Chapter 152: Chapter 151: Powerful Dark Horse
Soul power multiples are categorized as Tenfold Soul, Hundred-fold Soul, Thousand-fold Soul, and Ten Thousand-fold Soul. The higher the soul power multiple, the more intimidating the pressure it carries, making it easier to subdue the weak. Most importantly, attaining Ten Thousand-fold Soul Power is essentially reaching the domain of Demon Saints, granting a trace of a Demon Saint’s Great Power!
Most sixth-rank Demon Saints are only at the realm of 100,000 soul power. If you manage to reach Ten Thousand-fold Soul Power earlier, you generally have a thirty percent chance of becoming an ordinary Demon Saint.
This is the precious opportunity offered by the Heart-questioning Trial in the Dragon God Sacred Land, and what the Black Dragon Demon Saint described as a great Creation.
Now, within Hong Yuan’s ash-white soul body, a trace of bronze thread had appeared, indicating that he had reached the Ten Python Soul Realm.
Ten Python Soul. I wonder which Innate Ability I can use now?
Hong Yuan’s eyelids drooped slightly as he sensed the changes in his soul body. With a feeling emerging in his heart, a layer of snow-white armor appeared on Hong Yuan’s python body, enhancing his defensive power.
’Ice Armor,’ huh? Using ten percent of my soul power to cast such an ability... it’s not bad, I suppose.
Hong Yuan grudgingly acknowledged this ability.
Although ’Ice Armor’ was somewhat unimpressive, others couldn’t have it even if they wanted to.
Therefore, Hong Yuan broke through the layers of water with high spirits, heading toward the center of this region to hunt Soul Beasts.
He pushed aside wave after wave, swimming determinedly toward the center, not letting any suitable Soul Beast he encountered escape.
At this moment, Hong Yuan set his sights on a grey-white giant shark, a massive creature a full thirty meters long.
This was a shark similar to a tiger shark, with dangerously sharp teeth in its mouth and a streamlined body capable of impressive speed. What Hong Yuan found most daunting was undoubtedly its scissor-like, deformed fishtail.
What kind of monster is this?
Hong Yuan expressed his confusion.But after a brief evaluation of the other Soul Beasts, Hong Yuan decided to start with it.
Forty-nine meters versus thirty meters; the advantage is mine.
Concentrating intently, he fixed his gaze on the tiger shark.
"Ice Armor, activate."
Hong Yuan’s ash-white body dimmed slightly, but in an instant, a thick layer of Ice Armor covered his python body, making him look as though he was wearing a set of frosty white battle armor with a futuristic feel.
RUMBLE!
The water exploded as Hong Yuan stirred the vast sea currents, which surged forward, roaring toward the grey-white giant shark.
When the grey-white giant shark saw the Ice Armor Python Hong Yuan attack, it also summoned all its strength, charging toward Hong Yuan with overwhelming force.
The two beasts, both over thirty meters long, entangled in a fierce battle.
"Bite! Bite! I’ll keep biting!" Hong Yuan opened his massive maw, biting towards the grey-white giant shark’s brain.
Shark brain, shark fins, shark body...
Again and again, the grey-white giant shark was forced to emit a grey-white current as its soul essence diminished, its volume slowly shrinking, while the bronze threads on Hong Yuan’s body gradually increased.
The audience watching from outside couldn’t believe what they were seeing, exclaiming in shock at Hong Yuan’s valiant display.
"Is this still Xuan Guangqiao? I thought he only devoured mice..." Snow Moon Demon Saint clicked his tongue in wonder, seemingly envisioning the scene when Xuan Guangqiao and Li Jianqiu would meet again.
"Guangqiao is impressive, indeed. Worthy of Qi’s high regard. No wonder Li Jianqiu is so wary of him," Wan Xuerou lifted her head high, praising the Black Dragon Demon Saint.
The Black Dragon Demon Saint had a slight smile on his face and nodded gently, responding to Wan Xuerou.
In reality, the Black Dragon Demon Saint himself had not expected his adopted son to be so formidable; he had merely intended for him to build a foundation. But now it appeared his adopted son Guangqiao genuinely had a chance to contend with Li Jianqiu, however slim that chance might be.
"What a pity," the Black Dragon Demon Saint sighed softly. "If Li Jianqiu hadn’t interrupted him, Guangqiao would probably have reached Hundred-fold Soul Power by now, just like her."
