Ye Zhilan sat cross-legged, her mind sinking into her body as she focused all her effort on guiding the pitch-black 49,000-year Star Eater Vine King soul ring, its edges shimmering with starlight, to fuse with her own. A vast and somewhat violent surge of energy poured into her meridians, bringing waves of swelling pain, but thanks to the powerful life force and physique she possessed—far exceeding those of her peers after being nourished by the immortal herbs—and the quiet guidance and protection provided by Yu Yuanchen's pure Thunder True Essence, the process was difficult but carried little risk.
Yu Yuanchen stood quietly to the side, his divine sense enveloping the surroundings, constantly monitoring Ye Zhilan's state to ensure nothing went wrong.
However, his divine sense soon captured the abnormal movements of the century-old and thousand-year-old Star Eater Vines nearby, which had been scorched and withered by the aftermath of the previous battle.
Having endured the aftermath of Yu Yuanchen's Thunder Dragon Claw, which contained the artistic conception of heavenly tribulation and destruction, these low-level Star Eater Vines had long since had their fragile consciousness shattered, leaving only the most primitive instincts: survival and consumption.
At this moment, they sensed the dense life energy dissipating from the fallen 49,000-year Star Eater Vine King and its remains; the instinct to consume, rooted in their shared bloodline, was completely ignited!
The charred vines, like dying worms, struggled and writhed, slowly but firmly crawling toward the remains of their former "king," wrapping around it and beginning to frantically drain and consume the residual energy and flesh!
"Oh? An instinct for survival, is it..." A glimmer of interest flashed in Yu Yuanchen's dragon eyes. His Thunder Power was incredibly domineering and contained a trace of divine might from the heavenly tribulation, making it almost devastating to these low-level plant spirit beasts. That they had survived at all was no small feat; their current actions were merely a death throe, an attempt to stave off death by consuming high-level energy of the same origin to counteract the destructive thunder energy raging within them.
He did not stop them, simply watching this cruel and realistic scene of nature unfold.
After consuming the remains of the king beast, the injuries of the low-level Star Eater Vines seemed to ease slightly, and their charred bodies regained a hint of dull luster. But soon, they discovered that consuming dead matter alone was not enough to completely neutralize the thunderous destruction that clung to them like bone-eating maggots.
Then, an even more astonishing scene occurred.
After a brief pause, these vines, now reduced to nothing but the instinct to consume, seemed to realize that their neighbors were also "nutrients." Without the slightest hesitation, they suddenly turned their "spears" around and viciously lunged at the nearest of their own kind!
"Sss-sss-sss!"
Vines entangled, strangled, and pierced! The Star Eater Vines, once of the same root and origin, were now engaged in a brutal, mutual slaughter for the sake of a slim chance at survival!
Black sap splattered, and severed vines whipped about; the scene became chaotic and bloody. Yu Yuanchen frowned slightly and waved his hand, setting up an invisible soul power barrier to isolate this area from Ye Zhilan, who was in the middle of absorbing her soul ring, so as not to disturb her.
This cruel infighting lasted for about half an hour.
Eventually, the chaotic battlefield gradually calmed down. Of the dozen or so low-level Star Eater Vines, only one remained! Its entire body had turned an ominous dark red, its size had expanded several times over, and its vines were thick and hideous, covered in nodules and sharp barbs. The energy fluctuation it emitted had reached the ten-thousand-year level!
However, its aura was chaotic, filled with violence, irritability, and destruction. It possessed no intelligence, leaving only the purest, twisted desire for consumption and destruction!
"Roar—" This mutated, crazed ten-thousand-year Star Eater Vine let out a low, beast-like growl that sounded nothing like a plant. Its remaining vines whipped wildly at everything around it; rocks and trees were easily shattered, entangled, and crushed! It had completely transformed into a mad beast that knew only destruction.
Yu Yuanchen looked at this monster, which had been accidentally created, and frowned slightly. Leaving this thing behind would surely become a disaster; not only would it destroy the ecology of this valley, but if it escaped, it could even threaten low-level soul masters entering the Sunset Forest to hunt for soul rings.
