Chapter 996: Soaring to Great Success

"Really?"

Asina was overjoyed, then immediately grew doubtful.

The Soul Contract's shared Element cannot be changed; that's common sense. How could Lei En guarantee a swap? she wondered, "Lei En, you aren't doing this just to make me happy, are you?"

Ao Xiliya's eyes also fixed on Lei En, her heart a little nervous, fearing Lei En was joking.

"When have I ever deceived you?" Lei En spread his hands, replying confidently, "I said it can be swapped, so it will definitely be swapped."

Asina cheered, "Great!"

Ao Xiliya also smiled.

"But…" Lei En's expression turned serious, "Replacing your shared Element has been on my mind for a long time; it also affects your advancement to Saint Rank, so you must obey me. I will allocate the Elements; none of you may seize them."

As he spoke, his voice was filled with an undeniable tone.

The giant and the giant dragon locked eyes, sparking invisible flames.

"Fine." Asina was the first to respond, "Lei En, I'll follow your word."

"Me too," Ao Xiliya said softly.

Lei En nodded with satisfaction, finally having the two women under control. If he hadn't clarified beforehand, once they saw their Elements in the Soul Contract they'd go berserk over grabbing them. Neither order works well; the one chosen later always feels shortchanged.

The Soul Contract can share five Elements; he has no intention of changing that.

They can no longer boost their own power.

The Soul Contract cannot be dissolved; if Asina and Ao Xiliya fall too far behind, they will become his weak points.

Though not fatal, they remain two flaws.

If an enemy discovers they are his Soul Companions and attacks them, or if they suffer an accident, his own soul would take a severe blow. Therefore, he must raise Asina and Ao Xiliya's power, advance them to Saint Rank early, and gain enough self‑protection to cover the flaws.

As for how to swap the shared Elements, the method is simple.

Wish Spell!

The new Elements they receive will inevitably be legendary Elements, just as many extraordinary professions must advance an Element to legendary when ascending to Saint Rank, thereby triggering a Soul Metamorphosis.

They obtain multiple legendary Elements from the Soul Contract, with a high chance of causing Soul Transformation.

Asina and Ao Xiliya have no Blood Soul Curse, their talents far surpass humans, placing them among the world's elite; even without advancement they're close, and a few years of effort will let them break through.

Ao Xiliya can also use Dragon Blood Soul Metamorphosis Technique, an extra safeguard.

"Lei En, what method are you actually using to swap the Elements?" Asina was impatient, "Tell me quickly."

Ao Xiliya, sharp as ice, asked, "Is it the Wish Spell?"

"Don't rush, keep laying the rune array," Lei En teased, smiling, "First promote Bo Erqi to Ancient Dragon, confirm the Dragon Blood Soul Metamorphosis Technique can be used, then I'll swap the Elements for you; you'll see then."

"Fine…" Asina could only wait patiently.

The waiting lasted three days.

"Done!"

Lei En looked at the massive rune array before him; with Ao Xiliya's help it was completed a day earlier than expected.

The circular array, three hundred meters in diameter, bore countless trajectory lines on the ground, massive dragon‑language runes set everywhere; every detail was meticulously designed, with limitless alchemical materials, various magical alloys and gems, totaling over ten million Gold Shields!

The rune array can be reused; with proper maintenance it can last hundreds, even thousands, of years.

After half a day of tweaking, the rune array was ready for use.

But one final material was still missing, the most crucial one: dragon blood!

Lei En was ready.

Ao Xiliya admired the finished rune array, her gaze intensely focused, as if viewing a rare masterpiece of the world.

Her eyes fell on the center of the array, Lei En's sector; after a glance she recognized it and exclaimed, "Lei En, does this portion of the runes serve as a Constant Spell?"

"Yes."

Lei En explained, "I deliberately added this function; the rune array can also be used for constant spells and anomalous Elements. I can't share Elements with Bo Erqi, but I can constant‑lock an Element for him, boosting his power and raising the success rate of Soul Transformation."

"I see now," Ao Xiliya understood immediately.

Asina hummed, "All this preparation and costly materials for a single dragon—Lei En, do you think it's worth it?"

She didn't mention Bo Erqi's name; it could also be taken as referring to Ao Xiliya.

The Iridescent Dragon turned its head, its gaze cold.

"Quiet!"

Seeing trouble, Lei En quickly quelled the dispute, assuming the head‑of‑house stance, "I don't want to hear you argue. From now until we leave Dragon Valley, you may not speak; any matters, communicate with me telepathically."

