Extreme Modification No. 9 Beast Soul Ring

Su Yuntao froze for a moment, not understanding the term at all.

Before he could react, Cai Kun had already pulled out the camera the system had given him.

Cai Kun leaned in beside Su Yuntao and pointed the lens at both their faces.

"Look at the camera and smile!"

Click!

A blinding white flash burst forth.

Su Yuntao thought it was a prank and instinctively raised a hand to shield his eyes. He heard the soft whir of turning gears, and a piece of cardstock slid out of the bottom of the device.

Cai Kun shook the photo, and the developing fluid quickly brought the image to life.

In the picture, the young Soul Grandmaster's mouth hung slightly open in astonishment, while a little boy stood beside him, grinning without a care in the world.

[Ding!]

[Mandatory check-in task completed: take a photo with the legendary guide, 'Su Yuntao'.]

[All functions of the "Douluo Travel Guidebook" have been unlocked.]

[The beginner's gift pack has been delivered to the backpack. Please check it, host.]

The crisp notification sounds rang out one after another in his mind.

Cai Kun deftly tore off the photo, pressed the shutter again to make a copy on the spot, and respectfully offered it to Su Yuntao with both hands.

"Brother Tao, this one's for you, as a keepsake. You looked especially cool when you possessed your Martial Soul just now!"

Su Yuntao took the palm-sized card, his likeness reproduced on it in the finest detail, and stared at it in utter amazement.

The thing was neither metal nor wood. It gave off no Soul Power fluctuations, nor was it a manifestation of a Martial Soul.

"This... how was this made?"

Su Yuntao turned the photo over and over in his hands, his eyes full of wonder.

"Just a little country toy I tinkered together myself."

Cai Kun grinned, stuffed the camera back into his pocket, and bounded out the door.

Su Yuntao couldn't be bothered to ask further and continued awakening the Martial Souls of the remaining children.

"Next..."

No sooner had Cai Kun slipped out of the branch hall's doors than he ducked behind a woodpile.

The faint blue screen popped up before his eyes again, densely packed system settlement windows flooding it.

[Beginner guidance task: photo with the guide (completed).]

[Core system "Douluo Travel Guidebook" has been fully loaded!]

[Settling the exclusive beginner's travel gift pack...]

Crisp notification sounds rang in his ears in quick succession.

[Reward one: beginner's travel fund issued. Basic Soul Power increased by ten levels through an infusion!]

Boom!

As soon as the words fell, Cai Kun felt a scorching current of warmth surge up from his lower abdomen.

The heat rushed into his limbs and bones like a flood bursting through a dam.

It instantly brought Cai Kun from level zero to level ten.

[Reward two: first vehicle-mimicry Soul Ring unlocked-the hundred-year yellow ring, Extreme Modification No. 9 Beast!]

[Soul Ring automatically fused. It will grow dynamically with the host's level.]

Cai Kun instinctively raised his right hand.

A bright yellow ring of light quietly appeared around the front of the train. Unlike a traditional Soul Ring, its surface was engraved with patterns of interlocking gears and metal tracks.

This was his first Soul Skill-Super Acceleration.

Once used, it could increase his speed to 30 km/h. His speed would gradually rise as Soul Power was consumed, reaching a maximum of 300 km/h.

Then the third notification sounded:

[Reward three: a complete set of basic travel equipment has been issued and placed in your portable storage compartment.]

Light flashed, and several items with a modern industrial style appeared out of thin air beside the woodpile.

A pair of matte-black "Swift Walker Hiking Shoes."

Their soles bore gripping patterns and felt supple and resilient. They permanently increased movement speed by fifteen percent, offered high shock absorption, were exceptionally slip-resistant, and were extremely wear-resistant.

A dark gray "Load-Reducing Backpack."

Inside was a miniature storage compartment with three cubic meters of folded space. Even when filled with heavy objects, it could remove ninety percent of the burden.

A frosted silver "Constant-Temperature Straw Water Bottle."

Whatever water was poured into it, it could lock in the temperature, and a sip could also relieve a small amount of fatigue.

And there was the professional-grade "I Was Here Camera" from before, with an anti-drop wrist strap attached.

"Now that's more like it."

Cai Kun tested the hiking shoes he had put on. They felt soft, springy, and comfortable underfoot, and he felt so light he could almost float.

Just then, the doors of the branch hall were pushed open again.

