Seeing Wang Chen's figure, the Tianmeng Iceworm was both shocked and terrified, feeling as if its end had come. If it didn't want to die, even though its attributes didn't match, it would have to become the wisdom soul ring of this human powerhouse.
Otherwise, in ten minutes, its life would end due to the heavenly tribulation.
If it fused with Huo Yuhao, that weakling, instead of this human powerhouse, it would be as good as dead.
It didn't believe this human powerhouse wouldn't interrupt its fusion process. Even if it succeeded in fusing, its strength would be greatly reduced, making it even less of a match for this person, who would surely strike a fatal blow.
Not fusing with Huo Yuhao meant death, and fusing with Huo Yuhao also meant death… So, to avoid death, it could only submit to this human powerhouse.
At this moment, it didn't even have the ability to escape. Having just used its ultra-long-distance teleportation, it couldn't use it again for a while due to the immense energy consumption, leaving it quite weakened.
Woe is me, why is my life so bitter? thought the Tianmeng Iceworm. First, it was imprisoned by the ferocious beasts of the Star Dou Forest for ten thousand years. After finally escaping, it was targeted by a human powerhouse.
The Tianmeng Iceworm thought to itself, "This human is truly terrifying. I used ultra-long-distance teleportation, and he still managed to catch up."
Wang Chen looked at the Tianmeng Iceworm, planning to apply pressure to break its psychological defenses.
He now held the absolute advantage. With just a bit of pressure, he didn't believe the cowardly Tianmeng Iceworm would dare to resist him.
After all, for Wang Chen, the worst-case scenario was the Tianmeng Iceworm stubbornly refusing and then dying. Upon its death, Wang Chen could happily obtain its precious shed skin and million-year soul ring.
As for whether he could absorb a million-year soul ring, Wang Chen wasn't certain, so he was willing to be a bit more patient, trying his best to make the Tianmeng Iceworm willingly become his soul ring.
Wang Chen coldly applied pressure, saying, "My patience is running out. I'll ask one last time: are you willing or not?"
As he spoke, he raised the God-Suppressing Spear, its black patterns growing even deeper. Dense spatial power surged on it, making it clear to anyone that he was about to unleash a big move and strike to kill.
Wang Chen's expression was stern, his killing intent palpable. The soul tool armor and the God-Suppressing Spear gleamed coldly under the sunlight, instilling fear.
Seeing Wang Chen about to act, the Tianmeng Iceworm hurriedly surrendered, saying, "I'm willing to become your soul ring!! But let's talk this out—put away that spear first, or it might go off by accident.
If you really kill me, you'll get nothing. Let me tell you the truth: I'm not a 100,000-year soul beast, but a million-year soul beast. If I don't willingly become your soul ring, with your cultivation and physique, you can't possibly absorb my soul ring."
At this moment, Huo Yuhao, hiding behind the Tianmeng Iceworm, went blank upon hearing that it was willing to become Wang Chen's soul ring.
Brother Tianmeng, didn't you just say you'd become my soul ring and train me to become a peerless powerhouse? Why are you now throwing yourself into someone else's arms?
Huo Yuhao felt as if he had lost something incredibly important. His heart clenched painfully, as if someone had gripped it tightly, causing his face to pale.
Originally, when he learned that the million-year soul beast Tianmeng Iceworm would become his soul ring, he was so excited he could soar, believing he finally had hope for revenge.
But now, that hope for revenge was gone, stolen by the cold, armored man holding a spear before him.
Huo Yuhao looked at Wang Chen, wanting to say something, but his throat trembled, and no words came out. He wanted to stop this, but his body felt like a rusted spring, unable to move.
Under Wang Chen's powerful aura, Huo Yuhao didn't even have the right to speak or act. So, he could only turn his gaze to the Tianmeng Iceworm.
He hoped the Tianmeng Iceworm's submission was just a temporary tactic, that it would soon find a chance to escape with him, become his soul ring, and lead him to the peak of life.
However, whatever Huo Yuhao was thinking, the Tianmeng Iceworm naturally didn't know, as its attention was now fully on Wang Chen.
The Tianmeng Iceworm painted a grand picture for Wang Chen, saying, "Although our attributes don't match, and fusing with you will be difficult, I can only reluctantly agree.
After I become your soul ring, I can also grant you a martial soul. In time, with my assistance, you'll surely break through level 100 and become a god."
