The Earthscale Dragon Crocodile lived in a swampy region north of Spirit City.
Longyu knew because Golden Crocodile had done something nobody expected.
He had brought notes.
Luoyue nearly cried with happiness.
“You wrote this?”
Golden Crocodile looked at her.
“I know how to write.”
“I didn’t mean—”
Blue Luan began laughing.
Golden Crocodile pointed at him.
“Shut up.”
Longyu took the documents.
Sighting.
Size.
Scales.
Habitat.
Behavior.
Estimated age.
There was even a combat description.
Longyu raised an eyebrow.
“This is very good.”
Golden Crocodile crossed his arms.
“Of course.”
Luoyue looked at Blue Luan.
Blue Luan stopped laughing.
The beast was interesting.
Not a true dragon.
Nor did it possess an extraordinarily pure draconic bloodline.
But it had traces.
Enough to modify certain traits.
Its body was heavier than that of an ordinary crocodile.
Thick scales.
Strong legs.
Excellent terrestrial stability.
Defense.
Strength.
Endurance.
Bloodline.
Exactly the four axes they had chosen for Jin Yue.
Longyu understood why Golden Crocodile had not rejected it.
“Weakness?” he asked.
Golden Crocodile answered:
“Speed.”
“How much?”
“In a straight line, it can move quickly for a few meters.
After that, acceleration drops.”
Luoyue wrote.
Golden Crocodile looked at her.
“Don’t start.”
“Useful information.”
The old man decided to ignore her.
The age was the problem.
620–660 years.
Probably around 640.
Older than any of their first rings so far.
Not by much.
But enough to matter.
Mu Qinghe examined Jin Yue again.
Lingyu too.
Now she could use Healing Light to perceive minor irregularities.
Longyu studied the results.
Jin Yue had the strongest physical constitution of the group.
By far.
Her meridians were strong.
Her main problem had been circulatory flexibility.
During the past few weeks, Lingyu had worked with her.
Exercises.
Massage.
Recovery.
Soul Power control.
The difference was measurable.
Longyu compared the records.
“You improved.”
Jin Yue smiled.
“Obviously.”
“Eleven percent in—”
“I don’t care how much.”
Longyu looked at her.
“I thought you wanted to prove it with data.”
“The data says I’m better.”
“That is not exactly—”
“Enough.”
Golden Crocodile laughed.
Mu Qinghe was more serious.
“She can attempt it.”
Everyone fell silent.
Jin Yue did not.
“Yes!”
“I wasn’t finished.”
She stopped.
“The risk will be greater than Luoyue’s and Lingyu’s.
Probably comparable to, or slightly above, Longyu’s.”
Golden Crocodile frowned.
“Permanent damage?”
“If the absorption fails, it is always possible.”
Jin Yue’s smile weakened.
Longyu looked at her.
It was easy to talk about surpassing limits.
Harder when someone clearly explained what failure meant.
“You don’t have to do it,” Longyu said.
Jin Yue looked at him.
“You think I can’t?”
“I think you can.”
That surprised her.
Longyu continued:
“But being able to do something does not mean you should.”
Jin Yue remained silent.
“The beast is excellent,” Longyu said.
“The age is within a range we consider possible.
If you want to attempt it, I think the risk is reasonable.”
Pause.
“But the choice is yours.”
Jin Yue looked toward her grandfather.
Golden Crocodile was not smiling.
“What do you think?”
The old man took his time.
“I would prefer five hundred fifty.”
Jin Yue opened her mouth.
Golden Crocodile raised one hand.
“But not because I think you’re weak.”
She stopped.
“Because I’m your grandfather.”
Jin Yue went still.
Longyu looked slightly away.
Golden Crocodile continued:
“As a Soul Master, I believe you can attempt it.”
Pause.
“As your grandfather, I want to find a four-hundred-year one and lock you in a room until you absorb it.”
Jin Yue began laughing.
Golden Crocodile did too.
“I want it,” she said.
“I know.”
They departed the next day.
This time, all five were together.
Longyu.
Renxue.
Lingyu.
Luoyue.
Jin Yue.
For the first time since they began searching for first Soul Rings, four of them were already Soul Masters.
Only one remained.
