A Small Trial of Skill

Judging by the scenery alone, it seemed no different from the area in the Primary Spirit Ascension Platform that simulated the outer reaches of the Star Dou Great Forest.

But the moment Wang Chuan spread out his spiritual power, he immediately sensed the difference.

First was the density of the heaven and earth energy; it was at least several times higher than in the Primary Spirit Ascension Platform area, pure and vibrant, making one feel invigorated with a single breath.

Second were the subtle auras of powerful lifeforms permeating the air.

The Primary Spirit Ascension Platform was generally populated by ten-year and hundred-year soul beasts, with thousand-year soul beasts being the regional overlords.

Yet here, the aura of thousand-year soul beasts could be felt almost everywhere, and from deeper within, there even came a heavy pressure belonging to ten-thousand-year soul beasts that made even him feel a hint of strain.

"Roar!"

A low, intimidating roar erupted from behind a nearby thicket, shattering the tranquility of the forest.

Crash!

Amidst flying branches and leaves, a massive creature leaped out.

This was a giant tiger-type soul beast over six meters long, with a shoulder height of at least one and a half meters.

Its entire body was covered in thick, brownish-yellow fur, yet the fur was densely packed with strange, dark purple patterns, making it look mysterious and ferocious.

Most striking were its eyes—one ice blue, one crimson—intertwining ice and fire in a bizarre fashion.

Even more peculiar was that on both sides of its broad back, it actually possessed a pair of wings; the left wing was ice blue and the right was fiery red, fluttering slightly to scatter ice crystals and sparks.

"Ice-Fire Demon Tiger."

Wang Chuan narrowed his eyes, instantly recognizing the origin of this soul beast.

Having consciously collected all kinds of knowledge about the Douluo Continent since the age of two, he had long since memorized important classics like the Compendium of Soul Beasts.

The Ice-Fire Demon Tiger controlled two diametrically opposed yet immensely powerful elemental forces, and the destructive power generated by their combination far exceeded that of a single attribute.

Judging by its size and energy fluctuations, its age was at least around four thousand years.

Among soul beasts of the same age, this type was definitely a troublesome standout.

Meanwhile, in the Spirit Pagoda monitoring room outside.

The massive Soul Guidance Screen clearly displayed the footage of the area in the Spirit Ascension Platform where Wang Chuan was located.

When the highly oppressive figure of the Ice-Fire Demon Tiger appeared on the screen, several stifled gasps echoed through the monitoring room.

"Ice-Fire Demon Tiger!"

"Looking at this size and energy reaction, it has at least four thousand years of cultivation!"

An experienced staff member whispered.

Zheng Chenggong also furrowed his brows, his expression turning grave.

An Ice-Fire Demon Tiger with four thousand years of cultivation, controlling both ice and fire elements, was a powerhouse of both offense and defense.

It usually required a Five-Ring Soul King level soul master, equipped with decent soul skills and combat experience, to deal with it safely.

Although Wang Chuan was gifted, he was only a Three-Ring Soul Venerable after all; could he handle such a fierce beast?

He couldn't help but clench his fists, leaning forward slightly as he stared at the screen, ready to initiate the emergency extraction protocol at any moment.

Inside the Spirit Ascension Platform, the Ice-Fire Demon Tiger clearly viewed Wang Chuan as prey that had trespassed into its territory.

Its eyes of different colors locked onto Wang Chuan, and it let out an even more oppressive roar, the sound waves causing the surrounding leaves to rustle and fall.

Immediately after, it opened its blood-red maw, and a scorching, head-sized fireball was spat out.

The fireball swelled rapidly upon leaving its mouth, instantly expanding into a massive ball of fire over a meter in diameter, dragging a long tail of flames and carrying intense heat as it whistled toward Wang Chuan!

Facing this aggressive attack, Wang Chuan's face remained calm, and he even shook his head slightly.

"The momentum is decent..."

"But the energy application is far too crude and straightforward."

With a flick of his thoughts, the magnificent phantom of the Five Virtues Phoenix emerged behind him, its broad, five-colored wings spreading elegantly and radiating a sacred, vast aura.

Following this, three purple soul rings rose from beneath his feet, rhythmically circling his body.

He watched as his first soul ring instantly flared with light!

First Soul Skill, Domain of Five Elements!

In an instant, with Wang Chuan as the center, the air within a hundred-meter radius seemed to distort slightly as five-colored brilliance flowed ceaselessly.

Five elements were instantly brought under Wang Chuan's control!

This was not simple elemental affinity, but true domain control!

Wang Chuan had long since deeply understood the rarity and power of domain-type soul skills.

Because, within his Domain of Five Elements...

He was the master of the five elements!

Wang Chuan merely waved his hand gently toward the incoming giant fireball.

The moment that menacing, massive fireball entered the range of the Domain of Five Elements, it was as if wiped away by an invisible hand, its violent fire elements instantly dissipating.

But after the fireball vanished...

Dozens of half-meter-long ice spikes, hidden within and radiating bone-chilling cold, continued their trajectory toward Wang Chuan!

These ice spikes, aided by the cover of the fireball and the airflow turbulence generated by the high heat, followed silently behind; it was clearly a devious follow-up move by the Ice-Fire Demon Tiger.

"Oh?"

"Ice spikes hidden in a fireball, a feint to cover a sneak attack?"

"Interesting."

A flash of surprise crossed Wang Chuan's eyes; the combat intelligence of this Ice-Fire Demon Tiger was not low.

Unfortunately, in the face of absolute control, these little tricks were meaningless.

Ice, in its essence, is merely a transformed state of the water element.

And within the Domain of Five Elements...

The water element also obeyed his command.

Wang Chuan shifted his focus, and before those dozens of sharp ice spikes could get close, they silently melted, turning into the purest water elemental energy and returning to the world.

At this moment, the true form of the Ice-Fire Demon Tiger was instantly revealed!

It turned out that while spitting the fireball, its massive body had already used the cover of the shrubbery and its own astonishing agility to silently pounce right in front of Wang Chuan!

Its blood-red maw carried a foul wind, its ice-fire wings were slightly pulled back in preparation, and its two giant claws, containing terrifying power, glinted with a cold light; it looked as if it were about to tear Wang Chuan to shreds!

However, what greeted it was Wang Chuan's calm, ripple-free gaze and his right hand, which he had gently raised and held in a void-grip.

Within the Domain of Five Elements, the vast heaven and earth energy and the five elements responded instantly.

A giant, five-colored palm composed of pure five-element power appeared out of thin air above the Ice-Fire Demon Tiger, like the hand of the heavens, its five fingers slightly curled, gently closing downward!

"Roar--?!"

The Ice-Fire Demon Tiger's pounce came to an abrupt halt, the ice and fire light in its eyes flickering violently, filled with shock and disbelief.

It felt as if the entire space were crushing it; that power was overwhelming and far beyond what it could resist.

It struggled frantically, the ice and fire elements erupting from its body in an attempt to tear through this invisible confinement.

But under the suppression of the Domain of Five Elements, its power was like a clay ox entering the sea.

Wang Chuan's void-gripping right hand clenched gently.

"Puff--"

In mid-air, that giant five-colored palm closed along with it.

Held in the palm, the four-thousand-year Ice-Fire Demon Tiger could not even let out a complete cry of agony before its massive body exploded under the crushing force of the five elements!

Its body transformed directly into a cluster of extremely dense spiritual light, which simply hung suspended in mid-air.