Yin Chen's Considerations

Castorice's breakthrough was something he could feel as if it were his own. It was indeed cause for celebration.

Though his main body had lagged behind somewhat, rising from level twelve to level twenty-four in two years would have been astonishing anywhere else. Compared to Castorice's rocket-like pace, however, it truly seemed dim.

Yet he felt neither jealousy nor anxiety, because Castorice was him, and he was Castorice.

So long as no accidents occurred along the way, the Holy Spirit Cult's power would inevitably be his to wield in the future.

Castorice's prestige within the Holy Spirit Cult had grown by the day. With her status as the Death Saintess, Ye Xishui's support, and her terrifying talent and Chrysos Heirs physique that crushed all her peers, even many elders and consecrated masters at the Title Douluo level treated her with great respect.

Such status was simply incomparable to his current so-called meteoric rise within this junior Soul Master Academy.

Still, Dugu Bo's appearance had taken him by surprise.

"Dugu Bo... I never expected even he to be chosen by the True Blood of Myriad Karmas and resurrected in this era."

Yin Chen murmured inwardly.

The old poisoner himself was merely an ordinary Title Douluo. Among the Holy Spirit Cult, now filled with powerful figures, he might not count as one of the strongest. But the secrets he knew were worth more than gold.

The Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well.

Yin Chen knew very well that this treasure land lay within Sunset Forest.

But its exact location? Amid an endless sea of trees, finding it without precise directions would be like searching for a needle in the ocean.

If he could obtain the exact location directly through Dugu Bo, it would undoubtedly save him countless efforts in searching. More importantly—it would minimize the chance of alerting the enemy.

"Making too much of a commotion could very likely draw the Clear Sky Sect's attention..."

Yin Chen's gaze narrowed slightly.

Moreover, he was even more wary of that being who stood high above in the God Realm.

If possible, Yin Chen never wanted to personally set foot in the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well.

Who knew whether that Sea God, whose heart could hardly be called broad, had left behind some hidden contingency or surveillance there?

Huo Yuhao would be able to come and go freely in the future, harvesting immortal herbs as though strolling through an empty garden, because he was the child of destiny—the son-in-law chosen by the God King and an important future pawn.

But Yin Chen was not.

Those immortal herbs truly had astonishing effects and would be of immense benefit to him.

But exposing himself to the possible gaze of that God King for the sake of a few immortal herbs meant the risks and rewards were completely disproportionate.

Given how highly Tang San valued the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well, Yin Chen had every reason to believe that it was very likely under the God King's indirect surveillance.

After all, not only was there a poison formation laid down by Tang San, the Sea God, but the medicinal and poison sections of the Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record had also been left there to await the destined.

Yin Chen did not believe there was no trick behind it.

"Therefore, even if I want the immortal herbs, I absolutely cannot make a move personally."

Yin Chen reached his decision.

The risk was too high; the loss would outweigh the gain.

Dugu Bo, on the other hand, was the perfect candidate.

He had originally been the first master of the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well. Letting him retrieve what belonged to his own home was only natural and justified.

Even if it was discovered, the karma would primarily fall upon Dugu Bo.

And given the relationship between Tang San and Dugu Bo, Dugu Bo had a good chance of successfully obtaining the immortal herbs.

"The key is how to guide Dugu Bo through Castorice without leaving a trace, so that he 'voluntarily' remembers and wishes to return to the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well—and then 'shares' what he gains..."

Yin Chen pondered silently.

Castorice held an exceptional position in the Holy Spirit Cult, but directly ordering a Title Douluo-level consecrated master to handle a private matter—especially one involving the exploration of such an important treasure land—still required careful strategy.

Perhaps he could approach it from the angle that the life force contained in immortal herbs could allow Nirvana Corpses to survive without devouring the life force of living people?

Nirvana Corpses were all dead by nature and inherently craved the life force of the living. Once they went too long without consuming it, they would grow weak and could even die again in the end.

Dugu Bo had lived a second life. Even as a Nirvana Corpse, he did not wish to die so casually. After all, one of the prerequisites for being chosen by the True Blood of Myriad Karmas was to possess obsession and unwillingness before death.

Dugu Bo was clearly the same. Though he was neither wholly righteous nor wholly evil, he did not wish to casually devour the lives of innocents.

During this time, he had been sustaining himself on the life force of Soul Beasts within Evil Demon Forest.

If there were a way for Nirvana Corpses to survive without laying hands on living people, many Nirvana Corpses would surely be willing to accept it.

"There is no need to rush. Even without immortal herbs, I can still ascend to the throne."

Beneath the starry sky, Yin Chen slowly let out a breath as the night wind stirred the silver hair before his forehead.

Immortal herbs were merely an aid. Even without them, he would eventually ascend that supreme throne.

Three years passed in the blink of an eye.

His time at Star Luo Royal Junior Spirit Master Academy was about to come to an end.

Yin Chen was now an eleven-year-old youth.

He had grown considerably taller, shedding some of his childish immaturity as his features became clearer and sharper.

His short silver-white hair remained eye-catching, setting off his shattered golden eyes and making them appear even deeper and steadier.

Though he was still young, the bearing he displayed in silence already made others instinctively wary of underestimating him.

Over those three years, his Soul Power cultivation had steadily risen from level twenty-four all the way to level thirty-eight.

When he broke through the level thirty barrier, Nebula Douluo Manyi had once again personally protected him as they entered the Star Dou Great Forest to hunt his third Soul Ring—a Soul Ring nearing seven thousand years in age, fixing his Soul Ring configuration at yellow, purple, purple.

Though it could not compare to Castorice's terrifying two-purple, one-black configuration, it was already astonishing for someone his age and enough to crush the vast majority of so-called geniuses.

These three years of academy life had not been entirely without ripples amid its calm.

Daily cultivation, classes, and traveling with the few people he knew well formed the main rhythm of his life.

Xu Yun remained the energetic tomboy princess who dreamed of joining the army, yet before Yin Chen, she always unconsciously showed a measure of dependence and trust.

The twin sisters Lan Susu and Lan Luoluo had long since become Yin Chen's most devoted little fans. Their personalities remained lively and cheerful, while their Soul Power cultivation had steadily risen to level twenty-seven, making them rather outstanding Control System Soul Masters within the academy.

Dai Huabin, the legitimate son of Duke White Tiger, remained Yin Chen's foremost "rival" at the academy.

Over the past three years, he had challenged Yin Chen no fewer than dozens of times, yet every outcome had been the same: defeat.

Defeated again and again, yet fighting again after every defeat—this persistence even earned a trace of Yin Chen's recognition.

Though Dai Huabin still regarded surpassing Yin Chen as his goal, his eyes now held less of their initial contempt and hostility, and more direct acknowledgment of a stronger opponent.

He had also broken through level thirty, though later than Yin Chen, and his level still lagged behind Yin Chen's.

He had always been holding back a fierce determination, convinced that if he and Zhu Lu used the Martial Soul Fusion Skill, Hell White Tiger, they would surely be able to defeat Yin Chen.

But fighting two against one was already unfair, and using a Martial Soul Fusion Skill would make any victory dishonorable. The pride of Duke White Tiger's legitimate son had kept him from ever putting that idea into practice.