Chapter 9: The Thousand-Year First Soul Ring

Time rewinds to just a few breaths earlier.

A fierce wind whipped through the boy's hair, biting against his skin like needles. Yet, Su Chen did not falter. Instead, he surged forward with greater resolve, racing directly toward the enormous soul beast.

Closer. Closer!

Su Chen inhaled deeply, channeling the last remnants of his chakra into his wrist. He heard Ju Douluo's distant shout, warning him to retreat, but he had no intention of stopping.

His wrist began to glow faintly as chakra flowed through it, illuminating the path to his decisive strike.

On the other side, the Linwu Silkworm's jade-green pupils glinted with a mix of confusion and glee. A human soul master with immense life energy was hurtling straight toward it, giving up any attempt to flee.

Was this prey truly surrendering itself?

"Perfect," the beast thought. "If I devour him, my injuries will heal instantly. I'll recover my strength and escape this forest."

The silkworm's mind flashed briefly to the horrors lurking at the heart of the forest. The shadow of more terrifying soul beasts made it shudder involuntarily. But none of that mattered now. This human's foolish bravery had delivered salvation.

The Linwu Silkworm's gaze grew more predatory as it focused on Su Chen. The boy's life force was like a blazing beacon, calling to it. Still, caution was necessary—humans were cunning creatures.

The beast's emerald pupils narrowed, gleaming with cruelty. Its throat began to glow with a molten yellow light. Then…

"Roar!"

A scorching dragon breath erupted from the silkworm's maw, searing through the air with a roar that echoed like a furious dragon. The sheer heat warped the surrounding atmosphere, creating shimmering waves as it hurtled toward Su Chen.

But Su Chen was prepared.

He inhaled the blistering air sharply and tightened his grip on the fan forming in his hands. Chakra poured into the artifact, and its light blazed brightly. With a mighty swing, he unleashed its power.

"Uchiha Gaeshi!"

BOOM!

A deafening explosion shattered the tranquility of the forest. White light consumed everything in its path, obliterating the Linwu Silkworm's roots and setting the earth ablaze. Amid the beast's anguished screeches, Su Chen crouched behind the fan's broad blade, shielding himself from the violent shockwave.

When the blinding light finally dissipated, silence fell. The soul beast's cries had ceased.

Cautiously, Su Chen peeked out from behind the fan. His surroundings were unrecognizable. The lush forest had been replaced by a massive crater stretching hundreds of meters. The once-vibrant soil was scorched black, utterly barren. Behind him, only a few withered trees remained, barely clinging to life. Above, the shattered canopy revealed a clear blue sky.

In the center of the destruction lay the Linwu Silkworm. Its body had been torn asunder by the force of the explosion. It was unquestionably dead. Above its remains, a glowing purple soul ring began to form, radiating an intense light.

Su Chen exhaled deeply, his gaze falling on the fan in his hand. Its once-vivid surface had dimmed significantly.

The artifact was unmistakable: a white fan with black edges, its handle long and elegant. On its face, three black magatama spun lazily in a circular formation—the unmistakable signature of the Uchiha clan.

The Uchiha Clan's treasure, the Gunbai!

Crafted from the branches of the Sacred Tree, the fan possessed extraordinary abilities. It could amplify fire-based techniques, manipulate wind, and even reflect attacks. In the legends of his past life, Madara Uchiha had used this fan to deflect Naruto's Tailed Beast Ball with ease.

And now, it belonged to Su Chen.

This artifact was the reason he dared to face a soul beast of this level head-on. Though his current strength was far from sufficient to wield the fan effectively, he had prepared for this moment long before his transmigration. Years of meticulous planning and charging the fan with chakra had granted him this singular opportunity.

Placing the fan back into the storage soul guide on his wrist, Su Chen frowned. The soul guide's crude design irritated him.

"The research on soul guides in this world is abysmal," he muttered. "Even this so-called treasure is little better than a child's toy. Communication of soul power is sluggish, and the storage capacity is pitifully small."

If not for his adept control of chakra, the delay in accessing the fan could have cost him his life. It was clear that advancements were needed.

"I'll need to develop storage scrolls and summon techniques as soon as possible," he resolved, pinching his chin thoughtfully. His mind was already racing with possibilities.

