Star-Eating Vine, Zhilan's Seventh Soul Ring

Inside the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well Valley, Yu Yuanchen had achieved his title, his aura as deep as the sea, and his every move exuded the majesty of a thunder monarch. However, he was not immersed in the surge of his own strength, and his gaze quickly fell on Ye Zhilan beside him.

"Zhilan, now that my business is done, it's time to find your Seventh Soul Ring." Yu Yuanchen held Ye Zhilan's hand and said gently. Ye Zhilan's Cultivation Level had reached the bottleneck of level seventy, and she only needed a suitable Soul Ring to officially step into the Soul Sage realm, where her strength would experience a qualitative leap.

Ye Zhilan smiled sweetly, her eyes full of trust and reliance. "I'll leave it all to Brother Yuanchen."

Fortunately, when the two were researching information about Sunset Forest at the Heaven Dou Royal Academy, they had also seen a general distribution map of Plant Spirit Beast in the forest. Although this map was far from detailed and could not possibly mark the nests of those truly rare and well-hidden top-tier Plant Spirit Beast, it at least provided a general direction for their search.

With their plans settled, the two did not linger any longer, bidding farewell to this place of opportunity and once again venturing deep into the vast forests of Sunset Forest.

However, the search for the ring proved far more difficult than anticipated. Following the map, they spent a full half-month traversing several areas marked as potentially inhabited by high-age Plant Spirit Beast, only to be disappointed by the results.

The Soul Beast she encountered were either too young, not even reaching ten thousand years of Cultivation Level, which would be tantamount to ruining her future for Ye Zhilan, whose goal was to obtain her Seventh Soul Ring Soul Ring; or they were of extremely poor quality. Although they were Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beast, they were mostly mediocre species that had endured long years to reach their current level, with weak bloodlines and low Innate Ability. They could only be considered high-level Soul Beast, and their attributes were bound to be unremarkable. Yu Yuanchen would never allow Ye Zhilan to absorb such a Soul Ring, needlessly wasting her unparalleled talent.

Ye Zhilan remained calm and composed. She knew that hunting suitable Soul Beast required patience and luck, and it was common for it to take several months or even half a year. Moreover, with Yu Yuanchen by her side, they traveled around, enjoying the scenery and discussing Soul Skill and medical principles, so the days were not boring. However, Yu Yuanchen gradually frowned.

"No..." On this day, after finding another Iron Thorn Vine with only 30,000 years of Cultivation Level and ordinary quality, Yu Yuanchen stopped and pondered, "The Heaven Dou Imperial Family is not a benevolent organization. There is absolutely no way they would easily keep confidential information concerning top-tier Soul Beast resources in the academy's Library Pavilion for anyone to access."

"The distribution maps we see are probably just superficial, or even deliberately released, vague information. The real treasures are either secretly controlled by the Royal Family or major sects, or their habitats are extremely well-hidden, making them impossible to find using ordinary methods."

His gaze swept over the seemingly ordinary trees around him, and he continued his analysis, "Especially Plant Spirit Beast, the top ones generally possess extremely strong camouflage and even the ability to change their environment. If they are focused on hiding, even if you stand right in front of them, an ordinary Soul Master might not be able to detect them."

Ye Zhilan was quick-witted and immediately understood Yu Yuanchen's concerns. "Brother Yuanchen, do you mean that following the map like this might be a waste of time?"

"Not bad." Yu Yuanchen nodded, a glint of wisdom flashing in his eyes. "However, perhaps we can try a different approach. Zhilan, have you forgotten the new ability you gained after your Martial Soul Evolution?"

Ye Zhilan's beautiful eyes lit up. "Brother Yuanchen, you mean... Plant Command?"

"Exactly!" Yu Yuanchen's lips curled into a smile. "Your Sacred Heart Immortal Begonia Martial Soul possesses the rank of King of Immortal Herbs, giving you a natural power of dominion over all plants in the world. This command is not coercive control, but rather a natural guidance and resonance between a higher Life and a lower Life. Weak and inferior plants or Plant Spirit Beast will instinctively show you closeness or even obedience. So, conversely—"

He paused, then said with certainty, "Those plants that remain unmoved by your commands, or even show rejection and hostility, must possess extremely high quality and strength! They have enough reason to refuse to submit to the will of you, their 'king'!"

Ye Zhilan suddenly realized and exclaimed happily, "Brother Yuanchen, you're so clever! We can use this characteristic to filter out those hidden top-tier Plant Spirit Beast!"

"That makes sense," Yu Yuanchen said with a smile. "I'll conceal my aura, and you can use your ability to Plant Command to your fullest extent. We'll 'scan' the area one region at a time!"

Without hesitation, Yu Yuanchen instantly concealed his aura, becoming like an ordinary person; unless witnessed firsthand, his presence would be almost imperceptible.

Ye Zhilan took a deep breath, and the Sacred Heart Immortal Begonia Martial Soul quietly possessed her. The noble and beautiful white-gold begonia phantom bloomed behind her, and a strange fluctuation containing boundless Life Force and supreme status spread slowly from her to the surrounding forest like ripples on water.

