Chapter 27 Ambiguous Healing, the Second Stage of the Challenge Across Levels
Inside the deep blue underground cave, it was so quiet that the only sound was the soft patter of water droplets falling on the rocks, the footsteps of time passing by.
The golden eyes that had been peering into the depths of darkness met Ye Feng's gaze for a moment. Seemingly wary of the lingering power of the earth-shattering explosion, they did not immediately launch an attack, but instead slowly disappeared into the deeper shadows.
"Gone?" Hu Yanli gripped the broken mammoth tusk, a physical fragment resulting from the shattering of his martial spirit, his palms sweating with tension.
"They've left for now. That was an aura that was a mixture of wind and metal attributes, and it was very fast." Ye Feng withdrew his gaze but did not lower his guard.
Although the Thousand Manifestations Umbrella in his hand had reverted to its ordinary umbrella form, he still maintained the optimal grip. His soul power was almost depleted, and he was only holding on by sheer willpower.
"Old Hu, go keep watch around that corner. Teacher Mingyue, we need to rest in this cave for a bit."
Ye Feng pointed to a flat area deep in the cave, near an underground river, with several reddish-brown rocks radiating a slight warmth nearby, clearly a natural geothermal spot.
Mingyue nodded and walked over, her face pale. In the battle just now, in order to control the ten-thousand-year-old Ice Armor Centipede, she did not hesitate to overdraw her own source and use her sixth soul skill. Now the backlash was coming, and the cold poison that the centipede released before it died had invaded her meridians along with her soul power. Her situation was not optimistic.
As soon as she sat down, Mingyue couldn't help but groan, and her body uncontrollably slumped to the side.
"teacher!"
Ye Feng reacted quickly and caught her. The touch was icy cold, as if he were holding not a person, but a block of ice.
"It's so cold..." Mingyue's consciousness was a little blurry. The usually aloof and proud Soul Emperor was now as fragile as a helpless little girl, instinctively snuggling against the warm source of heat in Ye Feng's arms.
Ye Feng frowned, his fingers resting on Mingyue's pulse.
"The cold poison has entered your body and sealed your heart meridian. You must force it out immediately, otherwise your soul power level will drop, and you may even have all your meridians severed." Although Ye Feng's voice was still immature, it carried an undeniable maturity and domineering presence.
He turned to look at Hu Yanli in the distance: "Fatty, keep your eyes glued to the cave entrance! This concerns the teacher's life. If you dare to look back even once, I'll turn you into a component of the Thousand Chance Umbrella!"
"Don't worry, boss! I'm blind! I'm deaf too!" Hu Yanli realized the seriousness of the situation, turned his back, covered his ears with his hands, and even summoned a diamond plate to block his vision.
Inside the cave, only Ye Feng and Mingyue remained.
Ye Feng took a deep breath and straightened Mingyue. Looking at that face so close to his, pale yet still exquisitely beautiful, he felt no other thoughts.
"Teacher, I'm sorry. I can't apply the needles accurately through your clothes. I need to... take off your shirt."
Mingyue vaguely heard these words, her eyelashes trembled, and she opened her eyes with difficulty. Seeing Ye Feng's clear and earnest eyes, the words she wanted to say in response stuck in her throat.
In this cold world filled with betrayal and slaughter, the embrace of this young man before her was her only refuge at this moment.
"If it's you... I can." Mingyue's voice was barely audible, and an unnatural flush rose on her cheeks. Her hands trembled as she tried to unbutton her clothes, but her fingers were too stiff to do so.
"I'll do it."
Without further hesitation, Ye Feng deftly unbuttoned her outer garment, revealing the snow-white lining beneath, and then gently pulled it down, revealing her smooth, jade-like back.
However, on that once perfect back, a black "centipede" now lurked – a venomous pattern formed by the accumulation of cold poison, spreading along the spine towards the heart.
"Fortunately, we made it in time."
Ye Feng took out a set of silver needles from his soul tool—a tool he had specially crafted to assist with certain precise operations of the Thousand Manifestations Umbrella , which now became life-saving medical needles.
"It will hurt a little, just bear with it."
Ye Feng channeled the last bit of internal energy (or basic soul power) he had left into the silver needles.
The first needle was precisely inserted into the "Zhiyang" acupoint on Mingyue's back.
"Ugh!" Mingyue's delicate body trembled violently, letting out a suppressed cry of pain.
Ye Feng did not stop. His hands moved like butterflies flitting among flowers, and in the blink of an eye, twelve silver needles sealed several vital acupoints on Mingyue's back.
"Next is detoxification."
Ye Feng placed his palm on Mingyue's smooth back. The contact between his warm palm and her cold skin made both of them shudder slightly.
Ye Feng gently massaged the area, guiding the cold poison out through the silver needles. As drops of black blood fell, the black lines on Mingyue's back gradually faded, and her body temperature began to rise.
This extremely private healing process filled the air with an ambiguous atmosphere that was hard to define.
