Unlock Kamen Riders in Douluo's Way Ch 46

【Poison】

With a flash of light, the off-white Poisonous Scorpion Progrisekey regained its original purple hue. Yin Xiaoya chuckled, turning his attention back to Ma Hongjun.

The young man still sat cross-legged on the ground, maintaining his Kamen Rider Souki form. Souki's signature weapon, the Eagle Head Sound Hammer, lay across his lap. Above him, a yellow soul ring was gradually integrating into his body—the soul ring of the Poison Fire Needle Scorpion, possessing a cultivation of only 400 years.

The remaining 300 years of cultivation, along with the scorpion's body, had fused into and unlocked the Progrisekey of the Spiked Scorpion. This purple key, adorned with a scorpion pattern, rested in Yin Xiaoya's hand, serving as the energy source for Kamen Rider Horobi's transformation.

Yeah, the whole reason I jumped down here was to trick the Scorpion into sacrificing itself. I'd even summoned Mantis, an insect-type soul beast of considerable strength, to persuade… er, no, fool the little guy, who’s barely seven hundred years old.

The scorpion's willing sacrifice unlocked a Kamen Rider's power and, more importantly, benefited Ma Hongjun. His first soul ring could only safely absorb a maximum of 100 years of power, which was already pushing the limit. But, with the addition of two conditions, that limit vanished.

First, the soul beast had to sacrifice itself willingly. A soul ring produced in this manner would not only lack backlash but also alleviate some of the pressure on the absorber. This raised Ma Hongjun's absorption limit to at least 300 years.

Second, he had to absorb the soul ring in the state of Kamen Rider Souki. Souki derived his power from the Azure Flame Heaven Griffin, so the Griffin’s essence within Ma Hongjun could also help relieve pressure, though only by about 100 years.

Combined, these factors allowed Ma Hongjun to absorb 400 years. It was actually a great start, even most Soul Masters’ first rings weren’t that strong.

As for the remaining 300 years of power, it merged with the scorpion's body to unlock Kamen Rider Horobi's Needle Scorpion Progrisekey.

All this because I saw that Poison Fire Needle Scorpion and realized it matched the system's mark. Turns out, it was a soul beast that could unlock a Kamen Rider!

[The Forceriser used for transformation is not exclusive to the main Rider, so it can be obtained with points. It's a pity that 300 years of soul beast power is only enough to unlock the form of the Sting Scorpion. The basic value can't reach its peak. Please continue to work hard, Host, and try to unlock the level of the Ark Scorpion one day.]

"Ark Scorpion? Well… the shape isn't great. It depends on fate. Honestly, I’d rather unlock Kamen Rider Vulcan. Speaking of points, how many do I have now?"

[The subjugation of the Azure Flame Heaven Griffin, the birth of Souki, and the unlocking of the Sting Scorpion are still being cleared. The current host has accumulated 70,000 available points, and a chance to draw three times in a row.]

"70,000? That’s it?"

[Most of them come from the incident of punishing evil soul masters. With so many points, it's time for the host to exchange for a rider machine.]

Yin Xiaoya nodded. "I'll change after I finish my work in these lava mountains."

Meanwhile, Ma Hongjun finally completed the absorption of the soul ring under the watchful eyes of the group. As the soul ring completely entered his body, he reverted from his Kamen Rider Souki form. To everyone's surprise, he remained the same chubby little fat man. Even he seemed surprised by this.

"What? I thought I didn't need to lose weight anymore. I thought I'd just become tall and handsome."

Tang Wu, standing nearby, retorted, "How can you get away with taking all the good things?"

"Ah! Senior!" Ma Hongjun embraced Yin Xiaoya, tears streaming down his face. "You are my Ma Hongjun's savior!"

Yin Xiaoya pushed him away with a look of disgust. "Seeing how excited you are, it seems that absorbing the 400-year spirit ring has indeed brought some changes. Tell me about it."

Ma Hongjun, still brimming with excitement, exclaimed, "My martial soul was a pheasant. Not only was my talent extremely poor, but even cultivating soul power was slow. But after fusing with the 400-year Poison Fire Needle Scorpion, everything changed. Yes, my martial soul mutated again, and this time, it was for the better!"

