Two Choices

As he sensed the soul power fluctuations within, Mu En, who had always remained calm and unruffled, actually furrowed his brow.

A hundred-thousand-year soul beast was comparable to a human Titled Douluo, and could even surpass one in combat strength. Ten thousand years ago, before soul cores existed, an ordinary Titled Douluo would most likely have been no match for a hundred-thousand-year soul beast in single combat.

Only after soul cores were pioneered did human Titled Douluo truly gain the ability to contend with hundred-thousand-year soul beasts.

And once a soul beast surpassed five hundred thousand years of age, its combat strength reached the level of a human Limit Douluo.

Mu En's expression was grave. Decades ago, he had won a bitter victory in his life-and-death battle with Du Bisou. Only by relying on the energy within the Dragon Core had he entered the ranks of Limit Douluo, but the vicious energy within it had also damaged his very foundation, leaving him crippled.

His cultivation was indeed that of a rank 99 Limit Douluo now, but his actual combat strength fell short of that level.

Unlike the others, Xian Lin'er, as a Level 8 Soul Engineer, focused most of her attention on the Level 9 Soul Tool itself-the God-Sealing Platform.

Thus far, the Three Kingdoms of the Original Continent did not have a single Level 9 Soul Engineer. Part of the reason was that they had no Level 9 Soul Tools to study. If she could unravel the techniques involved, she might have a chance to become the first Level 9 Soul Engineer on the Douluo Continent.

Yan Shaozhe, seated at the head of the long table's left side, asked, "Mu En, how do you intend to handle this embryo?"

Rather than answer him, Mu En sent a wisp of spiritual power into the God-Sealing Platform.

A moment later, he withdrew that wisp of spiritual power and said slowly, "Naturally, we will kill her and take her soul ring and soul bone."

Yan Shaozhe froze for a moment, then said, "Mu En, I meant whom you intend to give this Snow Empress Embryo to."

"Tianyuan's martial soul is ultimate lightning. In theory, neither the soul ring nor the soul bone would suit him."

Mu En glanced at him and said gravely, "All you mean to suggest is that we give it to Huo Yuhao."

Yan Shaozhe nodded. "That is the only way to make the most of it."

Mu En shook his head. "No. Huo Yuhao is gifted, and his martial soul is compatible with this Snow Empress Embryo, but ultimately, he is not one of our own."

"Tianyuan grew up right under your noses. Besides, have you forgotten that he also has a second martial soul?"

Everyone fell silent at his words.

Indeed, what did it matter how gifted Huo Yuhao was? Being a Shrek student was merely his status, not what defined him.

Chen Tianyuan was different. He had grown up at Shrek Academy and felt an exceptionally strong sense of belonging to it. Moreover, Mu En had treated him extremely well. Unless he repaid kindness with ingratitude, Shrek would be the name that defined him above all others.

Mu En sighed and said, "Let us adjourn for now. Also, have that child Tianyuan come here."

"Tianyuan, do you know why I sent for you?"

Chen Tianyuan said, "It is because of that embryo, isn't it?"

Mu En nodded. Looking at Chen Tianyuan, he said slowly, "That's right. I already examined it with my spiritual power. The one sealed inside is indeed the Snow Empress."

"However, she is in an extremely weakened state. Of all my conjectures, the most plausible is that she failed to survive her heavenly tribulation and was then forced to take human form and cultivate anew. During that process, she had the misfortune to be captured with the Level 9 Soul Tool, the God-Sealing Platform."

Chen Tianyuan froze. He had not expected Mu En to piece together the entire chain of events so easily.

Before Chen Tianyuan could speak, Mu En continued, "In terms of martial soul attributes, this Snow Empress Embryo is indeed incompatible with you. But if we could make her a soul ring for your body martial soul, she could not be more suitable."

Chen Tianyuan smiled bitterly. "Great Ancestor, my cultivation is only at the Soul Ancestor level right now. Even if I can absorb soul rings beyond the usual age limit, there is no way I could absorb one over a hundred thousand years old."

Mu En said, "Then what if I told you we could have her sacrifice herself to you?"

"How could that be possible?"

Mu En chuckled. "Nothing is impossible. Let the one in your Sea of Consciousness come out for a chat."

At those words, the expression on Chen Tianyuan's face instantly froze. His gaze filled with shock as he looked at Mu En.

"Are you wondering how I knew?"

Chen Tianyuan nodded but said nothing.

"Silly child, I planted a mark within you back when you were seven. That mark can protect not only your body, but your soul as well. Several months ago, I sensed a spiritual power helping you open up your Sea of Consciousness. I initially thought you had encountered some sort of fortuitous opportunity."

"But that day in the meditation chamber, the same spiritual power helped stabilize your Sea of Consciousness. That led me to suspect that a supreme expert was residing within it."

"And your reaction just now confirmed my suspicions."

Within the Sea of Consciousness, Electrolux chuckled after hearing Mu En's words, then took control of Chen Tianyuan's body.

Gray light shone in Chen Tianyuan's eyes, and his entire presence became utterly different.

Seeing this, Mu En asked, "Senior, how should I address you?"

Electrolux's tone was utterly calm. "I have many titles: Holy Necromancer, Undead Calamity, Eternal Slumber Calamity..."

"But titles have long since ceased to matter to me. You may also call me by my name-Electrolux."

"Holy Necromancer..." Mu En murmured to himself.

Electrolux looked at him. "There is no need to dwell on those. Why not tell me about this sacrifice you mentioned?"

Mu En smiled bitterly. "That was merely a pretext. I only wished to meet you, the one within Tianyuan's Sea of Consciousness."

Electrolux chuckled at that, then turned his gaze toward the Snow Empress Embryo on the long table.

He raised a hand, and a strand of spiritual power shot from his fingertip into the God-Sealing Platform.

The previously tranquil God-Sealing Platform began to shake violently. An aura of extreme cold leaked out from within, freezing the entire long table in the blink of an eye. The soul formation core on the exterior of the God-Sealing Platform also began to tremble, as though it might break down at any moment.

An ethereal female voice, cold and furious, rang out from within the God-Sealing Platform.

"Damn you! Damn you! All you humans deserve to die!"

Extreme fury filled the entire Sea God Pavilion, and a freezing mist spread along with the voice.

Mu En's soul power instantly sealed off the Sea God Pavilion. He looked at Electrolux in utter bewilderment.

Electrolux shook his head. "It seems communication is impossible."

Powerful spiritual energy instantly enveloped the God-Sealing Platform, reinforcing the seal that had begun to loosen.

He looked at Mu En. "There are two choices now."

"First, kill her and obtain her soul ring and soul bone."

"Second, erase her spiritual consciousness, preserving only her body and the power of her origin sealed within it, then use spiritual power to control her sacrifice."

"However, compared with the first method, the second is far more dangerous. To begin with, my current power is insufficient to erase her spiritual consciousness alone. Moreover, the sacrifice would be extremely difficult to control. If it proceeded too quickly, the Snow Empress's immense power of origin would cause the recipient to burst."

Mu En asked, "What is the success rate of the second method?"

"Less than thirty percent."

Within the Sea of Consciousness, Chen Tianyuan silently listened to their conversation...