First Soul Ring

Shrek Academy, Sea God Island

As soon as Mu En and Zhang Lexuan returned, they went to find Shen Yichen.

In the courtyard outside the little attic, the mountain-like Titan Giant Ape was at death's door.

"This is my First Soul Ring?" Shen Yichen examined the Titan Giant Ape curiously. He hadn't expected Xuan Zi, who was always dropping the ball, to actually find such a top-grade Soul Ring.

Only...

No matter what quality of Soul Ring he absorbed, he would probably have to replace it with Form Gathering and Qi Dispersal in the end. Looking at it that way, wasn't giving him this top-grade Soul Ring a waste?

"What is it, little fellow? Are you dissatisfied with this Soul Ring?" Mu En asked kindly.

"No, no."

Forget it, forget it. If it could be caught, then this was its fate!

Shen Yichen summoned the Golden Cudgel. One end of the branch-thick cudgel instantly grew as thick as the mouth of a bowl, and with a bang, it smashed the Titan Giant Ape's head into a puddle of paste in one clean blow.

"Ew~" Shen Yichen felt a little queasy at the bloody mess. He didn't think he'd used much strength, so how was the damage so exaggerated?

Just like when he had first awakened his Martial Soul: the Golden Cudgel weighed a mere ten thousand-plus jin, yet Xuan Zi had failed to catch it in his haste.

Was a Level 98 Titled Douluo really that weak?

Not necessarily.

According to the physics formula for kinetic energy—one-half mass times velocity squared—velocity had a greater effect on kinetic energy than mass did.

The Golden Cudgel felt weightless in his hands, and Shen Yichen really had no idea how fast it moved the instant he swung it.

While Shen Yichen's thoughts wandered, a yellow ring of light soon formed above the corpse in front of him.

Mu En examined it. "About three hundred and sixty years old. Just guide it in and absorb it with your Soul Power."

At that age, it wouldn't pose any problem for the little fellow, whom Elder Lin had carefully trained since childhood.

Hearing this, Shen Yichen immediately sat down cross-legged and released his Soul Power. Just as he was wondering how to guide it, the guiding motion came naturally to him.

The feeling was like a newlywed couple who were muddled about everything yet could still follow their instincts and find the right entrance in the bridal chamber.

Zhang Lexuan and Mu En had no idea that Shen Yichen was thinking about such shocking stuff while absorbing his Soul Ring...

A hot, warm current flowed into him from outside his body.

It first surged through his lower abdomen, then spread to his limbs.

That instant sensation of comfort was like taking flight!

No wonder people loved cultivating, no matter which world they came from...

The Soul Ring absorption was nearly complete, and Shen Yichen now knew what Soul Skill the Titan Giant Ape had given him.

Titan's Strength: upon activation, strength increased by one hundred percent for ten minutes.

For anyone else, the effect of this Soul Ring was indeed quite good.

But... did playing with the Golden Cudgel require strength?

Even if one hundred jin of strength doubled, it would only be two hundred jin. Compared with the Golden Cudgel, which weighed at least thirteen thousand five hundred jin, there wasn't much difference between one hundred and two hundred.

As for later on?

My three attributes of mind, body, and technique improve every day. Would I really be short of that little boost in strength?

Compared with raw numbers, what I need more right now is a useful mechanic!

Making an immediate decision, Shen Yichen applied the Soul Skill template to his First Soul Ring.

Once he was done, Shen Yichen stood up from the grassy patch in the courtyard, brushed the blades of grass off his butt, and grinned. "Mu En, Sister Lexuan, my Soul Skill will definitely blow you away."

Zhang Lexuan smiled. "Come on, let's see it."

"Okay!"

Zhang Lexuan watched the little fellow before her perform, her attention fixed on him. She didn't know why, but seeing this sunny, cheerful little fellow always put her in a much better mood for no apparent reason.

Only, even after a long while, the little fellow still hadn't made a move.

"What is it? Have you already finished using your Soul Skill?"

As soon as Zhang Lexuan finished speaking, two slightly chubby little arms suddenly wrapped around one of her thighs.

She looked down just as the little fellow raised his head, and their eyes met.

"Well, Sister Lexuan, what do you think of my Soul Skill?!"

Zhang Lexuan looked back at the spot where the little fellow had been standing. The little white-haired fluffball there still had his hands on his hips, looking pleased with himself.

"This is... a clone?"

"Wwong!" Shen Yichen shook his little head theatrically. "That's a False Body. I leave a False Body behind, and my real body turns invisible!"

After actually using it, Shen Yichen had also discovered another nifty use for the Soul Skill.

The instant he activated it, when his real body left the False Body, there was a movement effect similar to invincibility frames.

And as long as the clone wasn't broken, it could stay in place for an extremely long time!

This Soul Skill was worth it!

As he spoke, Shen Yichen unconsciously squeezed Zhang Lexuan's thigh with his little hand.

Zhang Lexuan was nine years older than Bei Bei, and Bei Bei was three years older than Shen Yichen.

Zhang Lexuan was exactly twelve years older than Shen Yichen and had just turned eighteen this year.

An eighteen-year-old beauty was a flower in full bloom~

Did Shen Yichen have designs on his eldest senior sister? There was no need to ask.

As an Otherworldly Demon, aside from not tearing his daughter into three pieces, he was not much better in character than Tang San.

Power, strength, beautiful women—he wanted them all!

Only...

Even though he was getting handsy, in his eldest senior sister's eyes, it was just a child's way of showing affection.

Not only did she not sue a four-year-old for touching her butt like those "sisters" in his previous life, she even reached out and scooped Shen Yichen into her arms in a cradle hold.

She gently brushed her cheek against Shen Yichen's forehead. "Little Yichen is amazing. With this Soul Skill, even without relying on the Golden Cudgel's weight, you'll have few rivals among Soul Masters of the same level."

Shen Yichen: "..."

He didn't know why, but he sensed a dazzling maternal quality in his eldest senior sister.

Even my own mom never held me like this.

No, this isn't right. If you treat me like a child, how am I supposed to win you over?

On the other side, seeing how close the two were, Mu En also smiled in relief.

Shrek has successors...

Only...

Could this Titan Giant Ape produce a Soul Skill involving clones and invisibility?

However, the question only lingered in Mu En's mind for a moment. After all, the world was vast and full of wonders, and top-tier Soul Beasts like the Titan Giant Ape were far too rare. No one could guarantee that this kind of Soul Beast would always produce a strength-type Soul Skill.

After all, the Diary Copies had only appeared a few days ago, and Mu En wasn't a copy holder, so he didn't connect the Soul Skill with a reward from the Diary.

"All right, little fellow, get a good rest today. Tomorrow, you'll start cultivating with me."

"Yes, Teacher!"

Shen Yichen seized the chance to establish the relationship. If I want to turn Shrek into my Shrek, I have to get this old man's support. Taking him as my teacher is nothing to be ashamed of.

Mu En's face was full of smiles. This child is clever.

With his hands behind his back, he strolled toward the exit.

Suddenly,

"Oh, right, girl, get yourself ready over the next few days. As soon as we find the Soul Ring you need, we'll set out immediately!"

Shen Yichen: What? Aah!????