Soul Land:The Dragon King's God of Nature

"The Skull of Starry Blessings!"

Jing Shaoyu was visibly astonished. This was a ten-thousand-year-old spirit bone, and not just any spirit bone—it was a head spirit bone, second only in rarity to external and torso spirit bones. He couldn't quite grasp what Xu Daoheng and Xu Mingcheng's intentions were.

This skull seemed more suited for Xu Xiaoyan, so why was it being presented to him, a mere first-time visitor?

He looked at them with a puzzled expression.

Noticing his confusion, Xu Daoheng's voice took on a somber tone. "Shaoyu, perhaps you've heard of our family's origins. The Xu family descends from the royal line of the Xu Dynasty of the Star Luo Empire, over ten thousand years ago."

"I have heard that," Shaoyu nodded.

"Well, the truth is that our family's lineage goes back even further, to an age of even greater splendor," Xu Daoheng continued. "Over twenty thousand years ago, during the Wuhun Hall era, our Xu family was one of the six great sects on the continent. Our Star Crown Martial Spirit was as renowned as the Clear Sky Hammer, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon—super martial spirits of the highest order."

Listening to Xu Daoheng's voice, filled with pride and nostalgia, Shaoyu's mind raced, recalling old memories. He knew that the Star Crown martial spirit was indeed ancient. In fact, the Star Crown was one of the six symbols on the emblem of Wuhun Hall. But what did this spirit bone have to do with all that? Could it really be an artifact handed down from the Star Crown Sect era?

"Sadly, time changes all things," Xu Daoheng sighed, his face showing a hint of sorrow. "The once-glorious Star Crown Sect has scattered, and our once-proud Star Crown Martial Spirit has dwindled to the Ice Staff. This Skull of Starry Blessings belonged to the first patriarch of the Star Crown Sect. After his passing, it became a legacy passed down through generations of sect masters. Yet, with the fall of the Star Crown Sect and the Star Luo Empire, this spirit bone ended up with our branch, preserved here in Eastsea City for generations."

"Uncle Xu, I have a question." Jing Shaoyu spoke up. "Haven't you tried to fuse with this spirit bone yourselves?"

"Of course we have!" Xu Mingcheng replied, letting out a wry smile. "Unfortunately, every attempt failed. The first patriarch left instructions saying that only those who awaken the Star Crown Martial Spirit, or other astral-themed spirits, could fuse with it. Initially, we thought this was merely a warning to prevent abuse, but we soon realized it was a genuine restriction."

"Yes," Xu Daoheng continued. "Our branch founder was the youngest son of a former Star Crown sect master. He didn't inherit the Star Crown Martial Spirit but a variant called the Star Staff. Ever since, our family has inherited the Star Staff, but no one has ever awakened it in its true form—until Xiaoyan."

Shaoyu could only nod in understanding, muttering to himself, "Variant spirits are indeed difficult to stabilize through inheritance."

"Precisely!" The Xu father and son shared a look of agreement. "That's why, when we discovered that Xiaoyan's spirit had evolved into the Star Staff, we saw it as nothing short of a miracle, and why we're so grateful to you, Shaoyu."

"But shouldn't this spirit bone be given to Xiaoyan?" Shaoyu asked, even more perplexed now.

At that, Xu Mingcheng laughed awkwardly and scratched his head. "Oh, it seems I mixed up the boxes. This box is actually for you, Shaoyu."

He retrieved the original box, replacing it with an identical one and handed it to Shaoyu.

"...Really?" Shaoyu thought, slightly bemused. The finance minister of Eastsea City can mix up boxes?

"Don't worry about it, Shaoyu!" Xu Mingcheng tried to cover his embarrassment. "Let's just say it was an opportunity to learn about the Xu family's history. You would've needed to know this eventually anyway, so consider it a bit of background knowledge."

"Sigh," Xu Daoheng shook his head, exasperated. "Shaoyu, forgive him. Your uncle had a high fever when he was young, and I didn't catch it in time. It left him with a few… gaps in judgment, as you've seen. It's truly a family tragedy."

The elder's words wiped the smile off Xu Mingcheng's face, leaving him staring at his father with a look of disbelief. Is this really how a father talks about his own son?

Clearing his throat to dispel the tension, Shaoyu turned his attention to the new box, opening it. Inside lay another spirit bone, also a head bone. Unlike the ethereal aura of the Skull of Starry Blessings, this one was imbued with a calmer, gentler energy. Its faint blue glow reminded Shaoyu of the vast ocean.

"This is the Skull of the Phantom Sea," Xu Daoheng explained. "It came from a seventy-thousand-year-old Phantom Sea Ghost Shark, a spirit beast with both mental and dark attributes, known for its illusion-casting abilities. This skull retains its innate ability, the 'Sea of Illusions.'"

The Sea of Illusions allowed its user to trap an enemy's mind within a dreamlike seascape, inducing a trance that could eventually exhaust the target's mental strength.

"A Phantom Sea Ghost Shark's head bone!" Shaoyu was shocked. In an era where spirit beasts were increasingly rare, every spirit bone was priceless. For the Xu family to casually offer such a valuable artifact was staggering.

"Shaoyu, this spirit bone is our family's gesture of thanks. Though it hardly repays the debt we owe you, we hope you will accept it," Xu Mingcheng said sincerely.

"This is too much," Shaoyu instinctively protested. "I can't possibly accept something so precious."

A ten-thousand-year head spirit bone, invaluable by any measure, was practically a treasure of myth. How could they simply offer such a priceless item to him?

"Sigh, Shaoyu, it seems you don't fully grasp the importance of the Star Staff to the Xu family." Xu Daoheng shook his head with a soft sigh. "When the Star Crown Sect split, its main lineage ended, and six smaller branches went their separate ways, each taking a legacy spirit bone and pledging that if any descendant ever awakened the Star Crown or an astral spirit, they could reclaim the other bones and revive the sect's legacy."

Shaoyu's gaze turned thoughtful, and he murmured, "A set of spirit bones…"

"Precisely," Xu Daoheng nodded. "It's the Star Crown's spirit bone set. Given that Xiaoyan has awakened the Star Staff, not only does this represent a talented new generation for the Xu family, but also the potential for us to reclaim the Star Crown Sect's name and the full spirit bone set."

"Shaoyu, this bone is rightfully yours." Xu Mingcheng added, "We'll need your help when Xiaoyan seeks out the other branches for the remaining bones. This gift merely reflects that commitment."

Hearing this, Shaoyu's lips twitched slightly. It's one thing to expect me to support Xiaoyan, but saying it so openly, like you already see me as family…

Xu Daoheng rolled his eyes at his son's lack of subtlety. Turning to Shaoyu, he said, "Shaoyu, please take it. Whether you use it yourself or give it to someone else, it's yours. Or, perhaps your teacher would have insights into it."

"Alright then, I won't refuse. Thank you, Grandpa Xu and Uncle Xu," Shaoyu said, storing the Skull of the Phantom Sea into his Tianfeng Ring.

The elder's final suggestion made it clear why they had such confidence in him—they knew of his connection to his teacher, Leng Yaozhu. It seemed that the news of him being her disciple had spread to them.

It now seemed that five people in Eastsea City knew of Leng Yaozhu's identity as an Ultimate Douluo: Ji Changming, Ouyang Jian, Xu Daoheng, Xu Mingcheng, and himself. Although his mother and Xiaoyan were aware of Leng Yaozhu as his teacher, they didn't know of her rank.

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