Soul Power Breaks Through Level 35, Securing Victory Through Suppression

At dawn, Lin Che had already carved out a temporary cultivation plot in the dormitory courtyard behind Shrek Academy. At the center of a round platform built from bluestone lay a spirit grass whose leaves bore dark purple patterns. Its serpentine veins twitched faintly in the morning light—it was the last Mandala Snake Spirit Grass he had exchanged from the system, with faint soul power fluctuations simulating a hundred-year soul beast still lingering along its leaf edges.

"This grass is more poisonous than I expected." Lin Che brushed a leaf with his fingertip, and a faint red welt rose where it pricked him. "Good thing the Spirit Grass Cultivation Method contains a purification cultivation technique." He arranged three Spirit Grass Energy Crystals in a triangular formation around the platform, then held the Universe Cauldron in his palm. Pale golden soul power flowed through its legs and into the soil. Three beams of golden light abruptly lit up across the cauldron, enveloping the Mandala Snake Spirit Grass. The toxins beneath the soil were forcibly drawn out, turning into wisps of black smoke that dispersed in the morning light.

This was a cultivation technique he had improved by combining ancient Huaxia texts with the Douluo soul power system. Ordinary soul masters cultivated spirit grasses mostly by stimulating them with soul power, but he used the Universe Cauldron's ability to "purify all things," first stripping impurities and toxins from the spirit grass before using Energy Crystals to restore its essence. The air around the platform gradually warmed, while fine droplets of dew condensed around the cauldron's mouth. Every drop contained concentrated Life Energy and seeped into the stalk along the veins of the leaves.

"One must use one's own soul power as a guide, allowing the spirit grass's energy to resonate with the meridians." Lin Che opened the yellowed Spirit Grass Cultivation Method, his finger tracing the notes on "Symbiotic Cultivation." He sat cross-legged beside the platform, laid the Azure Water Sword across his knees, and pressed the glass bead on its tassel against his brow center, guiding the energy escaping from the cauldron through his meridians. At first, there was only a faint tingling sensation. But as the cultivation deepened, the Mandala Snake Spirit Grass suddenly trembled violently. Its serpentine veins turned into tangible phantoms of light that coiled around the Universe Cauldron and danced through the air.

"Now!" Lin Che abruptly activated the soul power in his dantian. The Universe Cauldron soared into the air with a roar, expanding to three times its size and swallowing both the spirit grass and the Energy Crystals. Crackling sounds came from within. Pale golden light overflowed through the cauldron walls, and the spirit grass could vaguely be seen compressing and reconstructing inside before finally becoming a jade-green Energy Ball condensed with serpentine patterns.

[Detected that the host has completed Symbiotic Cultivation of the Mandala Snake Spirit Grass. Universe Cauldron purification efficiency maximized. Obtained Pure Energy ×1200 points]

[Soul power barrier loosening. Beginning the charge toward Level 35...]

[Congratulations, host! You have broken through to Level 35 Soul Elder! The Azure Water Sword Martial Soul has completed its first advancement!]

The instant the System Prompt sounded, the jade-green Energy Ball inside the cauldron exploded, turning into streams of light that poured into Lin Che's body. The soul power in his dantian surged like a tsunami, stretching his meridians until they ached faintly, yet the Universe Cauldron's nourishment quickly broadened them. The Azure Water Sword suddenly let out a clear dragon's cry. Jade light burst from its blade, and the glass bead at the end of its tassel changed from milky white to transparent jade. Vein-like patterns similar to those of the Mandala Snake Spirit Grass appeared on its surface.

Lin Che raised a hand and summoned his Martial Soul. The Azure Water Sword felt even lighter in his grasp, while an almost invisible sharpness lingered around the edge of its blade. He casually swung his sword, and Wind Scar Slash tore through the air with a sharp whistle. Its Sword Qi swept across the bluestone at the corner of the yard, leaving a groove half a finger deep in the stone—its power had increased by a full thirty percent, and the circulating sword momentum now carried a piercing edge.

[Martial Soul advancement effect: Wind Scar Slash gains 10% armor-piercing properties and can weaken enemy soul power defenses; the glass bead has unlocked storage functionality and can hold a small quantity of spirit grasses and soul tools.]

"Armor-piercing?" Lin Che rubbed the glass bead on the sword tassel with his fingertips, clearly sensing the half-cubic-meter space opened within it. "Perfect for countering Spirit Hall's defensive soul skills. Now I won't have to keep stuffing spirit grasses into my clothes."

