"Boost the soul beast age to a hundred thousand years," Xu Ran said. A hundred thousand years ago, a single skill point corresponded to a year. Having crossed the hundred thousand-year mark, one skill point was now equivalent to ten years. Thus, raising the soul beast age to a hundred thousand years only required nine thousand skill points.
"Ding, Host brother's soul beast age has been raised to a hundred thousand years."
"Ding, congratulations to the Host for having two thousand nine hundred skill points remaining."
As the voice of the System's Miss fell, a torrent of pure energy flowed into Xu Ran's body.
Even though his soul beast form differed from his human form, Xu Ran could sense that he had become somewhat different. It was a metamorphosis of life hierarchy. Clenching his fists, he could feel an overwhelmingly vast and formidable power.
The power was boundless and intoxicating.
It was a pity that he could not test his strength now; he would have to wait until he reached the Aquipeia Forest. In the human world, his body had grown to at least fifty meters wide, which was too conspicuous.
However, he had a feeling that he could probably crush Di Tian with a casual punch. A person like the Bear Lord would be even easier to eradicate with a snap of his fingers. A hundred thousand-year-old Ancestral Dragon was incomparable to other soul beasts. Perhaps, his combat prowess might even match or surpass that of Gu Yuena.
After all, Gu Yuena was hiding in the Lake of Life, not at her peak strength.
The Lake of Life, at the moment Xu Ran's soul beast "Cultivation Level" reached a hundred thousand years, Gu Yuena abruptly opened her eyes.
There seemed to be some oppressive force acting upon her from the ether, a suppression of bloodlines.
"What's happening? Why do I suddenly feel this way?" Gu Yuena said in shock, her heart stirring with monumental waves. She was now the most powerful soul beast in the entire world; what soul beast could make her feel this way?
"Could it be that the Golden Dragon King has escaped from the Divine Realm?" Gu Yuena slightly parted her lips, somewhat in disbelief.
The Golden Dragon King was still alive, sealed within the Divine Realm. Although the Dragon God split into two, and they were equals, the influence of the Golden Dragon King was still subtly more significant, even though the advantage was not clear.
Even if the Golden Dragon King had escaped, the Golden Dragon King at his prime couldn't have given her such a terrifying sensation, let alone now when he was likely to be incredibly weak.
"Is it you, Xu Ran?"
Gu Yuena's silver eyes softened, reminiscing about the man who promised to ascend with her to the Divine Realm. Xu Ran had pledged to her, to ascend to the Divine Realm together, to help her become the Dragon God, and then to marry her.
Xu Ran, mysterious and unfathomable, even she couldn't guess his depths.
Under the heavens, only Xu Ran could possibly make her feel like this.
At the same moment, Di Tian and Zi Ji felt the same presence. Di Tian, sensing the majesty of the Ancestral Dragon, fell to his knees, trembling. The Ancestral Dragon was of even higher status than the Dragon God, the Ancestor of Ten Thousand Dragons, before whom all of the Dragon Clan should bow and pledge fealty.
Zi Ji also felt this change, but she did not kneel. Perhaps it was because Xu Ran's essence lingered in her body, that even with the Ancestral Dragon Bloodline pressing upon her, it did no harm.
"What is this? Could it be that the master's strength has surged?" Di Tian said, his heart pounding with excitement as he quickly submerged into the depths of the Lake of Life. It was time to sound the horn for the Soul Beast Clan's counterattack against humans.
Zi Ji, hearing Di Tian's musings, could only think of Xu Ran's noble bearing.
She knew it was because of Xu Ran, that Xu Ran's power must have taken a qualitative leap. Although unclear about what had happened around Xu Ran, she knew that he must have encountered a formidable opportunity this time.
Such an oppressive force and majesty could not simply be the work of an Auspicious Beast.
Auspicious Beast, the harbinger of fortune for the soul beast, the aura of an Auspicious Beast is peaceful, and it absolutely couldn't be so majestic and terrifying.
"Lord Xu Ran, if you don't come to Aquipeia Forest soon, I can't guarantee I won't come looking for you," Zi Ji said, her voluptuous body twisting with desire at the thought of Xu Ran. All she wanted now was to be by his side, to receive his affection.
"Zi Ji, what's going on? You and Di Tian just now…" Bi Ji, clad in a graceful Feather Dress by the Lake of Life, asked perplexedly. She didn't understand why Zi Ji and Di Tian had such strange expressions on their faces.
"It must be Lord Xu Ran... It couldn't have been anyone else," Zi Ji said.
"I'm not sure what's going on either, but my sixth sense tells me that his strength seems to have become even stronger, even more powerful than us," Zi Ji murmured. Only dragon-class soul beasts could have felt that kind of oppressive aura just now, as if it announced: The king has returned.
Even Lord above, though boundlessly strong, did not give off that ancient vibe from a primitive and untamed land from the distant yore.
"The Auspicious Beast's strength has increased again?"
The Bear Lord, Red King, and other soul beasts couldn't help but rejoice at Zi Ji's words.
"So that's how it is," Bi Ji responded, remembering Xu Ran's distinguished appearance. When Xu Ran was in Aquipeia Forest, she was in charge of his meals. He would often come into the kitchen to hold her, tease her, even reach out his fingers.
...
"Master, just now was…" Di Tian approached the bottom of the Lake of life, saw Gu Yuena, and respectfully saluted.
His eyes were full of reverence. That terrifying dragon might, aside from Gu Yuena, he couldn't think of a second person who could wield it. Perhaps it was Gu Yuena's strength that took a qualitative leap.
"It wasn't me."
"Even I, like you, felt that breath, so oppressive that one could hardly breathe. Before that presence, not just you, but I, too, felt so insignificant. There are always greater powers, and even the Dragon God was suppressed. Think about it, what else could be impossible?" Gu Yuena shook her head.
"How is that possible? You're the Silver Dragon King! Could there be a soul beast more powerful than you in the entire world? How could this be?" Di Tian felt his worldview crumbling. With the Dragon God fallen, the Silver Dragon King should be the most powerful.
If it wasn't the Silver Dragon King Gu Yuena, then that breath just now…
"Must be Xu Ran."
"Xu Ran cannot be measured by common standards, he has been breaking the norms since the beginning. Perhaps the next time Xu Ran comes to Aquipeia Forest, he will become the second master of our Soul Beast Clan," Gu Yuena said, Xu Ran's image coming to mind.
For some reason, she had an extraordinary trust in Xu Ran that exceeded everything else. She even believed that Xu Ran could ascend to the Divine Realm more than she believed in herself. Perhaps Xu Ran inherently possessed a quality that inspires conviction.
"Xu Ran, I'm waiting for you, for everything we…" Gu Yuena mumbled, seemingly forgetting that Di Tian was still there.
"Your subordinate understands, your subordinate shall take leave."
Di Tian glanced at Gu Yuena, articulated his understanding, saluted, and withdrew.
His heart was turbulent with shock; he had never expected that the suffocating sensation he felt came from the Auspicious Beast Xu Ran. He was even more surprised to find that Xu Ran was romantically involved with the master. From the master's demeanor, their relationship seemed rather deep.
But this wasn't something for them to gossip about.
If Aquipeia Forest really did see the rise of a second master, then Star Luo Great Forest would prosper, and the Soul Beast Clan would flourish.