Once Zhilan finishes her absorption, I'll just clear it away, he thought to himself, no longer paying attention to the mad vine and turning his full focus back to Ye Zhilan.
Time passed slowly. The aura around Ye Zhilan grew stronger and stronger; the pitch-black soul ring had established a stable connection with her, and the vast energy was being gradually refined and absorbed.
Finally, two hours later, a brilliant light erupted from Ye Zhilan's body!
The pitch-black seventh soul ring suddenly contracted, perfectly settling onto her Sacred Heart Immortal Begonia Martial Soul, pulsing in harmony with her other six rings! A powerful wave of soul power exploded outward, her cultivation level instantly breaking through the bottleneck and officially stepping into the Soul Sage realm! Furthermore, the residual medicinal power from the two immortal herbs she had consumed, combined with the feedback from absorbing such a high-quality soul ring, erupted completely, pushing her soul power level to soar!
Level 71, Level 72!
In the end, her cultivation stabilized at level 72! She had become one of the youngest Soul Sages in the history of the continent (at twenty-four years old).
Ye Zhilan let out a long breath and slowly opened her eyes. Her pupils shimmered with green light, filled with vibrant life and even more powerful spiritual power. Feeling the surging soul power within her and the brand-new strength granted by her seventh soul skill, a joyful smile appeared on her face.
"Brother Yuanchen, I succeeded!" She stood up and stretched her body, feeling full of strength and an increasingly vigorous life force.
"Congratulations, Zhilan." Yu Yuanchen smiled and nodded, happy for her. However, his gaze then flickered toward the ten-thousand-year Star Eater Vine that was still rampaging nearby. "However, we still have a small problem to deal with."
Ye Zhilan followed his gaze and saw the dark red Star Eater Vine with its violent aura and hideous form. A hint of surprise appeared on her pretty face: "That is...?"
Yu Yuanchen briefly explained what had just happened.
After listening, Ye Zhilan's beautiful eyes sparkled. Far from being worried, she smiled brightly, took Yu Yuanchen's hand, and said, "Brother Yuanchen, why don't you let me handle this trouble? It's the perfect chance to test my new soul skill."
"Oh?" Yu Yuanchen raised an eyebrow, slightly curious, but nodded in agreement. "Alright, be careful."
Ye Zhilan smiled confidently and stepped forward, facing the crazed ten-thousand-year Star Eater Vine. She did not release her Martial Soul True Body, but simply raised her hand gently.
"Seventh Soul Skill, Sacred Heart Immortal Begonia True Body!"
As her voice fell, the Sacred Heart Immortal Begonia Martial Soul behind her suddenly burst into brilliant light. The noble white-gold begonia instantly expanded and solidified, as if it had become a physical entity! The flowers became more intricate and magnificent, the purple-gold patterns on the petals appearing to come alive and flow slowly, while milky-white immortal spiritual qi rose from the stamens, emitting a vast life aura and a supreme majesty that commanded all vegetation!
In the state of her Martial Soul True Body, Ye Zhilan's temperament became even more ethereal and holy, like a flower fairy untainted by the world. Feeling the massive, all-encompassing boost brought by the True Body, as well as her unparalleled affinity and control over plants, she was filled with confidence.
She cast her gaze toward the mad vine and waved her jade hand. A strange will, containing the origin aura of the Sacred Heart Immortal Begonia and a faint trace of the Star Eater Vine King's aura, brushed over the rampaging vine like a spring breeze.
Under normal circumstances, with her level 72 soul power, controlling a ten-thousand-year soul beast—especially a Star Eater Vine known for its ferocity—would be almost impossible and would certainly be met with fierce resistance.
However, this particular Star Eater Vine was a special case! Its intelligence had long been shattered by Yu Yuanchen's thunder, leaving only its most primitive instincts. Its origin came from consuming the remains of the 49,000-year Star Eater Vine King and its own kind; deep within its bloodline, it harbored both awe for the "king" and an instinctive desire to submit to a higher-level bloodline of the same origin!
When Ye Zhilan's fluctuation—containing the status of the "King of Immortal Herbs" and that faint trace of the "source of consumption" king beast aura—reached it, the mad vine's chaotic and violent instincts were instantly triggered!
Its wildly whipping vines suddenly froze, and its dark red body trembled slightly, emitting a confused and fearful low hum. The desire for destruction and chaos began to recede in the face of this higher-level life pressure and the call of its own bloodline, replaced by an instinctive urge to approach, attach itself to, and obey!
Ye Zhilan keenly captured this change and was overjoyed. She continued to guide it, slowly infusing the healing and soothing power of the Sacred Heart Immortal Begonia into its body, calming the chaotic and violent energy caused by its consumption and the thunder damage.
Gradually, the ten-thousand-year Star Eater Vine went completely quiet. It retracted all its hideous vines and prostrated itself on the ground. The dark red color of its body became deep and restrained, and its barbs retracted slightly, making it appear much more docile. It even cautiously extended a vine, like a pet, and gently touched the tip of Ye Zhilan's foot with a hint of fawning.
"It worked!" Ye Zhilan turned back to look at Yu Yuanchen, her beautiful eyes full of a sense of accomplishment. "Brother Yuanchen, look! I can control it!"
A hint of surprise and admiration flashed in Yu Yuanchen's eyes. He hadn't expected Ye Zhilan's Martial Soul True Body, combined with her ability to command plants, to so cleverly utilize the characteristics of this mad vine, turning a hazard into a treasure and subduing it for her own use. This undoubtedly greatly enhanced her support and control capabilities.
"Very good!" Yu Yuanchen stepped forward and examined the now-docile Star Eater Vine. "Although it lacks intelligence, its foundation of ten-thousand-year cultivation remains, and its combat power cannot be underestimated. It also possesses powerful life force and the ability to consume and recover. If you cultivate it well in the future, it may become a great asset, whether for self-defense or in battle, it could have miraculous effects."
"Mm!" Ye Zhilan nodded happily and tried giving the Star Eater Vine a few simple commands, such as extending its vines, entangling a target, or waiting quietly. The Star Eater Vine understood and executed them well, appearing quite tamed.
"Since it has submitted to you, give it a name," Yu Yuanchen said with a smile.
Ye Zhilan tilted her head in thought, looking at the dim starlike spots on the vine's surface, and smiled: "It originated from consumption and fell into madness, but now it has returned to peace. Let's call it 'Star Eater.' I hope it can consume enemies and protect the stars in the future."
"Star Eater, not bad." Yu Yuanchen nodded.
Ye Zhilan waved her hand, retracting Star Eater and placing it into the Storage Soul Tool she usually used for herbs, which was capable of storing living things.
Having handled everything, the two exchanged a smile. This trip to the Sunset Forest could be described as perfectly successful. Yu Yuanchen had successfully obtained his Ninth Soul Ring, achieving the title of Dragon Emperor Douluo and seeing his strength surge; Ye Zhilan had also obtained her ideal Seventh Soul Ring, advancing to a Soul Sage, and had unexpectedly gained a ten-thousand-year plant guardian with immense potential.
"With matters here concluded, it is time for us to leave." Yu Yuanchen looked toward the direction of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well Valley. "However, before leaving the Sunset Forest, we still need to return to that valley. I have some ideas that require the environment there to verify."
What he was thinking of, naturally, were the two God King Dragon Bones at the bottom of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. Although absorbing the Dragon Power to create his soul ring last time had alerted the Dragon King Remnant Soul, he had not given up; he wanted to try other methods to see if he could gain further benefits from them.
"Alright, I'll listen to Brother Yuanchen." Ye Zhilan naturally had no objections.
The two joined hands, their figures flickering as they transformed into two streams of light, speeding toward the direction of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well Valley. With their strength greatly increased, their speed was far greater than when they had first arrived.
The vast sea of trees in the Sunset Forest flashed rapidly beneath their feet. New gains awaited them back at that land of miracles to be verified; and the Wind and Clouds of the continent were about to stir with new waves due to the return of these two newly emerged powerhouses.
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Translated by: randomtranslator.com
Proofread by: GodKun-Chan