Tuoba Yan slightly raised his palm, and Soul Power poured forth like a trickling stream, transforming into invisible threads that precisely guided the soul ring and steadily slipped it over the Saint Martial Spirit.
Absorbing a soul ring was a very simple process. One only needed to sit cross-legged, focus one's mind, and concentrate on one's Martial Spirit.
The instant the soul ring shrouded the Saint Martial Spirit like a streak of light, Tuoba Yan felt as though he had fallen into a boiling furnace. Scorching power surged into him, raging through his meridians like torrential lava.
In an instant, his insides felt as if they were on fire. His body trembled faintly beyond his control, while beads of sweat the size of soybeans rolled down his forehead.
"No matter how the soul ring's power strikes you, you must remain conscious. Only then can you turn its power into your own!"
Tuoba Xi's expression was grave as he shouted his warning. The surging power of the soul ring battered Tuoba Yan's body like raging waves.
The Saint Martial Spirit, curled up like a stone statue, gradually brimmed with vitality under the impact of that immense power.
A short while later, Tuoba Yan abruptly opened his eyes and met Tuoba Xi's astonished gaze.
"So fast?"
Tuoba Xi blurted out in disbelief.
As a Soul Douluo, Tuoba Xi understood the process well. An ordinary soul master would need at least an hour to absorb a first soul ring, yet Tuoba Yan had only taken the time it took to drink a cup of tea. It was truly astonishing.
Tuoba Yan glanced at the still pitch-black sky, brushed the bangs from his forehead with his fingertips, and said with a hint of pride, "Maybe I'm just an exception."
"You little brat, hurry up and tell me—what exactly is your First Soul Skill?" Tuoba Xi pressed impatiently.
"My First Soul Skill came from the Celestial Horse. It is called Holy Healing Nine Turns. The deeper one's Soul Power, the stronger its healing effect. Not only can it cure all illnesses in the world, but when Soul Power is abundant, it can instantly heal all injuries and remove toxins and negative conditions. If I use the Martial Soul Avatar, it can even turn injuries into power, greatly boosting strength for a short time. It also has a time-reversal effect, but the larger the reversal's range, the greater the Soul Power consumption."
Tuoba Yan carefully explained the abilities of his First Soul Skill to his grandfather.
"An auxiliary-type soul skill?"
Tuoba Xi could not hide the disappointment in his voice.
Throughout the Tuoba Clan's history, only four people had awakened mutated Martial Spirits with Innate Full Soul Power, and Tuoba Yan was one of them.
In Tuoba Xi's mind, someone with a mutated White Armored Earth Dragon Martial Spirit ought to become an imposing battle soul master, not an auxiliary-type soul master who aided others in combat and only knew how to flee the battlefield.
"That's right. Although it's an auxiliary soul skill, I unexpectedly gained an agility boost as well!"
Tuoba Yan's tone also carried a trace of surprise.
He already knew quite a bit about the Saint Martial Spirit and understood that the Horse Talisman possessed restorative power and the ability to reverse time. However, the extra agility effect gained upon obtaining the soul ring had greatly exceeded his expectations.
Hearing this, Tuoba Xi nodded in satisfaction. "Mm. The Celestial Horse is among the best agility-attack soul beasts. A hundred-year Celestial Horse's speed rivals that of an ordinary thousand-year flying beast, so gaining an agility attribute is only reasonable."
As soon as he finished speaking, the yellow soul ring slowly descended from above Tuoba Yan's head, while a green phantom of the Saint with a human body and dragon head appeared behind him.
Unlike during his first awakening, Tuoba Yan's eyes had turned the same crimson red as the Saint's due to Martial Soul Possession. The Saint Martial Spirit, having gained the Horse Talisman, had also returned to its tall and powerful form.
Tuoba Yan raised his right hand, palm facing upward. With a thought, the Horse Talisman separated from his Martial Spirit and floated above his palm.
At the same time, having lost the talisman, the Saint Martial Spirit returned to its coiled stone dragon statue form. Tuoba Yan then handed the Horse Talisman to Tuoba Xi. "Grandfather, take it. This is the Horse Talisman from my First Soul Skill. It can cure all illnesses and eliminate every obvious injury and hidden ailment in your body!"
"Cure all illnesses?"
Tuoba Xi was full of disbelief. How could such a miraculous thing exist in the world?
Still, considering his grandson's filial intentions, Tuoba Xi reached out and accepted the octagonal Horse Talisman.
The talisman was just the right size and fit comfortably in his hand.
"There's no effect. I appreciate the thought, though." Tuoba Xi smiled and shook his head.
Tuoba Yan hurriedly explained, "Don't rush, Grandfather. My auxiliary ability is different. The talisman can be used apart from my body and needs to be activated with Soul Power. Try injecting some Soul Power into it."
There was no such miraculous item in the world that could cure all illnesses.
Unwilling to dampen his grandson's enthusiasm, Tuoba Xi treated it as playing along with a child and slowly poured Soul Power into the talisman.
In an instant, the Horse Talisman bloomed with holy white light. Tuoba Xi's entire body was enveloped in the radiance, and purple smoke rose around him.
When the light faded, he stood frozen in place, his face filled with shock as he remained speechless for a long time.
His once-loose skin became firm and elastic again. Though he had not truly regained his youth, all the hidden injuries within his body had healed. Accumulated toxic substances, damage caused by viruses, residual heavy metals, and more had all been swept away, as if he had been reborn.
Tuoba Xi's voice trembled with excitement.
"I feel even younger!"
"All the hidden injuries in this old man's body have completely healed!"
"A miracle! This is simply a miracle!"
When the harmful substances accumulated in the blood vessels, the damage caused by viruses within the body, the heavy metals built up inside the body, and all other substances harmful to the body were completely removed, it was another form of rejuvenation.
A short while later, Tuoba Xi tightly gripped the Horse Talisman in his hand and exclaimed, "Yan'er, your soul skill is too incredible. I am confident that in my lifetime, I can challenge the realm of Peak Douluo!"
When Tuoba Xi awakened his Martial Spirit, he had Innate Soul Power at rank eight. He had joined a Soul Hunting Team from a young age and often lived on the edge of danger, accumulating many problems in his body.
Though his hair had turned white, he was actually not yet seventy years old.
For a Soul Douluo-level soul master, seventy was only middle age, with life barely past its halfway point.
The problems in his body had made Tuoba Xi appear old.
After his excitement subsided, Tuoba Xi returned to his usual calmness. He patted Tuoba Yan's shoulder with his left hand and instructed him in a commanding tone, "Yan'er, your soul skill is far too heaven-defying. I have a very strong feeling that if others learn of its true effect, it will surely bring you disaster. Remember, you must never reveal its true power to anyone!"
Tuoba Yan nodded heavily. "Rest assured, Grandfather. If anyone asks, I'll only say that my First Soul Skill heals and instantly clears all abnormal conditions!"
Before you continue