Mingyue lay on the rock, her chin resting on her arm, watching Ye Feng intently healing her wounds. Although the boy's profile was still somewhat immature, his focus and composure gave him a charm that transcended his age.
"Ye Feng..."
"Um?"
"Tell me, am I a failure?" Mingyue's voice was slightly hoarse. "As a teacher, I can't protect my students; as a member of my family, I'm treated like an abandoned child."
Ye Feng paused slightly, then continued to gently press her acupoints: "Teacher, do you know why the Thousand Chance Umbrella is so powerful?"
"Because...it is ever-changing?"
"No, it's because it can encompass everything. Whether it's the steadfastness of a shield, the sharpness of a spear, or the explosive power of a gun, it can handle it all," Ye Feng said softly. "People are the same. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger. Since that family has abandoned you, then find a new way to live."
Ye Feng pulled out the last silver needle, leaned down, and whispered in Mingyue's ear, his tone domineering yet gentle: "From now on, you will no longer be a puppet of the family, but my exclusive assistant, Ye Feng. How about that? When I stand at the pinnacle of the continent, even the Pope will have to bow down to you."
Mingyue's heart skipped a beat. Looking into Ye Feng's eyes, which were so close to hers, she nodded as if possessed.
"Okay... I'll wait for you to grow up."
This statement sounds like a promise, or perhaps the signing of some kind of contract.
...
For the next two days, the three-person team settled down temporarily in this underground cave.
This cave was indeed a treasure trove. Deep inside, Ye Feng discovered a rare metal vein—Cold Iron Refined Gold.
This is top-grade material for crafting soul tools!
Ye Feng was like a mouse that had fallen into a rice jar, so excited that he didn't sleep for two days. He used the underground fire in the cave and these rare metals to begin repairing and strengthening the severely damaged Thousand Chance Umbrella .
"The current material of the Thousand Chance Umbrella is too poor to withstand high-intensity combat. It's perfect to use this cold iron refined gold to recast the umbrella ribs, and then use the hardest segments of the Ice Armor Centipede's carapace to make the umbrella surface armor."
The clanging and banging sounds were incessant.
On the morning of the third day.
With a crisp "click," the brand-new Thousand Chance Umbrella was assembled.
The umbrella was longer and more slender than before, its entire body a dull, iron-gray color with a faint blue glow. Although it looked unassuming, Ye Feng knew that its strength had increased at least threefold!
"This is preparation for welcoming the second spirit ring."
Ye Feng gripped the Thousand Chance Umbrella, feeling the soul power within his body that had long been overflowing and suppressed.
The bottleneck at level 20 is like a windowpane; it can be broken with a single poke.
"We've finally reached this point." Ye Feng's eyes gleamed.
Just then, Hu Yanli, who had been keeping watch at the cave entrance, suddenly tumbled back.
"Boss! Something's wrong! That golden-eyed guy is here again! And this time... it seems he brought help!"
"Help?" Ye Feng frowned.
Before he could ask any further questions, two figures had already appeared in his field of vision.
Those were two soul beasts, one large and one small.
The larger one was the very one they had been spying on earlier—a variant of the Gale Wolf, the Wind Blade Leopard! Judging from its size and the flowing wind elemental luster, its cultivation level was definitely around 1,500 years!
The smaller one beside it, though only a few hundred years old, was actually an extremely rare support-type soul beast—the Illusionary Sound Fox.
"A highly agile and high-burst assassin, accompanied by a control support?" Ye Feng chuckled. "This soul beast even understands tactical teamwork?"
"Fifteen hundred years…" Mingyue's expression was solemn. "Ye Feng, that's twice the maximum lifespan of the second soul ring! It's too dangerous, let's retreat."
Generally speaking, the limit for a Soul Master's second Soul Ring is 764 years. 1500 years is the standard for the third Soul Ring!
"Retreat? Where to retreat to? The two major sects are pursuing us outside, and this place is a dead end."
Ye Feng licked his lips, his eyes showing no fear, but rather burning with a frenzied fighting spirit.
"Moreover, the speed and cutting attributes of this Wind Blade Leopard are the perfect vessel for my second spirit ring of the Thousand Manifestations Umbrella! If I miss it, where else can I find such a perfect match?"
To unlock the more powerful *"Gun and Sword Mode" or "Flying Blade Mode"*, the Thousand Chance Umbrella must have extremely strong sharpness attributes.
"But..."
"No buts. Trust me!" Ye Feng interrupted Mingyue. "Huyan Li, same old rules, be a good punching bag! Teacher Mingyue, keep an eye on that Phantom Sound Fox, don't let it interfere with me!"
"roar--!"
The Windblade Leopard clearly had no patience to listen to their nonsense. It let out a low growl and its body instantly transformed into a blue afterimage, rushing straight towards Ye Feng.
That's incredibly fast! Even faster than the Ice Armor Centipede from before!
"Thousand Chance Umbrella - Shield!"
Ye Feng reacted extremely quickly, using his umbrella to block the attack.
