Shocking the Sea God Pavilion

"What?! You're level sixty!"

At this moment, facing the child of only ten-plus years before them, even the elders of the Sea God Pavilion, the high-level leadership of Shrek City, collectively gasped in shock.

In this Dou II timeline, his body and soul power had grown in sync, also reaching level sixty.

"Didn't you just obtain your fifth soul ring a few days ago?"

Yan Shaozhe was filled with disbelief; he had personally led the team to hunt for his fifth soul beast last time, so there could be no mistake.

He hurried to Ye Guchen and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"It really is level sixty! And the soul power is extremely solid and stable; it doesn't look like it was boosted by external forces."

The elders spoke in unison.

"In other words, you went from level fifty-four to level sixty in just over ten days?"

Ye Guchen scratched his head, truly not knowing how to explain it.

"That's about the gist of it."

At this, Yan Shaozhe suddenly recalled that after Ma Xiaotao consumed the immortal herb given by Ye Guchen, her soul power had also increased significantly.

Could this kid have consumed an immortal herb as well?

But that's not right! This kid has been in Shrek City the whole time; where would he have gotten such things?

Just as Yan Shaozhe was filled with confusion, Mu En, who had been sitting to the side the entire time, spoke up.

"Enough. Their improvements are their own opportunities; we shouldn't pry too much."

He then cast his gaze toward Ye Guchen, as if looking at some precious treasure.

"Little Chen, what are your plans for your six soul beasts?"

Ye Guchen looked at Mu En, his expression respectful.

"Reporting to Elder Mu, I have all my offensive and support soul beasts now. I am still missing a defensive-type soul beast, and if possible, I hope to find a Golden Hawksbill Turtle."

Ye Guchen rubbed his hands together and leaned in a little closer.

"Of course, if I could find a soul beast like a Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear or an Emerald Swan, I wouldn't be picky either, hehe."

Xuan Zi, who had been listening from the side, gave Ye Guchen a flick to the forehead.

"Heh... you brat, your appetite is certainly not small!"

Ye Guchen rubbed his head and gave a dry laugh.

"My other soul beasts are at least top-tier ones like the Fire Luan Bird; the ones that follow shouldn't be any worse, right?"

Mu En nodded upon hearing this.

"Indeed. Little Chen is the most outstanding genius Shrek has seen in ten thousand years; we cannot be careless."

He turned his gaze toward Xuan Zi.

"How about this: you accompany him on a trip to the Star Dou Great Forest and search according to what Little Chen has requested!"

Upon hearing this, Xuan Zi also put away his playful demeanor and nodded toward Mu En.

"Yes! Elder Mu."

Before they left, Mu En did not forget to instruct, "Xuan Zi, remember to protect Little Chen well!"

"Understood."

It was not until the two had walked far away that Yan Shaozhe approached Mu En and told him about Ye Guchen giving Ma Xiaotao an immortal herb.

"Teacher, I wonder if he might have other immortal herbs?"

Mu En glared at him upon hearing this.

"Even if he does, they belong to him. Do not go harboring any crooked ideas."

Yan Shaozhe waved his hands repeatedly.

"You know me, don't you? I'm just curious. He has basically never left Shrek City, so where did those things come from?"

Hearing this, Mu En also felt puzzled, but since Ye Guchen would not say, he would not ask further.

"Everyone has their own secrets. If he is unwilling to speak, you need not ask. Remember to help cover for them."

Since his teacher had spoken, even if Yan Shaozhe had more doubts, he could only suppress them.

"I understand, Teacher."

Watching the direction in which Ye Guchen had departed, Mu En could not help but sigh with emotion.

"My Shrek has successors at last."

Ye Guchen followed closely behind Xuan Zi, kicking at his pant legs.

"Fine, fine, so we're actually having a Supreme Elder of the Holy Spirit Cult lead the way."

Seeing that Ye Guchen hadn't stepped forward, Xuan Zi turned back to check on him, only to be met with Ye Guchen's skeptical gaze.

"Kid, what's with that look? You don't trust this old man?"

Hearing this, Ye Guchen hurriedly squeezed out a smile.

"Ha... how could that be?"

Seeing the expression on Ye Guchen's face—which couldn't have been any faker—Xuan Zi stepped to his side and draped an arm over his shoulder.

