Newbie Gift Pack

You Chen naturally knew that targeting Yu Xiaogang would draw the hostility of the future Pope, but he still did so without hesitation.

Because for You Chen, who had neither backing nor talent, this was an excellent opportunity during this period before he had yet risen to prominence.

Immortal herbs, whale jelly, soul bones... These opportunities could indeed help him defy fate, but none were things a one-ring soul master like him should covet.

Take whale jelly, for example. By the time he cultivated enough to buy it independently, its effects would no longer be nearly as significant.

But targeting Yu Xiaogang was different.

His so-called "Ten Core Competencies of Martial Soul" sounded impressive, but its actual theoretical level was no better than children's reading material.

What was valuable and difficult was the process by which predecessors had verified that knowledge, not his summary of it.

If it had been papers by veteran researchers, You Chen, lacking sufficient accumulated knowledge and research experience, might not have been able to refute them perfectly.

But criticizing Yu Xiaogang's theories was not difficult, even for a half-baked amateur like You Chen.

The paper You Chen had written had not displayed any particularly high level of theory either.

But his age, experience, and family background were right there!

That was enough to establish him as a "theoretical genius" and attract Qian Xunji's attention.

Especially since he had dealt Yu Xiaogang a harsh blow—the toad who, in Qian Xunji's eyes, had dared set his sights on his beloved disciple, Bibi Dong.

You Chen easily achieved his two major goals: earning Qian Xunji's favor and establishing himself as a theoretical genius.

Thus, he received a summons from Qian Xunji.

When Qian Xunji asked what reward he wanted, he naturally requested access to the Spirit Hall Grand Library.

The Spirit Hall Grand Library possessed the richest and most comprehensive collection of books on the continent. Previously, thanks to his excellent performance at the academy, You Chen had obtained borrowing privileges, but only for the first floor.

This time, however, Qian Xunji directly granted You Chen full access to the first three floors, excluding only the highest floor.

Not only would this give You Chen a foundation of knowledge and theory for publishing hypotheses and conducting research in the future, but... he truly coveted the Grand Library's collection as well.

Without a family inheritance, abundant knowledge was indispensable if he wanted to evolve his martial soul. Only by knowing the records of other soul masters obtaining soul rings, the differences between soul ring skills gained from different soul beasts, and the changes produced when different martial souls absorbed soul rings from different soul beasts could he choose soul rings better suited to himself and cultivate his martial soul more effectively.

Thus, at the age of fifteen, You Chen applied for whale jelly as experimental material under the research topic of "strengthening soul masters' physiques." Not long afterward, he published "Another Use for Whale Jelly," a document secretly archived by Spirit Hall.

Of course, from the age of twelve to fifteen, You Chen had produced far more than just this one research result.

Therefore, this research result concerning whale jelly merely further proved You Chen's intelligence.

Naturally, his applications for various research projects became increasingly easy to approve.

At the very least, getting high-ranking soul masters from Spirit Hall to help him hunt high-age soul beasts was effortless, sparing him many troubles.

At fifteen, he successfully obtained his second thousand-year soul ring. At twenty-eight, he obtained his fourth ten-thousand-year soul ring.

As for what happened afterward, everyone knew. When Bibi Dong rose to power, the former Saintess had not forgotten what had happened back then, and You Chen was naturally sidelined.

Even though Bibi Dong had extended an olive branch to You Chen after taking power, how could he know whether that crazy woman was hiding some vicious scheme? How would he dare accept it?

Over the previous twenty years, even with Qian Xunji backing him, You Chen had repeatedly been targeted and suppressed by Bibi Dong.

Let alone now that Qian Xunji was dead.

Although You Chen had taught Qian Renxue for a time, and held the status of her former teacher, Bibi Dong would most likely not dare kill him outright out of fear of Qian Daoliu. But beyond that, there was no guarantee of anything.

