The Sword God Pearl's Terrifying Trait

Half a month later, in the Martial Arts Hall, Grandfather Chen Yu was there as well.

"Grandfather, Second Uncle, based on my research over these past few days, I followed my previous plan and started with the Sword God Pearl's qualities. For now, I've tentatively decided on the direction of my first three Soul Skills."

Three Sword Pearls appeared in front of Chen Xiaojun. Yes, he no longer needed to activate all ten Sword God Pearls of his Martial Soul; he could make one or several appear in his hand.

The first Sword God Pearl was pale white and almost transparent. The second shone like moonlight rippling over a lake, glowing with an extremely gorgeous silvery white. The third pearl radiated a sharp killing intent, its whole body like reddish copper.

"After sensing and communicating with them for many days, the first represents the sword of refinement and elegance, the second represents the Supreme Unrivaled sword, and the third..."

"This third one's killing intent is very strong, not the least bit weaker than the Seven Kill Sword. Your Seven Kill Qi Concealment Technique works even better on this sword." Chen Yu had never sensed such killing intent from the Sword God Pearl before.

"That's right. It's the sword of unparalleled courage, and also an assassination sword. A warrior sets out, never to return..."

"What a fine sword!" Chen Yu praised.

"I studied our family's seven paths and found they share one common point. There are two types of Soul Skills that are essential, even for Defense Types."

"Oh? Tell me, Little Xiaojun. Let's hear what you've discovered."

"Second Uncle, this nickname changes every day." Chen Xiaojun grumbled inwardly, then said, "The first Soul Skill is a flight or speed-type Soul Skill. 'Of all Soul Skills under heaven, only speed is unbreakable.' Speed, especially sword speed, is very important to us, and it's always placed among the early-stage skills.

"The second is an area-attack Soul Skill: Ten Thousand Swords Return to Origin. Mm, even the name is the same. Every path, and even everyone I've asked, has their own Ten Thousand Swords Return to Origin. Though their power varies, it's a Soul Skill positioned in the middle to later stages."

"Haha, correct. Swordsmen always have a few things in common.

"Speed-type skills are one of our swordsmen's core elements. They're not only for rapid attacks, but also carry the traits of long-range attacks or flight Soul Skills, so they're very important in the early stage. Their frequency of use only decreases in the later stages of a Soul Master's development, once Sword Control Technique has reached mastery.

"And Ten Thousand Swords Return to Origin is absolutely the most famous signature Soul Skill of our Seven Kill Sword. It attacks with a rain of swords, combining area attack, long-range attack, targeting, range, control, flight, and other effects."

Second Uncle Chen Cong bared his white teeth in a grin. "Then what are your thoughts for your own Soul Skills?"

"My idea is that, to avoid them becoming obsolete later on, my First Soul Skill should be a speed or flight Soul Skill. Swiftness is also one of the first pearl's traits. The Second Soul Skill will be a buff skill. The Third Soul Skill will add an attack Soul Skill. This also fits the qualities of the Sword God Pearls."

After a while, Chen Cong spoke. "Mm, that works. You'll be in the village these next few years, so there won't be any danger. For your first two Soul Rings, there really isn't any rush to add attack Soul Skills.

"The logic is sound. This way, the issue of early-stage Soul Skills becoming outdated can be solved to a certain extent.

"In fact, this is also our view, and doing it this way has another advantage."

"Second Uncle, what advantage?"

"According to our ancestors' research, the First Soul Ring is as important as the seventh and the Ninth Soul Ring. It can more easily change certain qualities of the Martial Soul. If you choose a speed type, it can make your Martial Soul lighter and faster."

"Second Uncle, what if my first Soul Skill starts at the thousand-year level?"

"What?!" Chen Yu and Chen Cong cried out at the same time.

Chen Cong said decisively, "Impossible! Even with buffs, even if you choose a soul beast of the same type as your beast Martial Soul, or the gentle Soul Power of an easy-to-absorb soul beast—even Blue Silver Grass, the easiest to absorb—the first Soul Ring would be at most around six hundred years."

"That's true under normal circumstances. But Second Uncle, you forgot: my Martial Soul requires Soul Power to activate."

"Hmm. You mean that when you absorb a Soul Ring, your Sword God Pearl will absorb part of the Soul Power at the same time? In that case, you'd have to raise the soul beast's age?"

"Right. This is one of my Martial Soul's exclusive traits."

"And here I thought you only needed to inject your own Soul Power into it. So that's how it is."

"Mm. It has to be activated while obtaining a Soul Ring."

"If that's the case, big brother, Xiaojun, although part of the Soul Power will be split off and the boost reduced somewhat, that's still a reduction from thousand-year Soul Power, and it will still be higher than the Soul Power granted by other people's First Soul Rings. Most importantly, this is the baptism of a Thousand-Year Spirit Beast, and what you obtain will be a genuine Thousand Year Soul Skill!" Second Uncle roared excitedly.

The so-called "baptism" was the enhancement brought by the Soul Ring after a soul beast's death, granting the Soul Master Soul Power, Physical Body essence, and Mental Power.

"Second Uncle, to be precise, it would be around fifteen hundred years. This pearl told me it needs the Soul Power of a thousand years of cultivation to activate." Chen Xiaojun smiled.

Chen Yu, however, asked solemnly, "After a soul beast dies, aside from its innate skill and Soul Power, the power of its Soul Ring also floods in with Physical Body essence and Mental Power. If it were within the limit, that would be fine. But now you want a thousand-year one. The essence and Mental Power will greatly increase the danger. What will you do?"

Chen Yu's first concern was still Chen Xiaojun's safety.

