Karin's Soul-Eating Trial: Healing Bonds and Transforming into a God

In the back mountains of Nishen Hall within the Star Dou Great Forest, Su Chen used God-Defying Soul Power to open up fifteen independent trial grounds. Black god-defying runes were carved at the edges of these fields, faintly resonating with the spirit power of the Heroines. This was an exclusive trial tailored by Su Chen for the fifteen Heroines—only by breaking through the shortcomings of their own abilities and unbinding the shackles of their inner bonds could they unlock their true God-Defying Form. This was also the key for Nishen Hall to contend against the God Realm.

At this time, Nishen Hall had just completed its thorough integration of the Heaven Dou Empire, with Emperor Xue Ye officially announcing his submission. The Star Luo Empire had also sent Crown Prince Dai Mubai to deliver a letter of surrender. Meanwhile, after escaping Shrek Academy, Xiao Ling had ended up in Cangyun Town in the south, becoming a coolie hauling ore at the docks. He spent his days being lashed by the overseer's whip; the former "Douluo Genius" now found even a full meal to be an extravagant hope.

At this moment, at the entrance of the first trial ground, Karin gripped the corner of her clothes, looking at the churning black Soul-Devouring Thorns inside. Her face turned slightly pale. These thorns were an exotic species Su Chen had brought from the edge of the abyss; they could devour all spirit power, having an extreme craving only for healing power. Her trial required her to use healing power to soothe the thorns' hostility and simultaneously heal ten Spirit Beasts heavily injured by them, all without consuming her own source of essence blood.

"Su Chen... these thorns are so scary. My healing flame was swallowed as soon as it got close." Karin's Nine-Tailed Fox Spirit quietly unfurled, a pale pink healing halo pulsing in her palm. However, as soon as it touched the barrier of the trial ground, most of it was swept away by the black energy of the thorns.

Su Chen stood outside the trial ground, his black God-Defying Soul Power forming a barrier to isolate the thorns' hostility. "Karin, your healing power originates from the bloodline of the Uzumaki Clan and also from your empathy for those around you. But because you were always ostracized for your special constitution, you subconsciously hold back when releasing healing, afraid to truly establish a bond with the one being healed."

His voice came through the barrier and reached Karin's ears, reminding her of the scene in the tavern in Suotuo City where Su Chen stood up for her and drove away those who ostracized her. At that time, Su Chen patted her head and said, "Your ability is a treasure." It was also the first time she felt the warmth of being cherished.

Karin took a deep breath and turned toward the injured little monkey Spirit Beast inside the trial ground. The monkey's leg had been slashed by the Soul-Devouring Thorns, leaving a wound deep enough to see the bone. Black hostility was drilling into its body through the wound. The little monkey curled up on the ground, letting out painful whimpers. Karin no longer forcibly released healing flames as she had before; instead, she squatted down, gently held the little monkey's paw, and closed her eyes to feel its pain.

A pale pink halo slowly overflowed from her palm. It was no longer a violent flame but as gentle as flowing water, bypassing the devouring of the Soul-Devouring Thorns and seeping bit by bit into the little monkey's wound. When the healing power touched the hostility in the wound, Su Chen's words suddenly flashed through Karin's mind: "A bond is not a one-sided sacrifice, but mutual trust." Without hesitation, she connected her spirit power with the little monkey's life force. Black nishen markings instantly Binding with the pink halo—this was the Nishen Mark Su Chen had left in her body, now merging with her healing power.

"Sizzle—" When the black energy of the Soul-Devouring Thorns touched the intertwined black and pink halo, it actually melted like snow meeting fire. Karin was overjoyed and immediately used the same method to approach the other injured Spirit Beasts: a Colorful Phoenix whose wings were pierced by thorns, a Spirit Fox eroded by hostility, a Black Panther with a broken tail... With every healing, she established a bond of trust with the Spirit Beast, and the nishen markings within the healing halo became increasingly dense.

When the wound of the last Spirit Beast healed, Karin's body suddenly erupted with a brilliant pink-gold light. The phantom of the Nine-Tailed Fox behind her abruptly grew larger, its tails Binding with black god-defying runes. The healing flames in her palm also turned into an intertwined black and pink—the God-Defying Healing Fox Form was officially unlocked! Her healing power could not only repair physical bodies and divine souls but also devour negative energy and convert it into healing power. Even the hostility of the Soul-Devouring Thorns became her "nourishment."

Karin walked out of the trial ground and threw herself into Su Chen's arms, her nine tails gently Binding his arm. "Su Chen, I did it! My healing is no longer a weak ability that only gets swallowed!"

Su Chen rubbed her hair, his eyes full of gratification. "I told you, your ability is a treasure. Now, you have finally let it bloom with its true brilliance."

Meanwhile, at the Cangyun Town docks, Xiao Ling was carrying heavy ore onto a cargo ship. The overseer's whip fell on his back once again, leaving a bloody welt. He could only grit his teeth and quicken his pace—if he didn't finish moving fifty crates of ore today, he wouldn't even get to eat a moldy bun. He looked up toward Nishen Hall, a flicker of resentment flashing in his eyes, but it was quickly replaced by numbness. He tried to hide a piece of ore to trade for money, but he was caught red-handed by the overseer and kicked in the stomach. The pain made him curl up on the ground, unable to get up for a long time.

"You dare to steal even a piece of ore, you trash!" The overseer's angry shouts echoed across the docks. The surrounding coolies just watched coldly; no one was willing to stand up for this former "genius." Xiao Ling lay on the cold ground, watching the clouds drift across the sky, feeling a bone-chilling despair for the first time.

On the other side of the trial grounds, Hinata's God-Defying Byakugan suddenly activated, black markings spreading across her white pupils. "Su Chen, I sense a weak but overbearing ripple from the God Realm just outside the spatial barrier of the Douluo Continent. It seems someone is spying."

Su Chen's gaze instantly turned solemn. With a wave of his hand, Nishen Hall's observation array was immediately activated. On the screen, a golden point of light flashed outside the spatial barrier and quickly disappeared.

"The Enforcers of the God Realm have finally noticed us," Su Chen said in a low voice. "It seems the Heroines' trials must be accelerated. Only by unlocking all the God-Defying Forms can we truly deal with the threat from the God Realm."