Chapter 4. First Soul Skill: Wind-Riding Flying Blade.
Entering the Soul Beast Forest for the first time, Wu Qi's eyes were filled with anticipation and longing for his first soul ring.
Choosing a soul ring around four hundred years old as the first soul ring is crucial to reaching the limit of absorption for subsequent higher-age soul rings.
If the first soul ring is a ten-year soul ring, absorbing a thousand-year soul ring as the third will be a near-death experience.
Wu Qi knew the importance of physical training; even when he wasn't valued at the Wu family mansion, his training hadn't slacked off.
It could be said that he had made ample preparations to absorb the perfect first soul ring.
In the Sunset Forest, two figures, one large and one small, traveled through the outer area.
The Soul Beast Forest was a lawless place; one needed to be wary not only of attacks from soul beasts but also of human soul masters.
However, all of this was futile in the face of absolute power.
During their journey, the two encountered thugs blocking their path and were ambushed by soul beasts.
The Azure Phoenix Douluo easily resolved each situation, and afterwards, she would smile and discuss the precautions for soul hunting with Wu Qi.
For him, it might have been just a minor incident, but for Wu Qi, who had never witnessed bloodshed before, it was extremely unsettling.
"You'll get used to it after a few more vomits. The people you've encountered so far are barely 'good' among the bad guys."
"In the future, you'll definitely encounter truly heinous criminals. Their methods are truly horrifying."
The Azure Phoenix Douluo said casually, handing Wu Qi a handkerchief and a bottle of water.
After a while, Wu Qi raised his head and looked into the distance.
In the fantasy world, cultivation and strength are paramount. The strong can arbitrarily control the life and death of the weak.
And the cries of the weak before death become melodious music in the eyes of some perverts.
Therefore, the first step to establishing oneself in the Douluo Continent is to become a Soul Master, and then gradually become a strong person, in order to avoid becoming fish on someone else's chopping board.
One day later.
Wu Qi was just a child, and his stamina certainly couldn't keep up with a Title Douluo.
Tired from walking, Qingluan Douluo let him rest under a large tree.
About five minutes later, a crane's cry echoed in the sky.
Qingluan Douluo suddenly looked up and smiled, "Little Qi, it's a good thing we didn't continue forward, otherwise we would have missed this guy."
This crane's cry came from a Wind and Cloud Crane, which was about four hundred years old, just right as a first spirit ring.
You must know that once a Wind and Cloud Crane's age exceeds fifty thousand years, it can easily stir up the winds and clouds of a region.
A spirit beast qualified to grow to fifty thousand years of cultivation already has an extremely powerful bloodline, not to mention the best among them.
A Wind and Cloud Crane's spirit ring would be of great help to Wu Qi now.
Thinking of this, a smile appeared on Qingluan Douluo's lips, and he leaped up, "Little Qi, wait here."
After saying that, he leaped into the sky.
Wu Qi looked up.
With Qingluan Douluo's strength, dealing with a mere four-hundred-year-old soul beast wouldn't be a problem.
Looking at his master, whom he'd only known for a day, his feelings were complex.
Aside from blood ties, the master-disciple relationship was the most reliable. But having just become a disciple, no master would place such a heavy bet on him. Qingluan Douluo probably saw him not just as a disciple, but as a successor.
The Qingluan martial soul was a legendary divine bird; its appearance once was already a stroke of luck, unlikely to happen again.
In a sense, they were more like kindred spirits.
In a daze, Qingluan Douluo, carrying the Wind and Cloud Crane, landed back on the ground.
From attack to return, it took less than a minute—was this the speed of a Title Douluo?
"I've already demonstrated how to absorb a soul ring to you, so now, it's time to absorb yours."
Qingluan Douluo chuckled, brushing the dust off his clothes and casually tossing a sharp short sword into Wu Qi's hand.
Wu Qi caught the short sword; the blade was drawn, its cold light dazzling in the sunlight!
Taking a deep breath, he walked towards Feng Yunhe and, following the location Qingluan Douluo had indicated, ended Feng Yunhe's life with a single strike.
Blood splattered onto his face, the stench of blood filling the air.
Previously, Wu Qi would have felt uncomfortable. But thanks to Qingluan Douluo's "desensitization therapy," he was now accustomed to the bloody scene.
For a moment, he looked at the other with gratitude.
Qingluan Douluo, however, adopted a lazy attitude, waving his hand, "Absorb the spirit ring as soon as possible. Your cultivation will only begin once you return to the hall."
Wu Qi nodded solemnly, sat cross-legged, and gently manipulated the spirit ring, attaching it to his martial soul.
Absorbing spirit rings under ten thousand years old wouldn't cause soul tremors; one only needed to withstand the soul pressure impact of the spirit ring.
A four-hundred-year spirit ring was somewhat difficult for a six-year-old child.
The impact of the soul power made Wu Qi's face contort in pain.
Qingluan Douluo, standing beside him, lost his relaxed expression and began to watch his every move closely.
"Can you succeed?"
Absorbing a four-hundred-year spirit ring as the first spirit ring wasn't unprecedented on the Douluo Continent, but those who succeeded usually underwent six months to two years of training as a spirit master before absorbing the spirit ring.
In contrast, Wu Qi had absolutely no experience in Soul Master cultivation.
Qingluan Douluo was also gambling; successful absorption would greatly benefit Wu Qi's future.
Even if it failed, he had the ability to interrupt it without causing too much harm to Wu Qi.
In short, Wu Qi was his only "kindred spirit" in the world, and he couldn't abandon him.
Even if he failed, he would find a way to repair his damaged talent.
Time passed second by second.
At this moment, for the master and disciple, each day felt like an eternity.
Fortunately, after about two hours, Wu Qi's condition gradually stabilized, and the subsequent finishing process would proceed without any surprises.
Qingluan Douluo relaxed, took out a blanket from his Soul Guidance Device, placed it on the ground, and lay down to rest.
In the evening, Wu Qi opened his eyes, and a yellow Soul Ring shone beneath his feet.
"Is this the power of a Soul Ring?" Feeling the change in his strength, he couldn't help but feel excited.
At this moment, his strength was several times greater than before.
The power of the Soul Ring merging into the Soul Master's body brought about a tremendous boost.
"What is a Soul Skill?" Qingluan Douluo asked leisurely.
Wu Qi turned to look at him.
Since entering the forest, Qingluan Douluo hadn't been covered in a speck of dust, and was still lying on the blanket—was he some kind of germaphobe?
Without dwelling on the question, he demonstrated his Soul Skill.
"First Soul Skill, Wind-Riding Flying Blade."
Qingluan's Martial Soul flapped, creating a gust of wind.
A pair of azure wings shot out thousands of feather blades.
The trees in front were easily pushed down.
Qingluan Douluo nodded, "It's a bit of a stretch, but this Soul Skill is just a starting point. If you can cultivate it into a self-created Soul Skill in the future, its power will definitely increase greatly."
Soul Masters can cultivate self-created Soul Skills based on Soul Ring skills.
Because the insights gained from Soul Rings are easier to cultivate than ordinary self-created Soul Skills.
It should be known that the power of a self-created Soul Skill increases with the Soul Master's strength.
The storm-like blade attack will only become stronger with increased strength, and might even be able to rival "Ten Thousand Swords Return to One"!
"Master, I haven't finished yet," Wu Qi couldn't help but remind him.
(End of Chapter)