Chapter 4

Hu Haoran eagerly continued reading through the cultivation manual. With the foundation of the first three layers of the Blue Electric Dragon King Art, he was not too unfamiliar with the first three layers of the Purple Firmament Thunder Art.

The Purple Firmament Thunder Art—even its name contained the violent aura of lightning. Its body-tempering methods were equally harsh. The first layer was the Water Strike Body Tempering Method: enduring the impact beneath a hundred-meter waterfall or the immense pressure in the deep sea. The second layer was the Fire Burn Body Tempering Method: using blazing flames to scorch one's body and achieve the effect of tempering it. The third layer was the most difficult and dangerous—the Heavenly Thunder Body Tempering Method. As its name suggested—it meant getting struck by lightning. For each of the first three body-tempering layers completed, the body would undergo a corresponding transformation. After completing the first layer, the body would become as fair as uncut jade, impervious to blades and spears. After completing the second layer, the body would become like gold, capable of rapid self-healing. After completing the third layer, the body would return to its ordinary appearance, immune to a hundred poisons and untouched by a hundred evils.

The more Hu Haoran read, the more alarmed—and excited—he became. Although this cultivation method was dangerous, the power it brought after success was unparalleled. The first three layers of the Purple Cloud Lightning Art were growth-type. As long as the corresponding signs appeared, it meant that level had been passed, though he could continue tempering his body afterward.

For now, what Hu Haoran focused on was the fourth layer of the Purple Firmament Thunder Art—Purple Cloud Qi Absorption. This layer mainly involved absorbing the Mysterious Yang Qi at noon, the Lunar Yin Qi at midnight, and Purple Cloud Force during thunderstorms, combining all three and gathering them in the dantian. The sign of success was Purple Qi Surrounding Body. Once Purple Qi Surrounding Body was achieved, one could enter the fifth layer, Purple Cloud Pill Formation.

After studying the cultivation methods of the first five layers, Hu Haoran felt that he should start anew with the body-tempering methods. Everyone on Douluo Continent knew that only a powerful physique could grant one more Soul Power than others at the same level. Without another word, Hu Haoran immediately opened the Douluo System and searched for the place most suitable for cultivating the Purple Firmament Thunder Art.

"Where nearby can I cultivate the Water Strike Body Tempering Method?"

"Your current location is the imperial capital of the Cangyun Empire. Within the Cangyun Empire, the most famous waterfall is the Star River Waterfall. Its danger rating is three stars, and it is three days' journey from here. It is recommended that you go after reaching level thirty."

"Uh... are there any other places?"

"The Cangyun Empire is close to the sea. You may enter the South Sea Region to cultivate. It is eight days' journey from here, with a danger rating of seven stars. It is recommended that you cultivate there after reaching level seventy."

"Damn it! That was no help at all. What a pointless question. I might as well tell my bargain-bin mother that I have a Martial Soul and let her worry about it. It would make her happy, too." Hu Haoran angrily tossed the Douluo System aside and scampered off to find Leng Xuewu.

Hu Haoran arrived before a garden, a place his mother often visited. As he remembered it, the former Hu Haoran had never sought out his mother; she had always been the one to visit him. Leng Xuewu had always played the role of a strict mother, and even his older brother and sister were greatly afraid of her. Now, he had come to the garden looking for her.

"Were you looking for me?" A crisp, clear voice suddenly rang out.

"Y-yes, Mother. There's something I want to tell you." Hu Haoran was startled, but he quickly calmed down.

"Oh? What is it? As I recall, you've never come looking for me."

"My Martial Soul has awakened!"

"What?!"

"My Martial Soul has awakened!"

"Summon it and let me see!"

"Come forth! Soaring Sword!"

A one-foot-seven-inch sword wrapped in Purple-Gold Veins emerged from Hu Haoran's palm. The Purple-Gold Veins gave it an air of mystery. The Soul Seal on the back of Hu Haoran's hand shone intensely, as though it were showing off.

"You really have awakened a Martial Soul. Good, very good. It's even a sword-type Martial Soul." Leng Xuewu smiled brilliantly. She was extremely happy that Hu Haoran had awakened a Martial Soul; after all, no one wanted their son to be useless. "Come with me now."

Leng Xuewu led Hu Haoran into the training room. This was Leng Xuewu's private cultivation chamber, and it was extremely spacious. Its sturdy walls were built from the rare Black Iron Stone Essence of Douluo Continent. Even the full-force strike of an eighty-ninth-level Soul Douluo could not break them. A room built this way was sufficient for Leng Xuewu to cultivate her arts and Soul Skills within.

"Come here. I'll test your Innate Soul Power." Leng Xuewu searched around for a while before finally finding a crystal ball. It contained nine colors—red, yellow, blue, green, cyan, orange, purple, black, and white—dazzling and brilliant. "Place both hands on the Testing Crystal, then calm your mind and focus on your Martial Soul."

Hu Haoran did as instructed, gently placing both hands on the Testing Crystal ball and closing his eyes. In his mind, he meditated upon his Martial Soul, the Soaring Sword.

At that moment, the Testing Crystal ball emitted a dazzling nine-colored radiance. The colors continuously flickered and intertwined, breathtakingly beautiful. Leng Xuewu was dumbfounded by the sight.

"How is this possible?! Innate level-twenty Soul Power. This is super-genius level! He didn't awaken a Martial Soul even at six years old, yet the moment he awakened one, he had Innate level-twenty Soul Power. This joke is far too outrageous!!!" Leng Xuewu was stunned by everything before her. Hu Haoran's situation had already surpassed the bounds of her understanding.

Hu Haoran was also stunned by what his mother had said. The Martial Soul given by the system was really incredible! It had saved him the effort of cultivating twenty levels in one go. As long as he obtained two Soul Rings, he would become a Soul Master. Not only could he study at Shrek Academy, but he could also register with the Battle Soul Master Guild as a Soul Master and receive a fixed monthly salary.

"Since you possess a Martial Soul and have Innate level-twenty Soul Power, I'll directly pass down to you the cultivation methods of our family's Blue Electric Dragon King Art, from Soul Warrior to Soul Saint." Leng Xuewu quickly regained her composure and took out a thick book from her storage Soul Tool ring. "The cultivation methods beyond Soul Saint have already been lost by the family. You must take responsibility for finding them again. This is the mission of every member of the Blue Electric Tyrant Dragon Clan. You must cultivate the family's art properly."

"Yes, Mother. I will definitely recover the cultivation methods our family has lost," Hu Haoran declared solemnly.

"Ding~ Congratulations on completing the Family Heirloom Cultivation Art mission. Reward: cultivation art modification. The Blue Electric Dragon King Art has been upgraded from a Saint-tier cultivation art to a Heaven-shaking Tier cultivation art and renamed the Blue Lightning Dragon Emperor Art." A voice suddenly appeared in Hu Haoran's mind. "Congratulations on triggering the storyline mission: Find the family's cultivation art. Your current level is too low. The mission will reopen when you reach level sixty-one, Soul Emperor."

"Mother, if there's nothing else, I'll go back and cultivate right away." Hu Haoran could not wait to return and study the upgraded Blue Lightning Dragon Emperor Art.

"That's fine. Go back and make your preparations first. In one week, I'll take you to the Canglan Mountain Range to hunt Soul Beasts and obtain the Soul Rings that belong to you," Leng Xuewu replied unhurriedly.

Hu Haoran's eyes lit up at once. As long as he obtained two Soul Rings, he would become a Battle Soul Master from then on. His path to becoming a powerhouse would begin there.