"Now can we have a proper talk?"
"Of course, Great Overlord, please ask. I will tell you everything I know."
"Good that you are sensible!"
Seeing Yan Shen's docile appearance, Ye Yun smiled faintly.
"Great Overlord, you want the power of Yan Shen Star, I can cooperate fully."
"Oh, you're quite eager."
Ye Yun's eyes changed. This old fellow seemed obedient, but he was still playing tricks.
For he had seen through the true nature of Yan Shen Star, which was the power of Zhu Rong. Yet, this old fellow was still trying to use Yan Shen's power as a guise. This was rather dishonest.
"I don't even look favorably upon the power of Yan Shen."
"Ah?"
Yan Shen trembled slightly. He already sensed that this junior was not simple at all.
"Great Overlord, the power of the Star Soul is not as simple as you imagine. It is far more potent than ordinary strange fires."
"Heh heh, what this Lord wants is the power of Zhu Rong!"
As soon as these words were uttered, Yan Shen's entire body trembled.
The power of Zhu Rong was the very foundation of Yan Shen Star. How could he possibly hand it over?
"You wish to deceive this Lord, to exchange the power of Yan Shen for the right to retain the power of Zhu Rong? Unfortunately, how could I be a foolish person? Yan Shen, hand over the Soul of Zhu Rong immediately!"
"You can actually sense the Soul of Zhu Rong? Are you truly the destined one?"
"Of course, can your meager abilities fathom this Lord's heavenly fortune?"
Ye Yun pointed his Human Emperor Brush, and instantly, a seal appeared above Yan Shen's head.
"If you don't cooperate, do not blame this Lord for being ruthless!"
"This..."
"Hmm?"
Ye Yun's eyes changed. The Human Emperor's mark of destiny made Yan Shen instantly feel the risk of his spirit and form being annihilated.
"I'll hand it over!"
"You should have done so earlier!"
Ye Yun put away the Human Emperor Brush and observed Yan Shen's actions.
A red light flickered at the center of Yan Shen's brow, and then, the star core of Yan Shen Star gradually took shape.
The formidable power of the star core made Ye Yun instantly sense the power of Zhu Rong within this core.
"This is the true Yan Shen."
Ye Yun circulated his innate divine power, infusing it into the star core. The Soul of Zhu Rong gradually emerged.
"Great Overlord, this Soul of Zhu Rong is not something that can be easily tamed. The rest is up to you."
"You don't need to worry about this. Just watch the show."
Ye Yun used the Earth Emperor Book to seal Yan Shen's range of movement and began to absorb the Soul of Zhu Rong.
"Star Body Undying!"
He soared into the sky and plunged into the star core alone.
Instantly, a sea of fire appeared before his eyes, like a scene from hell.
At the center of the sea of fire, a soul pulsed with light, controlling everything.
"Only by enduring my fiery trial can you obtain the Soul of Zhu Rong!"
"Hahaha, since this Lord has come here, what is there to fear? Bring it on!"
Ye Yun circulated his Star Body Undying technique and sat cross-legged in the void.
The Soul of Zhu Rong unleashed its innate divine power, and instantly, streams of flames surged towards Ye Yun.
The power of these flames was completely different from what Yan Shen had used before. Their purity and might were beyond measure.
And this was exactly what Ye Yun needed.
"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!"
The endless flames transformed into various ancient fierce beasts, charging towards Ye Yun maniacally.
As they approached within ten Zhang of Ye Yun, the first line of defense – the Crystal Wall – activated.
"Crack, crack, crack!"
But in an instant, the Crystal Wall shattered like paper.
"These meager abilities are meant to block the power of Zhu Rong? Ridiculous!"
"This is just the beginning. You are too impatient."
"Hahaha, this Lord is the Ancient Yan God. Your soul will only become my food!"
"Then let's try!"
Ye Yun smiled faintly, activating his innate divine power to the fullest. At the same time, above the void, the Primordial Taiji Seal activated.
