The Green Fruit Swamp Dragon, a dragon-like, snake-like soul beast with two claws, is a strict vegetarian. It makes its home in the soft, perpetually damp swamps. While not fiercely territorial, it prefers to remain still for extended periods. Mistaking this for docility, however, would be a grave error.
As the dragon ages, green, fruit-like growths appear across its body. These are not born of its own essence but are crystallizations of life force, gathered by absorbing the life essence of other creatures.
Any human, soul beast, or other creature straying into its swampy domain is quickly ensnared by its hair-like tendrils, stronger than tree roots. Escape is nearly impossible without exceptional strength or a significantly higher spirit power level. Once entangled, these tendrils rapidly drain the victim's nutrients, leaving behind nothing but bone residue. Throughout this process, the dragon remains almost entirely still, projecting an image of tranquility while orchestrating a gruesome demise.
In terms of combat, the Green Fruit Swamp Dragon isn't particularly formidable outside its preferred environment. However, its hide is incredibly thick and tough. Its wood-type body grants exceptional durability, and the green fruits continuously replenish its soul power, accelerating injury recovery. This means that a blow inflicting one hundred points of damage on another target might barely scratch it. Adding to the frustration, it boasts high attribute resistance, its dual water and wood affinities rendering it largely immune to thunder and fire attacks.
Despite its defensive strengths, its soul ring is exceptionally well-suited for Luo Pupu's martial soul. Pupu's Wing Viper Dragon is a high-quality martial soul; in terms of overall balance, dragon types can be considered top-tier. This "balance" refers to the equilibrium of various characteristics and the spirit's developmental potential. A solid foundation laid in the early stages allows for versatile development later. It enhances compatibility with various spirit rings and facilitates the development of combined soul skills with other soul masters.
Whether or not this foundation is well-laid hinges primarily on the suitability of the first three soul rings. Pupu's first soul ring was derived from a dragon-type soul beast matching her martial soul, strengthening it. For her second soul ring, she initially sought a hundred-year earth-moving dragon soul beast, but Fang Xin claimed it first. She intended to find a similar beast, but Yin Xiaoya led her directly to the Green Fruit Swamp Dragon.
Indeed, the Green Fruit Swamp Dragon, with its super-tank stats and healing abilities, is ideal for solidifying her foundation. The original plan involved either finding a hundred-year specimen for the second ring or waiting for the third and seeking a thousand-year one. However, given the number of young students and the limited number of accompanying teachers, the idea of using a Green Fruit Swamp Dragon for the second soul ring was initially abandoned.
Faced with the millennium Green Fruit Swamp Dragon before her, Luo Pupu couldn't help but express her hesitation.
"Thank you so much, big brother. The Green Fruit Swamp Dragon is perfect for me, but this one is clearly at the millennium level, likely over two thousand years old. A millennium-level soul ring is too much for my second one."
While soul masters like Jiang Xie sometimes acquire millennium-level second soul rings, such attempts are inherently risky. The probability of failure is high, potentially causing permanent damage to the martial soul or resulting in death by explosion from the overwhelming soul power.
At that moment, Jing Tieyang, who had been surveying the area, approached with a hint of regret.
"This one isn't suitable for Pupu. I checked; there aren't any hundred-year Green Fruit Swamp Dragons nearby. We should stick to the original plan and search for something else. I may have found some clues."
Unexpectedly, Yin Xiaoya shook his head. "No, this is the one. Pupu, you're using this one for your second spirit ring."
Seeing his stubbornness, Su Xuan frowned. "Even if it had just reached the millennium level, I might have considered it with Uncle Jing and I here to protect you. But it's clearly over two thousand years old. It's impossible for you, Pupu. We can't take that kind of risk."
"Really? I don't think so."
Ignoring their protests, Yin Xiaoya waved his right hand, revealing a gray-white lockseed engraved with grape embossing.
"The power of this Green Fruit Swamp Dragon is exactly what I need, so I can take over the part that Pupu can't absorb."
Su Xuan started to question if such a thing was even possible, but she stopped herself. Remembering Yin Xiaoya's previous feats, she knew that he had a way. However, she still hesitated. Yin Xiaoya's secrets were unfamiliar to her. Seeing her hesitation, Yin Xiaoya continued.
"And even if Pupu doesn't absorb the soul ring, I don't think you'd want this Green Fruit Swamp Dragon to stay here and be taken away by others."
Jing Tieyang's heart skipped a beat. There was one reason they wouldn't want the soul beast to be taken away.
"What do you mean? Could it be that..."
Yin Xiaoya nodded. "There's a formed spirit bone inside it."
