Condensing a Soul Ring?

From his first life, Chen Ming had realized the foundation of Soul Masters—Soul Rings.

Through Soul Rings, Soul Masters could directly master skills that other systems required years of accumulation, diligent study, and grueling practice to obtain.

They could even directly wield many conceptual-level Soul Skills.

Soul Rings were the true foundation of Soul Masters.

As for so-called Self-Created Soul Skills, Chen Ming did not oppose them, but in his view, Self-Created Soul Skills should not stray from one's own Soul Skills.

One's own Soul Skills were the foundation.

Only Self-Created Soul Skills derived from one's own Soul Skills possessed truly limitless potential.

Moreover, developing one's own Soul Skills could even improve Soul Rings.

Chen Ming had only successfully achieved this in his second life, and the foundation for it all had been his Soul Martial Soul.

In every life afterward, he had refined his secret technique for improving Soul Rings. Later, after experiencing God-bestowed Soul Rings twice and uncovering the key, he developed this Soul Ring Filling Method.

The soul carried the true structure of a Soul Ring, then absorbed the power of a normal Soul Ring to fill it, thereby creating a genuine Soul Ring.

Afterward, Chen Ming only needed to gradually layer his new insights onto that initial structure to achieve acquired improvements to his Soul Ring.

After condensing the prototype Soul Ring, Chen Ming continued meditating and cultivating his Soul Power.

Even though the gains had become minuscule, they could not be ignored. Every bit of progress made against the limits of cultivation tempered his Soul Power, and the relationship between his Soul Power and Martial Soul would grow ever closer.

This closeness was similar to the compatibility within a Martial Soul Fusion Skill. The tighter the connection, the different the effect produced when using the same amount of Soul Power to unleash a Soul Skill. Only by combining that with one's own development of Soul Skills could their effects truly be brought to the utmost limit.

There were many ways to strengthen this connection. Besides persevering in cultivation, one also had to deeply understand the characteristics of one's Martial Soul. Even mimicry cultivation was useful.

Before leaving, Chen Dong brought Chen Ming along to awaken the Martial Souls of several families they were close to for free. Then, they bid farewell to those they knew and set out on a new journey.

Ten days later.

"Mad Saber City is almost here."

Chen Dong wiped the sweat from his forehead and let out a breath of relief.

A broad iron saber was strapped to his back, one he had borrowed from Chen Ming again. He had carried this heavy saber throughout the journey.

His explanation was that he was making up for the cultivation he had neglected over the past twenty years.

"Remember to show off the moves I taught you when the time comes. That way, the Mad Saber Sect will accept a Soul Master like you who doesn't have a saber Martial Soul. But you don't need to worry. If I can get into the Mad Saber Sect, I can put in a good word for you too."

Chen Ming said nothing.

He did not object to joining a sect.

There was no helping it. It was simply too unrealistic for a level-ten novice Soul Master to hunt Soul Beasts for a Soul Ring.

As for paying others to do it, that would waste even more time, and it would be difficult to obtain the Soul Ring he wanted.

Joining a sect was still the safer option.

Chen Ming had learned a fair amount about the Mad Saber Sect from Chen Dong. He knew that the sect had a Soul Sage overseeing it and had a fairly good reputation.

It was just rather far from Moon Gazing Village. Even traveling day and night, the two had needed ten days before they caught sight of Mad Saber City.

Once inside the city, there was no need to ask for directions.

Because from the city gate, they could see a massive saber statue in the distance.

Where the statue stood was where the Mad Saber Sect was located.

"Little brother, we've come to join the sect."

When Chen Dong arrived at the Mad Saber Sect, he found a young man wearing luxurious robes patterned with sabers and slipped him a silver soul coin.

The young man froze for a moment, then hesitantly put the silver soul coin into his Storage Soul Tool and looked over Chen Dong and Chen Ming.

"You want to join our Mad Saber Sect?" the young man asked Chen Ming.

Chen Dong rubbed his nose awkwardly and pointed at himself.

"I'm signing up too."

"You?"

The young man looked Chen Dong up and down, his expression plainly saying, Brother, are you joking?

At your age, would the sect let you in?

Unlike academies, sects placed great importance on a sense of belonging.

