Level Ten

"What are you looking for?" Yu Xiaogang asked, watching Shi Yi's back in confusion.

Coming back to his senses, Shi Yi stopped what he was doing. "Do you have any books here about Soul Tools?"

"Why are you suddenly interested in Soul Tools?"

"Shouldn't I be interested in objects that can be controlled with Soul Power?" Shi Yi countered.

Yu Xiaogang's slightly stiff expression twitched. "There aren't any here. But if you're interested, I can tell you about Soul Tools."

Shi Yi's face lit up, and he moved closer to Yu Xiaogang with a flattering expression. "What would you like to talk about?"

The corners of Yu Xiaogang's lips rose slightly. At some point, a belt had appeared in his hand.

The belt was entirely black, covered in dark patterns that were impossible to distinguish without close inspection. Twenty-four milky-white pieces of jade were evenly embedded along its length. Each was round and no larger than an adult's thumbnail. Their color was warm and lustrous, clearly precious jade of exceptional quality.

"This..." Shi Yi's eyes lit up when he saw Yu Xiaogang take out a Storage Belt. No books was fine; having the real thing to study worked too.

"My friends and I found this belt during an expedition. It was given to me as my share of the reward. It has little use for me, but you should be able to use it in the future. Take it and study it." Yu Xiaogang smiled.

Just as Shi Yi was about to take it, Yu Xiaogang pulled his hand back slightly and smiled. "So why are you suddenly interested in Soul Tools?"

Shi Yi looked helpless. "What else could it be? Although I've solved my talent problem, the skills gained from Soul Rings are all unleashed by Little Ant. Since my own body is weak, I need to find ways to protect myself, such as Self-Created Soul Skills or combat-type Soul Tools."

Understanding appeared on Yu Xiaogang's face. He handed the Storage Belt to Shi Yi and nodded slightly. "That is indeed a good idea. But researching Soul Tools will likely be difficult for you. Very few have been passed down through the ages, and most have no offensive capabilities."

"So other types of Soul Tools have also been passed down? Have you read any books about Soul Tools?" Shi Yi asked Yu Xiaogang.

Yu Xiaogang nodded. "As far as I know, there are not only offensive types, but defensive types as well, and even many functional types. However, I haven't read any books specifically about Soul Tools. These objects seem to have appeared suddenly, as though they have no inheritance at all."

Shi Yi pondered his words. These Soul Tools should have been left behind by ships from the Sun Moon Continent that had come to the Douluo Continent.

Even Yu Xiaogang hasn't seen any. It seems Spirit Hall won't have them either. Then again, if Spirit Hall had methods for making Soul Tools, wouldn't they have crushed the Tang Sect's hidden weapons long ago? Shi Yi thought to himself.

Shi Yi carefully examined the Storage Belt in his hand. Each thumbnail-sized piece of jade bore intricate patterns. He understood that these were the Core Formations of the Soul Tool.

Even the Core Formation of such a simple Storage Soul Tool is this exquisite. It's hard to imagine just how far Soul Tools will have developed ten thousand years from now.

As Shi Yi stared at the patterns on the jade, a trace of fascination flashed through his eyes.

When I get the chance, I need to learn about materials and blacksmithing. If I want to make Soul Tools, it looks like I can only feel my way across the river myself.

"I suggest you study Self-Created Soul Skills instead. You are not the only one to recognize the potential of Soul Tools, but to this day, none of the major powers have successfully made even a single Soul Tool. That is why Soul Tools remain so expensive," Yu Xiaogang told Shi Yi seriously.

Shi Yi nodded. Making Soul Tools was also tied to one's strength. For now, borrowing some of Tang San's hidden weapons would be enough to keep himself safe.

Afterward, Shi Yi carefully observed the Core Formations engraved on the jade pieces of the belt. Seeing this, Yu Xiaogang smiled and shook his head, then stopped paying attention to him. He understood that scholars devoted to research often trusted only their own judgment.

These Core Formations are rather similar to the meridians in the human body. They serve to circulate Soul Power. If a Soul Tool were dismantled, its most important components would naturally be the material and the Core Formation. I can find places to learn material knowledge and blacksmithing, but for Core Formations, I have neither an engraving knife nor any knowledge. Such tiny, intricate formations must consume a great deal of Mental Power to engrave. Where should I begin?

Shi Yi pondered as the words "Core Formation" kept circling through his mind.

Formation, formation, formation... formation... formation.

That's it. Since the Core Formations engraved on Soul Tools are so tiny, why don't I enlarge them until they are big enough for me to practice freely?

