The Northern Mountain Range—one of the largest ranges within the Heavn Soul Empire—stretches from the far northern ice plains all the way to the imperial capital of Tiandou City, spanning nearly two thousand kilometers. It is home to countless powerful soul beasts, from weak ten-year beasts to formidable ten-thousand-year ones. Rumor has it that even hundred-thousand-year soul beasts roam within, though no one has ever survived to confirm it.
The city of Anyang sits at the base of the range. The back mountains of Beihe Village connect to the range's outer edges. It only took the trio an hour and a half to reach the outer perimeter, where they arrived at a flat grassland dotted with burrows—clear signs of a Moonshadow Rabbit colony.
They were incredibly lucky to spot a three-hundred-year-old Moonshadow Rabbit right away.
"Father, let's strike together," Zhu Ziyang said to Zhu Changhe.
"Alright!" Zhu Changhe agreed, immediately summoning his martial soul.
Zhu Ziyang also released his martial soul and launched an attack from the left toward the rabbit that was nibbling on some grass. Zhu Changhe attacked from the right, activating his second soul skill. The Dimlight Scythe gleamed with a faint glow as it slashed toward the Moonshadow Rabbit.
Such a disturbance startled the rabbit, which instantly leaped forward to flee. But it failed to notice the danger on its left. Zhu Ziyang sharply caught its movement and instantly unleashed his first soul skill. A slash of grey-white energy cut through the air and severed the rabbit's hind legs mid-jump.
The pale yellow soul ring behind Zhu Ziyang shimmered, as if celebrating his perfect strike.
Crashing to the ground, the rabbit screamed in pain. Its eyes were filled with agony and despair as its forelimbs scrabbled, trying in vain to flee. But without its hind legs, escape was impossible. Worse, it could feel its life ebbing away.
"Perfect!" Zhu Ziyang grinned in satisfaction. He withdrew his martial soul and called out, "Nannan, come on over!"
"Coming!" Jiang Nannan responded right away, stepping out from her hiding place. Her face showed a mix of nervousness, concern, and excitement.
"Alright, girl, finish it," Zhu Changhe said, tossing the immobilized rabbit in front of her.
"Mm!" Jiang Nannan nodded firmly. She braced herself, drew a dagger, gritted her teeth, and drove it into the rabbit's skull.
A yellow soul ring appeared. Jiang Nannan sat cross-legged and began absorbing her first soul ring.
For some reason, Zhu Ziyang felt a little tense. If this soul ring didn't awaken the Moon Bloodline, then her second ring would also have to come from a Moonshadow Rabbit. That would be a waste of a valuable soul ring slot.
He could only pray that she succeeded on the first try.
Thankfully, everything about the absorption process went smoothly. Watching her, Zhu Ziyang's heart gradually settled.
Soon, Jiang Nannan stood up, her bright eyes gleaming with joy and excitement.
"Nannan, how was it? What's your first soul skill?" Zhu Ziyang rushed over, eager to know the result.
Zhu Changhe also looked over, curious whether his son's bold break from tradition would pay off. Was his six-year-old truly a prodigy, or were generations of Soft Bone Rabbit Soul Masters truly that blind? It was a fascinating question.
"Hehe!" Jiang Nannan giggled at Zhu Ziyang's anticipation, then beamed with pride.
"My first soul skill is called Moonshadow Body! It doubles my speed and jumping ability, and increases my body's flexibility by fifty percent. When the moon is out, the effects double again!"
She couldn't help but giggle again as she spoke.
"Unbelievable… a soul skill like that from just a hundred-year soul ring!" Zhu Changhe blurted out, his eyes wide with awe. He was convinced now—those traditional Soft Bone Rabbit Soul Masters were just fools. They couldn't even compare to a six-year-old child!
Zhu Ziyang, on the other hand, was elated. Jiang Nannan had successfully awakened her martial soul's Moon Bloodline. The path he had mapped out for her could now proceed exactly as planned.
He was thrilled.
"Alright, mission accomplished. Let's head back, kids," Zhu Changhe said after disposing of the rabbit's body. "We'll make spicy rabbit stew when we get home!"
They didn't linger in the mountains. That evening, they returned to Beihe Village.
After spending the night at home, Jiang Nannan excitedly shared the news of becoming a one-ring Soul Master with her mother, Bai Xinyi. Bai Xinyi was overwhelmed with joy, shedding tears of happiness. The two hugged tightly until Jiang Nannan realized she shouldn't let her mother cry too much and consoled her gently.
After saying goodbye to Bai Xinyi, they returned to Anyang Academy.
Zhu Ziyang quickly resumed his simple but fulfilling routine—practicing his martial soul, attending the occasional class, reading books, and cultivating the Great Light Mantra. Others might find such a repetitive life boring, but Zhu Ziyang enjoyed every minute of it.
—
One day.
While cultivating in the dorm, Zhu Ziyang suddenly stood up, his face radiant with joy.
"Brother Ziyang, what's wrong?" Jiang Nannan asked curiously, looking up from the writing practice she had been doing. Seeing how excited he was, she tilted her head.
"Nannan, guess what? I did it! I've successfully developed a new and improved meditation method!" Zhu Ziyang leapt from his bed, ran over, picked Jiang Nannan up in his arms, and spun her in a joyful circle.
"Really? That's amazing!" Jiang Nannan smiled, forcing down her shyness. She knew he had long wanted to improve the standard meditation method, but she hadn't expected him to succeed so soon.
"Mm! Want to try it?" Zhu Ziyang set her down and asked earnestly.
"Sure!" Jiang Nannan agreed without hesitation.
Zhu Ziyang was touched. He handed her the new meditation technique, which he had named the Zhu Family Meditation Method. Jiang Nannan immediately sat cross-legged and began practicing it.
Watching her so decisively give it a go stirred something deep in his heart.
The Zhu Family Meditation Method was the result of nearly six months of effort. After studying countless works on soul cultivation over the past several millennia, he had combined all that knowledge with insights from the Great Light Mantra to create this entirely new technique. In theory, it should be one to two times more effective than current mainstream methods, with one critical advantage—something no other meditation method offered—it could indirectly strengthen the physical body.
That one feature alone was enough to make this technique worthy of passing down through generations.
Zhu Ziyang had already decided: if Jiang Nannan's trial yielded the expected results, he would teach it to his parents, ensuring the Zhu Family Meditation Method became their family's legacy.
If the Great Light Mantra weren't forbidden from being taught to others, he would pass that down too. Thankfully, the Lesser Light Breathing Method could still be taught—it would serve as a form of inheritance. He trusted that someday, one of his descendants would earn the recognition required to inherit the mantra.
Of course… it was a bit too early to be thinking that far ahead.
Jiang Nannan completed one cycle and immediately opened her eyes. They sparkled with astonishment and joy. She looked at Zhu Ziyang and exclaimed excitedly, "Brother Ziyang, you're amazing! My soul power flows twice as fast now!"
Perfect—just as expected.
Zhu Ziyang immediately relaxed. He beamed under her praise and laughed, "Hahaha! Of course! But Nannan, don't tell anyone else, alright? This will be the Zhu family's exclusive meditation method from now on!"
Jiang Nannan blushed without meaning to.
(End of Chapter)
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