Jin Yue walked in front.
“Don’t run,” Golden Crocodile said. The source of this chapter is novelping.com.
“I’m not running.”
“You’re walking too fast.”
“That doesn’t exist.”
Jiangmo had insisted on coming.
“I agree with the girl.”
Qianjun was there too.
“No one asked.”
Jiangmo smiled.
“That has never stopped me.”
Longyu looked at the adults.
Qianjun.
Jiangmo.
Golden Crocodile.
Mu Qinghe.
It seemed excessive for a six-hundred-year Soul Beast.
Then he remembered they were their grandchildren.
This was not an expedition.
It was a family pretending not to be worried.
They found the Earthscale Dragon Crocodile after two days.
Longyu immediately understood the name.
It was huge for its age.
Almost five meters long.
Broad body.
Dark-brown scales marked by golden lines.
Longer legs than an ordinary crocodile.
And on its head…
two small protrusions.
Not full horns.
But close.
Draconic traces.
The Destruction Coiling Dragon Staff reacted.
Very little.
Far less than with the Ruinclaw.
But it reacted.
Longyu wrote it down.
Jin Yue looked at him.
“It’s mine.”
“I don’t want your crocodile.”
“Your staff does.”
“My staff has better standards.”
Jin Yue tried to hit him.
Longyu dodged.
Golden Crocodile smiled.
“Focus.”
The test began.
This time, Jin Yue did not need anyone to explain what to do.
She manifested her Golden Crocodile.
Advanced.
The Earthscale Dragon Crocodile roared.
And charged.
Jin Yue smiled.
Longyu felt a terrible premonition.
“Don’t meet it head-on—”
BOOM!
Jin Yue met it head-on.
She was launched backward.
Fell.
Rolled.
Stood up.
“Again!”
Longyu covered his face with one hand.
Golden Crocodile was laughing.
“That’s it!”
“Don’t encourage her!” Lingyu protested.
The second collision went better.
Jin Yue changed the angle.
She did not attempt to stop all of the force.
Redirected part of it.
Struck the beast’s side.
The crocodile turned with surprising speed.
Its tail swung.
Jin Yue blocked.
Retreated.
Longyu watched.
Excellent defense.
Excellent strength.
Extraordinary stability.
Limited speed.
But inside its attack range…
dangerous.
Very dangerous.
“Compatible,” he said.
Golden Crocodile nodded.
“Very.”
Jin Yue took another hit.
Lingyu winced.
“She’s going to need Healing Light.”
Longyu answered:
“Probably several times.”
Then something interesting happened.
The Earthscale Dragon Crocodile struck the ground.
Soul Power spread through its legs.
Its scales glowed.
Its body seemed to become even heavier.
Jin Yue attacked.
Her fist rebounded.
Longyu’s eyes widened.
“Defensive reinforcement.”
Golden Crocodile smiled.
“Now you understand why I chose it.”
Longyu did.
If the first Soul Skill inherited a version of that characteristic…
it would be perfect.
Not merely an attack.
A foundation.
Something upon which the future Golden Crocodile King could be built.
The hunt ended after Jin Yue had learned enough.
The adults weakened the beast.
Jin Yue delivered the final blow.
“Thank you for making me stronger.”
Direct.
Very Jin Yue.
The ring appeared.
Yellow.
Dark.
Golden Crocodile’s expression changed.
All amusement disappeared.
“Remember the training.”
Jin Yue sat down.
“I know.”
“Do not fight all the energy at once.”
Longyu added:
“Distribute it when the pressure rises.”
Lingyu said:
“If you feel sharp pain in a single meridian, change the circulation.”
Mu Qinghe said:
“And none of you will talk while she begins.”
Everyone went silent.
The absorption was brutal.
Not as brutal as Longyu’s.
But close.
Jin Yue trembled.
Her muscles tightened.
The Earthscale Dragon Crocodile’s Soul Power was heavy.
Dense.
It entered her body as if trying to crush her from within.
Longyu watched her breathing.
Too fast.
Lingyu noticed too.
“She’s accumulating pressure.”
Golden Crocodile clenched his fists.
Longyu had never seen the old man that serious before.
Ten minutes.
Twenty.
Jin Yue began sweating.
