"What?! You're at Level 60!"
Faced with the child before them, who was barely over ten years old, even the Sea God Pavilion Elders, the top authorities of Shrek, all drew in sharp breaths.
His body on the Dou II timeline had grown in tandem with his Soul Power, which had now also reached Level 60.
"Didn't you just obtain your Fifth Soul Ring a few days ago?"
Yan Shaozhe's face was full of disbelief. He had personally led the team that hunted Ye Guchen's fifth pet beast last time. There was no way he could be mistaken.
He strode over to Ye Guchen and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"He really is at Level 60! And his Soul Power is extremely solid and stable. It doesn't seem like it was forcibly raised."
The elders all spoke up at once.
"So you went from Level 54 to Level 60 in just over ten days?"
Ye Guchen scratched his head. He really didn't know how to explain it.
"Something like that."
Just then, Yan Shaozhe suddenly recalled that Ma Xiaotao's Soul Power had also increased dramatically after she took the Immortal Herb Ye Guchen had given her.
"Could this kid have taken an Immortal Herb too?"
"But that doesn't make sense! He's been in Shrek City the whole time. Where would he get something like that?"
As Yan Shaozhe stood there, his face full of confusion, Mu En, who had been seated quietly to the side, spoke up.
"That's enough. Their improvements were opportunities that came their way. We shouldn't press them for details."
He then turned his gaze to Ye Guchen, looking at him as if he were some priceless treasure.
"Xiao Chen, what are your plans for your six pet beasts?"
Ye Guchen looked at Mu En with respectful eyes.
"Reporting to Elder Mu, I already have all the attacking and support Soul Beasts I need. I'm still short one defensive Soul Beast. If I can find one, I hope it'll be a Golden Hawksbill Turtle."
Ye Guchen rubbed his hands together and edged a little closer.
"Of course, if we find a Soul Beast like a Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear or an Emerald Swan, I won't be picky either. Heh heh."
Xuan Zi, who had been listening nearby, gave Ye Guchen a flick on the forehead.
"Heh... You sure have a big appetite, kid!"
Ye Guchen rubbed his head and gave an awkward laugh.
"My other Soul Beasts are all top-tier ones, at the very least like the Fire Luan Bird. The ones I get later can't be any worse, can they?"
Mu En nodded at that.
"Indeed. Xiao Chen is the most talented genius Shrek has seen in ten thousand years. We can't afford to be careless."
He looked toward Xuan Zi.
"How about this: take him to the Star Dou Great Forest. Look for a Soul Beast according to Xiao Chen's wishes."
Xuan Zi put away his playful manner and nodded to Mu En.
"Yes, Elder Mu."
As they were about to leave, Mu En didn't forget to remind him.
"Xuan Zi, make sure Xiao Chen stays safe!"
"I know."
Only after the two had gone some distance did Yan Shaozhe approach Mu En and tell him about the Immortal Herb Ye Guchen had given Ma Xiaotao.
"Teacher, do you think he might have more Immortal Herbs?"
Mu En glared at him.
"Even if he does, they're his. Don't you dare get any crooked ideas."
Yan Shaozhe hurriedly waved his hands.
"You know me, don't you? I'm just curious. He's barely ever left Shrek City. Where did he get those things?"
Mu En was also puzzled, but if Ye Guchen didn't want to say, he wouldn't pry.
"Everyone has their own secrets. If he doesn't want to talk about it, there's no need to ask. Just help keep it under wraps."
With his teacher putting it that way, Yan Shaozhe had no choice but to set aside his many questions.
"I understand, Teacher."
Watching the direction Ye Guchen had gone, Mu En couldn't help but sigh.
"Shrek has a worthy successor."
Ye Guchen followed behind Xuan Zi the whole way, kicking at his trouser leg.
"Great. Now I've got the Holy Spirit Cult's grand elder leading the expedition."
Xuan Zi noticed that Ye Guchen hadn't come up alongside him. He looked back to check on him and met Ye Guchen's skeptical gaze.
"Kid, what's with that look? Don't you trust this old man?"
Ye Guchen quickly forced a smile.
