Douluo: I am the True Master

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Once again, they returned to the vast and majestic sea—a boundless expanse where the water met the sky in a breathtaking display. 

After several days of interaction, Misael had grown close to both Ye Wen and Ah Yin. 

Ye Wen even proposed the idea of establishing trade relations with the mermaid race. Although the mermaids had the Sea Maiden Douluo stationed at the Sea God Island, the resources available from the mainland were still scarce. 

Though the mermaids were half-human and half-spirit beast, they were not savage beasts but intelligent beings with high-level cognition. As such, they also had needs for human goods. 

However, given the generally unfriendly perception of humans among the mermaid race, this situation only made things more challenging. 

Thus, Ye Wen struck an agreement with Misael: he would act as the mermaid race's "white glove" on the mainland to facilitate fair resource exchanges. Furthermore, after obtaining his seventh soul ring, he would allow Misael to return to her tribe. 

As for why it had to wait until after the seventh soul ring—well, that was naturally because he needed Misael's help. 

Compared to the spirit beast resources on the mainland, the ocean, which was hundreds of times larger, housed countless ten-thousand-year-old spirit beasts and even ferocious beasts. However, most of these creatures resided in the perpetually dark depths of the ocean. Unless someone familiar with the deep-sea terrain acted as a guide, ordinary soul masters—even sea soul masters—would be unable to locate these deep-sea ten-thousand-year spirit beasts. 

Although Misael's cultivation level wasn't high, her swimming speed ranked among the best of all marine life. 

If she hadn't been caught in the Mosasaur's attack that day, she wouldn't have fainted on the surface and been "picked up" by Ye Wen. 

"Brother Ye, there's a two-hundred-thousand-year-old spirit beast beneath this stretch of sea," Misael said hesitantly after surfacing from the depths. 

After all, a two-hundred-thousand-year-old ferocious beast was equivalent to a super Douluo at ninety-six or ninety-seven levels. Even within the mermaid race, such beasts were rarely provoked. 

Misael couldn't help but wonder if bringing Ye Wen here was a blessing or a curse. 

However, considering Ye Wen's unique abilities, even if he couldn't defeat the beast, he should at least be able to escape. With this in mind, Misael reluctantly agreed. 

Ye Wen surveyed the surrounding waters. They were clearly in the deep-sea region now, with depths likely reaching two to three thousand meters. 

For someone with thalassophobia, diving here wouldn't reveal the seabed but rather an endless expanse of desolation. 

{T/N: thalassophobia: intense fear of deep water}

"You go ahead and wait with Ah Yin above. I'll see if I can lure out that two-hundred-thousand-year-old ferocious beast." 

With that, Ye Wen retrieved numerous chunks of flesh from his martial soul and scattered them across the surface of the sea. The once deep-blue water was quickly stained red with blood, creating a nauseating sight. 

In an instant, the previously serene sea erupted into chaos. All manner of bizarre-looking sea spirit beasts emerged, fighting over the chunks of flesh. 

"Hiss! So this is the density of spirit beasts in the deep sea—it's no wonder human sea soul masters dare not venture here. Just killing one spirit beast without absorbing its soul ring already invites being swarmed and killed. Isn't that ridiculous?" 

Even with the cultivation level of a Soul Sage, Ye Wen couldn't help but feel a chill run down his spine. 

The spirit beasts, initially competing for food, began attacking each other. Waves of soul skills exploded across the surface, turning what was once a small patch of blood into a much larger, multicolored mess. 

Seeing no sign of the two-hundred-thousand-year-old unknown spirit beast emerging despite the commotion, Ye Wen furrowed his brow. 

It seemed he'd have to use his trump card to lure it out. 

After some deliberation, Ye Wen reluctantly retrieved a jar from his martial soul space. 

This was specially processed taro paste made from the fruit of the Evil Fragrance Taro. Once opened, its scent could drive ordinary spirit beasts mad, as it contained an allure capable of inducing bloodline evolution in spirit beasts. 