The giant and the giant dragon each glared at the other, then turned away and sat down with their backs to each other.

A rune array separated them.

Lei En stood on the array, waiting patiently.

Until the next day, he looked up toward the canyon's horizon; a massive golden figure swooped in from afar at great speed, reaching close within seconds—it was Bo Erqi.

The golden three‑headed dragon's body had grown even larger, over sixty meters long, its scales shining brighter as if truly forged of gold. In flight, its broad wings whipped up gale force winds, shaking the forest below, and the three dragon heads resembled locomotive fronts, exuding overwhelming draconic might.

Whoosh—whoosh—whoosh…

The dragon descended amid the gale, transforming into human form.

"Boss!" Bo Erqi shouted excitedly, "I've already reached Legendary Peak in just seven days, hehe…"

That was three days faster than Lei En's scheduled time.

"Not bad." Lei En observed the dragon with his Soul Eye; this time Bo Erqi hadn't slacked, having absorbed all the Soul Diamonds he gave, his dragon soul at peak, reaching the seventh Soul Transformation bottleneck, just one step from Saint Rank.

Bo Erqi looked at the rune array, asking curiously, "Is this prepared for my ascension to Ancient Dragon?"

His magical knowledge was scant, but he was keenly attuned to alchemical materials, gems, and anything valuable, instantly calculating the array's cost and feeling a sharp pang of regret.

"It's all money…"

If he could choose, he'd rather receive ten million Gold Shields than become an Ancient Dragon, but as soon as the words left his mouth, his head felt pricked by a needle, emitting a painful cry; the pain lasted half a second then vanished, leaving lingering dread.

This is the punishment from the master of the Soul Oath.

Lei En glanced at him and said, "You'd better shed this greedy nature; strength is fundamental. Don't let money cloud your eyes and mind."

"I'll remember, boss," Boorqi replied with a mournful face.

He said that outwardly, but thought otherwise; Lei En saw his thoughts clearly, yet did not press further— a dragon's nature isn't so easily changed.

"Step up, we're about to begin."

"Alright!"

Boorqi revealed his true dragon form and entered the rune array. Though massive, his size was still smaller than the array's three‑hundred‑meter diameter, easily fitting inside.

Following Lei En's guidance, the Golden Three‑Headed Dragon stood at the array's center, four claws planted on the ground.

Six dragon eyes stared unblinkingly at Lei En.

Axi Na and Aoxiliya moved closer, each taking a side of the rune array, ready to watch Boorqi's ascent to an ancient dragon.

Dozens of metal round barrels appeared beside Lei En, each about half a person's height and half a meter wide, fully sealed and inscribed with a "Sealing Technique" so the contents wouldn't spoil— they looked heavy and precious.

Both dragons had already guessed what lay inside the barrels.

Dragon blood!

Lei En unsealed a metal barrel, and instantly a soul‑shaking aura spread out, imbued with terrifying draconic might, making their souls tremble.

"Whose dragon blood is this?"

Aoxiliya and Axi Na were shocked; even the scent of the dragon blood was terrifying. Its source must be a highly ranked ancient dragon, perhaps even a Primeval Dragon.

Boorqi, familiar with the aura, shouted, "The dragon blood of the Green Dragon King Zhanqing!"

A Star Destroyer blasted Zhanqing's dragon body to pieces; Boorqi saw the scene from the Star Destroyer himself and will never forget it.

"Zhanqing?"

Aoxiliya jumped in fright; the Green Dragon King's notorious name is known to dragons worldwide. How did Lei En obtain its dragon blood?

Axi Na asked, shocked, "Lei En, did you kill the Green Dragon King?"

"Didn't finish it; it escaped," Lei En replied casually, his telekinetic hand lifting the metal barrel and pouring out the dragon blood.

The Green Dragon King is one of the world's most powerful Primeval Dragons; its dragon‑blood energy rivals that of the Ancestor Dragon, and no finer dragon blood exists in the Prime Material Plane. Moreover, Zhanqing is a demigod, so its blood carries divinity; the rune array erases the divine imprint during conversion, leaving Boorqi's mind unaffected.

Dark‑golden dragon blood spilled out, extremely viscous, slowly tracing the interconnected engraved lines and spreading across the entire rune array.

As Zhanqing's dragon blood increased, a pungent metallic scent filled the air.

