Douluo Continent: On Becoming a God Through Science

Chapter 110 The Sixth Soul Ring (Part 1)

While writing his reply, You Chen also gleaned some information from Yan's letter.

"It seems the Spirit Hall has truly quelled the 'Masked Man' incident completely. Even Yan from the Golden Generation, who only recently returned after leaving a year and a half ago, is unaware of this information."

You Chen couldn't help but smile.

pat.

Putting down his pen, You Chen stretched and squinted at the sun, revealing a somewhat smug smile.

A year and a half later, You Chen was naturally in a good mood to receive a letter from his beloved disciple.

"It's time to acquire my sixth spirit ring."

You Chen thought to himself.

It has to be said that the timing was a bit too coincidental; just a few days before Yan's letter arrived, he had broken through to level 60. If it weren't for the need to double-check the target soul beast's information and location changes, You Chen might have already left and wouldn't have been able to view this letter with his true form.

The scene shifts, and a day later, You Chen has arrived at the Star Dou Great Forest.

Remarkably, he only retained the avatar of the wandering star in Nottingham.

By simply separating one mind and one parallel consciousness, the pressure on You Chen was greatly reduced, allowing him to spend about a week in the Star Dou Great Forest.

However, You Chen would never have taken such a risk in the past, which shows how important obtaining the sixth ring is to him.

Of course, for any Soul Master in this world, obtaining a new Soul Ring and breaking through to a new realm is a major event.

In this sense, the sixth ring was not as important to You Chen as it was to ordinary soul masters. He only cared about raising his soul power level to another level; everything else was secondary.

The reason for allowing seven days is related to You Chen's hunting target this time.

Not all soul beasts, especially those over ten thousand years old, are like the Earth Fire Dragon from before, which had a narrow range of activity and rarely moved around.

In particular, You Chen's targets in these rings were all wind-attribute soul beasts. These soul beasts generally move very fast and have a large range of activity.

His target this time is called "Archaeopteryx," a name that sounds imposing. In reality, it is a soul beast with some ancient bloodline. In the soul master world, such soul beasts are generally called "ancient soul beasts" and generally possess considerable combat power.

Of course, the present is not necessarily inferior to the past. Considering that the number of ancient soul beasts is becoming increasingly scarce, they are actually soul beasts that are constantly being eliminated by the natural environment and are on the verge of extinction.

You Chen had already planned for his sixth and seventh spirit rings, and unlike the fifth ring, he didn't have to rush, so he was well prepared.

They set their sights long ago on an Archaeopteryx that was 70,000 years old.

Originally, You Chen's sixth soul ring had a lifespan of at most 50,000 years, but because he obtained the Divine Elephant Suppressing Prison Force, his physical body and spirit far surpassed those of ordinary Soul Kings, so the optimal lifespan of this soul ring naturally increased significantly.

You Chen's actual target has already been changed once.

Then, six months ago, he finally confirmed the approximate range of the Archaeopteryx through his intelligence network.

The Archaeopteryx's main habitat was undoubtedly the inner mixed zone, but due to its dislike of staying in one fixed place for long periods of time and its mobility, it would occasionally venture into the outer zone to hunt.

The wide scope of the activity explains why You Chen specifically set aside a week.

Most of that time was spent searching for the location of the Archaeopteryx.

Furthermore, the strength of this Archaeopteryx is already very close to that of a Contra Douluo, so even if we find it, it's hard to guarantee that we can take it down in one go.

You Chen himself never expected that his first hunt would go so smoothly.

And that is indeed the case.

On the fourth mission, following the third round trip between Notting City and the Star Dou Great Forest, You Chen finally saw his target for the first time.

"Chuck chuckle chuckle~"

A beautiful bird, seemingly draped in a colorful cloak, was drinking water by the lake, emitting some peculiar calls.

This large bird is over three meters tall, but compared to its cultivation level, it appears somewhat small.

It truly looks like a treasure born from heaven and earth, possessing a beauty sculpted by nature itself.