"Li Jianqiu is advancing towards Ten Thousand-fold Soul Power. With Guangqiao’s insufficient foundation, even with more effort, he can at most reach nine-thousand-fold Soul Power."
...
...
After dealing with the grey-white giant shark, the bronze lines on Hong Yuan’s body increased from one to three!
With the addition of the bronze lines, Hong Yuan’s aura became more and more solid, no longer as illusory as before, as if it were transitioning from ethereal to tangible.
Maintaining a strategy of "steady progress," after only half a day, the bronze lines on Hong Yuan’s body had increased to sixty-two, a truly astonishing number.
Just as Hong Yuan was exploring towards the central area, a thunderous roar came from ahead. Wave after wave pushed against Hong Yuan, trying to make him drift with the current and leave this place.
There’s a fight ahead. Who could it be? Hong Yuan wondered.
Judging by the aftermath, the intensity of the battle was clearly not low.
I’ll see if I can scavenge something. If not, I’ll run. With this thought, Hong Yuan’s python tail moved slightly as he carefully probed towards the central area.
Soon, Hong Yuan found a huge octopus fighting a gigantic crocodile. Every move between them stirred infinite ocean currents and whipped up towering waves.
Hong Yuan’s eyes were fixed on the huge octopus, and the corners of his mouth revealed a subtle curve.
Zhang Fan. Tsk tsk, what’s this? My luck has turned!
The huge octopus was indeed Zhang Fan, and judging by his appearance, he was not in a good state. Threads of grey-white soul essence were dissipating, and he was even being pursued by the crocodile Soul Beast.
Hong Yuan suppressed his impatience, silently swimming in the current, ready to deliver Zhang Fan a heavy blow at any moment, preferably swallowing him whole!
A competitor?
Zhang Fan’s tentacles sensed an unusual disturbance in the water flow. He turned his head and discovered it was Hong Yuan. Hong Yuan’s transformation surprised him, strengthening his resolve to eliminate him. However, Hong Yuan was too slippery, constantly staying on the periphery and refusing to approach. Zhang Fan decided he had to deal with the giant crocodile first before handling Hong Yuan.
About an hour later, the fight ceased, and the sea returned to calm.
The ultimate victor was Zhang Fan. The giant crocodile Soul Beast finally succumbed to him, but not before inflicting severe injuries on Zhang Fan.
Zhang Fan’s judgment had been flawed. Gravely injured, he was at the end of his rope and urgently needed to consume the giant crocodile, having no spare energy to deal with Hong Yuan.
At that moment, Hong Yuan prepared to strike, but Zhang Fan spoke out first, trying to scare Hong Yuan off.
"Scram!"
"Dare to advance one more step, and don’t blame me for being ruthless!"
Zhang Fan bellowed deeply, his tentacles slapping the currents and stirring up endless massive waves to add weight to his words.
Upon seeing Zhang Fan’s terrifying might, Hong Yuan was indeed taken aback.
But in the blink of an eye, Hong Yuan sneered and lunged at Zhang Fan, mad as a hatter.
"Even Li Jianqiu wouldn’t dare to let me off easily, and you’re trying this?"
Seeing that Hong Yuan was not deterred, Zhang Fan sighed softly in his heart and fled without looking back.
But once Hong Yuan saw through Zhang Fan’s weakness, his body trembled as he pursued Zhang Fan like a madman.
Thus, the audience incredulously watched as Hong Yuan, ranked third from the bottom on the Rising Dragon List, chased after Zhang Fan, ranked in the top three, a bizarrely comical scene unfolding before their eyes.
The onlookers exclaimed in realization, "So Li Jianqiu wasn’t overreacting! She knew about Xuan Guangqiao’s threat all along!"
A quarter of an hour later, Hong Yuan caught Zhang Fan. Before disbelieving eyes, he devoured nearly ninety percent of Zhang Fan’s Soul Body, once again powerfully augmenting himself!
[Soul Tao +78]
[School: Soul Tao (Normal 62%) → Soul Tao (Normal 66%)]
"Xuan Guangqiao, you treacherous thing! If you have the guts, go fight Li Jianqiu!" Zhang Fan grumbled resentfully, cursing Xuan Guangqiao as despicable and treacherous.
Hong Yuan curled his lip, unfazed.
He watched as Zhang Fan transformed into a small octopus and vanished into white light.
At this moment, several Demon Saints shifted their attention to Hong Yuan, sensing a strong dark horse emerging.