Douluo Dalu II: The Peerless Tang Sect

Chapter 9: The Bone Scythe Demon and the First Soul Ring! (Please vote!)

the next day.

Zhu Changhe packed up the camp and led Zhu Ziyang into Tianhui Canyon.

Skyward Canyon runs north-south and is quite long and narrow. They entered from the north, and Skyward Canyon extends south all the way to Ironclad City, a full 600 kilometers long.

The father and son entered the canyon, where they were greeted by jagged rocks, tall trees, dense weeds, and sparse skeletons—a desolate and lifeless scene.

"Yangyang, stay close to me and don't wander off. It's dangerous here, understand?" Zhu Changhe said seriously, repeatedly reminding him.

"I know." Zhu Ziyang knew this wasn't the time for him to show off, so he obediently agreed and followed closely behind Zhu Changhe.

They walked westward along the mountainside. About five kilometers to the west, in the forest area at the northern exit of the canyon, there was a spirit beast called the Blazing Mantis. This was Zhu Ziyang's first choice spirit beast for his first spirit ring, so they naturally wouldn't miss such an opportunity.

"Huh? What are those? Scythe Bone Demons?" Zhu Ziyang suddenly stopped in his tracks, noticing a group of strangely shaped soul beasts not far ahead. They resembled kangaroos, except their forelimbs were shaped like giant scythes, and their skeletons were enormous with very little muscle, looking like a skeleton covered in a skin covered in white fur. These were the source of Zhu Changhe's first soul ring: Scythe Bone Demons, soul beasts with incredibly hard bones and forelimbs capable of easily splitting boulders.

The group of sickle-bone demons they encountered numbered about ten, all with less than a hundred years of cultivation, and were running frantically eastward.

"There just happens to be one of these sickle-bone demons that suits you. These are the soul beasts that your father originally preferred. What do you think?" Zhu Changhe said, looking at Zhu Ziyang.

"How could that be! I'm very firm!" Zhu Ziyang resolutely rejected his father's suggestion.

"In that case, let's continue." Zhu Changhe said helplessly, but he didn't force him.

The father and son set off again, but before they had gone two hundred meters, they encountered seven or eight groups of sickle-bone demons. They were all in groups of ten or more, running away in a panicked and hurried manner, as if some terrifying being was chasing them.

Upon noticing this, Zhu Ziyang and his son Zhu Changhe immediately stopped in their tracks. They exchanged a glance and saw the wariness in each other's eyes.

Zhu Changhe said, "Something's not right. A powerful soul beast might have appeared in that direction, otherwise these sickle-bone demons wouldn't be running out in such large groups. Yangyang, let's change direction!"

"Okay!" Zhu Ziyang agreed without hesitation. He valued his life very much, and the safest approach in the face of such an obviously dangerous unknown situation was naturally to take a detour.

If Zhu Changhe were a Soul Emperor or Soul Saint, Zhu Ziyang might still have the idea of ​​having a fortuitous encounter and continue moving forward. However, Zhu Changhe is only a Great Soul Master. If they were to encounter a Soul Beast with over a thousand years of cultivation, they would be doomed. There was no way he could refuse.

The father and son reached a consensus and immediately turned around and headed back the way they came. They decided to go to the exit first to observe, and only go in after confirming that there was nothing serious happening in the canyon.

However, before he had walked a hundred meters, a casual glance back by Zhu Ziyang gave him a sudden flash of inspiration, which sparked a bold idea.

"Dad, wait!" He stopped and called out to Zhu Changhe.

"What's wrong?" Zhu Changhe was taken aback and looked at Zhu Ziyang with some confusion, asking.

"I want that soul beast behind me!" Zhu Ziyang turned around and pointed to a soul beast that was slowly walking towards them from four or five hundred meters away. His gaze was firm, as if he had been bewitched.

"Huh?" Zhu Changhe was a little confused, but he still followed Zhu Ziyang's hand and looked over. Once he saw it, he immediately realized he was at a loss.

It was a hundred-year-old scythe-bone demon. Although its appearance was slightly different from other scythe-bone demons, its distinctive pair of scythe-like forelimbs were unmistakable. He looked at Zhu Ziyang, his tone questioning, and said, "Are you sure?"

"Yes! I'm sure!" Zhu Ziyang nodded and said. He was certain that Zhu Changhe had mistaken the soul beast for a sickle-bone demon, but that was fine, as it would save him from opposing his decision once he knew the truth.

"Alright! You wait here, I'll go catch it!" Zhu Changhe gave Zhu Ziyang a deep look and said.

Then, he charged towards the soul beast he believed to be a Scythe Bone Demon. Without any hesitation, Zhu Changhe instantly summoned his martial soul, and two yellow soul rings appeared behind him. The second soul ring lit up instantly as Zhu Changhe moved.

