"Thirteen thousand years... Just what I wanted!" Lin Yan was not surprised but delighted. The higher the age, the better the quality of the Soul Ring, and the stronger the Soul Skill it brought.
" Yan'er, are you sure you want to hunt it yourself? Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beast's last stand before death is no small matter," Dugu Bo reminded him.
"Teacher, please allow me to give it a try. If I am unable to do so, I will ask for your assistance." Lin Yan's gaze was firm. He needed to personally experience the battle against Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beast in order to truly hone himself and make his Soul Ring more compatible with his own.
"Good! That's spirited! I'll back you up!" Dugu Bo nodded approvingly, his figure flickered, and he disappeared into the nearby woods, his aura completely concealed, but his mind remained firmly locked on the valley.
Lin Yan took a deep breath and stepped into the valley.
The moment he stepped into the territory of the Nine-Leaf Sword Grass, the sword grass that had been swaying quietly suddenly trembled! All nine sword leaves pointed at Lin Yan, and an incomparably sharp Sword Intent pressed down as if it were a tangible force, and a clear sword cry even rang out in the air!
"Buzz--!"
Without any warning, the three sword-like leaves suddenly detached from the grass stem, transforming into three streaks of bluish-gray light that tore through the air with a sharp whistling sound, shooting towards Lin Yan in a triangular formation! Their speed was comparable to that of a powerful bow and crossbow!
Lin Yan's pupils contracted, his footwork shifted, and his body swayed like a willow catkin, a combination of Tai Chi Movement Technique — Cloud Hands and footwork. In the blink of an eye, he narrowly avoided two sword blades, while a third sword blade grazed the hem of his clothes, its sharp sword energy cutting a clean gash in the hem.
"Such speed! Such sharp sword energy!" Lin Yan thought with a chill. This was only a long-range attack.
He dared not be negligent and instantly released his Martial Soul. The evolved Blue Silver Grass spread out, no longer a soft Entanglement, but like tough steel whips, with a faint golden-red and ice-blue luster, actively sweeping towards the Nine-Leaf Sword Grass.
"Hiss hiss hiss!"
The remaining six leaves of the Nine-Leaf Sword Grass trembled rapidly, and countless fine sword energies poured out like a torrential rain, colliding with Lin Yan's Blue Silver Grass and producing a metallic clang. The evolved Blue Silver Grass was incredibly tough, but it was still immediately cut in half by these scattered sword energies, its leaves flying everywhere.
Lin Yan activated his Soul Power, and the leaves of the Blue Silver Grass regrowed. Furthermore, under Lin Yan's guidance, the ice and fire attributes attached to the leaves began to manifest.
The leaves coiled Entanglement the sword grass, blocking the sword energy emitted by the grass. They covered the grass layer by layer, using ice and fire attributes to damage the Nine-Leaf Sword Grass grass upon contact.
However, the Nine-Leaf Sword Grass is extremely resilient; the damaged area flashes green light and quickly recovers. It seems to be enraged, as the entire plant erupts with soaring Sword Intent, and all nine leaves (including the three that flew back) simultaneously light up with a dazzling blue light!
"Not good!" Dugu Bo, who was hiding, narrowed his eyes and prepared to make a move at any moment.
Suddenly, all the leaves of the Nine-Leaf Sword Grass closed up and pointed at Lin Yan. The next moment, an extremely condensed, ten-foot-long, huge azure sword aura slashed down at Lin Yan as if splitting the heavens and earth!
Before the sword energy even arrived, its terrifying sharpness had already completely solidified the air around Lin Yan, and the ground was plowed open by invisible pressure, creating a deep trench!
This is the Nine-Leaf Sword Grass's all-out attack, comparable to Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beast's desperate killing move!
Faced with this unavoidable sword strike, a glimmer of understanding flashed in Lin Yan's eyes. He did not choose to withstand it head-on, nor did he panic. He focused his mind highly, and the " Supreme Purity Breathing Technique " circulated in his sea of consciousness, perfectly combining his spiritual power and Soul Power, drawing upon the power hidden deep within his Martial Soul and Intent.