The word "spirit bone" sent a ripple of excitement through the group. Everyone, including Luo Pupu, stared at the Green Fruit Swamp Dragon with wide eyes.
The value of a spirit bone far exceeds that of a spirit ring. It provides power comparable to a spirit ring but is not bound to a specific martial soul, making it usable by almost any spirit master. This also means it can be sold, though such items are essentially priceless due to their rarity. Spirit bones are so rare that companions have been known to turn on each other in pursuit of one.
"Wait, how do you know it has a spirit bone inside?" Su Xuan interjected. Spirit bones typically manifest under specific and often inexplicable conditions. Even when those conditions are met, the success rate is only one in a thousand. It's often impossible to confirm their presence beforehand. Yet, Yin Xiaoya claimed it had a spirit bone after only a glance.
Yin Xiaoya struggled to answer. The existence of the system made it difficult to explain. "Think of it as one of my Kamen Rider abilities. Trust me, I can't be wrong."
"Well, if it has a spirit bone, we have no choice. Even if it means wasting a thousand-year spirit ring, it's worth it," Jing Tieyang declared. "Students, retreat. This is beyond your capabilities. Miss, please watch over them."
As he spoke, Jing Tieyang's spirit rings materialized, and his potent soul power disturbed the Green Fruit Swamp Dragon. Sensing danger, the dragon recoiled, diving into the swamp's depths in an attempt to use the terrain for protection. However, it had underestimated its opponent.
With a flash, a two-meter-long metal spear appeared in Jing Tieyang's hand. The purple spear was covered in intricate, ferocious patterns, emitting a low hum as Jing Tieyang wielded it. The spear's tip accounted for a quarter of its length, its sharpness causing Yin Xiaoya's skin to prickle from a distance.
The system identified the weapon.
[Purple Iron Ghost Spear]
Jing Tieyang chuckled. "Not bad, boy. You have some eyesight. Is that another one of your Kamen Rider abilities?"
Yin Xiaoya smiled awkwardly, his gaze fixed on the spear. It wasn't particularly powerful; it was an average martial soul at best. Yet, Jing Tieyang had fused it with a sequence of yellow, yellow, purple, and black spirit rings, demonstrating his remarkable skill.
"Soul Skill! Shadow Rain!"
Jing Tieyang leaped into the air, the purple soul ring on his body illuminating. He gripped the spear's end and unleashed a barrage of spear shadows. They rained down, covering the swamp. Each shadow exploded upon impact, creating a five-meter-diameter sphere of superheated air. The relentless assault stirred up mud and evaporated the water, revealing the Green Fruit Swamp Dragon.
It had absorbed all the green fruits, altering its appearance. Its wooden scales stood on end, emitting a green glow. Coiled into a ball, it fixed Jing Tieyang with a defiant stare, as if daring him to try something.
It's threatening Uncle Jing, Yin Xiaoya thought. If it dies in this state, the energy will go out of control, and a violent explosion may occur, which means that there is no way to kill it. And even if it attacks recklessly, it will take a long time, because the life energy in its body will continuously help it recover from the injury, and it will recover instantly.
Su Xuan's words echoed Yin Xiaoya's thoughts. He glanced at Luo Pupu, realizing that she had to deliver the final blow to acquire the soul ring, exposing her to the imminent explosion.
It seems that this Green Fruit Swamp Dragon still has some ideas, knowing that he is definitely invincible, so he simply gave up fighting, so as not to waste energy, and instead used this method to force the opponent to give up attacking him. From its point of view, since it can't kill itself, and the attack is useless, it will naturally give up on itself.
Jing Tieyang's expression darkened as he understood the dragon's intentions. While dispatching it would be easy, ensuring Pupu's safety during the final strike was a different matter. A single misstep could allow the dragon to recover or unleash a devastating explosion.
"Teacher Su, big brother, is there nothing we can do?" Pupu asked, sensing the dilemma.
Su Xuan was at a loss. The other students looked on helplessly. Yin Xiaoya immediately consulted the system but received an incomprehensible response.
At that moment, Fang Xin tugged at Yin Xiaoya's sleeve. "Brother Xiaoya, maybe I have a way."
"Huh? What way?"
"My Orb Dragon Mirror just gained its second soul ability. It can transfer energy, but there's a catch. I need a way to create a hole in its body where the energy leaks out. Right now, it's too tightly guarded, so there's no loophole to exploit, and it is the essence of life, even if the hole is broken, it should recover instantly. This is also meaningless, you have to ensure that the opening is kept open until all the energy is transferred out."
***
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