allendalepharm Chapter 66: Massacre
Chapter 66: Massacre
Outside the Ascension Platform, in the monitoring hall.
The entire process of Yu Chen and his three companions hunting down the Millennium Crystal Bear was clearly presented on several large screens.
"They...they actually...killed a thousand-year-old crystal bear?!"
"That teamwork, that execution... is this really a team of two-ring Soul Masters?"
"Especially Yu Chen, that last move... how did his speed suddenly become so terrifying? And those claws..."
Several staff members of the Spirit Pagoda gathered in front of the screen, their faces filled with shock and disbelief.
The Millennium Crystal Bear was an absolute overlord in the primary Spirit Ascension Platform, yet it was dealt with so cleanly and efficiently by four teenagers.
"Yu Chen... he's so strong it's despair-inducing." Wang Jinxi, who had already woken up but was still a little pale, looked at the screen and said with a bitter smile.
"I admit defeat to him wholeheartedly." Zhang Yangzi sighed, completely abandoning any thought of competing with him.
However, Wu Changkong, the homeroom teacher, frowned almost imperceptibly as he watched Tang Wulin and the other two absorbing spiritual energy on the screen, as well as Yu Chen standing guard on the side.
In his eyes, the victory in this battle was almost 80% due to Yu Chen's extraordinary strength and incredible burst speed (the effect of Time Zero appears extremely fast to outsiders).
While Tang Wulin's restraint, Xie Xie's enticement, and Gu Yue's cover certainly played their roles, they did not experience real pressure during the decisive killing phase, nor did they demonstrate their ability to independently confront powerful enemies.
With someone like Yu Chen, a true pillar of strength, around, they can hardly comprehend the realities of life-or-death crises and the hardships of independent combat. Flowers in a greenhouse cannot withstand the storms of life.
Wu Changkong's mind raced. "It seems necessary to temporarily separate Yu Chen from the others in the upcoming combat exercises, letting the three of them face some real challenges on their own."
Having made up his mind, his slightly furrowed brows slowly relaxed.
……
Inside the Ascension Platform, Gu Yue and the other two were intently absorbing the abundant spiritual energy. Yu Chen, arms crossed, warily surveyed the increasingly dark forest around them.
Suddenly, his eyes sharpened, his golden pupils lit up, and his sharp gaze shot into the depths of the dense forest on his left.
"Shh...shh..."
An unsettling scraping sound and a low whimpering grew louder as a series of lithe, dark blue figures slowly emerged from the shadows around them.
The glints of light were the eyes of the wolf pack. There were at least twenty or thirty of them, their steps steady, subtly forming an encirclement.
After getting a clear look at the wolf pack, Yu Chen's expression became even more serious.
The lead blue wolf was exceptionally robust, with a shoulder height of over two meters. Its eyes shone with ferocity, and its body surged with powerful wind-attribute soul power fluctuations—this was a Blue Wind Wolf King with over five hundred years of cultivation!
In addition, there were four century-old Azure Wind Wolves in the pack that were noticeably larger than ordinary Azure Wolves, while the rest were ordinary members with decades of cultivation.
If he were at his peak, Yu Chen was confident that he could use his speed and strength to fight back, and even defeat them one by one, while protecting the three people behind him.
But at this moment, after a series of intense battles, especially the use of Time Zero and Dragon Transformation, his soul power and physical strength were greatly depleted, and his mental power was also feeling fatigued. He could no longer activate "Word Spirit" for a short period of time.
Without the absolute speed advantage of "time zero," facing such a cunning and numerous wolf pack, and also having to protect three immobile companions... the situation is tricky.
We must seize the initiative!
Yu Chen took a deep breath, his golden pupils shining brightly. An ancient and majestic dragon's might, originating from the depths of his bloodline, mixed with his own killing intent, spread outwards like a tangible wave!
The wolf pack's momentum clearly stalled, and many ordinary blue wolves showed fear in their eyes, whimpering as they retreated.
Even the few hundred-year-old Azure Wind Wolves and the wolf king became much more cautious, watching Yu Chen warily and letting out threatening growls.
However, the rich spiritual energy that Gu Yue and the other two were absorbing, which originated from the Millennium Crystal Bear, had a fatal attraction for soul beasts.
The wolf king, in particular, stared greedily at the aura of spiritual energy. Although it was wary of Yu Chen's dragon might, the allure of the spiritual energy outweighed its fear.
It let out a long howl, and the wolf pack gradually calmed down, slowly tightening their encirclement, refusing to retreat.
We can't wait any longer; we must take the initiative to break the deadlock!
A cold glint flashed in Yu Chen's eyes; he knew the intimidation had reached its limit. He suddenly lunged forward, his target the two closest ordinary blue wolves on his flank!
The dragon claw reappears, swift as lightning!
