Outside the forbidden grounds, Soul Power surged violently, and killing intent filled the air.
Dozens of Spirit Hall Soul Masters formed ranks to block the way, their black robes billowing and their eyes sinister. Faint, eerie black energy wreathed their bodies. Even the weakest among them was a Soul Elder, and a black-robed Soul Douluo elder with a malevolent face stood at their head. Eight Soul Rings—two yellow, two purple, and four black—slowly revolved around him. His terrifying pressure swept outward, sealing off the entrance to the forbidden grounds.
The two Soul Douluos from Heaven Dou Royal Academy stood before the forbidden grounds, their Soul Power surging. Their faces were grim as iron as they confronted the Spirit Hall forces. Their Soul Rings blazed brightly; they were already prepared to fight to the death.
"Spirit Hall, you have some nerve! You dare openly invade the Star Dou Great Forest Core and murder disciples of the imperial academy? Do you truly think no one can bring you to heel?" one of the Royal Soul Douluos shouted furiously, his voice shaking the surrounding trees.
The Spirit Hall Soul Douluo elder leading the force sneered, his tone brazen and overbearing. "Two old dogs dare obstruct Spirit Hall's business? Lin Chen must die today, and the life blue silver emperor grass origin will be mine! Anyone who stands in my way dies without mercy!"
He had already received secret intelligence that Lin Chen had obtained a heaven-defying inheritance inside the forbidden grounds. If he seized the emperor grass origin and presented it to the Pope, he would surely ascend to the heavens in a single step and become a core elder of Spirit Hall. Then his power would tower over all, and he would have nothing to fear.
"Attack! Everyone, advance! Break into the forbidden grounds and kill without mercy!"
At the Soul Douluo elder's command, dozens of Spirit Hall Soul Masters unleashed their Soul Skills at once. Soul Rings of every color rose into the air, and brilliant Soul Skill light erupted. Assault, control, and support skills poured forth together, their attacks blotting out the sky as they blasted toward the entrance and the two Royal Soul Douluos!
"Protect Lin Chen!"
The two Royal Soul Douluos dared not hesitate. Together, they activated their strongest Soul Skills. Their black and purple Soul Rings flared, forming two thick Soul Power barriers to withstand the Spirit Hall forces' assault.
Rumble—
The collision of Soul Power shook heaven and earth. Shock waves rolled outward, and trees shattered. Fighting dozens of enemies between the two of them, the Royal Soul Douluos gradually fell into a disadvantage despite their formidable strength. Their Soul Power steadily drained, their faces grew increasingly pale, and the light of their barriers flickered precariously.
Seeing this, the Spirit Hall Soul Douluo elder's killing intent intensified. His figure flashed as he personally joined the attack. His Eighth Soul Ring suddenly lit up, and pitch-black, sinister Soul Power condensed into a gigantic demonic claw. Carrying enough force to tear space apart, it lunged straight at the gate of the forbidden grounds!
"Die!"
At that moment, with their fate hanging by a thread, a detached voice carrying supreme majesty slowly emerged from within the forbidden grounds.
"You think someone like you is worthy of running wild in Star Dou Land?"
As the words fell, seven-colored radiance suddenly blossomed. The previously impenetrable barrier of the forbidden grounds opened on its own. Holding Su Qingyuan's and Yue Huaxi's hands, Lin Chen walked slowly out. He stood tall and straight, white, green, and seven-colored light flowing around him. His bearing was transcendent, like a sovereign descending upon the world.
He raised his eyes toward the incoming demonic claw, his gaze calm and unruffled, without the slightest trace of panic.
After receiving the Life Lord's inheritance, his Soul Power had broken through to rank thirty-eight Battle Soul Elder. He commanded the Ancient Emperor Grass Soul Skill and held the Life Emperor Pendant, which allowed him to command the Soul Beasts of the entire Star Dou Forest. In his eyes, the Spirit Hall Soul Douluo before him was no longer an insurmountable foe.
"Lin Chen, you finally came out!" Greed and killing intent flashed through the Spirit Hall Soul Douluo elder's eyes when he saw Lin Chen. "Hand over the emperor grass origin, and I can give you a quick death. Otherwise, I'll tear you into ten thousand pieces and make life worse than death for those two little beauties beside you!"
Su Qingyuan's and Yue Huaxi's expressions turned cold at his words. Soul Power surged around them as they stood beside Lin Chen, their gazes resolute. Even facing a Soul Douluo, neither showed the slightest inclination to retreat.
Lin Chen's gaze suddenly darkened. The temperature around him plummeted, and a supreme pressure born of the Emperor Grass Inheritance erupted instantly!
