Chapter 85: Star Devouring Vine, Zhilan's Seventh Ring (4K)
Inside the valley of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, Yu Yuanchen had achieved the rank of Titled Douluo. His aura was as deep as the ocean, and every gesture carried the majesty of a thunder monarch. However, he did not immerse himself in the sudden explosion of his own strength; his gaze quickly fell upon Ye Zhilan beside him.
"Zhilan, now that my matters are concluded, it is time to find your seventh Soul Ring," Yuanchen said warmly, taking Ye Zhilan's hand. Zhilan's cultivation had reached the Bottleneck of Rank 70. She only needed one suitable Soul Ring to officially step into the Soul Saint Realm, and her strength would experience a qualitative leap.
Ye Zhilan smiled radiantly, her eyes full of trust and dependence. "Everything is up to you, Brother Yuanchen."
Fortunately, when the two of them had previously looked up information on the Sunset Forest at the Heaven Dou Royal Academy, they had also happened to see a general distribution map of plant-system Soul Beasts within the forest. Although this record was far from precise and could not possibly mark the nests of truly rare, hidden top-tier plant-system Soul Beasts, it at least provided a general direction for their search.
With their plan decided, the two did not delay any longer. Bidding farewell to this land of Opportunity, they once again plunged into the vast sea of trees in the Sunset Forest.
However, the path to finding a ring was far more difficult than expected. Following the guidance of the distribution map, they spent a full half-month scouring several areas marked as potential habitats for high-age plant-system Soul Beasts, but the results were disappointing.
The Soul Beasts they encountered either had too low an age, not even reaching ten thousand years of cultivation—for Ye Zhilan, whose goal was a seventh Soul Ring, absorbing such a ring would be no different from ruining her future—or they were of extremely poor quality. Though they were ten-thousand-year Soul Beasts, most were mediocre species that had only survived through long years. Their Bloodlines were weak and their innate abilities low, barely qualifying as high-level Soul Beasts. Their attributes were bound to be unremarkable, and Yuanchen would never allow Ye Zhilan to absorb such a ring and waste her peerless talent.
Ye Zhilan remained calm and patient. She knew well that hunting a suitable Soul Beast required patience and luck; it was common for it to take months or even half a year. Moreover, with Yuanchen by her side, traveling through the mountains and waters while discussing Martial Soul Abilities and medical principles, the days were not boring. But Yuanchen gradually began to frown.
"Something is wrong..." On this day, after finding another ordinary Iron-Thorn Vine with only thirty thousand years of cultivation, Yuanchen stopped and mused, "The Heaven Dou Imperial Family is not a charity. Secret information truly concerning top-tier Soul Beast resources could never be easily placed in the academy's library for anyone to read."
"The distribution map we saw is likely just superficial, perhaps even intentionally released vague information. The true treasures are either secretly controlled by the Imperial Family or Great Sects, or their habitats are extremely hidden and impossible to find through ordinary methods."
His gaze swept over the seemingly ordinary trees around them as he continued his analysis. "Especially plant-system Soul Beasts; the top ones generally possess extremely strong camouflage or even the ability to change their environment. If they are intent on hiding, even if an ordinary Soul Master stands right in front of them, they might not notice."
Ye Zhilan was clever and immediately understood Yuanchen's concern. "Brother Yuanchen, do you mean that following the map like this is likely a waste of effort?"
"Exactly." Yuanchen nodded, a spark of wisdom flashing in his eyes. "However, we might be able to try another way. Zhilan, have you forgotten the new ability you gained after your Martial Soul evolved?"
Ye Zhilan's beautiful eyes lit up. "Brother Yuanchen, you mean... Commanding Plants?"
"Precisely!" A curve formed at the corner of Yuanchen's mouth. "Your Sacred Heart Immortal Begonia Martial Soul possesses the status of the King of Immortal Herbs, giving it a natural dominion over all plants in the world. This command isn't forced control; it's more like a natural guidance and resonance from a higher Life form to a lower one. Weak or low-quality plants and plant-system Soul Beasts will instinctively show closeness or even obedience to you. So, conversely—"
He paused, his tone certain. "Those plants that are indifferent to your command, or even show rejection and hostility, must be of extremely high quality and strength! They have enough capital to refuse to yield to your will as 'King'!"
Ye Zhilan suddenly realized and said joyfully, "Brother Yuanchen, you are so smart! We can use this trait to reverse-filter those hidden top-tier plant-system Soul Beasts!"
"That is the logic." Yuanchen laughed. "I will restrain my aura, and you will fully exercise your ability to command plants. We will'scan' through the areas one by one!"
No sooner said than done. Yuanchen's aura instantly withdrew, making him seem like an ordinary person; unless seen with one's own eyes, his presence was almost impossible to perceive.
