Chapter 86: Explosion Dragon Claw

Yang Xiong only felt his both hands scorching hot, as if all the skin on his hands were about to burst open, his soul power completely out of control, especially the fingertips, where the skin seemed about to be torn apart.

The sensation was very familiar, just like when he first obtained the Xuanming Armor, but this pain was countless times stronger than before, especially the ten fingers linked to his heart.

Yang Xiong hurriedly sat cross‑legged on the ground, exerting all his strength to employ the Yin Yang Meditation Method, and his hands finally began to gradually calm.

When Yang Xiong opened his eyes again, thick scales covered his hands, all the scales silver, and especially the tips of his ten fingers seemed to have grown extremely sharp claws.

Lin Gong expressed surprise: "What luck you have, kid, you actually obtained another External Soul Bone."

"No, this isn't a single External Soul Bone; it's two External Soul Bones. Your pair of claws should be the Dragon Claws of a Silver Horn Tyrannosaur."

Yang Xiong listened and examined carefully for a while; in appearance the claws resembled those of a Silver Horn Tyrannosaur, only considerably smaller—each exposed claw less than ten centimeters long. Rather than a pair of claws, the External Soul Bone looked more like a pair of gauntlets, and all the scales and claws on his hands seemed to form a single whole.

Especially in color, the scales covering his palms were silver; knowing that a Silver Horn Tyrannosaur's whole body is a dark iron hue, with only its horns silver, Yang Xiong vaguely felt this must be linked to his martial soul.

At his side, Lin Gong also became serious at that moment.

"Xiao Xiong, I don't know how you fully absorbed the shell of the Xuanming Turtle last time, but this pair of Silver Horn Tyrannosaur Dragon Claw External Soul Bones you can't fully absorb now, especially considering the bloodline—this Silver Horn Tyrannosaur is already a pinnacle Soul Beast with a very strong draconic lineage, which is why you felt such pain earlier."

"By my estimate, you'll need to reach the Soul Emperor at least before you can fully absorb this pair of Dragon Claw External Soul Bones; until then, you must not expose yourself, not even to your sect."

Yang Xiong nodded: "Thank you, Teacher Lin, but Teacher Lin, the Sect Leader should know I have the Xuanming Turtle External Soul Bone; is there any difference?"

Lin Gong couldn't help shaking his head: "It's completely different. Your Xuanming Turtle's shell only boosts defense, whereas this pair of Dragon Claws can turn an Auxiliary System Soul Grandmaster into a battle Soul Master. Even Ning Fengzhi might not be able to suppress it. Moreover, your claws integrate offense and defense, truly the rarest treasure in the Soul Master World in ten thousand years, even valued above a Hundred‑Thousand‑Year Soul Bone."

Yang Xiong quickly nodded: "Thank you, Teacher Lin, I'll definitely be careful."

Lin Gong couldn't help sighing: "Your god‑defying luck, plus the strength of your unique martial soul, makes me wonder whether being born in the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect is a blessing or a curse."

Yang Xiong gave it a slight try, lightly grabbing a nearby stone; the stone instantly sliced like tofu, and at that moment he felt even more terrified.

Yang Xiong carefully sensed the information of these claws; indeed, as Lin Gong said, they combine offense and defense, and their power is far stronger than imagined.

These Dragon Claws not only grant the hands the Silver Horn Tyrannosaur's formidable defense, especially the claws at the five fingertips, which possess an extremely terrifying metal attribute that ignores enemy defenses.

Of course, this defense‑ignoring is relative; only Soul Grandmasters of the same level can ignore defenses. Against a Soul Grandmaster whose soul power level is far higher, the effect weakens considerably, and after crossing two major realms, it essentially has no effect.

The two Soul Bones of the claws simultaneously grant a skill named Explosion Dragon Claw, which delivers a powerful strike to an opponent, capable of tearing the earth apart, and its power multiplies when both claws are used together.

Even Yang Xiong thought these Dragon Claws were beyond heaven, a supreme combination of attack power and terrifying defense, especially for his own martial soul—it seemed as if they were crafted precisely for his body and martial soul.

Just as Yang Xiong was getting accustomed, a huge roar seemed to echo from the abyss, sounding a bit like a cow's bellow and somewhat like a dragon's chant, yet the sound carried boundless oppressive pressure.

Yang Xiong felt a tingling scalp, and Lin Gong, also startled, quickly pulled Yang Xiong and carried away the Silver Horn Tyrannosaur's corpse, leaving the place.

After the two left, Lin Gong finally spoke with lingering fear: "Xiao Xiong, you don't need to go near that abyss again; there's probably a terrifying Soul Beast inside. I didn't expect the Sunset Forest to hide a Soul Beast of this caliber."

Yang Xiong asked with some doubt: "Teacher Lin, if I recall correctly, the Sunset Forest shouldn't have any top‑tier Soul Beasts."

Lin Gong nodded: "To my knowledge, the oldest Soul Beast in the Sunset Forest is only eighty thousand years old, but from that sound, this Beast is likely at least ninety thousand years old. Moreover, the abyss is mysterious; even a Soul Douluo would face near‑certain death."

Yang Xiong thought carefully: "Teacher Lin, could this Soul Beast possibly be a hundred‑thousand‑year Soul Beast?"

Lin Gong rolled his eyes at Yang Xiong: "What are you thinking, kid? Do you think a hundred‑thousand‑year Soul Beast is a piece of cabbage? Currently, the Douluo Continent knows only two such beasts, both deep in the Star Dou Great Forest, where danger lurks everywhere; even a Title Douluo might not stay safe."

