Chen Yi slowly stood up. Having sat cross-legged for so long, his body was a little stiff, but a surge of determination and joy welled up in his heart. He looked at the four elders surrounding him—faces still full of worry—and solemnly bowed his head.
"Elders, Father, Aunt, and Seventh Elder, you were all concerned. Chen Yi is grateful."
Chen Zhen stepped forward, placing both hands on his son's shoulders, his eyes sweeping up and down anxiously. "Don't say such foolish things. Tell me, what's going on with the black pearl that entered your body? Are you uncomfortable? How do you feel?"
Chen Zhen's rough, large hands instinctively wanted to probe his son's soul, but hesitated, not wanting to disturb him. Looking into his father's unconcealed anxiety, the worried glances of Hong Yue and Zhang Tao nearby, and even the always serious Elder Zhang's eyes, Chen Yi felt a gentle warmth fill his heart.
"Father, don't worry. That pearl is not a disaster but a great blessing!" Chen Yi's words were completely sincere. As a time traveler who knows the original plot, he was keenly aware of just how precious this "Devil God Pearl" was—condensed from the essence of the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger, a treasure that, in the original, created a god from another world. Now, this god-level foundation had been absorbed by him, its benefits no less than the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger's soul ring itself.
Under the expectant, curious gazes of the four elders, Chen Yi stepped back a few paces to make some space. He took a deep breath, his eyes suddenly sharpening, as thunderous power and a hint of profound aura surged forth.
"Dark God Form!"
Chen Yi's voice rang clear. Instantly, countless fine purple-gold electric snakes slithered beneath his feet, crackling. This purple-gold thunder and lightning did not disperse chaotically; rather, as if summoned, it quickly converged toward his face. Thunder swirled, energy entwined, and in a flash, the purple-gold lightning condensed upon his face and hardened, forming a mask that covered his entire visage.
The mask was both fierce and majestic, dyed in purple-gold, its surface adorned with strange, natural thunder patterns, the edges flickering faintly. It fit Chen Yi's facial contours perfectly, revealing only his deep, bright eyes. The eye holes were not empty but covered with two pale purple translucent pieces, within which thunderclouds seemed to churn.
"What is this… what is this?!"
Chen Zhen, Hong Yue, and Zhang Tao all widened their eyes in amazement. Even the Great Elder's eyes flashed with visible surprise.
"An external soul bone?!" Hong Yue exclaimed softly, then shook her head in self-reproach. "No, external soul bones usually manifest as specific parts of the soul beast's body—this isn't how a face appears!"
Zhang Tao rubbed his chin in disbelief. "I've never heard of an external soul bone manifesting as a 'mask'… this is truly unprecedented."
Chen Yi's voice, now tinged with a metallic resonance from the mask, answered their doubts: "This is not the traditional external soul bone transformed from the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger's body."
"It is a special existence—various primordial energies from the Devil God Pearl entered my body, assimilated with my own breath, and fused with my spiritual consciousness, finally materializing as energy."
Chen Yi raised his hand, gently stroking the cold, powerful mask. "You could call it a very special 'substitute' external soul bone made purely of energy. I've named it 'Dark God Divine Mask.'"
"Dark God… what a good name!" Hong Yue's eyes sparkled as she praised, "It's purple-gold, patterned with thunder, noble and powerful. More importantly, with this mask, I wonder how many young girls will be captivated by you. You're just too dazzling!"
Chen Zhen and Zhang Tao both laughed at her words, the tense atmosphere instantly relaxing. Chen Zhen laughed even louder, feeling proud.
Zhang Tao, ever the most curious, asked, "So, what's the use of this 'Divine Mask'? Surely it's more than just a fancy mask?"
Chen Yi smiled slightly and explained in detail: "The mask's main abilities focus on spiritual defense and concealment."
"First, one of its greatest functions is to guard and strengthen the mind." Chen Yi pointed to the forehead of the mask, where a third, subtle vertical stripe appeared like a third eye. "It can actively weaken or even repel some enemy spiritual attacks, adding a powerful barrier to my spiritual sea. At the same time, if I actively launch a spiritual attack, my mental power can be boosted by about 50%."
"Fifty percent?!" Zhang Tao gasped, his eyes burning. As a strong cultivator, he knew how difficult it was to increase spiritual power—directly boosting it by 50% was astonishing.
Chen Yi continued, "Second, is concealment." As his intent shifted, the mask's fierce purple-gold hue softened and became less aggressive, his aura blending seamlessly with the surrounding environment, making his presence almost vanish.
"Unless I meet a peak-level Douluo specializing in perception, ordinary soul masters will find it hard to discern my true cultivation. Moreover, unless a powerful spiritual being deliberately scans me, no one can detect my specific aura or position."
This was clearly a magical skill for stealth, reconnaissance, or hiding one's strength.
"Excellent! Excellent! Excellent!" Chen Zhen exclaimed, repeating the word three times. "This mask not only protects the soul but also enhances attack and allows for self-concealment. It's the ultimate auxiliary soul bone for combat!"
Hong Yue and the Great Elder nodded in satisfaction. The Divine Mask's abilities perfectly compensated for Chen Yi's previous weaknesses in spiritual defense and concealment at this stage.
"But, Xiao Yi, what about your fifth soul skill? Tell us!" Chen Zhen was eager to hear about the soul skill from the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger, which he had long anticipated.
At the mention of his fifth soul skill, Chen Yi's eyes sparkled with excitement. "My fifth soul skill is called Mystic Thunder Annihilation."
"When this soul skill is activated, all my offensive stats—strength, speed, soul skill power—are instantly increased by 200%!"
"Hiss—!" Even Hong Yue couldn't help but gasp. A 200% boost to all offensive attributes—what did that mean? It meant that after activating this skill, Chen Yi's burst power would reach a terrifying level, enough to threaten opponents with much higher soul power.
"That's not all," Chen Yi continued. "While in the state of 'Mystic Thunder Annihilation,' I can also gain a derivative skill similar to the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger's 'Evil God Protection.'"
"I can form a powerful purple-gold thunder shield around my body, gaining a guardian skill with near-absolute defense, its duration linked to my soul power output."
"Nice!" Zhang Tao slapped his thigh in excitement. "Combining attack and defense! Maximum attack power with top-notch defense."
Though the Great Elder's palm eventually broke through it, that was because his spiritual attack suppressed the energy defense's weakness. In terms of pure physical and energy defense, the Evil God Protection was top-tier, not inferior to the Soft Rabbit's Invincible Golden Body. While it was slightly weaker against pure spiritual attacks compared to the Golden Body's "total immunity," its resistance to physical and energy impacts was unparalleled. With this skill, Chen Yi's survival ability would make a qualitative leap.
The Great Elder, who had been quietly listening, finally spoke slowly, his calm face now full of satisfaction. He nodded gently. "Both attack and defense, with a solid foundation and strong soul skills—this fifth soul ring hunt was a complete success."
The Great Elder's gaze swept over everyone before finally looking northwest. "It's time to depart."
…
Bonus chapter at 100 PS