When the development of mechas and battle armor reached its zenith, the fate of soul beasts was sealed. They could no longer withstand the overwhelming technological dominance of humanity. Even the most ancient and powerful of soul beasts—those that had once ruled the Star Dou Forest with unquestioned authority—were forced into hiding or outright extinction. The tides of time showed no mercy.
It was during this period of sweeping change that the upper echelons of the Spirit Pagoda reignited their interest in a long-forgotten underground region hidden deep beneath the Star Dou Forest.
Utilizing the most advanced soul tool scanning equipment available at the time, a series of detailed explorations began. Over the course of months, researchers painstakingly constructed a three-dimensional model of the subterranean terrain. What they discovered was nothing short of awe-inspiring: buried far beneath the surface lay a colossal dragon skeleton. It resembled a rectangular monument—massive in scale, ancient in aura—like a fallen deity entombed within the earth.
But that wasn't all.
With the advent of thermal imaging, another shocking truth emerged. Draped tightly around the dragon bone, like a serpent guarding a forbidden treasure, was a soul beast of unfathomable proportions. A serpent, nearly a kilometer in length, coiled in silence—its body glowing faintly red, as if it were absorbing the residual essence from the ancient dragon's remains.
'That dragon bone… there's something unnatural about it.'
The discovery sent shockwaves through the Spirit Pagoda's leadership. The families and factions that held power behind the scenes immediately took notice. Something of that scale, that power, could not be ignored.
Soon after, six Titled Douluo—including one Four-Word Battle Armor Master—were dispatched to the area. Only after extensive negotiations with the fierce beasts that still held sway over the Star Dou Forest's heartlands were they permitted to begin the excavation. No expense was spared, and what followed was an engineering marvel of the highest order.
The project was codenamed "Piercing the Earth."
It marked one of the greatest undertakings in the history of the Spirit Pagoda. Its scope would ultimately pave the way for deep-earth exploration, underground research facilities, and future access to untapped mineral veins hidden beneath the continent.
Researchers and engineers collaborated to create advanced technologies to serve this endeavor. Among them were the revolutionary Level 8 Earth-Drilling Machine and the Underground Spirit Island Elevator—massive pieces of machinery that redefined the frontier of soul tool engineering. And they didn't stop there. Within two decades, a Level 9 Earth-Drilling Machine capable of penetrating depths up to twenty thousand meters was developed. These innovations changed the face of the continent's underground infrastructure.
The significance of the project was such that the Spirit Pagoda even transferred these technologies to the Sun Moon Federation—without any conditions—fostering political goodwill while solidifying their influence over soul beast research.
Eventually, the excavation reached a depth of two thousand meters.
It was there that the subterranean world unfolded before their eyes.
A hidden expanse, spanning over two thousand square kilometers, was revealed—vast, ancient, and untouched by time. A lost world beneath the world they knew.
The six Titled Douluo advanced cautiously, their guards up, soul power resonating in tandem as they approached the dragon bone. When they came within three hundred meters, they halted.
They had seen it.
The serpent.
A Mandala Snake… but not just any Mandala Snake.
It was unlike anything recorded in the annals of spirit beast history. Over a thousand meters long, its scales glistened gold, and its body pulsed with vitality. Coiled around the dragon bone, it absorbed the mysterious aura emanating from the fossilized remains, its movements steady and rhythmic—almost meditative.
'That's impossible,' one of the Douluo had murmured.
Mandala Snakes were a known species—dangerous, yes, but far from being considered top-tier. In theory, their natural lifespan and cultivation potential capped out at the ten-thousand-year level. But this snake… it was something else entirely.
When the order came from the Spirit Pagoda's inner council—capture it alive—there was hesitation. Such a task sounded suicidal. Mandala Snakes were notorious for their violent territorial behavior. Step into their domain, and they would attack with everything they had. Even if you escaped, they'd pursue you long past their borders before giving up.
But this one was… calm.
So calm it defied logic.
When the staff moved in, the serpent didn't resist. Not even when it was bound and taken into containment. Its eyes, clear and conscious, remained open. It watched, silently, as if waiting. As if knowing.
It unsettled them all.
Initial assessments concluded the creature was on the verge of becoming a one-hundred-thousand-year soul beast. That in itself should have been a biological impossibility.
How could a Mandala Snake reach such a level?
The answer lay in the dragon bone.
Researchers discovered that the dragon skeleton emitted a unique, constant energy field. It didn't just preserve soul power—it transformed it. The aura it released seemed to stimulate evolution, bloodline refinement, and spiritual ascension. The Mandala Snake, having lived coiled around it for countless years, had absorbed this power into every cell of its being.
This wasn't merely a Mandala Snake anymore.
It had become something entirely new.
A Mandala Dragon.
A name not found in any Federation soul beast registry. A creature that had never existed in public records. A secret kept tightly under wraps by the Spirit Pagoda. Only the highest-ranking members knew of its existence.
That dragon bone had since been sealed away, its location guarded with extreme caution. But its influence lived on. With its energy, the Spirit Pagoda had bred numerous dragon-type soul spirits—beasts of extraordinary quality. It was a core reason why their soul spirits were universally recognized as superior.
And that serpent—no, that dragon—was the living proof of it all.
Back in the present, Leng Yaozhu sat before the monitoring display, her gaze unmoving.
On the screen, Gu Yue's silhouette shimmered inside the simulated forest of the Soul Spirit Pagoda's upper level.
The Mandala Dragon loomed in the background, hidden behind trees and illusion, awaiting its moment.
Leng Yaozhu exhaled slowly.
'No matter how deep the truth is buried, no matter how well you hide it... one day, someone will uncover it.'
She folded her arms and leaned forward, her eyes narrowing as the image zoomed in.
'That boy… Can you handle what comes next?'
(End of Chapter)
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