Su Xuan shook her head with a wry smile, correcting his mistake. "Whether a mutation is positive or negative is innate. Changes that occur after awakening aren't mutations, but evolutions."

Hearing this, not only Ma Hongjun but Fang Xin also expressed curiosity. Her martial soul was also a mutant martial soul—a positive one from the start.

"Ms. Su, is there any difference between mutation and evolution?"

"The difference is significant. Congenital mutation is individual. The change to the martial soul is applied only to that person. Even negative mutations are rarely passed on to future generations. Acquired evolutionary degeneration is hereditary and will affect future generations. That's why the entire Luo family celebrated with such joy when Pupu's martial soul evolved from a Wing Viper Dragon to an Emerald Dragon."

After listening to Su Xuan's explanation, Ma Hongjun and Fang Xin wore different expressions. One was glad that what happened to him wouldn't affect future generations, while the other looked regretful.

Yin Xiaoya ruffled Fang Xin's hair. "It's a pity that the Orb Dragon Mirror can't be handed down? Don't think too much. You can always find a way to make it evolve again as you grow. What’s the big deal? And you, little fat man, what are you so happy about? Your martial soul evolved now, which means that your descendants will never be able to return to the phoenix."

"Ah? Is that so?"

Ma Hongjun then cast a questioning look at Su Xuan, receiving an affirmative nod with a suppressed smile in return.

"So it depends on how strong your martial soul is now. What if it becomes something even better than a Raging Phoenix? Let's hear about it first."

Ma Hongjun sighed with a dejected look on his face. "My current martial soul has changed... er, no, it has evolved into a Poisonous Turkey. It has indeed broken the various restrictions of the previous pheasant martial soul, and it has directly raised my soul power to level 18. But how could it surpass the Fiery Phoenix? That is a top-tier beast martial soul. Now my descendants have no chance."

"Why are you so discouraged? Since your sect abandoned and humiliated you, are you planning to lick their boots now?" Yin Xiaoya patted him on the back of the head. "If you're ambitious, put in more effort. Let your martial soul evolve again. If it doesn't work once, do it twice. If it doesn't work twice, do it three times, until you surpass the Fiery Phoenix and let your descendants be proud of you. Wouldn't that be more honorable?"

Hearing his words, Ma Hongjun's previous depression vanished. "Senior is right! Screw the Fire Phoenix! I will definitely surpass it in the future!"

Su Xuan walked to Yin Xiaoya's side and whispered, "I've noticed that you seem to be good at teaching kids."

"Oh? Really? It's actually very simple. There's no problem that a bowl of poisonous chicken soup can't solve. If one bowl isn't enough, have two."

[Alas… you are truly hopeless, Host.]

"What's wrong?"

At this moment, one of the teachers stood up and said, "Okay, Ma Hongjun's soul ring problem has been solved. We're almost ready to leave here."

Yin Xiaoya quickly stepped forward to discuss. "Please wait a moment. I still have some things to do here. Can you give me three days? You just need to wait for me outside the lava mountain range."

Su Xuan asked, "Since you still have something to do, let us stay with you. It's too dangerous to be alone."

"No, it was for Ma Hongjun’s sake before, so everyone accompanied and protected me. But what I need to do next is my own business, and I shouldn't trouble you anymore. We have to go to other places, and we should let the children and teachers rest. I can handle my affairs by myself. One's enough."

Strictly speaking, only Yin Xiaoya could go to the places marked by the system to find the soul beasts that could unlock Kamen Riders. According to the system, those that were marked were targets he could subdue with his current ability, so he didn't need to trouble others.

Seeing his persistence, Su Xuan conceded, "In that case, we'll retreat to the town closest to the lava mountain and wait for you. I have this little guy, so I remember that we should be able to contact you, right?"

She held up the Batta Candroid that had led them, showing that she trusted Yin Xiaoya. "Even if you didn't say it, I was going to suggest it. When I'm done here, I'll tell you through it."

"No, you should contact me at least once a day during these three days. If you don't, I'll let this little guy lead the way to you."

