Radiant Feather Douluo's Guidance

With Qian Xunji temporarily stabilized, Yu Xi followed Radiant Feather Douluo to begin his training.

Before obtaining a soul ring, he still needed to master essential knowledge and future combat techniques.

The old man and the child strolled into a Training Ground that looked utterly indestructible. It was oval-shaped, with a ring of high tiered steps around the outside. The lowest step alone stood five or six meters above the ground.

Yu Xi followed behind Radiant Feather Douluo, tilting his head to look down at the arena below.

"Yo! Fifth Brother, what brings you here? We thought you'd run off to the Star Dou Great Forest to steal Emerald Demon Bird eggs again."

In the arena, two middle-aged men who looked seventy percent alike saw Radiant Feather Douluo leading Little Yu Xi onto the steps and greeted him with smiles.

"Sixth, Seventh, are you two looking for a beating in front of my disciple?"

Radiant Feather Douluo smiled kindly as he released a trace of his aura. Ice-blue Soul Power condensed into an arrow.

"A level ninety-seven Peak Douluo!" The Qian Jun and Jiang Mo brothers cried out in alarm before immediately flattering him. "Fifth Brother, you really have double cause for celebration."

"Go play somewhere else, or I'll show you what a Peak Douluo is!"

Yu Xi could not help laughing when he heard that youthful voice. This teacher of his did not seem like someone in his seventies at all.

(He was over ninety during the Jialing Pass period; now it was when that mutt Tang San had just been born.)

Radiant Feather Douluo tilted his head and glanced at Yu Xi. Rather than getting angry, he introduced the place. "This Training Ground is exclusively for the Elders. Eldest Brother and Second Brother rarely come here; usually, it's just the five of us."

As he spoke, Qian Jun and Jiang Mo resumed their fight. Radiant Feather Douluo released a thread of Soul Power to protect Yu Xi.

"Sixth and Seventh are twins. Like us, they possess Tool Martial Souls. Watch the two brothers carefully."

Clang! Clang! Clang—

One blue and one red Coiling Dragon Staff collided repeatedly, sending sparks flying. But the younger brother was still the younger brother. Overall, Qian Jun held a slight advantage, attacking more proactively while Jiang Mo remained mostly on the defensive.

Master and disciple sat on a step and watched for around ten minutes before the two Elders determined the victor. Naturally, elder brother Qian Jun won again. The brothers then turned their gazes toward Yu Xi. Noticing that the two were looking at him, Yu Xi immediately bowed in a junior's salute.

"Greetings, esteemed Elders!"

"Little fellow, don't be so polite. Just call us Martial Uncles from now on."

Jiang Mo Douluo rested his Coiling Dragon Staff on his shoulder, his deep voice courteous.

"Understood, Martial Uncle."

Radiant Feather Douluo nodded and stroked Yu Xi's head, his tone turning somewhat serious. "Yu Xi, after watching that exchange, can you name several differences between Tool Martial Souls and Beast Martial Souls?"

Yu Xi thought carefully before answering, "Unlike Beast Martial Souls, Tool Martial Souls function outside the Soul Master's body. In theory, as long as a Tool Soul Master understands his Martial Soul deeply enough and has sufficient Soul Power to sustain it, then even without using soul skills granted by soul rings, his combat strength can be said to have no upper limit!"

"That senior Sword Douluo, Chen Xin, the guardian elder of one of the Upper Three Sects, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, must have earned the resounding title of the sect's strongest guardian by combining Soul Power as formidable as Sixth and Seventh Martial Uncles' with his personal mastery of swordsmanship."

"Not bad." Radiant Feather Douluo snapped his fingers and smiled. "Little Xi, remember this: the most important thing about soul rings is not the soul skills they grant a Soul Master, but the enormous improvements they bring in every aspect and how they promote Martial Soul Evolution. Generally speaking, most Soul Masters only use soul rings for their soul skills, but some exceptionally gifted Soul Masters can put them to other uses."

"As for how exactly to use them—what is taught belongs to others, but what you comprehend truly becomes your own!"

This was the first time Yu Xi had seen Radiant Feather Douluo so serious.

"Little Xi will remember Teacher's teachings!"

As Radiant Feather Douluo spoke, he summoned his Martial Soul. "All I can do is point out a path for you. How far you can walk it depends entirely on yourself."

"Bows have always excelled in speed on the battlefield. To put it bluntly, it's called a sneak attack. But the battlefield does not care about such things. As long as you can kill the enemy, any method is fair game!"

The sound of wind being torn apart rang out. A hundred meters away, an Ice Blue Arrow pierced straight through a poplar leaf with flawless precision.

