Douluo: Divine Dragon Pattern Staff

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"Xiao Chen, hide for now. Let me, your principal, deal with this Fiery Flame Dragon first. When I saw it fight an eight-thousand-year soul beast before, it didn't fall behind—it even held the upper hand.

This battle would be too dangerous for you. I'll subdue it, and you can deliver the final blow."

"Owl Martial Soul, Attach!"

Flender unleashed his Owl martial soul and flew toward the Fiery Flame Dragon. The dragon was startled awake by this overwhelming presence. Its gaze locked onto Flender, its instincts warning it that this human was extremely powerful—far beyond its ability to match.

But prideful as a dragon, it refused to flee in humiliation. It chose to fight.

"Roar————"

The dragon's roar shook the heavens.

"Hmph! Fourth Soul Skill, Eagle Claw Blade!"

Flender sneered, and the fourth purple soul ring on his body lit up. His hands transformed into eagle claws, unleashing blade-like attacks formed from spirit power. These eagle claw blades slashed at the Fiery Flame Dragon's entire body.

The sharp blades tore through the dragon's scales, causing it to howl in agony. But Flender paid no heed to its suffering and charged forward for close combat.

Though dragon-type soul beasts had powerful physiques, Flender was no ordinary opponent.

"Third Soul Skill, Owl Dive!"

Flender transformed into a Owl and dove toward the Fiery Flame Dragon. The rapid collision left the dragon stunned.

"Second Soul Skill, Eagle Eye."

Flender's second soul skill, Eagle Eye, enhanced his vision, allowing him to lock onto his opponent's weak points for a fatal strike.

Flender targeted the Fiery Flame Dragon's most vulnerable spot—its neck—and delivered a precise eagle claw strike. By now, the dragon was gasping for air, barely clinging to life.

Flender judged that it was enough; any further attacks might kill it outright.

Flender grabbed the Fiery Flame Dragon and brought it before Li Luochen.

"Xiao Chen, stab your dagger into the claw-marked spot. It's done for."

Li Luochen immediately pulled out a dagger from his soul-guidance tool and stabbed it into the Fiery Flame Dragon. The dragon's eyes were filled with unwillingness, but it was already finished.

Roar——With its final cry, a purple soul ring rose slowly into the air.

"Mm, Xiao Chen, absorb it. I'll guard you."

Li Luochen nodded and immediately sat cross-legged, drawing the Fiery Flame Dragon's soul ring toward him to absorb its energy.

This was Li Luochen's first time absorbing a soul ring beyond his level, but he had prepared thoroughly.

The energy of a thousand-year soul ring was far stronger than that of a hundred-year one, especially since this one was 2,250 years old—800 years beyond the typical limit for a third soul ring.

Sweat poured down Li Luochen's face. The energy contained within this soul ring was immense, flowing endlessly. He circulated the Limitless Universe Technique to assimilate the soul ring's energy.

As time passed, Li Luochen's condition steadily improved. His breathing stabilized, and he entered the final stage of absorption.

However, an unexpected change occurred. Li Luochen's back suddenly burst open—or rather, his clothes did. A pair of red wings emerged from his back.

Flender was shocked by this development. Why had a pair of wings suddenly appeared? He glanced at the Fiery Flame Dragon's corpse.

"Hmm? Xiao Chen's wings look just like the Fiery Flame Dragon's dragon wings. Could this be a spirit bone? But aren't spirit bones supposed to be extracted from soul beasts?"

While Flender puzzled over this, Li Luochen opened his eyes, feeling the fluctuations of spirit power within him. Level 24. The benefits of absorbing a higher-level soul ring were immense.

"Hmm? What's this on my back?"

Li Luochen noticed the dragon wings. He felt as though they were part of him, but they seemed somewhat unresponsive.

After a few attempts, he managed to retract the wings. Reflecting on this, he thought, 'Could this be an external spirit bone dropped by the Fiery Flame Dragon? How generous… No, what a noble dragon.'

The Fiery Flame Dragon's unwillingness had turned into resentment, which manifested as a spirit bone.

"Cough, cough, Xiao Chen, is that on your back a spirit bone? It doesn't look like any spirit bone I've seen before."

Flender voiced his question. As for seizing the spirit bone? Don't joke around. As the principal, he wouldn't harm a student for the sake of a spirit bone. He was a proud man who wouldn't betray his companions for personal gain.

"Oh, Principal, these dragon wings are an external spirit bone. External spirit bones don't belong to any of the six standard types—they grow alongside the soul master. Their value rivals that of a hundred-thousand-year spirit bone."

Li Luochen shared what he knew. Having known Flender for so long, he understood his character—he was a good person, especially to those on his side.

"Oh~ I see. Congratulations, Xiao Chen. However, as your principal, I must remind you not to reveal this spirit bone until you become strong. Spirit bones are Blood River Treasures, and greedy people exist everywhere—they're capable of anything."

{T/N: Blood River Treasures refers to the fact that people will kill en masse to obtain soul bones thus causing a river of blood.}

Flender gave his student some sound advice. After all, the world of soul masters was dark, and survival of the fittest was the norm.

"Mm, understood, Principal. By the way, could you apply some spirit pressure on me? I haven't fully synchronized with the spirit bone yet. Help me out—start with the spirit pressure of a level 30 soul master."

"Alright, get ready."

Flender applied spirit pressure to help Li Luochen synchronize with the external spirit bone—the Fiery Flame Dragon Wings.

Level 30, 31, 32…

Up to level 42.

Li Luochen's martial soul and the Fiery Flame Dragon Wings appeared simultaneously. The wings were now perfectly fused with him. Even if Li Luochen were killed, the spirit bone wouldn't drop.

"Phew—thank you, Principal."

Li Luochen bowed deeply to Flender.

"Aiyah—you're being so polite all of a sudden. No need to be so formal with me, your principal. Now, tell me your current spirit power level, soul skills, and spirit bone abilities."

Flender pulled Li Luochen up and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Mm, my spirit power has reached level 24. My second soul skill is called Fiery Explosion Strike. My Dragon Pattern Staff is now wrapped in explosive flames, doubling my strength. For every level I advance, my attributes increase by one percent.

The main feature of this attack is its explosive property. Whoever it hits will explode. Unless it's a pure defensive Spirit Elder, the target will either suffer serious injuries or die.

My Dragon Pattern Staff now weighs 350 kilograms, and a casual swing carries the force of a thousand jin. The spirit bone grants two skills: flight and fire attribute enhancement." (Tang San's Eight Spider Legs had poison and devouring abilities, so this seems reasonable, right?)

"Hahahaha, this is truly our little prodigy from Shrek Academy! Now that you've reached the Great Soul Master level, I should arrange some academy courses for you. But considering your age, we'll postpone the spirit battles. Other assessments will be handled by us teachers.

Mm, we should head back. Today's fight has caused some fluctuations in my spirit power. I plan to go into seclusion and push for level 70. Xiao Chen, let's go."

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