This Is the Last Time I'll Show Mercy

Perhaps there was some secret behind it, but so what?

To Ghost Douluo, nothing was more important than Su Chen himself right now.

"It seems the plan needs to end early. A soul beast like the Linwu Silkworm hasn't appeared in centuries, yet one showed up in the outskirts. Something may have happened in the Star Dou Forest that we don't know about."

Ghost Douluo frowned, his expression grave.

The Linwu Silkworm... was that the soul beast from my first soul ring?

Su Chen was curious.

But this clearly wasn't the time to ask. He decided he would look through some records after returning.

Since I deliberately revealed so much, I should have a chance to meet the Pope after we get back, right?

"No problem."

Chrysanthemum Douluo nodded.

Though his feelings were still complicated, he understood the priorities. Especially after Su Chen had displayed such monstrous talent, safely escorting him back to Spirit Hall was the utmost priority.

Having made up their minds, the three hurried all the way to the meeting point. After telling Su Chen not to wander off, Chrysanthemum and Ghost Douluo left in haste.

With Titled Douluo helping hunt soul rings, especially when time was short, the process was naturally swift.

Before long, Su Chen sensed faint fluctuations of Soul Power. Someone was probably absorbing a soul ring.

Before absorbing a soul ring himself, such fluctuations would have been extremely difficult for him to detect. But now, he only needed to focus slightly.

It seemed obtaining a soul ring had affected me in quite a few ways.

Su Chen shook his head and began considering his next steps.

He needed resources, money, and influence.

That was why it was necessary to expose himself to Spirit Hall's upper ranks early. It was also why he had revealed part of his abilities before Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo.

If he wanted a voice, he had to demonstrate his value—and do so before people who recognized it.

Bibi Dong was his target.

The youngest Pope in Spirit Hall's history, she would bring Spirit Hall's control and expansion of power to their peak over the coming decades. Its overall strength would rise by more than a single level as well.

Setting aside certain personal opinions, this woman stood at the pinnacle of the continent in both intellect and strength. If not for the protagonist's plot armor, she would surely have achieved her ambitions.

A clever partner was especially important to Su Chen. He had no intention of wasting time on fools.

Just like in the Ninja World, after forming a deep partnership with Orochimaru, the first thing he did was completely cut ties with Danzo.

More importantly, Bibi Dong's weakness was obvious, and in a certain sense, she was unexpectedly somewhat naive.

That was a good thing for Su Chen.

After all, his goals did not fundamentally conflict with Bibi Dong's.

Rustle!

The faint sound from the bushes pulled the boy from his thoughts. But after merely glancing up, Su Chen lost interest.

"Hahahaha, I'm back!!"

Yan forced his way out of the grass and laughed joyfully. But the instant he saw Su Chen, his laughter came to an abrupt halt, and he instinctively shrank back, hunching his neck.

A moment later, he seemed to remember something. His bent back straightened once more, and his expression turned smug and arrogant.

"Hey, you!"

With his hands on his hips, he pointed at Su Chen and snorted.

"You got your first soul ring too, didn't you? Dare to have a match with me!"

What an idiot.

Su Chen could not be bothered with him. He closed his eyes again, resting while planning in his mind.

Tang San should have only just transmigrated this year. Su Chen still had around ten years to make his arrangements, but this body was still too young, and there was very little he could do.

Even if he gained Bibi Dong's trust and support, he could only use the Transformation Technique to appear and handle certain matters. Yet that contradicted his plans somewhat.

Six years old was simply too young. If he wanted to openly step onto the stage and make an appearance in Spirit Hall, he would have to be at least twelve or thirteen.

Su Chen had a headache.

"What, scaredy-cat? You don't dare? I knew you were a gutless coward!!"

When Yan saw that Su Chen was ignoring him, he immediately strode forward in anger. Without another word, he directly released his martial soul!

The towering Flame Lord was wrapped in a layer of magma, radiating scorching heat. A yellow Hundred-Year Soul Ring coiled around it, its imposing presence overwhelming!