"Each time a lone hundred‑thousand‑year Soul Beast appears, it essentially triggers a massive bloodstorm; remember, a hundred‑thousand‑year Soul Beast always yields a Hundred‑Thousand‑Year Soul Bone, making it a coveted target for all major forces."

Yang Xiong, hearing this, was thoughtful; indeed, normal hundred‑thousand‑year Soul Beasts are extremely rare. Among the top three sects, only Tang Hao alone possesses a Hundred‑Thousand‑Year Soul Ring, and that Soul Ring was provided by his wife (aside from the long‑missing Tang Chen).

That means to hunt a hundred‑thousand‑year Soul Beast, the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect must commit its full strength; even a clan like the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan might not be able to slay one, even if it exists.

Lin Gong bluntly gave Yang Xiong a harsh rebuke: "What are you thinking, kid? No matter how strong your body, you need at least an Eighth or Ninth Soul Ring to absorb a Hundred‑Thousand‑Year Soul Ring. With my strength and physique, even if I were given a Hundred‑Thousand‑Year Soul Ring, I wouldn't dare absorb it."

Yang Xiong replied helplessly: "Shouldn't a Soul Grandmaster have some ambition? Not pursuing the strongest Hundred‑Thousand‑Year Soul Ring and Soul Bone would be like being a salted fish."

Lin Gong, hearing this, blew his beard and glared, looking as if he wanted to beat Yang Xiong up.

However, after thinking carefully, Yang Xiong spoke: "Teacher Lin, I think we should report the discovery of a top‑tier Soul Beast to the sect; perhaps that abyss hides a hundred‑thousand‑year Soul Beast, which would greatly benefit the sect."

Lin Gong gave Yang Xiong a withering look: "I didn't know you had that little thought; you're probably preparing for an Eighth Soul Ring, right? But haven't you forgotten that if you ask the sect to help hunt a top‑tier Soul Beast, the Soul Bone belongs to the sect, and only those who make great contributions receive it themselves."

"Moreover, you're only twelve years old now; you won't consider such matters for another twenty or thirty years. You kid should stop overthinking."

As the two were communicating and preparing to leave the Sunset Forest, a voice suddenly rang out from the sky, pleasant and even a bit shrill.

"Yo, isn't that you, Lin Gong? I didn't expect you to have left the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect; seems you still aren't afraid of death."

The two looked toward the voice and saw a man ahead clad in golden armor, his face like a peach blossom; his skin was unusually snow‑white, his build slender, and heavily made up—if not for his Adam's apple, one would think he was a woman.

Lin Gong, his face burning with anger, said: "Jiu Douluo, I didn't expect it to be you. What are you doing in the Sunset Forest?"

Yang Xiong was also surprised; he didn't expect to encounter Jiu Douluo in the Sunset Forest, especially since even without using soul power, Jiu Douluo exuded a powerful aura—the presence of a top Title Douluo.

At this moment, Yang Xiong showed a hint of terror; the Spirit Hall and the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect have always been at odds, and seeing Lin Gong's demeanor, he feared Lin Gong might have a grudge against Jiu Douluo, and if they truly clashed, his own life would be in danger.

Jiu Douluo covered his mouth and sneered: "Lin Gong, what are you saying? Back then our Spirit Hall sincerely invited you, yet you were so ungracious. Looking at your now aged appearance, had you accepted us back then, you might not look like this now."

Lin Gong let out a cold snort: "I walk the straight path and sit upright; I have no desire to be your Spirit Hall's lackey. Even if your Spirit Hall is powerful, do you dare strike me? I now have the entire Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect behind me."

Jiu Douluo's complexion changed: "You…"

"I never imagined that the unbending Bamboo King Lin Gong of the past would now rely on the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect—truly disgraceful."

Before Lin Gong could speak, a cold voice sounded from afar.

"Juhua Guan, aren't you also leaning on the Spirit Hall's false prestige? If you didn't have the Spirit Hall behind you, you'd already have been slaughtered for your deeds."

Yang Xiong and Lin Gong hurriedly looked toward the voice and saw an old man emerge from the woods, thin as a spear, his whole body covered in ink‑green hair, his face exuding an extremely gloomy aura.

Jiu Douluo ignored Yang Xiong and Lin Gong: "Dugu Bo, you're merely a defeated subordinate; had you not defected to the Heaven Dou Imperial Family, I would have slain you back then with the Spirit Hall."

Dugu Bo sneered: "Aren't you just admitting you're using the Spirit Hall's power to bully others?"

Yang Xiong, watching the two sides, silently lamented; the Spirit Hall has always been the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect's arch‑enemy, and Dugu Bo, having dug out his old lair, would surely bring his own doom if he discovered it.

Jiu Douluo shouted angrily: "Dugu Bo, you're courting death."

As soon as he finished speaking, Jiu Douluo instantly displayed two yellow, two purple, and five black Soul Rings, and a massive strange mushroom‑shaped celestial chrysanthemum appeared in his hand, his whole body seeming saturated with geng metal energy.

Opposite, Dugu Bo was equally unwilling to be outdone; his Soul Rings were also two yellow, two purple, five black, and a gigantic Jade Phosphor Snake Emperor radiated a terrifying green aura, seemingly far stronger than Dugu Yan.

Without a word, Lin Gong grabbed Yang Xiong and fled; both of those men were beyond his reach, and even his sect would not dare to provoke them lightly.

(End of Chapter)