"Oh, he's got a great-grandson and forgotten about his grandson. You were never this attentive when you were training me back in the day."
Watching Xu Xiaoyun's figure shrink into a black speck and disappear from sight, Xu Fu couldn't help but shake his head and sigh, lamenting the impermanence of life.
Among Spiritual Soul Beasts, the Evil Eye Clan in the Sun Moon Empire's Evil Forest was currently the most powerful. They were the ultimate prize for any Spiritual Soul Master, yet few dared to enter due to the presence of the Evil Emperor. Even Super Douluo feared being annihilated by the Evil Emperor's wrath.
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For just the first Soul Ring, his great-grandfather personally went out. This showed how much he valued Xu Tianxi. With his high cultivation, it was effortless and safe for him to conceal his presence and capture a Hundred-Year Evil Eye.
"However, with Tianxi's talent, all this effort is worth it. The Evil Eye is hailed as the strongest Spiritual Soul Beast race in the world, perfectly suited for Tianxi's Martial Soul."
"But Spiritual Soul Beasts are generally hard to find. Hunting an Evil Eye for the first Soul Ring... what Soul Beasts to hunt later will be a significant problem. We need to plan carefully..."
The vast majority of Soul Beasts relied on their physical bodies, and those with spiritual talent were rare. Pure Spiritual Soul Beasts were even rarer, making it difficult for Xu Fu to decide how to pair Soul Skills.
He couldn't just go to the Evil Forest to find Evil Eyes every time, could he? Hundred-year and thousand-year ones might be fine, but if a Ten Thousand Year Evil Eye Tyrant sent out a distress signal, it could attract a Hundred Thousand Year Level Evil Eye King, and subsequently, the Evil Emperor.
From what he knew of his great-grandfather, he would definitely want Tianxi's Soul Ring configuration to be the strongest, at least having a Hundred Thousand Year eighth ring like him. Perhaps he even wanted him to absorb three Hundred Thousand Year Soul Rings, just like Mu En and Poison Undying.
There should be some Hundred Thousand Year Evil Eye Kings in the Evil Forest, but if they killed one every so often, the Evil Emperor might get so angry he'd start a Beast Tide, and the consequences would be unbearable.
"Wait, no, if the Evil Emperor starts a Beast Tide, it would first impact the Sun Moon Empire. My worry about this is a bit excessive..."
"However, the Evil Emperor's Spiritual Power is terrifying, and his attack range is immense. Even great-grandfather can't withstand it. It's better not to provoke him."
Xu Fu pondered as he walked downstairs, various wild ideas spilling into his mind.
"In books I read a few years ago, the weakest Spiritual Soul Beasts recorded were the Ice Silkworm from the Far North Land and the Soft Bone Rabbit from the Star Dou Great Forest, both at the very bottom of the food chain."
"Stronger ones include the Silver Wolf, a specialty of the Sun Moon Empire, and the Ten Thousand Demon King's true form, the Demon Eye Magic Tree, Purple Spirit Wolf, Silver Eagle Beast, and Fear Demon Dragon from the Star Dou Great Forest..."
"Oh no, I forgot that several large tribes of Fear Demon Dragons were wiped out by Shrek. Now even a ten-thousand-year one is hard to find. Those bastards are truly inhumane!"
Thinking of the Fear Demon Dragon, Xu Fu was surprised to realize that Shrek had indeed decimated many Soul Beast races in the Star Dou Great Forest over the past ten thousand years. Their goals were either to collect rare Soul Beast materials or to conduct research on Secret Method Soul Bones and the like.
"Damn it! When the Martial Soul Hall was still around, both empires had to regulate the Soul Hunting Forest to prevent overhunting of Soul Beasts, but you guys!
You took advantage of being close to the Star Dou Great Forest, and for ten thousand years, you've killed countless Soul Beasts! You even constantly issue missions for Inner Courtyard disciples to capture ten-thousand-year Soul Beasts!"
"And those simple-minded brutes from the Body Sect are truly stupid. They actually killed seven Hundred Thousand Year Soul Beasts at once, driving the Ferocious Beasts mad; now Shrek's got all the blame, what a bunch of reckless fools!"
After cursing Shrek and then the Body Sect, Xu Fu's anger finally subsided a bit, and he continued to list his options for Spiritual Soul Beasts.
"There aren't many above that level; they're all top-tier Soul Beast races: the Three-Eyed Demon Fox, Twin Cyclops, and Illusory Sky Moon God Butterfly from the Star Dou Great Forest..."
"The Evil Eye Tyrant from the Evil Forest, the Sea Princess from the Ice Sea, and the three great near-shore overlord races: the Demon Soul Great White Shark, Evil Demon Orca, and Deep Sea Demon Whale. Although they aren't purely spiritual, they're by no means weak..."
As he counted to the Deep Sea Demon Whale, Xu Fu's eyes suddenly lit up, and an interesting idea popped into his head.
"Speaking of orcas and demon whales, the Whale Glue produced in their heads is a good thing. Not only can it strengthen virility, but it can also significantly improve physical fitness.
This stuff isn't suitable for my Xuan Ming disciples to take before their Second Awakening, but for Tianxi... he could try it. It could serve as a way to temper his Spiritual Power."
