At that time, when Electrolux was lured out by Wang Chen, he spoke the grand words, "Holding the sun and moon in the stars, there is no one like me in the world."
Unfortunately, these words had no effect on Wang Chen, who knew Electrolux's background too well.
A demigod remnant soul that could dissipate at any moment; even at his peak, his mental power was only one realm higher than Wang Chen's tangible and substantial level.
Now, reduced to a mere wisp of a remnant soul, without a body or a spiritual sea, it was like water without a source. Without borrowing someone else's mental power, it had little strength.
With Wang Chen's current strength, suppressing this remnant soul wouldn't take much effort. In the original story, Electrolux's remnant soul had to hide cautiously even in front of Mu En, not daring to reveal itself. It was only because Wang Chen was in such poor condition, heavily injured, that Electrolux dared to appear.
After some probing, communication, and bargaining, Electrolux and Wang Chen reached a friendly cooperation.
Wang Chen used a soybean-sized piece of the Metal of Living Beings to help Electrolux stabilize his remnant soul, while Electrolux handed over the spatial key to the undead demiplane, helping Wang Chen overcome his crisis.
Both benefited mutually, got along amicably, and were pleased with the outcome.
Then Wang Chen entered the undead demiplane to evade the pursuit of Shrek Academy's powerhouses.
At this moment, inside the undead demiplane.
As Wang Chen recovered to his peak state and his soul power broke through to level 74.
Not far away, a skeleton holding a staff said, "Wang Chen, congratulations on recovering from your injuries and advancing your cultivation."
Wang Chen put away the defensive and trigger soul tools set up around him to prevent undead creature attacks, smiling, "Haha, mutual congratulations, Old Yi. Your remnant soul is also stabilized, no need to worry about dissipating anymore."
Electrolux's remnant soul, now attached to a skeleton, watched Wang Chen put away the soul tools, thinking darkly to himself, "So young yet with such strength, and meticulous in thought, truly remarkable.
It's a pity that after half a day of interaction, I only got a small piece of the Metal of Living Beings. If I could get a large piece, my memories would surely be fully restored."
Electrolux felt quite regretful, but he didn't consider forcibly taking it. First, his strength didn't allow it; second, it went against his principles. Getting a small piece of the Metal of Living Beings to stabilize his nearly dissipating remnant soul was already a great gain; one shouldn't be too greedy.
Then Electrolux said to Wang Chen, "Wang Chen, your mental power is very strong. Are you interested in learning undead magic? If you want to learn, I can teach you, also leaving a mark of mine in this world."
Wang Chen looked at Electrolux. He had no particular attachment to Electrolux, a highly popular character in the original story. Or rather, all original story characters were the same in Wang Chen's eyes. He neither held baseless hostility nor eagerly offered benefits.
Like the Metal of Living Beings, Electrolux initially wanted a whole piece, but Wang Chen directly refused.
The Metal of Living Beings was extremely important to Wang Chen. Without the vigorous vitality from absorbing it, Wang Chen would likely have died from the ring explosion's impact.
Moreover, as Wang Chen's cultivation grew higher and his physique stronger, his absorption speed of the Metal of Living Beings also increased.
Now, he had absorbed nearly ten percent of a large piece of the Metal of Living Beings.
Given time, once he absorbed all of it, his physique would surely leap forward, perhaps even breaking through to a divine level.
Besides, Wang Chen only asked for access to the undead demiplane to hide, not for Electrolux to cede it to him. Exchanging a soybean-sized piece of the Metal of Living Beings was already enough; how could he give a whole piece to Electrolux?
If not for Wang Chen's cautious nature, fearing Shrek Academy might actually track him down, he wouldn't have sought Electrolux at all.
As for undead magic… Wang Chen had little interest, especially in summoning skeletons, bone dragons, or other undead creatures, which he didn't care about at all.
He had a gap with peak Electrolux, but the gap wasn't large; it wouldn't take long to catch up. Especially now that Wang Chen had begun sensing the power of rules. Once he fully comprehended the Spirit Rule, even peak Electrolux wouldn't be a match.
Whether soul skills or undead magic, their essence was the use of energy and mental power, not much different, all leading to the same goal.