The lingering draconic might in the demigod's blood remained terrifying, making Aoxiliya and Axi Na uneasy, as if a mountain pressed on their chests, forcing them to retreat several hundred meters.

Boorqi lay flat on the ground, struggling to bear the Green Dragon King's draconic might, and tearfully said, "Boss, you've been so kind to me!"

"Just knowing that is enough," Lei En said lightly.

A moment later.

The dragon blood had already infused the entire rune array; this was all the stock Lei En had left, just enough. He had considered, if insufficient, extracting some blood from the corpse of an Ancient Black Iron Dragon to make up the shortfall.

"It's time to start."

Lei En looked at the Golden Three‑Headed Dragon and instructed, "Once the Dragon Blood Soul Shedding Technique is activated, I will constantly grant you three legendary Elements, maximally stimulating your draconic soul. The process will be painful but risk‑free; the rune array will draw energy from the Ancestor Dragon to heal your body and soul wounds."

"All you need to do is keep your Willpower clear; you must never lose consciousness or lose control, or it'll all be wasted."

Mid‑sentence, Reslin flashed into view.

He grasped the Endless Storm staff and began invoking the True Mirror Image, a Ten‑ring Spell that requires one minute to cast.

"Three legendary Elements!"

Boorqi's voiceless scream caused the three dragon heads to instantly raise.

One minute later, Reslin's True Mirror Image completed.

Two identical Reslins stood on Lei En's left and right; Lei En produced two crystals—pre‑made Law Seals containing Elements. Wizards of the Law Seal school can fuse them into the soul to acquire a new spell.

One crystal glowed crimson like fire, manifesting a Flame Demon Crown; the air within a hundred‑meter radius became scorching, as if inside a furnace;

The other crystal was jet‑black, devoid of any other hue, as if it could swallow all light.

"Blazing Dragon Crown!"

Boorqi instantly recognized the Element in the red Law Seal.

It is the highest‑grade Flame Affinity Element, commonly called the "Flame Demon Crown" among humans because every Baro Flame Demon possesses it. It isn't exclusive to Baro Flame Demons; ancient red dragons also wield it, known in draconic tongue as the "Blazing Dragon Crown."

The legendary Element in the black Law Seal, after a few seconds of hesitation, Boorqi also identified as "Ultimate Darkness Domain!"

It stems from the advanced "Shadow Incarnation," a legendary Element of shadow affinity.

The most coveted Element of all black dragons.

Lei En originally intended to fix the Flame Demon Crown onto Reslin to boost fire spell potency, but since Boorqi's power needed raising, he decided to go all‑in and unlock his full potential.

The "Ultimate Darkness Domain" originates from one of the demon lords on the Gamaran Plain, the sole legendary Element within the Shadow Mother's demonic soul.

The demonic souls of Baro Flame Demons and the Shadow Mother were recently tasked to a master for decomposition, stripping the Elements and forging a batch of Law Seals.

These two legendary Elements correspond respectively to Boorqi's red dragon head and black dragon head.

The middle golden dragon head requires Holy Light Affinity.

Lei En handed the two Law Seals to Reslin and the True Mirror Image; with a flick of his palm, a rose‑colored oval amber appeared, resting on his hand, radiating endless light like the sunrise over a bathing pool, filling one with warmth and hope.

He planned to bestow "Morning Light Holy Blessing" on Boorqi's golden dragon head; followers of the Lord of Radiance call it "Radiant Holy Blessing."

"Divine Artifact!"

"Holy Blood Amber!"

From afar, Axi Na and Aoxiliya paled, staring unblinking at the amber in Lei En's hand. Clearly, Lei En intended to bless Boorqi with a Divine Artifact and two legendary Element Law Seals, making them both a bit envious—if Boorqi can be fixed, they could be too!

The great dragon was about to soar, a leap to the heavens!

"Boss, could this…?" Boorqi stammered, voice trembling.

He finally grasped how much Lei En had poured into him, and his heart raced with anxiety, fearing his ascent might fail and disappoint Lei En.

"Just accept it, no need to think too much." Lei En's expression was calm; he didn't want to give Bo'erqi too much psychological pressure.

"Yes."

Bo'erqi took a deep breath to calm himself, his gaze firm as he said: "Boss, I'm ready, please begin!"

Lei En stood on the control runes of the formation, his feet pausing lightly as soul power surged.

Boom!

A dull thud, the massive rune formation was activated.

(End of chapter)