Rise in Douluo Continent with the help of bean buns

As the ice and snow melted and willow buds sprouted along the riverbank, the harsh winter of Tiandou City finally receded.

At Qinghetang's hundred-acre planting base, all the optimized medicinal seedlings have been planted, their tender leaves unfurling in the spring breeze; the production line at the thirty-man workshop is operating stably, orders from fifty-seven exclusive partner pharmacies are being delivered on time, and distribution channels in surrounding towns are steadily expanding.

Everything is on track, and Lin Chen doesn't need to worry too much.

In the quiet room, Lin Chen slowly finished his practice, a faint blue light flashed in his eyes and disappeared, and the warm, grassy aura around him gradually subsided.

Soul Power Level: Peak Level 19

Soul power refinement level: 249%.

The physical body, meridians, and mental energy are all in optimal condition.

The conditions for breaking through level 20 have been met; I can aim for the second ring road at any time.

As Doubao's notification sound faded, Lin Chen lightly flicked his fingers. After nearly three months of suppressing his cultivation level, he had finally honed it to its peak. It was time to hunt for his second spirit ring.

The day before departure, Lin Chen had Doubao do a final, complete simulation.

The optimal solution for the second spirit ring has been confirmed:

Target: 1127-year-old Ghost Vine, a vine plant, related to Blue Silver Grass, with no risk of source pollution.

Corresponding Soul Skill: Life Parasite, possessing three effects: silent lurking, parasitic power theft, and fixed-point imprisonment, perfectly matching the Concealed Edge tactical system.

Hunting route: Ghost Vine Forest on the west side of the secondary core area of ​​Star Dou Great Forest, avoiding the territory of the three thousand-year-old soul beasts, safety factor 87%.

Absorption success rate: 99.2%.

The plan was flawless, with no obvious flaws.

Lin Chen closed the deduction panel, his expression calm. He had been waiting for this step for a long time.

Three days later, the group of five set off on time.

Old Zhao, who was transferred back from Blackstone Town, along with Old Chen, Old Li, and Han Chong, a Soul Master of Agility and Attack who was in charge of reconnaissance, formed a stable lineup of four Soul Masters: two defensive, one offensive, and one agile.

The carriage traveled south along the official road for about ten days before arriving at a town on the outskirts of the Starry Sky Forest.

Upon entering the forest, Old Chen led the way, Han Chong scouted on both sides, Old Li brought up the rear, and Old Zhao protected Lin Chen. The formation was meticulous, proceeding cautiously step by step.

  

Lin Chen walked in the middle of the group, spending most of his time with his eyes closed, conserving his mental energy.

Only when encountering forks in the road or risky areas does the beanbag provide directional guidance through scanning. Along the way, they avoided several waves of ancient soul beast territories and bypassed several sizable soul-hunting teams.

Keep a low profile and avoid trouble; that should always be the first principle.

On the fifth day after entering the Starry Sky, the group finally arrived at their target area—the Ghost Vine Forest.

Tall trees blocked out the sun, and countless dark brown vines hung down and intertwined. A faint, sweet, fishy smell filled the air. The forest was eerily quiet; not even the chirping of insects or the calls of birds could be heard.

[Scan confirmed: There are 7 ancient ghost vines in the area ahead. The best target is located in the center of the forest and is 1127 years old.]

Soul Skill Prediction: Parasitic Seed, Paralyzing Toxin, Vine Strangulation, Root Assault.

The scan of the bean bun was so precise that it revealed details of its age and habits.

The 1127-year-old millennium soul ring is a deep purple, perfectly positioned at the current safe absorption limit, maximizing the strength of the soul skill without causing excessive energy backlash. It is made entirely of vine-derived material, perfectly compatible with the Blue Silver Herb source, leaving no foreign impurities.

"Be careful, everyone. Ghost Vine is good at ambushes, and its parasitic seeds are hard to defend against." Old Chen warned in a deep voice. "Go with the plan. The four of us will go first to wear it down, and then leave it with its last breath for the boss to finish it off."

All four were seasoned Soul Hunters, and naturally understood the implications, so they all nodded in agreement.

The four cautiously made their way into the woods, their feet treading on a thick layer of decaying leaves, even their breathing becoming softer. Scattered on the ground were many withered bones, a testament to the many intruders this forest had claimed.

As they reached the center of the woods, a sudden change occurred.

"Watch out!" Han Chong shouted in a low voice, and quickly retreated.

The ground beneath their feet suddenly exploded, and dozens of pitch-black vines shot out like venomous snakes, whipping fiercely with a pungent, fishy wind. The vines were covered with fine, barbed hairs, gleaming with an eerie green luster, clearly coated with potent poison.

"Third Soul Skill: Stone Shield Barrier!"

Old Chen let out a low roar, and his three spirit rings—yellow, yellow, and purple—lit up in turn. The third spirit ring flashed with purple light, and a thick stone wall rose from the ground, blocking everyone's way.

bang bang bang-

The vines whipped against the stone wall, sending pebbles flying and leaving several fine cracks in the thick stone wall.

"Such powerful force!" Old Chen's expression changed slightly.

