One Move Shatters Hu Liena's Defense

A sharp cyclone spun frantically at the tip of Su Chen's finger.

The air was sliced, emitting a piercing, shrill whistle.

Hu Liena stared at the finger mere inches from her face.

Her mind went completely blank.

The shadow of death instantly enveloped her entire body.

She did not doubt it for a second.

If that finger were to strike, her skull would be pierced as easily as thin paper.

She closed her eyes.

Her body trembled uncontrollably from extreme terror.

This was the first time in ten years she had truly faced death.

Up in the stands, Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan stood bolt upright.

His nine spirit rings manifested instantly.

He prepared to intervene by force to save Hu Liena.

Bibi Dong sat upon the Pope Throne.

She raised her right hand.

A barrier of purple spirit power materialized, blocking Chrysanthemum Douluo directly.

"Your Holiness, Nana is in danger."

Chrysanthemum Douluo spoke with urgency.

Bibi Dong did not look at him.

Her gaze was fixed intently on Su Chen upon the arena.

"Just watch. He knows what he is doing."

At the very moment Chrysanthemum Douluo prepared to force his way through the barrier, Su Chen made his move.

The immense Bloodline Power gathered at his fingertip erupted forward.

However, this force did not strike Hu Liena between the brows.

Instead, it grazed past the side of her ear.

The cyclone transformed into a visible white streak in the air.

It slammed directly into the Adamantite Arena floor behind Hu Liena.

BOOM.

A deafening roar exploded throughout the Martial Arts Arena.

Debris shot into the sky.

Dust and smoke filled the air.

Hu Liena felt a violent gust of wind scrape across her cheek.

A few strands of her golden short hair were severed by the gale.

They drifted slowly to the ground.

She waited for a long time.

The pain she had anticipated did not come.

She opened her eyes, trembling.

Su Chen had already withdrawn his right hand.

He looked down at her from above.

There was no killing intent in his eyes.

Only absolute indifference.

Hu Liena turned her head stiffly.

She looked behind her.

She saw that on the incredibly hard Adamantite Arena, there was now a bottomless pit half a meter in diameter.

The rock at the edge of the pit was scorched black from high-temperature friction.

This was pure, physical destructive power.

He had not used a single shred of soul power.

Hu Liena's heart contracted violently.

She knew she had lost completely.

Lost, utterly and thoroughly.

The opponent had not only crushed her with strength.

He had surpassed her in speed.

Even his spiritual power was far above her own.

In every field she took the most pride in.

Su Chen had achieved an absolute dimensional strike.

"You lost."

Su Chen's voice was indifferent.

Hu Liena knelt halfway on the ground.

Her arms hung limply at her sides.

She lowered her proud head.

"I lost."

Her voice was dry and hoarse.

Carrying a heavy sense of defeat.

Su Chen paid no further attention to Hu Liena.

He turned around.

Facing the thousands of students from Martial Soul Academy in the stands.

No one in the Martial Arts Arena spoke.

There was only the sound of the wind blowing across the railings of the stands.

All the students kept their heads low.

They did not even dare to meet Su Chen's gaze.

Even Hu Liena, the strongest in their hearts, had been defeated in a single move.

They didn't even have the qualifications to be cannon fodder if they went up.

Su Chen's strength had been deeply branded into their hearts.

Becoming an insurmountable mountain.

Su Chen raised his head.

His gaze turned toward the highest viewing platform.

He looked directly at the Second Worship, Golden Crocodile Douluo.

"Second Worship, does this match count as my victory?"

Su Chen asked aloud.

Golden Crocodile Douluo looked at the youth below.

He had lived for nearly a hundred years.

He had seen countless geniuses.

But a monster like Su Chen.

He had only seen once in his life.

Golden Crocodile Douluo slowly stood up.

He placed his hands behind his back.

His deep, resonant voice spread throughout the entire arena.

"You won."

"Relying purely on physical strength, you consecutively defeated over a dozen elites who had already obtained their soul rings."

"You even defeated a level twenty-one control-type Soul Grand Master head-on."

