Wang Yan and his friends arrived at Wang Lan's ( Wang Lan's grandfather) house, moving quickly through the village streets until they reached the familiar doorway.
Wang Lan looked up from his seat, his eyes calm but curious. "You've returned safely. How was the hunt?"
Wang Yan stepped forward, his expression serious. "Grandpa… we obtained a Soul Ring from the beast. But after absorbing it, something strange happened. After the absorption, I felt a sudden, sharp pain in my right leg. Then… I sensed an object attached there. I could consciously pull it out, and it hovered just above my leg."
Wang Lan's eyes widened immediately. He leaned forward, voice dropping low with a mixture of awe and caution. "Let me see that," he said.
As the faintly glowing object appeared above Wang Yan's leg, Wang Lan's gaze sharpened. The structure radiated power, solid and perfectly formed, yet entirely mysterious. His face grew serious. "That… is a Soul Bone," he whispered, almost reverently. "In my entire life, I've only ever seen one in use — by a representative of an imperial family, long ago, who came to protect the city from a Soul Beast attack. That master used the Soul Bone to strike the invading beast. Extremely rare… extremely dangerous. You must not show this to anyone until you are strong enough. If others discover it… it could lead to a blood battle."
The three friends exchanged glances, awe and concern written clearly across their faces. Liu Ming finally asked, voice cautious, "Grandpa… what exactly is a Soul Bone? How does it work?"
Wang Lan's eyes narrowed, recalling his experience. "A Soul Bone is a fragment of a powerful Soul Beast's essence. When properly absorbed or controlled, it can grant the user a unique Soul Skill. Its strength and effect depend on the Soul Spirit of the master and the origin of the Soul Bone itself. It is highly dangerous — if used recklessly, it can injure or even kill the Soul Master. Only someone with strong control over their Soul can wield it safely."
Chen Yu's eyes widened. "So… Wang Yan, you can control it?"
Wang Yan nodded slowly. "I can sense it, but I haven't fully understood it yet. First, I need to absorb it completely and study its properties before attempting any attack or skill."
Liu Ming then spoke, his expression serious. "And the Soul Ring? You said it was… intense?"
"Yes," Wang Yan replied. "The moment I began absorbing the Soul Ring, the pressure was immense. I could feel it pressing against my consciousness and soul. Every fragment of my spirit was tested, as if being shredded into thousands of slivers. My body was tense, my hands twisting slightly, fingers gripping, legs pressing against the ground, all subtle gestures — but my soul bore the full weight. Even I have never experienced such strain before."
Zhao Qing and Chen Yu exchanged glances, understanding the gravity of what he had endured. Liu Ming added quietly, "We've never seen this before. Not during previous Soul Ring absorptions. This one… it was beyond anything we imagined."
Wang Lan's eyes grew serious. "And this Soul Beast… what exactly was it?"
Wang Yan took a deep breath. "It was a Blood Spike Alligator. Extremely rare. Its tail was extraordinary — armored with jagged crystalline spikes, pulsing with faint crimson energy. The scales along its back shimmered, radiating centuries of refined power. Its tail alone could shatter almost anything in its path. Even its eyes… they held the wisdom and cunning of centuries."
Wang Lan leaned closer. "Anything else? Colors? Patterns? Specific traits?"
"Yes," Wang Yan continued. "The spikes reflected light like tiny prisms. The tail radiated concentrated energy. Its movement was precise, and the tail's attacks were deadly — the spikes even appeared to hum with condensed spirit energy."
Wang Lan's face went pale with astonishment. "A 3,200-plus-year-old Soul Beast…?" His voice shook slightly. "Impossible. The limit for a third Soul Ring is barely 1,700 to 1,800 years. How… how could you absorb a beast this old?"
The shock rippled through the four friends. Liu Ming, Chen Yu, and Zhao Qing could only stare, realizing the true magnitude of what Wang Yan had achieved.
Wang Lan's eyes narrowed, gaze steady but intense. "A 3,200-plus-year-old Soul Beast… Wang Yan, do you understand what this means?" His voice carried the weight of a lifetime of experience. "The Soul Ring you absorbed… it was unimaginably powerful. A Soul Master normally could not control a third Soul Ring of such an age. You were reckless."
Wang Yan bowed his head slightly, humility mixed with fatigue. "I understand, Grandpa. I… I only succeeded because my friends supported me and I controlled my focus carefully."
Wang Lan exhaled deeply, then placed a firm hand on Wang Yan's shoulder. "You were fortunate. The energy contained in a Soul Ring this ancient… if mishandled, it could have shattered your soul. Next time, you must not be so reckless. Such power is dangerous even for experienced Soul Masters."
Liu Ming, Chen Yu, and Zhao Qing exchanged glances, their respect and awe for Wang Yan deepening. They had seen the pressure, the pain, the intensity — now, hearing Grandpa Wang Lan affirm it, the reality hit harder.
After a pause, Wang Lan's gaze softened slightly. "Now that the immediate danger is over… I assume you wish to show the skill you obtained from this Soul Ring?"
"Yes, Grandpa," Wang Yan replied. "But we should be careful. The skill is powerful; I don't want to damage the village."
All five, stepped into the courtyard, the wooden beams of Wang Lan's home casting long shadows in the fading evening light. Wang Yan extended his grip on the sword, standing tall, calm.
Wang Yan stepped into the middle of the courtyard, His sword rested lightly in his hand, the tip pointing down. Around him, Grandpa Wang Lan and his three friends stood quietly, their eyes fixed on him, waiting to see what he would do. The air was calm, but heavy with anticipation.
Wang Yan closed his eyes for a brief moment. Then, from beneath his feet, the purple Soul Ring began to rise, emerging steadily from his feet. It floated upward in a smooth, deliberate orbit, hovering before him, radiating a quiet but undeniable power. The glow of the ring pulsed gently as it waited, aligned with his focus.
He lifted his sword and unleashed Rain of Swords. The single blade shot upward, rising high into the sky, and as it climbed, it split into countless swords, forming a vast cloud of blades hovering above him. Each sword moved freely yet precisely, creating a storm-like formation, ready to strike wherever he willed.
With a subtle motion, Wang Yan directed the cloud of swords. They surged forward, striking the stones in front of him. The swords smashed into the rocks, and they shattered completely — not a single piece remained. Even the ground bore the marks of the impact, but it was impossible to say that stones had ever been there. Then, he focused on two more stones at different spots in the courtyard, and the swords split precisely, obliterating both simultaneously. It became clear that the Rain of Swords could attack multiple directions at once or a single target with deadly accuracy, fully under his control.
Chen Yu's eyes widened, and he stepped back slightly. "Wang Yan… this is incredible! Even just restrained, the control and the number of swords… it's beyond what I imagined."
Liu Ming allowed a small nod, a rare sign of approval. "I agree. The precision, the flexibility… it's a truly powerful technique."
Grandpa Wang Lan's eyebrows lifted slightly, his gaze steady on Wang Yan. "Rain of Swords… hm. That is indeed a skill worthy of a powerful Soul Ring. Wang Yan, you've done well."
Wang Yan lowered his sword slightly, calm but confident. "Yes, Grandpa. This is the skill I received from my third Soul Ring. I call it Rain of Swords."
Wang Yan paused, his gaze steady, then looked at his grandpa and said, "Grandpa… during the fight, I've achieved a breakthrough in my sword technique."
Grandpa Wang Lan straightened slightly, eyes widening in surprise. A faint glimmer of pride showed on his face as he studied Wang Yan, his gaze sharp and curious. He remained silent for a moment, letting the words sink in, before nodding subtly, clearly impressed by his grandson's achievement.
End of Chapter.