In an instant, a wondrous sight unfolded. The ordinary plants and trees around them seemed to be summoned by something, their branches and leaves moving without wind, bending slightly towards Ye Zhilan, radiating a sense of affection and closeness. Some low-level Plant Spirit Beast with Cultivation Level of only a hundred or a thousand years even poked their heads out from their hiding places, swaying their vines or stretching their leaves, expressing obedience and awe.

Ye Zhilan closed her eyes and concentrated, carefully sensing the information fed back from this "Plant Network." Most of the messages coming from the trench area were gentle and obedient, like subjects facing their king. However, when her perception spread to certain specific areas, she encountered some "silent" or even "resistant" nodes!

The ideas fed back from these nodes were vague and obscure, some cold and aloof, others wild and fiery, but without exception, they all carried a sense of "inviolability," ignoring Ye Zhilan's commands!

"We've found something!" Ye Zhilan opened her eyes and pointed to a dark valley in the northeast of the forest. "There are several points over there that are strongly resisting my senses!"

The two were greatly encouraged and immediately stealthily headed towards the valley. Sure enough, in the following days, they greatly increased their efficiency by using this method, and successively discovered several Plant Spirit Beast were extremely well hidden and of very high quality, ranging in age from 30,000 to 40,000 years, each with its own characteristics. However, after careful consideration, Yu Yuanchen felt that they were not the most perfect match for Ye Zhilan's Sacred Heart Immortal Begonia Martial Soul, or that they were lacking in terms of Innate Ability.

Persistence pays off. Just as they found a damp valley nestled between two precipitous peaks, shrouded in mist year-round, Ye Zhilan's Martial Soul senses suddenly detected an extremely strong, aggressive, and greedy hostility!

The hostility this beast exuded was far stronger than any other Soul Beast they had encountered before! It wasn't just simple rejection; it was more like a covetousness that saw the immense Life Aura emanating from Ye Zhilan as perfect prey!

"Brother Yuanchen! This way!" Ye Zhilan's pretty face changed slightly as she pointed to a rocky area at the deepest part of the valley.

Yu Yuanchen's eyes narrowed, and he gestured for Ye Zhilan to withdraw her Martial Soul fluctuations. The two approached silently. Pushing aside the dense, slippery moss and tangled vines, the scene before them startled them slightly.

Amidst the jumbled rocks grew a strange plant with a dark purple main vine and leaves that shimmered with starlight. Its vines were not a single one, but dozens of Entanglement tendrils of varying thickness, resembling a group of lurking giant pythons, covering an area of several tens of meters in radius.

The vines are covered with countless fine and sharp barbs, which faintly gleam with a cold light. Around them, there are also some smaller plants of the same kind, only a hundred or a thousand years old, growing sparsely, surrounding them like stars around the moon.

"This is... Star-Eating Vine!" Yu Yuanchen's eyes flashed with a sharp light as he recognized this top-tier Plant Spirit Beast, which was rare even in ancient texts. "Judging from the thickness of the main vine and the energy fluctuations it contains, it's nearly 50,000 years old, around 49,000 years old! Its quality is extremely high!"

The Star-Eating Vine is renowned for its incredibly tough and exceptionally sharp vines. It excels at Entanglement and strangulation, and once entangled, even a Soul Douluo expert would find it difficult to escape in a short time.

Even more terrifying is its Devouring Innate Ability, allowing it to extract energy from the creatures it Entanglement and devours, as well as other substances, converting it into nutrients for its own growth, resulting in extremely rapid increases in strength. In addition, its Life Force is extremely tenacious, enabling it to survive in various extreme environments, making it a top predator among Plant Spirit Beast!

"Forty-nine thousand years... that seems a bit too long." Ye Zhilan was a little worried. Usually, the limit for Soul Master's Seventh Soul Ring is between thirty thousand and fifty thousand years. Forty-nine thousand years is close to or even close to the limit that Soul Master of the same Power Attack System can withstand.

Yu Yuanchen, however, scrutinized the Star-Eating Vine, which exuded a dangerous aura, and said in a deep voice, "It's alright. Your Body Tempering by Immortal Herb and nourished by your Martial Soul, making your Life Force far surpass that of others of the same level. Your physical strength is comparable to a weaker Weapon Soul Master or Agility Attack System Beast Soul master. Furthermore, you cultivate Bloodline Power, so even without your Martial Soul, your body's resilience surpasses that of an ordinary anti-same-level Power Attack System Battle Soul Master. Absorbing this 49,000-year-old Soul Ring will be stressful, but the success rate is extremely high! Moreover, if anything unexpected happens, I will interrupt the absorption process in time."

"Furthermore, the Star-Eating Vine's resilience and ability to devour are derived from its powerful Life Force. Its strong Life attributes are a perfect match for your Sacred Heart Immortal Begonia's healing, nourishing, and control over plants! If you can obtain its Soul Ring, your survival and control abilities will undergo a qualitative leap! This ring is just what you need!"