Before Shi Yi could celebrate for long, another problem emerged. If the operating principles of Soul Tools were simplified, a new issue became apparent: Shi Yi could not afford large pieces of precious metal.

Soul Tools were based on the properties of materials. Core Formations were engraved onto special materials, then activated through a Soul Master's Soul Power.

In other words, to verify whether an engraved Core Formation had the intended effect, Shi Yi needed a fist-sized piece of special material and would have to repeatedly test the formation by engraving it.

What a money-burning hobby. I'll deal with it later, Shi Yi thought helplessly. Being poor was his biggest problem right now.

The next morning, Shi Yi sensed his Soul Power break through and opened his eyes in delight.

"You're awake? Pack up. We're leaving," Yu Xiaogang's voice reached Shi Yi's ears.

"Teacher, I broke through." Shi Yi spoke to Yu Xiaogang excitedly. He was about to receive his first Soul Ring.

"You broke through?" Yu Xiaogang froze briefly, then his expression turned to surprise. Reaching level ten at eight years old—children who cultivated normally with a Meditation Method needed at least level four or five Innate Soul Power to possibly reach that level at this age.

Even in the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, this would count as quite good. So long as he persisted in his cultivation and accumulated enough time, he could at least reach the Soul Emperor level. Moreover, based on Yu Xiaogang's assessment of Shi Yi over the past two years, Shi Yi's cultivation speed was clearly increasing continuously.

The Twelve Meridians were even more effective than Yu Xiaogang had imagined.

At that thought, a trace of desolation appeared on Yu Xiaogang's face. If this Cultivation Method had appeared earlier, perhaps he too could have become a powerful figure like his idol.

Seeing this, Shi Yi could only quietly pack his things. He could only sympathize inwardly with Yu Xiaogang's personal circumstances. Shi Yi could not promise anything right now, but if he had the chance, he was still willing to help Yu Xiaogang. Although many people considered Yu Xiaogang unqualified as a teacher, without him, Shi Yi would probably still be worrying every day about making a living. How could he have such a relaxed environment now, where he could read every day? Even Tang San had blacksmithing skills to support himself, but what could Shi Yi do?

Yu Xiaogang soon composed himself. While most of Nuoding Academy's teachers and students were still asleep, Yu Xiaogang and the dean of Nuoding Academy led Shi Yi and Tang San out through the academy gates.

"Teacher, where are we going to find Soul Beasts?" Tang San asked Yu Xiaogang.

"We're going to the Soul Hunting Forest, four hundred li northeast of Nuoding City. The Empire raises Soul Beasts there. We will definitely find one suitable for you," Yu Xiaogang told Tang San.

Then Yu Xiaogang looked at Shi Yi. "Xiao Yi, you've already planned your Soul Ring choice, haven't you?"

Shi Yi nodded casually. "What good stuff could the Soul Hunting Forest possibly have? A Thousand Jun Ant, obviously."

The dean of Nuoding Academy looked at Shi Yi in surprise. He knew what Shi Yi's level had been when he enrolled, but since it concerned cultivation, he could not ask too many questions.

Yu Xiaogang nodded slightly. Although there were quite a few insect-type Soul Beasts in the Soul Hunting Forest, most insect Soul Beasts did not possess particularly outstanding abilities at the hundred-year stage. The Thousand Jun Ant was an exception.

The Thousand Jun Ant was a Soul Beast with extremely tenacious vitality. Its body possessed outstanding defensive capabilities and tremendous resistance to blows, while its strength was incomparably great. It had power far beyond what its size should allow, yet as Soul Beasts, they possessed no Soul Skills.

They could be found in any Soul Beast Forest. Though their defenses were decent, they were ultimately limited, and they lacked offensive means. Although they had great strength, it was difficult for them to put it to use. Their powerful reproductive abilities were why they continued to exist, and they were an excellent choice for many commoner Assault System Soul Masters.

With the dean accompanying them, Yu Xiaogang did not need to prepare white radishes as ammunition for Luo Sanpao. The four hired a carriage and headed toward the Soul Hunting Forest. Along the way, Yu Xiaogang explained knowledge about Soul Masters and Soul Beasts to Tang San. Even the dean listened with great interest.

Although he was the dean of Nuoding Academy, his strength had only just entered the Soul Ancestor rank. At this moment, Shi Yi saw the difference clearly. Comparisons were deadly, and inferior goods were discarded beside superior ones. However mediocre Yu Xiaogang might be, he had at least fought alongside Liu Erlong and Flender in high-level battles. Combined with Yu Xiaogang's background and experiences, the knowledge and insight he possessed were not things ordinary Soul Masters could compare to.