"Such a battle record has never existed in the history of Martial Soul Hall."

Golden Crocodile Douluo's gaze swept across all the elders present.

"From this day forward, the Worship Hall officially recognizes Su Chen's status as the Holy Son. To see him is to see the Pope; no one shall have any objections."

Demon Bear Douluo also stood up.

He echoed loudly.

"The Elder Hall seconds this. His Highness the Holy Son possesses peerless talent; I, Demon Bear, am convinced and submit."

Snake Lance Douluo and Porcupinefish Douluo both nodded in agreement.

Thus.

The greatest opposition within Martial Soul Hall had been completely flattened.

Su Chen had used absolute strength.

To seal everyone's lips.

Bibi Dong stood up.

She walked to the edge of the viewing platform.

Her gaze swept over the students and instructors below.

"Summon the healing-type soul masters to the stage. Treat the injured students."

Bibi Dong issued the order.

Over a dozen healing-type soul masters dressed in white immediately ran into the Central Martial Arena from the entrance.

They rushed onto the stage.

And began to examine the injuries of Lei Tian, Wang Hu, and the others.

Two high-level healing-type soul masters walked to Hu Liena's side.

They released soft light-attribute soul power.

And began to reconnect Hu Liena's fractured arm bone.

Hu Liena endured the pain.

She did not make a single sound.

Her gaze remained fixed on Su Chen's retreating back.

Bibi Dong looked at Su Chen.

"Su Chen. Come back to the Pope Palace with Me."

Su Chen nodded slightly.

He stepped down from the stage.

The surrounding students instinctively cleared a wide path for him.

Everyone kept their heads lowered.

Watching him leave with eyes full of awe.

Su Chen walked to the entrance.

The Temple Knight holding the Pope Token immediately presented the token with both hands.

His attitude was countless times more respectful than before.

Su Chen took the Pope Token.

And hung it back at his waist.

Bibi Dong led the elders of the Pope Palace down from the high platform.

The group left the Central Martial Arena in a grand procession.

After returning to the Pope Palace.

Bibi Dong dismissed the others.

Leaving only Su Chen alone in the main hall.

"You performed very well today."

Bibi Dong sat on the Pope Throne.

Her eyes were filled with admiration.

"You did not use your Twin Martial Souls. This leaves a sense of mystery for the Worship Hall. Since they cannot fathom the true nature of your martial soul, they will not dare to easily make trouble for you in the future."

Su Chen stood below the steps.

"Teacher overpraises me. Dealing with those people did not require the use of my martial soul."

Bibi Dong nodded slightly.

"Your physical strength far exceeds my expectations. Have you consumed some kind of heaven-sent treasure, or have you cultivated a special body-refining technique?"

Su Chen remained calm.

"The day I awakened my martial soul, an extra surge of energy appeared within my body. This energy has been continuously strengthening my bones and meridians. I do not know exactly what is going on either. Perhaps it is an innate effect of a god-level martial soul."

He pushed everything onto his god-level martial soul.

In any case, no one on the Douluo Continent had ever awakened a martial soul of this level.

No one could prove otherwise.

Bibi Dong did not continue to press the matter.

Everyone has their own secrets.

As long as Su Chen belongs to the Pope Palace.

The stronger he becomes.

The more stable the status of the Pope Palace will be.

"The Elder Hall has already bowed its head. Your position as Holy Son is now completely secure."

Bibi Dong shifted the topic.

"Three days from now, Martial Soul Hall will hold a grand investiture ceremony for you."

"At that time, representatives from all the high-level Soul Master Academies across the continent, the royal families of the two great empires, and the Lower Four Sects will all come to observe the ceremony."

"After the investiture ceremony concludes, your primary task will be to obtain your first soul ring."

When it came to obtaining a soul ring.

Bibi Dong's expression turned serious.

"You possess Innate Full Soul Power at level twenty. This is a tremendous advantage, but it also means you must obtain two soul rings in succession."

"Regarding your first soul ring, I have already selected a target for you."

Bibi Dong took out a dossier.

She placed it on the tabletop.

