Chance Encounter on the Return Journey—Please Read On

Chance Encounter on the Return Journey

Si Si said this, then hugged Xu Changqing, leaned back against the tree trunk, and closed her eyes to rest.

The soft sensation against his back made Xu Changqing rather uncomfortable. He squirmed a little, but ultimately chose to lie still.

Since he could not resist, he might as well lie back and enjoy it. —Lu Xun!

After dozing for a while, Xu Changqing was still far too excited about obtaining his Soul Ring to feel the slightest bit sleepy. He whispered, "Si Si Jie, are you asleep?"

"I'm asleep." Si Si replied without even opening her eyes.

Xu Changqing: ""

"Si Si Jie, could you teach me spear techniques?"

At the mention of something serious, Si Si opened her eyes and asked in confusion, "Aren't you a Summoning System Soul Master? What are you practicing spear techniques for? Unless your Martial Soul is a spear-type Martial Soul, practicing with a spear brings very little benefit and wastes time. It's not worth it. Little Changqing, listen to your sister and focus on studying your lyre Martial Soul. That's better than anything else."

After saying that, she stroked Xu Changqing's little head and closed her eyes again.

Xu Changqing's face was filled with hesitation.

He still had another Martial Soul—the Dragon Scale Spear. Sooner or later, he would have to add Soul Rings to this Martial Soul as well, and it would become one of his primary combat methods in the future.

Yet he knew absolutely nothing about spear techniques. Soul Skills might compensate for some of his weaknesses, but he could not possibly rely on Soul Skills in every battle, could he?

No one had unlimited Soul Power. He had to learn the basic moves and combat techniques of spearplay!

Otherwise, when he used the Dragon Scale Spear Martial Soul in the future, his combat strength would be greatly reduced.

Naturally, the sooner he began honing his spear techniques and building a solid foundation, the better. And right now, he had a ready-made teacher before him. Si Si Jie's Soul Power rank might not be especially high on the Douluo Continent, but teaching him some fundamental spear techniques should not be a problem.

What Xu Changqing hesitated over was whether to reveal his second Martial Soul. Twin Martial Souls were simply too shocking on the Douluo Continent. They could easily invite trouble, perhaps even fatal disaster, even if both of his Martial Souls were incomplete.

Should I reveal it? He hesitated for a long time, recalling every little thing that Tao Shu and Si Si Jie had done for him over the past day.

Without question, though they had known each other only briefly, both of them had treated him extremely well. Perhaps part of it was early investment or lending a hand when convenient, but Si Si truly treated him like her own younger brother. The occasional warmth she showed could not be faked.

Xu Changqing, Xu Changqing. Tao Shu and Si Si Jie have treated you so well. They gave you money, helped you hunt a Soul Ring, and taught you all sorts of knowledge. They may not be family, but they're better than family. Yet you're still afraid of this and that. Aren't you judging gentlemen with the heart of a petty man? And you call yourself an upright gentleman, a model young man.

Thinking this, he gave a bitter smile. On second thought, he was just a six-year-old brat with no money, no power, and half-crippled talent. What was there about him worth coveting?

If that was the case, what did it matter if he revealed it?

He lightly patted the hand wrapped around his waist. Si Si helplessly opened her eyes again. After being busy all day and going through several battles, she was indeed somewhat tired. But she knew Su Yuntao was even more exhausted than she was. She wanted to rest for a while, then go relieve him.

Yet Xu Changqing kept disturbing her rest. This little brat was so disobedient. She would have to find a chance to spank him someday and experience the joy of being a mother in advance. It would definitely be fun.

With that thought, Si Si pinched Xu Changqing's cheek and asked irritably, "Little thing, what is it now?"

Xu Changqing spread open his left palm. "Si Si Jie, look."

With a slight circulation of Soul Power, a pencil-length miniature spear sprang from the center of his left palm and quietly floated above his hand.

"Hm?" Si Si froze, not quite reacting at first.

Then her pupils widened instantly, all traces of sleepiness vanishing as she cried out, "You have Twin Martial Souls!"

"What? Twin Martial Souls?"

Su Yuntao, who was standing watch not far away, heard that and hurried back in a few quick strides. Stopping beside them, he stared blankly at the miniature spear in Xu Changqing's left palm, his mouth wide enough to fit an egg.

"Si Si Jie, I really do have Twin Martial Souls. When Tao Shu awakened my Martial Soul earlier, I discovered that I had another one. But I hid it and didn't reveal it then."

As Xu Changqing spoke, he glanced at Su Yuntao somewhat sheepishly. Then he poured Soul Power into the miniature Dragon Scale Spear in his hand. The Dragon Scale Spear immediately enlarged, transforming into a short spear roughly one and a half meters long—a length better suited to Xu Changqing's current height.

"You little rascal, you fooled me." After recovering from his shock, Su Yuntao flicked Xu Changqing on the forehead and scolded him with a smile.

"What are you doing?" Si Si shot Su Yuntao a glare, pulled Xu Changqing tighter into her embrace, and treasured him even more. "Little Changqing, ignore him. What you did was right. In the future, don't casually reveal all your secrets in front of others. It can easily make people jealous and draw unwanted attention, unless you have the strength to protect yourself. Do you understand?"

Xu Changqing nodded to show that he understood. "Si Si Jie, I grew up in the Notting Orphanage. In six years, no one has ever treated me as well as you and Tao Shu have. You've taken care of me all the way, just like family. I don't want to hide this from you. I won't tell anyone else."

