Chapter 9: Limb Rebirth, Undying Body! Liu Yuan's Second Soul Skill
"Success!"
Tang Ya could not hold back her sharp gasp of excitement. She stared wide-eyed at the ground beneath Liu Yuan's feet, where two distinct rings of light pulsed with rhythmic intensity. One glowed a vibrant, energetic yellow, while the other radiated a deep, oppressive purple.
"He actually managed to absorb it! A thousand-year second Soul Ring!" Her voice pitched higher with disbelief. "His physical body is just too monstrous!"
Standing beside her, Bei Bei's eyes reflected the purple luminescence. He nodded slowly, a deep sense of admiration settling into his usually calm gaze. "It is indeed incredibly rare."
He crossed his arms, analyzing the energy fluctuations rolling off the youth. "Under normal circumstances, the absolute limit for a Soul Master's second Soul Ring hovers around the seven-hundred-year mark. Crossing the thousand-year threshold is a death sentence for anyone without an exceptionally tyrannical physique. The violent energy would simply tear their meridians apart."
Bei Bei let out a quiet breath. "The fact that Liu Yuan can achieve this without his body collapsing is enough to prove his extraordinary foundation."
"I wonder what kind of Soul Skill he managed to extract from that perverse Soul Spider?" Tang Ya cupped her chin, leaning forward with burning curiosity. "The Soul Spider's innate ability is Rebirth, but Soul Skills usually mutate and adapt according to the Soul Master's own Martial Soul..."
A few paces away, Huo Yuhao remained entirely silent. He stood in the periphery, his gaze fixed on the high-spirited youth sitting in the center of the clearing.
At this moment, Liu Yuan's clothes were torn and stained with dirt from the grueling hunt, yet his entire presence had undergone a heaven-shaking transformation. His posture was straight as a solitary pine. The overlapping yellow and purple rings bathed him in a majestic light, elevating his aura to something dangerous and untouchable.
Huo Yuhao subconsciously raised a hand, his fingers gripping the fabric over his chest. A heavy, suffocating wave of bitterness and envy clawed at his throat. He bit the inside of his cheek, tasting iron.
'Liu Yuan is about the same age as me...'Huo Yuhao thought, his knuckles turning white.'But he is already a Soul Grandmaster. He casually absorbs a thousand-year Soul Ring. And me... what do I have?'He lowered his head, letting the shadows hide the complicated emotions swirling in his Spirit Eyes.'Sigh...'Deep within Huo Yuhao's Spiritual Sea, Skydream Iceworm let out a long, drawn-out groan. The massive, chubby silkworm thrashed around in the golden mental waters, rolling over its own fat rolls with an expression of deep regret.'Stop looking, Yuhao, stop looking! The more you look at him, the sadder you get!'Skydream Iceworm grumbled, its voice echoing in Huo Yuhao's mind.'This kid was simply born to inherit Brother's glorious mantle! He has a terrifyingly strong mental force and a physical body tough enough to crush boulders. If only I could turn back time, I would have definitely glued myself to his thigh instead!'
Just as the boy and the million-year worm wallowed in their respective miseries, the dense energy swirling around Liu Yuan finally began to settle. He had completely exited his cultivation state.
Slowly, Liu Yuan opened his eyes.
Hum—!
In that exact instant, the very air in the forest seemed to freeze solid.
Bei Bei, Tang Ya, and even the distant Huo Yuhao felt a sudden, violent spike of pressure. The moment they inadvertently made eye contact with Liu Yuan's newly opened Double Pupils, a catastrophic dizziness slammed into their minds.
It felt as if an invisible sledgehammer had swung through the air and smashed directly into the back of their skulls. Their vision fractured into white static. They were instantly dazed, the ground tilting wildly beneath their feet.
"Ugh..."
Tang Ya's face drained of color. Her delicate body swayed violently, her knees buckling as she pitched forward. Fortunately, Bei Bei possessed quick reflexes. He lunged forward and caught her by the waist, bracing his legs to keep them both from collapsing.
But Bei Bei himself was faring no better. He shook his head vigorously, his elegant features twisting into a grimace of pure shock. "What a terrifying mental force fluctuation! Just a single, accidental glance... it can actually make me feel this disoriented?"
A loud thud echoed nearby. Huo Yuhao had fallen directly onto the grass. He sat there, his face ashen, his Spirit Eyes wide with absolute terror as he clutched his throbbing temples.
