Chapter 306: Chapter 306: The Crisis Arrives

However, Ye Xuan’s Soul Power had already reached the Peak of Fourth Grade. Consuming Tier Three soul beads had little effect on him. Only Tier Four soul beads could further refine his Soul Power. As for breaking through from the Fourth Grade to the Fifth, only a Tier Five soul bead would suffice.

’I can’t believe soul beads actually exist here. If I can find a Tier Five Soul Beast, I might be able to break my Soul Power directly through to the Fifth Grade. Even if I have to settle for a Tier Four Soul Beast, it will bring my Soul Power closer to Fourth Grade Perfection, laying a solid foundation for breaking through to the Fifth Grade.’

Ye Xuan’s heart pounded with excitement. No treasure could thrill him more than one that could directly increase his strength. Moreover, soul beads were incredibly rare. Even in the Profound Domain, they were considered supreme treasures—so priceless they were virtually impossible to buy.

If he could collect some soul beads, he could sell them for a high price anywhere on the continent.

「Thousands of miles from Ye Xuan, within the Sealed Land.」

Luan Hong and his two companions stared excitedly at the black bead in their hands.

"A soul bead! This has to be a soul bead! I once read about them in an ancient tome in the sect. In ancient times, there was a race of Soul Beasts on the Celestial Profound Continent that could produce soul beads. These beads can directly increase a Soul Refiner’s Soul Power."

Luan Hong’s eyes were bloodshot, and he was excited beyond words.

"Something this good... we have to collect more of them."

"Let’s go!"

The three of them shot forward.

Meanwhile, in other places...

"What are these black beads? They can actually increase our Soul Power! We have to find more. We might be able to make a breakthrough with our Soul Power right here."

All the experts who had entered the Sealed Land now knew the properties of the soul beads. Each one was thrilled beyond belief and frantically began their search.

Although this mysterious space contained no secret manuals or Profound Treasures, these soul beads that could directly enhance Soul Power were, for Soul Refiners like them, undoubtedly a heaven-defying item more valuable than any other treasure.

Besides the human experts, a golden figure was also soaring through the dark space.

It moved with incredible speed. Wherever it passed, the Soul Beasts on the ground roared and howled in fury.

"These mindless wretches."

Jin Lin glanced disdainfully at the Soul Beasts below. With a single stomp of its hoof—BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!—the dozen or so Soul Beasts below all exploded. Black streams of light shot out in all directions, only to be frozen in mid-air, completely immobile.

CRUNCH, CRUNCH.

Jin Lin popped the black soul beads into its mouth and began to chew.

"Mmm, it’s been a long time since I’ve tasted soul beads. Still as good as ever." A look of satisfaction flashed in its golden eyes, but it was quickly replaced by fury. "That damn bastard, where did he run off to?"

Its nose twitched rapidly, and then its eyes lit up.

"That bastard’s scent is in this direction. He entered the Sealed Land. Let’s see you run this time."

A hint of mockery flashed in Jin Lin’s eyes as it transformed into a streak of golden light and vanished over the horizon.

Ye Xuan was apparently unaware that he was now being targeted by Jin Lin, still busy searching for Soul Beasts.

However, along the way, they had only managed to kill some Tier Three Soul Beasts. They had only taken down two or three Tier Four Soul Beasts.

Just those two or three Tier Four Soul Beasts were enough to push Ye Xuan’s Soul Power from the Peak of Fourth Grade to Fourth Grade Perfection. Ye Xuan could clearly feel that all his Soul Power needed was the right trigger to break through to the Fifth Grade.

But finding that trigger would be difficult. After all, his current cultivation was only at the First Layer of Tier Four, still some distance from Tier Five. If his Soul Power cultivation advanced too quickly, far exceeding his Martial Artist rank, it wouldn’t be a good thing.

As for Xia Qixi and Yun Aoxue, after consuming a large number of soul beads, their Soul Power had both increased astonishingly.

Yun Aoxue broke through directly from the Second Grade to the Third Grade, even reaching the Mid-Third Grade.

Xia Qixi, who was originally at Early-Third Grade Soul Power, had now reached the Late-Third Grade, not far from the Peak of Third Grade.

Both women were overwhelmed. This rate of improvement was simply too fast, so fast that it even frightened them a little. In the outside world, this kind of progress would have taken them several years of bitter cultivation.

But here, they had achieved it in just a day or two. It was almost too much for them to comprehend.

Ye Xuan also felt a little worried. ’He had already felt somewhat powerless when facing Tier Four Soul Beasts. If he really encountered a Tier Five Soul Beast, did he truly have any hope of defeating it?’

’After all, Soul Beasts were different from Demon Beasts and Profound Beasts. Their forms were very unusual, and normal attacks were completely useless against them.’

But lured by the temptation of breaking through to Fifth Grade Soul Power, Ye Xuan pressed on without hesitation. After all, a true expert rarely shrinks from an opportunity. To do so would be to resign oneself to a life of mediocrity.

Ever since entering the Sealed Land, Ye Xuan had been able to faintly sense an inexplicable power intermittently pulsing from the far reaches of his vision. He wasn’t the only one; Yun Aoxue and Xia Qixi could feel it too.

After traveling for some time, the three of them saw it: a hazy pillar of light shot up into the sky in the distance, illuminating the entire Sealed Land. The power was emanating from that pillar of light.