"Ha... How could I?"
Seeing how painfully fake Ye Guchen's expression was, Xuan Zi moved to his side and draped an arm over his shoulder.
"Heh... This old man is a Level 98 Titled Douluo. Protecting you will be a piece of cake."
Ye Guchen could only laugh along.
"Ha... ha... I hope so!"
"Honestly... You little rascal..."
And so, the two headed toward the Star Dou Great Forest.
On the Dou I side, after getting dressed, Ye Guchen prepared to hunt a Soul Beast around sixty to seventy thousand years old to serve as his Sixth Soul Ring.
"Old Poison, do you know where in Sunset Forest I can find a Soul Beast over sixty thousand years old with sharpness and toughness attributes?"
Dugu Bo looked puzzled.
"What do you want one of those for? Could it be..."
Dugu Bo thought of a frightening possibility.
"You broke through to Level 60?!"
Ye Guchen saw his expression, remained calm, and nodded.
Seeing Ye Guchen's composure, and recalling how his granddaughter Dugu Yan's Martial Soul had evolved after taking an Immortal Herb, while her Soul Power had risen from Level 33 to Level 38, Dugu Bo could more or less guess that Ye Guchen's breakthrough was also the result of taking an Immortal Herb.
Dugu Bo stroked his beard and thought for a moment before speaking.
"There really is a Soul Beast over sixty thousand years old in Sunset Forest with sharpness and toughness attributes."
Ye Guchen immediately pressed him. "Where?"
"Deep in Sunset Forest, there's an Iron Bamboo Soul Beast over seventy thousand years old that fits what you're looking for."
After speaking, Dugu Bo looked Ye Guchen up and down.
"But you're only at Level 60. Can you absorb a Soul Ring over seventy thousand years old?"
Ye Guchen smiled faintly and released his Soul Rings.
Five Soul Rings—yellow, purple, purple, black, and black—revolved beneath his feet.
Dugu Bo glanced at Ye Guchen's exceptionally powerful Soul Ring configuration, his expression complicated, and stopped trying to dissuade him.
"Fine, then. Follow me."
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 close behind.
After the two had gone, Dugu Yan came out from the side and waved toward the direction Ye Guchen had left.
"Be careful!"
Before long, the two arrived at the Iron Bamboo Soul Beast's territory.
"It's just ahead. That Soul Beast is as powerful as a Soul Douluo. Do you need my help?"
Ye Guchen waved a hand and summoned his Shark Tooth Sword Martial Soul.
"No need!"
Ye Guchen then 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 clasped behind his back, his gaze fixed on the young man's retreating figure. He wanted to see just what this kid, who dared challenge a seventy-thousand-year-old Soul Beast at Level 60, was capable of.
The Iron Bamboo Soul Beast's territory was utterly silent. Fine, iron-colored bamboo leaves carpeted the ground, and each step rang out like metal clashing against metal.
A faint smell of rust hung in the air. The vegetation around them grew sparse, replaced by clusters of iron bamboo that towered like a forest.
Unlike ordinary bamboo, the iron bamboo was dark silver all over, its joints gleaming with a cold, metallic sheen. It was hard as steel.
The leaves were as sharp as knives, their edges flashing with cold light.
Ye Guchen swept his gaze across the area and quickly locked onto his target.
In a clearing at the center of the territory stood a gigantic iron bamboo, several times taller than the others.
Its trunk was over two meters in diameter and black as ink, radiating a terrifying aura of Soul Power.
Menacing barbs grew from its joints, each as thick as an arm and sharp enough to make one's blood run cold.
Sensing the presence of a stranger, the Iron Bamboo Soul Beast trembled slightly. Its leaves rustled, emitting a harsh scraping sound like metal grinding against metal.
In the next instant, countless iron bamboo leaves tore free and transformed into a sky full of blades, hurtling toward Ye Guchen in a dense, all-consuming barrage.
Ye Guchen's eyes narrowed. His steps were light as he moved, his figure weaving through the bamboo leaves like a phantom.
But there were simply too many of them, thick as rain, sealing off every escape route.
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