To avoid wasting this last remaining sample, a hint of ruthlessness flashed in Ye Wen's eyes. 

"Sixth Soul Skill: Spatial Oscillation—Overclock·Red!" 

(A/N: Referencing Gojo Satoru's Domain Expansion·Red, which unleashes a powerful repulsive force outward. Ye Wen's technique works by colliding two intense molecular movements and using the Void Barrier to unify the direction of the force.) 

Both of Ye Wen's hands were enveloped in transparent spheres of soul power. Instead of immediately throwing them to shatter the air, he continuously compressed them, reducing their size. 

Eventually, the two spheres, originally the size of bowling balls, shrank to the size of ping-pong balls. 

Ye Wen then collided the two highly compressed spheres filled with extreme oscillation energy. In an instant, a massive shockwave erupted from the point of contact. 

Using the fifth soul skill, Void Barrier, Ye Wen directed the shockwave downward into the sea. 

Even the Void Barrier, which could withstand attacks from Title Douluos after Ye Wen's extreme compression and reinforcement, shattered instantly. 

Fortunately, Ye Wen reacted swiftly, activating his fourth soul skill, Inner Void, to enter a semi-ethereal state and avoid self-inflicted damage. 

The explosive force penetrated over a kilometer into the sea, generating waves that reached heights of several kilometers. 

Both Ah Yin and Misael, watching from high above, were stunned by this overwhelming strike. 

However, as the one who unleashed it, Ye Wen didn't fare well. Though he had simulated the technique beforehand using his second soul skill, Simulated Space, he hadn't anticipated the backlash to be so severe. 

It seemed this couldn't be used as a regular finishing move. Not only did it require too much preparation time, but battles between soul masters became increasingly fast-paced at higher levels. Additionally, one misstep could result in self-inflicted injury, making it impractical. 

"Brother Ye's move is incredibly powerful. I now believe he has the ability to hunt that two-hundred-thousand-year-old spirit beast. That strike just now might even be something our clan leader couldn't withstand," Misael exclaimed in awe. 

The previously murky sea had returned to its azure hue, though the air still carried a faint fishy smell. 

After adjusting his condition and waiting half an hour, Ye Wen began sprinkling the specially prepared taro paste from the Evil Fragrance Taro into the water bit by bit. 

As for why he didn't dump it all at once—well, that would be like throwing meat buns to dogs, never to return. After all, beneath the surface weren't just the two-hundred-thousand-year-old ferocious beast but also other marine spirit beasts. If the bait were devoured by a passing spirit beast, it would be a complete waste. 

In fishing terms, this was called "baiting the spot"—a method to attract schools of fish. As the old saying goes, "Muddy waters make for good fishing." 

Moreover, the olfactory senses of aquatic creatures differed from those of humans living in the air; it took time for the scent to spread. 

The allure of the Evil Fragrance Taro to spirit beasts was exactly as Ah Yin had described—it was indeed a heavenly treasure capable of driving spirit beasts into a frenzy. 

Though Douluo was often referred to as the "fantasy sewer," it still adhered to the basic laws of fantasy cultivation. For human soul masters, talent was determined by innate soul power, while for spirit beasts, it was determined by their bloodline. Each bloodline evolution allowed spirit beasts to progress further, which was why they would risk everything for such opportunities. 

Compared to the earlier chunks of flesh, the gathering of spirit beasts this time was far denser, and their battles even more frenzied. 

A thousand-year-old spirit beast that had just swallowed Ye Wen's bait might be devoured whole by a ten-thousand-year-old spirit beast in the next moment, reminding Ye Wen of the absurd ad for "Start with one Kun, cultivation relies entirely on swallowing." 

Given the intensity of the battle, Ye Wen didn't dare get too close. Instead, he observed from a hundred meters above alongside Ah Yin. 

Suddenly, the previously lively spirit beasts froze in place, floating lifelessly on the surface like dead fish.

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