Hearing Yu Yuanchen's analysis, Ye Zhilan's worries vanished, replaced by determination and anticipation. "Okay! That's it!"

With his target locked, Yu Yuanchen no longer concealed himself. He took a step forward, and his aura erupted like a dormant volcano! The terrifying pressure of Titled Douluo enveloped the entire valley as if it were a tangible force!

"Seventh Soul Skill, Thunder Sacred Dragon True Body!"

Faced with this nearly 50,000-year-old top predator, Yu Yuanchen showed it the utmost respect and directly activated his Martial Soul Avatar! In an instant, he transformed into a majestic Purple-Gold Holy Dragon, his vast Dragon Might sweeping across the four directions, completely suppressing the ferocious aura emanating from the Star-Eating Vine!

"Roar!"

Sensing a deadly threat, the massive Star-Eating Vine instantly went berserk! Dozens of thick, dark purple vines, like giant pythons emerging from their caves, swept Entanglement Yu Yuanchen with a sharp, piercing sound, wrapping around him and strangling him mercilessly! The barbs on the vines gleamed with an eerie light, clearly containing either potent poison or powerful piercing force.

However, faced with an absolute disparity in strength, its resistance appeared utterly futile.

The holy Holy Dragon that Yu Yuanchen transformed into did not even use its eighth or Ninth Soul Skill. It simply swung its Dragon Claw claws, and streaks of condensed Purple-Gold Lightning slashed out like sharp swords!

"Sizzle sizzle sizzle--!"

Where the lightning struck, the incredibly resilient Star-Eating Vine was easily severed as if a hot knife were cutting through butter, sap splattering and emitting a burnt smell. The Star-Eating Vine let out a silent wail, and more vines frantically lashed out and Entanglement, but they couldn't break through the solid lightning shield surrounding Yu Yuanchen at all.

The centuries-old and millennia-old Star-Eating Vine around him also wanted to help their king, waving their vines to lash out at Yu Yuanchen, but were slashed black and withered by several Thunder Dragon Claw that Yu Yuanchen casually unleashed.

This battle was a one-sided crushing defeat from the very beginning. Yu Yuanchen even intentionally controlled his strength to avoid killing him with a single blow. The Star-Eating Vine, with its tenacious Life Force, continued to struggle frantically, drawing energy from the earth to try and repair its injuries, even as its vines were constantly being cut.

This was exactly the effect Yu Yuanchen wanted. He needed a dying Soul Beast with a complete Soul Ring, not a corpse, so he wouldn't have to worry about accidentally killing it.

About an incense stick later, the giant Star-Eating Vine was covered in wounds. Most of its dark purple vines were broken, and its main body was covered with charred marks. Its aura was extremely weak, and it could only curl up instinctively for a final defense.

Yu Yuanchen extended his Dragon Claw, easily breaking through its defenses, and grabbed its main root buried deep in the ground, exerting a sudden burst of force!

"Boom!"

The entire giant Star-Eating Vine was uprooted, raising a cloud of mud. Yu Yuanchen threw its massive body onto the ground in front of Ye Zhilan like trash.

At this moment, the Star-Eating Vine was on its last legs, with only the vines still twitching slightly, exuding an aura of despair and resentment.

Ye Zhilan stepped forward, looking at the Soul Beast that had been so ferocious just moments before but was now utterly miserable, a hint of pity flashing in her eyes. She sighed softly, took out a sharp short knife, and said gently, "I'm sorry, I'm taking your Soul Ring to aid my cultivation. May you be reborn soon and have a good destiny in your next life."

Before the words were finished, a flash of light appeared, precisely severing the last vital Life Force of the Star-Eating Vine.

The Star-Eating Vine's convulsions ceased, and a dense black aura emanated from its corpse, rapidly condensing in the air into a jet-black Soul Ring with faint starlight emanating from its edges! Its aura was far more powerful than that of an ordinary Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring, symbolizing its forty-nine thousand years of existence!

A powerful energy fluctuation spread out, sending chills down one's spine.

Yu Yuanchen deactivated his Martial Soul Avatar, reverting to human form. He exchanged a glance with Ye Zhilan, both seeing the satisfaction in each other's eyes.

The two guided the precious Soul Ring to a relatively flat and open clearing in the valley. Yu Yuanchen waved his hand to set up a simple Thunder Barrier to prevent external interference.

Ye Zhilan sat cross-legged, adjusted her breathing, and brought herself to her peak condition. She looked at Yu Yuanchen, her eyes filled with trust and determination.

Yu Yuanchen nodded slightly to her. "Concentrate and calm your mind, guide the power of the Soul Ring. I will protect you, so absorb it with peace of mind."

Ye Zhilan nodded emphatically, no longer hesitating. She took a deep breath, and her powerful Spiritual Power surged out, like gentle tentacles, slowly Entanglement around the black Soul Ring that floated in the air and shimmered with starlight.

The absorption of the Seventh Soul Ring has officially begun! Sacred Heart Immortal Begonia's path to becoming Soul Sage has thus commenced!