"Pfft! Pfft!" Sharp claws slashed precisely across the throats, and the two blue wolves died before they even had a chance to scream.
But the wolf pack's attack was instantly detonated!
"Awooo—!"
At the Wolf King's command, more than a dozen semi-transparent, sharp-edged wind blades shot out from different angles, sealing off all of Yu Chen's evasive space. Several wind blades even passed over him and went straight for Gu Yue and the other two behind him!
"These beasts are really cunning. It seems we have no choice but to use that trick."
Dragonification connects to the brain, and bloodlust replaces thought.
Yu Chen's cheeks were covered with dragon scales, his golden eyes shone brightly, and power surged through his body once again under the influence of his raging blood.
……
After an unknown amount of time, the three of them awoke one after another from their deep meditation.
Tang Wulin felt warm all over, his soul power was full, but he also felt a bit bloated in various parts of his body, as if he had just enjoyed a big energy meal.
He opened his eyes, but the sight before him stunned him.
He, Gu Yue, and Xie Xie were all surrounded by an extremely dense yellow aura—clearly pure spiritual energy swirling around them and being slowly absorbed by their bodies.
But how could the spiritual power of just one thousand-year-old crystal bear be so enormous, with even more lingering around it after they had absorbed it all?
"How can there be so much spiritual energy?"
Tang Wulin stood up in confusion and looked around. The first thing that caught his eye was the energy traces of the crystal bear, but then he was so shocked by the scene in the wider area around him that he was speechless.
Centered on the spot where the three of them were meditating, within a radius of several dozen meters, there were at least twenty or thirty corpses of soul beasts lying haphazardly!
Blue Wind Wolves, Iron-Armed Apes, Ghost Tigers, Spotted Cats... there were many kinds, but their deaths were surprisingly consistent—either they were cleanly decapitated, or they were cleaved in two by some terrifying weapon, their blood soaking the decaying leaves on the ground, and the air filled with a strong smell of blood.
In the very center of this "corpse defense line," Yu Chen was sitting cross-legged.
He casually propped his cheek up with one hand, his expression carrying a hint of post-battle languor, his gaze calmly fixed on the three awakened individuals.
However, his condition made Tang Wulin's heart tighten.
Yu Chen's cheeks, neck, and even his bare wrists were covered with a layer of fine, dark black dragon scales, and his hands were in the shape of ferocious dragon claws.
Those iconic golden eyes still shone brightly, but upon closer inspection, a weariness that was hard to conceal was revealed deep within them.
Meanwhile, rumors circulated that the Spirit Tower monitoring center was in an uproar.
"Is this...is this child a monster?! Is he really just a two-ring Grand Soul Master?!"
A young staff member pointed at the screen, his voice trembling. On the screen, the scene of Yu Chen, after transforming into a dragon, standing alone around the three of them, and slaying dozens of invading soul beasts one by one was fully recorded by multiple camera angles.
"The Azure Wind Wolf Pack, the Iron-Armed Ape Pack, and that three-hundred-year-old Ghost Tiger... all wiped out!"
Another experienced operator kept switching between screens, his face filled with disbelief.
"His fighting style... those claws, and that explosive speed, it's simply unlike a normal second-ring Soul Master!"
"What's most terrifying is his composure," a middle-aged man who appeared to be a manager said in a deep voice, staring at Yu Chen's scaly profile.
"In that situation of being surrounded, every step was precise and efficient. This combat instinct... it's like being a born killing machine."
They witnessed first using the dragon's might to intimidate, then taking the initiative with thunderous methods to kill wave after wave of soul beasts attracted by spiritual power, and forcibly building a defensive line with the corpses of the soul beasts.
Such a one-sided massacre is extremely rare even in the historical records of the Primary Ascension Platform.
"Could this be considered cheating?" someone muttered quietly.
"Cheating?" The supervisor shook his head. "All his actions were within the rules, relying entirely on his own ability. I can only say... this student named Yu Chen's ability is seriously 'overpowered'."
"But thankfully... it's finally stopped."
The supervisor wiped the cold sweat from his brow. He was worried not only about the safety of the students, but also about another issue—the depletion of spiritual energy at the Ascension Platform.
The absorbed spiritual energy needs to be maintained at a corresponding cost.
Yu Chen's "monster-slaying" hunt resulted in Tang Wulin and his companions absorbing far more spiritual energy than normal.
While it wasn't unaffordable, such unusual consumption would require him to submit a report to explain if it attracted the attention of his superiors.
"Record this: Yu Chen, Class Zero, Donghai Academy. He is suspected of possessing a top-tier physical martial soul or a special bloodline. His combat ability assessment... far surpasses that of his peers. It is recommended to pay close attention to him."
The supervisor gave the order, his gaze returning to the boy on the screen, his eyes filled with a complex expression.
……