The commotion in the courtyard drew everyone over. Tang San looked at the mark in the bluestone, gravity flashing through his Purple Demon Eyes. "The penetrating force of that sword momentum is more than twice as strong as before." Dai Mubai entered Martial Soul Possession and slammed his White Tiger claws against the ground. "Lin Che, come test whether you can break my protective barrier!"

"Not yet." Tang San suddenly stepped forward, his gaze landing on the Azure Water Sword. "Lin Che, let's spar. We can test your new ability in actual combat, and I can see how well my improved Blue Silver Grass combination technique works." When he had studied Blue Silver Grass seeds the night before, he had drawn upon his experience fighting the Spider Emperor and developed a technique linking "Binding + Poison Thorns." He had been looking for a chance to test it.

Lin Che sheathed his sword and stood still, its tip angled toward the ground. "No Problem, but we stop at the right point."

The two stood facing each other in the training field. Tang San took a deep breath and poured soul power into the ground. Emerald grass leaves quietly spread outward, and fine purple-black spikes emerged at their tips—trace toxins catalyzed by his Mysterious Heaven Skill. They were not lethal, but they could numb the meridians, borrowing the toxic properties of the Mandala Snake. Lin Che remained in his normal state, the Azure Water Sword hanging naturally at his side while the Universe Cauldron flickered indistinctly in his palm.

"Begin!" Flender's voice rang out from the edge of the training field.

Tang San launched the first attack. More than ten Blue Silver Grass vines shot out like agile snakes, their leaves weaving into a net in midair as they wrapped toward Lin Che's wrists and ankles—his improved binding technique had reduced the gaps between the vines by thirty percent, leaving his opponent no room to dodge. More covertly, three grass stalks bearing poison thorns were hidden in the center of the net, pointed directly at Lin Che's dantian, a vital point.

"Good!" Lin Che lightly tapped the ground with his toes and slid sideways half a foot, his Azure Water Sword drawing a smooth arc. The instant Sword Momentum Force Dissipation activated, jade sword light wove a barrier before him. The Blue Silver Grass vines had barely touched the light before a spiraling force of soul power redirected them outward. This was the thirty-percent attack deflection effect.

"Now!" A sharp glint flashed through Tang San's eyes. With a thought, the grass net suddenly contracted, and the poison-thorn stalks hidden within accelerated abruptly, breaking through the gaps in the sword light and stabbing toward Lin Che's shoulder. He had calculated this moment precisely—when Sword Momentum Force Dissipation redirected an attack, a brief gap would appear in its defensive circle.

But Lin Che reacted even faster. His wrist turned lightly, and the Azure Water Sword traced a second arc. This time, the sword momentum carried a distinct armor-piercing sharpness. Jade sword light swept over the poison-thorn stalks and directly severed the flow of soul power across their surfaces. The toxins on the spikes instantly dimmed. At the same time, the glass bead on the sword tassel glowed faintly, sending a strand of pale golden soul power rebounding into the node of the grass net. The Blue Silver Grass collapsed at once.

"How is that possible?" Tang San was stunned. His Blue Silver Grass had been tempered through the Mysterious Heaven Skill, making it as tough as steel, yet one sword strike had cut off its soul power transmission. Before he could react, Lin Che had already used the rebounding force to close in. The tip of the Azure Water Sword lightly touched Tang San's shoulder, its strength controlled perfectly—it caused no injury, yet carried an irresistible push.

Tang San staggered back three steps before barely steadying himself. He lowered his head toward his shoulder, where a trace of pale golden soul power remained, slowly dissipating. Looking at the Blue Silver Grass on the ground, he saw visible depressions in the soul power defense layer where the sword light had severed the stalks. It was the manifestation of the armor-piercing effect.

"Again!" Tang San shouted unwillingly as soul power surged once more. This time, he changed tactics. The Blue Silver Grass no longer tried to bind Lin Che, instead turning into dozens of poison thorns that shot at him from different angles—he wanted to overwhelm the sword momentum's defenses through sheer attack density.

Lin Che's expression did not change. The Azure Water Sword drew six consecutive arcs. Wind Scar Slash, carrying armor-piercing sharpness, intertwined into a net. Every streak of sword light precisely struck a poison-thorn stalk. As the sword momentum circulated, the deflected soul power triggered a chain reaction. The later thorns were knocked away by stalks that had already been deflected, and the entire wave of attacks scattered before it could come near him. Even more astonishingly, his breathing remained steady, and his soul power fluctuations barely changed.

