The Disheveled Duo

"Success! Hahaha! Perfect! Simply perfect!" The voice of the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm carried both weakness and irrepressible excitement. "Kid, how do you feel? Do you feel reborn, powerful enough to scare even yourself? The four mental skills I've bestowed upon you: Spiritual Detection, Spiritual Sharing, Simulation, and Soul Shock—all relevant information and techniques have been branded deep into your soul. With a little practice, you'll master them! As for the foundation for your second martial soul, that has also been successfully planted!"

Su Chen opened his eyes, a flash of golden divine light vanishing from his pupils. He felt the surging power within his body, his six wings unfurling involuntarily behind him.

"Many thanks, Tian Meng," Su Chen said sincerely.

"Hehe, don't stand on ceremony with me!" The Sky Dream Ice Silkworm's voice echoed in his mind. "But I've exhausted quite a bit of energy; I need to rest in your spiritual sea for a while. By the way, Su Chen, about that second martial soul..."

It paused, its tone becoming more serious. "I have only planted the potential foundation of the ice attribute in your body for now. To truly activate it and grant it a complete form and power, some special conditions are required. Once your soul power breaks through level thirty, I will take you to a place to obtain your second martial soul."

Su Chen vaguely guessed what it was—one of the three great kings of the Far North, the Ice Jade Empress Scorpion! But he did not point it out, merely responding, "Understood."

The Sky Dream Ice Silkworm breathed a sigh of relief. It was indeed planning to have the Ice Empress sacrifice herself to Su Chen in the future—at that time, the Ice Empress would not only be the first soul ring for Su Chen's second martial soul, but could even become the very essence of that ice-attribute martial soul!

Just then, an unexpected change occurred!

A faint, imperceptible gray current drifted silently from the depths of the forest. It seemed weak, yet it radiated an ancient, vicissitudinous aura that transcended the cycle of life and death. The gray current circled Su Chen twice before diving straight into the center of his brow!

"What is that!" the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm exclaimed, attempting to construct a barrier with its spiritual power to block it. But the gray current was bizarrely potent, piercing directly through the spiritual barrier and sinking into Su Chen's brow!

Su Chen shuddered, feeling a third force intrude into his body. This power was not as vast as the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm's, but it was far more profound and mysterious.

"This is... the Scourge of the Undead, Electrolux!" Su Chen was shocked.

This remnant soul of the Holy Necromancer had actually chosen him instead of Huo Yuhao!

"Little one, do not panic." An aged, gentle voice resonated in Su Chen's spiritual sea. Unlike the mental fluctuations of the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm, this voice seemed to have weathered the vicissitudes of eternity, containing great wisdom within its calm.

The gray current condensed in the spiritual sea, forming the phantom of an old man in gray robes. The old man had white hair and a beard, his face kind, yet his eyes were as deep as the starry sky.

"This old man's remnant soul has drifted for too long. Today, sensing an aura where the divine and the spiritual coexist, I felt curious and came uninvited," Electrolux's remnant soul said slowly, his voice gentle. "If you do not mind, this old man shall reside here for a while."

Su Chen suppressed the excitement in his heart and said respectfully, "It is this junior's honor for you to stay, Senior."

The Sky Dream Ice Silkworm finally reacted, staring vigilantly at the gray phantom. "What are you? How did you break in?"

Electrolux smiled slightly, not offended. "A little worm, rest assured, this old man bears you no malice. I was merely curious, seeing that this young friend is gifted with such extraordinary talent."

"Who are you calling a little worm!" the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm shouted indignantly. "I am a million-year soul beast! A peerless heavenly being!"

"Yes, yes, a peerless heavenly being," Electrolux said with a chuckle, shaking his head before floating quietly in a corner of the spiritual sea and falling into a deep slumber.

The Sky Dream Ice Silkworm snorted and said to Su Chen, "This old fellow doesn't seem simple... but since he's asleep, we'll ignore him for now. Su Chen, you should familiarize yourself with your newly acquired powers."

Su Chen nodded, his consciousness returning to reality. He looked at the two soul rings on his body—one deep yellow verging on purple, the other a brilliant gold. Such a shocking configuration made his heart surge.

He glanced at the unconscious Huo Yuhao on the ground, then lingered no longer. His six wings unfurled abruptly, and the golden holy light bloomed once more.

On the edge of the Star Dou Great Forest, in a clearing surrounded by a stream.

Su Chen sat cross-legged on the surface of a giant rock, his eyes slightly closed, a faint golden halo circulating around his body. The light was holy and gentle, like the first ray of morning sun, making him appear as if a god had descended.

"Hoo—"

Su Chen slowly exhaled a breath of turbid air, which contained faint golden specks that drifted into the air. He opened his eyes, a flash of gold vanishing from his pupils.

"Level twenty-seven peak," Su Chen said, feeling the surging soul power within his body, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly. "Only three levels away from level thirty. At this rate, I can break through in at most a month."

A day ago, after leaving the area where he met Huo Yuhao, he had found this relatively safe clearing by the stream.

"Kid, someone's coming," the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm's lazy voice sounded in the spiritual sea, carrying a hint of playfulness. "Two little ones, and they aren't in very good shape."

No sooner had the words fallen than the dense bushes ahead shook violently, accompanied by rapid panting and the sound of snapping branches.

"Swish!"

Two figures emerged from the grass in a rather disheveled state.

Leading them was a youth of about fourteen or fifteen years old, his blue combat suit torn in many places, revealing the sturdy muscles beneath. He had short, dark blue hair, a handsome face, sword-like brows, and star-like eyes. His brows were currently furrowed, his expression grave. Most striking was his right arm—the entire limb was covered in blue-purple scales, his hand transformed into a dragon claw, the five claws as sharp as blades, wreathed in fine blue-purple electric snakes that crackled with a "zizzing" sound.

Martial Soul Possession: Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon! Although it was slowly fading, the pressure belonging to a top-tier beast martial soul had not yet fully dissipated.

Following closely behind was a young girl. She looked slightly younger than the boy, about thirteen or fourteen, with a petite and exquisite figure. Her light purple dress was covered in dust and grass clippings, torn in several places. She had long, deep purple hair that was currently somewhat messy, and her delicate, oval face was as pale as paper, with fine beads of sweat on her forehead. Despite her disheveled state, she could not hide her lively beauty, especially those purple eyes, which remained bright even through her exhaustion.

The girl's soul power fluctuations were clearly unstable, wavering between level thirty-one and thirty-two; it was evident she had just broken through to become a Soul Elder and had not yet fully consolidated her cultivation.

"Bei Bei... I, I can't run anymore..." the girl panted, her voice weak.

"Xiao Ya, hold on a little longer! That Red-Winged Dragon should have been shaken off for now!" The boy called Bei Bei supported the girl, scanning his surroundings vigilantly, his Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon martial soul not yet fully retracted, ready to deal with any sudden situation.