Chu Chengzhou didn't choose randomly—the Vajra Exploding Ape was an ape-type spirit beast, and ape-type spirit beasts were active and liked to cause trouble. In the past, it must have bullied other spirit beasts in the forest quite often or been taught lessons by formidable opponents, making it more suitable to become a guide than the previous White Armor Earth Dragon.
Perhaps in this Vajra Exploding Ape's eyes, a "big brother" who would back it up had arrived. It soon led Chu Chengzhou to find some extremely formidable opponents.
These were two Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bears with cultivation years of over eighty thousand and over seventy thousand respectively—most likely a male and female pair.
Chu Chengzhou: "..."
They were good bears, but unfortunately, he already had a Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear spirit summon.
In the blink of an eye, another two hours passed. After the two Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bears, this Vajra Exploding Ape guide led Chu Chengzhou to several more formidable spirit beasts.
A mental-type spirit beast: an eighty-thousand-year Three-Eyed Demon Fox; a wind-attribute strong assault-type dragon race spirit beast: a ninety-thousand-year Storm Holy Dragon; an agile assault-type spirit beast: a ninety-thousand-year Nether Shadow Panther; a plant-type evil spirit beast: a Bloodthirsty Demon Vine with cultivation years nearing one hundred thousand...
It must be said, in terms of guiding, this Vajra Exploding Ape was much more qualified than the previous White Armor Earth Dragon. It found spirit beasts that it itself couldn't defeat or was helpless against—all qualified beast talents!
Additionally, Chu Chengzhou had to admit that if we only discussed the number of Titled Douluo-level combat power—not considering quality—even just the Star Dou Forest alone would be sufficient to annihilate the entire mainland soul master world.
One must understand that many Titled Douluos on the continent couldn't even defeat ninety-thousand-year spirit beasts! And for those with stronger bloodlines, with just seventy or eighty thousand years of cultivation, their strength could rival ordinary newly ninth-rank Titled Douluos.
If not for heavenly tribulations targeting spirit beasts of one hundred thousand years and above, the entire Douluo Star would belong to the spirit beasts.
'Keep looking. If nothing better appears, that Storm Holy Dragon isn't too bad either.'
On Xiao Yin's broad back, Chu Chengzhou thought to himself.
"Roar—"
At this moment, the Vajra Exploding Ape in the forest below lightly roared toward Chu Chengzhou.
"Oh? We'll arrive soon?"
Hearing the sound, Chu Chengzhou raised his eyebrows and immediately spread out his spiritual power to carefully sense the surroundings.
Two minutes later, looking toward a distant cliff, a smile couldn't help but appear on Chu Chengzhou's face.
"Not bad, little monkey. Go back to embrace your two mates and continue sleeping!"
Chu Chengzhou released his control over the Vajra Exploding Ape, waved his hand, and without caring whether this ape would feel grateful to him for sparing its life, directly had Xiao Yin carry him toward the distant cliff.
Vajra Exploding Ape: I thank your grandfather!
Near the top of the cliff, at its nest, a dragon race spirit beast appeared before Chu Chengzhou's eyes. Its entire body radiated a faint golden light, covered in pure white scales that faintly revealed a sacred aura. Except for the different color and slightly smaller size, its general appearance was almost identical to his Space Holy Dragon spirit summon Xiao Yin.
'A Light Holy Dragon with cultivation years nearing one hundred thousand—perfect!'
Chu Chengzhou thought contentedly to himself.
As for the ninety-thousand-year Storm Holy Dragon encountered earlier? Just a backup option. With this nearly one hundred thousand-year Light Holy Dragon available, was there even a need to choose?
One must understand that the Light Holy Dragon was one of the light-attribute giant dragon spirit beasts with bloodlines closest to the pinnacle. Its bloodline source was the Light Dragon King among the Nine Dragon Kings.
If not for countless generations of inheritance causing gradual bloodline degradation, the Light Holy Dragon's bloodline tier would definitely be at the "God-class" level.
This was because the Light Dragon King, as the leader of the Nine Dragon Kings, possessed strength at the God King level.
Just as there were gaps between humans, there were also gaps between dragons. Under the same cultivation years, a Storm Holy Dragon couldn't match a Light Holy Dragon.