Undead magic could be studied for analogy and inspiration, but diving fully into it was unnecessary. The power of rules was the foundation, the most critical thing. No matter how much one cultivated undead magic, it couldn't compare to even an entry-level understanding of rules. After all, the power of rules was for achieving godhood.
The only magic Wang Chen was somewhat interested in was probably contract magic. Like with the Heavenly Dream Ice Silkworm, directly taking the soul origin was too crude. Learning contract magic would make signing contracts more convenient and gentle.
Wang Chen looked at Electrolux and said, "Old Yi, my path is already set, and undead magic doesn't match it. At most, I'd learn some functional or support-type magic for analogy and inspiration."
Electrolux nodded after listening, saying, "That's true. Your strength, in my original world, would be a top powerhouse. You must have already forged your own path.
Functional and support-type magic isn't very powerful and has low learning difficulty. With your strength and foundation, you could probably master it all in less than two days."
One hour later…
Wang Chen, with the aid of the black book, easily mastered functional and support-type magic like soul contracts.
After learning, Wang Chen smiled and said, "Old Yi, thank you for your teaching. I'll be leaving the undead demiplane soon. What are your plans?"
Electrolux looked at Wang Chen, unable to hide his shock. Such astonishing learning speed; even though these magics weren't highly difficult, this speed was too fast.
Even the most talented magic genius he had seen couldn't compare.
Looking at Wang Chen's youthful figure, Electrolux had a faint intuition that this young man's future was extraordinary, his achievements surely surpassing his own peak.
For a moment, Electrolux felt the excitement of discovering a rare gem, faintly wanting to witness how far this young man could go.
Electrolux said, "I have no kin or friends in this world, quite bored. Wang Chen, I wonder if you'd be willing to let an old man follow you for a while?"
Wang Chen was taken aback by Electrolux's words. He hadn't expected Electrolux to want to follow him, which was beyond his expectations.
After thinking, Wang Chen decided to refuse, at most agreeing to a contact method. After all, he had too many secrets, and Electrolux, a demigod-level powerhouse's remnant soul at his peak, following him might notice something.
Electrolux wasn't like the weak, pitiful, and helpless Heavenly Dream Ice Silkworm, nor was he dim-witted.
Wang Chen tactfully refused, "Old Yi, I have too many enemies and face many dangers; it's better for me to be alone."
Seeing Wang Chen's refusal, Electrolux didn't say more. After all, with the refusal, he couldn't shamelessly insist on following. He was once a demigod-level powerhouse; he still had his pride.
Then Wang Chen and Electrolux agreed on a safe contact method, and Wang Chen turned, striding decisively toward the pale gate connecting to Douluo Continent's Star Dou Great Forest.
Electrolux watched Wang Chen's departing figure, thinking darkly to himself, "Now that my remnant soul is stabilized, no need to worry about dissipating, I can wander around and see how this world differs from my former one."
Star Dou Great Forest outskirts.
A hundred-year wind baboon saw a human man's figure suddenly appear, startled, then bared its teeth and claws, attacking the human.
Wang Chen released his mental power; the tangible and substantial realm mental power directly burst the hundred-year wind baboon into a blood mist.
The surrounding soul beasts, sensing the terrifying mental power, fled in panic.
Wang Chen didn't even glance at the wind baboon, only taking out a map from his storage soul tool, a detailed map of the Douluo Three Kingdoms.
Wang Chen located the Sunset Forest on the map, then determined the direction. With a flash, he was already hundreds of meters away.
Wang Chen's goal was undoubtedly the immortal herbs in the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well of the Sunset Forest.
The last time Wang Chen came to the Douluo Three Kingdoms to watch the soul fighting tournament, he didn't go to the Sunset Forest for immortal herbs mainly because his strength was too weak then.
Let alone taking immortal herbs, he couldn't even break through the poisonous miasma formed by the Jade Phosphor Seven Absolute Flowers outside the Sunset Forest; stepping in would likely make him fertilizer.
Now that his strength had grown, he naturally planned to take all the immortal herbs in the Sunset Forest.
With Wang Chen's current strength, not to mention mere poisonous miasma, even the hundred-thousand-year immortal herb soul beasts in the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, Wang Chen could slap them one by one, easily teaching them a lesson.
While traveling, Wang Chen didn't use a level 9 flying soul tool, only traveling on foot. Using a level 9 flying soul tool in the Douluo Three Kingdoms' territory was too conspicuous; if discovered, it would surely attract trouble.