Thirty.
A thin line of blood ran from her nose.
Golden Crocodile took one step forward.
Mu Qinghe raised a hand.
“Not yet.”
Longyu understood how difficult that must be.
He could destroy the Soul Beast with one finger.
Could protect Jin Yue from almost any enemy on the continent.
But he could not absorb the ring for her.
Jin Yue changed her circulation.
Longyu saw it.
The pressure began to spread.
Her muscles relaxed slightly.
Lingyu exhaled.
“It worked.”
Golden Crocodile did not answer.
Forty minutes.
Fifty.
One hour.
Finally…
WENG!
The ring stabilized.
Jin Yue opened her eyes.
Golden Soul Power exploded around her.
Her Golden Crocodile appeared.
Longyu stood up.
The scales were thicker.
The body more robust.
And over its head…
two small rises.
Like those of the Earthscale Dragon Crocodile.
Case five.
Longyu felt his heart accelerate.
Five Martial Souls.
Five Soul Rings selected by compatibility criteria.
Five observable modifications.
It was not definitive proof.
But it was already something he could not ignore.
Jin Yue stood.
Exhausted.
Pale.
Dried blood beneath her nose.
And smiling as if she had conquered the continent.
“I did it.”
Golden Crocodile walked toward her.
Longyu expected congratulations.
The old man lightly hit her on the head.
“Idiot.”
“Grandpa!”
Then he hugged her.
Jin Yue froze.
Golden Crocodile also seemed to realize what he had done.
He let go.
“Good job.”
Jin Yue smiled.
“I knew I could do it.”
“So did I.”
Mu Qinghe wanted rest.
Naturally, Jin Yue wanted to test her Soul Skill.
Naturally, she lost the argument.
Two hours later, she was finally given permission for one test.
Jin Yue walked toward a rock.
Her ring lit up.
Golden scales appeared over her arms.
Then shoulders.
Chest.
A partial layer of armor.
Her presence became heavier.
“First Soul Skill.”
Jin Yue clenched her fist.
“Golden Scale Body.”
She struck the rock.
BOOM!
The stone split.
Jin Yue looked at her hand.
“I like it.”
Longyu was already observing the scales.
The ability increased defense.
Physical strength.
Stability.
Impact resistance.
It likely also reduced damage from frontal collisions.
Perfect for her.
Not spectacular.
No enormous explosion.
No devastating offensive attack.
A foundation.
Longyu smiled.
Exactly what he wanted.
That night, the five sat together.
Five children.
Five Martial Souls.
Five yellow Soul Rings.
Longyu placed his records on the table.
Qiangu Longyu — Ruinclaw Dragon Lizard — ~600 years.
Qing Luoyue — Blue Feather Gale Hawk — ~550 years.
Qian Renxue — Sacred Crown Eagle — ~600 years.
Qian Lingyu — Jadeheart Deer — ~500 years.
Jin Yue — Earthscale Dragon Crocodile — ~640 years.
Five cases.
Still few.
But enough to compare.
Longyu wrote a preliminary conclusion.
The absorption limit of a Soul Ring should not be treated as an exact universal value.
Below it:
Physical constitution, Martial Soul, Soul Power quality, meridians, compatibility, the Soul Beast’s energy nature, and prior preparation all appear to modify risk.
Then he added:
High compatibility does not eliminate the physical burden of an older ring.
That mattered.
A great deal.
Finally, he wrote one last question.
If these factors can be measured and improved…
can an individual limit be deliberately increased before the next Soul Ring?
Longyu looked toward his four friends.
Jin Yue was eating.
Lingyu was examining her Healing Light.
Luoyue was writing observations about the Earthscale Dragon Crocodile.
Renxue was arguing with Jin Yue about which Soul Skill was better.
Longyu smiled.
Then turned the page.
At the top were two words.
Whale Glue.
Below them, he wrote:
Objective: Second Soul Ring — One Thousand Years.
His pen stopped.
Not for himself.
For all five.
Longyu looked at the sentence again.
Then added one word.
Possible?
He did not know yet.
But now he had something he had not possessed a few weeks earlier.
A baseline.
Five cases.
And several years before any of them would need a second Soul Ring.
That was enough time to find out.