Pushing aside his musings, Su Chen turned his attention to the soul ring forming before him. His dark eyes gleamed with excitement.

The battle had been costly, but the reward was immeasurable.

A thousand-year soul ring!

The radiant soul ring hovered silently in the air, its deep purple hue shimmering with an almost sacred light. Su Chen's gaze remained fixed on it, a rare glimmer of satisfaction flashing across his eyes.

"A soul ring like this..." he muttered under his breath, "is unlike anything I've ever seen—even in the records of the original work."

The Linwu Silkworm was truly unique. A plant-type soul beast that carried the aura of a dragon—two forces that should have been irreconcilable, yet here they were, perfectly fused. The energies did not just coexist; they harmonized, creating a pure, undiluted power that defied categorization.

This was precisely what Su Chen had been searching for. His ultimate goal was to find a soul beast with energy either devoid of elemental ties or embodying all elements equally. Such a power could address the potential conflicts between chakra and soul power. The Linwu Silkworm's existence was like a gift sent by fate.

When he observed the injuries on the beast earlier, coupled with the massive energy brewing in its throat, Su Chen had immediately realized it was preparing a final, desperate attack. That moment sparked his bold counterattack.

Now, with the battle over, the result spoke for itself.

"So, you wanted to devour me, huh?" Su Chen chuckled softly, his voice tinged with a wry humor. "Then it's only fair that I take your soul ring in return. Let's call it even."

Without hesitation, he released his soul power, guiding the radiant thousand-year soul ring toward him. The moment it settled around his body, a fierce energy erupted, surging violently through his veins.

"In theory, one should be at least a soul elder to endure the impact of a thousand-year soul ring's residual will," Su Chen thought to himself, his body trembling as if on the verge of breaking apart.

The pain was indescribable. Every fiber of his being felt like it was being torn apart. Malicious intent flooded his consciousness, a venomous hatred trying to overwhelm him.

In the depths of his spiritual sea, a colossal shadow emerged. The Linwu Silkworm's remaining will manifested as an enormous black figure, its roar shaking the very foundation of Su Chen's mind. It loomed over him like an unrelenting storm, ready to devour his soul entirely.

Yet, despite the overwhelming pressure, Su Chen's expression remained calm. He even smirked—mockingly.

"But," he whispered coldly, his voice echoing with an unshakable authority.

In an instant, a majestic figure descended into the spiritual sea, towering above everything like a god made manifest. Its vast white feathers radiated a divine light, and its nine spiraling magatama eyes swirled with an infinite power that was both holy and merciless.

This was no ordinary presence. This was heaven's will itself.

Under its gaze, the Linwu Silkworm's once-massive shadow seemed insignificant—a mere speck in the infinite cosmos.

"Kneel," Su Chen commanded, his voice booming with the weight of a divine decree.

The Linwu Silkworm's will let out one final, desperate roar, but it was futile. Those sacred, spiraling eyes bore into it, and in the next moment, its immense figure disintegrated into nothingness. Wisps of green smoke scattered like dust, leaving behind only silence.

As its consciousness faded into oblivion, the Linwu Silkworm's last thought was filled with bitter regret.

Perhaps I shouldn't have provoked this human... no, this being... He is not human.

In the outside world, Ju Douluo Yue Guan stood frozen in shock. His golden hair fluttered in the faint breeze as he stared at the boy before him.

The moment Su Chen placed the thousand-year soul ring around himself, Yue Guan's heart leapt into his throat. The act was nothing short of suicidal!

"You fool!" Yue Guan bellowed, his voice cracking with panic. "Stop this madness! You'll die!!"

But just as his shout echoed through the forest, Su Chen's eyes opened.

The violent energy had subsided, and a deep purple soul ring now floated serenely around his body, radiating an undeniable power.

The sight silenced Yue Guan instantly, as though someone had clamped a hand over his mouth.

"...What?" he finally managed to choke out, his golden pupils wide with disbelief.

The boy—this strange, otherworldly boy—stood calmly amidst the scorched earth, his white hair glowing faintly under the sunlight. His dark eyes shimmered with an unfathomable depth as he inspected his newly acquired soul ring.

Yue Guan tilted his head slightly, mouth agape, a giant question mark practically hanging over his head.

"What just... happened?"