In fact, Archaeopteryx feathers have always been luxury items at auctions and were highly sought after by countless nobles. This is probably why they declined so rapidly and have become an endangered species today.

You Chen, who was secretly observing with bated breath, had no intention of contributing to the ecological balance whatsoever.

He had simply taken various enhancement pills in advance, silently waiting for the best opportunity to strike.

One, two, three, four... Including the three starlight avatars and You Chen himself, a total of four figures simultaneously maintained a state of completely concealing their auras.

This means that You Chen simply doesn't have the extra mental energy to enter a state of super focus.

At such close range, given the innate sensitivity of beasts to danger, You Chen couldn't say for sure how much a non-perfect level of the Concealing Breath Technique could hide.

Considering that Archaeopteryx could end its rest and fly away at any time, You Chen did not intend to continue waiting for the best opportunity that might never come, and chose to make his move directly!

Ugh—.

Almost simultaneously, four pillars of air shot out, with the one shot out by You Chen himself being the fastest and most powerful!

As expected of a top-tier wind-type soul beast, the Archaeopteryx possesses exceptional reaction capabilities, far surpassing the White Swan that You Chen nearly defeated in a single blow. Even with such an instantaneous attack, it still has ample reaction time.

However, You Chen had already known this before he even formulated the hunting plan.

Therefore, his joint attack with his clone was not aimed at maximizing power, but rather at blocking the Archaeopteryx's movement route as much as possible!

puff--.

Of the four attacks, two completely missed, one was mostly dodged, and only one hit the target squarely! Unfortunately, the attack that Archaeopteryx was most focused on dodging was the one launched by You Chen himself, which it successfully avoided!

The power of the Wind Dragon Roar unleashed by the avatar is directly reduced by a level. If the Wind Dragon Roar of the Soul Ring Soul Skill is a move that can severely injure or even kill a Soul Emperor and threaten a Soul Saint, then this attack from the avatar is at the level of severely injuring a Soul King and threatening a Soul Emperor.

So even if it hits perfectly, it only causes minor injuries to the Archaeopteryx.

However, because the impact was on one of Archaeopteryx's wings, this somewhat affected the bird's maneuverability.

This was the best news for You Chen.

Swish—

As Archaeopteryx dodged Yu Chen's attack, Yu Chen had already closed in and stood in front of Archaeopteryx, his deep eyes meeting Archaeopteryx's at extremely close range.

Soul-Sealing Technique!

The eyes are the windows to the soul, and making eyes meet is the way to maximize the power of this move!

In an instant, Archaeopteryx's eyes were filled with two pitch-black suns, and the apocalyptic scene left it stunned.

Before Archaeopteryx could even react, Yu Chen's true killing move had already arrived!

"The winds of change are blowing!"

The self-created soul skill, which had successfully proven its effectiveness on the Earth Fire Dragon and rivaled at least 50,000-year-old soul skills, was successfully used.

This time, however, You Chen's target was not Archaeopteryx's head, but rather its injured wing.

As its fists struck, the celestial phenomena changed, and boundless waves of energy surged forth. Despite the excruciating pain, the Archaeopteryx regained its senses and let out an extremely piercing scream.

The wind and clouds that completely devoured You Chen's power would injure even an ordinary Soul Douluo.

The soul beast's body was much stronger, but the Archaeopteryx had indeed suffered considerable injuries.

"This child is dangerous!"

Recalling You Chen's strange methods and powerful fist techniques, the Archaeopteryx immediately had this thought and turned to flee without hesitation.

However, at the same time, the three clones simultaneously unleashed a storm aura. This soul skill was far less powerful than the roar of the wind dragon, but its binding effect was indeed quite good.

But this time it's going to bind a 70,000-year-old soul beast!

Such restraints could only slow down the Archaeopteryx's movements for a moment; weaker Soul Masters couldn't even detect this slight delay.

But for You Chen, such a gap was enough.

He met the eyes of the Archaeopteryx once more and unleashed the Soul-Stealing Technique! This was immediately followed by the tremor of wind and clouds!