Several children walked out with their heads drooping, while Old Jack scratched at his ears and cheeks anxiously by the entrance.

In the very center of the hall, only a thin, short-haired boy remained standing in the array.

It was Tang San (child form).

The black stone in Su Yuntao's (I awakened a god-tier version) hand glimmered faintly, and a delicate blue weed slowly rose from Tang San's right palm.

"Blue Silver Grass again."

Disappointment flashed in Su Yuntao's eyes, and he waved a hand. "Trash Martial Soul, next... never mind, there's no one left."

"Uncle, you haven't tested my Soul Power yet."

Tang San spoke softly, his tone steady. His right hand quietly retreated into his sleeve, concealing the small black hammer faintly emerging in his left hand.

Su Yuntao was already very tired, but he patiently handed over the blue crystal ball anyway.

The instant Tang San placed his little hand on it, the entire crystal ball erupted with dazzling blue light, making Su Yuntao's eyes ache.

"Heavens, Innate Full Soul Power?!"

Su Yuntao cried out in shock, grabbing Tang San's arm and checking again and again.

But when he looked at the Blue Silver Grass swaying in Tang San's right hand, the excitement on his face quickly faded as though cold water had been poured over him.

"What a pity, what a terrible pity..."

Su Yuntao let go in dejection, shaking his head and sighing repeatedly. "To think it's a Trash Martial Soul, Blue Silver Grass. Even full Soul Power is wasted."

He put away the crystal ball, picked up the bundle containing his gear, and headed for the door.

Old Jack came forward to meet him outside, asking with an anxious look, "Grandmaster, is there anyone in the village who can become a Soul Master this year?"

"There's one with Innate Full Soul Power, but unfortunately his Martial Soul is Blue Silver Grass."

Su Yuntao sighed and waved a hand. "All right, old man, I have to hurry to the next village. I'll be going."

Old Jack sighed, long since accustomed to this result.

Just as Su Yuntao had started walking out of the village, Cai Kun moved from behind the woodpile.

Taking quick, light steps, he circled around in front of Su Yuntao and held out a hand to block his path.

"Brother Tao! Wait!"

Su Yuntao stopped and looked down at Cai Kun in front of him, his brows drawing together.

"Kid, you again? Didn't we already take the photo?"

Cai Kun grinned and held out his right hand with a sincere expression. "Brother Tao, could you test my Soul Power one last time?"

Su Yuntao pressed his temples, a little impatient, and his tone grew stern.

"I tested you twice in there just now, and both times you had zero Soul Power. Why are you doing this?"

"Soul Power is innate. If you don't have it, you don't have it. You could test ten more times and not a trace would appear."

He lifted a leg to step around Cai Kun, clearly unwilling to waste precious time on a child with zero Soul Power.

Cai Kun slid a foot, spun around, and sidestepped into Su Yuntao's path again.

"Brother Tao, my Martial Soul is really strange. It isn't an ordinary block of iron; it's called a high-speed train. I know you don't understand what a high-speed train is, but you just need to know it's fast."

Cai Kun's eyes shone as he said without changing his expression:

"I spent ages thinking about it outside just now. This train needs to be sensed three times before it fully activates."

"I'm burning up all over right now, and my belly's as hot as a furnace. There's definitely something moving inside!"

"Please do me this favor. It'll only take five seconds, and if there's still no response, I promise I won't bother you again!"

Su Yuntao looked at Cai Kun's solemnly certain expression, and the corner of his mouth twitched.

A Martial Soul that needed to be activated three times?

In all his years working for Spirit Hall, he had never heard such an outrageous claim.

But looking at Cai Kun's clear, determined eyes, and with the goodwill from the photo just now, Su Yuntao relented.

"One last time."

Su Yuntao took out the test ball and pressed it firmly into his hand.

"Once we're done, hurry home and eat. Stop daydreaming."

Cai Kun grinned, baring his yellow teeth. "You got it!"

Without hesitation, he slapped his right palm against the ball.

Buzz!

The previously dim crystal ball suddenly began to tremble violently.

Dazzling light burst forth between the two of them!

Not a sliver of space remained unfilled inside the ball; the light was almost spilling out of its crystal shell!

The impatience on Su Yuntao's face froze in an instant.

He had struck gold.

The leather bag in his hand fell into the mud with a thud, spilling its contents across the ground, but he didn't notice at all.

"This... this is impossible!"