From an all-knowing perspective, Yu Xiaogang was naturally useless compared to those true experts. But one had to admit that in an era when most Soul Masters struggled to reach the Soul Saint rank, Yu Xiaogang's knowledge and experience surpassed those of most people. At the very least, he could perform a Martial Soul Fusion Skill with a Soul Saint, had witnessed what a Soul Saint's battles were like, and had followed Liu Erlong and Flender to many places that low-level Soul Masters could never reach.

Of course, Ning Fengzhi's claim that whoever gained Master gained the world was best treated as a joke. Perhaps Ning Fengzhi had meant that winning over Yu Xiaogang would earn Tang San's support. After all, Yu Xiaogang could represent Blue Lightning to some extent, while Tang San possessed Twin Martial Souls as Yu Xiaogang's disciple. The Clear Sky Sect had no reason to let such a genius slip away. Add in the relationships among the Shrek Seven Devils, and only by connecting all of that together could such a claim of gaining the world perhaps be justified.

As Yu Xiaogang continued explaining, Tang San became increasingly convinced by him, and his tone grew increasingly intimate.

Four hundred li was neither a particularly long journey nor a short one. It was not until noon the following day that they reached their destination, the Soul Hunting Forest.

After passing through the market outside the forest, Yu Xiaogang and the dean quickly led Shi Yi and Tang San into the woods.

"We have entered the forest now. From this moment on, neither of you is to leave my side or the dean's side, not even for one step."

"Yes, Teacher," Tang San answered. Shi Yi nodded as well.

At this point, Yu Xiaogang summoned Luo Sanpao. Under Tang San's astonished gaze, Luo Sanpao appeared by Yu Xiaogang's feet and rubbed against him lightly. Then he came over to Shi Yi and rubbed against Shi Yi's calf to show affection. Over the past two years, Shi Yi had spent plenty of time with Luo Sanpao while following Yu Xiaogang. Luo Sanpao could clearly sense Shi Yi's goodwill toward him.

"Xiao San, didn't you want to know what my Martial Soul is? This is my Martial Soul. You can call it Luo Sanpao, or simply San Pao," Yu Xiaogang introduced.

Tang San said in surprise, "But isn't a Beast Martial Soul supposed to manifest through possession? Why is it...?"

"Teacher's Martial Soul and mine are both mutations," Shi Yi said slowly. "Teacher and I call this kind of mutation a Living Mutation."

As he spoke, Shi Yi slowly raised his hand. With a thought, Little Ant appeared in his palm.

Little Ant had undergone earth-shaking changes. The most noticeable was its size. From the size of an ordinary ant, it had grown much larger. Under Shi Yi's deliberate guidance, its intelligence had also become higher.

"So Senior Disciple Brother is also..."

Tang San looked at Shi Yi's and Yu Xiaogang's Martial Souls, his expression growing even more astonished.

"Pretty impressive, isn't it?" Shi Yi chuckled.

"Enough. We can discuss Martial Souls after we return. First, let's find suitable Soul Beasts for you two. San Pao, lead the way," Yu Xiaogang interrupted their conversation and instructed Luo Sanpao.

"Luo luo."

The fat Luo Sanpao waddled forward, swaying his head from side to side. Though his body was plump, his movements were still quite nimble. As he walked, he kept sniffing at something.

"San Pao has a keen sense of smell. He can detect the traces of Soul Beasts and judge their strength," Yu Xiaogang briefly explained to the group.

Using a dragon like a dog—Yu Xiaogang really is in a league of his own, Shi Yi secretly laughed.

The four continued exploring. Whenever they encountered a Soul Beast, Yu Xiaogang would teach Tang San the relevant knowledge about it. However, most of the Soul Beasts they saw along the way were ordinary Ten-Year Soul Beasts.

The forest was larger than Shi Yi had imagined. It made him feel that there might be more people in this Soul Hunting Forest than hundred-year Soul Beasts.

They searched for half a day. Although quite a few suitable Soul Beasts appeared, most were not old enough. They had arrived in the afternoon, and before long, patches of dim yellow appeared among the trees and undergrowth.

After looking up at the sky, Yu Xiaogang said, "It seems we'll have to spend tonight in the Soul Hunting Forest. Let's find somewhere to camp first."

Yu Xiaogang chose a depression in the terrain as their campsite. The surrounding landscape was complicated, enclosed by many towering trees. Just as Tang San was about to scatter insect-repelling powder, he noticed something.