Afternoon, Lone Grass Village.
"Grandpa Tai, I'm back." Carrying his bedding and gifts, Yang Yunhai called out loudly the moment he stepped into the orphanage.
"Brother Yunhai is back!" The children playing in the courtyard immediately rushed over, eyes sparkling with excitement.
In just a few breaths, his hands were empty, and of course, the large bag of snacks he had bought on the way back was gone too.
"Yunhai, why did you come back early?" The village chief walked out of the house and couldn't help but ask.
"My soul power has reached rank 20, so I applied to graduate early from the academy." Yang Yunhai grinned.
"Rank 20?!" The village chief was shocked.
"Brother Yunhai is amazing!" The children looked at him with admiration.
'Low profile, low profile…' Yang Yunhai kept his expression calm.
A moment later, in the village chief's office.
"Yunhai, what are your plans next?" The village chief asked after settling his emotions.
"After I get my next soul ring, I plan to stay at the orphanage for a while and spend New Year with you. Then, I want to go out into the world by myself, broaden my horizons, and later head to the imperial capital, Heaven Dou City, to try my luck," Yang Yunhai replied. "When the time comes, I'll watch the Continental Soul Master Academy Tournament. As for the rest, I'll decide after the tournament."
The village chief nodded slightly. "Yunhai, you've always had your own ideas. Since you already have a plan, I won't say much more. Just remember, this will always be your home. You're welcome back anytime."
"Yes." Yang Yunhai nodded seriously.
After tidying his room and resting for a night, Yang Yunhai set out the next morning for the Nuoding City Spirit Hall branch.
"Blue Silver Grass can really be cultivated this fast?!" Ma Xiunuo was once again shocked.
"What's happening in this world?!" Changgong Di was also doubting life a little.
After a short conversation, Yang Yunhai smoothly obtained a permit, then hired a carriage in the city and set out for the Primary Soul Hunting Forest.
Since he departed at noon, it was evening the next day when he arrived.
This suited him perfectly. After getting off the carriage, he entered the forest under the cover of night, showing his permit to the guards.
Soon after, he met Changgong Ao again.
"Yunhai, your cultivation speed really is fast," Changgong Ao sighed after hearing that Yang Yunhai was here to obtain another soul ring. He leaned forward and asked, "Yunhai, have you decided what soul beast you want for your second soul ring?"
"That Bloodthirsty Thorn with more than 950 years of cultivation," Yang Yunhai said without hesitation.
"The Bloodthirsty Thorn has extremely high toughness, something my Martial Soul needs to strengthen continuously. Its body is also covered with sharp barbs. If my Martial Soul can inherit that, then it will gain some attack power, and its control will become much more stable."
The Bloodthirsty Thorn was non-toxic, but its toughness was extraordinary. Its body was covered with sharp spikes, cold and merciless. Once it touched its prey, it would instantly recoil and tighten. The spikes pierced the prey's skin, draining its energy as it tightened further, eventually cutting and strangling it to death.
It was known as the strength-type representative among vine-type soul beasts. Once caught, there was no hope of breaking free.
However, because it had no poison, and its blood-red appearance made it easy to identify, it posed little threat to human soul masters who usually hunted in groups.
For soul beasts though, especially those of lower cultivation and limited intelligence, it was a predator of death.
Below ten thousand years, it meant death upon sight. Above ten thousand years, soul beasts avoided it entirely.
Toughness off the charts, with spikes and devouring ability, even without poison, it was perfect for me. Yang Yunhai thought to himself.
Perhaps because his Martial Soul carried a lightning attribute that restrained poison, it seemed incapable of inheriting poisonous traits.
The last time he absorbed the Sky Azure Vine, which carried a slight toxin, he hadn't inherited any of it.
Bind firmly, devour steadily, grow tighter the more you absorb. That was exactly why he chose the Bloodthirsty Thorn.
Of course, there was another important consideration.
Although he had already planned to pursue the Blue Silver Emperor, the Blue Silver Emperor Right Leg Bone, and the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, what if? What if absorbing the Blue Silver Emperor's body and the right leg bone still couldn't help him break through rank 30?
What if he failed to connect with Dugu Yan and couldn't get into the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well?
For safety, he believed he needed a backup plan. Giving his Martial Soul a devouring attribute would be that path.
If all else failed, he could only rely on devouring soul beast cultivation to break the bottleneck.
"The Bloodthirsty Thorn truly is a terrifying plant-type soul beast." Changgong Ao nodded, then his tone grew stern. "But Yunhai, if your Martial Soul inherits the ability to devour energy, I don't want you using it for cultivation shortcuts, and I don't want you using it against human soul masters. Cultivation should be step by step, never greedy for quick gains."
"Also, if you really gain this ability, you must report it to Spirit Hall immediately after returning. Otherwise, if you are discovered using it outside, you could be labeled a Fallen Soul Master. That would be troublesome. I've seen cases where soul masters failed to report, and Spirit Hall's Law Enforcement Team took them away. They were never seen again."
