Inside the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well Valley, Yu Yuanchen attained the status of a Titled Douluo. His aura was as deep as the sea, and every gesture carried the majesty of a thunder monarch. However, he did not dwell on the surge in his own strength, and his gaze soon fell upon Ye Zhilan beside him.
"Zhilan, now that my affairs are settled, it is time to find your seventh soul ring." Yu Yuanchen held Ye Zhilan's hand and said gently. Ye Zhilan's cultivation had reached the Level Seventy bottleneck; she was only one suitable soul ring away from officially stepping into the Soul Sage realm, which would bring a qualitative leap to her strength.
Ye Zhilan smiled sweetly, her eyes filled with trust and reliance: "I leave it all to Brother Yuanchen."
Fortunately, when the two had previously consulted materials on the Sunset Forest at the Heaven Dou Royal Academy, they had also looked at a rough distribution map of plant-type soul beasts within the forest. Although this catalog was far from meticulous and certainly could not mark the lairs of those truly rare, top-tier plant-type soul beasts that excelled at hiding, it at least provided a general direction for their search.
With the plan decided, the two did not delay. They bid farewell to this land of opportunity and plunged once again into the vast, boundless forest sea of the Sunset Forest.
However, the path to finding the ring was far more difficult than they had anticipated. Following the guidance of the distribution map, they spent a full half-month traveling through several areas marked as potential habitats for high-year plant-type soul beasts, but the results were disappointing.
The soul beasts they encountered were either too low in age, failing to even reach ten-thousand-year cultivation—which, for Ye Zhilan, whose goal was a seventh soul ring, would be tantamount to ruining her future—or they were of extremely poor quality. Although they were ten-thousand-year soul beasts, most were mediocre species that had simply survived for a long time. Their bloodlines were weak, their innate abilities were low, and they could barely be considered high-level soul beasts. Their attributes were inevitably lackluster, and Yu Yuanchen would never allow Ye Zhilan to absorb such a soul ring and waste her peerless talent.
Ye Zhilan was neither impatient nor restless. She knew well that hunting a suitable soul beast required patience and luck, and that taking several months or even half a year was common. Moreover, with Yu Yuanchen by her side, traveling through mountains and waters and discussing soul skill medical theories, the days were not boring at all. But Yu Yuanchen gradually began to frown.
"This isn't right..." On this day, after finding another Iron Thorn Vine with only thirty thousand years of cultivation and mediocre quality, Yu Yuanchen stopped and pondered: "The Heaven Dou Royal Family is no charity. Confidential information regarding true top-tier soul beast resources would never be easily stored in the academy library for anyone to browse."
"The distribution map we saw is likely just superficial, or perhaps even intentionally released, vague information. The true treasures are either secretly controlled by the royal family or major sects, or their habitats are extremely hidden, making them impossible to find through ordinary methods."
He scanned the seemingly ordinary trees around him and continued to analyze: "Especially for plant-type soul beasts, the top-tier ones generally possess extremely strong camouflage or even the ability to alter their environment. If they are determined to hide, even if an ordinary soul master stands right in front of them, they might not notice."
Ye Zhilan was wise and immediately understood Yu Yuanchen's concern: "Does Brother Yuanchen mean that by following the map like this, we are likely wasting our efforts?"
"Exactly." Yu Yuanchen nodded, a glimmer of wisdom flashing in his eyes. "However, we might be able to try a different method. Zhilan, have you forgotten the new ability you gained after your martial soul evolved?"
Ye Zhilan's beautiful eyes brightened: "Does Brother Yuanchen mean... commanding plants?"
"Precisely!" A curve appeared at the corner of Yu Yuanchen's mouth. "Your Sacred Heart Immortal Begonia martial soul possesses the status of the king of immortal herbs and has a natural authority over all plants in the world. This command is not forced control; it is more like a natural guidance and resonance from a higher life form to a lower one. Weak or low-quality plants or plant-type soul beasts will instinctively show closeness or even obedience to you. Therefore, conversely—"
He paused, his tone firm: "Those plants that remain indifferent to your command, or even show rejection and hostility, must be of extremely high quality and strength! They have enough capital that they are unwilling to submit to your will as a 'king'!"
Ye Zhilan suddenly realized and said happily: "Brother Yuanchen, you are so smart! We can use this characteristic to screen for those hidden top-tier plant-type soul beasts!"
"That is the logic." Yu Yuanchen laughed. "I will restrain my aura, and you exert your ability to command plants with all your might. We will 'scan' through the area, one section at a time!"
They acted immediately. Yu Yuanchen's aura instantly retracted, becoming like that of an ordinary person; if one hadn't seen it with their own eyes, it would be almost impossible to perceive his existence.
