Chapter 211: It's Okay, Three Seconds Is Already Amazing…
"Alright then…"
In the end, Ning Tian chose to trust Ye Chen.
"I looked into it. Near Shrek's outer region, there's an overlapping territory of Iron Arm Apes and Vajra Fire Ants. The Vajra Fire Ant is a perfect defensive-type spirit beast—and it's not too smart, so it'll be easy to hunt~"
Ning Tian spoke while studying her map.
She took the soul ring hunt seriously, and before coming, she had spent hours researching to avoid wasting Ye Chen's time.
"Hmm, we'll see what we find. As long as it's a defensive beast and within range, it's fine. I'm a Soul Emperor, after all. Anything under ten thousand years isn't worth fretting over," Ye Chen said casually.
"You're right…"
Ning Tian blushed lightly, embarrassed at her own meticulousness.
Ye Chen was far too strong—and she often forgot that behind his teasing grin was the power of a mighty Soul Emperor.
Even in her Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, Soul Emperors were rare. But someone of Ye Chen's level—his innate talent and unmatched martial soul—was practically one of a kind.
So yes, it really didn't matter which defensive beast they found.
Just as she finished speaking, Ye Chen suddenly paused. His eyes sharpened, gazing into the dense forest ahead.
"Seems luck's on our side today."
A faint smile tugged his lips as he quietly pulled Ning Tian along, slipping through the undergrowth without a sound.
Instead of relying on his Heaven and Earth Infinite Eye to search, he extended his powerful spiritual sense outward—since the forest teemed with defensive beasts, their movements were unpredictable.
About a thousand meters away, his senses locked onto something.
Ye Chen quickened his pace, guiding Ning Tian through tangled vines and giant roots. Lesser beasts along the way were brushed aside effortlessly.
Finally, they reached a stony clearing beyond a stretch of thick ferns.
Through the green veils of foliage, their target came into view.
It was an enormous ant-type soul beast, roughly waist-high on an adult human and nearly as long as a small ox.
Its body was armored in metallic, crimson-red plates etched with grooves and ridges that shimmered with molten light.
Six thick legs—like six sharp spears—dug firmly into the rocky ground, ending in hooked claws that scraped the stone with a harsh clatter.
Twin compound eyes glowed deep yellow beneath its crown, and serrated mandibles clicked as it chewed rock and moss, releasing sharp, rhythmic crackling sounds.
A wave of blistering heat radiated from its body, warping the air. Even the rock beneath it seemed slightly melted.
"The Vajra Fire Ant!"
Ning Tian clapped a hand over her mouth, excitement sparkling in her eyes. "Look at its shell color and size—it must be around eight thousand five hundred years!"
"Eight thousand five hundred, perfect."
At her current level, a few hundred years' difference wouldn't matter much—only affecting time needed for absorption.
This one was the ideal target: high physical defense, only minor fire element, and sturdy durability.
Ye Chen nodded.
"Yes, this will do."
He cast a calm glance at it, then whispered, "Get ready. Boost me—strength and speed."
Though he could easily kill the eight-thousand-year creature within seconds, he wanted Ning Tian to experience the process of battle and soul ring acquisition for herself.
Ning Tian nodded solemnly, her expression turning serious.
At once, radiant nine-colored light surged from her palms as her Nine Treasures Glazed Pagoda floated overhead, spinning rapidly.
Her first three rings lit up in sequence.
"The treasure's first name—strength!"
"The treasure's second name—speed!"
Two beams of condensed light shot toward Ye Chen, merging seamlessly into his body.
The Nine Treasures Pagoda had a unique ability—it could amplify strength without loss across levels.
Though Ning Tian was only a rank-40 Soul Ancestor, her buffs didn't diminish at all—still providing a full fifty percent enhancement.
Even a Title Douluo could benefit from her amplification at fifty percent, though in that case, the strain might instantly drain her energy or cause backlash.
Ye Chen wasn't a Title Douluo, but his power was beyond a normal Soul Emperor's.
As the light merged into him, Ning Tian's face went pale.
"Ye Chen… you—you're too strong… I can only hold it for three seconds!" she stammered in disbelief. Her soul power burned threefold faster than expected.
Only three seconds of buff—before she'd be completely drained!
"It's okay. Three seconds is already amazing," Ye Chen said with a grin.
Ning Tian blinked, speechless.
Before she could protest, Ye Chen had already released his martial soul.
A wave of freezing energy enveloped the clearing, sweeping past Ning Tian and rolling toward the Vajra Fire Ant.
The creature froze mid-motion, its glowing eyes flashing dangerously as it sensed the killing intent.
It released a piercing shriek, slamming its six legs into the ground. Its heavy frame surged forward like a blazing ball of metal, molten mandibles sparking as it charged straight at Ye Chen.
The ground split beneath its tremendous weight, heat waves surging outward.
Ning Tian instinctively stepped back from the sheer force of its approach—but at the sight of Ye Chen's calm figure, her heart steadied.
He didn't move.
Ye Chen simply raised his right hand, fingers spread, palm facing the charging beast.
"Ice Thorn Prison."
His fifth soul ring flared beneath his feet.
No grand explosion followed—only a suffocating chill that instantly enveloped the area.
In a blink, the temperature of the entire rocky clearing plunged below freezing. Even the heat baking the air shattered like glass.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Dozens of sharp, spiraling ice spikes erupted from the ground around the flaming ant, spearing upward in a deadly, glittering web.
(END CHAPTER)
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