"Sizzle—"
A sickening scraping sound rang out. The Windblade Leopard's claws gripped the umbrella made of cold iron and refined gold, sparks flying, leaving three deep claw marks. The enormous impact propelled Ye Feng's feet to slide several meters across the ground.
"Such powerful attack!" Ye Feng's arm went numb.
"Squeak!"
The Phantom Fox beside him wasn't to be outdone, letting out a sharp cry. Ye Feng felt a sharp pain in his head, and the scene before him instantly distorted.
Mental interference!
In that moment of distraction, the Windblade Leopard had already circled around to Ye Feng's side, opening its blood-red maw to bite at his neck.
"Don't even think about it!"
Mingyue made her move. Although she was still recovering from serious injuries, her foundation as a Soul Emperor remained intact.
"Second Soul Skill: Moonlight Barrier!"
A gentle moonlight shield instantly enveloped Ye Feng, blocking the fatal bite.
"Fatty! Hold it!" Ye Feng shouted.
Hu Yanli had been preparing for this for a long time. Although he was afraid, he was even more afraid that something would happen to Ye Feng.
"Ahhh! Take this bear hug from me, Lao Hu!"
Taking advantage of the Wind Blade Leopard's momentary lapse in attack, Hu Yanli pounced forward, wrapping his arms and legs around the Wind Blade Leopard's waist and abdomen like an octopus.
"Roar!" The Windblade Leopard roared in fury, twisting its body wildly, its claws tearing blood from Huyanli's back.
"Ye Feng! Hurry! I can't hold on much longer!" Hu Yanli was in so much pain that tears and snot streamed down his face, but he just wouldn't let go.
"It'll be ready soon!"
A fierce glint flashed in Ye Feng's eyes. The Thousand Chance Umbrella in his hand suddenly deformed.
The umbrella ribs contracted, and all the leaves reversed, transforming into a long spear with barbs.
"First Soul Skill: Thrust!" (This is Ye Feng's first soul ring skill. Although simple, it has extremely strong penetrating power when combined with the physical properties of the Thousand Manifestations Umbrella.)
Ye Feng poured all his soul power into the spear tip and even activated the mechanical ejection device inside the umbrella handle.
"puff!"
The spear transformed into a black lightning bolt, precisely piercing the Windblade Leopard's soft throat and exiting from the back of its neck!
The Windblade Leopard's body convulsed violently a few times, the fierce light in its eyes quickly faded, and it finally collapsed to the ground with a thud.
A purple soul ring slowly rose up.
Millennium Soul Ring!
Moreover, it's a deep purple, representing 1,500 years of cultivation!
"Done!" Ye Feng plopped down on the ground, panting heavily.
Mingyue, standing nearby, casually used a burst of soul power to stun the Illusionary Sound Fox, then looked at Ye Feng with concern: "Are you really going to absorb this? This is more than double the limit."
Fortune favors the bold.
Ye Feng wiped the blood from his face and sat down cross-legged.
"My body has been tempered day and night by the Thousand- Mechanism Umbrella, and I just absorbed a lot of geothermal energy, so I might not be able to withstand it. Master, please protect me."
After saying that, Ye Feng no longer hesitated and used his soul power to guide his attack.
The violent, thousand-year-old purple soul ring instantly enveloped his Thousand Chance Umbrella Martial Soul, and a terrifying torrent of energy surged into his body through his arm.
"snort!"
Ye Feng groaned, his skin instantly turning bright red, like a boiled shrimp. His meridians groaned, and his bones crackled and popped.
That was the remnant will of the Windblade Leopard frantically destroying his body!
"This mere beast dares to possess me? I am Ye Feng, the All-Round Master! Suppress it!"
Ye Feng gritted his teeth, blood flowing from his seven orifices, but his willpower was as hard as steel. In his mind, memories of countless days and nights of practicing micro-management in his previous life surfaced, and that ultimate control over power transformed into the strongest mental barrier.
Time passed second by second.
Finally, the violent energy gradually subsided and began to gently merge into Ye Feng's dantian.
"Buzz—!"
The Thousand Chance Umbrella suddenly opened automatically, and pale blue wind patterns appeared on its originally iron-gray surface, with an extremely sharp serration around the edge.
Yellow, purple.
Two soul rings pulsed beneath his feet.
Ye Feng suddenly opened his eyes, and a sharp blue light flashed.
A level 24 Great Soul Master, achieved!
Moreover, he clearly sensed that the Thousand Chance Umbrella had unlocked a completely new form that he had always dreamed of.
"Since it's wind attribute plus cutting…" Ye Feng gripped the umbrella handle and flicked it gently.
The Thousand Chance Umbrella instantly split into three segments, each of which was a curved blade with a chain.
"Thousand Manifestations Umbrella - Ninja Tool - Flying Scythe!"
Ye Feng smiled confidently.
"Elephant Armor Sect, Snow Demon Sect... Now I'm qualified to have some fun with you."