Chapter 98: External Soul Bone
Despite everything, this 200,000 year soul beast was indeed a force to be reckoned with. With its incredibly thick skin and strong body, Ye Wen's previous attack powerful enough to pierce nearly a thousand meters of seawater had only managed to gouge a wound in its brain. Indigo blue blood poured out, staining the surrounding waters.
The Multi Eyed Squid Emperor, which had been basking moments before, now flailed all its tentacles in wild pain. The severity of its injury was clear, and that pain soon transformed into a volcanic fury as all of its eyes fixed intently on Ye Wen, sending hundreds of purple beams in his direction.
Ye Wen met the assault without hesitation. Activating his fourth soul skill, Boundary Within, he entered an intangible state and approached the creature rapidly. The Squid Emperor, with its countless years of experience, recognized this type of soul technique, ceasing its beam attack to unleash a brutal soul shockwave instead.
This shockwave, charged with rage and murderous intent, twisted the very space around it. A sharp pain stabbed into Ye Wen's mind, but it wasn't as overwhelming as he had anticipated. Delighted, he realized he had been right his spiritual strength was indeed greater than the Squid Emperor's.
The Squid Emperor, seeing its strongest technique fail, felt an unfamiliar emotion creep in fear. How long had it been since the beast had felt terror? The creature's instinct urged it to flee. It had survived to reach this power level by avoiding conflict; facing a force it couldn't defeat, it prepared to escape.
Yet its enormous body, once a source of pride and power, was now a heavy burden. Unlike dragons, it held no pride in battle; it knew only that survival was paramount. But the same physical size that once allowed it to overpower other creatures now held it back, slowing its retreat.
As it frantically tried to escape by sinking, Ye Wen closed in, plunging down until he was in front of the beast. The sense of impending death washed over the Squid Emperor, who then unleashed its trump card.
A distortion spread around it the Turbid Domain, an ability that twisted the flow of space to confuse its enemies. But Ye Wen's sixth soul skill, Space Shock, matched perfectly against this, and he shattered the domain, ripping through its defenses.
Thanks to his powerful physique, Ye Wen's enhanced Space Shock attack tore new fissures across the Squid Emperor's already bleeding wound. The cracks spread across its body until, after a brief struggle, the creature's body split open.
Yet even with its body torn in two, the 200,000 year old creature clung to life, still attempting to drag itself away.
"Amazing vitality," Ye Wen remarked, watching the struggling soul beast. "Even in this state, it tries to escape. If not for the interference of gods in the Divine Realm, this world would surely be ruled by these soul beasts, and humanity would have no chance of rising."
As these thoughts crossed his mind, Ye Wen acted swiftly, concentrating his soul power in his hand and sending it hurtling toward the exposed brain of the Squid Emperor, delivering a final blow. This soul attack was straightforward simply channeling soul power in a concentrated burst, a technique that could be mastered by deepening one's control over soul force. This strike obliterated what little life remained in the Squid Emperor, leaving its massive form convulsing from its death throes.
The creature's soul ring began to take shape, its red hue marked by two golden lines a sign of its 200,000 year status.
This battle had ended with Ye Wen in complete control, primarily due to the Squid Emperor's lack of experience in fighting humans. Had it used its Turbid Domain immediately, it would have been difficult for Ye Wen to approach it, and the beast's vast soul power could have exhausted him at a distance. But battles have no "what ifs" a single mistake meant total defeat.
Ah Yin and Mishel descended once the fight was over. Mishel's eyes sparkled with admiration, marveling at how Ye Wen, a mere Soul Saint, had managed to take down a beast even her tribe's leader wouldn't dare challenge. Ah Yin, meanwhile, was more bewildered, as she muttered, "So much for 'backing me up.' That 200,000 year beast fell after just a few hits. Is there any limit to his strength?"
After several big attacks, Ye Wen's aura was slightly disrupted, and he took a few breaths to restore his internal balance. Then he turned to Ah Yin, saying, "Ah Yin, please secure the area and help me extract the soul bones. I'm going to start absorbing the soul ring."
A 200,000 year old soul bone was well worth the effort to absorb. If he could first harness the power of the soul bone, his physical attributes would be boosted, preparing him to withstand the energy of the ring. Still, Ye Wen knew the most critical challenge would be a spiritual clash.
Ah Yin extended her hand, conjuring a wide platform made of Blue Silver Emperor vines over the water. Taking his place at the center, Ye Wen began to channel the soul ring toward him.
The overwhelming energy of the ring flooded into him, unlocking the physical limits he had long surpassed. As his body adapted to the energy, he encountered a formidable challenge the powerful will of the Squid Emperor, turning his mind into a battlefield.
The soul of the Multi Eyed Squid Emperor, still intact, unleashed a furious assault on his mental landscape. But rather than counterattack, Ye Wen formed a powerful mental shield, blocking the beast's attacks.
The Squid Emperor's spirit, already weakened by its defeat, was like a ship with no anchor. Ye Wen's unyielding defense wore it down, the creature's strikes weakening with each passing second. When its energy was finally exhausted, Ye Wen struck back, delivering a mental blow that shattered the creature's last remnant.
"Just an animal fighting on instinct," Ye Wen scoffed as the soul ring absorption concluded.
When he finally opened his eyes, a piercing sensation struck his forehead, where a third eye a silvery, vertical one had appeared.
"What…is this?" he murmured.
A new perspective had opened to him, and Ye Wen was momentarily disoriented by this expanded vision.
(End of Chapter)
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