A deafening roar shook all directions. The Heaven-Covering Array, fused with the Taiji Seal, was unleashed.
"Primordial Taiji Seal, it has an origin!"
Upon seeing this Primordial Taiji Seal, the Soul of Zhu Rong was astonished.
"A primordial divine treasure, surprised, aren't you?"
"So what? Can it block my power of Zhu Rong?"
The Soul of Zhu Rong unleashed its might, summoning countless fierce beasts that lunged towards the Heaven-Covering Array from all directions.
Roaring sounds continuously emanated from the Heaven-Covering Array, shaking the entire star space.
"My heavens, this kid is too fierce!"
Yan Shen's eyes widened in shock. He now realized that in his previous battle with Ye Yun, Ye Yun had not even used his full strength.
"To be able to contend with the Soul of Zhu Rong, he is truly the destined one. It is worth it for this old man to witness such a genius in his lifetime."
He shook his head, ashamed of his previous actions, which now seemed so foolish.
"Creation Sword Technique - Sacred Radiance Heavenly Light!"
Without a word, Ye Yun's divine sense moved, and Creation materialized.
Endless sacred light descended from the heavens. The surrounding fierce beasts, upon seeing such radiance, felt a sense of fear.
"Roar!"
They roared incessantly, making it difficult even for the Soul of Zhu Rong to control them.
"What is wrong with you all?"
"Ancient fierce beasts, though savage, must bow before the Sacred Sword!"
"Slash!"
With a single slash, the sacred light shattered all forms, and the fierce beasts vanished without a trace.
"Powerful!"
Yan Shen couldn't help but exclaim. He had never imagined that a mid-level God Lord could so easily slay the fierce beasts evolved from the power of Zhu Rong.
"Zhu Rong Heavenly Calamity!"
After all, it was a fragment of an ancient deity. The Soul of Zhu Rong unleashed its strongest flames, launching a fierce counterattack.
The formidable power of the flames took the form of Zhu Rong himself, unleashing a palm strike towards Ye Yun.
"Creation Sword Technique Final Move: Sacred Heart Heavenly Resolution!"
A flash of divine light erupted from Ye Yun's forehead. The final move of the Creation Sword Technique was unleashed.
It was the state of "My Heart is the Sword Heart, Sword Heart is Transparent, Infinite Style!"
"Swish, swish, swish!"
Endless sword light transformed the entire star core space into an ocean of sword energy, becoming Ye Yun's Sword Heart Realm, the Sword Heart Divine Domain he had comprehended by surpassing himself!
"Rumble!"
With a deafening explosion, the ancient giant manifested by the power of Zhu Rong was utterly shattered. The Soul of Zhu Rong also fell under Ye Yun's control.
[Congratulations to the Host for obtaining the Zhu Rong Star Soul.]
[Congratulations to the Host for commencing the path of divine cultivation. Mental power can be converted into soul power, granting an advantage when attacking stronger opponents.]
"Congratulations, Great Overlord, on acquiring the Zhu Rong Star Soul."
Just as Ye Yun received the system notification, Yan Shen bowed respectfully, completely submitting.
After all, by obtaining the Soul of Zhu Rong, Ye Yun possessed absolute control over Yan Shen Star. Ye Yun was now his master.
"Yan Shen, you have witnessed this Lord's strength and destiny today. I hope you understand your place."
"Great Overlord, please rest assured. This old man will sincerely submit and will never waver."
"Very good. Our cultivation ends here for today."
Ye Yun's divine sense moved, and his spiritual body detached from the star void, returning to his physical form.
"Hoo..."
He exhaled a hot breath, his entire body surging with energy, the power of the Soul of Zhu Rong.
He felt his cultivation rapidly ascending, showing signs of breaking through to the upper God Lord realm.
"This Soul of Zhu Rong is indeed powerful. It seems I need to make good use of it."