Ye Zhilan took a deep breath, and her Sacred Heart Immortal Begonia Martial Soul quietly possessed her. The noble and magnificent white-gold Begonia phantom bloomed behind her, and a strange ripple containing vast vitality and supreme status spread out slowly from her like a water wave into the surrounding sea of trees.
In an instant, a wonderful scene occurred. The surrounding ordinary vegetation seemed to receive a summons; branches and leaves moved without wind, bending slightly toward Ye Zhilan, emitting thoughts of admiration and closeness. Some low-level plant-system Soul Beasts with only hundred or thousand-year cultivations even poked their heads out from their hiding places, swaying vines or stretching leaves to express submission and awe.
Ye Zhilan closed her eyes and focused, carefully sensing the information fed back from this 'plant network.' Most areas sent back gentle, submissive thoughts, like subjects facing a monarch. However, when her perception spread to certain specific areas, she encountered some'silent' or even 'resistant' nodes!
The thoughts fed back by these nodes were vague and obscure. Some were cold and aloof, others wild and fierce, but without exception, they all carried a sense of 'inviolability,' remaining completely indifferent to Ye Zhilan's command!
"I found something!" Ye Zhilan opened her eyes and pointed toward a dark valley in the northeast of the forest. "Over there, there are several points that are very resistant to my perception!"
The two were invigorated and immediately crept toward that valley. Sure enough, in the following days, using this method, their efficiency increased greatly. They discovered several deeply hidden, high-quality plant-system Soul Beasts in succession, ranging from thirty thousand to forty thousand years in age, each with its own characteristics. But after careful consideration, Yuanchen felt they weren't the most perfect match for Ye Zhilan's Sacred Heart Immortal Begonia Martial Soul, or they were lacking in innate abilities.
Hard work pays off. Just as they were searching a damp valley nestled between two dangerous Peaks and shrouded in mist year-round, a sudden, extremely strong, aggressive, and greedy hostility came through Ye Zhilan's Martial Soul perception!
This hostility was far stronger than any Soul Beast they had encountered before! It wasn't simple rejection, but more like a covetousness that viewed the vast Life aura Ye Zhilan emitted as the perfect prey!
"Brother Yuanchen! This way!" Ye Zhilan's face changed slightly as she pointed toward a rocky area in the deepest part of the valley.
Yuanchen's eyes narrowed, and he signaled Ye Zhilan to retract her Martial Soul fluctuations. The two approached silently. Pushing aside the thick, slippery moss and tangled vines, the sight before them startled them slightly.
Amidst the rocks grew a strange plant with a dark purple main vine and leaves that shimmered with starlight. It wasn't just one vine, but dozens of vines of varying thickness intertwined like a group of dormant giant pythons, covering an area of dozens of meters.
The vines were covered in countless fine, sharp barbs that faintly emitted a cold light. Around it, some smaller, hundred or thousand-year-old plants of the same species grew sparsely, surrounding it like stars around the moon.
"This is... the Star Devouring Vine!" A sharp light erupted in Yuanchen's eyes as he recognized this top-tier plant-system Soul Beast, which was rarely recorded even in ancient texts. "Looking at the thickness of the main vine and the energy fluctuations it contains, its age is close to fifty thousand years, around forty-nine thousand years! The quality is extremely high!"
The Star Devouring Vine was famous for its incredibly tough and exceptionally sharp vines, specializing in Binding and strangling. Once caught by it, even a Soul Douluo expert would find it difficult to escape in a short time.
Even more terrifying was its devouring talent, which allowed it to extract energy from the creatures or other matter it entangled and devoured, converting it into nutrients for its own growth, allowing its strength to increase rapidly. Combined with its extremely resilient vitality and ability to survive in various extreme environments, it was a top-tier predator among plant-system Soul Beasts!
"Forty-nine thousand years... the age seems a bit high." Ye Zhilan was somewhat worried. Usually, the limit for a Soul Master's seventh Soul Ring is between thirty thousand and fifty thousand years. Forty-nine thousand years was already close to, or even pushing, the limit of what an attack system Soul Master of the same level could bear.
Yuanchen, however, looked at the dangerous Star Devouring Vine with burning eyes and said deeply, "It's fine. You have undergone Body Tempering with Immortal Herbs and received Martial Soul feedback. Your vitality is far more vigorous than those of the same rank, and your physical strength is comparable to weaker Tool Spirit Masters or agility-attack system beast Soul Masters. You also cultivate Bloodline power, and your physical toughness without using your Martial Soul is even better than an ordinary attack system Battle Spirit Master of the same level. Absorbing this forty-nine-thousand-year Soul Ring will be stressful, but the success rate is very high! Moreover, if there is an accident, I will interrupt the absorption process in time."
"Furthermore, the toughness and devouring nature of this Star Devouring Vine are derived from its powerful vitality. Its strong Life attribute is a perfect match for your Sacred Heart Immortal Begonia's direction of healing, nourishment, and plant control! If you can obtain its Soul Ring, your survival and control abilities will undergo a qualitative leap! This ring is exactly what you need!"
