A Gamble on the Future, Absorbing a Thousand-Year Soul Ring Across Realms

He paused, waving a hand lazily.

"Speak, what kind of soul beast do you need for your second soul ring?"

He had won the gamble!

Ye Feng was ecstatic, but he dared not show the slightest hint of it on his face, maintaining his respectful demeanor.

"Many thanks for your trust, Senior! This junior requires a Light-Condensing Healing Flower of about eleven hundred years!"

"A Light-Condensing Healing Flower?"

Yue Guan was stunned for a moment, then suddenly realized.

He was naturally aware of such a rare plant-type soul beast.

Its greatest characteristic was its ability to significantly increase a soul master's soul power recovery speed, and because its nature was mild, the success rate for a soul master to absorb it was at least twenty percent higher than that of an animal-type soul beast of the same level.

So, this kid wasn't just a reckless brute; he knew how to leave himself a way out.

However, even with a twenty percent higher success rate, absorbing a thousand-year soul ring with the body of a Soul Grand Master was no different from courting death.

"Interesting."

Yue Guan's smile became increasingly intrigued.

"Fine! Kid, you wait right here and don't go wandering off.

I happen to know exactly where in this Sunset Forest you can find what you want."

He deliberately emphasized the words "don't go wandering off," the warning implicit in his tone.

"Rest assured, Senior!"

Ye Feng immediately puffed out his chest, his face full of righteousness:

"There are no tears in the world of soul masters; a real man never retreats!"

"Tsk, tsk."

Yue Guan was amused by his display.

"You kid, you always have a way with words; I truly underestimated you."

Before the words had even faded, his figure transformed into a golden streak of light, vanishing instantly into the depths of the forest without leaving a single trace.

Only when that suffocating, terrifying aura had completely vanished did Ye Feng's nerves, which had been stretched to their limit, finally relax.

Unable to hold himself up any longer, his legs went weak, and he collapsed onto the ground.

Cold sweat had long since soaked his back.

Gasping for air, the relief of surviving a brush with death washed over him like a tide.

He had survived...

In front of this temperamental Chrysanthemum Douluo, he had actually managed to survive by relying on his silver tongue and a massive gamble!

Furthermore, he had secured a magnificent future for himself!

A disciple of Chrysanthemum Douluo!

With this status, he could walk sideways across the entire Douluo Continent!

Only...

He slowly exhaled a breath of stale air, his brain beginning to calmly review the situation.

Why did Yue Guan suddenly appear here? And right when he was about to die?

Hmm, no... Yue Guan appearing here was actually normal.

According to the original timeline, during this period, Yue Guan would run to the Sunset Forest every few days. And for what? To "exchange feelings" with his "old friend" Dugu Bo.

And every time, he would leave Old Poison battered and in a sorry state.

It wasn't until Tang San appeared later and gave Dugu Bo hidden weapons like the Mother-Child Soul-Chasing Life-Taking Ball that Old Poison could barely fight him to a draw.

Come to think of it, the power of Tang San's hidden weapons was actually just so-so; what was truly lethal was the potent poison quenched on them and the gunpowder inside.

From then on, Yue Guan likely felt that winning was dishonorable, or perhaps he was just disgusted, and gradually reduced his "exchanges" with Dugu Bo.

As for saying Yue Guan was weak?

Ye Feng absolutely disagreed with that.

Later on, when he fought Tang San to the death for his own sake—or perhaps for Ghost—the "Diamond Indestructible" technique that burned his life force unleashed combat power that could definitely threaten the life of a level 96 Super Douluo in a short time. Even Bone Douluo, Thousand Jun, or Falling Devil would be dead or severely injured in a one-on-one fight!

It was a pity that it was a swan song paid for with his life.

What if... he could consume a top-tier "Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum"?

Perhaps Yue Guan's martial soul, the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum, could evolve because of it, and when he used "Diamond Indestructible" again, he would no longer need to consume his life force...

These thoughts flashed through his mind.

They were all too far away.

What mattered most right now was the upcoming thousand-year soul ring!

But, no matter what...

Ye Feng grinned, laughing silently.

He was determined to become Yue Guan's disciple!

Not long after, a magnificent golden stream of light returned from the depths of the forest, hovering silently before Ye Feng.

The heart-stopping pressure descended once more, but this time it carried no killing intent, only a hint of playfulness and scrutiny.

Yue Guan held a strange plant in one hand. The plant was crystal clear, as if condensed from pure light, its petals layered, and its center emitting a gentle, pure life aura.

Even just by being close, Ye Feng could feel the soul power depleted by the fierce battle within him recovering at a slow, comfortable pace.

"Kid, a twelve-hundred-year cultivation Light-Condensing Healing Flower, pulled up by the roots, and fresh as can be."

Yue Guan casually tossed the still trembling plant before Ye Feng, glancing at him lazily.

"I'll give you one last chance. It's not too late to regret it now.

Don't throw your life away for some ridiculous obsession. Once you're dead, nothing will remain."

His words carried a subtle, hard-to-detect warning, as if he felt a sliver of pity for this audacious kid.

Ye Feng looked at the soul beast on the ground, radiating a purple halo, and felt the immense energy contained within it. Instead of fear, an unprecedented sense of valor ignited in his chest.

He stood up, brushed the dust off his clothes, and bowed deeply to Yue Guan.

"Senior, life and death are fated, wealth and honor are bestowed by heaven."

He raised his head, his youthful face bearing a determination and sharpness utterly incongruous with his age.

"The path of a soul master is inherently against the heavens. Without unwavering courage, how can one hope to reach the peak?

If I, this junior, can succeed in absorbing it today, then the seemingly unattainable dream I pursue will have a foundation for realization!"

"If I fail, then I can only blame my fate.

I'll try again in the next life, ten years from now, another passionate youth born for a dream!"

As his voice fell, Ye Feng no longer hesitated.

He drew the steel short sword from his waist, and without the slightest hesitation, his hand moved like lightning, precisely severing the main root of the Light-Condensing Healing Flower.

Buzz!

With a soft hum, the plant instantly lost all its radiance and dissipated into dust.

A shallow yet dazzling purple soul ring rose quietly from the ashes, hovering in mid-air, exuding the powerful pressure unique to a thousand-year soul beast.

Ye Feng didn't even look. He immediately sat down cross-legged, formed a hand seal, and his spiritual power surged out like a tide, guiding the purple soul ring to slowly descend into his body.

Watching this scene, a complex expression flickered in Yue Guan's narrow eyes.

Foolish boy...

Truly a complete and utter fool.

How incredibly difficult it was to reach that realm!

It was not something that could be achieved through talent and effort alone; it required heaven-defying luck, the favor of the gods!

Oh well.

Yue Guan sighed inwardly.

If this kid couldn't bear it later, he would decisively intervene and stop him.

Just for your stubbornness that refuses to turn back, for your courage to gamble your life on the future, I will reluctantly... accept you as my disciple.