Swallowing Ten Thousand Year Whale Rubber, Yan's Provocation?

"Leave."

Ye Chen gave the attendant a slight nod.

"By your command!"

After bowing respectfully, the attendant withdrew from the hall and gently closed the doors.

The hall fell silent once more.

Ye Chen sat cross-legged, placing the Jade Box before him. He pressed his right hand against it, and pure Soul Power enveloped the piece of dark golden Whale Rubber.

As Soul Power continued to flow into it, the hardened surface of the Ten Thousand Year Whale Rubber gradually softened, becoming as warm and pliant as Warm Jade. Its fishy-sweet scent transformed into an alluring, rich fragrance.

Once the entire piece of Whale Rubber had completely softened, it became a gelatinous mass suffused with flowing Golden Light!

Ye Chen took a deep breath and swallowed it in one gulp.

The instant it entered his mouth, it turned into a warm, blazing torrent that surged straight down his throat!

Boom!

It was as though a ball of flame had exploded inside his body!

The energy swiftly spread through his limbs and bones, seeping into every Meridian, every Bone, and every inch of Flesh and Blood.

A faint Golden Red glow surfaced across Ye Chen's skin. His body temperature rose sharply, his pores opened, and wisps of white vapor faintly rose from him.

Ye Chen immediately circulated his Soul Power, guiding the vast yet gentle energy into his body.

At the same time, he examined himself with his Spiritual Power, carefully sensing the changes in his body.

Unlike when he had consumed Thousand Year Whale Rubber, the energy of the Ten Thousand Year Whale Rubber was deeper and heavier, and its effects were more than ten times stronger!

Ye Chen could feel that his Bones, Meridians, muscles, and even his internal organs had all undergone a transformation!

Time passed bit by bit.

The Golden Red light on Ye Chen's body gradually withdrew, and the rising white vapor vanished without a trace.

He opened his eyes, a sharp gleam shining within them.

He lightly clenched his fist, and a crisp series of pops rang from his knuckles. With a casual swing of his arm, even the sound of the wind it stirred was several degrees sharper than before.

"As expected of Ten Thousand Year Whale Rubber!"

Ye Chen stood and stretched his limbs, feeling light all over yet brimming with strength. He had never been in better condition.

"Compared to three months ago, my physical strength has increased by more than double. I can fully consider a 10,000 Years Soul Beast for my third Soul Ring!"

Absorbing a 10,000 Years Soul Ring came down to two points.

First, one's physical body had to be strong enough to withstand the violent Soul Power impact of a 10,000 Years Soul Ring without having one's Meridians burst apart.

Second, one's Spiritual Power had to meet the standard, allowing one to resist a 10,000 Years Soul Beast's Soul Shock and Grudge Impact.

As for the first point, Ye Chen's physical condition was already more than sufficient.

There was even less reason to worry about the second.

With Zhou Lan's Soul Origin, no Soul Beast's Soul Remnant could pose a threat to him!

"Time to loosen up."

Ye Chen rose and left his sleeping quarters, heading for the Training Ground.

Spirit Hall had a Training Ground that covered an enormous area and was divided into different sections.

There was an ordinary Physical Fitness Equipment Area, arenas suitable for Soul Masters to spar in, and even a Combat Area specifically for raising various Soul Beasts.

Most of these Soul Beasts had been captured from the Soul Hunting Forest. Their temperaments were relatively docile, and dedicated personnel watched over them. They could be used for combat training without posing any danger to life.

Just as Ye Chen entered the outskirts of the Training Ground, three people approached him head-on.

The girl leading them looked about eleven or twelve years old. She was slender and exquisitely charming.

Her Golden Short Hair swayed as she walked, her eyes seeming to shimmer with every glance.

Two boys followed beside her.

The one on the left stood tall, with Silver Hair Red Eyes. Two Moon Blades hung at his waist, and his demeanor was cold and stern.

The one on the right was exceptionally burly, over half a head taller than others his age. His Fiery Red short hair resembled flames, and his face carried an arrogant air.

They were Spirit Hall's outstanding young talents: Hu Liena, Xie Yue, and Yan.

