Chapter 13: Chapter 13: The final chance for forgiveness
Perhaps there were secrets hidden beneath the surface, but to Ghost Douluo, they paled in comparison to Su Chen himself.
"It seems our plans need to be adjusted ahead of schedule," Ghost Douluo said, his tone grave. "A Linwu Silkworm—a soul beast that hasn't appeared in thousands of years—showing up on the outskirts of the Star Dou Forest? Something's changed here, something we're not yet aware of."
Linwu Silkworm? Is that the source of my first soul ring?
Su Chen's curiosity was piqued. Still, now was hardly the time to ask. He decided to investigate the matter himself once they returned to the Spirit Hall. Besides, after his display of strength, it was almost certain he would have an audience with the Pope.
"No problem," Ju Douluo replied, nodding firmly.
Though his thoughts were still in turmoil, he understood the gravity of the situation. Su Chen had shown such monstrous talent; ensuring his safe return to the Douluo Hall of the Spirit Hall was now their top priority.
With their course set, the three made haste back to the designated gathering point. Once there, Ju Douluo and Ghost Douluo instructed Su Chen to stay put and not wander off, before departing hurriedly to handle other matters.
As Su Chen waited, faint fluctuations of soul power reached him—someone nearby was absorbing their soul ring. Though subtle, the ripple was unmistakable to his sharpened senses.
Before acquiring his own soul ring, such disturbances had been imperceptible. But now, with his heightened awareness, even these faint signals were clear.
It seems obtaining a soul ring has had quite the impact on me.
Shaking his head, Su Chen refocused, letting his thoughts drift back to his plans.
Resources, Influence and Power.
These three were essential. And the first step toward securing them was to ensure his abilities caught the attention of the Spirit Hall's upper echelon. His earlier display in front of Ju Douluo and Ghost Douluo had been deliberate—an effort to reveal just enough of his potential.
If one wanted to wield influence, one had to demonstrate value. And to Su Chen, there was no one more important to impress other than Bibi Dong herself.
The youngest Pope in the Spirit Hall's history, Bibi Dong had not only consolidated its power but elevated its strength to unparalleled heights. Her strategic brilliance and raw strength placed her among the continent's most formidable figures. If not for the halo of destiny favoring Tang San, she would have achieved everything she desired.
For Su Chen, partnering with a figure as shrewd as Bibi Dong was key. He had no interest in wasting time on fools.
He smirked at the thought, recalling how, in another world, his first act upon forging a partnership with Orochimaru was severing ties with Danzo completely.
Bibi Dong, however, had weaknesses. And in some ways, they were refreshingly straightforward.
Good. That simplifies things.
After all, their goals didn't clash in any meaningful way. In fact, their ambitions aligned more often than not.
The rustling of bushes snapped Su Chen out of his reverie. Turning toward the noise, he spotted someone emerge, shoving branches aside with exaggerated force.
"Hahaha! I'm back!"
The boisterous figure was none other than Yan, his arrival accompanied by a laugh brimming with self-satisfaction.
But as Yan's gaze landed on Su Chen, his laughter faltered. The bravado drained from his face, replaced by an involuntary twitch as his shoulders tensed. A heartbeat later, though, he seemed to remember himself. Puffing out his chest, he straightened his back and wore an expression of forced confidence.
"Hey, you!" Yan called, hands on his hips and a condescending smirk on his face. "You got your first soul ring too, didn't you? Let's see if you've got the guts to challenge me!"
This child…
Su Chen sighed inwardly, finding the entire display tedious. He closed his eyes, ignoring Yan entirely, and returned to contemplating his long-term plans.
Tang San should have just begun his journey, which meant Su Chen had about a decade to prepare. However, his current body was still young—too young to accomplish much independently. Even if he managed to gain Bibi Dong's trust, his age would limit his ability to act openly. For now, he could only work from the shadows, employing subterfuge and patience.
Six years old… It's a frustrating handicap.
For Su Chen to stand before the Spirit Hall as a figure of influence, he would need to be at least twelve or thirteen years old. The thought gave him a slight headache, but he knew he had no choice but to endure.
"What's wrong, coward? You don't dare? I knew it—you're nothing but a spineless weakling!"
Frustrated by Su Chen's indifference, Yan stomped closer. His temper flared, and without waiting for a response, he released his martial spirit.
The towering Flame Lord manifested behind him, cloaked in searing magma. Its intense heat rippled outward, forcing the air to shimmer. A single yellow soul ring circled its form, radiating a commanding aura.
Yan pointed a finger at Su Chen, his expression full of defiance.
"Fight me! Show me what you've got!"
Su Chen opened his eyes slowly, his gaze meeting Yan's with an air of calm indifference.
This fool doesn't know what he's asking for.
"Did you see it? This is a hundred-year soul ring," Yan declared arrogantly, his expression a blend of mockery and pride.
