The setting sun dipped behind the forest, and the Ice Fire Dragon King's remains glimmered.
As the last trace of divine energy seeped deep into the earth, the spring that had once boiled violently fell silent in an instant.
Lin Chen sat in the center of the spring, his black hair spread loose. The eyes that had once been clear now concealed a light sharp enough to pierce the void.
"Whoosh—!"
Dark flames rose behind him.
The flames that had once been ancient and weathered now shimmered with a faint blue glow. They had absorbed the divine energy left behind by the Ice Fire Dragon King.
His Zhu Xian Sword had also...
At that moment, it had finally completed its transformation, becoming even more formidable.
Every ray of light—
seemed capable of tearing open the heavens, carrying an awe-inspiring intent that could sever the void.
"Hoo..."
Lin Chen let out a breath and felt the immense soul power surging through him like a mighty river.
The corners of his mouth curled upward.
Forty-nine ranks.
That wasn't merely an increase in soul power. His body and martial soul had also reached a new level after being cleansed by the Immortal Herb.
"I never imagined that breaking through to rank forty-nine would be so easy. And with a little more time, I'll reach Soul King. It's almost too good to be true."
Lin Chen smiled.
Even without activating his martial soul, the strength of his body—tempered by the Dragon King's remains—was enough to withstand a full-force attack from an ordinary Soul King.
"Whoosh—!"
"Bi Biyao! Your old man's back. How has your cultivation been going, little girl?"
A streak of light shot over, and Dou Luo descended from the sky with delight written all over his face.
But when he saw Bi Biyao's condition, the old poison master froze in place. Even the ghosts seemed to stop moving.
"Forty-nine ranks?!"
Dou Luo cried out in shock. His voice, infused with his soul power, echoed through the forest.
"Girl, this old man is about to refine another batch of soul elixir. Have you been eating some sort of divine pill? You're cultivating far too quickly! This old man's been refining elixirs for ages, and he still can't catch up with you!"
Even as a titled Douluo—
he couldn't help staring in disbelief.
How long had it been? She'd already broken through six ranks and was now almost at Soul King. Hadn't she made it through the entire bottleneck in a single leap?
Was she even human?
Beside them, Bi Biyao's expression was calm. She had only just entered rank forty, and had thought she was already keeping pace with the geniuses of her generation. But watching Lin Chen, she couldn't help feeling discouraged all over again.
"His talent is truly terrifying..."
"How on earth did he manage it?"
Lin Chen smiled faintly. His gaze pierced through the layers of mist, settling on the deepest part of the Ice Fire Dragon King's remains.
There, an ancient, fierce will seemed to stir beneath the earth.
He knew that was where the Ice Fire Dragon King was buried.
"With my current strength, I can't reach the depths yet..."
"I'll have to wait until my power is stronger, or perhaps find a way to enter and search for something useful to me."
Lin Chen withdrew his gaze and thought to himself.
Right now, even if he had the strength of a Heavenly Soul Douluo, he still wouldn't be able to reach the Dragon King's remains by relying on his own power.
Even if countless years passed...
the power left behind by the two Dragon Kings was still like a mountain, and a mere sliver of it was enough to...
The Ice Fire Dragon King's remains had become the land where Immortal Herbs grew!
"Bi Biyao, since you've reached rank forty-nine, why not take advantage of this chance? I'll help you break through to Soul King with a single batch of elixir."
"You're already a Soul King at such a young age. That's terrifying."
Dou Luo said with admiration, his eyes full of anticipation.
He firmly believed—
that within a decade, Bi Biyao could reach Soul Douluo or even become a Titled Douluo.
By then—
she would surely shatter the limits of the soul master world.
Lin Chen merely shook his head, his expression calm. "There's no rush. The Immortal Herbs offer an astonishing boost, but breaking through still takes time and careful refinement."
"Force your way to rank fifty, and you could destabilize your foundation. It wouldn't be worth the risk."
Besides, even with his current level of cultivation, he could still break through to rank fifty in a short time.
"Oh... you're right."
Dou Luo started, then nodded in agreement.
"But, old poison master, I've found a way to cure your poison."
Lin Chen turned and pointed. A faint golden rune appeared at his fingertip.
It was the source power evolved from the first scroll of the Heavenly Manifestation Technique, carrying a divine aura that seemed to cleanse all things.
"That's..."
Dou Luo's eyes widened.
"The Immortal Herb can neutralize external toxins. The heavens, too, can draw forth the essence of all things."
Lin Chen thought for a moment, then looked at Dou Luo and began to explain.
"The poison has entered your bones. It won't be easy to cure overnight, but if you follow my method, it may take only two or three months to completely purge the toxins. Your soul power might even advance another step."
"Given enough time, you might even reach rank ninety-nine."
That was how Lin Chen intended to cure Dou Luo.
The Immortal Herb was only a supplement. Dou Luo's poison had penetrated too deeply; the power of the first scroll of the Heavenly Manifestation Technique was the real solution.
"You're telling the truth?!"
Dou Luo was so excited he could barely stand still.
Who wouldn't want to break through to rank ninety-nine and become a Limit Douluo?
"Lin Chen, brother... No, you're my father reborn!"
Lin Chen: "..."
Bi Biyao, call him your grandfather.
Lin Chen planned to rest for a moment before helping Dou Luo detoxify. So, while he had a little free time, he took out his Diary and updated it.
He seemed to be resting quietly off to one side—
but the spiritual power in his mind was flowing, and the Diary in the sea of consciousness began to glow with a golden light!
"Whoosh—!"
At the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy, on a secluded path through the forest.
Zhu Zhuqing, dressed in dark clothes that blended into the night, had been hurrying along with a worried expression. But she abruptly stopped.
In the sea of her mind, the Diary she had long been unable to sense suddenly shone with a brilliant golden light.
"Lin Chen... the Diary's updating again!"
[Diary update, day...]
[That old poison master is fine in every way except that he's far too talkative. He's got some weird obsession with his academy uniform. The man walks around in white robes, yet still likes sneaking into my dorm at night...]
Zhu Zhuqing: "???"
What the hell are you talking about?
She'd been holding her breath and moving in secret. How had he found out she was here?!
"Zhuqing doesn't seem like that sort of person. Maybe it's someone else? It's probably that little thief."
[I never expected the old poison master to say I was his father reborn. Then what does Bi Biyao make me? Is she going to call me Grandfather?]
Bi Biyao: "..."
"Dou Luo's gone completely senile. He's even saying Lin Chen is his father reborn!"
Bi Biyao, who had been reading Lin Chen's Diary, was stunned.
[As for that black-robed woman, she can't compare with Zhu Zhuqing... honestly, given what happened in the original story, you really thought you were something special. You're nothing compared with Qian Ling'er.]
"Nothing special?"
Zhu Zhuqing bit down hard on her lip, her face turning deathly pale in an instant.
Lin Chen had only ever brought her up once before.
Just once—and that was when he'd mocked her, saying she was his woman. Was he doing it again now?
Qian Ling'er: "..."
"Besides, I'm laughing now, so what? I've sinned. Dad!"
Zhuqing: "..."
Before you continue