Thus, the direction they headed was toward the pillar of light.

As the three of them flew onward, Ye Xuan suddenly came to a halt. Not far away, in a mountain hollow, lay a dark Soul Beast whose entire body seemed to be wreathed in black flames. It exuded a terrifying aura.

Surrounding this Soul Beast were over a dozen slightly weaker Soul Beasts, like subjects gathered around their king.

"This aura... it’s a Tier Five Soul Beast."

Ye Xuan’s eyes immediately lit up.

The Soul Beast in the center was definitely a Tier Five existence.

"You two, fall back a bit. Don’t come near here in a little while," Ye Xuan warned Yun Aoxue and Xia Qixi.

Facing a Tier Five Soul Beast, even Ye Xuan was a little nervous. Once the fight started, he definitely wouldn’t be able to look after the two of them.

"We..."

Yun Aoxue and Xia Qixi opened their mouths, but they couldn’t bring themselves to say the rest. Although their strength had increased significantly in the Floating Light Secret Realm, it was undeniable that when faced with real danger, they would still be a burden to Ye Xuan.

The two silently retreated to the side, clasping their hands nervously.

Ye Xuan nodded and crept forward, his brow furrowing slightly as he observed the dozen-plus Soul Beasts in the hollow.

’If it was just the Tier Five Soul Beast, he could try various methods. But with so many other Soul Beasts around, he had to come up with a viable plan.’

’I’ve got it!’

A glint flashed in Ye Xuan’s eyes.

SWISH! SWISH! SWISH!

Three streaks of light shot out, striking the three Soul Beasts farthest away.

ROAR!

The three Soul Beasts were immediately startled by Ye Xuan. Their heads swiveled around until they finally spotted him nearby, and they charged over menacingly.

Ye Xuan was positioned at a perfect angle where only those three Soul Beasts could see him. As they charged, he immediately hid in a corner behind the hollow.

From this corner, not only could the other Soul Beasts not see him, but even Yun Aoxue and Xia Qixi couldn’t observe what was happening.

After he had set his ambush, the three furious Soul Beasts appeared in his line of sight.

"Zhenyuan Stone!"

Ye Xuan didn’t hesitate, directly deploying the Profound Treasure, the Zhenyuan Stone. He had used the Chaotic Heaven and Earth Grinding Disc in a previous battle and knew that while Profound Treasures weren’t lethal to Soul Beasts, they could suppress them to a certain degree.

Under the suppression of the Zhenyuan Stone, two of the Soul Beasts were immediately immobilized.

"Devouring Martial Soul!"

Then, Ye Xuan fiercely activated his Devouring Martial Soul and slammed it down on the last Soul Beast.

BOOM!

The Soul Beast’s head immediately shattered, and a soul bead shot out, which Ye Xuan snatched from the air.

’Such a powerful counter-effect.’

’Ye Xuan was both surprised and delighted. Previously, he had always used his Earth Martial Soul, and he had struggled against Tier Four Soul Beasts. This was the first time he had used his Devouring Martial Soul, and as expected, it was far more effective. At full power, a Tier Four Soul Beast couldn’t even withstand a single blow from him.’

Ye Xuan repeated the process, finishing off the next two Soul Beasts one by one.

Then, Ye Xuan put away the Zhenyuan Stone and returned to the hollow to lure more Soul Beasts.

From a distance, Yun Aoxue and Xia Qixi were watching Ye Xuan’s every move. When they saw him lure three Soul Beasts away and disappear into the hollow, they were both nervous and worried. Now, seeing him re-emerge so quickly, they were completely stunned.

’How much time had passed? A dozen breaths, perhaps? The three Soul Beasts were nowhere to be seen. Without a doubt, Ye Xuan had finished them.’

But those were three Tier Four Soul Beasts! For Ye Xuan to have killed them so quickly... The two women exchanged a look, and as shock washed over them, their hearts swelled with tumultuous emotions.

Using the same method, a quarter of an hour later, Ye Xuan had finished off all the dozen or so weaker Soul Beasts.

While luring the last two Soul Beasts, Ye Xuan finally alerted the Tier Five Soul Beast, but by this point, he no longer cared.

After quickly killing the two weaker Soul Beasts, Ye Xuan brought the Zhenyuan Stone crashing down directly on the Tier Five Soul Beast’s head.

With a loud THUD, the Tier Five Soul Beast was struck dizzy, its body swaying.

’It worked!’

’Ye Xuan was ecstatic. He had been worried the Zhenyuan Stone wouldn’t be as effective against a Tier Five Soul Beast, but it seemed he had overthought things.’

WHOOSH!

With the Zhenyuan Stone suppressing it, Ye Xuan swiftly lunged forward, activating his Devouring Martial Soul and striking a palm toward the Tier Five Soul Beast’s head.

The suppressed Tier Five Soul Beast thrashed its body, roaring furiously. The instant Ye Xuan lunged, it suddenly snapped its head up.

HUM!

An invisible, bizarre ripple silently spread from its eyes, instantly enveloping Ye Xuan’s body.

’This is bad,’ Ye Xuan thought in alarm.

The next moment, his mind spun, his vision went black, and he abruptly lost consciousness.

An unknown amount of time passed...

"Hahaha! Ye Xiaoyao, you’ve walked right into my trap. Did you really think you’d leave here alive?"

A booming voice echoed through Ye Xuan’s mind, jolting him awake.