'Brother Skydream! This... what is going on?'Huo Yuhao cried out internally.'My head feels like it's going to split open...''Nonsense! That kid's mental force just experienced a massive, explosive growth from absorbing the thousand-year Soul Ring, and he hasn't managed to fully converge it yet!' Skydream Iceworm retorted unhappily, its tone dripping with thick, unadulterated jealousy.
The fat worm huffed, blowing bubbles in the Spiritual Sea. 'His mental force already completely crushed yours in terms of pure quality, and now the sheer quantity has caught up too. If he had directed that at you on purpose, a concentrated blast of his mental force could have turned you into a drooling idiot before you even blinked!''Too perverse... he is really too perverse...' Skydream Iceworm muttered to itself, rolling onto its back.'Brother is so sad!'
Back in the clearing, Liu Yuan quickly realized something was wrong. He saw the pale faces of his companions and immediately clamped down on his aura.
He composed himself, forcibly dragging the overflowing, chaotic mental force back into his Spiritual Sea. The demonic, overlapping light in his Double Pupils gradually faded, the intense pressure dissipating as his eyes returned to their usual, deep calmness.
"Sorry about that. My apologies."
Liu Yuan stood up, brushing the dirt from his knees. He walked briskly over to the group, cupping his hands in a polite, apologetic gesture. "I just experienced a breakthrough and could not control the sudden surge in power. Thank you all for acting as my protectors during the absorption. I, Liu Yuan, will remember this favor."
"Brother Liu Yuan, you are far too polite. Since we agreed to travel together, this is exactly what we should do."
Bei Bei rubbed his temples, finally recovering from the lingering vertigo. He waved his hand dismissively, though his eyes burned with intense curiosity as he looked at the youth. He voiced the question that was burning in everyone's mind. "So, how is it? You took such a massive risk to absorb a thousand-year Soul Ring. The harvest must be significant, right? What exactly is your second Soul Skill?"
As soon as those words left his mouth, Tang Ya straightened up, and Huo Yuhao scrambled to his feet, dusting off his pants. Both of them pricked up their ears, staring at Liu Yuan with heavy expectation.
That was a thousand-year Soul Ring! And it originated from a bizarre, highly lethal Soul Spider!
Hearing the question, Liu Yuan did not answer immediately. Instead, he closed his eyes, his consciousness sinking inward to carefully inspect the new pathways carved into his body.
A moment later, his eyes snapped open. A mysterious, highly pragmatic smile curled the corners of his lips. "The harvest is indeed huge. However... this Soul Skill is a bit special. It is difficult to properly explain just by talking about it. I might need you all to help me test it."
"Test it? How do we test it?" Tang Ya blinked her large eyes, tilting her head.
"Hmm..." Liu Yuan rubbed his chin, his gaze shifting directly to the eldest male of the group. "Brother Bei Bei, your raw attack power is the strongest among us. Why don't you use your Thunderous Dragon Claw to strike me with all your might? Let us see what happens."
"What?!"
Bei Bei flinched, startled by the sheer absurdity of the request. He waved his hands repeatedly, his expression turning serious. "Brother Liu Yuan, what kind of dark joke are you making?"
He took a step back, shaking his head. "You know the destructive power of my Thunderous Dragon Claw. Even a thousand-year Soul Beast with thick armor would be left cut and bruised if it took a direct hit. Although your physique has become significantly stronger after absorbing the ring, you are still mortal flesh and blood. What if I fail to hold back and permanently cripple you?"
"Yes, Liu Yuan, do not mess around!" Tang Ya hurriedly chimed in, stepping in front of Bei Bei. "We can figure out the mechanics of your Soul Skill slowly. There is absolutely no need to risk your life for a simple test!"
Liu Yuan looked at their concerned faces and sighed, shaking his head helplessly. "But... if I do not sustain a severe injury, I cannot demonstrate this Soul Skill. Because it is a... recovery-type Soul Skill."
"Recovery-type?"
The three of them froze, completely stunned by the revelation.
"That is right." Liu Yuan nodded, his tone entirely matter-of-fact. "Just like the innate ability of that Soul Spider. I need to see exactly where its upper limit lies."
"That still will not do!" Bei Bei refused firmly, his jaw set in stubborn resolve. "What if the skill fails? What if the recovery is not fast enough and you bleed out? This is far too risky. I absolutely cannot raise my hand against a companion."
Looking at Bei Bei's rigid stance, Liu Yuan felt a fleeting sense of helplessness. He had to admit, Bei Bei was indeed a genuinely good person, bound by his own strict moral principles and bottom lines.
However... Liu Yuan was a pragmatist to his very core.
If he did not test the absolute limits of this ability right here, right now, how could he accurately factor it into his future combat calculations? Knowledge was power, and hesitation was a weakness he refused to entertain.
