Douluo Continent: Steadily Growing Stronger in Shrek Academy

Chapter 17 Soul-Devouring Flower

At this moment, Lin Chen was unaware that news of his disappearance had spread throughout the entire second year, and even less aware that his friends had already posted missing person notices throughout Shrek City.

Poseidon Island, Zhang Lexuan's residence

"Dean Yan, what brings you here?" Zhang Lexuan asked Yan Shaozhe with a puzzled look.

Yan Shaozhe skipped the pleasantries and went straight to the point: "Le Xuan, you gave Lin Chen the letter of recommendation, right?"

Zhang Lexuan nodded.

"Did you know that we still haven't heard from him? It's been a month since school started."

Zhang Lexuan was taken aback; she genuinely didn't know. She rarely went out, and even when she did, it was only to carry out missions for the monitoring team. Furthermore, news of Lin Chen's disappearance was only circulating among the second-year students. After all, Shrek Academy had many geniuses; students in other grades didn't have time to inquire about such matters.

Seeing Zhang Lexuan's stunned expression, Yan Shaozhe guessed that she didn't know about this, so he continued, "Before the holiday, his soul power had already reached level 30. He went to the Star Dou Great Forest alone to obtain a soul ring and has not returned since. I suspect that he has died in the mouth of a soul beast."

Zhang Lexuan frowned, pondered for a moment, then held up one finger and said, "One year. Give me a year. I'll go find him. If I can't find him, then I'll consider him dead."

Yan Shaozhe was slightly surprised, but he still nodded and said, "I will protect his status as a core disciple of Shrek Academy's outer court. He is a genius, and his death would be a huge loss to the academy."

Zhang Lexuan nodded: "Thank you, Dean Yan. Please ask you to put in a good word for Elder Mu. I will not be carrying out any missions for the next year."

Yan Shaozhe agreed and left.

After Yan Shaozhe left, Zhang Lexuan stayed alone in the room, feeling a bit feverish.

She didn't know why she made that decision. Maybe it was for Shrek? Maybe it was because she saw her past self? Or maybe it was for some other reason? She didn't know herself.

Shaking her head, Zhang Lexuan picked up some luggage and went out.

Meanwhile, the person Zhang Lexuan was looking for was rushing back to the academy at breakneck speed, without even taking a break at night.

Although he knew he might be expelled, Lin Chen still returned to the academy, even if it meant moving his personal belongings.

Lin Chen planned to walk back to the academy through the Star Dou Great Forest, thus avoiding the need to pass through the city and saving him a lot of complicated procedures and travel expenses.

"Lin Chen, be careful, there's evil energy around here." Qian Renxue suddenly spoke from within her spiritual sea.

Lin Chen nodded. His spiritual power had reached the Soul Emperor level, so his perception was naturally much sharper.

Lin Chen stopped at the foot of a mountain. There happened to be an inn in front of him, so he decided to stay there for the night before continuing his journey.

But the closer Lin Chen got to the hotel, the stronger his unease became.

"Boss, a room and some meat dishes, please," Lin Chen said to the front desk.

"Alright, sir, here's your room key. Please wait a moment for the meat and vegetables." The owner chuckled and left with the gold coins.

Lin Chen also began to look around the gloomy-looking hotel, but everything seemed normal.

In less than five minutes, the owner brought two large bowls of meat to the table in front of Lin Chen. "Freshly cooked, eat it while it's hot."

Lin Chen nodded.

After bringing the meat up, the owner went back to the kitchen to get busy.

Just as he was about to pick up his chopsticks, Lin Chen smelled a nauseating odor coming from the kitchen. So he quickly and quietly crept into the kitchen.

Upon entering the kitchen, Lin Chen nearly vomited. This was no kitchen; it was a slaughterhouse!

The ceiling was covered with bloodied bodies—old people, women, and even children!

"That meat...it's all made from human flesh?!" Lin Chen said in horror.

In his previous life, Lin Chen was just a young man about to enter university. Although he had been hunting soul beasts to make a living for the past few years, this was the first time he had ever seen such a bloody scene.

Qian Renxue angrily exclaimed, "Is this the 'blessing' Tang San brought to the continent? Evil Soul Masters have become this rampant!"

As a former goddess of angels, Qian Renxue naturally loathed evil spirit masters to the extreme, to the point of killing them on sight.

Suddenly, the boss's voice rang out from behind Lin Chen.

"Do you know why my shop has been able to stay open for so many years?"

Before Lin Chen could answer, the boss continued, "That's because countless people pass by and bring me raw materials. I devour their souls, and their bodies make money for me."

"madman!"

"Hahaha, if anyone's going to go crazy, it's this world. Alright, give me some gold coins!" The boss grabbed a large knife and slashed at Lin Chen.

Lin Chen, however, neither dodged nor avoided the attack.

Just as the broadsword struck Lin Chen, Lin Chen's body transformed into a black shadow and disappeared into the ground.

It was Lin Chen's third soul skill: Sword Shadows!

As early as when Lin Chen entered this place, he had already used his third soul skill to create a shadow.

A shadow can be any shape; it can be a sword, or of course, a person.

Lin Chen slowly walked out from the corner, holding the Seven Kill Sword in his hand.

Seeing this, the boss wasn't annoyed and released five spirit rings: yellow, purple, and black.

It was the best spirit ring combination, which made Lin Chen much more serious, because this was the first time he had challenged a spirit king with the best spirit ring combination, and that was an evil spirit master.

Evil Soul Masters are generally much stronger than normal Soul Masters of the same level, and some with exceptional talent can even kill those of higher levels.

Lin Chen also released his spirit ring.

The boss slammed his hand on the ground, and countless roots burst forth from the soil. At the top of the roots were flowers with their mouths wide open.

"A man-eating flower?" Lin Chen had already made up his mind.

As the flowers rushed towards Lin Chen, cries of agony suddenly arose around them, disturbing Lin Chen's concentration.

"No, it's the Soul-Devouring Flower!" Lin Chen finally understood why there were so many bloodied people hanging from the roof.

The second soul skill was released simultaneously with the first soul skill, severing all the vines that rushed towards him.

"Fourth Soul Skill, Soul-Stealing Sorrow!"

Instantly, countless vengeful spirits were spat out from the mouth of the Soul-Devouring Flower and drifted towards Lin Chen.

"Why did you kill me?"

Why didn't you save me?

"It's all your fault, it's all your fault!"

The voices of countless vengeful spirits rang in Lin Chen's ears and even rushed into his spiritual sea.

However, Lin Chen's spiritual power had already reached the Soul Emperor level, and even the Soul King-level boss's spiritual power was no higher than his, so the attacks of these vengeful spirits naturally couldn't affect him. Moreover, a great Buddha resided within his spiritual sea.

"Alright, your Soul-Devouring Flower mainly attacks the mind, right? Your mental strength is inferior to mine, so these attacks are naturally useless against me. Prepare to die! Third Soul Skill, Shadowy Swords!"

Thousands of sword shadows formed a tornado, surrounding the boss. Lin Chen himself hid in the whirlwind, constantly leaving sword marks on the boss's body.

"Damn it, the fifth soul skill..."

The boss tried to make a final stand, but before he could unleash his fifth soul skill, Lin Chen slit his throat with a single sword strike.

After dealing with the boss, Lin Chen finally couldn't hold it in any longer and vomited on the ground.

Lin Chen vomited for a full half hour before finally getting up. Just as he was about to leave, a woman's voice came from behind him: "Young man, please wait!"

(End of this chapter)