Huo Yuhao's Emergence, Hundred-Thousand-Year Evil Spirit Soul Ring

"Evernight Star-Burying Halberd!"

Muttering the name, Yan Jingchuan's heart surged with emotion.

The halberd danced and spun in his hands, its blade slicing through the air with bursts of indistinct dragon roars.

The Dark Sacred Dragon Martial Soul possessed him, and as soul power flowed into the Evernight Star-Burying Halberd, the dragon shadow upon it became increasingly solid.

Wherever the halberd's tip swept, streaks of pitch-black edge remained behind.

"As it further merges with your Martial Soul in the future, you can gradually improve and upgrade it. It will only grow stronger. Now, try out its power."

As Kong Deming spoke, he raised a hand and controlled the testing ground's floor, causing a one-meter-thick wall of refined iron to rise up.

Understanding at once, Yan Jingchuan raised the Evernight Star-Burying Halberd and slashed down at the iron wall used for testing.

With a sharp shing, the Evernight Star-Burying Halberd cleaved through the one-meter-thick refined iron wall as easily as cutting tofu, splitting it in two.

"You can also use it together with soul skills."

After that reminder, Kong Deming signaled Jing Hongchen with his eyes.

Jing Hongchen, who had long been eager to try, stepped before Yan Jingchuan.

"Come. Let me experience it."

The others quickly backed away, leaving enough space for the two of them.

Looking at Jing Hongchen, Yan Jingchuan intended to test the limits of his current strength.

The third black soul ring among the yellow, purple, and black rings beneath his feet lit up.

"Third Soul Skill: Dragon Shadow Devour!"

His soul power erupted without restraint. A gigantic black dragon phantom coiled around Yan Jingchuan's body and, together with the thrust of the Evernight Star-Burying Halberd, lunged toward Jing Hongchen.

The black dragon opened its jaws as if to tear Jing Hongchen apart.

The Class 6 defensive soul tool on Jing Hongchen's body activated first.

The black dragon formed by Dragon Shadow Devour bit down on the defensive barrier.

The sharp crack was painfully piercing. Large cracks appeared across the Class 6 defensive soul tool's shield and spread at an incredible speed.

Driving from his waist, Yan Jingchuan thrust the Evernight Star-Burying Halberd deep into it as well, the deep dragon shadow reinforcing the black dragon.

The Class 6 defensive soul tool barrier, capable of blocking attacks from a seven-ring Soul Sage, shattered with a boom.

Jing Hongchen urgently activated a Class 7 defensive soul tool. The aftershock of Yan Jingchuan's attack struck it, making the barrier flicker for an instant.

Yet the black dragon phantom ultimately could not shake a Class 7 defensive soul tool capable of withstanding attacks from an eight-ring Soul Douluo. Its momentum faded, and it immediately collapsed.

Slowly withdrawing the Evernight Star-Burying Halberd, Yan Jingchuan had exhausted all his soul power with that strike.

"Jingchuan's move is fully equivalent to the all-out attack of a seven-ring Soul Sage without using a Martial Soul Avatar."

Ye Yulin gave his assessment. Amid their amazement, everyone was filled with envy.

Xiao Hongchen immediately scampered up to Kong Deming.

"Teacher, when will my Lifebound Soul Tool be finished? You can't favor one over the others!"

Meng Hongchen and the rest also gathered around. They too were intensely eager for Lifebound Soul Tools.

With Xiao Hongchen taking the lead, quite a few people surrounded Kong Deming and chattered nonstop. The noise gave Kong Deming a headache.

"Everyone will have one, everyone will have one..."

After causing a commotion for quite some time, everyone finally dispersed one by one.

Yan Jingchuan remained behind to speak privately with Kong Deming.

Yan Jingchuan deeply respected this teacher of his, and he knew exactly what Kong Deming wished to ask. Regarding the Holy Spirit Cult, as long as it was not especially important, he chose to be candid about nearly everything he could reveal.

Having learned what he wanted to know, Kong Deming was relieved. He made it clear that he did not wish to interfere too much with his disciple's growth, nor did he care what goals Yan Jingchuan might have.

This tenth-rank soul engineer, the father of soul tools, had only one request.

"As long as you do not endanger the Sun Moon Empire or persecute its people, this old man will always be your teacher."

The reason Yan Jingchuan had never worried about arousing his suspicions while doing many things in the past was precisely because he knew Kong Deming had no intention of meddling in the Sun Moon Empire's internal affairs or the continent's political landscape. Aside from the development of soul tools, all Kong Deming cared about was the Sun Moon Empire itself.