"In the Royal Soul Hunting Forest outside Martial Soul City, a Light Unicorn with a cultivation of four hundred years is kept in captivity."

"Its attribute is pure light, which is extremely compatible with your Judgment Holy Sword."

"Four hundred years is exactly within the limit of what a Soul Master's first soul ring can withstand."

"By absorbing it, your first soul skill will undoubtedly be a top-tier light-based attack skill."

Su Chen listened quietly to Bibi Dong's arrangements.

He did not offer any rebuttal.

Not until Bibi Dong had finished speaking.

Did he slowly raise his head.

"Teacher, I do not wish to absorb this Light Unicorn."

Bibi Dong frowned slightly.

"Why? Four hundred years is already the limit for a first soul ring. Do you think the age is too low?"

Su Chen looked at Bibi Dong.

"Yes, it is too low."

Bibi Dong's expression darkened.

"Su Chen, do not be overly ambitious. Soul Masters must follow the rules when absorbing soul rings. Once you exceed the limits of your physical body, the violent energy contained within the soul ring will instantly rupture your meridians."

"Among the Ten Core Competencies proposed by Yu Xiaogang, the first one concerns the calculation of the limit for soul ring ages. Four hundred and twenty-three years—this is an ironclad law derived from countless Soul Masters testing it with their lives."

Upon hearing the name Yu Xiaogang.

A trace of mockery flashed in Su Chen's eyes.

"Teacher, Yu Xiaogang is nothing more than a piece of trash who couldn't even break through to level thirty. His theories only apply to those ordinary people who lack talent."

Su Chen's words were extremely aggressive.

Bibi Dong was stunned.

She had not expected Su Chen to dare to evaluate Yu Xiaogang in such a way.

During this period.

Although Yu Xiaogang's reputation was poor.

Within Martial Soul Hall.

Because of Bibi Dong's secret protection.

Very few people dared to call him trash to his face.

"Insolent."

Bibi Dong slammed her hand against the armrest.

"His theories have been verified by a vast amount of data from Martial Soul Hall. What could a child who has just awakened his martial soul possibly understand?"

Su Chen did not retreat in the slightest.

"Teacher, data can be deceiving. The samples he used to verify his data were all Soul Masters with ordinary martial souls."

"Have you ever seen anyone with a god-level martial soul go and verify his theories?"

Su Chen took a step forward.

"You have just seen my physical strength. Two thousand jin of pure brute force; even an average level thirty Battle Soul Elder cannot compare to it."

"Do you truly believe that with my physical constitution, I would be unable to withstand a mere four-hundred-year spirit ring?"

Bibi Dong fell silent.

She recalled Su Chen's overwhelming performance at the Martial Arts Arena.

Indeed.

That monstrous physical fitness.

It simply could not be measured by conventional logic.

"Even if your body can endure it, what about the mental shock?"

Bibi Dong retorted.

"The higher the age of a spirit beast, the stronger the lingering resentment of its soul after death. The mental shock from a spirit beast over a thousand years old is enough to turn a level ten spirit master into an idiot."

Su Chen smiled slightly.

His eyes instantly shifted into black and white.

A vast, materialized spiritual power surged out from his body.

It whipped up an invisible storm within the grand hall.

"Teacher, you have forgotten. My spiritual power has long since materialized."

"Let alone the resentment of a thousand-year spirit beast, even the mental shock of a ten-thousand-year spirit beast could not harm me in the slightest."

Bibi Dong felt the spiritual storm rushing toward her.

She was left completely speechless.

Su Chen was right.

Not only was his body monstrous.

His spiritual power far exceeded the scope of a normal spirit master.

Yu Xiaogang's theories.

Were completely inapplicable to Su Chen.

Just then.

A crisp, mechanical sound echoed in Su Chen's mind.

Ding. Detecting that the host is approaching a critical juncture in obtaining the first spirit ring.

God-Level Choice System triggered.

Option One: Follow Bibi Dong's arrangements and absorb a four-hundred-year Light Unicorn. Reward: Spirit power increased by one level, one thousand Gold Soul Coins.

