Chapter 221: Absorbing the Dragon Soul, Spirit Domain-Level Mental Power
"Uncle Ning, don't worry. I'll treat Xiaotian well. No one will ever bully her," Ye Chen said firmly.
As a man, he could clearly read the concern hidden in Ning Xiuyuan's eyes.
"Haha, that's good. Then I wish you both a safe journey. Do take care of her at the academy," Ning Xiuyuan smiled, brushing some dust from Ye Chen's shoulder. His expression softened slightly.
Ye Chen being a Shrek inner court student gave him confidence; Shrek's training methods might be harsh, but their selection standards were impeccable.
That, and Ye Chen's character, allowed Ning Xiuyuan to entrust his daughter into his hands.
"Daddy, then I'm going now~"
Ning Tian's cheeks flushed as she mumbled softly, hurrying into Ye Chen's aircraft.
Ye Chen followed her inside, starting the engine and rising swiftly into the sky.
As the craft disappeared, Ning Xiuyuan sighed faintly. "Ah, my little girl's flown off again…"
He felt a brief emptiness inside, unsure when he'd see her next.
…
…
Back in Shrek City, Ye Chen first returned Ning Tian safely to the academy before heading to the Tang Sect branch base.
"Ye Chen, you're back!"
Ye Yuxi greeted him enthusiastically, her face full of warmth.
"Auntie, I'm hungry," Ye Chen said with a teasing grin. "Could you make me something nice to eat?"
"Of course! Just wait a bit," Ye Yuxi said cheerfully, hurrying into the kitchen.
Ye Chen entered his private cultivation chamber.
As he sat cross-legged, his expression shifted slightly. With a flicker of thought, a small, graceful figure appeared before him—it was the Ice Empress.
Because she couldn't stray far from him, he usually kept her sealed within his spiritual sea whenever he traveled. It wasn't that he minded her presence… but having her nearby when dealing with others, especially Ning Tian, was awkward.
"Ye Chen, you jerk, you left me behind again—mmph!"
Before she could finish, Ye Chen silenced her with a kiss. Her protests melted instantly, and she went soft in his arms, cheeks turning crimson.
After a moment, he let her go and said, "Alright, I need to cultivate. Go have Aunt Ye make you something good to eat."
He gave her a playful pat.
"Hmph! Evil Ye Chen… you smell like another woman again. But fine, I'll let it slide today. Still, you'd better make it up to me later! Men—all the same!"
Still blushing and muttering, she skipped off toward the kitchen.
Once she was gone, Ye Chen closed his eyes and began his meditation.
He could clearly sense that his mental power had reached the brink of a major breakthrough—one that could push him into the legendary Spirit Domain level.
In this world, hardly anyone ever reached such a height. If he succeeded, he would stand half a step into the realm of true apex cultivators.
The chamber was silent.
Ye Chen took out a dark-blue stone, its surface etched with sacred sealing sigils. Inside it slumbered the sealed soul essence of the Ice Dragon King.
He placed it upon his palm.
As the markings glimmered faintly, Ye Chen drew in a deep breath, then tapped the seal gently with his fingertip.
Crack.
A flow of pure soul essence surged outward, streaming into his hand like liquid light, merging seamlessly into his body.
Reaching the Spirit Domain realm required massive accumulation.
In Ye Chen's spiritual sea—vast as a lake at its brim—the waters trembled, almost ready to overflow into a new state of being.
As the soul essence merged within, his mental power grew visibly stronger.
Ripples spread across the surface of his consciousness, coiling into a forming vortex.
At its center, faint silver light began to gather.
"It's starting…"
Ye Chen steadied his breathing, controlling the speed of absorption with utmost care.
The key to breaking through was compression and transformation—the slightest imbalance could ruin everything.
Inside, his mental energy compressed continuously, condensing into a tiny silver-white "seed," no larger than a grain of rice, yet radiating immense power.
"Condense!"
Ye Chen's mind tightened with focus. All his spiritual force surged toward that glowing core.
The silver radiance grew brighter, blazing like a miniature sun.
Minutes passed.
The chamber was so quiet he could hear his heartbeat. All focus remained fixed within his spiritual sea—everything else ceased to exist.
Then suddenly, the light dimmed and the seed pulsed outward.
Ripples spread through his consciousness, and everywhere the waves reached, the once-liquid energy began to crystallize into shining silver.
…
Another hour slipped away.
Beads of sweat rolled down Ye Chen's temples, his entire body damp from exertion.
The process of crystallizing mental power consumed tremendous effort and focus, testing willpower to its limits. Were it not for his boundless bloodline strength, he might have collapsed mid-way.
At last, when the final drop of energy crystallized, his entire mental ocean had transformed into a vast field of shimmering silver crystals.
At its heart, the "seed" had grown into a crystal sphere the size of a fist, exuding awe-inspiring energy.
"I did it!"
Ye Chen smiled faintly, exhilarated.
His mental energy had undergone complete qualitative transformation. He had truly stepped into the Spirit Domain Realm.
The difference was staggering.
His first realization was the range—his senses now spread dozens of miles in every direction with ease. Nothing within that vast radius could escape his awareness.
Second, his power had evolved into something tangible: a true "domain."
At a mere thought, an invisible wave expanded from him, covering a hundred-meter radius.
This was the unique hallmark of the Spirit Domain—the mental domain.
Before, Ye Chen could materialize his energy in fragments, weak and fragile. But now? This domain was solid, powerful, unbreakable—far beyond simple concealment skills.
In the Soul Master world, even Title Douluo seldom held a Domain ability. For Ye Chen, still only a Soul Emperor, possessing one now was an unimaginable advantage.
Within his domain, he could manipulate countless tiny phenomena.
He could bend incoming attacks, slow an opponent's thoughts, even slightly alter physical laws—weakening fire, strengthening ice, distorting speed or heat.
Its potential was limitless. And Ye Chen had only just begun to explore it.
A sly grin crept onto his lips. "Hmm… I wonder if my current mental strength could detect Tang San's lingering divine will inside Wang Dong. If I could seal it… heh, that would be interesting."
A bold and dangerous idea took root in his mind.
(END CHAPTER)
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