Leaving aside having a clean background, one at least could not have overly mature social experience. Otherwise, it would be difficult to cultivate a sense of belonging.

Chen Dong took out another silver soul coin and pressed it into the young man's hand.

Though the young man accepted it more smoothly this time, he did not put it away immediately. He still hesitated before saying to Chen Dong, "Brother, you're a bit too old. Even if I take you to the assessment, it'll be hard for you to pass."

"It's fine, little brother. Just point us in the right direction."

Chen Dong was rather confident.

Along the way, he had finally learned that he possessed Innate Full Soul Power.

Only then did Yuan Liu put away the silver soul coin. "Follow me."

On the way, Yuan Liu also asked about their circumstances.

"We both just awakened our Martial Souls."

Chen Dong had barely said half of it when Yuan Liu shot him a surprised look.

However, he did not ask any questions.

He knew that for some people, even awakening a Martial Soul was a distant dream.

"We're both at level ten Soul Power now."

Hm?

A sharp glint flashed through Yuan Liu's eyes.

"You're both at level ten Soul Power?"

"That's right."

"How long has it been since your Soul Power awakened?"

"Thirteen days?"

Yuan Liu narrowed his eyes slightly, then nodded.

"Then it seems both of you have quite good talent. By the way, can you reveal your Martial Souls?"

"My Martial Soul is a broad saber, called Wolf Lord. Xiao Ming's Martial Soul is his body."

Body?

Yuan Liu was surprised again.

He stopped walking and turned to look at the two of them.

"You have a Body Martial Soul?"

"Yes."

After thinking for a moment, Yuan Liu changed direction and led them toward another area.

"I'll take you to see my teacher."

Chen Dong wanted to say something, but seeing Yuan Liu already ten meters away, he kept his mouth shut, grabbed Chen Ming, and followed.

Yuan Liu led the two deep into the Mad Saber Sect.

Along the way, they passed Mad Saber Sect Soul Masters of all kinds, all dressed in clothing bearing saber patterns. They were all very respectful when they saw Yuan Liu.

Finally, after passing through a bustling area, they entered a secluded region, where a small courtyard came into view.

Blood-red light flickered within the courtyard, and heart-palpitating waves spread out from inside.

A look of surprise appeared on Chen Ming's face.

Such powerful blood and vitality.

Could this be...?

Upon entering the courtyard, Chen Ming saw a bare-armed middle-aged man regulating his breathing, seemingly having just finished cultivating.

The middle-aged man opened his eyes and looked at Yuan Liu.

"Who are they?"

"Teacher, they've come to join the sect." Yuan Liu did not delay and reported everything. "This Chen Ming is six years old and has a Body Martial Soul."

A sharp light appeared in the middle-aged man's eyes.

In the next instant, he seemed to turn into an afterimage and arrived before Chen Ming.

Chen Ming's senses caught the man's trajectory. He could have dodged if he wanted to, but there was no need.

He allowed the middle-aged man to grasp and inspect his arm.

Facing the middle-aged man directly, Chen Ming could basically confirm that this man also had a Body Martial Soul. He might even be a disciple of the Body Sect, though it was somewhat strange for someone from the Body Sect to appear in the Mad Saber Sect.

"What exact body part is your Martial Soul?"

"It's my body itself. My entire body is."

"Teacher, he has Innate Full Soul Power," Yuan Liu added from the side.

The middle-aged man's expression became extremely exaggerated.

He stepped forward and said in a deep voice, "I need to examine your condition."

After receiving Chen Ming's permission, he injected Soul Power into Chen Ming's body and circulated it through him once.

After his Soul Power entered Chen Ming's body and completed an examination, Lei Zhen's eyes erupted with a terrifying light. The blood and vitality throughout his body surged, as though a thunderclap had exploded within their hearts, leaving them terribly uncomfortable.

"Good!"

"The Mad Saber Sect accepts you. However, you cannot take a master for now. Follow me and cultivate during this period."

After speaking to Chen Ming, Lei Zhen looked at Chen Dong again.

"Although you awakened your Martial Soul late, since you came here with this kid, you can stay too."

Chen Dong looked utterly bewildered.

Why did this feel like something was off?