This was not the pressure of a Soul Master's Soul Power, but the pressure of life origin, reigning above all living things—the imperial might of the Soul Beast Co-Ruler. Even though Lin Chen had yet to awaken fully, it was far beyond anything an ordinary Soul Douluo could withstand!
The Spirit Hall forces felt their minds violently shaken. The Soul Power within their bodies froze instantly, and the Soul Skills they had already launched collapsed outright. Their bodies went rigid, as though an invisible force had imprisoned them. Unable to move, they felt boundless terror rise within their hearts.
The Soul Douluo elder's expression also changed drastically. He froze in midair, tempestuous waves surging through his heart. What is this pressure?! My Soul Power... why can't I move it?!
He could not believe it. A mighty Soul Douluo like him had actually been suppressed by the pressure of a rank thirty-eight Soul Elder. It was a tale from the Arabian Nights!
"You insult my people in Star Dou Land. You're courting death."
Lin Chen's voice was icy as he slowly raised his right hand. Without activating a Soul Ring, he sent countless vines intertwined with emerald green and icy white bursting wildly from the ground!
These were no longer ordinary life blue silver grass vines, but ancient emperor grass vines!
Seven-colored patterns flowed across the vines. Iceheart frost energy mingled with life force as they moved with astonishing speed, instantly coiling around the Spirit Hall Soul Douluo elder and tightening layer upon layer. Extreme cold froze his meridians in an instant, while life force continuously dismantled his sinister Soul Power!
"No! This is impossible!"
The Soul Douluo elder struggled desperately, driving all his Soul Power into breaking free. But the emperor grass vines were incomparably tough. No matter how much force he exerted, they did not budge. Instead, they bound him tighter and tighter. His bones crackled, and unbearable agony wracked him.
Lin Chen's gaze remained indifferent as he willed, * Iceheart Soul Lock, Emperor Vine Strangulation! *
Crack!
A crisp freezing sound rang out. Thick ice crystals encased the Soul Douluo elder, completely sealing the Soul Power within him. Unable to move any longer, he crashed heavily to the ground like an ice sculpture, stripped of all power to resist.
Just one move!
A Spirit Hall Soul Douluo elder whose might had awed an entire region had been subdued effortlessly by Lin Chen!
The remaining Spirit Hall Soul Masters were frightened out of their wits. Terror covered their faces, and they looked at Lin Chen as though they had seen a devil. They turned to flee.
"Want to leave? Have you asked the countless Soul Beasts of Star Dou?"
A cold smile curled at the corner of Lin Chen's mouth. He tightened his grip on the Life Emperor Pendant and pushed its power to the utmost.
Roar—!
A heaven-shaking beast roar rang out from the depths of the Star Dou Great Forest. The earth trembled violently as countless Soul Beasts came surging toward them!
The Ten-Thousand-Year Spirit Deer, the Seven-Colored Spirit Bird, the Black-Armored Giant Snake, and even the immense figures of the two hundred-thousand-year Soul Beasts—the Sky Azure Bull Python and the Titan Giant Ape—slowly appeared. Their savage gazes locked onto the Spirit Hall Soul Masters as they surrounded them so tightly that not even a drop of water could escape!
Ten thousand Soul Beasts paid homage, with hundred-thousand-year Soul Beasts standing guard!
The sight utterly shattered the Spirit Hall Soul Masters' resolve. Their legs went weak with fear, and they collapsed to the ground. They lacked even the courage to flee and could only tremble from head to toe.
The two Royal Soul Douluos, along with Su Qingyuan and Yue Huaxi, were also completely stunned. They stared at Lin Chen, their eyes filled with shock.
Commanding the countless Soul Beasts of Star Dou—such a feat was nothing short of divine!
Lin Chen walked up to the frozen Soul Douluo elder, his gaze icy. "Speak. How many more Spirit Hall people are lying in ambush in Star Dou Forest? Where have you hidden the Emperor Grass Shards in your possession?"
Frozen and unable to move, the Soul Douluo elder remained defiant. "I won't tell you anything! His Holiness the Pope won't let you get away with this. You cannot withstand Spirit Hall's wrath!"
"Still stubborn?" Lin Chen's gaze chilled as iceheart frost energy surged at his fingertips. "I have plenty of ways to make you talk."
The moment he finished speaking, a terrifying Titled Douluo pressure suddenly swept in from the distant sky. A dark figure raced toward them at astonishing speed, his sinister voice carrying throughout the forest. "Impudent brat! You dare harm someone from Spirit Hall? Release him!"
It was a Titled Douluo from Spirit Hall!
Lin Chen's gaze sharpened slightly as he turned toward the sky. Emperor grass vines slowly danced around him. He showed not the slightest fear; instead, his fighting spirit soared.
After receiving the inheritance, he had the strength to fight even a Titled Douluo!
"You've come at just the right time. Today, we'll settle every debt, old and new!"
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