Chapter 45: Unprecedented Perfect Score: The Hundred-Thousand-Year Thorns Dragon Emperor Left Femur Bone

"Perceiving the mist, seeing the truth—the examination is over. The ninth stage grants a perfect score."

The instant Xiao Naer revealed the truth, a cold mechanical voice echoed above the primal forest. The ninth stage ended automatically; the metal drawer slid open, and two figures sat up simultaneously.

"It’s fake, isn’t it?" Xiao Naer puffed out her cheeks. "This exam must’ve been designed to see us fight to the death over a soul bone."

Zhao Xuanzhen smiled without speaking—the truth was exactly as Xiao Naer said. In Shi Laike Academy’s entrance examination, the ninth stage was called the Rejection Stage. If a candidate attacked a teammate to seize a soul bone, no matter how many points they had earned before, they were immediately disqualified.

During the exam, he could’ve copied Tang Wulin’s answers, pretended to politely decline the soul bone with Xiao Naer, or simply let the Three-Eyed Golden Qini go—but Zhao Xuanzhen hated acting, so he summoned Lingrui Water Porpoise to reveal the truth.

The two left the metal room and returned to the examination hall. On the way, Xiao Naer suddenly leapt in front of Zhao Xuanzhen, walking backward, her silver-white pupils fixed unwaveringly on his close, refined face, smiling as she softly called out:

"Zhao Xuanzhen."

"Hmm?"

"I’ve got a question for you."

"Granted."

"Suppose the water porpoise’s answer was that the Three-Eyed Golden Qini’s skull was real—would we have fought over the soul bone and broken up?"

"Hmm… good question. I’ll give you three jin of chicken drumsticks. Can I have the soul bone?"

"You idiot Zhao Xuanzhen, I’m not talking to you anymore!"

Xiao Naer’s eyes rolled back as she nearly fainted from rage; then she whirled around and went into a fury, silently vowing that unless he sweet-talked her with ten jin of chicken drumsticks, she wouldn’t speak to Zhao Xuanzhen for three days… two days!

The two returned to the examination hall, one ahead of the other. Seeing the silver-haired girl still fuming and the black-haired boy calm as ever, Shengling Douluo Yali was baffled—how could they look like they’d just argued, when they’d passed the ninth stage?

Unable to fathom the reason, she gave up and smiled gently. "The tenth examination is the Triad Review, where three academy elders evaluate your scores and assign a comprehensive rating to be added to your total."

The final evaluation should’ve been conducted by Shengling Douluo Yali, Li Lao, the guardian of the first stage, and Yin Yue Douluo Cai Yue’er. But since Cai Yue’er had been sent back to the Sea God Pavilion by Yali, only two senior elders remained to judge.

Yali spoke softly: "Zhao Xuanzhen, Golden-grade Physical Martial Soul, exceptional talent, extraordinary combat prowess, mature mindset.

Xiao Naer, Silver Dragon bloodline, Spatial Attribute Martial Soul—Silver Dragon Spear, outstanding talent, quick-witted, virtuous character.

Based on the Triad Review and our combined judgment, Li Lao and I both agree you deserve ten points. Combined with the ninety points you earned in the first nine stages:

Congratulations—you’ve achieved a perfect score of one hundred.

Welcome to Shi Laike Academy. May you both strive ceaselessly, remember your original intentions, uphold the righteous path, and never waste your gifts."

A perfect hundred—unprecedented in Shi Laike Academy’s history!

"Yes, Shengling Elder," both replied in unison.

"It’s getting late. I’ll take you to Sea God Island to rest."

As agreed, Zhao Xuanzhen and Xiao Naer would not stay in the dormitory building—they would go directly to Sea God Island.

The bright moon hung high, stars scattered across the sky. After completing all ten examinations, night had deepened; a thin mist floated over the stone paths of Shi Laike’s outer academy. Zhao Xuanzhen heard a deliberate cough beside him and turned—just in time to meet Xiao Naer’s sparkling silver eyes.

"Still mad?"

Such a casual opening lacked sincerity. Xiao Naer held firm to her pride. "Still mad. Don’t talk to me."