Hearing Yuanchen's analysis, the worry in Ye Zhilan's heart vanished, replaced by determination and anticipation. "Good! This is the one!"
With the target locked, Yuanchen no longer hid. He stepped forward, and his aura erupted like a dormant volcano! The terrifying pressure of a Titled Douluo enveloped the entire valley like a physical force!
"Seventh Soul skills, Thunder Sacred Dragon True Body!"
Facing this top-tier predator of nearly fifty thousand years, Yuanchen gave it enough respect and directly used his Martial Soul True Body! In an instant, he transformed into a majestic purple-gold Sacred Dragon. The vast Dragon Might swept in all directions, completely suppressing the ferocious aura emitted by the Star Devouring Vine!
"Roar!"
Sensing a fatal threat, the massive Star Devouring Vine instantly went berserk! Dozens of thick, dark purple vines shot out like giant pythons from a cave, accompanied by sharp whistling sounds as they swarmed to entangle and strangle Yuanchen! The barbs on the vines shimmered with an eerie light, clearly containing poison or powerful piercing force.
However, in the face of an absolute gap in strength, its resistance appeared futile.
Yuanchen, in his Sacred Dragon form, did not even use his eighth or ninth Martial Soul abilities. He simply swung his dragon claws, and streaks of condensed purple-gold thunder slashed out like sharp swords!
"Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle—!"
Wherever the thunder passed, the incredibly tough Star Devouring Vine's vines were easily severed like a hot knife through butter. Sap splattered, emitting a burnt smell. The Star Devouring Vine let out a silent wail as more vines whipped and entangled frantically, yet they could not break through the solid thunder shield around Yuanchen.
The surrounding hundred and thousand-year Star Devouring Vines also tried to help their king, waving their vines to strike at Yuanchen. However, they were struck by several Thunder Dragon Claws he casually sent out, causing their vines to turn charred inch by inch and wither away.
This battle was a one-sided crushing from the very beginning. Yuanchen even intentionally controlled his strength to avoid killing it in one blow. Relying on its tenacious vitality, although its vines were constantly being severed, the Star Devouring Vine's main body continued to struggle frantically, absorbing energy from the earth in an attempt to repair its injuries.
This was exactly the effect Yuanchen wanted. He needed a Soul Beast that was near death but had an intact Soul Ring, rather than a corpse. This way, he wouldn't have to worry about accidentally killing it.
After about the time it takes to burn an incense stick, the massive Star Devouring Vine was covered in wounds. Most of its dark purple vines were broken, and its main body was covered in charred marks. Its aura had withered to the extreme, and it could only curl up instinctively in a final defense.
Yuanchen's dragon claw reached out, easily breaking through its defense, grabbing its main root buried deep underground, and pulling with a sudden surge of power!
"Boom!"
The entire massive Star Devouring Vine was pulled out by the roots, bringing up clouds of dirt. Yuanchen threw its massive body onto the ground in front of Ye Zhilan like a piece of trash.
By this time, the Star Devouring Vine was at its last breath. Only its vines were still twitching slightly, emitting an aura of despair and unwillingness.
Ye Zhilan stepped forward, looking at the Soul Beast that had been so formidable moments ago but was now in such a miserable state. A flash of pity crossed her eyes. She sighed softly, took out a sharp short blade, and said gently, "I am sorry. I take your Soul Ring to aid my cultivation. May you be reborn soon and have a good Life in your next Incarnation."
Before her voice faded, a flash of the blade accurately severed the Star Devouring Vine's last core Life force.
The Star Devouring Vine's twitching stopped, and a dense black current floated out from its corpse, quickly condensing in the air into a Soul Ring as black as ink, its edges faintly shimmering with starlight! The pressure, stronger than that of an ordinary ten-thousand-year Soul Ring, symbolized its powerful forty-nine-thousand-year age!
A powerful energy fluctuation spread out, making one's heart tremble.
Yuanchen deactivated his Martial Soul True Body and returned to human form. He and Ye Zhilan looked at each other, both seeing the satisfaction in the other's eyes.
Guiding this precious Soul Ring, the two came to a relatively flat and open space in the valley. Yuanchen waved his hand to set up a simple thunder barrier to prevent outside interference.
Ye Zhilan sat cross-legged, adjusting her breathing to bring her state to its Peak. She looked at Yuanchen, her eyes full of trust and determination.
Yuanchen gave her a slight nod. "Concentrate and calm your mind; guide the power of the Soul Ring. I will be your Protector. Absorb it with peace of mind."
Ye Zhilan nodded heavily. No longer hesitating, she took a deep breath, and her vast Spiritual Power surged out like gentle tentacles, slowly wrapping around the pitch-black Soul Ring shimmering with starlight that hovered in the air.
The absorption of the seventh Soul Ring officially began! The path of the Sacred Heart Immortal Begonia Soul Saint opened from here!
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