Surging spiritual power emerged. The Void Illusion Realm activated. The Light Holy Dragon, which had just woken from slumber upon sensing an uninvited guest, had its consciousness controlled.
———
"Sacrifice?"
Subsequently, Chu Chengzhou issued the command to the Light Holy Dragon.
Although only spirit beasts with cultivation years reaching one hundred thousand and above were guaranteed to possess the ability to sacrifice, this didn't mean spirit beasts below one hundred thousand years absolutely couldn't sacrifice. Some special spirit beasts, like the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger and others—even if their cultivation years didn't reach one hundred thousand—could still perform sacrifices.
It was just unknown whether this Light Holy Dragon, with bloodline source from the Light Dragon King and cultivation years nearing one hundred thousand, could sacrifice?
After all, compared to hunting spirit beasts and then refining soul rings, when spirit beasts voluntarily sacrificed themselves, not only was much time saved that would otherwise be spent refining soul ring energy, but the drop rate for soul bones would also be higher.
There were even rumors that if a spirit beast willingly sacrificed itself to a soul master, regardless of whether its cultivation years reached one hundred thousand, it would definitely drop one soul bone.
The next second, a trace of piety flashed in the Light Holy Dragon's large golden dragon eyes. Its entire body radiated golden light. As surging soul power surged, a dazzling black light suddenly spread from the center of its dragon head's forehead, instantly transforming into a black halo that expanded outward.
"Not bad, a good dragon!"
Seeing the slightly different but very familiar sacrifice light appear, Chu Chengzhou nodded in satisfaction.
Perhaps due to the Goddess of Luck's favor, this nearly one hundred thousand-year Light Holy Dragon had mastered the ability to sacrifice earlier than ordinary spirit beasts.
Soon, black flames ignited on the Light Holy Dragon's body, rapidly spreading over its entire form.
But at this moment, an unexpected situation occurred.
Abruptly, the Light Holy Dragon that was igniting its sacrifice flames seemed to have connected its Governing and Conception vessels. Its aura suddenly surged by a large margin. The black flames burning around its body flared up intensely and transformed into bright red blood-colored flames.
"Holy crap, it broke through?"
Seeing this, Chu Chengzhou's eyes widened in disbelief.
Where was this the Goddess of Luck's favor? This was clearly the Goddess of Luck lifting her skirt!
Chu Chengzhou had absolutely not expected that this Light Holy Dragon would break through.
Could this be the legendary "great terror and great opportunity between life and death"?
After the initial shock, Chu Chengzhou was overjoyed. This Light Holy Dragon's cultivation years had advanced to one hundred thousand just before death—setting aside other matters, at least one one hundred thousand-year soul bone was guaranteed.
As for breaking free from control?
Impossible. Once sacrifice began, unless stopped by power beyond mortal imagination, it couldn't be interrupted.
Moreover, even as a one hundred thousand-year Light Holy Dragon, it still couldn't break free from the control of the Void Illusion Realm. Only a monstrous-level Light Holy Dragon with cultivation years reaching three or four hundred thousand might have that capability.
Light Holy Dragon: Good news, I've become a one hundred thousand-year beast king! Bad news, this one hundred thousand-year beast king is currently sacrificing itself.
Blood-colored flames burned fiercely, growing stronger and stronger, gradually changing from red to dark red. Meanwhile, the Light Holy Dragon's body gradually faded during this transformation process, becoming like increasingly transparent red crystal.
The sacrifice process wasn't particularly long. Soon, all the red color expanded into a huge red ring that slowly contracted, gradually merging around both its body and Chu Chengzhou's body.
After a long time, when the light on the Light Holy Dragon's body completely faded, the surging blood-flame ring suddenly contracted, transforming into a bright red soul ring that appeared in the ninth soul ring position outside the existing eight soul rings (black, black, black, red, black, red, red, red) of Chu Chengzhou's True Spirit Flag martial soul that had materialized behind him.
In an instant, a series of low, muffled explosive sounds erupted from Chu Chengzhou's body. His aura surged dramatically, breaking through the limitation of Level 90 and officially advancing to Titled Douluo.
At the same time, a concentrated white light carrying sacred meaning suddenly shone upon him. Scales and armor light flashed and disappeared.
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