Radiant Feather Douluo drew another arrow and continued instructing Yu Xi as he aimed. "Little Xi, some people may consider this kind of Soul Master fighting style shameless, but ignore them. We call it developing the Martial Soul's strengths. Even in an arena, as long as you stay within the rules, a win is a win. And the weak have no right to demand fairness!"

Whoosh!

For the second arrow, Radiant Feather Douluo used his first soul skill. A massive tree three hundred meters away collapsed without a sound.

"This student will keep Master's teachings firmly in mind." Yu Xi nodded heavily, then summoned the Aurora Sacred Feather Bow as well. Awkwardly mobilizing his Soul Power, he condensed a faint golden bowstring.

"Mm... don't rush to shoot. Your master still has one final thing to teach you."

"Please speak, Master."

Radiant Feather Douluo withdrew his Martial Soul and crouched down, personally teaching Yu Xi the proper posture for drawing a bow as he leaned close to the latter's ear.

"Add one more thing to what I just said. Even if you win, don't overpackage yourself to outsiders, making it seem as though the opponent you defeated was some great evil. That's hypocritical. Your master... no, the Grand Elder and his family despise that kind of behavior most."

"If you want to win, if you want soul rings and soul bones, then say so openly. Don't make up baseless excuses. The Soul Master world on this continent has always been ruled by the strong devouring the weak. If you want something, then as long as your fist is big enough, just take it! Reputation is important, of course, but don't dress yourself up to be too hypocritical, as if killing and looting were acts of justice on Heaven's behalf. Understand?!"

"Disciple Yu Xi will engrave it in his heart!"

"Good. Now nock your arrow and let your master see just how much natural talent you have for archery!"

Inside a hidden chamber of the Pope's Palace.

The three Spirit Douluo-level healing Soul Masters were quite capable. Qian Xunji's external injuries had essentially healed, though his internal injuries had yet to fully recover. He needed a full year of absolute rest.

Outside the chamber, Bibi Dong approached slowly with a bowl of medicinal soup. Her head was slightly lowered, and her pale purple hair covered most of her face. Her exposed right eye held a trace of concern. The soup in her hand was white and gave off no strange scent.

"Bibi Dong is here."

From the shadows, a faint green gleam flashed through Snake Lance Douluo's eyes as he issued a reminder.

Stingray Douluo Ci Xue narrowed his eyes and slightly stirred the Soul Power within him. "Should we report this to His Holiness the Pope?"

"Stop her first, but don't reveal yourself. I have a faint feeling that the Young Master and that little fellow may have been right."

A flash of golden light appeared as Snake Lance Douluo blocked the chamber entrance. He glanced at the medicinal soup in Bibi Dong's hands and said coldly, "His Holiness the Pope is recuperating and will not see anyone. Saintess, please return."

Being blocked made Bibi Dong somewhat surprised. She quickly adjusted her expression, her respectful tone carrying a trace of concern. "Elder Snake Lance, I heard that Teacher's serious injuries have yet to heal. This is medicinal soup I specially prepared from precious herbs, and I came specifically to visit Teacher."

Snake Lance Douluo sniffed it. There was not the slightest strange odor, and his brows furrowed slightly. "Then may I ask what herbs the Saintess used?"

Bibi Dong's expression shifted subtly as she answered, "It is... made from the pistils of Heavenly Fragrance Flowers, the sap of a thousand-year Demonic Eye Demon Tree, and hundred-year Snow Ginseng."

Hearing how casually she said it, Snake Lance Douluo lowered his guard somewhat. Still, he did not allow Bibi Dong to enter the chamber, merely taking the bowl of medicinal soup from her hands.

"I will convey the Saintess's filial devotion to His Holiness the Pope and make sure he drinks it. If there is nothing else, please return."

"This..." Bibi Dong's expression changed slightly as she did her utmost to hide the urgency in her eyes. "Elder, how about I bring it in myself, I—"

Whoosh!

His Martial Soul emerged, pointed directly at Bibi Dong. Snake Lance Douluo's expression turned half-cold. "Saintess, I do not wish to repeat myself. You do not yet have the authority to order me around!"

Bibi Dong appeared frightened. Cold sweat ran down her forehead as she hid one hand behind her back, clenching her fingers tightly. On the surface, however, she gave an awkward smile. "Then I shall take my leave. I hope Elder will remind Teacher to drink it while it is hot."

Snake Lance Douluo answered with an indifferent "Mm." With his other hand behind his back, he signaled to the red-and-gold figure Bibi Dong could not see.