However, while mental attacks are extremely versatile and fast, their most notable characteristic is that they are prone to causing patience issues!

The same mental stimulation, if it is applied two or three times in a short period of time, will greatly shorten the damage and control time!

Before the turmoil of the wind and clouds could be fully quelled, Archaeopteryx regained consciousness and, disregarding its injuries, forcefully soared into the sky.

However, You Chen had to hastily change the direction of his punch, which greatly reduced the power of the already perfectly coordinated Feng Yun Dong, ultimately allowing the Archaeopteryx to escape.

You Chen's dark eyes stared at the departing Archaeopteryx, his expression calm and unwavering, showing no intention of following it in pursuit.

He returned to the temporary stronghold of the Soul Fighting Beasts outside the Star Dou Great Forest, instructed some people to follow the traces of the Archaeopteryx, and then chose to return to Notting City.

Archaeopteryx was seriously injured, while You Chen seemed to be unharmed—after all, Archaeopteryx hadn't had a chance to make a move from beginning to end—but the successive bursts of energy in a short period of time also greatly depleted his mental strength, which caused him to reach the limit of his stay time ahead of schedule and have to return to rest.

During the breaks in the hunt, You Chen also began to reflect on himself and review his actions.

Firstly, there's the issue of the Soul-Suppressing Technique. The time difference between its two uses was too great, and the mental energy consumed in it directly cut off any possibility of him continuing the pursuit.

Then there's Feng Yun Dong. It's been decided that the main focus for the next few years will be on borrowing soul power, so You Chen hasn't had time to make significant optimizations to Feng Yun Dong, which has resulted in the move's wind-up being too long...

"Unless a sudden flash of inspiration occurs, these two main problems cannot be improved in just a few days."

However, a flash of inspiration is the most important resource for researching the method of borrowing soul power, and You Chen is reluctant to use it easily.

Soon, You Chen came up with a solution.

"With the weakening effect, the risk for the Soul Beasts facing the Archaeopteryx has been greatly reduced. And the current Blackfire Crossbow is enough to inflict damage on the Archaeopteryx; accumulating small damage over time is comparable to my own output."

You Chen quickly issued the order.

Given the speed at which Soul Masters can move, a week is enough to cross the border and reunite.

Soon, the Soul Beasts regrouped.

Compared to the last gathering, only a year and a half has passed, and the Soul Beasts have not changed much.

However, the good news is that two more Soul Masters have joined the team.

Amona and Kui both successfully obtained ten-thousand-year soul rings and broke through to the realm of level 40 and above.

"Although I feel sorry that I have to mobilize everyone again after only a year and a half, I really need everyone's help this time."

You Chen's slight bow sparked a wave of excitement among the Soul Fighting Beasts, many of whom felt honored to be able to share their leader's burdens.

Although You Chen has assigned a lot of tasks to the Soul Fighting Beasts, in reality, most of those tasks are not directly related to You Chen himself, but are basically carried out for the growth and development of the organization itself.

Therefore, many Soul Beasts have always believed that they are working and fighting for themselves, and that You Chen is not a capitalist who oppresses them, but a great benefactor who has provided them with countless opportunities!

Therefore, they have always longed to truly help You Chen and share his burdens.

Even Ignis, who had been promoted to the head of the beasts, was excited upon hearing this.

"Next, Ignis, the specific arrangements for the operation are now in your hands." After bowing, You Chen, unlike in the past, directly handed over the subsequent task assignments to Ignis.

Ignis was slightly taken aback, but she did not show any panic. Instead, she walked gracefully to the spot that You Chen had cleared for her.

Over the past year and a half, Ignis has successfully taken on all the tasks, big and small, as a leader, and is already quite adept at it.

Although it was the first time she had taken the lead in front of You Chen, driven by a sense of mission, Ignis was excited but not flustered.