To avoid trouble, Wang Chen also used a soul tool to create false images, concealing his figure, and headed discreetly toward the Sunset Forest.
During his journey, Wang Chen occasionally encountered soul masters, learning from them that the Douluo Three Kingdoms had sealed their borders, prohibiting all entry and exit.
Shrek Academy led dozens of Title Douluo powerhouses sweeping everywhere.
They killed many evil soul masters causing trouble, and wanted soul masters in hiding were also wiped out, making uninformed continent residents cheer.
These soul masters were unlucky; normally, Shrek Academy and major sects' Title Douluo powerhouses wouldn't bother with these small fries.
But because they couldn't catch Wang Chen, they took out their frustration on them, each dying miserably.
Hearing this news, Wang Chen's lips slightly curved up, thinking darkly to himself, "Shrek Academy really spares no effort, uniting so many Title Douluo powerhouses to pursue me.
Three days ago, if I hadn't hidden in the undead demiplane, it would've been a bit tricky. With too short a time to escape and being heavily injured, my speed wasn't fast; it was indeed quite dangerous.
But now, my injuries are healed, and three days have passed. In the vast sea of people, even a Limit Douluo can't find me.
Once I boost my strength again, on Douluo Continent, no one can threaten my safety."
While Wang Chen headed toward the Sunset Forest.
...
Sun Moon Empire, Mingdu, Imperial Palace.
Emperor Xu Jing, looking at the intelligence sent by the highest border military official, raised his brows, "The Star Luo, Heavenly Soul, and Dou Ling Three Kingdoms are stationing troops at the border, sealing it off. What are they up to? Could they want to start a war with my Sun Moon Empire?
Have they drunk too much? Without a large number of top powerhouses holding the line, what can they use to fight my soul engineer legions?"
Xu Jing didn't want to start a war now, as the Sun Moon Empire wasn't fully prepared and lacked absolute certainty of victory.
Xu Jing thought for a moment, noticing something unusual, "No, something's off. This doesn't look like preparing for war. If it were war, they'd launch an offensive to seize the initiative. Their actions seem more like guarding against my Sun Moon Empire launching an attack."
Xu Jing frowned, then said to his attendant, "Pass my decree: order the border soul engineer legions' soul tool arrays not to attack yet, observe the situation.
Also, have intelligence personnel thoroughly investigate major events in the Douluo Three Kingdoms recently. I want to see this intelligence within three days."
The attendant asked, "Your Majesty, with the border sealed, intelligence may not come through. Should we have turned generals in enemy countries pass messages?"
Xu Jing said indifferently, "I only care about results."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
...
Shrek Academy, cemetery.
With a flash of blood light, the few people scattered around the cemetery all fainted, collapsing to the ground.
Then, Ye Xishui's figure slowly emerged from the blood light.
Three days ago, Ye Xishui's heart suddenly felt empty, as if she had lost something important. Following her intuition, she came to Shrek Academy.
Ye Xishui looked at the tombstone engraved with Yan Shaozhe's name, feeling the bloodline connection from beneath it. Her hands and feet turned cold, her strength drained, and she collapsed to the ground.
After a long while, Ye Xishui tremblingly approached the tombstone, her hands stroking the inscription, lingering for a long, long time…
Until dusk arrived and the sun set, Ye Xishui slowly stood.
The standing Ye Xishui's figure wavered, murmuring, "The descendant of me and Xiaoyao is gone. How could he die, how could he die? Shrek Academy is so safe, and Shaozhe inherited my second martial soul, so outstanding and powerful, how could he die?"
Then, Ye Xishui looked up at the sky, her voice hoarse, "The one who should die most is me. Why take Shaozhe? Who killed Shaozhe!"
At this moment, Ye Xishui's face grew increasingly ferocious, her eyes blood-red, her whole being like a malevolent ghost descending. The cold killing intent from slaughtering hundreds of thousands, combined with boundless blood aura, made the temperature drop to freezing.
"No matter who killed Shaozhe, I will find them and make them never find peace in eternity!"
——————
Half a day later, Sunset Forest.
Wang Chen looked at the sky full of poisonous miasma, thinking darkly to himself, "Immortal herbs, I, Wang Chen, have come!!"
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