33: Soul Bone!

Yu Mengzhang followed behind Yu Tianxin.

Yu Tianxin kept his head low, looking completely shell-shocked.

The two left the Family grounds and headed into a mountain forest two or three miles away, where a large stone served as a stone gate.

Yu Tianxin knocked on it a few times, and the stone gate opened.

“I obtained my second spirit ring here as well. Some Spirit Beasts are imprisoned inside, and for the thousand-year Spirit Beasts, they are mostly trying to find a way to produce Spirit Bones. I heard my... Second in Command say that when a Spirit Beast is in a state of extreme emotion, the probability of producing a Spirit Bone increases.”

Yu Tianxin led Yu Mengzhang inside.

The air was dry, and the firelight was bright.

Soon, two Spirit Master guards spotted them.

“Tianxin, why are you here?”

Yu Tianxin explained, “I... I want to see the newly captured Spirit Beast and gain some experience.”

The Spirit Master who spoke was a middle-aged man with a pale face. He chuckled, “You little brat, weren't you scared out of your wits when you came last time? You actually have the guts to come back?”

Yu Tianxin said awkwardly, “Uncle Xiao Dong, don't mention it...”

Uncle Xiao Dong smiled and glanced at Yu Mengzhang, not taking him seriously. He led the way, continuing to chat.

“You really should gain more experience. This Spirit Beast is being saved for you, so we’ll definitely keep it alive for a bit. It’s a pity we didn't find its cub; otherwise, we could definitely provoke it even more.”

“...” Yu Tianxin's face was stiff, and he didn't respond.

Uncle Xiao Dong, however, was in a talkative mood and continued, “There's a trick to these Spirit Beasts. They are very intelligent, so our punishments must also involve emotional torture. For example, let it out so it thinks it can escape, then catch it again. After a few times...”

“Enough! Uncle Xiao Dong! I don't want to hear any more!”

Yu Tianxin suddenly roared.

Uncle Xiao Dong was stunned for a moment. “What are you so excited about? This is nothing. Aside from that one accident years ago where a Single-Horned Thunder Dragon killed its guard and almost escaped, there haven't been any other mishaps.”

“...”

Yu Tianxin turned to look at Yu Mengzhang.

His face was filled with guilt, and tears welled in his eyes.

Yu Mengzhang, however, was very calm. Even after learning the truth about his parents' deaths, he didn't show much emotion.

Only his golden eyes flickered slightly under the illumination of the firelight.

Now, he finally knew the truth about his parents' deaths.

An accident, but one caused by the Family's mistake.

“Are the Spirit Beasts here for the general use of the Family?” Yu Mengzhang suddenly asked.

Uncle Xiao Dong looked at Yu Mengzhang in surprise. “How could that be? Only the core descendants of the direct line can use them. Since you two were able to come, you must be valued by the Second in Command. Don't spread the word once you leave.”

“...” Yu Tianxin opened his mouth, looking dejected.

“Why? Rearing Spirit Beasts to obtain Spirit Bones... isn't this benefit enough for the Family to approve?”

Yu Mengzhang asked calmly.

Uncle Xiao Dong sighed and complained, “If only the Second in Command were in charge, but we have to listen to the First Master. The First Master doesn't allow such things, rambling on about how it would invite retaliation from Spirit Beasts...”

As they spoke, the three finally arrived at the large underground dungeon.

A pungent smell of blood rushed into their nostrils.

Inside the cell, thick iron chains pulled from all directions, binding a massive Single-Horned Thunder Dragon tightly.

Its limbs were forced apart as it lay prone on the ground.

Its head was pinned to the floor, and its mouth was held open by an iron ball, with blood flowing out.

Its body was covered in many wounds, some deep enough to see bone.

The single horn on its forehead had been sliced off.

Nearby, a Spirit Master was using a sword to cut into its body, with many scales scattered on the ground.

The Single-Horned Thunder Dragon struggled violently, but bound by the chains, it could only move within a small range, letting out muffled roars and the creaking sound of clashing chains.

“...”

Yu Tianxin closed his eyes; this scene was too shocking.

He couldn't bear to look.

Yu Mengzhang was slightly startled as he looked into the Single-Horned Thunder Dragon's eyes, where there was only the dead silence of despair.

But when it saw Yu Mengzhang, a light of pleasant surprise appeared.

Because Yu Mengzhang carried the scent of the little Single-Horned Thunder Dragon.

And it was the scent of the living!

Instantly, a spark of life burst forth in the Single-Horned Thunder Dragon's eyes.

Uncle Xiao Dong suddenly rushed over to the torturing Spirit Master and kicked him aside.

“Get lost! You're so careless, don't you know the Single-Horned Thunder Dragon's heart is right in this area? You might have just stabbed it to death! Without enough torture, how could it possibly produce a Spirit Bone?”

Uncle Xiao Dong was exasperated and gave that Spirit Master several loud slaps.

The Spirit Master hurriedly admitted his mistake, not daring to argue.

“It's over, it's over. The Single-Horned Thunder Dragon we worked so hard to catch is really going to die now!”

Uncle Xiao Dong clutched his hair, fuming with rage.

Yu Tianxin stood in the distance, unable to bear watching. Even if it was just a Spirit Beast, killing it was one thing, but torture was too much.

Yu Mengzhang stepped forward and met the Single-Horned Thunder Dragon's gaze.

The life in the Single-Horned Thunder Dragon's eyes was fading rapidly.

The Spirit Master's blade had indeed severed its life force.

And now, its life was draining away... but under this torture, perhaps death was a release.

“Quick! Continue the torture! Make it suffer extreme pain before it dies! Stir its anus!”

“What are you all standing around for? Quick...!”

Uncle Xiao Dong roared his orders.

The surrounding Spirit Masters hurriedly moved forward to act.

Yu Mengzhang suddenly picked up a knife from the ground and plunged it into the Single-Horned Thunder Dragon's eye.

As it pierced into the brain, the light in the Single-Horned Thunder Dragon's other eye quickly extinguished.

Yet, it was at peace.

It had heard Yu Mengzhang's voice.

Its child would be taken in by Yu Mengzhang.

It would not suffer the same fate as itself.

Everyone's movements came to a screeching halt as they looked at Yu Mengzhang in shock.

They were about to strike the Single-Horned Thunder Dragon, but Yu Mengzhang had killed it directly?

A purple spirit ring slowly floated out from the Single-Horned Thunder Dragon's corpse.

Everyone's gaze focused on Uncle Xiao Dong.

Uncle Xiao Dong's already furious face grew even darker as he stared intently at Yu Mengzhang.

“Do you have any idea what you've done?!”

“There was originally a sliver of hope to get a Spirit Bone, and now it's all gone!”

Uncle Xiao Dong spat as he spoke, striding toward Yu Mengzhang.

Seeing this, Yu Tianxin hurriedly blocked the way in front of Yu Mengzhang.

“Uncle Xiao Dong, you... don't do anything reckless! Mengzhang was specially invited by Grandfather; he is an honored guest. Even if he killed the Single-Horned Thunder Dragon, there won't be any problem!”

Yu Tianxin shouted.

“...”

Uncle Xiao Dong stopped in his tracks, furrowing his brows and saying unwillingly, “But this is too wasteful! This Single-Horned Thunder Dragon had a cub. Once we caught that little brat, there might have been a thirty percent chance of getting a Spirit Bone. We would have succeeded...”

Before he could finish speaking, a sudden cry of surprise erupted from the surrounding Spirit Masters.

Within the Single-Horned Thunder Dragon's spirit ring, a blue sphere of light slowly rose.

It was... a Spirit Bone!