Chapter 126: Seventh‑Level Power

In Lei En's eyes, Luo Jie's soul showed nothing concealed, and this was his first time closely observing a legendary soul.

Compared to ordinary people or regular transcendents, a legendary soul is incomparably powerful.

The soul's volume alone is dozens of times larger, constantly radiating soul energy like a torch in the night—bright yet remarkably solid, unlike ordinary souls that are fleeting, having undergone a qualitative metamorphosis into something tangible.

Luo Jie's soul has a full twelve layers from the outside inward.

Deep within the soul, nearly twenty Element runes appear, and one Element shines intensely—it is the Demon‑Eating Mutation.

Lei En has seen this Element in the *Book of a Thousand Souls*.

This is the core Element for a Demon Hunter after attaining legend, sourced from a rare legendary beast called the Abyss Great Griffon.

Just from the name, the Abyss Great Griffon hails from the Abyss, yet they are not Demons but Demonkin, massive as dragons, untainted by Abyssal corrupt energy, and they feed on Demons.

By long‑term consumption of various Demons, adult Abyss Great Griffons possess the Demon‑Eating Mutation ability.

This Element requires a monster's soul as consumption.

Once triggered, the Demon Hunter's physical attributes skyrocket—strength, speed, defense, stamina, perception, even soul energy surges wildly—an all‑round boost as if the body mutated, more than doubling the hunter's combat power!

The amplification surpasses Rage in strength and scope, and it has no side effects.

The only limitation is that Demon‑Eating Mutation must continuously consume monster souls—that is, Demon souls or souls tainted by corrupt energy.

Therefore, at higher tiers, a Demon Hunter must integrate the Soul Rift Touch Element and regularly gather soul fragments.

Soul fragments can not only craft various alchemical bombs but also are key to the Demon‑Eating Mutation.

After activating Demon‑Eating Mutation, as long as enough soul fragments are present, the mutation never ceases, with stamina and soul energy consumption never ending.

If fighting monsters, the Demon Hunter can kill and simultaneously replenish consumption, fighting to sustain fighting, like an endlessly tireless killing machine.

Back then, when Lei En saw the Element's description, he felt it was familiar.

It resembled his own Soul Charging far too much!

However, Soul Charging absorbs a broader range—not limited to monster souls—and can also boost one's own strength and reinforce other Elements.

In other words, Demon‑Eating Mutation is a low‑tier version of Soul Charging.

Even as a low‑tier version, it still greatly amplifies combat power, making it a super‑exceptional Element!

Beyond Demon‑Eating Mutation, Luo Jie's other Elements are also not to be underestimated.

Lei En gave a casual sweep and saw Elephant Trunk Technique, Shadow Slip, Swift Shadow Assault, Combat Frenzy, Mind Shriek, Phantom Step, and several other Elements not typical of regular Demon Hunters—at least all of rare rank.

If we add the essential Elements for Demon Hunters—Ge Suo Lun's Eye, Soul Rift Touch, Toxicity Resistance, Self‑Healing, Rapid Metabolism, plus five spells cast with hand seals, and two or three ordinary agility combat Elements—Luo Jie's Elements approach twenty!

Whether compared to other Demon Hunters or legends of the same tier, Luo Jie's strength is top‑most.

At this moment, Luo Jie activates Demon‑Eating Mutation, and his speed surges.

Then, using Swift Shadow Assault together with Phantom Step acceleration, his speed is so great it leaves after‑images.

Ha Erken, mimicking Lei En, even with Truth Will assistance, saw Luo Jie's every move, but his body couldn't keep up, watching helplessly as Luo Jie's steel sword pierced his chest.

The blood‑red blade tip was briefly blocked by a second‑grade steel body.

Puff—, high‑temperature flames erupted from the sword, softening the skin, reducing hardness, and the Wolf's Fang finally breached the defense, stabbing into the chest.

The blade tip penetrated about an inch before it got stuck.

Luo Jie looked astonished, yet his hand didn't pause; he raised it and unleashed an Ice Roar, knocking Ha Erken down.

The freezing effect of the Ice Roar slowed Ha Erken's movements slightly.

Before Ha Erken could counterattack, Luo Jie altered a hand seal with his left hand, casting a spell; several pale‑purple runes appeared on the ground around, forming a large Arcane field, the air seeming to solidify and heavily press on Ha Erken, causing his body to stall and his movements to slow further.

This is the Three‑Ring Arcane 'Gravity Trap', which Demon Hunters call the Ya Deng Seal.

Normally, a Gravity Trap can bind an enemy, making even a single move difficult, yet Ha Erken, wielding fifth‑grade power, still moves freely, only slower than usual.

While Ha Erken rose, Luo Jie's steel sword struck repeatedly, inflicting several sword wounds on him.

The wounds were deep and the cuts scorched by high heat, yet not fatal.

Swish—, Ha Erken launched a charge, trying to break out of the Gravity Trap's range.

Halfway through, a silhouette slammed in diagonally, a war hammer striking, hurling him back into the Gravity Trap.

