Within Spirit Grass Valley, the fierce battle raged on, fluctuations of soul power shaking the entire valley.
Trapped tightly within the Myriad Spirit Vine Sea, Ghost Hand's face twisted with savagery and despair. He struggled desperately, black energy surging wildly around him, yet he could not break free of the blue silver grass's restraints.
The Life Domain's suppression and the vine sea, bolstered by Spirit Grass Valley's abundant life spiritual energy, had already sealed his soul power completely. No matter how he tried to activate his soul skills, his efforts were futile.
"Lin Chen! You dare kill me? I'm one of Spirit Hall's most trusted inner-circle members! Kill me, and Spirit Hall will send Douluo experts to tear you into ten thousand pieces!" Ghost Hand roared himself hoarse, making one final threat, yet the profound fear in his eyes was impossible to conceal.
He had never imagined that a proud level sixty-one Soul Emperor like himself would fall to a level thirty-two Soul Elder, much less in this remote backwater of the Star Dou Great Forest.
Lin Chen stepped forward slowly, green light swirling around him. His gaze remained cold and unruffled, without a trace of mercy.
Spirit Hall had repeatedly tried to wipe him out, from a Soul Ancestor encirclement to a Soul Emperor ambush. Time and again, they had sought his death, even dragging Su Qingyuan and Yue Huaxi into danger. Mercy toward his enemies was cruelty toward himself.
"From the moment you brought your men to ambush me, your fate was already sealed."
As his words fell, the blade of life soul power in Lin Chen's palm blazed brighter. Without the slightest hesitation, he thrust it straight between Ghost Hand's brows!
Though seemingly gentle, the pure life soul power held the force to sweep through all resistance like rotten wood. It pierced Ghost Hand's defenses in an instant and destroyed the very foundation of his martial soul!
"No!"
An agonizing scream echoed through the valley. The soul rings around Ghost Hand instantly dimmed, and his body gradually stiffened before finally losing every trace of life and collapsing to the ground.
The Spirit Hall Soul Emperor who had roamed the Soul Master World for years had ultimately fallen at Lin Chen's hands, his life extinguished and his path brought to an end.
The sight instantly froze everyone locked in battle!
Seeing their Soul Emperor leader slain so easily, Spirit Hall's remaining troops were frightened out of their wits. Their will to fight vanished without a trace, and they turned to scatter in every direction.
They had come only because of Ghost Hand's Soul Emperor strength. Now that their leader was dead, they had no hope of victory against Lin Chen's heaven-defying combat prowess.
"Trying to run? Stay."
Lin Chen's gaze turned cold. With a slight stir of his will, the Myriad Spirit Vine Sea covering the battlefield sprang into motion, spreading like a net cast across heaven and earth and binding every fleeing Spirit Hall soul master.
With their leader gone, the remaining Spirit Hall troops were already demoralized. Under the domain's suppression, they had no strength to resist at all. Within moments, every last one was subdued; not a single person slipped through the net.
The entire process was clean and decisive. From killing Ghost Hand to clearing out the remaining troops, only a few breaths had passed.
The Heaven Dou Imperial Academy's instructors and students, along with all the Shrek Seven Devils, stood rooted to the spot, staring at Lin Chen in utter shock.
A level thirty-two Soul Elder had slain a level sixty-one Soul Emperor head-on. Such a feat of killing an enemy far above his rank overturned everything they understood about soul master cultivation. It was unheard of throughout the ages!
A gentle breeze swept past, gradually dispersing the smell of blood until only rich life spiritual energy remained in the valley.
The three academy instructors came back to their senses and hurried over to Lin Chen. Their gazes brimmed with disbelief and deep admiration. "Lin Chen, you... you really killed a Soul Emperor!"
"I merely took advantage of Spirit Grass Valley's terrain and won through luck," Lin Chen replied calmly. He withdrew the Myriad Spirit Vine Sea and his soul rings, his expression tranquil, as though he had only done something utterly insignificant.
He knew very well why he had been able to kill Ghost Hand so smoothly: first, his Life Domain's power had doubled within Spirit Grass Valley; second, the two female leads had supported him and restrained the enemy at the crucial moment; and third, Ghost Hand had carelessly underestimated him. In a direct clash outside the valley, killing a Soul Emperor would still be as difficult as ascending to heaven.
Looking at the Spirit Hall soul masters' corpses scattered across the ground, the vice dean said gravely, "We may have overcome this crisis, but killing a Spirit Hall Soul Emperor means our feud with Spirit Hall will now end only in death. Even more frenzied retaliation is certain to follow. Everyone must improve their strength as quickly as possible and prepare for every eventuality."
Everyone nodded, understanding that after this battle, Lin Chen had become Spirit Hall's foremost target for elimination.
Lin Chen said nothing more, turning his gaze toward the Ten-Thousand-Year Ice Heart Grass at the center of the valley.
The immortal herb still radiated a pearly white glow. After the fierce battle, the Life Spiritual Energy surrounding it had become even purer, while his Life Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul trembled wildly within his dantian. It resonated intensely with the Ice Heart Grass, as though thirsting for the immortal herb's power.