"Heh... this old man is a ninety-eighth-level Titled Douluo; protecting you is more than enough."

At this, Ye Guchen could only offer a forced laugh.

"Ha... ha... I hope so!"

"Sigh... you kid..."

The two of them continued on their way toward the Star Dou Great Forest.

Back in Dou I, after Ye Guchen finished dressing, he prepared to hunt a soul beast of sixty to seventy thousand years to serve as his sixth soul ring.

"Old Poison, do you know if there are any soul beasts over sixty thousand years old with sharpness and toughness attributes within this Sunset Forest?"

Dugu Bo looked at him, his face full of confusion.

"Why are you looking for that kind of thing? Could it be..."

Dugu Bo thought of a terrifying possibility.

"You've broken through to level sixty!?"

Seeing Dugu Bo's reaction, Ye Guchen remained calm and nodded.

Observing Ye Guchen's demeanor, and considering that his granddaughter Dugu Yan had just consumed a celestial herb—resulting in not only a Martial Soul Evolution but also an increase in soul power from level thirty-three to thirty-eight—Dugu Bo likely guessed that this was the result of Ye Guchen consuming a celestial herb as well.

Dugu Bo stroked his beard, pondered for a moment, and said.

"There is indeed one soul beast in the Sunset Forest with sharpness and toughness attributes over sixty thousand years old."

Hearing this, Ye Guchen quickly pressed, "Where is it?"

"Deep in the Sunset Forest, there is an Iron Bamboo Soul Beast over seventy thousand years old that meets your requirements."

After speaking, Dugu Bo looked Ye Guchen up and down.

"However, you're only level sixty. Can you really absorb a seventy-thousand-year soul ring?"

At this, Ye Guchen smiled faintly and released his soul rings.

Five soul rings—yellow, purple, purple, black, and black—swirled beneath his feet.

Seeing the over-spec configuration of Ye Guchen's soul rings, Dugu Bo's expression turned complex, and he stopped trying to dissuade him.

"Alright then, follow me."

Immediately, he told Dugu Yan to wait at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, then transformed into a streak of green light and flew out of the valley.

Ye Guchen followed right behind him.

Seeing the two move into the distance, Dugu Yan stepped out from the side and waved in the direction Ye Guchen had left.

"Stay safe!"

Not long after, the two arrived at the territory of the Iron Bamboo Soul Beast.

"It's just ahead. That soul beast's strength is comparable to a Soul Douluo. Do you need this old man's help?"

Hearing this, Ye Guchen waved his hand and summoned his Shark Tooth Sword martial soul.

"No need!"

Immediately, Ye Guchen held the Shark Tooth Sword and walked step by step into the depths of the Iron Bamboo Soul Beast's territory.

Dugu Bo stood where he was, hands behind his back, his gaze fixed tightly on the back of the young man ahead. He wanted to see exactly how much skill this kid, who dared to challenge a seventy-thousand-year soul beast at level sixty, truly possessed.

The territory of the Iron Bamboo Soul Beast was deathly silent. The ground was covered in fine, iron-colored bamboo leaves that crunched like clashing metal underfoot.

A faint scent of rust permeated the air, and the surrounding vegetation gradually thinned, replaced by clusters of towering Iron Bamboo that looked like a forest.

Unlike ordinary bamboo, these Iron Bamboo were dark silver throughout, their nodes gleaming with a cold, metallic luster, as hard as steel.

The leaves were as sharp as blades, their edges glinting with a chilling light.

Ye Guchen scanned his surroundings and quickly locked onto his target.

In a clearing in the center of the territory, a giant Iron Bamboo, several times larger than the others, stood prominently.

Its trunk was over two meters in diameter, pitch-black like ink, and radiated a terrifying aura of soul power.

The nodes were covered in ferocious, arm-thick thorns, sharp enough to chill the blood.

Sensing the presence of a stranger, the Iron Bamboo Soul Beast trembled slightly, its leaves rattling and producing a harsh, metallic grinding sound.

The next instant, countless Iron Bamboo leaves detached from the trunk, transforming into a sky full of blades that rained down upon Ye Guchen.

Ye Guchen's eyes narrowed. His feet moved with agility, his figure weaving through the bamboo-leaf blades like a ghost.

But there were simply too many of these Iron Bamboo leaves, dense as a downpour, sealing off every path of retreat.