The Second Awakening method for the Black Tortoise Shield developed by the Xuanming Sect required a Soul Master to maintain their virginity before the age of fifteen. Then, during the Second Awakening, they would use a woman's yin energy to stimulate the deepest potential of their Martial Soul, achieving a Second Awakening.
As experts in water-attribute alchemy, they naturally knew the effects of Whale Glue. The reason they didn't give it to their family disciples was precisely this: if it couldn't achieve Martial Soul evolution, then it would be more harm than good.
But for Xu Tianxi, it wouldn't be a big problem. They could even pay the price to help him fully awaken his Black Tortoise Bloodline.
Moreover, his primary cultivation was Illusory Moon Mystic Eyes, meaning his Spiritual Power would be strong, and his will would be even stronger. Suppressing desires for cultivation was also an excellent way to temper oneself.
Thinking this, Xu Fu touched the Ring Storage Soul Guided Device on his right index finger, and a transparent, golden crystal steadily landed in his palm.
This was a high-quality, thousand-year Whale Glue, which he had prepared to enhance marital relations.
Ten-thousand-year Whale Glue was too precious and only available in the Xuanming Sect's treasury. As the family head, he couldn't easily appropriate it; he'd have to follow the proper procedure.
"Tianxi, oh Tianxi, I'm making a sacrifice for you this time. You must cultivate diligently in the future and not disappoint the high hopes your great-grandfather and I have for you..."
A hopeful smile bloomed on Xu Fu's face as he walked with steady steps towards Xu Tianxi's room.
Yue Lao was standing guard outside the door. Seeing Xu Fu, he stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Son-in-Law."
Xu Fu smiled and waved his hand, about to enter, but Yue Lao didn't move aside, still guarding the door. His old face, deeply creased with wrinkles, said:
"Son-in-Law, Young Master's current state is a bit strange. Please be careful not to disturb him."
"Hmm? What happened to Tianxi now?" Xu Fu's smile vanished, and a sharp glint immediately shot out from his narrowed eyes.
Xu Tianxi's importance was now no less than that of him, the head of the Xu Family. No accidents could happen to him!
Yue Lao shook his head and replied in a low voice:
"This old servant's cultivation is shallow, so I can't discern anything clearly. I just vaguely feel that the Young Master seems to be cultivating by absorbing moonlight, yet his sleep is undisturbed."
"You mean Tianxi is absorbing moonlight to cultivate, just like his mother did when she was alive?"
Upon hearing this, Xu Fu's expression instantly shifted from solemn to astonished, and question marks popped up on his forehead.
What was going on? How could a Body Martial Soul absorb moonlight to cultivate like a Moon Martial Soul? That was a unique characteristic of star-type Martial Souls!
Oh, right. He heard his great-grandfather say that the current Sect Master of the Body Sect, Poison Undying, had his Innate Poison from his cultivation within his body. Body Martial Souls could also possess elemental characteristics, varying depending on the Martial Soul's nature and cultivation direction, though it was very rare.
Any Body Martial Soul with such unusual characteristics was considered a top-tier existence among Body Martial Souls, like Poison Undying's Martial Soul, which was himself.
Yue Lao's face saddened, and he nodded in affirmation.
Receiving Yue Lao's confirmation, Xu Fu's hand holding the Whale Glue couldn't help but tremble slightly. His other hand clenched into a tight fist, his knuckles straining, showing veins, and he growled in a raspy voice:
"Excellent! This is truly excellent! Tianxi is indeed an unparalleled genius of my Xuanming Sect, living up to his mother's talent. Once he goes to the Sun Moon Empire, he'll surely find an opportunity to avenge his mother against Shrek!"
Yue Lao suddenly looked up, his face filled with excitement. "Son-in-Law, did you really mean what you just said? You're sending Young Master to the Sun Moon Empire to avenge Miss?"
Xu Fu smiled and hummed in affirmation, then patted Yue Lao's shoulder firmly, his tone gentle.
"Speaking of which, it's quite a shame for a Level 6 Soul Engineer like you to stay here. Tianxi will be going to the Sun Moon Empire in a few years, and he'll definitely be exposed to Soul Guided Devices then. Would you be willing to put in the effort over the next few years to teach him about Soul Guided Devices?"
Yue Lao was so moved that tears welled up in his eyes. He covered his mouth, his voice choked with emotion. "Whatever Son-in-Law commands, this old servant will not hesitate, even unto death!"
"What are you saying? You're already a part of my Xuanming Sect. You're Yue Er's elder, which makes you an elder to me and Tianxi as well..."
Xu Fu continued to comfort Yue Lao with kind words for a few more moments, then handed him the Whale Glue and pushed open the door. A sight that filled him with boundless joy met his eyes.
On the soft bed, Xu Tianxi lay quietly. The Crescent Moon Mark on his brow pulsed, absorbing the Moonlight filtering in from the window. Whispers of Spiritual Power flowed silently, condensing a small ball of clear, pristine Moonlight in mid-air.
Looking at its outline, it seemed as if it was about to form a new crescent moon.
"Cultivating by absorbing Moon Radiance Power... Tianxi's Illusory Moon Mystic Eyes truly possess the characteristics of a star-type Martial Soul. Heaven blesses Xuanming!"