"See that? This is a Hundred-Year Soul Ring. If you kneel and apologize now, admit that you're a coward, I won't touch you. Otherwise—"

"I'll let you taste the power of a Hundred-Year Soul Skill!!!"

The white-haired boy, disturbed from his rest, furrowed his brows. His dark eyes fixed on Yan as he coldly spat out a single word.

"Scram."

The chill in the boy's black eyes was exactly the same as it had been that day. Yan instinctively took a step back in fright, and half his fighting spirit immediately dissipated. But then his ears twitched, catching the voices of Xie Yue and Hu Liena.

If I can defeat Su Chen in front of them, then Hu Liena might be able to—

At that thought, Yan gritted his teeth and stepped forward despite his fear. "You dare."

Boom!

The air exploded. The white-haired boy's figure vanished in an instant, appearing before Yan in the blink of an eye. In his raised right hand, a deep-blue sphere of light condensed. His black eyes were filled with indifferent killing intent!

The fierce wind scraped across Yan's face, but he had no time to care.

The killing intent in the boy's eyes and the dark blue light in his hand were like Death's scythe, completely enveloping him.

I'll die, I'll die, I'll die!!!

Several scarlet words flashed through Yan's mind. The chill of death shot up his spine to the crown of his head, plunging him into an icy abyss.

"AAAAAHHHH!!!"

Perhaps his instinct to survive allowed this talented youth to break free from his extreme terror for a brief instant. At that moment, the yellow Hundred-Year Soul Ring bloomed with incomparably dazzling light.

Hell Magma Rush!!

Crimson magma surged into the sky and rushed entirely toward Su Chen. This scene happened to be witnessed by the arriving Hu Liena, Xie Yue, and the others.

But everything had happened too fast. They had no time to react and could only watch helplessly as the magma swallowed Su Chen.

"Su Chen!!!"

Hu Liena cried out. Xie Yue also frowned deeply, but in the next second, both of them stared wide-eyed in shock.

The blazing magma that shot into the sky did not even last half a second before the deep-blue sphere of light. It was completely annihilated and vanished.

At that moment, only that brilliant deep blue remained on the field!!

BOOM!!!!

The violent blast sent everyone's hair flying and made their clothes flap wildly. Smoke and dust billowed out, while grass, wood, and dirt scattered everywhere, striking the trees like raindrops.

Whoosh!

Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo appeared in an instant. Their expressions darkened as they waved their hands, and a fierce gust completely dispersed the smoke, revealing the scene within.

The once-flat grassland had vanished, replaced by a spiraling crater. Yan stood at its very center, his face pale, his legs trembling uncontrollably, water still dripping down from below. He was caught somewhere between consciousness and fainting.

"This is the last time I'll show you mercy. If there's a next time, you can bury yourself here."

The white-haired boy slowly withdrew his right hand, gradually retracting his Chakra. After giving everyone a slight nod, he returned to his seat on his own.

His unwillingness to cause more trouble did not mean he had endless patience.

And his restraint was an expression of respect and goodwill toward Chrysanthemum and Ghost Douluo, as well as Bibi Dong behind them.

"Sigh, I knew it. Why is this kid so blind to danger?"

Chrysanthemum Douluo shook his head.

The kid had decent talent, but he really did love courting death.

Fortunately, Su Chen had not struck ruthlessly. Otherwise, even if he had killed Yan, Spirit Hall would not have been able to do anything to Su Chen.

Yan was rare, but Su Chen was one of a kind.

"Xie Yue, go help Yan up. He probably can't walk properly now. Xie Yue?"

Chrysanthemum Douluo raised a brow. When he turned around and saw the stunned little faces, he could only sigh helplessly.

"Fine, I'll do it myself."

Su Chen's battle had ended quickly, but the gradually fading purple ring still deeply stung everyone's eyes.

"A thousand-year first soul ring?"

Xie Yue stared fixedly at the fading purple light, his throat dry and his eyes full of disbelief.

"This..."

Hu Liena and the other girl stood frozen in place.