"This Ten-Thousand-Year Ice Heart Grass is highly compatible with my martial soul, so I'll take it," Lin Chen said.
No one present objected. Lin Chen had single-handedly turned the battle around, slain a Soul Emperor, and saved everyone. He deserved this immortal herb beyond question.
Lin Chen slowly approached the Ice Heart Grass, crouched down, and gently touched one of its leaves with his fingertip.
In an instant, the pearly white Ice Heart Grass burst with light. An incomparably pure source power, gentle yet bone-chilling, flowed from the immortal herb through his fingertip and into his body, coursing along his meridians straight toward his dantian!
The power held no aggression whatsoever. Instead, it was exceedingly mild, merging instantly into his Life Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul.
The originally emerald-green Life Blue Silver Grass gradually acquired a pearly white halo. His martial soul's quality rose at a speed visible to the naked eye, his meridians continually widened and were tempered, and the soul power within him became increasingly pure and substantial. The barrier of his level thirty-two Soul Elder cultivation began to loosen once more!
[Ten-Thousand-Year Ice Heart Grass awakening successful! Life Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul quality elevated. Life Domain has unlocked a new effect—Ice Heart Binding: freezes the circulation of enemy soul power, greatly enhancing suppression!]
[Soul power refinement doubled. Cultivation advancing. Breakthrough to level thirty-three Soul Elder imminent!] ```
System-like insights surfaced in Lin Chen's mind, filling him with delight. He had never expected this Ten-Thousand-Year Ice Heart Grass to transform both his martial soul and his domain outright!
Ice Heart Binding was undoubtedly a divine skill for a control-type soul master. When he faced powerful enemies in the future, he would not only suppress their soul power but also freeze its circulation, directly doubling his battlefield control!
Lin Chen sat cross-legged beside the Ice Heart Grass, closed his eyes, and focused. He devoted himself to absorbing the immortal herb's remaining pure power and stabilizing his cultivation on the verge of breakthrough.
Pale green and pearly white light intertwined around him. The surrounding Life Spiritual Energy gathered frantically, forming a vortex of spiritual energy in a magnificent spectacle.
Su Qingyuan and Yue Huaxi stood guard beside Lin Chen, protecting him as he cultivated, their eyes filled with joy.
The Shrek Seven Devils stood a short distance away. Watching Lin Chen enveloped in light, Tang San clenched his fists tightly, his jealousy and helplessness reaching their peak.
He had originally wanted to compete for this immortal herb and use it to catch up with and surpass Lin Chen. Now, however, the gap between them had not narrowed at all—it was only growing wider.
Dai Mubai, Oscar, and the others exchanged glances, each seeing awe in the others' eyes. Lin Chen's talent and rate of growth had already surpassed their understanding.
Half an hour later, Lin Chen slowly opened his eyes. White and green light flashed through them and vanished. His aura was steady and powerful, his level thirty-three Soul Elder cultivation fully stabilized!
His martial soul had been elevated, his domain had advanced, and his cultivation had improved. His gains from this trip to Spirit Grass Valley had far exceeded his expectations!
Lin Chen rose and stretched, sensing the utterly transformed power within him as a faint smile lifted the corners of his lips.
With his current combat strength, even if he encountered another Soul Emperor, he could face them head-on without relying on favorable terrain!
"Our training expedition ends here. The crisis has passed, and we have finished seeking the opportunities in Spirit Grass Valley. Everyone, pack your belongings. We depart for the academy immediately!" the vice dean ordered sternly.
Everyone quickly finished packing and followed the instructors, ready to leave Spirit Grass Valley.
Holding Su Qingyuan's and Yue Huaxi's hands, Lin Chen walked at the rear of the group. His gaze turned toward the depths of the Star Dou Great Forest, sharpening slightly.
He could clearly sense an immensely powerful, boundless aura of life emanating from deep within the forest, far surpassing that of any soul beast he had ever encountered. It seemed to be calling to his Life Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul through some unseen connection.
Meanwhile, within the shadows of the dense forest, an exceedingly well-concealed presence flickered and vanished. It did not belong to anyone from Spirit Hall, yet it carried a heart-palpitating pressure as it silently watched the direction in which they departed.
The secrets of the Star Dou Great Forest ran far deeper than he had imagined.
But Lin Chen paid them no mind. His immediate priority was to return to the academy, fully master his newly advanced domain and martial soul, and prepare for the Continental Soul Master Tournament.
As for the secrets deep within the forest and its unknown dangers, he would return to explore them one by one when he was strong enough.
Bathed in the morning light, the group slowly left Spirit Grass Valley and began the journey back to Heaven Dou Royal Academy.
What Lin Chen did not know was that news of his killing a Spirit Hall Soul Emperor had already begun spreading quietly. The entire Soul Master World was shaken, Spirit Hall's upper ranks were utterly enraged, and an unprecedented plan to kill him was quietly taking shape.
The curtain was about to rise on the stage of the Continental Soul Master Tournament. Fiercer battles and stronger opponents awaited him ahead!
Before you continue