He formed a circle with his hands, his Soul Power surging around him. The evolved Blue Silver Grass no longer attempted to attack, but quickly retreated, intertwining and swirling in front of him, stirring a certain rhythm in the world. An aura containing the cycle of life and death, the flow of yin and yang, spread out—it was the Withering and Flourishing Intent!
At the same time, the Tai Chi Sword Intent he had painstakingly cultivated flowed in his heart. Though he had no physical sword, his intent could be the sword!
" Tai Chi... Rotation!"
Lin Yan let out a low shout and moved his hands, causing the "circle" in front of him, constructed from Blue Silver Grass and Soul Power, to suddenly accelerate its rotation. The huge cyan sword energy crashed into the "circle," but the expected explosion did not occur.
The sword energy seemed to be trapped in an invisible quagmire, or as if it were Entanglement by countless supple threads. Its violent and unparalleled impact and sharp sword energy were weakened, guided, and deflected layer by layer by the rapidly rotating "circle"!
Sizzle sizzle sizzle--!
The ear-piercing scraping sound was incessant. Lin Yan's face was pale, his body trembled violently, and a trace of blood spilled from the corner of his mouth, clearly indicating that he was under tremendous pressure. However, his eyes remained firm, and his hands were as steady as Boulder, maintaining this mysterious defense with all his might.
Finally, after most of the sword energy had been dissipated, Lin Yan suddenly pulled and pushed with both hands!
Here you go!
He forcibly changed the direction of the remaining sword energy, causing it to strike the side of the mountain wall at an angle, blasting out a huge crater and sending rocks flying through the air!
Just after the Nine-Leaf Sword Grass unleashed its strongest attack, it itself fell into a brief state of weakness and stiffness.
"Now!"
A cold glint flashed in Lin Yan's eyes. He forcefully summoned his Soul Power, and countless strands of Blue Silver Grass, shimmering with golden-red and ice-blue light, burst forth like snakes emerging from their holes. They were no longer Entanglement, but rather like countless tough spears, taking advantage of the moment when the old power had just dissipated and the new power had not yet been generated, and fiercely pierced into the body of the Nine-Leaf Sword Grass from all directions!
"Puff puff puff puff--!"
The Soul Power containing both ice and fire attributes erupted and wreaked havoc within the Nine-Leaf Sword Grass. The Nine-Leaf Sword Grass trembled violently, emitting a shrill cry like the lament of a sword, and the luster on its leaves quickly dimmed.
Finally, its proudly upright stem slowly bent, and its vitality receded like the tide.
A deep black Soul Ring slowly rose from the remains of the Nine-Leaf Sword Grass.
Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring!
Lin Yan stared at the Soul Ring with burning desire. He didn't rush forward immediately, but instead sat down cross-legged and began to circulate the " Supreme Purity Breathing Technique " to recover the Soul Power he had consumed and the damage to his meridians from the powerful sword aura he had just fought.
Dugu Bo's figure quietly appeared beside him. He looked at the dark Soul Ring, then at Lin Yan who was meditating, his eyes filled with complex emotions.
He witnessed Lin Yan, as Soul Elder, directly confront and ultimately hunt down a powerful Plant-type Soul Beast that was 13,000 years old! Especially the mysterious method of dissolving the sword energy at the end, which even he found unbelievable.
"This child's future is limitless!" Dugu Bo thought to himself, his determination to nurture and protect this disciple even stronger.
About an incense stick later, Lin Yan opened his eyes, having recovered most of his strength. He stood up and walked resolutely toward the floating black Soul Ring.
" Yan'er, the Soul Shock from Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring is no small matter. Concentrate your mind and guard your true self!" Dugu Bo solemnly reminded him.
Lin Yan nodded, sat cross-legged in front of the Soul Ring, took a deep breath to adjust his state to its peak, and then used his Soul Power to guide the deep black Soul Ring onto his Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul.