The three of them followed the tracks of the Armor-Splitting Rhinoceros, gradually venturing deeper. Along the way, the surroundings grew increasingly secluded, and without realizing it, they stepped into the very heart of the valley.
Danyu suddenly halted, crouching to examine the tracks closely. He stood up quickly, his eyes fixed intently ahead, and turned to Mo Chen and Qian Renxue, who were close behind. "Look, these tracks are becoming much fresher. I estimate we are very close to our target; it should be somewhere nearby." With that, he accelerated and rushed ahead.
Mo Chen looked down at the footprints on the ground, lost in thought. It was true, as Danyu had said, that the tracks were clearly left not long ago. However, what puzzled him was the presence of a set of much smaller prints alongside the larger ones. Just as he was pondering this, Qian Renxue gently tapped his shoulder, signaling him to keep up with Danyu. The two did not dare to delay and quickly gave chase.
The further they went, the more frequently Soul Beasts appeared. These beasts were not only diverse in species, but the auras they radiated also indicated their growing strength; it was clear that the age of the Soul Beasts here was far greater than those in the outer regions.
"In a place like this, if a Soul Beast wants to survive, it must rely on the strength of its pack. Solitary beasts, no matter how high their age, can only wander the outer fringes of the valley; they could never tread in the core area," Danyu explained without looking back as he walked.
Before he could finish his sentence, they rounded a bend, and the view suddenly opened up. A crystal-clear river lay before them, and by the bank, a colossal, golden-bodied rhinoceros lay resting. The beast stood about ten zhang high, looming like a small mountain and exerting a heavy sense of oppression.
"That's right, it's the Armor-Splitting Rhinoceros!" Danyu pointed at the massive creature.
Mo Chen frowned slightly, shifting his gaze to Danyu. Throughout their journey, he had witnessed Danyu evolve from a reticent man into someone so lively and talkative. The Danyu before him now seemed like a completely different person. However, their primary task was not to probe Danyu’s transformation, but to deal with the rhinoceros, which was glowing with a dazzling golden light.
Leaning against a rock wall at the side of the valley, Danyu said softly, "This Armor-Splitting Rhinoceros is about 72,000 years old. It is very suitable for this young lady."
Hearing this, Qian Renxue revealed a look of surprise. She turned to stare at Danyu and asked skeptically, "You don't even know what my Martial Soul is, so how can you be so certain this Soul Beast is right for me?"
At Qian Renxue’s question, Mo Chen also snapped back to reality. It was true; despite their time together, he had never once asked what kind of Martial Soul she possessed. Just as Mo Chen was about to ask, Danyu interrupted, explaining, "A Martial Soul as rare as the Seraphim, even if not known to everyone, has certainly been heard of by many."
The moment Danyu accurately identified her Martial Soul, Qian Renxue’s beautiful brows knit tightly together. In all these days, she had never displayed her Martial Soul in front of Danyu, and even Mo Chen had not seen it.
"Who exactly are you? How do you know so many secrets about me?" Qian Renxue’s voice was low and filled with interrogation. She stared at Danyu, trying to find a clue in his calm expression.
Yet, Danyu seemed to have reverted to the silent man he was at the start. He looked up, his gaze passing over Qian Renxue and drifting into the distance. "Sixteen years ago, I had the honor of seeing you once. You were a young child then, but I remembered you. Because your grandfather is the renowned Qian Daoliu, one of the two pillars of the Spirit Master world, and you are his only granddaughter, Qian Renxue."
Before he could finish, a dazzling golden light flashed in Qian Renxue's hand. A radiant long sword appeared, its tip pointing directly at Danyu. The blade shimmered with a chilling light under the sun, appearing ready to strike at any moment.
Facing the threat, Danyu’s eyes remained like a calm lake, undisturbed. He continued faintly, "I don't have much interest in your background or origins. But I must say, your grandfather, Qian Daoliu, saved my life sixteen years ago. That debt of gratitude is something I have always kept in my heart."
Hearing this, the sword in Qian Renxue’s hand wavered slightly, though she did not lower it.
"However..." Mo Chen interjected, drawing Qian Renxue’s attention. "Since we met, your changes have been too drastic. Compared to when I first saw you, you are like two different people. If you weren't always by my side, I would almost suspect you had been replaced. So, could you tell us what exactly happened?"
Mo Chen pulled out a long spear from somewhere and began to polish it carefully. Danyu remained silent for a long time, as if time had frozen. Finally, he let out a long sigh that echoed through the air like a heavy bell.
He spoke, his voice low and heavy: "Miss Qian Renxue, do you remember the evil Spirit Master stronghold your grandfather cleared out sixteen years ago?"
