Level Thirty Soul Power: Asking Mo Yuan to Help Hunt a Soul Ring

Yet at that moment, the sense of danger lurking deep in his heart remained intense, without fading in the slightest.

Thinking of Tang San, who would arrive in Suotuo City a year later, of his heaven-defying growth and deeply concealed schemes, and of his own still somewhat meager level and foundations, Lin Chen's drive to advance burned ever fiercer.

An overwhelming sense of urgency, a hunger for breakthrough, and a desire to survive instantly became the fiercest fuel for advancement, driving him to shatter his shackles and break convention!

Break!

A low shout rang out in his heart as he concentrated his will to its utmost, holding nothing back.

The next instant, Lin Chen stopped suppressing his soul power. The vast spiritual energy accumulated to fullness within his dantian, amplified by the full resonance of his glass martial soul, erupted like a flood awakening from slumber. Unstoppable, it surged toward that invisible barrier between realms!

Crack—!

A faint yet distinct sound of the barrier breaking quietly rang through his body, crisp and clear.

To anyone else, it would have been barely audible, but to Lin Chen's senses, it was like an explosive thunderclap that shook his entire body!

Huh? That easy? Am I a genius? A flicker of secret delight crossed Lin Chen's heart.

The barrier standing across his path shattered with a crash, collapsing completely!

In an instant, his meridians widened sharply, the sea of soul power within his dantian expanded, and the circulation of spiritual energy throughout his body accelerated severalfold!

Vast, surging new soul power poured wildly through the breach in the realm barrier, rushing through his body and swiftly filling his newly expanded capacity before taking firm root and settling into place.

Level thirty!

After reaching the peak of level twenty-nine, he had ridden that momentum straight through the bottleneck, without a hitch or an obstruction. His soul power had officially risen to level thirty!

Only after successfully acquiring a third soul ring suited to him and completing the final transformation of his realm would his strength truly undergo a qualitative change, allowing him to enter the ranks of Soul Elders.

The moment his breakthrough was complete, the mind he had kept taut for five full days and nights abruptly relaxed.

Utter exhaustion swept through his body like a tide. The mental strain of days without sleep or rest, his depleted soul power, and his tightly wound nerves all erupted at once.

Lin Chen could no longer hold on. His eyes slowly closed, and his tense body went limp as he fell back onto the neatly made bed. His mind emptied completely, heavy drowsiness washed over him, and in moments he sank into a deep sleep. His breathing was slow and even, his rest peaceful and sound.

Beside him, Liuli lay obediently on the floor, luminous white eyes watching the sleeping master tenderly. A faint veil of soul power spread around the bed, silently guarding him and shutting out even the slightest disturbance. The fox remained quietly by his side, never moving a step away.

An unknown amount of time passed before the sleeping Lin Chen slowly opened his eyes, his dark gaze clear and lucid.

The fatigue from several days of arduous cultivation had been swept away. His entire being felt renewed, and the soul power within him was steady and full, having firmly stabilized at level thirty.

The instant he awoke, fierce hunger swept through his body. His stomach growled, leaving him with an overwhelming sense of emptiness.

After days of cultivating in seclusion without sleep or rest, his body's energy had long since been exhausted. He urgently needed food to replenish his strength and nourish his body.

He turned his head slightly toward Liuli, who lay quietly nearby keeping watch, and a trace of tenderness passed through his eyes.

With a slight stir of his will, he communicated silently through his thoughts.

Through their shared mental bond, the human and fox exchanged everything in an instant.

Only then did Lin Chen realize that he had slept for an entire day and night.

Five days and nights of grueling cultivation, combined with the enormous expenditure of breaking through his realm's bottleneck, had utterly drained both his body and mind.

It was precisely this deep sleep that had fully restored his body, meridians, and mental power, firmly securing his newly attained realm without leaving the slightest hidden problem.

Once he knew how much time had passed, Lin Chen hesitated no longer. He rose, took out the spiritual provisions he had prepared in advance, and quickly ate to replenish his strength.

As the soft, nourishing spiritual food reached his stomach, gentle energy immediately spread throughout his body, swiftly replenishing what he had expended and nourishing his weary flesh and meridians.

Within moments, once he had eaten his fill, all the emptiness and fatigue in his body vanished, and his vitality returned to its peak.

Now his mind was clear, his aura steady, and his reserves deep. His level-thirty soul power was exceptionally stable, his foundations solid without the slightest hollowness.

All he lacked was a third soul ring to complete his transformation and join the ranks of Soul Elders.

His most pressing task was no longer further arduous cultivation, but acquiring his third soul ring!

The setting sun sank beyond the western hills, and dusk spread over the entire academy. The evening breeze brushed beneath the eaves, carrying a mildly cool warmth.

Having finished their training for the day, students wandered along the courtyard paths in twos and threes, their laughter and idle chatter unceasing.

Several classmates passing by spotted Lin Chen walking at an unhurried pace and politely waved in greeting:

"Lin Chen! Finished your secluded cultivation?"

"We haven't seen you these past few days. You're finally out!"

Lin Chen nodded slightly, his expression calm and composed, and replied softly:

"Yes, I'm finished. I need to speak with Teacher Mo Yuan. We'll talk later."

Bidding his classmates farewell, Lin Chen strode through one courtyard after another and soon arrived once more at the entrance to Mo Yuan's tranquil little courtyard.

He raised his hand and knocked lightly on the door.

"Come in."

It was the same deep, steady voice, calm and unruffled.

Lin Chen pushed the door open and entered. Mo Yuan was still seated in the courtyard, cultivating.

Sensing his disciple's arrival, he slowly opened his eyes. His gaze settled on Lin Chen, and after a brief examination, a glimmer of understanding crossed his eyes. He asked softly, "How did your cultivation go during these days in seclusion?"

"Teacher, the results were significant."

Lin Chen bowed slightly in greeting, his bearing humble and respectful.

Then he raised his eyes, his gaze sincere and his tone resolute, and made a solemn request:

"Teacher, during this secluded cultivation, my soul power broke through to level thirty. I have come to respectfully ask you to accompany me to the Star Dou Great Forest and help me hunt a soul ring so I can advance to Soul Elder."

After hearing this, Mo Yuan's expression shifted slightly, and unmistakable surprise flashed through his eyes.

He knew Lin Chen cultivated diligently and steadily, and that his progress had always been sound. Still, advancing another level after only a few days in seclusion exceeded his expectations.

Such a speed of advancement was already astonishing.

After a brief moment of distraction, Mo Yuan immediately gathered his thoughts. His expression turned deeply serious as he reached into his storage soul tool and took out a white testing crystal, clear and translucent throughout.

This was the academy's specialized high-precision soul power testing crystal, capable of accurately measuring a Soul Master's true soul power level.

"Pour your soul power into it. Let me see," Mo Yuan said in a low voice, his tone carrying a gravity and anticipation he could barely conceal.

"Yes."

Lin Chen stepped forward in response and lightly pressed his hand against the testing crystal. With a slight stir of his will, the pure, substantial Soul Elder soul power within him flowed slowly into it.

The next instant!

Hum—!

A dazzling halo of luminous white light burst from the crystal. Clear and brilliant, dense and substantial, its radiance shone with the full intensity attainable at level thirty!

The entire crystal shimmered with flowing light and color, its spiritual energy resonating steadily and powerfully, clearly confirming that Lin Chen's soul power level had broken through to thirty!