Option Two: Slightly break the limit and absorb an eight-hundred-year high-tier spirit beast. Reward: One random thousand-year torso spirit bone, one low-grade Profound-tier movement technique.

Option Three: Completely shatter the limit theory and absorb a spirit beast above the thousand-year level as the first spirit ring. Reward: Dark attribute affinity increased to one hundred percent, first spirit skill automatically evolves into a growth-type god-level skill.

Su Chen quickly scanned the three options on the light screen.

He had already made his decision.

The rewards for Option One and Option Two were like chicken ribs to him.

Only Option Three.

Was the true god-level start.

A growth-type god-level skill.

This meant his first spirit skill would continue to grow stronger as his spirit power increased.

It would never become obsolete.

"System, I choose three."

Su Chen issued the command in his heart.

Option confirmed. Rewards will be issued after the host successfully absorbs the thousand-year spirit ring.

The system screen dissipated.

Su Chen raised his head.

He looked at Bibi Dong, who sat upon the Pope Throne, with a firm gaze.

"Teacher, a four-hundred-year spirit ring is a waste of my talent."

Su Chen's voice echoed through the empty hall.

"The first spirit ring I want must be no less than one thousand years."

Bibi Dong looked at the youth with sharp eyes before her.

She knew she could not persuade him.

Su Chen's personality was too much like her own.

Once he had decided on something, nothing could change it.

I will not change my mind.

"One thousand years."

Bibi Dong took a deep breath.

"Do you have any idea what the consequences will be if you fail to absorb a spirit ring beyond your rank?"

"Your meridians will be shattered, and your body will explode."

Su Chen answered calmly.

"But I will never fail."

He possessed a perfect body transformed by the Marrow Cleansing Pill.

He possessed materialized million-year-level spiritual power.

If he couldn't even absorb a thousand-year spirit ring with all that, he might as well just find a block of tofu and bash his head against it.

Bibi Dong stared at Su Chen for a long time.

She finally compromised.

"Fine. Since you insist, This Seat will grant your wish."

Bibi Dong stood up.

"After the canonization ceremony, I will have Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo personally accompany you to the Star Dou Great Forest."

"No matter which spirit beast you set your sights on, they will help you take it down."

"However."

Bibi Dong's tone turned stern.

"If any accidents occur during the absorption process, they will forcibly interrupt it. Even if it means crippling your martial soul, they will save your life."

"Many thanks, Teacher."

Su Chen bowed slightly.

He knew this was the greatest concession Bibi Dong could make.

"Return to the Cloud Condensing Pavilion to rest for now. Adjust your state well over these three days to prepare for the canonization ceremony."

Bibi Dong waved her hand.

Su Chen bowed and took his leave.

He turned and walked out of the main hall.

The heavy doors slowly closed behind him.

Bibi Dong sat back down on the Pope Throne.

She looked at the empty hall.

She recalled Su Chen's evaluation of Yu Xiaogang's theories just moments ago.

"Data can be deceiving..."

Bibi Dong whispered.

Her gaze became somewhat complex.

For many years, she had deeply believed in Yu Xiaogang's theories.

She had even revered them as absolute truth.

But today, this six-year-old child had mercilessly torn away that facade.

Could it be, that Xiaogang's theories were truly wrong?

Bibi Dong shook her head, casting these distracting thoughts from her mind.

What she needed to consider now, was how to push Su Chen's prestige to its peak at the canonization ceremony three days from now.

Su Chen walked along the corridor back to the Cloud Condensing Pavilion.

The guard knights outside the door saw him return, and one after another, they straightened their chests, eyes fixed straight ahead.

Su Chen pushed open the door.

He walked into the room.

He sat back down on the bed.

There were three days left until he could obtain his first soul ring.

He had to thoroughly consolidate the Chaos God-Demon Art.

He closed his eyes.

He entered a state of deep meditation once again.

The black and white vortex within his dantian accelerated its rotation.

Pure soul power surged ceaselessly through his wide meridians.

He was making final preparations for the upcoming cross-rank absorption.