Zhao Xuanzhen paused, then silently pulled a bag of snacks from his storage soul tool.

"You’re insulting me!"

Xiao Naer vowed to uphold her pride to the end!

Zhao Xuanzhen pulled out another bag: "Here, eat."

"You’re so perceptive, Zhao Xuanzhen is the best!"

"Offering food with a sneer—even a passerby wouldn’t accept it!"

Xiao Naer beamed, snatched the snacks, tore open the packaging, and devoured them eagerly.

Let me explain this to our viewers: Xiao Naer may seem to have surrendered, but clearly, it’s Xiao Zhao who’s bribing the great Xiao Naer with snacks!

Yali walked ahead. As a Supreme Douluo, her senses were sharp—she heard every word the two behind her exchanged, and a knowing smile touched her lips.

Childhood friends, innocent and close, growing up together with playful bickering, always reconciling quickly after fights. Yali adored children; in her youth, she’d dreamed of bearing twin children, boy and girl. But fate betrayed her—she lost the ability to bear children.

Feeling their vibrant life force, Yali suddenly envied Leng Yaoju. Watching the next generation grow was itself a process of gradual inner fulfillment—she might never have that chance again.

The daytime’s ripples faded; beneath the soul tool lights, the Sea God Lake grew serene and mysterious in the night.

Azure waves rippled, moonlight scattered like shattered silver across the ripples. Ancient trees along the shore dipped their branches into the misty vapor; when the wind passed, it carried a crisp, fragrant scent of herbs and trees, sweet and invigorating.

"Sea God Island lies at the center of the lake. Whether you can reach it depends on your own ability."

Shengling Douluo Yali levitated into the air and vanished like a gentle breeze, leaving behind her final trial.

Xiao Naer’s eyes rolled mischievously. With an expression as if sharing a secret, she beckoned Zhao Xuanzhen closer.

"What is it?" Zhao Xuanzhen asked, puzzled.

"...The one who arrives later is an idiot!"

No sooner had she spoken than Xiao Naer grinned slyly, her body dissolving into streaks of light like a meteor. When she reappeared, she hovered ten zhang above the lake’s surface—space cracked open, silver light cascading into the water.

"Childish."

Deep blue light surfaced in Zhao Xuanzhen’s eyes. He leapt upward, activating the Earth Dao technique, the character Kan. The lake water rose as if lifted by an invisible hand, carrying Zhao Xuanzhen toward Sea God Island!

Why was Xiao Naer childish? Because there was an equally childish person to play with her!

Sensing Zhao Xuanzhen rapidly approaching, Xiao Naer increased the frequency of her spatial leaps, each blink sending ripples of silver light. When they reached the halfway point, Zhao Xuanzhen flicked his fingers, slicing the air—a whirlwind surged skyward, sweeping the silver-haired girl beside him.

"You cheated!" Xiao Naer fumed.

"You’re tired from today. I’m saving you some energy."

"Hehe."

Riding the water, Xiao Naer didn’t expend any soul power. She watched Zhao Xuanzhen control the current with open admiration. The night wind blew his ink-black hair backward, revealing the elegant, otherworldly contours of his profile beneath the moonlight.

A burning gaze fell upon him. Zhao Xuanzhen turned—and saw the girl’s skin, like congealed jade, her frost-white face flushed with rose, breathtakingly beautiful.

"She’s… really beautiful..."

They both whispered it silently to themselves.

Neither spoke again. They rode the water to Sea God Island. Yali led them to two small wooden huts, then turned to Zhao Xuanzhen, serious now.

"Xuanzhen, due to old grievances, Yue’er’s relationship with Yaoju deteriorated decades ago. Today’s irrational behavior was her doing—I apologize to you on her behalf."

Yali never once assumed the posture of a Supreme Douluo toward the younger generation. She sincerely apologized to Zhao Xuanzhen.

"I understand, Shengling Elder. No need to apologize."

Cai Yue’er had been stripped of all duties; they would likely never cross paths again. As long as she stayed quiet and caused no trouble, Zhao Xuanzhen had no interest in targeting her.

