Further Breakthrough

Just as the people across the continent were stunned, the Sky Screen shifted.

[In the blink of an eye, a year passed.]

[Over that year, Su Chen conducted all manner of experiments almost every day.]

[Apart from that, he spent his time with Bibi Dong, guiding her cultivation.]

[At the same time, taking advantage of the special nature of Bibi Dong's Twin Martial Souls, Su Chen gained a great deal through a series of studies.]

[Throughout this process, Bibi Dong's feelings for Su Chen grew deeper and deeper.]

[At first, it was admiration.]

[Later, it became dependence.]

[And eventually, she fell for him completely.]

[Su Chen's research also made tremendous breakthroughs over that year.]

[After countless deductions and attempts, he finally advanced the Soul-Shattering Foundation Building Method another step.]

[He named this stage—Mid-Stage Foundation Building.]

[At this stage, Su Chen opened his own Soul Power circulation pathways, using his dantian as the core and circulating power through his limbs. After a hundred cycles a day, it gradually formed an automatic circulation, allowing him to absorb Soul Power at every moment.]

[Most importantly, as his control over Natural Soul Power deepened, Su Chen also developed several combat techniques.]

[The scene shifted.]

[Great Soul Arena, Spirit City.]

[The Number One Soul Fighting Arena was already abuzz with voices.]

[Looking around, the surrounding stands were nearly full.]

[From the high platform, the host announced loudly.]

["Ladies and gentlemen!"]

["Next is the main event of today's Number One Soul Fighting Arena!"]

["On one side, we have Niu Ben, a level forty-five Assault-type Battle Soul Ancestor with ten consecutive victories, and the owner of the Golden-Horned Savage Bull Martial Soul!"]

["On the other side is Su Chen, the Daoist Lord of Ten Thousand Methods, who has become immensely famous throughout Spirit City and has yet to reveal either his Martial Soul or Soul Rings!"]

[The moment those words were spoken, the atmosphere in the entire venue was thoroughly ignited.]

["Daoist Lord of Ten Thousand Methods!"]

["Daoist Lord of Ten Thousand Methods!"]

["Niu Ben!"]

["Niu Ben!"]

[Cheers rose one after another.]

[Over the past year, Su Chen had often come to the Great Soul Arena to gain practical combat experience.]

[Because Su Chen had never used his Martial Soul or Soul Rings.]

[Moreover, in every match over the latter half of the year, he ended the battle at astonishing speed.]

[For that very reason, quite a few people in Spirit City remembered Su Chen's name.]

[Amid the cheers, two figures soon emerged from the passageways on either side and stepped onto the fighting platform.]

[One was burly, broad-shouldered and thick-backed, exuding a fierce aura all over.]

[It was Niu Ben.]

[On the other side, Su Chen still wore a long robe of blue and gold. He stood tall, his expression calm.]

[On the fighting platform.]

[Niu Ben looked at Su Chen across from him, his face more solemn than ever.]

[Over the past year, he had heard far too many rumors about Su Chen.]

[So Niu Ben knew very well that this young man, who seemed ordinary apart from being a little too handsome, was absolutely the most troublesome opponent he had ever faced.]

[With that thought, he took a deep breath and spoke in a low voice.]

["Niu Ben, level forty-five Assault-type Battle Soul Ancestor."]

["Martial Soul, Golden-Horned Savage Bull!"]

[As his words fell, the phantom of a massive savage bull with golden horns abruptly appeared behind Niu Ben.]

[At the same time, two yellow and two purple Soul Rings slowly rose.]

[Su Chen spoke indifferently.]

["Su Chen."]

[Just two words.]

[As calm as ever.]

[Seeing that both were ready, the host immediately shouted.]

["Soul fight—begin!"]

[The instant his voice fell.]

[Su Chen narrowed his eyes slightly.]

["Thunder Method, Flash Step."]

[The next moment, lightning abruptly exploded beneath his feet.]

[Crackle!]

[With only a faint sound.]

[Su Chen, who had been standing in place, vanished in an instant.]

["What?!"]

[Niu Ben's expression changed.]

