Bai Chen activated the soul tool and released the first soul ring stored inside.
A yellow soul ring slowly floated out.
However, unlike ordinary hundred-year soul rings, this one appeared dimmer in color. A faint layer of black mist drifted across its surface, giving it an ominous aura.
Bai Chen felt no fear.
On the contrary—
the moment the soul ring appeared, a powerful sense of craving rose from the depths of his heart.
His body trembled slightly.
Black wings and a scorpion-like tail hook erupted from behind him as the Dark Demon Evil Tiger martial soul instantly possessed his body.
With a mere thought, the soul ring floated toward him.
Closing his eyes, Bai Chen began absorbing it.
This was the second time he had absorbed a soul ring.
But the sensation was completely different from the first.
The Darkgold Dreadclaw Bear soul ring had contained an energy that was tyrannical and blazing.
The Evil Tiger Shark soul ring, however, felt cold and sinister, like the presence of a venomous snake—something that instinctively filled others with dread.
Yet strangely—
the darker and more sinister the energy felt, the more joy Bai Chen experienced.
It was an almost bloodthirsty excitement, causing his emotions to rise uncontrollably.
Black-red energy surged through his body.
But it did not originate from the Evil Tiger Shark.
Instead—
it was Bai Chen himself instinctively activating his evil attribute, instantly suppressing the energy within the soul ring.
If the Golden-Haired Lion Mastiff martial soul had overwhelmed the Darkgold Dreadclaw Bear through sheer power, then the Dark Demon Evil Tiger suppressed the Evil Tiger Shark through absolute hierarchy.
It was the difference in levels of existence.
Just as Ultimate Ice completely suppressed ordinary ice elements, the evil attribute of the Dark Demon Evil Tiger far surpassed ordinary evil attributes.
In the original description, its power was called "the ultimate evil force."
As a being that inherited the remnant will of the Evil God, it existed on an entirely different level from other evil creatures.
The energy inside the Evil Tiger Shark soul ring attempted to resist.
But resistance was futile.
Before the power of the Dark Demon Evil Tiger, it could only be devoured and absorbed without resistance.
Soon—
a yellow soul ring appeared around Bai Chen.
But strangely, a ring of black patterns coiled around its surface, giving it an eerie appearance.
At that moment, the bottleneck that had restrained him finally shattered.
His soul power began rising at an astonishing rate.
"What—how is this possible?!"
Xue E couldn't help shouting in shock.
As a Soul Emperor, he could clearly sense just how terrifying Bai Chen's growth was.
One level?
Two levels?
Three levels?
None of those.
Bai Chen's growth wasn't that gentle.
The moment the soul ring stabilized, his soul power had already surpassed level eleven entirely.
His current soul power had reached—
Level 20.
Yes.
After absorbing just one soul ring, Bai Chen had instantly reached the threshold to absorb a second soul ring.
Bai Chen opened his eyes and let out a satisfied breath.
Just as I thought.
Back when he awakened his martial soul at the Spirit Pagoda, the reading of "ten" on the soul power measurement device had already seemed strange.
The number had shone far more brightly than normal.
At the time, Bai Chen had suspected something.
Could his Dark Demon Evil Tiger martial soul be similar to the Six-Winged Angel martial soul, possessing innate rank twenty soul power?
The Six-Winged Angel didn't naturally deserve twenty levels of innate soul power.
It was a blessing left behind by the Angel God, a privilege of a god-bestowed martial soul.
Bai Chen's Dark Demon Evil Tiger was also a god-bestowed martial soul.
And not just any god—
It was bestowed by the Evil God King.
If it also possessed innate rank twenty soul power, that wouldn't be strange at all.
"Young Master… this… this…"
Xue E stammered, completely stunned.
For him, someone jumping directly to level twenty after absorbing a single soul ring was something that simply should not exist.
"Shh."
Bai Chen placed a finger against his lips.
He didn't want to publicize the fact that he possessed innate rank twenty soul power.
Seeing the gesture, Xue E immediately came back to his senses.
He quickly covered his mouth and glanced around, only relaxing after confirming that no one had noticed.
Meanwhile, Bai Chen wasted no time.
He immediately began absorbing the second soul ring.
The second soul ring was clearly stronger than the first.
But under the absolute suppression of the Dark Demon Evil Tiger's attribute, it also failed to cause him any trouble.
Before long, its energy was completely devoured.
However, something about the process frightened Bai Chen slightly.
Even after absorbing two soul rings, the evil attribute energy inside him showed no sign of satisfaction.
Instead, it gave him a strange sensation—
hunger.
A restless, gnawing hunger.
Bai Chen forcefully suppressed the feeling, opened his eyes, and stood up.
Two yellow soul rings rotated around his body.
Before the Bai Chen of the Douluo I era had even obtained his first soul ring—
the Bai Chen of the Douluo III era had already become a Great Soul Master.
"Level twenty-two… Young Master, what exactly is going on here?"
After sensing Bai Chen's current soul power, Xue E asked in confusion.
Xu Xiaoyu and Xu Xiaoyan also stared at him curiously.
Earlier they hadn't understood why Xue E had reacted so dramatically.
But when they saw Bai Chen absorb a second soul ring immediately after the first, and succeed, they understood.
Innate full soul power was already considered the mark of a genius.
But innate rank twenty soul power?
What should someone like that even be called?
Seeing no way out, Bai Chen could only improvise an explanation.
"When my martial soul awakened, I had a strange feeling."
"It felt like my innate soul power was more than ten levels."
"It was similar to how I sensed Na'er's presence that day… an indescribable intuition."
"That's why I asked for two soul rings this time."
"I see… is that so…"
Xue E fell silent.
His common sense told him Bai Chen was making things up.
Yet the fact remained—
Bai Chen truly had twenty levels of soul power.
When something that sounded absurd became reality, it became hard to say whether the absurd explanation might also be true.
Xue E felt his thoughts becoming a mess.
Not wanting to linger on the topic, Bai Chen changed the subject.
"Uncle Xue, where have we reached while I was absorbing the soul rings?"
Xue E suppressed the confusion in his heart and answered seriously.
"Young Master, we're approaching the ice-attribute soul beast region."
"Oh?"
Bai Chen's eyes immediately lit up.
"So that means Brother Xiaoyu and Xiaoyan will be going down to fight soon?"
"Yes."
After all, soul cannon shells couldn't be used freely.
If a battle could be handled by soul masters themselves, then it should be resolved that way.
So in the next fight, Xu Xiaoyan would need to deliver the final blow herself in order to obtain the soul ring.
Bai Chen asked eagerly,
"Uncle Xue, I want to go down and fight too."
"I want to test my new soul skills."
Deep inside him, the evil power awakened by the Evil Tiger Shark energy was already stirring restlessly—
almost impossible to suppress.