Soul Devouring Flower

At that moment, Lin Chen had no idea that news of his disappearance had spread throughout the entire second year, much less that several of his friends had posted missing-person notices all over Shrek City.

Sea God Island, Zhang Lexuan's residence

"Dean Yan, why are you here?" Zhang Lexuan looked at Yan Shaozhe in confusion.

Yan Shaozhe did not bother with pleasantries and said directly, "Lexuan, you were the one who gave Lin Chen his recommendation letter, right?"

Zhang Lexuan nodded.

"Then did you know there has been no news of him even now? It has already been a month since school started."

Zhang Lexuan froze. She truly had not known. She rarely went out, and when she did, it was only to carry out inspection corps missions. Besides, news of Lin Chen's disappearance had only spread among the second years. Shrek had countless geniuses; how would students from other years have the time to inquire about such matters?

Seeing Zhang Lexuan's stunned expression, Yan Shaozhe guessed that she had not known about this. He continued, "Before the break, his Soul Power had already reached Rank 30. He went alone to Star Dou Great Forest to obtain a Soul Ring and has yet to return. I suspect he has already died in the jaws of a Soul Beast."

Zhang Lexuan frowned deeply. After thinking for a while, she raised one finger and said, "One year. Give me one year to look for him. If I still cannot find him, then I will consider him dead."

Yan Shaozhe was somewhat surprised, but he still nodded. "I will preserve his status as a core disciple of Shrek Outer Court. He is a genius. If he dies, it will be an enormous loss to the academy."

Zhang Lexuan nodded. "Thank you, Dean Yan. Please help me speak to Mu En. I will not be carrying out any missions for the next year."

Yan Shaozhe agreed and left.

After Yan Shaozhe left, Zhang Lexuan remained alone in the room, her mind feeling feverish.

She did not know why she had made that decision just now. Perhaps it was for Shrek? Perhaps she had seen her former self in him? Or perhaps there was another reason? She did not know herself.

Shaking her head, Zhang Lexuan gathered some luggage and headed out.

Meanwhile, the person Zhang Lexuan was searching for was currently racing back to the academy, not even stopping to rest at night.

Although he knew he might be expelled, Lin Chen still returned to the academy. Even if it came to that, he still had to move out his daily necessities.

Lin Chen planned to circle around Star Dou Great Forest on his way back to the academy. That way, he would not have to pass through any cities and could avoid all the troublesome procedures and travel expenses.

"Lin Chen, be careful. There is Evil Qi nearby," Qian Renxue suddenly spoke within the Sea of Consciousness.

Lin Chen nodded. His Spiritual Power had already reached the level of a Soul Emperor, so his senses had naturally become much sharper.

Lin Chen stopped at the foot of a mountain. There happened to be an inn ahead, and he planned to stay the night before continuing on.

But the closer he got to the inn, the stronger the unease in his heart became.

"Boss, one room and a few meat dishes," Lin Chen said to the front desk.

"Certainly, sir. Here is your room key. Please wait a moment for the meat dishes." The owner cheerfully took the Gold Soul Coin and left.

Lin Chen began examining the gloomy-looking inn, but everything appeared normal.

In less than five minutes, the owner brought over two heaping basins of meat and placed them on Lin Chen's table. "Fresh out of the kitchen. Eat while it's hot."

Lin Chen nodded.

After serving the meat, the owner returned to the kitchen to continue working.

Just as Lin Chen was about to pick up his chopsticks, he caught a nauseating stench coming from the kitchen. He immediately and quietly made his way inside.

The moment he entered the kitchen, Lin Chen nearly vomited. What kind of kitchen was this? It was clearly a slaughterhouse!

Bloody human bodies hung from the ceiling—elderly people, women, even children!

"That meat... was all made from human flesh?!" Lin Chen said in horror.

In his previous life, Lin Chen had merely been a young man about to enter university. Though he had spent the past few years hunting Soul Beasts to make a living, this was the first time he had ever seen such a bloody scene.

Qian Renxue said furiously, "This is the 'blessing' Tang San brought to the continent? Evil Soul Masters have become this rampant!"

As the former Angel God, Qian Renxue naturally loathed Evil Soul Masters to the extreme—the kind of hatred that made her kill one whenever she saw one.

Suddenly, the owner's voice sounded from behind Lin Chen.

"Do you know why my shop has been able to stay open for so many years?"

Without waiting for Lin Chen to answer, the owner continued, "Because countless travelers have brought me ingredients. I devour their souls, while their bodies make money for me."

"Madman!"

"Hahaha! If I am mad, then this world drove me mad. Enough talk. Explode Gold Coins for me!" The owner grabbed a large blade from the side and slashed it toward Lin Chen.

Yet Lin Chen neither dodged nor avoided it.

The instant the blade struck Lin Chen, his body turned into a black shadow and sank into the ground, vanishing.

It was Lin Chen's Third Soul Skill: Sword Shadow Overlap!

The moment Lin Chen had entered this place, he had already used his Third Soul Skill to create a shadow.

A shadow could take any form. It could be a sword, and naturally, it could also be a person.

Lin Chen slowly emerged from a corner, the Seven Kill Sword in his hand.

The owner was not angered by the sight. Five Soul Rings—yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black—rose around him.

It was actually the optimal Soul Ring configuration. This made Lin Chen much more serious, because this was his first time challenging a Soul King with an optimal Soul Ring configuration across ranks, and an Evil Soul Master at that.

Evil Soul Masters were generally much stronger in battle than ordinary Soul Masters of the same rank. Some exceptionally gifted ones could even kill opponents above their own rank.

Lin Chen also released his Soul Rings.

The owner slapped his palm against the ground. Instantly, countless vines burst from the earth, each tipped with a flower that opened a bloodthirsty maw.

Man-eating Flower? Lin Chen had already made his judgment.

As the flowers pounced toward Lin Chen, wails suddenly rang out around them, disrupting his mind.

"No, they are Soul Devouring Flowers!" Lin Chen finally understood why so many bloody bodies had been hanging from the ceiling.

His Second Soul Skill and First Soul Skill activated at the same time, severing every vine lunging at him.

"Fourth Soul Skill, Sorrow of Soul Capture!"

Countless Vengeful Spirits immediately spewed from the mouths of the Soul Devouring Flowers and drifted toward Lin Chen.

"Why did you kill me?"

"Why didn't you save me?"

"It's all your fault! It's all your fault!"

The voices of countless Vengeful Spirits rang beside Lin Chen's ears, even attempting to charge into his Sea of Consciousness.

But Lin Chen's Spiritual Power had already reached the Soul Emperor level. The Soul King-level owner's Spiritual Power was no stronger than his, so the attacks of these Vengeful Spirits naturally could not affect him. Besides, a great deity lived within his Sea of Consciousness.

"Enough. Your Soul Devouring Flowers mainly use mental attacks, right? Your Spiritual Power is inferior to mine, so these attacks are useless against me. Die! Third Soul Skill, Sword Shadow Overlap!"

Countless sword shadows formed a tornado around the owner. Lin Chen himself concealed himself within the whirlwind, constantly leaving sword wounds across the owner's body.

"Damn it, Fifth Soul Skill..."

The owner wanted to make one final struggle, but before he could unleash his Fifth Soul Skill, Lin Chen's sword had already cut his throat.

After dealing with the owner, Lin Chen finally could not hold it in any longer and vomited onto the ground.

Only after vomiting for half an hour did Lin Chen rise to his feet. Just as he was about to leave, a woman's voice called out from behind him, "Little brother, please wait!"