Hearing that the Tianmeng Iceworm agreed to become his soul ring, Wang Chen was overjoyed. He had traveled thousands of miles from the Sun Moon Empire to the Star Dou Forest, gone through so much effort, and made so many preparations, and now he had finally secured the Tianmeng Iceworm.
Though the process was a bit violent, the result was good.
As long as the Tianmeng Iceworm became his seventh soul ring, his strength would greatly increase. Most importantly, with a second martial soul, by attaching soul rings to it, Wang Chen could quickly reach the peak of the continent, and no one would be able to threaten him anymore.
How could such immense benefits not excite Wang Chen? That he could suppress his joy and not show it on his face was a testament to his composure.
Pretending to be skeptical, Wang Chen said to the Tianmeng Iceworm, "You? A million-year soul beast?"
Seeing Wang Chen's doubtful expression, the Tianmeng Iceworm felt a bit embarrassed. It immediately explained, "Who says a million-year soul beast has to be extremely skilled in combat?"
Then, the Tianmeng Iceworm began recounting its past experiences to Wang Chen, such as how it cultivated to a million years by eating and sleeping, sleeping and eating. It also complained about how the ferocious beasts of the Star Dou Forest cruelly imprisoned it, absorbing its vital energy, and explained what a wisdom soul ring was…
Wang Chen naturally knew all this, but he didn't show it, quietly listening to the Tianmeng Iceworm's ramblings, occasionally asking a question or two.
While Wang Chen and the Tianmeng Iceworm were chatting amicably, Huo Yuhao looked at the Tianmeng Iceworm with aggrieved eyes, tears nearly spilling.
Seriously, Brother Tianmeng, are you actually going to become this guy's soul ring?
Soon, the Tianmeng Iceworm finished explaining everything and learned Wang Chen's name from him.
At this moment, the Tianmeng Iceworm turned to Huo Yuhao, somewhat embarrassed, and said, "Yuhao, uh… we're not compatible. You should forget about me. It's for your own good."
"Brother… Tianmeng…" Huo Yuhao looked at the Tianmeng Iceworm with uneasy eyes, speaking softly, but before he could finish, the Tianmeng Iceworm's leg tapped his forehead. Its vast spiritual power, at the tangible and intangible peak realm, quickly searched Huo Yuhao's memories and erased everything related to itself and Wang Chen.
Clearly, the Tianmeng Iceworm had now sided with Wang Chen. Though it felt a bit guilty and reluctant about Huo Yuhao, to prevent information leaks, it erased his relevant memories.
Huo Yuhao felt his mind go chaotic, accompanied by some pain. Then, his eyes rolled back, and with a thud, he collapsed to the ground, unconscious.
Next, the Tianmeng Iceworm used its spiritual power to envelop Huo Yuhao and flung him far away.
After sending Huo Yuhao away, the Tianmeng Iceworm said to Wang Chen, "Wang Chen, I've erased his memories. Let's go find a secluded place to fuse the soul ring."
Wang Chen gave the Tianmeng Iceworm a deep look and said, "Before we fuse, hand over your soul origin."
One must always guard against others, especially since Wang Chen had forced the Tianmeng Iceworm into submission through brute force, chasing and beating it until it had no choice but to become his soul ring.
Though the Tianmeng Iceworm now claimed to be willing, Wang Chen couldn't be 100% sure it wouldn't play tricks during the fusion process, so precautions were necessary.
As long as the Tianmeng Iceworm handed over its soul origin, its life and death would be in Wang Chen's hands.
If it refused, Wang Chen would never feel secure enough to fuse with it.
Fusing with a million-year soul ring was no joke. Although the Tianmeng Iceworm's soul power had been completely drained by the ferocious beasts of the Star Dou Forest over the past ten thousand years, leaving no soul power in its soul ring, its vast spiritual power at the tangible and intangible peak realm could still cause significant trouble for Wang Chen, whose spiritual power was only at the early tangible and intangible stage, during the fusion process.
Though Wang Chen's spiritual sea was exceptionally resilient and vast due to the Gold of Living Beings, even if the Tianmeng Iceworm tried something, it might not be able to break through his spiritual sea.
But that was no excuse for carelessness. Knowing there was a risk and not taking precautions would be foolish.
Not showing any weaknesses and not giving anyone an opportunity—that was Wang Chen's way of dealing with the world. This applied to the Holy Spirit Cult, and it applied to the Tianmeng Iceworm as well.
As for Huo Yuhao, Wang Chen didn't care. He had neither fondness nor dislike for the original story's protagonist. His mindset wasn't so narrow as to kill Huo Yuhao just because he was the protagonist.