The heavy hammer wound left Ha Erken badly injured, spitting a mouthful of fresh blood.

Luo Jie raised his hand and delivered another Ice Roar, toppling him.

He then cast the Ai Ke Xi Seal on him, attempting to exploit the opponent's injury and scattered Willpower, using a Confusion Spell to control the enemy.

However, the spell had no effect.

Luo Jie looked oddly at his hand seal; the Four‑Ring Confusion Spell is hard for even a legendary transcendental to resist, at least causing a daze, not this outcome.

"Did my hand seal go wrong?"

Luo Jie couldn't help doubting himself, so he cast the Ai Ke Xi Seal on Ha Erken again, but it still failed.

Lei En watched the scene, feeling helpless.

Ha Erken simulated his Truth Will, making it impossible to be affected by the Confusion Spell.

"Master Luo Jie, he is immune to any mind spell," Lei En loudly explained.

Mid‑shout, he also rushed into the Gravity Trap, hammering the newly risen Ha Erken down, then flung his war hammer, leapt forward, and heavily pressed onto Ha Erken's back.

Zuo Ertan arrived in time; empowered with Dragon Power Technique, he also wielded nearly fourth‑grade strength, and the two together restrained Ha Erken, preventing him from turning over.

Luo Jie instantly understood their intention.

He inhaled deeply; a hint of blood‑red flickered in his pitch‑black eyes, his blood boiling inside—signs of activating Combat Frenzy.

Combat Frenzy, like Rage, can greatly boost strength, though its duration is short.

Simultaneously, a phantom dragon head silhouette descended; Lei En multitasked, bestowing Dragon Power Technique upon him, raising his strength another level.

Luo Jie raised the steel sword Wolf's Fang, the flames on the blade soaring like a burning torch.

"Ah…"

Ha Erken struggled desperately, but it was already too late.

The glowing red steel sword slashed his neck, its sharpness and heat acting together, instantly cutting a deep wound down to the bone, and also interrupting his rainbow beam spell.

Luo Jie swung his sword with full force, slashing five times in a row, finally beheading him.

A head fell to the ground.

The headless corpse stopped struggling; Lei En felt the enemy beneath him had lost all resistance, and only then released his grip.

He looked at the head on the ground that was identical to his own, and felt a deep unease.

Anyone who sees their own beheading with their own eyes, even knowing it's a fake, would feel a chill in their heart.

Lei En didn't forget to remind, "He's not dead yet."

"I know."

Luo Jie looked at the long sword in the corpse's hand, which was rapidly shortening; the head and body turned into a phantom and vanished, revealing the short sword's true form.

The odd-shaped short sword automatically leapt up, its runes flashing, about to dart away.

Lei En reached out to seize the short sword, but being in a gravity trap slowed his motion by half a step, and his hand grasped nothing.

A red sword light slashed down.

The short sword, just as it rose, was struck, splitting into two pieces; the semi‑transparent worm coiled around the hilt was also cut off, and the high‑temperature flame burned it to ash.

The eerie worm emitted a silent wail before dying.

In Lei En's eyes, a fragmented soul flew out of the worm and was absorbed by him.

The next second, his mobile phone's battery surged wildly.

The battery drained by the battle refilled within two or three breaths, returning to full.

Yet an even larger soul power surged into his brain, making Lei En let out a slight groan, as if his head were about to burst!

How much spiritual power does a Legendary Mid-stage soul, even if only a clone, contain?

Even that previous Level 9 Lich was a small wizard compared to a great one!

Lei En had never experienced this, as if he had gulped down a handful of small blue pills in one breath, boundless energy with nowhere to vent.

Fortunately, he already had experience, instantly opened the phone interface, and poured all the battery into the Element.

Currently, only the steel body, strength, and charge can continue to be enhanced.

The progress bars of the three Elements advanced rapidly together, consuming massive spiritual power, finally making Lei En feel a bit better. Although the consumption still lagged behind the absorption rate, the battery stayed full, wasting a lot of spiritual power, but at least it wouldn't burst.

Zuo Ertan glanced at the oddly pale Lei En and asked, "This guy should be dead, right?"

"Dead."

Luo Jie nodded lightly, "A trickster's cunning spirit clone relies on the cunning spirit worm; as long as the worm is killed, this clone cannot revive."

Lei En barely suppressed the thrill of the battery surge and exclaimed, "The cunning spirit clone truly lives up to being a Supreme Element; just a clone, yet so hard to deal with."

The cunning spirit clone differs from a phantom clone; as long as it doesn't die, it can persist indefinitely.

When a trickster reaches Legendary Mid-stage, they fuse this Supreme Element to create a variable number of clones; each cunning spirit clone is one rank lower than the main body but possesses all the main body's Elements, including the Legendary Early-stage "Mimicry," also a Supreme Element. The combination makes the trickster extremely hard to kill.

"That should be Ha Erken, right? How many clones does he have?" Lei En asked.

"No fewer than four."