Ye Zhilan took a deep breath, and her Sacred Heart Immortal Begonia martial soul quietly manifested. The noble and magnificent white-gold begonia phantom bloomed behind her, and a strange fluctuation containing vast life aura slowly spread out from her as the center, like water ripples, toward the surrounding forest sea.
In an instant, a wondrous scene occurred. The ordinary plants around them seemed to have received some kind of summons; their branches and leaves swayed without wind, bowing slightly toward Ye Zhilan and emitting thoughts of affection and closeness. Some low-level plant-type soul beasts with only a hundred or a thousand years of cultivation even poked their heads out from their hiding spots, swaying their vines or stretching their 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 transmitted gentle, submissive thoughts, like subjects facing a monarch. However, when her perception spread to certain specific areas, she would encounter some "silent" or "resistant" nodes!
The thoughts fed back by these nodes were vague and obscure; some were cold and aloof, others violent and fiery, but without exception, they all carried a sense of "inviolability," turning a deaf ear to Ye Zhilan's command!
"I've found something!" Ye Zhilan opened her eyes and pointed to a dark valley in the northeast of the forest. "Over there, there are a few points that are very resistant to my perception!"
The two were greatly encouraged and immediately sneaked toward that valley. Sure enough, in the following days, they used this method to greatly increase their efficiency, discovering several deeply hidden, high-quality plant-type soul beasts in succession, with ages ranging from thirty thousand to forty thousand years, each with its own characteristics. But after careful consideration, Yu Yuanchen felt that none of them were the 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 in a humid valley nestled between two dangerous peaks and shrouded in mist all year round, a sense of extreme hostility, full of aggression and greed, suddenly came from Ye Zhilan's martial soul perception!
The intensity of this hostility far exceeded any soul beast they had encountered before! It was not simple rejection; it was more like a covetousness that viewed the vast life aura emitted by Ye Zhilan as excellent prey!
"Brother Yuanchen! Over here!" Ye Zhilan's pretty face changed slightly as she pointed to a rocky area in the deepest part of the valley.
Yu Yuanchen's eyes narrowed, and he signaled for Ye Zhilan to retract her martial soul fluctuations. The two approached silently. Pushing aside the thick, slippery moss and tangled vines, the scene before them startled them slightly.
Among the rocks grew a strange plant with a main vine of dark purple, while its leaves shimmered with starlight. It did not have just one vine, but dozens of vines of varying thickness intertwined, like a group of dormant giant pythons, covering an area of several dozen meters.
The vines were covered in countless fine, sharp thorns that faintly emitted a cold light. Around it, some smaller, younger plants of the same species, only a hundred or a thousand years old, grew sparsely, surrounding it like stars around the moon.
"This is... a Star-Eating Vine!" A gleam erupted in Yu Yuanchen's eyes as he recognized this top-tier plant-type soul beast, which was rarely recorded even in ancient books. "Looking at the thickness of the main vine and the energy fluctuations it contains, its age is close to fifty thousand years, about forty-nine thousand years! The quality is extremely high!"
The Star-Eating Vine was famous for its incredibly tough and exceptionally sharp vines, excelling at entanglement and strangulation. Once entangled, even a Soul Douluo expert would find it difficult to break free in a short time.
Even more terrifying was its devouring talent, which allowed it to draw energy from the creatures or even other matter it entangled and devoured, converting it into nutrients for its own growth, allowing its strength to increase rapidly. Coupled with its extremely tenacious vitality, which allowed it to survive in various extreme environments, it could be called a top predator among plant-type soul beasts!
"Forty-nine thousand years... the age seems a bit high." Ye Zhilan was a little worried. Usually, the limit for a soul master's seventh soul ring was between thirty thousand and fifty thousand years; forty-nine thousand years was already approaching or even pushing the limit of what a Power Attack System soul master of the same level could bear.
Yu Yuanchen, however, looked at the Star-Eating Vine, which was emitting a dangerous aura, with burning eyes and said in a deep voice: "It's fine. You have been tempered by immortal herbs, and your martial soul has fed back into you; your life force is far stronger than those of the same rank, and your physique is comparable to that of weaker tool soul masters or agility attack system beast soul masters. You also practice bloodline power, so your body's toughness without using your martial soul is even better than an ordinary Power Attack System battle soul master of the same level. Absorbing this forty-nine-thousand-year soul ring will be stressful, but the success rate is extremely high! Moreover, if there is an accident, I will interrupt the absorption process in time."
"Furthermore, the toughness and devouring ability of this Star-Eating Vine are derived from its powerful life force. 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 see a qualitative leap! This ring is just right for you!"
Hearing Yu Yuanchen's analysis, the worry in Ye Zhilan's heart vanished, replaced by firmness and anticipation: "Okay! It's the one!"