"Wind Blade Barrage!" Old Li swung his hands repeatedly, unleashing several cyan wind blades that only left shallow cuts on the vines. The Ghost Vine's outer layer was incredibly resilient, making it difficult for ordinary attacks to inflict effective damage.

The next second, the main trunk of the Ghost Vine slowly rose from the ground, as thick as a bucket, with a glossy black surface and countless vines waving like giant, menacing hands.

The oppressive aura of the thousand-year-old soul beast spread out heavily.

The battle instantly intensified.

Old Chen took the brunt of the damage head-on, his stone shield rising and falling; Old Li moved around from a distance, his wind blades constantly cutting through the vines; Han Chong moved erratically, targeting the weakest points of the vines; Old Zhao seized the opportunity to launch a powerful attack, his fists imbued with earth-elemental soul power as they slammed into the roots of the vines.

The four worked together seamlessly, and for a time they were evenly matched with Oni-ten.

However, the thousand-year-old ghost vine is far more troublesome than an ordinary hundred-year-old soul beast.

Its vines regenerate extremely quickly; if you cut one off, two more will grow back very soon.

Even more troublesome is that it releases parasitic seeds that are almost invisible to the naked eye. These seeds drift with the wind, burrow into the flesh once they touch the skin, and absorb soul power and life force, while also inflicting paralyzing toxins.

As the fight went on, Old Zhao let out a muffled groan, his steps slowing by half a beat. Several parasitic seeds were stuck to his arm, already burrowing into his flesh. A tingling, itchy sensation spread along his arm, and even the flow of his soul power became somewhat sluggish.

"Old Zhao!" Old Chen said urgently.

"I'm fine!" Old Zhao gritted his teeth, trying to force the seed out, but the more the seed moved, the faster it burrowed, and the numbness became stronger.

Just then, Han Chong also let out a low shout, felt a numbness in his leg, and staggered. He had also been hit.

Both Soul Masters were hit by the parasitic seeds one after another, greatly reducing their combat power.

Ghost Vine seized the opportunity and launched a sudden and violent attack. Countless vines swept over the stone shield, which teetered on the brink of collapse and was about to be breached.

"I can't hold on any longer!" Old Chen said, his forehead beaded with sweat and his voice strained.

The situation suddenly became critical.

Just then, Lin Chen, who had been standing at the back without moving, finally moved.

The first spirit ring beneath his feet quietly lit up, so faintly that it almost blended into the light and shadow, and even Old Zhao, who was standing right next to him, did not notice it.

"First Soul Skill: Entangling Life Force"

Several thin, dark green blue-silver grasses, as thin as hair, silently emerged from under the decaying leaves, spreading along the soil to Old Zhao and Han Chong's feet, gently wrapping around their ankles.

A gentle, pure life force flowed slowly into the two people's bodies along the vines.

The previously numb and stiff limbs quickly regained sensation. The parasitic seeds that had burrowed into the flesh were enveloped by the life force and gradually forced out of the body.

The disordered and stagnant soul power within his body also began to flow smoothly again.

"Huh?" Old Zhao was stunned for a moment, then felt a warm current surge up from the soles of his feet, the numbness in his arms quickly subsided, and he felt much more relaxed.

"I can move!" Han Chong exclaimed in surprise.

Both of them assumed that their bodies had withstood the toxins or that the antidote they had taken earlier had worked, and they didn't think it was Lin Chen at all.

Meanwhile, another portion of the slender blue silver grass silently spread to the base of the main root of the ghost vine.

Lin Chen narrowed his eyes, his mind stirring slightly. The other side of the entangled vitality—life suppression—quietly activated. Slender vines wrapped around the nutrient transport nodes of the ghost vine's roots, slowly drawing out its life force while disrupting energy flow.

The movements were extremely stealthy, and the force was controlled very lightly, just enough to weaken its regeneration speed and attack intensity, without making it aware of the clear source of the attack.

Ghost Vine felt its strength suddenly wane, its vines moved slower, and the rate at which broken branches regenerated also decreased significantly. It instinctively became restless, wildly waving its vines, but couldn't pinpoint the problem.

"Now's the time!" Old Chen keenly seized the moment when the Ghost Vine's offensive slowed down, and roared, "Go all out! Leave some breath for the boss!"

The four of them perked up and simultaneously activated their third soul skill.

"A devastating blow!"

"Whirlwind Slash!"

"Earth-Splitting Fist!"

"Shadow Assassin!"

Four soul skills simultaneously struck the main trunk of the Ghost Vine.

With a deafening roar, the shockwave sent decaying leaves flying everywhere. The main trunk of the Ghost Vine was blasted apart, its dark green sap splattering everywhere, and countless vines drooping down, its vitality instantly weakening to the extreme.

It was beaten to the point of near death, yet it still clung to its last breath.

"Master, it's done!" Old Chen shouted in a deep voice. At the same time, the four men spread out to guard the surroundings and prevent the ghost vine from launching a counterattack before it died.

Lin Chen walked forward slowly, his expression calm.

Unseen by anyone, several extremely tiny seed buds had already condensed at his fingertips, silently gathering strength under the cover of the chaotic atmosphere.