The second soul skill of the Obscure Scythe: Iron Blade Slash!

The 50-centimeter-long blade of the Obsidian Scythe instantly acquired a sharp aura and slashed at the seemingly scythe-bone demon soul beast, which was still in a dazed state.

A powerful attack from a Great Soul Master instantly brought this Soul Beast, with its mere hundred years of cultivation, to the brink of death. In fact, if Zhu Changhe hadn't held back at the last moment, it probably would have already died.

Having landed a successful blow, Zhu Changhe immediately grabbed the dying soul beast and rushed back to Zhu Ziyang's side, saying breathlessly, "Yangyang, hurry, let's go, we'll talk after we get out of the canyon!"

"Hmm!" Seeing that he had already obtained the soul beast, Zhu Ziyang no longer hesitated and followed Zhu Changhe's footsteps, running towards the outside of the canyon.

As he ran, his gaze couldn't help but fall on the soul beast in Zhu Changhe's hand.

This soul beast, which looks very much like the Scythe Bone Demon, is indeed related to the Scythe Bone Demon and is the reason why the Scythe Bone Demon horde suddenly fled. It is a variant of the Scythe Bone Demon, the White Bone Scythe Demon.

Judging by the name alone, it might seem no different from the Scythe Demon, but Zhu Ziyang knew very well that the White Bone Scythe Demon was far more powerful than the Scythe Demon.

The Scythe Bone Demon is merely an ordinary soul beast, while the White Bone Scythe Demon is a high-level soul beast possessing the Death attribute. Although they are mutated Scythe Bone Demons, they are two different species. If a Scythe Bone Demon suffocates during childbirth, it may mutate into a White Bone Scythe Demon. The White Bone Scythe Demon, possessing the Death attribute, will frantically slaughter Scythe Bone Demons as if driven by revenge. Under normal circumstances, a White Bone Scythe Demon with a hundred years of cultivation is far superior to one with five hundred years of cultivation, not to mention that the White Bone Scythe Demon possesses the Death attribute, which is extremely effective against the Scythe Bone Demon!

That's why the scythe demons are so afraid of the white bone scythe demons.

It was also because the White Bone Scythe Demon possessed the attribute of death that Zhu Ziyang suddenly changed his mind.

He suddenly wondered what it would be like if his Radiant Scythe Martial Soul possessed true death attributes.

The death attribute of the Radiant Scythe is very weak, completely incomparable to the light attribute. But if this weak death attribute were to become a true death attribute, would the Radiant Scythe martial soul, possessing both light and death attributes, be promoted to a top-tier martial soul?

This idea, like a devil, tempted Zhu Ziyang's mind time and time again, ultimately leading him to make this decision.

This decision will affect Zhu Ziyang's entire life.

The two quickly emerged from the canyon and arrived at the place where they had camped the previous night.

Zhu Changhe tossed the dying skeletal scythe demon to the ground, then looked at Zhu Ziyang and asked again, "Ziyang, have you thought it through? This mutated skeletal scythe demon only has a hundred years of cultivation, which isn't really suitable for you. If you really want a skeletal scythe demon, Dad can help you catch one with four hundred years of cultivation!"

"I've made up my mind, this is it!" Zhu Ziyang answered firmly, his eyes never leaving the White Bone Scythe Demon. The thought kept swirling in his mind, as if he was worried that the demon would change his mind.

"Alright!" Zhu Changhe sighed and said, "Although I don't understand why you insist on having this Scythe-Bone Demon, I still hope you won't force yourself because of me!"

"No need to say more, Dad! I have my reasons for choosing it. You'll understand once I've absorbed its spirit ring." Zhu Ziyang finally raised his head and looked at Zhu Changhe.

Zhu Changhe saw determination in his eyes, but helplessly, he could only acquiesce to Zhu Ziyang's decision.

Zhu Ziyang suppressed his excitement and trepidation, summoned the Radiant Scythe Martial Soul, and aimed it at the head of the Bone Scythe Demon. With a "whoosh," the tip of the blade pierced through the Bone Scythe Demon's eye and into its brain. The Bone Scythe Demon's body twitched a few times, and then became completely still. A pale yellow spirit ring floated out from its corpse.

A newly born Bone Scythe Demon perished before it even had a chance to show its true power.

"Alright, go ahead and absorb the spirit ring. I'll protect you." Zhu Changhe nodded in satisfaction at Zhu Ziyang's decisive action and said.

Zhu Ziyang sat down directly, placed the Radiant Scythe on his lap, focused his gaze on the yellow soul ring, and mobilized the soul power within his body to draw it in front of him.

He began to absorb his first spirit ring.

(End of this chapter)