After hearing Xu Changqing's words, Si Si's eyes reddened, and her maternal affection overflowed even more. Stroking his head, she said gently, "Then from now on, treat me as your real older sister. Remember, if anything happens, you can always come to your sister for help."

"Okay." Xu Changqing answered, smiling brilliantly.

With just a few words, the two of them established this sibling relationship. As for Su Yuntao, as always, he had no say in the matter. But judging by the way he was smiling like a blooming chrysanthemum, he presumably had no objections.

Afterward, the three examined Xu Changqing's new Martial Soul. It was a pitch-black spear. Its butt resembled the tail of a Divine Dragon, with a sharp tip at the end. The shaft was tightly covered in layer upon layer of dragon scales that extended upward all the way to a dragon head with its mouth slightly open. A glint of cold light emerged from the dragon's mouth, bright silver and chilling.

Its only flaw was that several large sections of dragon scales were missing from the shaft. Those gaps drew the attention of all three of them.

"Little Changqing, don't tell me this Martial Soul is incomplete too?" Su Yuntao asked uncertainly, frowning slightly.

At his words, the smile vanished from Xu Changqing's face. He nodded bitterly. "The Dragon Scale Spear is indeed incomplete. I don't know why, either. Its limit is the same as my Five Dragon Lyre—it can only have five Soul Rings at most."

"How can something like this happen?!"

Su Yuntao could not understand. He truly could not understand. Xu Changqing was clearly a peerless genius, so why had both his Martial Souls encountered such bizarre problems?

Could it really be that heaven envied the talented?

Seeing Xu Changqing's dejected expression, Si Si felt heartbroken for him as well. Rubbing his little head, she comforted him, "Don't be sad. Your talent already surpasses that of most Soul Masters on the Douluo Continent. Becoming a Soul King in the future is practically guaranteed. A Soul King is already very impressive. In the future, your sister will teach you all of her spear technique experience."

The next morning, the warm sun rose.

The entire Soul Hunting Forest was filled with a fresh scent, floral fragrance drifting through the air as morning dew glittered everywhere.

"Woohoo!!!"

A Golden Divine Dragon suddenly burst out from the dense forest like a nimble swimming serpent, winding and circling through the ancient trees as it sped forward.

Xu Changqing sat astride the Golden Dragon's neck, shouting in exhilaration. This feeling of taking off was freaking awesome!

He had never expected that he, too, would one day soar upon a dragon.

Earlier, he had suddenly wondered whether the Golden Dragon could carry him into the sky. To his surprise, it really could!

What a pity the Golden Dragon was still a little too small. If it were as thick as a water vat, he could stand steadily atop its head. That would be far more stylish than his current straddling posture.

The only problem was that it consumed a lot of Soul Power.

At present, he could only maintain this method of travel for five minutes.

"Slow down, Little Changqing! Slow down! Be careful not to crash into a Soul Beast and get ambushed!"

Behind him, Su Yuntao and Si Si raced at full speed after the soaring Golden Dragon. As they watched Xu Changqing frolicking through the forest ahead, their eyes held the gratified pride of seeing a younger member of the family make something of himself.

This trip to the Soul Hunting Forest had been worthwhile. They had contributed to this First Soul Skill with so many functions, after all. They shared in the honor.

"Hm?"

Xu Changqing, who was happily riding the Golden Dragon, suddenly spotted two familiar figures ahead, one large and one small. With a flick of his right hand, the Golden Dragon swayed its head and tail as it whistled toward them.

Tang San was startled at first. But when he saw Xu Changqing sitting on the Golden Dragon's neck, he relaxed slightly, though a trace of amazement soon appeared in his eyes.

"Little San, what a coincidence."

The dragon's head swooped down sharply. Xu Changqing jumped off and greeted him with a smile.

"Did you tame this Soul Beast?" Tang San looked at the Golden Divine Dragon quietly coiled behind Xu Changqing, both curious and envious.

A dragon!

This was a Divine Dragon!

In his previous life, Tang San had heard of this legendary divine beast. Its appearance was exactly as described in the Tang Sect's records.

There were actually Divine Dragons on the Douluo Continent?

"A Soul Beast?" Xu Changqing paused, then realized Tang San had misunderstood. He explained, "This is my First Soul Skill, not a Soul Beast."

"Your First Soul Skill?"

Tang San looked at Xu Changqing, then at the Golden Divine Dragon coiled behind him, completely dumbfounded.

The Golden Dragon's summoning time had run out as well. As though to prove Xu Changqing's words, its body began to break apart, turning into specks of golden light that scattered away. After a few breaths, it vanished completely before Tang San's eyes, as if it had never existed at all.

"It really is a First Soul Skill?"

Tang San thought of his own First Soul Skill, then compared it to the Golden Divine Dragon that had been behind Xu Changqing just moments ago. The corner of his mouth twitched.

Damn it, comparisons really did hurt!

Fortunately, Xu Changqing's Martial Soul was flawed, so his future achievements would definitely not surpass Tang San's!

That made Tang San feel a little more balanced.

"What happened to Master?"

Looking at Yu Xiaogang lying on the ground with his eyes tightly shut, Xu Changqing asked even though he already knew the answer.

"Teacher, something is coming!"

Tang San was only halfway through his sentence when he suddenly turned toward the direction Xu Changqing had come from. Two figures sprang out from there.

"Master Su Yuntao?"

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(End of Chapter)