Moreover, with Huo Yuhao losing the Tianmeng Iceworm, his greatest opportunity, he would likely fade into obscurity in the future.
With his golden finger, Wang Chen never feared geniuses or their pursuit of him. Those who fell behind him would only ever gaze at his back until the end of their lives.
Even if Huo Yuhao hadn't lost the Tianmeng Iceworm, Wang Chen wouldn't have taken him seriously.
"What did you say?" The Tianmeng Iceworm's face was full of resistance upon hearing Wang Chen's demand to hand over its soul origin.
The soul origin wasn't something to be casually given up. If it handed it over, it would be like a fish on a cutting board or a worm in a bottle, completely at the mercy of others.
Controlling the soul origin meant controlling its life and death—no small matter.
The Tianmeng Iceworm's small eyes stared at Wang Chen. After a moment of silence, it said, "You don't trust me?"
Wang Chen smiled and said, "Tianmeng, we've only just met. What trust is there to speak of?
You're a powerful million-year soul beast, while I'm just a level-70 soul master. Your age and cultivation far surpass mine.
If you don't hand over your soul origin, I won't feel secure."
The Tianmeng Iceworm cursed inwardly, "Tch, you don't trust me? I don't trust you either! Talking about security—bah. If I hand over my soul origin, getting it back will be near impossible. Wouldn't that mean I'd be completely under Wang Chen's control?"
The Tianmeng Iceworm desperately wanted to give this cunning human a good beating for bullying a worm too far. But considering Wang Chen's strength, it could only give up and start weighing the pros and cons.
Wang Chen remained silent, quietly waiting for the Tianmeng Iceworm to compromise. The conditions between them weren't equal. With its lifespan nearing its end, the Tianmeng Iceworm had to become a wisdom soul ring to survive, while Wang Chen faced no such danger. He could afford to wait; the Tianmeng Iceworm could not.
After a moment of contemplation, feeling its impending doom drawing closer, the Tianmeng Iceworm finally compromised. "Fine, I'll hand over my soul origin. But don't think this means you can control me. I wasn't raised to be scared… And when you become a god in the future, don't forget about me."
Seeing the Tianmeng Iceworm agree to hand over its soul origin, Wang Chen's mood instantly brightened, and he nodded repeatedly.
Little Tianmeng, got you under control.
Wang Chen patted the Tianmeng Iceworm's crystal-clear body. "Don't worry, don't worry. I definitely won't use your soul origin to control you. Our relationship is equal. When I become a god in the future, I won't forget you."
The Tianmeng Iceworm grumbled, "Remember what you said. If you go back on your word, may lightning strike you dead."
Then, reluctantly, it handed over its soul origin to Wang Chen.
Wang Chen carefully stored the Tianmeng Iceworm's soul origin. Then, together, they found a secluded cave. After setting up soul tool barriers and trigger-type attack soul tools around the cave, they began the fusion.
Deep within the cave.
The ten golden rings on the Tianmeng Iceworm's body seemed to come alive, pulsing and quickly enveloping Wang Chen's body.
The Tianmeng Iceworm itself turned into streams of white light, continuously flowing into Wang Chen's body.
Under the Tianmeng Iceworm's active fusion, even though their attributes didn't match, Wang Chen was still able to fuse with it slowly.
As the fusion progressed, the Tianmeng Iceworm's vast spiritual power merged into Wang Chen's spiritual sea.
Unlike Huo Yuhao, a mere soul scholar whose spiritual sea required the Tianmeng Iceworm to seal its spiritual power into ten light clusters to avoid bursting his brain, Wang Chen's spiritual sea, tempered by the Gold of Living Beings, was exceptionally resilient and vast, capable of withstanding all of the Tianmeng Iceworm's spiritual power.
Wang Chen's spiritual power realm rapidly advanced: early tangible and intangible… mid-stage… late-stage… peak.
Finally, it broke through to the tangible and material realm.
As Wang Chen's spiritual power reached the tangible and material realm, his terrifying spiritual power instantly covered every corner within a hundred-mile radius.
…
At the same time, in the Lima Plains, at the Shrek Academy's medicinal herb cultivation base.
Affected by the ripple of Wang Chen's vast spiritual power, the extremely rare medicinal herbs began to wilt.
Yan Shaozhe, the dean of Shrek Academy's Martial Soul Department, and Xian Lin'er, the dean of the Soul Tool Department, who were arguing over the allocation of the herbs, furrowed their brows.
"Who dares to cause trouble on Shrek Academy's territory?"
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