There was a hint of sternness in Su Xuan's tone, prompting Yin Xiaoya to nod subconsciously. After getting his response, Su Xuan smiled again. "If that's the case, then we'll leave here first. Be careful."

"Huh? Well, okay."

Watching everyone leave, Yin Xiaoya shook his head.

"Alright, time to get busy. System, tell me the nearest point."

[The nearest point is eighteen kilometers away.]

"That far? Looks like I still need a Rider Machine. Otherwise, too much time will be wasted on the road. I remember that Meteor's Rider Machine can be used with the Meteor Photosphere when transforming. How many points does it cost?"

[Kamen Rider Meteor's car needs 5000 points.]

"Only 5000 points?"

[This car doesn't have many special functions, so it is relatively cheap.]

"Alright."

With a flash of light, a motorcycle with a satellite-inspired design appeared before him. This was the first time he had owned his own car since he was born. He sat on it excitedly. Although he had never driven one before, with the system's help, he instantly understood how to control it. As for the driver's license issue, it wasn't something he needed to worry about in this world.

With a roaring engine, Yin Xiaoya vanished into the rising dust and smoke.

He didn't know that just half an hour after parting ways, Su Xuan and the others, retreating toward the outer edge of the lava mountain, stumbled upon several corpses—all mummified.

They recognized these people. Another team of soul masters had passed them when they had just entered the lava mountain.

"It was the work of evil soul masters." A teacher, who had finished examining the corpses, said grimly. "These corpses are all above the third-ring Soul Master level. The strongest was even a fifth-ring Spirit King. Whoever attacked a team of this level must have been at least a sixth-ring Spirit Emperor."

"Bastards! Are these guys already so brazen?"

"If there were only one of them, we would still have a chance to fight. But there is obviously more than one. If we stay here, we'll also be in danger. Speed up and go back to town. Tell the Soul Master Guild about what happened and let them assemble a team of Soul Kings to deal with them."

The teachers quickly made a decision, but they didn't expect Su Xuan to request to stay.

"If there's such a high-level evil soul master here, I can't leave Yin Xiaoya alone inside."

"There's no need for you to stay. Isn't there a Candroid who can contact him? He shouldn't be far away now. Just have him come back."

"It's because he's not far away that I need to go there. If he runs into an evil soul master alone, it'll be trouble." With that, Su Xuan handed the Candroid locust to another teacher. "You take this. After I join him, I can contact you as soon as possible if something goes wrong, so you can send a rescue party. Don't argue. Act quickly! It'll be difficult to find him if he goes far away."

Without giving anyone a chance to object, she ran back the way they had come.

"This… Sigh, when did this girl become so impulsive? She didn't use her brain before making a decision? Yin Xiaoya isn't a Soul Master, and evil soul masters will never target him."

"Alright, alright, this is the end of the matter. Let's not delay. There are still a few children here. Let's escort them out first."

So everyone quickened their pace and headed toward the periphery.

Along the way, Fang Xin also looked back worriedly, but she never saw either of them.

"Is it really going to be okay?"

"Don't worry. With Senior around, those evil soul masters aren't worth mentioning."

Ma Hongjun, having personally experienced the power of Kamen Rider, had become very confident in Yin Xiaoya's strength.

"Don't worry, guys. Even though my soul master strength isn't as good as yours, as Kamen Rider Souki, I'm much stronger than you now. If we really meet, I'll protect you! Come on, follow me. Hammer time!"

Tang Wu rolled her eyes at his boasting. "Who wants you to protect me? Who wants your hammer? I can handle things myself! I have a hammer too."

Xiao San pestered Ma Hongjun to see his transformation device. "Can it make me look different?"

"Go, go! Don't even think about it! You're a guy with a plant spirit. What are you doing with a fire attribute?" Pushing Xiao San away, Ma Hongjun sighed and said, "Actually, Senior asked me to stay with him. After all, I'm also a potential Kamen Rider."

Hearing this, Fang Xin, who was at the end of the group, took out her Advent Deck, which had not yet been unlocked.

"If… if I were a Kamen Rider now, would I be holding you back, Brother Xiaoya?"