"Since Brother Bei Bei is unwilling to assist..."
Liu Yuan sighed softly. In the next fraction of a second, the calm warmth in his eyes vanished, replaced by a chilling, razor-sharp ruthlessness.
Swish!
He flicked his right wrist. A cold gleam of metal flashed in the sunlight as a sharp steel dagger instantly materialized in his grip. It was the Class 1 Soul Tool dagger he had previously used to harvest materials from dead Soul Beasts.
"Liu Yuan, what are you doing?!" Huo Yuhao shouted, his voice cracking in panic.
Before anyone could even twitch a muscle to stop him.
Liu Yuan's expression turned entirely indifferent. Without a single micro-expression of hesitation, without even a flinch, he raised the dagger. The blade turned into a streak of cold light as he slashed it viciously downward, aiming directly at his own left wrist!
Puchi!
The sickening sound of metal cleaving through skin, muscle, and bone echoed in the quiet forest.
A massive spray of bright red blood erupted into the air!
"Ah!!!" Tang Ya shrieked in absolute horror, throwing her hands up to cover her eyes.
Bei Bei and Huo Yuhao's pupils contracted to the size of pinpricks. Their hearts felt as if they had stopped beating entirely.
Right before their eyes, Liu Yuan's left hand had been cleanly severed at the joint! Crimson blood gushed from the stump like a ruptured fountain, painting the grass red. The severed hand hit the ground with a wet thud, the fingers still violently twitching from residual nerve reflexes!
Ruthless!
This guy was an absolute lunatic!
Just to test the parameters of a new Soul Skill, he actually chopped off his own hand without blinking an eye?!
"Liu Yuan! Are you insane?!" Bei Bei roared, his usual calm demeanor shattering completely. He lunged forward, his hands glowing with soul power as he desperately tried to apply pressure to the spurting stump. "Quick! Yuhao! Get the hemostatic medicine from the bag! Hurry!"
"Do not rush."
Liu Yuan's voice was eerily steady. Although his face had lost a fraction of its color from the sudden blood loss, his expression remained exceptionally calm. A faint, almost clinical smile hung on his lips.
He raised his bleeding, stumped wrist, gently pushing Bei Bei's frantic hands away. He looked directly into Bei Bei's panicked eyes.
"Watch."
The next second.
"Second Soul Skill — Undying Body!"
Hum—!
The deep purple, thousand-year Soul Ring hovering beneath Liu Yuan's feet suddenly flared to life, emitting a blinding, majestic light.
At the exact same moment, the overlapping irises of his Double Pupils ignited. A deep gray-white aura intertwined with a vibrant, emerald-green light, erupting from his body in a tidal wave of pure, concentrated life force!
Immediately following that surge of energy, a scene unfolded that would be permanently burned into the nightmares and memories of everyone present.
From the smooth, bloody cross-section of Liu Yuan's severed wrist, countless fine, pinkish granulation tissues suddenly burst forth.
These threads of flesh seemed to possess a frantic, ravenous life of their own. They squirmed wildly in the air, intertwining and knitting together at a terrifying speed!
White bone rapidly extended and reshaped itself. Blue and red meridians snapped into place, pulsing with fresh blood. Thick layers of muscle and flesh rapidly filled out the skeletal structure, and finally, smooth, unblemished skin stretched over the newly formed tissue to seal the construct!
The entire gruesome, miraculous process took no more than three breaths of time.
A brand new, perfectly intact left hand had literally grown out of thin air!
Liu Yuan slowly flexed his new fingers, the joints popping softly as he tested the grip strength. He wiped the residual blood from his wrist, his smile widening into one of absolute satisfaction.
And as they stared at the pristine hand attached to the youth's arm, then down at the dead, severed hand still lying in the bloody grass...
Bei Bei, Tang Ya, and Huo Yuhao stood frozen like statues, completely and utterly dumbfounded.
How... how was this even possible?
[Akarin's Note:
Enjoying the story? Dropping a quick review, comment, or Power Stone means the world to me and keeps these daily updates flowing!
Want to read 50 chapters ahead or just want to help keep a shameless translator alive? (My livelihood actually depends on this, haha 😭). You can support me directly here:
(P.S. Just remove the brackets and replace the [.] with a regular dot . to use the links!)
✨ Patreon (50 Advanced Chapters): patreon[.]com/AkarinTL
☕ Ko-fi (Support / Sponsor): ko-fi[.]com/AkarinTL
🔗 All My Links: linktr[.]ee/AkarinTL
Thank you so much for reading and keeping this project alive!]