"Stop!" Flender suddenly called out. "Tang San, your soul power is nearly depleted."

Only then did Tang San notice the emptiness inside his body. More than half the soul power in his dantian had been consumed, and even operating the Mysterious Heaven Skill had become sluggish. He withdrew the Blue Silver Grass with a bitter smile. "I lost."

Oscar immediately handed him a Recovery Sausage. "Tang San, you used at least sixty percent of your soul power just now, didn't you? Lin Che's breathing didn't even change." He turned to Lin Che. "How much did you use? Thirty percent?"

"Less than ten percent." Lin Che returned his sword to its sheath. The Universe Cauldron in his palm glimmered faintly as it slowly replenished the soul power he had just consumed. "Sword Momentum Force Dissipation already saves soul power. With the armor-piercing effect breaking down attacks quickly, there's no need to waste soul power on a direct clash."

Everyone present froze at that answer. Dai Mubai clicked his tongue. "You broke Tang San's full-power combination technique with ten percent of your soul power? The gap is too huge." Yu Xiaogang pushed up his glasses, his eyes full of approval. "This is the double advantage of technique and Martial Soul. Lin Che's sword skills do not rely on soul power intensity, but on his control over force. Combined with the armor-piercing attribute after advancement, they happen to counter Tang San's Blue Silver Grass defenses."

Tang San swallowed the Recovery Sausage and walked In Front of Lin Che, his tone sincere. "Your Sword Momentum Force Dissipation consumes less soul power than my Mysterious Heaven Skill. Especially that armor-piercing effect—it can directly target soul power defenses. For now, I can't think of a way to counter it." The night before, he had believed he could recover a round with his combination technique. Now he understood that the gap between them had completely widened.

"Your Blue Silver Grass's potential hasn't been fully developed yet." Lin Che handed him a spirit grass leaf. "This is a purified leaf from the Mandala Snake Spirit Grass. It might help you improve its toxin properties." Seeing Tang San's disappointment, he deliberately offered guidance. "The strength of the Control System lies in planning, not direct confrontation. If you had laid down a Blue Silver Grass formation beforehand, I might not have broken it so easily."

Tang San accepted the leaf. A gentle energy flowed into his fingertips, and fighting spirit reignited in his eyes. "Thanks for the advice. I'll go back and study it again."

Just then, Tang San suddenly grunted and clutched his chest as he staggered. The soul power in his body abruptly became chaotic. The hidden injury left behind by forcibly activating his combination technique flared up, and waves of stinging pain spread through his meridians.

"His soul power is in disorder!" Jiang Zhu immediately stepped forward, her Seven-Colored Sacred Staff shining with green-patterned golden light. She lightly pressed the staff against Tang San's back and activated both abilities at once. The green patterns flowed through his meridians, purifying residual toxins and sluggish soul power; the golden patterns repaired his damaged meridians, while warm energy poured into his dantian. This was a further improvement to her Poison and Heal Dual Ability after combining it with Lin Che's Spirit Grass Perception technique, allowing her to address both soul power disorder and physical injuries simultaneously.

Tang San felt a warm current spread from his back throughout his body. The stabbing pain immediately eased, and his chaotic soul power gradually settled. He turned back in surprise. "Your healing speed is twice as fast as before."

"It's thanks to the Spirit Grass Perception Lin Che taught me. It lets me pinpoint the nodes where soul power is blocked." Jiang Zhu withdrew her sacred staff, fine sweat seeping from her brow. "But it still consumed twenty percent of my soul power. If I had to deal with widespread poisoning, I might not be able to keep up."

Oscar immediately pulled out a freshly made sausage. "Try this Calming Sausage. It can stabilize soul power fluctuations and should save you some healing energy." It was a variety he had developed that morning, combining Jiang Zhu's healing soul power with spirit grass powder.

Lin Che watched the three work together so seamlessly, then glanced at Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun sparring nearby. Ning Rongrong was adjusting the amplification rhythm of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda at the side. From fighting separately at the beginning to their current tactical coordination and complementary abilities, the team's integration had reached the ideal state Yu Xiaogang had expected.

[Detected that team coordination has reached 100%. Team passive skill unlocked: Soul Resonance (members can share 10% of their soul power endurance).]

