What did Zhu Ziyang see?
A dragon!
No—more precisely, it was a silver giant wolf on the verge of becoming a dragon. In the dim light, Zhu Ziyang could clearly make out the creature's appearance: silver dragon scales covering its body, a pair of silver dragon wings on its flanks, and a dragon horn on its wolfish head. Thankfully, its eyes were shut, giving Zhu Ziyang a chance to flee.
Without hesitation, suppressing his fear and trembling body, he turned and quietly made his way out of the cave. Every movement was delicate—he didn't dare wake the beast.
The five or so meters to the exit felt like an eternity.
Once outside, Zhu Ziyang immediately bolted toward his village. He had to inform Zhu Changhe and Hong Zhen, and they in turn needed to notify Dragon City so that high-level soul masters could be deployed.
Because that creature was clearly a 100,000-year soul beast!
Zhu Ziyang had recognized it: an Extreme North Dragon Wolf, a sub-dragon beast with true dragon blood. Although this silver Dragon Wolf looked slightly different from the traditional species, Zhu Ziyang had no doubt. It had dragon wings, a one-foot-long horn, and was on the brink of evolving into a true dragon. It was a 100,000-year Dragon Wolf!
He sprinted at full speed toward Beihe Village.
A 100,000-year soul beast!
If it rampaged in Anyang City, which didn't even have a single Soul King, it would be a catastrophe. Zhu Ziyang didn't dare hope it was a "kind" soul beast—even if it was, such kindness was not for humans.
But fate had other plans.
He hadn't even run ten meters when he froze in place.
A surge of unprecedented terror flooded his mind. Were it not for the pride instilled by the Great Luminous Art, he would have collapsed then and there.
Standing before him was a silver giant wolf—five meters long and nearly two meters tall—with silver vertical pupils staring straight at him. Its body was covered in silver dragon scales, and its wings drooped at its sides.
Below one of its wings, a horrifying gray wound extended from its waist to its belly. If not for the thin layer of ice sealing the injury, its organs would likely have spilled out.
Though overwhelmed by fear, Zhu Ziyang could still discern—thanks to his martial soul's ability—that the gray energy was death energy. And not foreign death energy, but the beast's own.
This meant it was dying.
That only made him more terrified. A dying 100,000-year soul beast was unpredictable—it might even destroy a city in its final moments.
He didn't dare move.
Before such a being, he—a mere Soul Elder—was utterly insignificant. Even a dying 100,000-year beast could kill him with just its aura.
Was this the end?
Was this how a genius like him would die—devoured by a wolf before even having a chance to shine?
Countless thoughts flashed through his mind.
But the Silver Dragon Wolf didn't strike.
Instead, it looked at him with curiosity, sniffing him with its massive head. That action nearly scared Zhu Ziyang to death—he thought he was about to be eaten alive.
Yet the beast didn't act violently.
Out of the wolf's view, a mixture of joy, resolve, hatred, and unwillingness flashed in its eyes.
Then, a cold, female voice echoed in Zhu Ziyang's mind:
"Are you afraid?"
Zhu Ziyang blinked, stunned. He looked toward the voice and saw the wolf gazing at him with interest.
In a burst of defiant energy, he shouted,
"Of course I'm afraid! A man can die, but not be humiliated! If you're going to kill me, just do it! Don't toy with me!"
The wolf tilted its head.
"Why would I kill you?" it asked with confusion.
"Then… what do you want, uh… Sister Dragon Wolf?" Zhu Ziyang replied quickly, sensing a glimmer of hope. Pride forgotten, he clung to life.
"Release your dragon martial soul."
The Silver Dragon Wolf ignored his flattery and got straight to the point.
Though filled with doubt, Zhu Ziyang complied immediately.
He activated his Ice Tyrant Dragon martial soul—frost-white scales appeared on his arms and cheeks, and his eyes turned into dragon-like vertical pupils. His body grew taller and visibly stronger.
The wolf's eyes lit up.
"Ice Tyrant Dragon… It's destiny," it murmured to itself.
"What?" Zhu Ziyang asked, not quite hearing.
The Silver Dragon Wolf looked at him seriously and said:
"Human, you are fortunate—because I will offer myself to you as a sacrifice."
"…What?"
Zhu Ziyang's jaw dropped in disbelief. Was this some kind of twisted dream?
A 100,000-year soul beast... offering itself to him?
That's the kind of thing even fantasy novels wouldn't dare write!
"I know you've noticed—I'm fatally wounded," the Silver Dragon Wolf said calmly.
"My vengeance remains unfulfilled. If I sacrifice myself to you, you must take my revenge."
Zhu Ziyang couldn't speak.
"My bloodline and your Ice Tyrant Dragon are highly compatible," she continued.
"With my sacrifice, your martial soul will directly evolve into a True Dragon. That is a blessing few will ever receive. And if luck favors you, you may even inherit my extreme attribute and fortune power."
Still in shock, Zhu Ziyang said nothing.
What could he say? Did he even have the right to refuse?
"Before that, you must swear an oath!"
Her eyes gleamed sharply.
"Swear that you will avenge me. What is your name?"
"…Zhu Ziyang."
"Good. Now repeat after me."
Her eyes glowed with mystical silver light.
"I, Zhu Ziyang, swear upon the Will of the World—"
"I, Zhu Ziyang, swear upon the Will of the World—"
"Within one hundred years—"
"Within one hundred years—"
"I will avenge the Silver Dragon Wolf. Should I fail, I shall perish."
"I will avenge the Silver Dragon Wolf. Should I fail, I shall perish."
The moment he finished, a silver dragon silhouette shot out of her eyes, soaring into the sky and vanishing.
At the same time, a silver mark appeared briefly on Zhu Ziyang's brow, then faded.
He suddenly understood:
The oath had taken effect. A binding curse was now branded upon his soul.
"Very good."
The Silver Dragon Wolf was pleased. Her dying eyes shone with warmth and sorrow.
"Do not forget your promise."
She was a creature of destiny blessed by the heavens. If not for the dire situation, she would never have chosen this path. But if she had to die, she would not go alone—the traitor would die too.
Her gaze turned cold and resolute.
Then, to Zhu Ziyang's shock, her massive body burst into silver flames—ethereal, dreamlike fire that wasn't hot, but somehow both sacred and terrifying.
In seconds, she was engulfed.
His second martial soul—the Ice Tyrant Dragon—emerged.
The frost-white dragon scales on his body caught the silver flames, igniting.
"According to our agreement, I will become the soul ring of your Ice Tyrant Dragon.
I will try my best to evolve your bloodline. How far you go depends on you."
Her voice echoed in his ears.
"Even if you can't inherit my extreme attribute—you must become a True Dragon!"
With those final words, the silver flames blazed even brighter.
Her figure vanished, replaced by a dragon-shaped flame that shot into Zhu Ziyang's body.
"Don't forget—avenge me!"
Her last voice rang out.
Then, Zhu Ziyang lost consciousness.