You Chen looked at the baffled Ye Han and smiled mysteriously. "Enough. Some things, those who understand will understand. If you don't, I can't explain them well either. If you start making wild guesses and bring trouble upon yourself, don't blame your brother for not warning you. Since you're rarely this loose-mouthed... are you itching for a beating again? Heh heh, it's been years since us brothers sparred in a soul battle, hasn't it? Shouldn't we have some fun?"

Ye Han's expression immediately changed. He set down the documents in his hand and gave a bitter smile. "Brother Chen, stop joking. With my measly skills, how could I possibly be your opponent?"

You Chen suddenly raised his head, his face filled with nostalgia. "Han, once a man reaches middle age, he starts missing his youth for no reason. I suddenly remembered that summer twenty-six years ago, when you found a few little punks to surround me... Mm, I miss it dearly."

Ye Han's eyes widened at once. Was this bastard finding an excuse to mess with him because he had nothing better to do?

"Brother Chen, go easy on me..."

"Heh, I'll only use soul power at your level. Han, let your brother see how much you've improved these past few years!"

"Brother Chen, no!"

What reason did an older brother need to beat up his little brother?

Even if he suppressed his soul power to the same realm and did not use his fourth soul skill, his physical strength and control over soul power would not be weakened.

You Chen easily gave Ye Han a thorough beating and completed the Newbie Mission.

Ding.

Congratulations, Host, on completing the Newbie Mission. Please receive your Newbie Gift Pack!

Ignoring Ye Han, who lay in the Martial Arts Arena with a pig-headed face, You Chen made a mental command and chose to receive it.

A virtual window resembling an RPG online game inventory immediately appeared before him. The Newbie Gift Pack had barely appeared in the first slot before You Chen opened it with a thought, transforming it into a pile of items.

Thirty Beginner Nutrient Pills. Each pill could provide all the nutrition a one-ring soul master needed for a full day of intensive cultivation. Their effects were comparable to the finest soul beast meat that major factions supplied daily to their disciples for cultivation.

Twenty Beginner Soul Power Pills. Each pill could instantly restore fifty percent of a one-ring soul master's soul power.

Ten Beginner Healing Pills. Each pill could instantly heal severe or lesser injuries sustained by a soul master below level twenty.

There were also ten each of Beginner Strength Pills, Speed Pills, and Soul Power Amplification Pills... As their names implied, they were all treasures capable of easily turning the tide of a soul battle for a one-ring soul master.

The final pill was called a Beginner Experience Pill. It could probably directly raise a level-ten soul master's soul power by two to three levels without any side effects. It was absolutely the kind of treasure that major factions would fight over like mad.

But...

I'm a level forty-eight Soul Ancestor!

You Chen raged internally.

His bad feeling had finally come true.

Not only had this system arrived over twenty years late, even its rewards were meant for the You Chen of more than twenty years ago!

If he had obtained these things over twenty years ago, they would have been priceless gifts in a time of need.

The Experience Pill and Nutrient Pills alone could probably have shortened the time it took him to reach level twenty by at least one-third.

But to him now, they were completely useless.

Fortunately, three more items remained in the gift pack.

Unwilling to give up, You Chen continued looking downward.

One hundred Gold Soul Coins. Not even as much as a month's salary.

"Aura Concealment Art." A special soul skill used to conceal one's aura. According to its description, once cultivated to the limit, it could completely conceal one's soul power fluctuations, life fluctuations, and spiritual fluctuations. That effect alone was enough to make You Chen's eyes light up, glad that the gift pack had not been claimed for nothing.

Moreover, after roughly browsing the preface, he faintly sensed that the Aura Concealment Art's uses went beyond this.

But he would need to cultivate it and test it before knowing for sure.

You Chen shifted his gaze.

Next came the last item.

It was an "Adaptive Best Age First Soul Ring."

Seeing "Adaptive Best Age," divine light burst from You Chen's eyes. Seeing "First Soul Ring," his vision immediately went dark.

He had already absorbed his first soul ring more than twenty years ago!