That advantage was enormous.
That was the benefit of evolving a Soul Spirit ahead of time.
If Su Chen had two Soul Rings, he would have to raise both to a thousand years, requiring twice as much spirit power and twice as many Soul Beasts to hunt.
Of course, most people wouldn't do that.
No matter how talented someone was, their spiritual power at the One-Ring level could never reach the point where they could withstand a Thousand-Year Soul Spirit.
Just like Mu Xi and Ouyang Zixin, whose limit was a little over four hundred years. If they tried to absorb more by force, their bodies would explode.
Only a cheat like Su Chen could enjoy an opportunity like this.
"A... a Thousand-Year Soul Ring! No, it's a Thousand-Year Soul Spirit!!"
"To have a Thousand-Year Soul Spirit with just one ring... Could Little Chen's spiritual power have reached the Spirit Connection Realm?!"
Mu Xi and Ouyang Zixin were both dumbstruck.
That was the legendary Spirit Connection Realm!
Even among the upperclassmen at Eastsea Academy, very few had spiritual power that reached the Spirit Connection Realm.
How old was Su Chen?
He was far too monstrous!
His terrifying strength was one thing.
But his spiritual power was just as terrifying.
How could anyone be this well-rounded?
"Big Sis Mu Xi, Senior Zixin, why are you staring at me like that?"
Su Chen turned around and noticed Mu Xi and Ouyang Zixin looking at him. He scratched his head, feeling a little embarrassed.
"Little Chen, you really are a monster. You make us look so weak..."
Mu Xi stepped forward, cupped Su Chen's face, and gave it a vigorous rub, her voice full of grievance.
"Mmgh... Big Sis Mu Xi, how can you think that? Once I get stronger, I'll definitely help you get stronger faster, too~"
With his mouth rubbed into an "o," Su Chen grinned.
"Hmph, that's more like it. Your senior sister didn't dote on you for nothing~"
Mu Xi felt much better after hearing that.
Su Chen was telling the truth, and he really had helped them.
Their gains this time were proof.
If they hadn't had someone as absurdly strong as Su Chen with them, going into this Riot Spirit Ascension Platform would've been like walking straight into a slaughter. They never could have gained so much.
And Su Chen was still only a One-Ring Soul Master.
Once he grew stronger, it would be even easier for him to carry her to victory.
"Little Chen, should we leave now?"
Ouyang Zixin walked over and asked.
Su Chen shook his head. "You two go on ahead. I haven't reached my limit yet."
His Soul Spirit's evolution had also increased his spiritual power a little. He was probably infinitely close to the Spirit Sea Realm.
His Soul Spirit was only a little over a thousand years old. Su Chen wasn't satisfied with that. At the very least, he had to clear this Primary Spirit Ascension Platform.
In fact, he could even go straight through the Primary Spirit Ascension Platform and enter the Intermediate Spirit Ascension Platform to hunt even stronger Soul Beasts.
The Spirit Ascension Platforms were all connected. Each one had a guardian protecting the passage to the next tier.
As long as he defeated the guardian, he could enter a higher-tier platform.
"Okay."
Ouyang Zixin and Mu Xi exchanged a glance, then nodded and pressed their SOS Devices, choosing to leave.
They'd already had their fill. Staying here wouldn't help Su Chen; they'd only become a burden. Leaving was the best choice.
After Mu Xi and Ouyang Zixin left, Su Chen continued deeper into the platform.
By this point, most people had already been eliminated.
Even those who were still alive only dared to sneak around the outskirts, hunting Soul Beasts.
Su Chen didn't see a single team along the way.
But the number of Soul Beasts kept growing.
Most of them were only ten- or hundred-year Soul Beasts, but their combined years still added up to a staggering amount.
After all, Su Chen had only one Soul Ring, with no second or third ring to share the gains. His efficiency was naturally terrifying.
Of course, only Su Chen could enjoy this kind of benefit.
An ordinary One-Ring Soul Master couldn't possibly hunt this many Soul Beasts.
And if they worked in a team, the years gained would naturally be divided among them.
The Spirit Ascension Platform was vast. Millennium Soul Beasts, which were hard to find under normal circumstances, were everywhere during the Riot Period. Su Chen had killed one in just ten minutes, and his pace was astonishing.
Half an hour later, Su Chen seemed to have entered a special area.
Only ten-year Soul Beasts were around. There were very few hundred-year Soul Beasts.
Before Su Chen could think much about it, a terrifying giant beast appeared a hundred meters ahead.
It was a massive bear covered in dark gold fur, standing over three meters tall, like a moving metal hill.
Its body was exceptionally powerful, its broad shoulders packed with explosive strength.
Its two unusually thick arms were almost disproportionate to its massive frame.
At the ends of its arms were enormous, razor-sharp dark gold claws, each gleaming with a cold metallic light and stretching over a meter long.
Su Chen understood at once.
He wasn't some ignoramus. He instantly recognized the giant bear's identity—it was a Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear!
And this ferocious beast was also the guardian of this Primary Spirit Ascension Platform!
"ROAR!!!"
Its deafening roar made the air around them hum, and even the ground beneath Su Chen's feet seemed to tremble.
The Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear's savage eyes locked firmly onto Su Chen.
"BOOM—"
The next instant, the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear kicked off with all four limbs. The hard rocky ground cracked beneath its paws as it charged toward Su Chen.
Despite its huge size, the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear was incredibly fast.
Unless someone was a three-ring agility-type Soul Master or a flying-type Soul Master, it was almost impossible to escape its pursuit.
But Su Chen had no intention of running.
Nor would he face it head-on.
His Heavy Profound Ruler was decent, but against the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear, it would only tickle the beast.
One swipe of its Dark Gold Dreadclaw would shatter his Thousand-Refined Heavy Silver Ruler.
To kill it, he'd have to strike like an assassin, using the sharpest weapon to land a killing blow.
The next instant, Su Chen's right arm swelled, instantly covered in a layer of fine, dark-purple dragon scales. His hand transformed completely, its five fingers growing long and sharp, with keen claws extending from their tips.
Su Chen had tested it. His dragon claws were strong enough to tear through a shield made of Spirit-Refined Metal with ease.
At that moment, Su Chen was a glass cannon. Against the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear, one hit would shatter him.
But if he found an opening, he could kill his opponent just as easily.
The Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear was incredibly fast. It was in front of Su Chen in the blink of an eye, bringing one claw down on him.
"Now!"
Su Chen vanished, reappearing behind the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear in an instant.
Without the slightest hesitation, the muscles in his dragon-scaled arm tensed. He gathered all his strength into that claw and swung it viciously at the back of the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear's head!
"SKRRAA—!"
A piercing sound erupted, like metal being torn apart by force.
Su Chen's dragon claw pierced straight through the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear's tough dark gold fur without the slightest resistance.
The dark gold fur snapped wherever his claws passed. Its tough skin and muscles were sliced open with ease, revealing the pale bone beneath.
The dragon claw's sharpness was beyond imagination. It even left several terrifying gouges in the beast's hard skull!
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