The three had just emerged from the Combat Area, faint Soul Power Fluctuations still lingering around them. Clearly, they had just finished training.

Yan swept his gaze across the Training Ground and immediately spotted Ye Chen walking alone.

Seeing that Ye Chen was obviously several years younger than them, with a well-proportioned and upright build but traces of childishness still on his face, Yan curled his lip and snickered.

"Hey, brat, isn't this place a little above your level?"

With his arms folded, Yan looked down at Ye Chen. "The Training Ground isn't a place for playing house. Be careful not to cry when the Soul Beasts scare you."

His voice was not quiet, drawing the attention of several Soul Masters training nearby.

Hu Liena frowned slightly but said nothing. She merely examined Ye Chen with a hint of curiosity.

She felt that although this child was young, there was something unusual about his bearing.

Xie Yue merely cast him an indifferent glance, seemingly uninterested in this minor conflict.

Ye Chen halted and raised his eyes toward Yan, who stood in his way.

Naturally, he recognized the three of them. They clearly did not recognize him.

That was perfectly normal. Ordinary people were not qualified to know Ye Chen's identity!

"The Training Ground is a public area of Spirit Hall."

Ye Chen's tone was calm, betraying neither joy nor anger. "Why can't I come here?"

"Oh? Still talking tough?"

Yan grinned mockingly. "Looking at you, you probably only awakened your martial soul recently, right? Do you even have a first Soul Ring?"

"A good dog doesn't block the road."

Ye Chen could not be bothered to waste words on him and turned sideways, preparing to go around him.

Yan shifted sideways as well, blocking his path again. His fiery brows rose. "Kid, you've got quite the attitude. Whose junior are you? Don't you know you should greet your Senior Brother when you see him?"

Seeing Ye Chen's refined clothing, he guessed that Ye Chen might be the descendant of some Spirit Hall deacon.

But even so, he, Yan, was a genius personally valued by the Pope. He believed himself inferior to no one!

Ye Chen finally looked Yan directly in the eye, a trace of displeasure flashing through his black pupils.

"Get lost."

His voice remained calm, but it now carried an unquestionable chill.

Yan's heart inexplicably tightened under that gaze, only for anger to surge up immediately afterward.

He had actually been cursed at by a child?

"Insolence!"

Yan stepped forward. Soul Power faintly rippled from his body, and a scorching aura spread outward. "You show no respect for your elders and dare insult me.

Want to pass? Fine. Take one move from me and let me see whether you have the qualifications to train here!"

Before his words had even faded, a mass of dark red flame had gathered in his right hand. The temperature abruptly rose, and even the surrounding air distorted slightly.

Hu Liena finally spoke, her voice carrying a trace of reproach. "Yan, stop fooling around."

Xie Yue also said coldly, "Enough, Yan. We still have training to do when we get back."

But Yan was in the middle of his rage. How could he possibly listen? He shouted, "Kid, take this!"

He did not use a Soul Skill. He merely thrust the fireball in his hand forward, turning it into a streak of flame that shot toward Ye Chen's shoulder. He intended only to force him back rather than injure him, but the attack still carried considerable force.

Several Soul Masters nearby had already stopped what they were doing and turned to watch.

A cold glint flashed through Ye Chen's eyes.

Instead of retreating, he advanced!

At the instant the streak of flame was about to strike him, Ye Chen raised a hand and grabbed. Dark blue energy flashed, directly grinding the flame away.

"What?"

Yan froze, never expecting his opponent to block it so easily.

Yet in the next instant, Ye Chen's figure had already closed in like Gui Mei!

His five fingers spread slightly as he struck toward Yan's chest.

Yan instinctively gathered Soul Power at his chest to defend himself, but the instant Ye Chen's palm touched the front of his robe over his chest, an unimaginable weight suddenly crashed into him!

It was not impact force, but pure "weight"!

It was as though what struck him was not a hand, but a small mountain!

Lifting Weights Like Feathers could also turn lightness into heaviness!

Bang!

A muffled sound rang out.

Yan felt his chest seize up as an immense force surged through his body, sending him flying backward.