Douluo Dalu (Soul Land): Shadow Monarch

"Huh? Why is the spring water boiling?" Dugu Bo asked in confusion as he noticed the water of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well starting to boil.

Hearing this, Cheng Xiao smiled faintly. It seemed he had found a way to activate the dragon claw.

"What's with that grin?" Dugu Bo looked at Cheng Xiao, puzzled by his sudden smile. However, he quickly glanced at the boiling spring water and then at the glowing dragon claw in Cheng Xiao's hand. In that instant, he seemed to understand something.

"You brat, don't tell me you plan to enter the spring!" Dugu Bo exclaimed in shock. "Even I can't get too close to that spring water, and you jumping in would be suicidal!"

Cheng Xiao replied calmly, "Don't worry, I know my limits. I won't get hurt."

"No way, it's too dangerous. I don't agree." Dugu Bo rejected the idea outright. In his mind, the spring water of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well was something even a titled Douluo like him dared not approach closely. For Cheng Xiao, a mere Soul Ancestor, to dive in, it would be a death sentence!

"Opportunities come with risks, old man. Let me give it a try. Perhaps this is my chance." Cheng Xiao said firmly, looking resolutely at Dugu Bo.

Sighing helplessly, Dugu Bo spread his hands. "Fine. I'll leave shortly. If this is your chance, then make the most of it."

"Remember, if it becomes too much, just give up. Sometimes giving up on an opportunity isn't a bad thing. At least you'll keep your life, and there will be other chances."

After saying this, Dugu Bo soared into the air. At his level, he could fly using his own strength.

As Dugu Bo flew away, his voice echoed once more, "Cheng Xiao, I trust you wouldn't do anything you're not confident about. I'll be waiting for you in Heaven Dou City. Make sure to come."

Watching Dugu Bo disappear into the sky, Cheng Xiao shook his head. He then quickly walked to the center of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, standing between the icy spring and the fiery spring. Looking down at the dragon claw in his hand, he muttered to himself, "The dragon claw seemed to have reacted to something before, but I didn't pay attention, thinking it was because of the Shadow Monarch."

"Now it seems I have no choice but to explore the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well."

With his decision made, Cheng Xiao's gaze grew resolute. He stared at the roiling water below, his expression becoming serious.

He wasn't sure how deep the well went, and the boiling surface of the spring made him hesitate. The once-still water was already something soul masters couldn't touch, and now that it was boiling, diving into it would require immense power, as well as the ability to resist the extreme temperatures of both springs.

Even for Dugu Bo, a titled Douluo, diving into the well was a challenge, let alone for ordinary soul masters. If someone tried to force their way in, they'd be reduced to nothing in mere moments.

However, exceptions always exist. Cheng Xiao had noticed two plants growing at the edge of the spring. Fortunately, before leaving, his teacher had explained how to harvest them, so Cheng Xiao intended to consume both plants before jumping in, hoping they would protect him from the extreme temperatures of the spring.

Without delay, Cheng Xiao carefully harvested the two plants and held them in his hands. After a moment of silence by the well, he swallowed the plants and, holding the dragon claw tightly, jumped into the spring.

With a splash, Cheng Xiao plunged into the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. The surface of the water churned violently, and the once-calm icy and fiery springs began swirling together.

Like a whirlpool, the spring water spun, the icy and fiery waters intertwining, while wisps of black smoke rose from the depths, gradually enveloping the entire spring.

Once submerged, Cheng Xiao immediately sensed something strange about the water. However, having already consumed the two plants, there was no turning back. Violent energies surged through his body, causing one side of him to turn red and the other blue—he looked like a being of both fire and ice.

He used the power of shadows to calm the two extreme energies inside him. The pain made his face contort, but thanks to the Grand Wizard's blessing, his body continuously healed itself, allowing him to endure without too much trouble.

The bottom of the well was pitch black, but the two plants and the Grand Wizard's blessing allowed Cheng Xiao to move freely, albeit slowly.

Scanning his surroundings, his eyes took on a purple hue as he cautiously swam deeper.

The depths of the spring were a strange sight—one side red, the other blue, creating a bizarre contrast. In this odd scene, a black figure slowly descended.

Thanks to the Grand Wizard's blessing, Cheng Xiao's body was immune to any negative effects, so the extreme cold and heat of the two plants were quickly neutralized. The healing effect also allowed him to endure the pain of his body being torn apart and then rapidly healed.

This was why his descent was so slow. Who could, with a clear mind, endure excruciating pain while searching for something in such extreme temperatures? If someone could, they would certainly be called superhuman.

Cheng Xiao wasn't sure how long he had been descending. While he could still continue, the real issue was that he had no idea when he would reach the bottom. The Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well felt like a bottomless pit—the deeper he went, the more endless it seemed.

His face twitched slightly as he glanced at the alternating red and blue waters around him. After thinking for a while, he decided to continue descending a bit more. If he still couldn't find whatever was causing the dragon claw's reaction, then he would end this dive.

…

As he continued to move through the alternating red and blue waters, Cheng Xiao's expression gradually relaxed. He could now clearly feel his body adapting to the pain. The medicinal power of the two plants had also fully manifested, making him feel as if he were swimming freely in the spring.

Despite his slow descent, Cheng Xiao couldn't help but feel frustrated. The depth of this place was astonishing—he had been diving for what felt like hours. Although his pace was slow, he couldn't believe he hadn't reached the bottom yet. The dragon claw in his hand continued to emit a faint glow, as if sensing something, which kept Cheng Xiao from abandoning the dive.

After another ten minutes of descent…

"Finally, I found it. No wonder the dragon claw reacted—it encountered its own kind." The darkness ahead began to brighten, revealing a glowing vortex. Inside the vortex, there was nothing except for two dragon-shaped phantoms made entirely of pure energy. Though they were less than a 3.3 meters long, their detailed dragon scales, crystal-clear dragon horns, and gracefully floating dragon whiskers all proved their immense power in life.

Cheng Xiao's eyes flickered with astonishment. He could tell that these two dragon phantoms retained all the characteristics of real dragons, which explained why the dragon claw had sensed them.

The two dragon phantoms swam like fish within the glowing vortex, illuminating their surroundings with a faint light as they moved.

A smile crept onto Cheng Xiao's face as he dove into the vortex. As he entered, the light from the dragon claw intensified, gradually illuminating more of the area.

What Cheng Xiao saw wasn't what he had expected from a lakebed. Instead of a barren bottom, there were vast, towering rock formations that resembled a mountain range. But when Cheng Xiao took a closer look, he realized these were not rocks at all—they were the vertebrae of a massive creature, with jagged bone spikes rising menacingly from its spine.

"It seems these dragons were quite powerful in life. I wonder how they compared to the Light Dragon Legion under the Dragon King," Cheng Xiao mused as he gazed at the overlapping scales covering the colossal beast's body.

The two dragons were enormous, with a rough estimate placing their length at over a hundred meters. They lay there, motionless, devoid of life, as if they were two ancient statues. Despite their lifeless state, they still exuded an overwhelming aura of power, making it hard to breathe.

In Cheng Xiao's eyes, however, they were nothing more than two potential Shadow Soldiers of commander level!

If he could turn them into Shadow Soldiers, why would he fear anyone? Whoever crossed him would be asking for a smack!

At that moment, Cheng Xiao's eyes turned bloodshot, his mind dizzy with excitement, and even his breathing became heavy and hurried. He stepped forward, preparing to use shadow summoning. But just as he did, the two dragon phantoms, which had been dormant within the bones, suddenly flew out. As if provoked, they surged toward Cheng Xiao, carrying with them a terrifying dragon's might.