Inside, Queen Medusa was still seated in the corner, eyes closed, trying desperately to break Yao Chen's seal.
Xun'er immediately noticed Ye Chen's arrival and cheerfully threw herself against him.
Medusa heard Xun'er's voice but didn't open her eyes.
Her pale cheeks flushed slightly, and even her breathing rhythm became uneven.
Ye Chen smirked.
He had a good idea what she was thinking.
"System, extract Spirit-Sealing Curse."
A burst of golden light shot into Ye Chen's mind.
In an instant, countless runic patterns filled his consciousness.
When the last trace of gold faded, Ye Chen opened his eyes, comprehension flashing within them.
He gently pushed Xun'er aside, formed several hand seals, and unleashed a golden beam of light.
It shot straight into Queen Medusa's body.
Her eyes snapped open in shock.
But the very next second, ecstasy filled her beautiful features.
"Hahaha! My cultivation… it has returned!"
She lifted her head proudly.
A powerful Dou Emperor aura surged from her body—the peak of her former strength.
Ye Chen narrowed his eyes.
"So activating the curse also broke Yao Chen's old seal…"
But he wasn't worried.
He had already successfully imprinted the Spirit-Sealing Curse onto her soul.
One thought from him could alter her power level instantly.
Medusa reveled in her restored strength for a moment—then her expression turned cold.
Her amethyst eyes flashed with humiliation and hatred.
She didn't dare attack Ye Chen—she had witnessed his Dou Ancestor aura.
Instead, she planned something else:
When Ye Chen left, she would capture Xun'er and use her as leverage.
But just as that thought formed—
"Queen Medusa," Ye Chen said casually, "feels good to have your power back, doesn't it?"
She ignored him.
Ye Chen's smile faded.
"You dare ignore your master? It seems you don't appreciate your strength."
He formed another seal.
Instantly—
Her Dou Emperor aura vanished.
Every ounce of her cultivation disappeared.
"What—?!
Why?!
Why is my power gone again?!"
She stared at Ye Chen in horror.
"What did you do to me?!"
Ye Chen laughed softly.
"From now on, your strength exists only because I allow it. I can return it to you—or take it away—whenever I wish. If you still can't recognize your situation, then forget about ever controlling your power again."
Medusa trembled.
She finally understood the despair of her situation.
---
"System, extract the Small Soul-Origin."
A large transparent sphere appeared before Ye Chen, radiating pure white light.
Both Xun'er and Medusa sensed the soul power and froze in shock.
Ye Chen touched the sphere, feeling its warm, nurturing force.
Then he sat cross-legged, beginning the refinement.
The soul-origin dissolved, flowing into his body through every pore.
His entire mind felt as if it was being gently cradled in a warm womb.
His soul grew rapidly—stronger, sharper, more powerful.
But with the growth came pain.
His forehead throbbed violently; his temples pulsed as though drums were beating beneath his skin.
He persisted.
After an entire day...
BOOM!
A deep explosion echoed inside his mind.
His vision turned white, consciousness trembling.
And the world fell into blinding gold.
Inside Ye Chen's inner world, both Xun'er and Queen Medusa could clearly feel the terrifying change happening within him.
As Ye Chen refined that glowing sphere of Soul Origin, the strength of his soul rapidly climbed to a level neither of them had ever seen.
Xun'er, born of the Ancient Clan, understood more than most.
Many secrets unknown to the continent were familiar to her...yet even she was stunned. Something so precious… how did Ye Chen obtain such a powerful Soul Origin?
Soon, the sharp pain in his head faded away, replaced by a refreshing clarity.
Ye Chen slowly reopened his eyes, and in that moment.....
His soul felt multiple times stronger.
Did I… already reach the Spirit Realm?
He wasn't sure. Even the system hadn't told him how far that reward would take him.
Just as he wondered, Ye Chen sensed something strange...
The world's energy inside his small world suddenly surged, as if drawn by some mysterious force, and rushed straight toward his brow point.
This is… spiritual energy?"
A thrill ran through his heart.
Breaking into Spirit Realm wasn't just about strength.
It required a complete transformation ...and spiritual energy was the key.
Normally, only seventh-grade alchemists could faintly sense this mysterious energy. But now.....Ye Chen could feel its flow as clearly as a river under his skin.