"If it's a sub-dragon species Soul Beast this close to a true dragon, then I can't defeat it alone. But if I'm supporting you, that's no problem at all. I can easily harass it and keep it occupied. Xiao Zhang, that's what you had in mind, right?"
Qiangu Yunying smiled slyly.
Yin Zhang laughed. "Smart."
With that, he stopped concealing his aura entirely.
His martial soul manifested.
Spirit Charizard spread its wings and soared into the sky.
"Sister Yunying, stay here and support me. Be careful not to get injured by this sub-dragon. To be honest, I don't even know its exact name yet—so let's just call it a sub-dragon for now."
Qiangu Yunying nodded. Her Flame-Plundering Spear shot forward like a streak of fire, leaving blazing afterimages in the air.
The dragon instantly sensed Yin Zhang's hostile intent—and flew into a rage.
Two insignificant insects actually dared to attack it and covet its spirit ring? They were courting death!
As a fire-attribute sub-dragon species Spirit Beast with a bloodline extremely close to that of a true dragon, it possessed intelligence—but its temper was volatile. How could it not be furious when someone it regarded as an ant dared challenge it?
"Hmph! Power of the Sun—Hardened Claw trait, activate!"
Yin Zhang's draconic body instantly flared bright red. This was the manifestation of the Power of the Sun trait. A new layer of scorching scales formed over his original ones, greatly enhancing durability and impact resistance, providing even stronger protection.
At the same time, the surrounding temperature surged.
The dragon's massive claws swung toward him, but Yin Zhang beat his wings and shot upward by six meters, narrowly evading the strike.
"First Soul Skill—Azure Flame Shield!"
Another layer of protection enveloped him.
Blazing, condensed flames erupted from Yin Zhang's body, completely covering him. Under this state, all his attributes were amplified by 1.6 times. When he had first obtained this soul skill after absorbing his first spirit ring, the boost was only onefold. As his soul power increased, the enhancement grew stronger. At its peak, the amplification could reach 2.5 times.
This effect rivaled that of a domain—and it was all thanks to the choice Yin Zhang had made back when he hunted spirit beasts in the Soul Hunting Forest with Ma Xiunuo. Had he absorbed the spirit ring of an ordinary spirit beast back then, such an effect would have been impossible.
There was no need to consider other possibilities.
"Sunny Day!"
Yin Zhang spat out a blazing sphere of light, which detonated violently in midair.
In an instant—
Yin Zhang, Qiangu Yunying, and the sub-dragon all reacted.
Although this soul skill was tailor-made for Yin Zhang and Qiangu Yunying, both fire-attribute Spirit Masters, it also slightly enhanced the sub-dragon's abilities.
"Ha!"
Qiangu Yunying seized the moment. Wielding her Flame-Plundering Spear, she slashed directly at a vulnerable point on the dragon's face.
The dragon hadn't anticipated the attack. It instinctively shut its eyes, but the strike still inflicted significant damage.
Its fury instantly escalated.
It had never imagined that such a tiny insect could actually injure it!
Unacceptable!
Seeing the enraged sub-dragon lunge toward Qiangu Yunying, Yin Zhang didn't hesitate. He let out a roar as his third spirit ring flashed.
"Third Soul Skill—Fire Dragon Evasion Kill!"
Fire Dragon Evasion Kill carried a lock-on effect. Yin Zhang had been uncertain whether it would work on a creature of this level—but to his surprise, the skill successfully locked onto the dragon.
The sub-dragon froze in place for just one and a half seconds.
The time was brief—
But more than enough.
"Boom!"
Yin Zhang collided with the dragon head-on. A deafening impact echoed through the valley, followed by violent shockwaves.
The sub-dragon was slammed into the ground with a thunderous crash, howling in pain.
Yin Zhang immediately prepared to press his advantage.
Being able to knock this sub-dragon down was partly luck. It had underestimated them, and its thick hide meant the attack hadn't caused serious damage.
At that moment—
[A choice has been detected for the host.]
First option:
This 56,000-year-old sub-dragon species Spirit Beast—the Fire-Winged Flying Dragon—has laid a true dragon egg. Spare its life and keep it alive to protect the dragon egg, which is about to hatch.
Reward: Level-One Spirit Power Boost Card
Second option:
Foolish mercy! Kill it, take the dragon egg, absorb its spirit ring, and advance to Spirit King!
Reward: Level-One Spirit Power Boost Card
Third option:
Abandon both the spirit ring and the dragon egg, embodying boundless compassion like a living Buddha.
Reward: Level-One Spirit Power Boost Card
Yin Zhang stared at the choices, stunned.
"Good heavens… so this thing is called the Fire-Winged Flying Dragon? Just from the name alone, you can tell it carries genuine dragon blood! And it even laid a true dragon egg!"
That meant the egg would hatch into a baby dragon—a true dragon!
The temptation was overwhelming.
Yin Zhang's breathing quickened.
As for the other two options, he didn't even consider them.
A joke.
The best outcome was right in front of him—and all three choices offered the exact same reward.
Without hesitation, Yin Zhang chose the first option.
With his decision made, he raised his dragon claw and dove toward the Fire-Winged Flying Dragon.
In his mind, he silently declared:
"I choose the first option!"
[Congratulations, host. Choice confirmed. The Level-One Spirit Power Boost Card has been stored in the system inventory.]
[Inventory]: Spirit Bone Age Enhancement Card (13,500 years), Level-One Spirit Power Boost Card
Under Yin Zhang's relentless assault—an unending barrage of solar-flame attacks—the Fire-Winged Flying Dragon gradually grew exhausted.
At last, Yin Zhang unleashed a decisive slash.
The dragon's massive head was severed.
It died in the valley.
Yin Zhang did not immediately absorb the Fire-Winged Flying Dragon's spirit ring. Instead, he led Qiangu Yunying toward a massive cave carved into the cliff face.
They stepped inside together.
At the deepest point of the cave, they finally discovered it—
A gigantic dragon egg.
The egg stood nearly three meters tall.
Yin Zhang swallowed hard.
In the past, he had obtained a dragon egg from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's treasure vault—one that was five meters long. He had devoured it, and it had greatly enhanced his strength.
But that egg had been dead.
The one before him was alive.
In Yin Zhang's perception, it radiated boundless vitality.
"Xiao Zhang… is this the Fire-Winged Flying Dragon's offspring? It's huge!"
Qiangu Yunying asked in awe.
Yin Zhang had already told her the dragon's name after the battle.
She stared at the egg, shock written across her face.
Yin Zhang nodded.
"Yes. And I don't know whether it's because I'm considered the father of this egg, or because its bloodline has evolved—but this isn't a sub-dragon like the Fire-Winged Flying Dragon."
"It's a true dragon."
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