Luo Jie replied, "I encountered Ha Erken on the first floor, he saw through my trail, and I fought his main body and several clones. It was hard to break free, and I didn't expect he had already sent a clone ahead to scout. Fortunately I returned in time; otherwise he would have escaped."

At that point, curiosity flashed in his eyes as he asked, "Lei En, why does it seem that Ha Erken's clones become even harder to deal with after turning into you? What's going on?"

Before Lei En could respond, Zuo Ertan started shouting.

"Luo Jie, you don't know—this kid Lei En's body is too hard; Armor Penetration rounds can't pierce it, they even nicked my battle axe. I've never seen such a perverse fellow."

"Anyone who opposes him later will truly be unlucky!"

Zuo Ertan blew his beard and glared; he couldn't beat Ha Erken's clone, which meant he couldn't beat Lei En. In just a few short months, Lei En had gone from an ordinary person to stronger than himself.

That hurt his feelings, making him feel he'd wasted over a hundred years of life.

Luo Jie saw the dwarf old friend's thoughts and couldn't help but laugh twice.

He knew this was the effect of the steel body, but he was more curious about Lei En's earlier remark: Ha Erken is immune to any mind spell.

That means Lei En himself is also immune to any mind spell.

In his memory, it seemed only the Legendary Element Truth Willpower had such a strong effect.

Seeing Luo Jie's curiosity, Lei En didn't hesitate and plainly admitted, "I recently obtained Truth Willpower by accident and have already fused it."

Earlier, Ha Erken's clone mentioned a Legendary Element in front of Zuo Ertan.

This matter could not be hidden.

Even with speculation, hearing Lei En say it himself left Luo Jie and Zuo Ertan somewhat incredulous.

"No wonder Ha Erken's clone reacted that way," Zuo Ertan realized.

The usually composed Luo Jie also shook his head and sighed, "Steel body plus Truth Willpower, you Battle Wizard are truly unique; even without spells, relying only on melee combat, few can match you."

"Hehe, how interesting…"

Luo Jie's face showed anticipation.

He didn't press further about Lei En's secret, saying, "We'll leave immediately; Ha Erken's clone died here, he may chase after us."

"May chase after us?"

Lei En was puzzled, "Doesn't Ha Erken know the clone's experiences?"

Luo Jie quickly explained, "The cunning spirit clone's sensing range is limited; at Legendary Mid-stage, it can only control clones within five li. Beyond five li, the clone acts autonomously until it returns within that range, after which the main body can regain control, sharing all memories and perceptions, and can freely swap positions."

"We killed that clone, and the cunning spirit worm couldn't shift form, indicating Ha Erken is beyond five li; he sensed the clone's death but doesn't know what happened."

"At his speed, he should reach here in less than half an hour."

Lei En let out a sigh of relief.

He had been worried; Ha Erken just called his name and knew his appearance, meaning he'll face Ha Erken's endless pursuit in the future.

A Legendary Mid-stage trickster, whose bizarre tactics are endless, is also the second leader of Shadow Blade.

Lei En wants to say he's not afraid, but that's a lie.

He himself is a Superhuman; if he can't defeat them, he can run, but what about his family?

Even if his feeling toward his family is almost like that toward strangers, he still can't ignore it, after all he has implicated them.

Fortunately, the worst case didn't happen.

The three immediately set off, first returning to the Temple with Suo Ertan to retrieve his belongings.

Just after they had gone a short distance, Lei En suddenly felt a slight tremor run through his whole body.

In the phone interface, the progress bar for the hardest‑to‑upgrade Steel Body reached its end; after pouring in a large amount of Soul Power, it finally upgraded!

A Level‑3 Steel Body is still a Superlative Element.

Lei En ran while feeling his body change: his weight rose quickly, his muscles shrank a little, becoming extremely compact; his skin, which had a strange metallic sheen, turned a bit paler, approaching a normal human complexion.

Apart from that, his overall appearance changed little, and neither Luo Jie nor Suo Ertan noticed anything.

But Lei En knows his defense has become tougher.

If Ha Erken now simulates him, killing him will be even harder.

After strengthening to Level‑3, the Steel Body's progress bar stopped moving, clearly having reached its current cap; adding more Soul Power would be wasteful.

Yet his power kept rising.

The Power Element that had just risen to Level‑5 was first boosted by the Steel Body's upgrade, jumping up by almost half a notch, and then within minutes surged to Level‑6.

And it showed no sign of stopping.

When the three returned to the Temple, the power had forcibly strengthened to Level‑7!

Within his soul, the entire World Tree trembled; two leaves bearing Power Element runes emitted golden light, the runes automatically evolved, ultimately forming a more complex pattern.

Lei En realized in his heart that this was an advancement to a Superlative Element!

An ordinary Power Element, after receiving a massive amount of electric power, was strengthened to a Superlative Element—something even he hadn't expected would happen.

A mere Level‑3 Wizard, yet possesses one Legendary Element and two Superlative Elements.

At this moment, Lei En also does not know how strong his power truly is.

(End of Chapter)