He raised his hand, and several parasitic seed buds shot out silently, precisely burrowing into the wounds on the main trunk of the ghost vine, heading straight for its core essence.

The next second, the seed sprouted instantly at the core.

The dense blue silver grass vines proliferated wildly within the ghost vine, instantly shattering its original crystal core and completely extinguishing its last chance of life.

The ghost vine convulsed violently, all its tendrils tensed up abruptly, and then completely collapsed.

A deep purple soul ring slowly emerged from its body, its color rich and carrying the ancient aura unique to thousand-year-old soul beasts, hovering steadily in place.

"It's done!" Old Chen and his three companions were overjoyed.

They assumed Lin Chen had simply used a special technique from his plant-type martial soul to finish things off and didn't think much of it. After all, the Dong family's Blue Silver Herb was extraordinary, so it wasn't surprising that he could do that.

Lin Chen remained calm and silently withdrew all the exposed vine energy.

The assist and kill he just performed consumed nearly 30% of his mental energy, but the effect was excellent. He completed the Soul Hunt smoothly without revealing his true combat strength.

Concealing one's talents and keeping a low profile is not just an empty phrase.

"Let's find a safe place. I need to absorb the soul ring," Lin Chen said calmly.

"Okay, sure!"

The four quickly found a dry, sheltered cave at the edge of the woods, set up warning traps around it, and took turns guarding the cave entrance.

Lin Chen sat cross-legged inside the cave, looking at the purple soul ring floating in front of him.

Its deep purple color and ancient, resilient aura made it several times more powerful than a hundred-year-old soul ring.

"Doubao, initiate absorption guidance."

[Received. The optimal absorption path has been planned, avoiding source pollution throughout the process and maximizing the compatibility of the soul skill.]

Estimated absorption time: three hours.

Expected level increase: 2 levels (Level 20 → Level 22).

Lin Chen took a deep breath and closed his eyes.

Under the pull of his soul power, the purple soul ring slowly fell and enveloped him.

The immense and resilient energy of the vine surged into the dantian along the meridians. For an ordinary level 20 soul master, such violent thousand-year soul ring energy would easily damage the meridians, or even leave hidden injuries.

However, under Doubao's precise guidance, the violent energy was broken down into trickles, flowing along the optimal route to nourish the meridians, condense the soul power, and gradually integrate into the Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul.

Within his dantian, the Blue Silver Grass martial soul trembled violently, its silver-blue patterns lighting up wildly. The original dark green grass leaves deepened in color, the patterns on the leaves became more intricate and detailed, and the life force multiplied. A hidden yet tenacious parasitic characteristic slowly merged into the martial soul's origin.

Beside the first spirit ring, the second purple spirit ring slowly took shape, hovering steadily, perfectly matching the martial soul.

Its level has also steadily climbed.

Level 20... Level 21...

It finally stopped steadily at level 22.

The purity of the Martial Soul's origin has increased by another 1.2 percentage points. Resilience, vitality, and the upper limit of mental control have all been improved.

Three hours later, as dusk fell, Lin Chen slowly opened his eyes.

Beneath his feet, two soul rings, one yellow and one purple, slowly rotated, their light flickering in an orderly fashion.

He became a second-ring Grand Soul Master.

He stood up and stretched his arms and legs.

His entire body was filled with concentrated and abundant power, and his perception range had expanded by nearly 30%. His mental sea was much wider, and the upper limit of his micro-management had directly increased from over three hundred to five hundred.

"Second Soul Skill: Life Parasite"

With a thought, Lin Chen released a few almost invisible tiny seeds from his fingertips, which landed on the cave wall and silently burrowed inside.

Silently lurking, without a trace.

He can activate the seed at any time if he wants, causing vines to grow and bind it, or extract the target's soul power and life force, or even burst forth in an instant to complete a fixed-point imprisonment.

It is covert, ruthless, and highly functional.

It perfectly fits his strategy of concealing his attacking force.

In future battles, he won't even need to take action himself; he only needs to plant parasitic seeds in advance to influence the outcome of the battle at crucial moments.

"Boss, are you ready?" Hearing the noise, Old Chen hurriedly came in.

When he saw the bright purple spirit ring at Lin Chen's feet, a genuine look of joy appeared on his face: "Congratulations, Master! You've advanced to a two-ring Great Spirit Master!"

The three people outside also came in to offer their congratulations, their eyes full of admiration.

In all their years of traveling, they had never seen a genius who could advance to the second ring at the age of nine. Moreover, the absorption of the thousand-year-old soul ring was so smooth, without even a trace of backlash, which was simply unbelievable.

"Pack your things, we're heading back tomorrow," Lin Chen instructed calmly, his expression unchanging.

Advancing to the second ring is just the beginning.

The commercial war in Tiandou City is about to break out, and the plan for the third spirit ring has been put on the agenda.

His journey is still long.

Outside the cave, the setting sun pierced through the vines and leaves, casting dappled light and shadow.

The boy stood in the light and shadow, his two soul rings flickering, his temperament even more gentle and peaceful than before. Like a tree with deeper roots, he was calm and reserved, yet harbored a more vigorous and resilient vitality.