Cultivation Plan!

"My first soul ring's age increased!"

Ling Qing's words left Master and Tang San speechless.

After a long silence, Master suddenly grabbed Ling Qing by the shoulders. "Your first soul ring's age can increase?"

"It increased by a hundred years!"

Ling Qing summoned the Severance Scythe, and a yellow soul ring appeared beneath his feet. The ring's color had also grown deeper and more solid. Ling Qing's first soul ring was now four hundred years old.

Master had believed his research into martial souls was already profound, but everything that had happened to Ling Qing—the mysterious eye martial soul, the Martial Soul Bone, and the increase in his soul ring's age—made Master begin to doubt himself.

Who am I? Where am I? Where am I going?

In the end, Master's theories had their limitations. His own strength was insufficient, and his horizons were consequently far narrower. Moreover, in the future, Master's theories would all be overturned.

Master rubbed his temples and sighed. "Sigh! It seems my understanding of martial souls is still insufficient."

Seeing Master's dejected expression, Ling Qing comforted him. "Teacher, you needn't be so disappointed. Your understanding of martial souls already surpasses everyone else's. It's just that soul masters themselves are full of unknowns and possibilities. No one knows what the future will be like. But humanity progresses by turning the unknown into the known, and knowledge is never unchanging."

Master rubbed Ling Qing and Tang San's heads. "Although my realm can never rise again in this life, my task from now on will be to use my knowledge to properly teach the two of you."

Seeing Master emerge from his self-doubt, Ling Qing smiled in relief. He knew that his troubles were gone!

"Teacher, we definitely won't let you down!" Ling Qing said.

Tang San said, "That's right, Teacher!"

"Alright, it's time for us to head back. Class will begin soon. Remember." Master bent down and stared into their eyes. "After you return, remember what I said. Based on your shortcomings, I'll each write you a suggestion for your future direction of development. Come collect them after school."

"Yes!"

"Yes!"

Then, the three master and disciples left the Back Mountain.

After classes ended that morning, Ling Qing received the suggestions Master had written for him.

"Ling Qing, you need to understand yourself and recognize your talents. I don't know what your future will be like, but I have a feeling that you and Xiao San will both become peak figures on the Douluo Continent! Your scythe martial soul possesses the traits of both assault-type and agility-type martial souls, so my suggestion is that you become a Battle Soul Master! Let speed and strength coexist, rather than specializing in one particular type of Battle Soul Master."

After reading Master's suggestion, Ling Qing began sorting through everything he had obtained.

Sharingan, Chakra, a Spirit Bone, a first soul ring, a growable scythe martial soul, Soul Grandmaster-level Mental Power, and level thirteen Soul Power.

At present, his Sharingan was still in its most basic state and could not yet display much use.

He had never cultivated his wind-attribute Chakra, and although he possessed Chakra, he did not know hand seals and could not unleash any techniques.

There was still one thing he did not understand about his First Spirit Skill.

He also had no suitable method for cultivating Mental Power.

Ling Qing sat on the bed in the dormitory and began circulating his Chakra.

Chakra was physical energy extracted from each of the human body's 130 trillion cells, combined with spiritual energy forged through extensive training and accumulated experience.

By that logic, Chakra cultivation methods could also be used to cultivate his Mental Power.

Soul Power came from absorbed natural energy, while Chakra originated from oneself. Except for Sage Mode—Sage Mode required an additional portion of natural energy.

However, cultivating Sage Mode was dangerous, and Ling Qing did not dare to try it rashly.

Ling Qing needed to test and verify the remaining question, so he went to the academy's Back Mountain.

"First Spirit Skill, Severance!"

Ling Qing unleashed the skill at a massive boulder.

"Bang!"

The spirit skill struck the boulder, sending countless small stones flying.

"Severance!"

"Severance!"

"Severance!"

Ling Qing continuously unleashed his First Spirit Skill. Soon, on the tenth strike, the boulder completely shattered.

Ling Qing then sat down to restore the Soul Power he had expended.

A few minutes later, Ling Qing stood again before another boulder of nearly equal size.

Ling Qing gripped the handle with both hands and raised it high above his head, his gaze blazing.

If someone had been standing beside Ling Qing, they would have discovered that he seemed to have become one with the scythe.

Ling Qing was now like a blade sheathed in its scabbard. Finally, he moved.

"Severance!"

The yellow soul ring encircled the Severance Scythe. The blade shone with a blazing light as it slashed out a solid blade aura.

The blade aura passed through the boulder as though cutting tofu, then dissipated in the distance.

Ling Qing put away the scythe and stepped forward, giving the stone a light push.

The massive boulder instantly split into two, its cut as smooth as a mirror.

This was what Ling Qing had not understood about his First Spirit Skill. As long as he used the First Spirit Skill on an object enough times, no matter what it was, he could cut through it with a single strike!

Naturally, different objects required different numbers of strikes.

Moreover, when Ling Qing swung that final slash, the color of his first soul ring deepened once again. However, the change was too slight, and Ling Qing did not notice it.

After understanding his own condition, Ling Qing began formulating his cultivation plan!

First, he needed a powerful physique. Without a good body, he would be unable to withstand immense Soul Power and Chakra. If Ling Qing wanted to absorb soul rings beyond his level, formidable physical strength was essential.

Although the advantages of physical fitness were not very apparent in the early stages, the gap would only grow wider later on.

Second, he needed to cultivate both types of energy—Chakra and Soul Power. While cultivating Chakra, he had discovered to his surprise that Chakra would drive the absorption of Soul Power and even accelerate it. This was perhaps because both were cultivated through Meditation.

The plan was complete.

"Ding, host has triggered the mission: Eight Inner Gates. Once the host's physique reaches a certain level, the host may obtain the cultivation method for the Eight Inner Gates."

Ling Qing smiled, and he smiled happily.

Everyone who had watched Naruto knew that a single cry of "Night Guy" had nearly kicked the story into its ending. And Night Guy was the triumphal song of all mortals proving their path through death!

An iron pillar, a single breath, life-risking effort, blood-spitting training—these could grant power as heavenly as paradise!

Although Ling Qing could learn the Eight Inner Gates, he would not use the Eighth Gate unless...

He had no other choice.

Back in the dormitory, Ling Qing found Tang San.

"Xiao San, can you forge several iron bars for me, like this?" Ling Qing handed Tang San a sheet of paper. "I only have one requirement: they must be heavy! Every iron bar must weigh ten kilograms. Xiao San, can you do it?"

Tang San thought for a moment, then nodded. "No problem. I'll make them for you after school this afternoon."

"Thanks, Xiao San. You're a real brother!"

During dinner that evening, Ling Qing received the iron bars Tang San had forged for him. There were ten in total.

Even with all his Soul Power, Ling Qing could barely lift something weighing one hundred kilograms.

Looking at the pitch-black iron bars in his hands, Ling Qing's eyes gleamed.

Then, the devilish training began...