"As long as you kneel down, apologize, and admit you're a coward, I might let you go. Otherwise..."
He paused dramatically, his grin widening. "I'll let you taste the power of a hundred-year soul skill!"
The white-haired boy, Su Chen, was mid-thought when Yan's grating voice interrupted him. He frowned, his dark eyes narrowing coldly.
"Get out," Su Chen spat, his tone as sharp as a blade.
The chill in his voice struck Yan like a freezing gust of wind. The same icy gaze Su Chen had shown before reappeared, and for a moment, Yan instinctively staggered backward, fear gripping his chest. Yet, as he faltered, his ears caught the faint voices of Xie Yue and Hu Liena approaching.
A spark of defiance ignited in Yan's heart. If he could defeat Su Chen here, wouldn't Hu Liena see him in a new light? Bolstered by his desperate desire to impress her, he gritted his teeth and took a step forward despite his fear.
"You dare threaten me?" Yan growled.
But before he could finish his thought, a boom echoed through the forest. Su Chen had vanished from sight, leaving only a gust of displaced air in his wake.
In the blink of an eye, Su Chen reappeared directly before Yan, his right hand raised. A sphere of azure light, dense with soul power, began to coalesce within his palm. The overwhelming pressure from the light ball froze Yan in place. The dark, murderous intent in Su Chen's gaze enveloped him like a suffocating storm.
The air around Yan grew colder as terror consumed him. In his mind, one thought echoed louder than any other: I'm going to die. I'm going to die. I'm going to die!
In a last-ditch effort to survive, Yan's instincts kicked in. The yellow glow of his hundred-year soul ring flared brilliantly, and he screamed, "Hell Magma Rush!"
Blazing red magma erupted from Yan's flame lord martial spirit, surging upward in a desperate attack against Su Chen's azure sphere. The heat distorted the air, the magma's glow casting ominous shadows across the forest.
The commotion reached the ears of Xie Yue, Hu Liena, and several others who had just arrived. Their expressions shifted from confusion to shock as they watched the magma rush straight toward Su Chen.
"Su Chen!" Hu Liena shouted in alarm, her voice tinged with panic.
Xie Yue's brow furrowed as he prepared to intervene, but before either of them could react, an astonishing sight unfolded.
The magma wave, so fierce and overwhelming, collided with Su Chen's azure sphere. For less than a second, the flames raged—but then the sphere pulsed. The blazing magma didn't just fail to overpower it; it disintegrated entirely, vanishing as though it had never existed.
What remained was Su Chen, his azure sphere shining brightly in his palm, an embodiment of untouchable power.
With a deafening roar, the energy in Su Chen's hand erupted, sending shockwaves rippling through the area. Smoke and dust filled the air as the ground trembled beneath their feet. Grass and dirt were torn asunder, leaving behind a jagged spiral crater where the battle had taken place.
In the blink of an eye, Ju Douluo and Ghost Douluo appeared. The Titled Douluos swiftly waved their hands, dispersing the smoke with gusts of wind created by their soul power.
When the scene cleared, Yan was revealed at the center of the devastation. His legs trembled uncontrollably, and his complexion was as pale as death. Cold sweat dripped down his face, pooling beneath him as he stood in a daze, unable to process what had just happened.
Su Chen's voice broke the silence, calm yet laced with unmistakable menace. "This is the last time I'll spare you. Do it again, and you won't be leaving here alive."
With that, Su Chen lowered his right hand, the azure light dissipating into the air. He turned away without another glance at Yan, walking back to his spot and sitting down. He didn't want unnecessary trouble, but his patience had limits.
He was holding back—for now. It was a show of respect to Ju Douluo, Ghost Douluo, and, most importantly, Bibi Dong. But his message had been clear: he wasn't someone to be trifled with.
Ju Douluo shook his head, his expression a mix of exasperation and understanding. "I knew it. How could this kid be so blind? Yan has potential, sure, but Su Chen... he's one of a kind."
Ghost Douluo nodded solemnly. "Yan is lucky Su Chen didn't truly lose his temper. If he had..." He didn't finish the sentence, but the implication hung heavily in the air.
"Xie Yue, help Yan up. I doubt he can walk on his own after that." Ju Douluo turned to Xie Yue, only to find the young man frozen in place, his gaze locked on Su Chen.
Xie Yue muttered, his voice hoarse with disbelief, "A thousand-year soul ring... for a first soul ring?"
His words sent another wave of shock through the group. The faint purple hue of Su Chen's dissipating soul ring lingered in their minds, a symbol of the impossible.
Hu Liena's mouth hung slightly open as she tried to process what she had seen. She and another girl exchanged glances, their faces pale. The sheer magnitude of Su Chen's power had left them stunned, rendering them unable to speak.