a direct offer. After a brief silence, he regained his composure and replied, "If you can make it out of Divine Eagle Valley unscathed, then perhaps I will consider following you." It was an ambiguous answer—neither a firm acceptance nor a clear refusal.
Upon arriving in the Star Luo Empire, Danyu led them into a dense, fog-filled formation. Every step was cautious, for fear of losing their way. After a difficult trek, they finally crossed the treacherous swamp. Just then, Mo Chen and Qian Renxue felt a wave of dizziness, as if the world were spinning. When their vision cleared, they found themselves inside a mysterious and magnificent valley.
"This is Divine Eagle Valley," Danyu said softly, stepping aside so they could see the view clearly. A valley loomed before them, its mountains incredibly steep, the cliffs like blades cut from the earth, looking quite intimidating. Above the valley hung an endless, snow-white sea of clouds, dreamlike and breathtaking.
"Actually, this Divine Eagle Valley is quite similar to the Star Dou Forest; it is also divided into an outer area and a core area," Danyu said after a moment of contemplation, deciding to reveal some secrets. "I don't know how you learned of this place, but I must warn you: a Soul Beast of at least 600,000 years of cultivation dwells here."
Danyu's expression turned grave. "If you are looking for the Withered Flower, you will inevitably encounter this overlord-class Soul Beast." Though he looked serious, his tone showed surprisingly little fear.
Mo Chen stared at Danyu in astonishment, asking with a hint of doubt, "You aren't afraid? That is an overlord-class beast with at least 600,000 years of cultivation. Even I cannot say with certainty that I could survive facing such a powerful existence." He watched Danyu with a peculiar look.
Danyu shook his head and replied with a wry smile, "No, to be honest, I am quite afraid. With my current strength, if I happen to run into it, I’ll likely die." Yet, just as they thought he might back down, he added, "But as a guide, these are the rules we must follow. As long as you are alive, a guide will never abandon their employer."
Danyu’s firm words stirred a surge of heroism in Mo Chen, who threw back his head and laughed heartily. "Hahaha! Good! You are becoming more and more interesting. Honestly, if we can get the Withered Flower and make it out alive, I’m taking you with me—even if I have to break your legs to do it!" He patted Danyu’s shoulder heavily.
Danyu, hearing this unreasonable and boorish statement, was rendered speechless. He shot Mo Chen an annoyed look, muttering to himself, *Why is this guy so unreasonable?*
Qian Renxue, who had been silent, finally spoke up, her brows furrowed in worry. "Don't get too excited yet. Just thinking about that Soul Beast is chilling. Even the Forest Emperor, the Azure Bull Python in the Star Dou Forest, only has a cultivation of nearly 200,000 years." The sudden appearance of a 600,000-year-old beast left her deeply concerned.
As the three were talking, a massive shadow moved like a dark cloud, covering the sunlight in an instant. Mo Chen and Qian Renxue looked up simultaneously. Their eyes widened as they saw a gargantuan eagle, its wingspan exceeding a thousand meters, soaring through the high altitude! Each powerful flap of its wings created a howling gale, as if it were tearing the very space apart.
"It’s a Frost-Hunting Eagle!" Danyu’s gaze was locked on the giant bird above.
"Truly powerful indeed..." Mo Chen watched it, sensing the terrifying aura radiating from the beast. He estimated, "Based on its appearance, this Frost-Hunting Eagle's cultivation is likely over 80,000 years." Qian Renxue nodded, her expression equally heavy.
Danyu turned to Qian Renxue. "If I am not mistaken, you have come here to obtain your seventh Soul Ring, haven't you?"
Mo Chen nodded and detailed the attributes Qian Renxue required. Danyu stroked his chin in thought for a moment before saying, "So, Sacred and Light attributes... such Soul Beasts are rare outside. But this is Divine Eagle Valley; beasts with those attributes are everywhere." He pointed toward a golden snake in the distance. "A Sacred Armor Spirit Snake—Sacred, Light, and Fire triple attributes. But it only has 9,000 years of cultivation. In Divine Eagle Valley, it’s nothing more than a snack."