Chapter 96 Advancing to Soul King and Obtaining a Soul Ring
"Haha, alright, alright, I won't tease you anymore. Let's just focus on cultivating."
Ye Chen laughed heartily, sensing it was time to change the subject.
He gently lifted the soft, flustered Wang Dong from the bed, pulling her into his arms to calm her down.
Her face was so red that steam seemed ready to rise from her head. If he kept pushing her, she might actually overheat.
Their relationship had clearly crossed that subtle line. Even if Wang Dong still refused to acknowledge them as a couple, they both knew what they meant to each other.
"Hmph, at least you know how to behave…"
Resting her chin on his shoulder, she muttered softly, half‑pouting, half‑content.
After all, she truly liked him—she just didn't know how to say it aloud.
…
After resting a short while, the two began cultivating together.
Because of their newfound closeness, their resonance reached new heights—their joint cultivation speed skyrocketed to fifty‑fold.
Wang Dong's cultivation surged, breaking through from level 27 to level 28 in one go.
Ye Chen also advanced, reaching level 46.
After all, he had been mid‑45 after his last session with Ma Xiaotao, so the breakthrough came swiftly.
"I‑I advanced again!" Wang Dong exclaimed in joy, feeling the powerful energy coursing within her body.
Even though it wasn't her first time experiencing his accelerated cultivation method, each session's incredible growth filled her with delight.
The only downside was that Ye Chen had advanced too…
"How do you keep leveling up like this? Isn't growth supposed to slow past the Soul Elder stage?" she asked in disbelief, frustration pouting her lips.
At this rate, she'd never catch up! Would she spend her whole life beneath him, forever unable to surpass him?
"Just lucky, I guess," Ye Chen shrugged, though the grin on his face betrayed his satisfaction.
Still, he had to admit—her speed was slower compared to Ma Xiaotao's.
He somewhat missed that hundred‑fold cultivation speed.
If his relationship with Ma Xiaotao grew deeper, perhaps he could even reach two hundred‑fold…
Then again, one hundred‑fold was probably the limit. The concentration of ambient spirit energy simply wasn't high enough to support more.
Unless they cultivated beside the Golden Tree, of course—its immense spiritual density might allow him to break past that barrier.
But that would risk exposing his Resonance talent. And they definitely couldn't practice "embrace cultivation" there with so many eyes watching.
Aside from that sacred zone, the Star Dou Forest and the Ice‑Fire Well offered the richest spiritual energy.
He mused that when he grew stronger, he might camp there someday—dual purpose: training and leisure.
"Ugh!"
Wang Dong grabbed her pillow and punched it in frustration, clearly sulking again.
"What's all that grumbling about? Come here and step on me."
Ye Chen's lazy voice drifted from the side.
She turned her head—he was already lying face‑down on the bed, shirt off, clearly waiting for his "massage."
Her annoyance spiked.
"Hurry up~" he urged impatiently.
Even without stockings, those small, warm feet would still be adorable. He wasn't picky.
"Hmph, you annoying jerk."
Still, Wang Dong climbed onto the bed, stood lightly on his back, and began stepping down hard, venting all her irritation.
Unsurprisingly, Ye Chen soon drifted off in comfort.
Wang Dong: …
…
A month passed in the blink of an eye.
Ye Chen's level reached 50—the threshold of a Soul King.
Despite spending much of that month lazing around and tinkering with soul tools, the progress came entirely thanks to his Resonance talent.
He was now a level‑4 Soul Engineer, though crafting or using level‑5 tools was still difficult at his current cultivation. He'd decided to hold off on making new devices until he finished advancing properly.
This month's system sign‑ins mostly rewarded small attribute boosts, with two exceptional talents:
[Spirit Furnace: Mental energy permanently increases by 10 points daily (no limit).]
[Critical Strike: Each attack has 50% chance to deal 200% damage.]
Even though the rewards weren't flashy, the cumulative stat gains dramatically enhanced his overall combat power.
With his breakthrough complete, he immediately headed for the Soul Tool Department—he needed Xian Lin'er's help to obtain his new soul ring.
Having spent half his time there recently, their relationship had deepened considerably. Though it hadn't quite changed in nature yet… it was close.
Arriving at the lab, he found it empty.
"Hmm—probably in her office."
Muttering to himself, he headed toward the main teaching building.
As department dean, Xian Lin'er had plenty of administrative duties besides research, so she often worked from her office on the top floor.
Ye Chen summoned his Aurora Phantom and, in the blink of an eye, soared straight to the upper level.
After his modifications, the device had evolved into a level‑4 Soul Tool—fast and efficient.
Reaching the top, he approached her office door, sensing her familiar energy signature inside through his sharp spiritual perception.
He knocked lightly.
"Come in," her calm voice called.
Click.
Ye Chen pushed the door open.
"What is i—" she began, then blinked in surprise. "Xiao Chen? What brings you here?"
Her expression softened with joy as she stood.
Work often exhausted her, but every time she saw him, fatigue evaporated instantly.
Ye Chen had become an inseparable part of her daily life—his presence alone brightened her mood.
And whenever he left, she felt an odd emptiness she couldn't explain.
Not that she minded; this routine had its own kind of sweetness.
"I missed you, Teacher~"
Ye Chen grinned playfully and stepped forward to embrace her, inhaling her familiar fragrance.
"Mhm~ Teacher missed you too~"
Xian Lin'er smiled gently, wrapping her arms around him as well, content just to breathe him in for a moment.
After a few seconds, Ye Chen released her, scratching his head in mild embarrassment. "Teacher, actually… I came because I need your help with something."
"What is it?"
At once, her expression turned serious. She guided him to the sofa, taking his hand with gentle concern.
"Did something go wrong with your cultivation? Tell me everything. No matter what it is, Teacher will help you."
(END CHAPTER)
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