"Use the Sword God Pearl to absorb it! I sense it every day, and it's absorbed quite a lot of my Mental Power, like a bottomless pit, so Mental Power won't be a problem.

"It can also absorb part of the essence, and essence is much gentler than Soul Power and Mental Power. As long as we choose the right soul beast, it shouldn't be a big issue.

"As for the most violent Soul Power, I can absorb around five hundred years' worth myself.

"Thanks to the clan, I've soaked in Medicinal Baths and eaten medicinal meals and Soul Beast Meat since I was young. On top of my training over the past two years, my physical condition is very good, and my physique is quite strong.

"I should be able to absorb it successfully. And if there's danger during absorption, Grandfather, as a Titled Douluo, should be able to stop it, right?" Chen Xiaojun explained solemnly.

"Assuming I successfully absorb beyond my level this time, then the second and third pearls will be the same. Three Thousand Year Soul Rings will be of tremendous benefit to my growth."

"Good! The second and third are still far off. Have you chosen which soul beast for the First Soul Ring?"

"It should be an elegant and refined soul beast. I want to choose a Pegasus, Light Feather Unicorn, or birds such as a swan or spirit crane.

"I checked the records. Pegasi existed in the Xie Luo Mountain Range in the past. They're both elegant and refined, and they're also very likely to grant speed skills, so Pegasus is the priority."

"A Pegasus indeed has a very high chance of granting speed-type Wind Attribute skills. It's a proper high-tier soul beast. The Soul Skill obtained from it would absolutely rival another Soul Master's Third Soul Skill, or even Fourth Soul Skill." Even Chen Yu could not help yearning for it.

"Chen Wu."

"Yu Bo." Hearing Chen Yu call him, Chen Wu came in.

"In these next two days, take Xiaojun to the Black Moon Forest area. Let him clash with those soul beasts and See Blood. Tell Old Black to take it easy for me."

Shaolin Mountain stretched northwest, and on this side there was a Mountain Hollow. Much of the bedrock was exposed at the top, while the surrounding area was covered in yellow soil and loose debris.

A few li north of the village, past an open stretch of land, there was a forest located at the foot of the Mountain Hollow. The trees were lush and green, including birch, lacquer trees, and poplars. Inside the forest were some low-level soul beasts, basically all under the ten-thousand-year level.

The rulers of Black Moon Forest were a pack of Black Moon Wolves. Old Black was their leader, the Black Moon Shadow Kill Wolf, and could be considered "raised" by the Chen Clan. He had witnessed the Chen Clan's century of ups and downs, and even wolves had to bow their heads under another's roof.

In truth, "raising" soul beasts was nothing unusual on the Douluo Continent. All major powers did it.

For example, Spirit Hall had the Soul Hunting Forest, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan had Lightning Valley, and the Star Luo Royal Family had the Royal Forest.

Wolf packs were among the most disciplined soul beasts. With a wolf king keeping them in line, accidents were unlikely, and their combat strength was not weak either. When it came to protecting the Chen Clan's children and serving as sparring partners, they were an excellent choice.

Of course, the Chen Clan normally gave the Black Moon Wolf Pack plenty of benefits as well. Even if the city or town needed to clear out soul beasts, they would tip off the wolf pack in advance.

"All right. I'll go greet Old Black today." Chen Wu accepted the order and left.

In truth, even without a greeting, the Black Moon Wolves would not have dared do anything. They were far too familiar with the Chen Clan's attire. It was simply that Chen Yu was overly concerned.

"Xiaojun, take this Storage Soul Tool. I should have given it to you when your martial soul awakened, but Grandfather felt the one back then was a little small, so I got you a bigger one. You know how to use it, right?"

Chen Yu handed Chen Xiaojun a blue-and-white bracelet. Around its middle was a band engraved with intertwined gold-and-silver cloud patterns, giving it a very noble appearance at first glance.

"Thank you, Grandfather. This Soul Tool looks really grand. What's it called?" Chen Xiaojun had been coveting a Storage Soul Tool for a long time. This was practically standard equipment!

Chen Xiaojun sensed it briefly. It was about three or four meters in both length and width, and nearly three meters tall, more than thirty cubic meters in total. He was very satisfied.

"Name it yourself."

"Shining Light Bracelet, then."

"You mentioned the traits of your martial soul just now. What else did you sense?" Chen Cong continued asking.

"Mm, I said earlier that activating my martial soul absorbs Soul Power. This first pearl is 1,000 years. I suspect the second and third won't absorb a fixed 1,000 years, but will increase pearl by pearl."

"Hmm, that's possible." Chen Cong nodded.

Chen Xiaojun raised a second finger and said, "Second, every Sword God Pearl has its own different special ability, just like the Seven Kill Sword comes with killing intent and can absorb killing intent for its own use. It can only be confirmed when it's activated. Right now, I only vaguely feel that this pearl should be related to wind and light attributes."

"That much is certain. How could a martial soul of this level not have something special about it?" On this point, Chen Cong agreed very much.

"Third, these ten pearls have a certain connection with one another. There's one question: do I have one martial soul, or ten martial souls? I'll need to figure out the details in the future."

"I can answer that point for you. You have both one martial soul and ten martial souls. This kind of martial soul is called a set martial soul, and it's extremely rare. Anything else?"

"That's all for now."

"A very good summary. I think you can also start from another perspective. Your martial soul is the embryonic form of a Super Martial Soul. Treat the ten pearls as a single whole and consider, from a broader perspective, what exactly this embryonic form is. Perhaps it has to do with that third point you mentioned—the connection between them."

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