Were they sent to the Slaughter City? Yang Yunhai speculated silently.
"At present, the definition of a Fallen Soul Master includes killing humans or using devouring abilities to consume soul rings, life force, flesh, Martial Souls, or causing irreversible damage to a soul master's body. That's the standard," Changgong Ao explained.
"The controversial part is soul power and spiritual power, because those can naturally recover."
"Since there are soul skills that increase soul power and spiritual power, like the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, many argue: if you can increase, why not decrease?"
"Thus, soul skills that reduce an opponent's soul power or spiritual power are not yet classified as Fallen Soul Master abilities."
If that were the case, then even Spirit Hall's own Pope, Bibi Dong, would be a Fallen Soul Master… Yang Yunhai thought.
The Soul Devouring Spider Emperor — was that even in question?
"But still, overuse is dangerous. If you drain someone's soul power or spiritual power completely, they'll die. And who can guarantee this ability won't evolve further? That's why all soul masters with such abilities must report to Spirit Hall and accept supervision." Changgong Ao continued.
No wonder in the original story Tang San could use the external spirit bone Eight Spider Lances without issue. Just by looking at it, everyone could tell it came from a Human-Faced Demon Spider, and that species was known to have devouring powers. Even Tang San used it in the finals to drain Hu Liena's poison. Yet Tang San never went to Spirit Hall to report. Having a background really makes all the difference, Yang Yunhai sighed inwardly.
Tang San even evolved its ability into Devouring Golden Threads later. The Shrek Seven Devils all knew he could devour life force.
Well, Tang San also had a god's inheritance backing him!
Strength is the only true standard in the end.
It seems if I inherit devouring, I'll need to refine it carefully, restrict it to absorbing only soul power. He added silently.
Binding and devouring, tightening endlessly… the road ahead is long. With that thought, he nodded. "Uncle Ao, I understand."
Changgong Ao smiled. "Good. Rest early tonight. Tomorrow morning we'll depart."
"Yes." Yang Yunhai agreed.
The next day, at noon, the two arrived at a thicket deep in the forest's core region.
A massive blood-red thorn vine wrapped around a giant ancient tree, its spiked body twisting up the trunk and draping down like a curtain, covering the ground below.
The countless barbs still held the remains of soul beasts. The soil beneath was dark red with blood. The sight made one's scalp tingle.
Changgong Ao didn't hesitate. His bow drew, a purple soul ring lit beneath his feet.
The arrow shot forth like a purple spear, exploding against the base of the tree with a loud crack. Wood fragments flew, and crimson sap sprayed like a fountain.
The Bloodthirsty Thorn writhed violently, hissing as it twisted. But within thirty seconds, its movements weakened into faint spasms.
"It's ready," Changgong Ao called.
"Okay." Yang Yunhai nodded, grabbed his spear, and thrust it hard into the base wound, twisting fiercely.
Moments later, a yellow soul ring floated up.
He immediately stopped, moved to a clean spot beside the tree, spread out a mat, and sat cross-legged.
Calling out his Martial Soul, he began to draw in the soul ring.
The searing pain came quickly. His body trembled, veins bulging, teeth clenched.
"Yunhai!" Changgong Ao clenched his fists but could do nothing. He could only pray silently.
Time crawled on.
After hours, Yang Yunhai's tightly shut eyes finally opened.
"Whew!" Changgong Ao exhaled in relief, fists loosening as pride filled his expression.
"Yunhai, congratulations!" His voice carried admiration.
"Thanks to Uncle Ao for helping hunt and protecting me." Yang Yunhai smiled as he stood.
"A small matter." Changgong Ao laughed, then asked, "So, how was it?"
"The soul power gain was similar to last time, about one level. Breaking through rank 22 will still take some time." Yang Yunhai said as he summoned his Martial Soul.
In a flash, a cyan vine with hooked barbs appeared.
"As for the soul skill, it's called Absorption. It lets me draw in soul power from a target I'm touching, even from soul power dispersed in the air."
'Thankfully it's only soul power. Just report it and all is fine.' Changgong Ao relaxed visibly and grinned.
"A very practical skill. Control them with your vine, then continuously drain their soul power. You weaken the enemy while extending your own stamina. Very useful."
Since it was under a thousand years, the inherited devouring was not too dangerous. Yang Yunhai noted that inwardly.
For now, it was enough. Later, there would be more chances to evolve.
He nodded with a smile. "It'll do. I'll report it at Spirit Hall in Nuoding when I return."
"Good." Changgong Ao nodded. "Then let's head back."
"Alright." Yang Yunhai followed.
Near midnight, they returned to camp, ate a little, and rested.
The next morning before dawn, Yang Yunhai bid farewell to Changgong Ao and set out for home.
"The first soul ring near 500 years, the second over 950. What about the third?" Watching him go, Changgong Ao's heart surged with emotion. He murmured, "Yunhai, your uncle believes in you. You will succeed."
"In the near future, your name will resound across the continent."
With that, he turned back toward camp.
(End of Chapter)
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