Douluo Continent: The Ruler of Time, Reigning Supreme

Chapter 18 The Fiercest and Most Vicious Monster
Yin Chen was well aware that the fact that his martial soul was not picky about its element and could forcibly convert its soul skills into time-related attributes was too astonishing and had to be concealed.

Moreover, he hadn't reached the level of trust he had with Xu Jiujiu and Manyi yet, and besides, the two of them were genuinely looking out for him.

So he stopped insisting and obediently nodded:

"I understand. Thank you, Your Highness and Senior Manyi, for considering my case."

Seeing that Yin Chen understood, Manyi casually waved her hand, and the starlight chains that bound Feng Bei quietly disappeared.

Freed from its restraints, the wind jackal let out a low growl of fear, not daring to even look back. With a burst of strength, it transformed into a streak of green and darted into the dense bushes without looking back, disappearing without a trace in a few leaps.

This move did not surprise Yin Chen.

In this era where the number of spirit beasts has decreased significantly compared to ten thousand years ago, any spirit master or force with some foresight understands the principle of sustainable utilization.

Unless it is a spirit ring that one truly needs, one will not easily kill spirit beasts.

Like Manyi, releasing a spirit beast after subduing it because its spirit ring doesn't meet her needs is a common practice in the spirit master world, a practice with a protective connotation.

"Let's continue exploring."

Manyi said calmly, as if she had just casually shooed away an annoying mosquito.

"You should be able to find a more suitable target on the outskirts of the mixed zone."

The three continued their journey deeper into the Star Dou Great Forest.

While Yin Chen, Xu Jiujiu, and Nebula Douluo Manyi continued their search for suitable hundred-year-old soul beasts in the Star Dou Great Forest, far away in the other end of the Sun Moon Empire's Demon Forest, Xia Die was about to obtain her first soul ring.

The headquarters of the Holy Spirit Cult is located in the underground Netherworld City.

After personally examining Xia Die's physical condition, Death God Douluo Ye Xishui's deep eyes flashed with satisfaction.

She could sense that Xia Die's body was far more resilient and vital than that of an ordinary human child, and that her flowing pale golden blood contained a vast and unique energy.

"Your body is strong enough to withstand the impact of a thousand-year-old soul ring."

Ye Xishui's tone was calm, yet it carried an undeniable determination.

"The first spirit ring will be the Thousand-Year Scarlet Nightmare."

"My subordinate is here."

Scarlet Douluo Feiyan immediately bowed in response.

"Take her to hunt a suitable thousand-year-old death-attribute soul beast."

Ye Xishui gave the order, and then her gaze fell on Xia Die, carrying an almost cold expectation.

"Remember, this is the first real test of your talent and bloodline. If you can withstand it, you will be qualified to inherit my mantle. If you cannot withstand it... then you are a piece of trash, unworthy to live in this world. It's better to be free sooner."

Her words were devoid of any warmth, perfectly illustrating the law of the jungle.

In her view, if someone with such exceptional advantages cannot even surpass the first soul ring in a thousand years, then their so-called potential is nothing but a mirage and not worth investing more resources in.

Xia Die felt a chill in her heart, but maintained a calm demeanor on her face.

She knew very well that in a place like the Holy Spirit Cult, compassion and tolerance were luxuries; strength and value were the only passports. She did not refute, but simply replied respectfully, "Yes, Master."

Fei Yan accepted the order and led Xia Die away from the gloomy underground headquarters, stepping once again into that demonic forest with its distorted light and eerie atmosphere.

Just after the two figures disappeared at the end of the passage leading to the ground, a blurry black shadow, as if blending into the darkness itself, silently appeared beside Ye Xishui.

The light and shadow coalesced, transforming into an old man dressed in a simple black robe, with an ancient face and eyes that held a gentle warmth born of experience and a hint of weariness.

It was another pillar of the Holy Spirit Cult, Dragon Emperor Douluo, Long Xiaoyao.

He gazed in the direction where Xia Die and Fei Yan had left, his brows furrowing almost imperceptibly, his voice low and carrying a hint of disapproval:

“Xi Shui, setting the first soul ring to be a thousand years... isn’t that too harsh? Although that child has a special physique, he is still young and his soul power foundation is still shallow. Absorbing a soul ring above his level is extremely risky. If he is not careful, his meridians will be shattered and his soul will be damaged.”

Ye Xishui did not turn around; her exquisite profile appeared exceptionally cold in the dim light.

She scoffed, her tone carrying an all-knowing coldness and... fanaticism:
“Strict? Xiaoyao, you’ve misjudged her. That girl is not as innocent and naive as she appears. Her true nature… I can sense it. It’s an extremely dangerous aura hidden beneath her exquisite exterior, like a bewitching flower blooming on the edge of an abyss—beautiful, yet feeding on death.”

She slowly turned around and looked at Long Xiaoyao, a chilling light flickering in her deep eyes:
"And I, on the contrary, like this kind of danger. That's why I'm going to put even more effort into nurturing her. Do you understand? I'm not nurturing a genius disciple. I'm forging—forging an unprecedented monster, the fiercest, most vicious, and strongest monster."

Her voice gradually rose, carrying a kind of obsessive excitement:

"How could a conventional, lukewarm approach to nurturing such a 'monster' possibly succeed? We must use the most extreme methods to push her to the brink, squeeze out every bit of her potential, and let her comprehend the essence of power on the edge of life and death. The first soul ring in a thousand years? Ha, this is just the beginning, a trivial appetizer."

Long Xiaoyao looked at the familiar yet strangely crazed light in Ye Xishui's eyes and fell silent.

How could he not see that the little girl named Xia Die was no ordinary person? Even he felt that what was hidden beneath those calm purple eyes was something unfathomable.

He sighed inwardly, having a vague premonition that Ye Xishui might actually unleash a terrifying existence that even they couldn't fully control.

But he didn't say anything more.

He never opposes Ye Xishui's decisions, nor is he capable of doing so.

The long years and complex emotional entanglements had long since led him to choose to silently protect.

He was old and tired. He didn't really care what the future of the world would be like, or what kind of "monsters" would stir up trouble.

His only wish was to stay by her side in the little time he had left, to repay the debt he could never repay.

"It's up to you..."

Long Xiaoyao could only shake his head helplessly in the end, his figure slowly merging into the surrounding shadows once again, leaving only a barely audible sigh echoing in the empty hall.

"I only hope that you... will not play with fire and get burned."

Ye Xishui was not surprised by Long Xiaoyao's concession. She turned her gaze back to the distance, as if she could see through the thick rock layers and see the ongoing soul hunt.

A smile, full of both expectation and cruelty, curved at the corners of her lips.

A monster? She looked forward to this monster tearing off its disguise and revealing its ferocious claws to the world as soon as possible.

(End of this chapter)