[Almost instinctively, he turned to look beside him.]

[But just then, a flash of lightning streaked past, and Su Chen appeared at his left side.]

[He was too fast.]

[So fast that most of the spectators around the arena could not even see how Su Chen had moved.]

[Niu Ben did not dare lower his guard. His first Soul Ring instantly lit up.]

["First Soul Skill, Savage Bull Body Protection!"]

[In the next instant, a thick dark-yellow glow appeared over his body.]

[Immediately afterward, the fourth Soul Ring beneath Niu Ben's feet blazed brightly.]

["Fourth Soul Skill, Savage Bull Stomp!"]

[Boom!]

[Niu Ben fiercely stomped down.]

[A violent force of vibration immediately swept outward in every direction.]

[He wanted to use this method to forcibly interrupt Su Chen's attack and knock him back.]

[However, at that moment, Niu Ben only felt a faint breeze brush past his ear.]

[Su Chen vanished once again.]

[Niu Ben's pupils contracted sharply.]

[Without time to think, he moved to dodge to the side.]

[But at that very moment.]

["Boom!"]

[With a deafening explosion.]

[Lightning flooded the fighting platform. Niu Ben's entire body froze in place, cold sweat streaming down his forehead.]

[The once-solid floor of the fighting platform before him had already cracked inch by inch.]

[At the same time, he could feel something at his back.]

[A single finger was lightly pressed there.]

[Niu Ben slowly swallowed. He understood that if this had been a life-or-death battle, his body would have already been blasted to pieces.]

[At the sight of this, the Soul Fighting Arena fell silent for a moment.]

[Then, the entire Number One Soul Fighting Arena erupted.]

["He won!"]

["Too fast!"]

["Is this the Daoist Lord of Ten Thousand Methods?"]

[Niu Ben could not even touch him!]

[The cries of shock nearly blew the roof off the entire arena.]

[Meanwhile, on the fighting platform, seeing that Niu Ben had already conceded, Su Chen calmly withdrew his hand.]

[Then, beneath countless burning gazes, Su Chen turned and walked toward the arena exit.]

[At the entrance to the arena.]

[Su Chen had just stepped out of the passageway.]

[A graceful figure had already come forward to meet him.]

[It was Bibi Dong.]

[She now wore a purple-and-gold long dress, her figure tall and graceful, her face incomparably beautiful.]

[And in the way she looked at Su Chen, she made no effort to conceal her love and admiration.]

["Your Thunder Method and Wind Formula have grown stronger again."]

[Bibi Dong looked at Su Chen, her voice full of amusement.]

["At this rate, it will not be long before even I am no match for you."]

[Hearing this, Su Chen merely shook his head lightly.]

["You need not belittle yourself."]

["You are already far beyond what you were a year ago."]

["Not only have you cultivated to level sixty-three Soul Emperor, but your sixth Soul Ring was also a forty-thousand-year Soul Ring absorbed beyond the normal limit."]

["In terms of combat power alone, not many people at the same level can defeat you."]

[At those words, the smile on Bibi Dong's face immediately deepened.]

["Isn't all of this thanks to you?"]

["If you had not kept helping me research cultivation methods for Twin Martial Souls, and taught me how to strengthen my body and spiritual power, how could I have achieved this?"]

[As she said this, the affection in Bibi Dong's eyes nearly overflowed.]

[But Su Chen seemed not to notice.]

[Or rather, he had noticed, but did not take it to heart.]

[After all, these had been strategies meant to make Bibi Dong cooperate with his experiments. Only by making Bibi Dong fall in love with him could he conduct his experiments more effectively.]

[Thus, some of his intimate words and actions over the past year had been deliberate.]

[Although Su Chen sometimes felt guilty when he sensed Bibi Dong's deep love for him, that slight guilt was ultimately replaced by Absolute Rationality.]

[The two walked shoulder to shoulder, strolling through Spirit City as they usually did. Just then, Bibi Dong suddenly remembered something and hurriedly spoke.]

["Right."]

["Teacher happens to be free today."]

["Haven't you always wanted to see Teacher?"]

["If you want to go, now is the perfect time."]