Douluo Continent: The Ruler of Time, Reigning Supreme

Chapter 39 Netherworld Tiger
Xu Jiawei's words were deeply imprinted in Xu Jiujiu's heart.

She understood that for a gem like Yin Chen, his future achievements were limitless.

If he is only supported by the resources and protection currently provided, he may be grateful and serve the empire for a period of time. However, this bond is fragile and may break once a greater temptation arises or he grows to the point where he is no longer afraid of constraints.

But feelings cultivated from childhood are different.

When he was still young and had not yet fully shown his talents, she intervened in his life as an older sister, cared about his growth, shared his joys and sorrows, and subtly made him get used to her presence, and regard each other as trustworthy and reliable family members.

This emotional connection built during the growth process is far purer than an exchange of benefits, and it is also more reassuring.

She is investing in the future, and emotions are the best guarantee to ensure that this investment yields the richest and most stable returns.

Therefore, her concern for Yin Chen stemmed from both political foresight and her recognition of Yin Chen himself.

Watching him grow step by step and become more and more outstanding, she was indeed filled with joy and a sense of accomplishment.

As the carriage drove away from the academy, he leaned back in the soft seat for a long time, recalling Yin Chen's superhuman spirit ring configuration and those two outrageous spirit skills, and a satisfied smile appeared on his lips.

Deep within the Demon Forest, all was silent; even the sound of decaying leaves peeling away seemed particularly jarring.

The air was thick with the stench of death, so dense it was almost tangible, and the oppressive atmosphere made it hard to breathe.

In a clearing in the woods, an unequal hunt is drawing to a close.

A colossal creature, a Netherworld Tiger with a cultivation level of nearly 15,000 years, was emitting a desperate and silent roar.

It was enormous, with ominous dark purple fur, and its body was shrouded in a tangible resentment. Its tiger eyes burned with pale flames of the soul.

This creature, once a fearsome apex predator on the outskirts of the Demon Forest, was now like a flying insect caught in a spider's web, bound tightly to its spot by countless fine, yet incredibly strong, scarlet threads.

These scarlet threads were not physical entities, but rather formed from pure spiritual and soul power. They precisely wrapped around the Netherworld Tiger's joints and throat, rendering it unable to mobilize even a trace of soul power. Its massive body remained frozen in place, maintaining its pouncing posture, with only its pale tiger eyes burning with overwhelming rage and fear.

Not far behind the soul beast, the gothic lolita-dressed Scarlet Nightmare stood quietly. Her scarlet eyes were devoid of any emotion. She simply raised one small hand casually, her five fingers slightly spread, as if she were manipulating invisible strings.

For her, a level 97 Super Douluo, subduing a ten-thousand-year-old soul beast was no different from playing with a real doll.

"That's enough, Holy Maiden."

Fei Yan's voice had a hint of childlike innocence, making it exceptionally clear in the deathly silent forest.

As soon as the words were spoken, Xia Die, who had been standing quietly by the sidelines, stirred.

She wore a purple and white dress, and her long silver hair shimmered in the dim light.

Facing the completely imprisoned Netherworld Tiger, her face remained expressionless, her amethyst-like eyes as calm as a deep pool.

A strangely shaped, enormous scythe, formed entirely of dark purple death energy, silently appeared in her hand—it was her first soul skill, "Styx Death Scythe".

Without the slightest hesitation, she lunged forward, her Styx Death Scythe drawing a cold arc that precisely sliced ​​across the Netherworld Tiger's throat.

There was no violent collision, no overflowing energy.

As the scythe passed, a thin, purple wound exuding a dense aura of death appeared on the Netherworld Tiger's neck.

No blood flowed from the wound, but the power of death instantly eroded its life force, extinguishing its burning soul fire. The Netherworld Tiger's massive body convulsed violently, its pale pupils dimmed completely, and the resentment surrounding it collapsed abruptly as if it had lost its support.

Scarlet Nightmare withdrew the crimson threads at just the right moment.

The Styx Death Scythe in Xia Die's hand also vanished.

Without even glancing at the lifeless corpse of the soul beast, she walked straight to the side and sat down cross-legged.

A deep black soul ring emerged from the corpse of the Netherworld Ghost Tiger, carrying the immense energy and fierce resentment unique to ten-thousand-year-old soul beasts, and was slowly drawn towards her.

The moment the ten-thousand-year-old soul ring enveloped her, a massive amount of energy surged into her body like a burst dam.

Her petite body trembled slightly, and faint golden lines appeared on her skin, which were the manifestation of her golden bloodline when it was impacted.

At the same time, two dazzling purple soul rings appeared behind her on their own, slowly pulsating around her body.

First spirit ring, purple!

Second spirit ring, purple!

An eight-year-old child surrounded by two thousand-year-old soul rings is a sight that is enough to overturn the common sense of the soul master world.

At this moment, she is trying to accommodate a third soul ring, which is a ten-thousand-year-level soul ring.

Terrifying energy and spiritual resentment surged through her body, attempting to tear her meridians and erode her soul.

But Xia Die's meridians, as if forged from the toughest alloy, remained unshaken, supported by the bloodline of the Golden Descendants.

The mental resentment that was enough to drive a Soul Master of the same level mad was like waves crashing against rocks, futilely dissipating as it impacted her spiritual sea, which had been tempered by the "Ruling of Death" Martial Soul.

Throughout the entire process, Xia Die didn't even frown once.

Time passed quietly. When the third deep black soul ring stabilized completely, standing alongside the previous two soul rings and emitting a heart-palpitating light, Xia Die's soul power fluctuations suddenly broke through the bottleneck and stabilized at level thirty-three.

Purple, purple, black.

Three dazzling spirit rings hovered behind an eight-year-old girl. This illogical scene was filled with ultimate beauty and unspeakable shock.

Even Fei Yan, who had personally orchestrated this event, couldn't hide the astonishment and complex emotions that flashed across her crimson eyes as she looked at the unimaginable scene before her.

In just two years, this little girl, who was taken in as a disciple by the Supreme Master, has soared from level 13, when she just obtained her first spirit ring, to level 33.

Excluding the level increase from absorbing a spirit ring of a higher level, she increased her spirit power by an average of seven levels per year.

What a terrifying cultivation speed!
Fei Yan knew very well that Xia Die had never practiced the evil arts of the Holy Spirit Cult that devoured life and soul.

What she relied on was entirely her special bloodline, her extraordinary talent, and her innate affinity for and control over the laws of death.

What the Holy Spirit Cult provides is nothing more than mountains of top-tier resources and the most brutal combat environment.

(End of this chapter)