"For the next five years of your stay, I’ll do my best to ensure your safety. The academy has decided to establish a special class. Your classroom and schedule will be sent to your soul tool communicators tomorrow morning."

"Understood, Shengling Elder."

"One last thing..."

Yali smiled faintly, opening her pale, jade-like palm. Moonlight swirled, and a rift tore open in the air—a bone was teleported in, floating silently in midair.

The bone gleamed pure as frost, shaped like a miniature human femur, seamless and whole, with three sharp spines along its outer edge. Countless silver dots flickered and drifted; the air rippled like water, and silken moonlight curled around the bone.

"The hundred-thousand-year Thorns Dragon Emperor soul bone—it belongs to you."

A gentle soul power pushed the bone toward the two. Yali’s figure slowly faded. "Decide among yourselves how to divide it."

"Hundred-thousand-year Thorns Dragon Emperor left femur bone..."

Zhao Xuanzhen summoned the precious hundred-thousand-year soul bone, admiring its beauty and majesty, refined by a hundred millennia.

Soul beasts had nearly vanished. Soul bones from the era of the Dragon Kings grew ever rarer. Unless one risked hunting in the ocean for hundred-thousand-year sea soul beasts, such bones were nearly impossible to obtain. This Thorns Dragon Emperor left femur bone was likely a relic left behind by a former Shi Laike elder after death.

Spatial attribute, like spiritual attribute, has extremely broad compatibility—especially for geniuses with the potential to reach the Limit Douluo.

It is well known that Limit Douluo possess dual soul cores. Unlike the rare million-to-one soul masters with dual martial souls, a normal soul master first forges the first soul core from the source of their martial soul; the second soul core is then formed by challenging the spatial soul core.

Under normal circumstances, mastering spatial attribute is essential to becoming a Limit Douluo. Absorbing a spatial soul bone aids in comprehending spatial power and ultimately forging the second spatial soul core.

The hundred-thousand-year Thorns Dragon Emperor left femur bone would greatly reduce the burden of forming Zhao Xuanzhen’s/Xiao Naer’s future second soul core—but there was only one soul bone.

"Xiao Naer, you absorb the Thorns Dragon Emperor soul bone." Zhao Xuanzhen made no hesitation; the bone drifted gently to Xiao Naer’s side.

Xiao Naer immediately tossed it back, chin raised proudly. "My spatial attribute is already strong enough—I don’t need the Thorns Dragon Emperor to add to it. You absorb it!"

Frankly speaking, with her dragon bloodline, spatial attribute, and first soul spirit of the same species, the Thorns Dragon Emperor was undoubtedly better suited to Xiao Naer. Zhao Xuanzhen knew it was a clumsy excuse. He spoke softly:

"Xiao Naer, you asked earlier—would we have broken up over a soul bone?

Actions speak louder than words. My answer is—you matter more than any soul bone.

The Thorns Dragon Emperor soul bone is one of your best possible choices. Don’t give it up out of concern for me. We’re only ten. We have plenty of time and opportunity to find higher-quality soul bones later.

My cultivation base is still far from ready to absorb a hundred-thousand-year soul bone. But you’re different. Your Silver Dragon Spear carries Silver Dragon blood. Perhaps the spirit of the Thorns Dragon Emperor hidden within the bone will be willing to merge with you."

Without further argument, Zhao Xuanzhen shoved the soul bone into Xiao Naer’s hands and turned to enter one of the wooden huts.

"Good night."

"Good night!"

Her beautiful eyes curved into a perfect crescent. Xiao Naer hugged the hundred-thousand-year Thorns Dragon Emperor soul bone, her lips curling into a smug smile.

What she cared about wasn’t the soul bone—it was Zhao Xuanzhen’s heart. True actions always outweigh false words.

She flung herself onto the wooden bed, twisting like a shy serpent, her face flushed crimson.

"Zhao Xuanzhen, right now I’m willing to accept from you—and in the future, I’ll gladly give to you...

I’ll give you something even better..."

(End of Chapter)