Facing off against a Grand Soul Master, Ye Chen wasn't going in unprepared.
"System, give me a 500-year soul ring!"
> [Ding! Soul power detected far exceeds that of a standard Soul Master. You may attempt to absorb a 1,000-year soul ring. Would you like to upgrade your starter soul ring reward?]
"A thousand-year ring?"
Ye Chen was stunned. If he remembered correctly, the limit for a first soul ring was around 423 years. Why was he different?
As if reading his thoughts, the system's voice returned.
> [The soul power refined by the Auto Cultivation System is the purest energy in existence. It integrates all energies, nurtures the body and mind, and thus the beast soul's resistance during absorption is virtually non-existent.]
"So that's why." A smile played on Ye Chen's lips. "Well then, what are we waiting for? Let's do it!"
Initially, he'd planned to absorb just a hundred-year soul ring to break through to Soul Master level, but now... the chance to get a thousand-year beast soul?
His excitement was hard to contain.
> [1,000-year Soul Ring 'Wind Demon Python' received. Absorbing... Progress: 10%... 30%... 60%...]
"You're smiling even now?" Yao Hai narrowed his eyes, bathed in an aura of blue fire. His face glowed with an ethereal intensity, like a god of flames.
> [Progress: 80%... 99%... 100%!]
Ye Chen slowly opened his eyes, a dangerous curve forming at his lips.
"If I were you, I'd go all out now. Otherwise, when I draw my sword… you won't stand a chance."
He gently caressed the crimson blade of the Demon Abyss sword. Standing alone amidst the sea of flames, his calm was almost unsettling.
"Is he stupid, or just putting on a show? I swear I can see the aura of arrogance floating in the air. It's this big."
"He's a legend in the making. Even if he loses, I'd still call him the strongest."
Outside the arena, the spectators buzzed with disbelief. A mere level-10 soul practitioner talking about killing a Grand Soul Master in one blow? No one would believe it if they hadn't seen it.
Yao Hai didn't waste more words. The killing intent in his eyes was practically tangible.
"Die!"
With the final formation of his martial soul skill Blazing Sea, Yao Hai thrust his arm forward. Countless blue flames, like a tidal wave, surged toward Ye Chen.
At his age, Yao Hai's power was indeed remarkable—truly a genius.
Unfortunately, he ran into Ye Chen.
"First Soul Skill: Wind-Drawing Slash!"
Ye Chen whispered. Drawing the Demon Abyss sword from its wind-forged scabbard, a spinning gust of dark wind encased the blade. The moment it cleared the sheath, a flat black wind blade shot forth, forming a sweeping horizontal arc toward the sea of fire.
In the air, a chorus of hissing sounds followed. Every flame that touched the wind blade was instantly extinguished. The massive blaze failed to stop it for even a moment.
Yao Hai watched in horror as the wind blade ripped through the air, obliterating everything in its path. In the next moment, his body split in two—falling lifelessly to the ground. Blood painted the arena stones red.
Stunned silence overtook the crowd.
Everyone expected Ye Chen to be the one getting one-shotted. Reality slapped them hard in the face.
"Another one-shot kill? What kind of monster is Ye Chen?"
"He's too damn strong! No wonder even the sect leader protects him..."
"Mark my words—this kid will shake the entire Douluo Continent someday!"
While the crowd was still reeling, Ye Chen was already being escorted away by two top elders to the bamboo forest behind the mountain.
"So, explain," Bone Douluo said, eyes gleaming with joy and curiosity. "Why is your soul power so refined?"
Before Ye Chen could speak, Sword Douluo dragged Bone Douluo aside impatiently. "Forget that—did you master my sword techniques? Earlier, your form looked almost as sharp as mine... no, better! Just how far have you gotten?"
"Hey, he's my disciple! Let him answer my question first!" Bone Douluo retorted.
Ye Chen quickly stepped in.
"Please, Masters, calm down. I'll explain everything."
He took a deep breath and organized his thoughts.
"The bone pendant Master gave me—it's currently set to 16x gravity. That's why my soul power is so strong. As for the sword technique... I think I've pretty much grasped all of it."
His tone was calm, but the words hit the two Douluos like thunder.
Bone Douluo (thinking): Sixteen times gravity? That's just insane!
Sword Douluo (thinking): A six-year-old mastered what took me decades... in one night?!
"How is this even possible?" Bone Douluo asked, turning pale.
Sword Douluo's face, usually stoic, was taut with disbelief.
"Are you seriously telling the truth? The sword art he passed down was forged through countless life-and-death battles. How did you master it?"
Ye Chen scratched his head, unfazed.
"I just... watched and learned. It didn't seem that hard."
To prove his point, he summoned his Demon Abyss sword and casually slashed toward the nearby bamboo grove.
A ten-meter-long cross-shaped sword wave exploded outward, slicing thick bamboo stalks into dust.
"That's the Seven-Kill Sword Technique—First Form: Heavy Sword, No Edge!"
Seeing it with their own eyes, the two elders could no longer doubt him.
Bone Douluo burst into laughter. "Ye Chen, you're a once-in-a-century genius. No one on the continent can compare to you!"
"Master, you're exaggerating. I'm just average, really—"
Thunk!
Ye Chen didn't finish his sentence before Bone Douluo flicked his forehead.
"Modesty is good. Overdoing it is annoying."
"But I am telling the truth! I'm not talented at all. I can barely cultivate normally—"
Smack!
This time, Sword Douluo whacked him from behind.
"Already showing off at this age, huh? Ever heard the saying: 'He who flexes too hard, gets struck by lightning'?"
"What did I do?! I was being honest!" Ye Chen grumbled, rubbing his aching head.
Apparently, telling the truth could get you punished too. After all... he really wasn't a genius.