With the target locked, Yu Yuanchen no longer hid. He took a step forward, and the aura around his body erupted like a dormant volcano! The terrifying pressure of a Titled Douluo enveloped the entire valley like a substance!
"Seventh Soul Skill, Thunder Sacred Dragon True Body!"
Facing this top-tier predator of nearly fifty thousand years, Yu 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, and the vast dragon might swept in all directions, completely suppressing the fierce aura emitted by the Star-Eating Vine!
"Roar!"
Feeling the fatal threat, the main body of the huge Star-Eating Vine instantly went berserk! Dozens of thick, dark purple vines emerged like giant pythons, sweeping toward Yu Yuanchen with a sharp sound of breaking air, covering the sky and the earth in an attempt to entangle and strangle him! The thorns on the vines shimmered with a dark light, clearly containing potent poison or powerful piercing force.
However, in the face of an absolute gap in strength, its resistance appeared so futile.
The sacred dragon Yu Yuanchen had transformed into did not even use his eighth or ninth soul skills; he simply waved his dragon claws, and streaks of condensed purple-gold lightning slashed out like sharp swords!
"Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle—!"
Wherever the lightning passed, the incredibly tough Star-Eating Vine vines were easily severed like a hot knife through butter, sap splattering and emitting a charred smell. The Star-Eating Vine let out a silent wail, and more vines whipped and entangled frantically, but they could not break through the solid layer of lightning shield around Yu Yuanchen.
The hundred-year and thousand-year Star-Eating Vines around it also wanted to help their king, waving their vines to whip at Yu Yuanchen, but they were struck by a few thunder dragon claws Yu Yuanchen casually unleashed, causing their vines to turn charred and wither inch by inch.
This battle was a one-sided crushing from the very beginning. Yu Yuanchen even intentionally controlled his strength to avoid killing it in one blow. Relying on its tenacious vitality, although the Star-Eating Vine's vines were constantly being severed, its main body was still struggling frantically, drawing energy from the earth in an attempt to repair its injuries.
This was exactly the effect Yu Yuanchen wanted. He needed a dying soul beast with an intact soul ring, not a corpse, so he didn't have to worry about accidentally killing it.
About an incense stick of time later, the massive Star-Eating Vine was covered in wounds. Most of its dark purple Vines were severed, and its main body was covered in Charred marks. Its aura had withered to the extreme, and it could only curl up by instinct to mount a final defense.
Yu Yuanchen reached out with his Dragon Claw, easily breaking through its defenses, grabbing its main root buried deep underground, and exerting force with a sudden heave!
"Boom!"
The entire massive Star-Eating Vine was uprooted, sending mud flying into the sky. Yu Yuanchen tossed its enormous body onto the ground in front of Ye Zhilan as if it were trash.
At this moment, the Star-Eating Vine was on the verge of death, with only its Vines still twitching slightly, radiating an aura of despair and unwillingness.
Ye Zhilan stepped forward, looking at this Soul Beast that had been so ferocious just moments ago but was now in such a miserable state, a trace of pity flashing in her eyes. She sighed softly, took out a sharp dagger, and said with Gentleness, "I am sorry, but I must take your Soul Ring to aid my Cultivation. May you be reincarnated soon and have a better life in the next one."
Before the words had even faded, a flash of light from the blade precisely severed the Star-Eating Vine's final core Life Force.
The twitching of the Star-Eating Vine stopped, and a stream of Dense black energy drifted out from its corpse, rapidly Condensing in the air into a pitch-black Soul Ring with faint starlight shimmering along its edges! The pressure, even more powerful than an ordinary Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring, symbolized its formidable age of Forty-Nine Thousand Years!
A powerful energy fluctuation permeated the area, causing a sense of Palpitation.
Yu Yuanchen deactivated his Martial Soul True Body, returning to human form, and exchanged a glance with Ye Zhilan, both seeing the look of satisfaction in each other's eyes.
The two guided this precious Soul Ring to a relatively flat and open space in the valley. Yu Yuanchen waved his hand to set up a simple Thunder Barrier to prevent outside interference.
Ye Zhilan sat down cross-legged, adjusted her breathing, and brought herself to her peak state. She looked at Yu Yuanchen, her eyes filled with trust and Firm resolve.
Yu Yuanchen gave her a slight Nod: "Calm your mind and spirit, and guide the power of the Soul Ring. I will act as your Guardian, so 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 that hovered in the air, shimmering with starlight.
The absorption of her seventh Soul Ring had officially begun! The path of the Soul Sage for the Sacred Heart Immortal Begonia started here!
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Translated by: randomtranslator.com
Proofread by: GodKun-Chan