Once master and disciple laid everything out in the open, their trust would not crack and create distance between them.

With the research into Lifebound Soul Tools now showing initial results, Yan Jingchuan had no other urgent matters in the short term. He could settle down and cultivate to improve himself, while research into mecha suits and Battle Armor could also be put on the agenda.

The lights in the confidential laboratory remained on almost day and night. A thousand days and nights passed, and seven years went by in the blink of an eye.

Thirteen-year-old Yan Jingchuan returned to his residence with exhaustion written all over his face. The moment he sat down, the Nether Douluo appeared at his side.

"Holy Son, according to information from our surveillance of the White Tiger Duke's Estate, Huo Yun'er is about to die. She likely will not last more than a few days."

At those words, Yan Jingchuan's gaze sharpened. He immediately ordered,

"The time is about right. Notify the Supreme Cult Master. The plan can begin."

"Yes!"

The Nether Douluo answered and vanished in an instant.

The day Huo Yun'er died would be the day Huo Yuhao emerged. Yan Jingchuan had no mood to rest and immediately went to ask Kong Deming for leave.

Then, without stopping for even a moment, he rushed to Jing Hongchen's office.

"Dean!"

He knocked and entered, but before Yan Jingchuan could say anything, Jing Hongchen gave him an important piece of intelligence first.

"Just as you said, the Sealing God Platform has been taken."

"When?"

"Three months ago."

After briefly calculating the date, Yan Jingchuan realized that if the person who had taken the Sealing God Platform had gone to the Extreme North as in the original story, and if the Snow Empress had still chosen to rebuild herself through transformation, then everything had returned to its original course.

Yan Jingchuan believed there was a high chance that the Snow Empress would still be captured. Rebuilding herself through transformation was something she had planned for a long time, and besides, even the Ten-Thousand-Year Dark Ice Marrow could only treat the symptoms, not the root cause.

Once the Ten-Thousand-Year Dark Ice Marrow was exhausted and the heavenly tribulation descended, no matter how many years of cultivation they possessed, they would still be unable to escape death.

Having obtained the exact information he wanted from Jing Hongchen, Yan Jingchuan wasted not a second and headed straight for the Holy Spirit Cult's headquarters.

Evil Forest, Holy Spirit Cult's main altar.

Ignoring the Evil Soul Masters who respectfully saluted him along the way, Yan Jingchuan descended to the lowest level.

Inside the room, Long Xiaoyao and Ye Xishui were already waiting for him.

"Xiaochuan, come quickly. Your soul ring has already been prepared."

Ye Xishui, who had long since become impatient, rose directly and went to greet Yan Jingchuan.

She had waited seven years for the infiltration plan to begin. Now that it was finally about to be officially carried out, Ye Xishui was the most impatient of all.

"Great-Grandfather, Great-Grandmother!"

After greeting them politely, Long Xiaoyao looked his excellent great-grandson up and down and nodded with great satisfaction.

Yan Jingchuan was now nearly one meter ninety tall. He wore a long robe patterned with gold, was handsome and dashing, and had his long hair tied into a small braid at the nape of his neck. His deep eyes displayed his exceptional bearing.

"Enough, I've told you not to stand on ceremony. Hurry up and deal with it first. Absorb the soul ring and see what soul skill you can obtain."

As she spoke, Ye Xishui pulled Yan Jingchuan toward a cage.

Inside lay a strange creature with a tiny body and an unstable form.

It was the Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast, the Evil Spirit.

After enduring repeated attacks from two Limit Douluo, its body formed from spiritual power was on the verge of collapse.

Although a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast was powerful, before a Limit Douluo, it was merely a larger grasshopper and could not stir up any real trouble.

"Xiaochuan, I've recently found a Hundred-Thousand-Year dragon-type soul beast for your fifth soul ring. Once you absorb this soul ring, we'll go hunt it down as well."

Long Xiaoyao brought up the matter of Yan Jingchuan's first Martial Soul.

Over those seven years, Yan Jingchuan had become a Class 6 soul engineer. Research into both mecha suits and Battle Armor had made tremendous breakthroughs, and his soul power had broken through Rank 50 half a year ago.

It was only because they had not found a suitable Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast that he had yet to absorb his fifth soul ring.

Yan Jingchuan nodded slightly. Then the Hell Demon Puppet Martial Soul possessed him, and the Life-and-Deathless Domain spread out.

The Evil Spirit's life force was forcibly drained away.

A blood-red Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Ring slowly rose.

Sitting down cross-legged on the spot, Yan Jingchuan began absorbing the first Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Ring of his life.