As the System Prompt sounded, everyone in the training field suddenly felt a faint connection of soul power. Their auras became increasingly compatible. Relief flashed through Yu Xiaogang's eyes. "This is Soul Resonance. It means your tacit understanding has reached the level of soul power itself. With this, you'll be more confident when facing Spirit Hall's ambush."

Flender Walked Forward and threw each of them a scroll. "These are detailed maps of Misty Forest, marked with locations where Spirit Hall may set up ambushes. The Soul Douluo sent by Gu Rong is already waiting at the forest's outskirts. We leave at dawn tomorrow."

Tang San spread open the scroll, his finger tracing the location marked "Miasma Valley." "The terrain here is narrow, and Blue Silver Grass won't be easy to spread out, but we can plant seeds with anti-poison properties in advance." Dai Mubai pointed at another place, "Dragonbreak Cliff." "Lin Che and I will hold the front. It's easy to defend and hard to attack here." Ma Hongjun stared at "Blazing Flame Slope." "It's dry there. My Phoenix Fire can display its greatest power."

Lin Che stored the map in the glass bead on his sword tassel. The Azure Water Sword glowed jade beneath the sunlight. "Yue Guan's Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum excels at area control. My Wind Scar Slash can pierce armor, which happens to counter his petal defenses. Jiang Zhu, watch out for poison. Oscar, prepare more Anti-Poison Sausages."

Everyone nodded, and the battle plan gradually became clear through their discussion. When the sun set, training continued on the practice field, but the atmosphere had changed from before—gone were the probing and mistakes of their early days of adjustment, Replaced by precise coordination and confident resolve. Tang San's Blue Silver Grass could accurately coordinate with Dai Mubai's attack timing. Ma Hongjun's flames always followed immediately after Lin Che broke through defenses. Jiang Zhu's healing light, meanwhile, surrounded every one of them like a calming anchor.

Late at night, Lin Che sat on the dormitory roof with the Azure Water Sword across his knees. Within the glass bead on its tassel, the leaves of the Mandala Snake Spirit Grass emitted a faint glow, reflecting the pale golden energy of the Universe Cauldron. He could clearly feel that his Level 35 soul power was more condensed than before. His control over Sword Momentum Force Dissipation had also become increasingly refined, and he could even vaguely touch the threshold of "Force Transformation"—the second realm recorded in the Huaxia Sword Skill Manual, capable of completely converting an enemy's attack into one's own soul power.

"Lin Che." Tang San's voice came from behind him. He held a modified Blue Silver Grass plant, its leaves glowing faintly jade. "Try using your sword to see whether you can break through this layer of defense."

Lin Che swung his sword in a light slash. Sword light swept across the grass leaves, yet it left only a shallow mark. Surprise flashed through his eyes. "You added a soul power defense layer to the Blue Silver Grass?"

"I improved it with your spirit grass leaf." Tang San nodded, a smile appearing on his face. "It's still incomplete, but it can at least withstand the attacks of an ordinary Soul Elder." He paused, then said earnestly, "Thank you. If not for the inspiration from your sword skills, I might still be obsessing over control techniques."

Lin Che gave a light laugh. "A team should help one another improve. When we face Spirit Hall tomorrow, we'll still need your Blue Silver Grass to restrain Yue Guan."

The two sat side by side on the roof, watching the direction of Misty Forest in the distance. In the night, miasma could faintly be seen rising like the lurking shadow of Spirit Hall. Yet neither of them felt the slightest fear—Lin Che's armor-piercing sword momentum, Tang San's improved Blue Silver Grass, Dai Mubai's powerful offense, Ma Hongjun's flames, Oscar's support, Ning Rongrong's amplification, Jiang Zhu's healing, along with their one-hundred-percent team coordination and Soul Resonance, had already woven a great net capable of withstanding any storm.

When the horizon turned Fish Belly White, everyone from Shrek was already fully prepared. Every Martial Soul radiated a spirited aura. The jade glow of the Azure Water Sword, the emerald green of Blue Silver Grass, the Golden Light of the White Tiger, and the blazing flames of the phoenix intertwined, illuminating the morning path.

"Move out!" Flender gave the order, and everyone headed toward Misty Forest beneath the morning light. Their footsteps were firm and uniform, as if declaring—Spirit Hall's ambush had been accepted. The Azure Water Sword in Lin Che's palm trembled softly with every step, while the jade light of the glass bead on its tassel grew ever more brilliant, waiting for the first battle at daybreak.