She declared loudly, "Our task in this operation is simple: to inflict as much damage as possible on the target, the Archaeopteryx, using the Blackfire Crossbows, while simultaneously... protecting ourselves! Remember, our individual strength is insignificant before this monster with 70,000 years of cultivation. A single bump will kill us, a mere scratch will injure us! What the leader needs is for us to remain alive and continue to serve the leader, the organization, and a better future, not to be swept away by a surge of hot blood and needlessly throw our lives away!"

After Ignis finished speaking, seeing that the crowd had calmed down from their frenzy and their faces had become solemn, she nodded: "Now, let's explain the specific arrangements. Grace, you'll speak!"

As Ignis stepped back to Youchen's side, Grace stepped out from the group, and the people below still maintained their respectful expressions.

While Ignis successfully took over the leadership role, she also delegated a significant portion of her authority to Grace.

After being instructed by You Chen, Grace had already partially relinquished her maid duties and become Ignis's other half.

Grace already had experience in this area, and now that she's taken the lead, she handles her tasks meticulously, naturally earning everyone's recognition and respect.

If in the past the Soul Beasts dared not disrespect Grace because she was the leader's personal maid, now it is because of Grace herself.

You Chen watched the process and nodded slightly.

As things stand, both Ignis and Grace are doing very well, so he has nothing to worry about anymore.

After Grace finished giving her instructions and completed the initial rehearsal, You Chen and the Soul Beasts once again stepped into the Star Dou Great Forest together.

Archaeopteryx was seriously injured, which led to a significant decrease in its mobility and a drastic reduction in its range of activity.

In addition, a week ago, You Chen pointed out the direction, narrowing down the search area for the Soul Beasts. It was impossible not to lose track of the Archaeopteryx for at least a short period of time.

Perhaps because it was injured and not only wary of human soul masters, but also of other soul beasts that came attracted by its scent, the Archaeopteryx flew to the outer circle to rest and recuperate.

however……

Before they reached their destination, an unexpected visitor showed up.

A burly, middle-aged man with a neatly trimmed, thick black beard and dressed in expensive clothes appeared, leading a group of Soul Masters in military uniforms. He said, "Hey, friends, I'm very sorry, but you've come to a halt. We are hunting for Soul Rings. To prevent any conflict that we would like to avoid, please leave."

pat.

The middle-aged man with an air of nobility snapped his fingers, and several Soul Masters in military uniforms emerged carrying a few figures.

After recognizing the familiar faces covered in wounds and with bruises, the Soul Beasts' expressions darkened.

The distinguished-looking middle-aged man ignored this and laughed, "If you gentlemen are willing to cooperate, I will naturally forgive the offense of these children who have mistakenly entered our hunting area."

The matter is already very clear.

Some cunning individuals discovered that the Soul Beasts were inquiring about Archaeopteryx. Instead of acting immediately, they waited until they confirmed that Archaeopteryx had been weakened before attempting to reap the rewards. They even took the Soul Beasts who were tracking Archaeopteryx hostage.

Only a handful of forces are capable of doing this. You Chen sized up the middle-aged man's face and guessed his origins.

Marquis Shanya from the far east of the Star Luo Empire, a top-tier Soul Saint powerhouse who is said to be comparable to a Soul Douluo.

The only person who could command such a figure to guard and protect him, and help him hunt for spirit rings, could be the direct descendant of Prince Antonio, whom the Marquis of Shanya had been trying to curry favor with.

You Chen didn't directly answer Marquis Shanya's question. Instead, he turned to Ignis beside him and said, "This guy is Marquis Shanya. So, the one hunting the Archaeopteryx, wanting to use it as his soul ring, is most likely the eldest son of Prince Antonio, the next Prince Antonio. Conservatively speaking, he possesses at least three top-tier Soul Saint combatants. This is the information I've deduced. Now that you know this information—make your decision, Ignis."

Clearly, even though it concerned his important sixth spirit ring, You Chen still treated it as a test for Ignis.

How should the leadership of a faction choose when faced with threats or conflicts of interest from other major powers?

Compared to the previous minor skirmishes, this is now the real test of whether Ignis is qualified as a leader.

(End of this chapter)