Qian Renxue froze, a flash of confusion crossing her eyes before she regained her composure. She nodded woodenly and replied softly, "Yes, I remember. My grandfather was taking me to acquire my third Soul Ring."
Danyu nodded, acknowledging her words. He took a deep breath and began to recount the long-buried past. "In truth, I was one of those evil Spirit Masters' experimental subjects. Because Dragon-type Martial Souls are extremely rare, they attempted to artificially create someone with dual Martial Souls through various means."
A look of pain and resentment crossed Danyu’s face. "My younger sister and I were unfortunately chosen as the subjects for their experiment." His voice trembled slightly; even after all these years, the memories still filled him with lingering fear.
Mo Chen, who had been listening quietly, grew solemn. His once-relaxed hands clenched into fists, his knuckles turning white from the force. Clearly, the inhumanity of the evil Spirit Masters had ignited a fierce anger within him.
"But..." Danyu paused, struggling to continue. "In the end, my sister couldn't survive the torture and left this world forever. Unexpectedly, her Martial Soul fused with mine. Perhaps because my sister’s age remained frozen at six, a portion of her consciousness was sealed within the Martial Soul during the fusion. That is why I am sometimes cheerful, and other times suddenly become silent."
As he finished, Danyu seemed to have exhausted all his strength, his body swaying slightly. With his words, the tremor in Qian Renxue’s pupils finally faded to calm.
Mo Chen stood still, his gaze fixed on the distant rhinoceros. He didn't speak, but instead gave Danyu’s shoulder a gentle pat. He then turned and walked straight toward the massive beast.
The rhinoceros, drinking by the river, sensed someone approaching. It abruptly stopped, turning to face him, its golden pupils locked firmly onto the encroaching Mo Chen. Its three-meter-long horn shimmered with a chilling light, and its golden, metallic skin served as an impenetrable shield.
"Armor-Splitting Rhinoceroses usually live in groups. We must end this quickly!" Mo Chen said solemnly.
Without another word, he spun and kicked the shaft of his spear. The weapon shot forward like a bullet, carrying incredible momentum. The rhinoceros, unfazed, raised its massive front hooves and slammed them into the ground with a deafening thud. The earth shook violently, throwing up a cloud of dust that nearly knocked Qian Renxue off her feet.
Mo Chen lunged forward, eight gray Soul Rings rising around him, each pulsing with formidable power. "Fourth Spirit Skill: Torch Dragon’s Voice—Deterrence!" A silent but terrifying dragon’s roar rippled outward. The rhinoceros, unstoppable until that moment, was forced to a standstill.
"Fifth Spirit Skill: Torch Dragon’s Rage—Flame Storm!" Mo Chen shouted, clapping his hands together. The temperature around the lake spiked instantly. Two columns of fire, fueled by black-purple flames and possessing a violent, tearing force, engulfed the beast.
However, the rhinoceros’s hide was far tougher than Mo Chen had anticipated. Even a flame storm capable of killing a Spirit Emperor only left superficial burns. Annoyed by the relentless assault, the beast let out a deafening roar. A golden energy gathered on its massive horn, condensing into a piercing beam of light that shot toward Mo Chen.
Mo Chen didn't hesitate. "Third Spirit Skill: Torch Dragon’s Body—Hardened Scales!" Dense black dragon scales erupted from his skin, covering him in an impenetrable suit of armor. The golden beam struck him, its sacred, dissolving energy piercing like thousands of needles. Though uncomfortable, the surge of his own powerful Soul Power after blocking the hit made him exhale in relief.
"Self-created Spirit Skill: Torch Dragon’s Sorrow—Dragon God’s Claw!" Mo Chen’s hands withered rapidly, muscle and skin receding until only white, eerie bone remained. Then, black dragon scales covered the bone, forming a pair of terrifying, majestic claws.
He appeared beside the rhinoceros in an instant. With the ignore-defense property of the Dragon God’s Claw, he swiped. The beast’s tough hide tore like paper, blood spraying everywhere. The creature let out a wail of agony, glaring at Mo Chen before lowering its head to charge with the force of a landslide.
Mo Chen didn't panic. He caught the incoming horn with his right hand. A scorching, extreme heat gathered in his palm, his arm muscles bulging as he channeled all his power.
"Torch Dragon Right Arm Bone Skill: Scorching Heaven Grip!" As Mo Chen roared, the heat exploded into a massive vortex of flame, engulfing the entire body of the rhinoceros. The beast's cries of agony echoed across the vast land, consumed by the roaring inferno.