Mutated Green Wood Vine

If this had been when Qing Mu had first obtained the Bulbasaur Martial Soul, he would have chosen the Ghost Vine before him as his First Soul Ring without hesitation.

Based on the characteristics of a Soul Beast like the Ghost Vine, there was a high chance he would obtain a special move: Leech Seed!

But now that Bulbasaur had already mastered Leech Seed, absorbing another Ghost Vine as his First Soul Ring would seem somewhat redundant.

"Mu'er, why do you think that?"

Upon hearing Qing Mu's words, Qing Tianfeng frowned slightly and asked in confusion.

Xu Yao also looked at Qing Mu in puzzlement, waiting for his answer.

"You both actually know the reason."

Seeing his parents' confusion, Qing Mu immediately explained, "My Bulbasaur has actually already mastered a parasitic special move. Although this Ghost Vine truly suits me, if my luck is bad and I obtain another parasitic move after absorbing it, then the special moves would overlap."

After hearing Qing Mu's explanation, Qing Tianfeng and Xu Yao both nodded in understanding.

Indeed, they had focused only on the Ghost Vine's attributes and age, overlooking Bulbasaur's unique nature.

If, just as Qing Mu had said, his First Soul Ring gave him another Soul Skill involving parasitic seeds, then in a sense, would that not be wasting a slot?

After all, the Ghost Vine could only produce a few Soul Skills. The possibility was not small.

After understanding Qing Mu's thoughts, Xu Yao could not help asking, "Then, son, since you don't want the Ghost Vine, do you have any particular Soul Beast in mind?"

At that moment, Xu Yao suddenly realized that Qing Mu was not an ordinary child. He had been far more mature than children his age since he was young. Perhaps he had already formed his own ideas about his First Soul Ring.

After pondering for a moment, Qing Mu replied, "I want to choose either a Green Wood Vine or a Fire Lamp Grass for my First Soul Ring!"

But upon hearing Qing Mu's words, Qing Tianfeng frowned. "Why do you want to choose those two Soul Beasts? Neither has the Wood Poison Attribute!"

Qing Tianfeng could understand if Qing Mu wanted to absorb a Green Wood Vine, but he completely failed to understand why Qing Mu wanted to absorb a Fire Lamp Grass as his Soul Ring.

The pure Wood Attribute of the Green Wood Vine might not compare to the Wood Poison Attribute of the Ghost Vine, but it was still acceptable.

But Fire Lamp Grass was absurd. It was a mix of the Wood Attribute and Fire Attribute, with the Fire Attribute taking the upper hand. Under normal circumstances, only Spirit Masters with a Fire Attribute would reluctantly choose to absorb one when they had no better options.

That was because the Soul Skills produced by Fire Lamp Grass were not powerful. Most likely, it would grant a Fireball with mediocre attack power. Aside from being rather bright, the Fireball had nothing special about it.

When Qing Tianfeng asked, Qing Mu answered without hesitation, "I read the books in your study and discovered that choosing a Green Wood Vine as a Soul Ring has a high chance of granting a Soul Skill that strengthens vines. Most of Bulbasaur's offensive methods come from Vine Whip, so I want to take that chance."

"As for Fire Lamp Grass..."

Qing Mu paused before continuing, "Dad, have you forgotten that trait of my Bulbasaur's?"

"Which trait?"

Qing Tianfeng was stunned at first, then immediately understood. So that was it. If that was the case, then it made sense!

Under sunlight, Bulbasaur's speed would increase dramatically. It seemed his son wanted the Fireball Soul Skill produced by Fire Lamp Grass to serve as a sun and trigger Bulbasaur's ability.

But Qing Tianfeng soon shook his head. "Your mother and I will help you search for a Green Wood Vine. As for Fire Lamp Grass, it's still too risky!"

"Yes, listen to your father. Forget about Fire Lamp Grass!" Xu Yao echoed from the side.

Although they now understood Qing Mu's intentions, it was still far too dangerous for a grass-poison Martial Soul to absorb a Soul Beast dominated by the Fire Attribute. If things went badly, it could cause a Martial Soul conflict.

Qing Mu nodded. "All right, then I'll absorb a Green Wood Vine for my First Soul Ring."

Seeing that Qing Mu did not insist on Fire Lamp Grass, Qing Tianfeng and Xu Yao immediately breathed a sigh of relief. They had truly feared that Qing Mu would insist on absorbing it and suffer some accident.

With their goal decided, their search sped up considerably. Before long, they found several Green Wood Vines, but their ages were either too low at only a few decades or too high at eight or nine hundred years.

The one that best met their requirements was a one-hundred-and-fifty-year-old Green Wood Vine. However, neither Qing Tianfeng and Xu Yao nor Qing Mu was satisfied with it, so they merely noted its location as a backup before continuing their search through the forest.

Several hours later, they arrived in a valley.

Looking at the weeds before them, which were taller than a person, Xu Yao could not help complaining, "As expected of a primeval forest that hardly anyone visits. The grass is several times taller than we are."

"Such lush grassland really is rare."

Hearing his wife's complaint, Qing Tianfeng could not help laughing.

But Qing Mu looked at the grassland before him and frowned. His instincts told him that something was wrong. The Wood Attribute energy here was far too abundant!

"Come out, Bulbasaur!"

Without hesitation, Qing Mu directly summoned Bulbasaur.

"Da Na, Da Na~"

Bulbasaur had been happy when Qing Mu summoned it, but almost the very next second, it immediately shielded Qing Mu behind itself and entered a battle stance.

At the sight, Qing Tianfeng and Xu Yao's battle instincts were instantly triggered. Soul Rings circled around them as they protected Qing Mu behind them.

Seeing this, Qing Mu's heart warmed. Their first reaction upon encountering danger had been to protect him. Even Xu Yao, a Support System Soul Master, had instinctively placed him behind her. Having parents like them was truly his good fortune.

"Son, what happened?"

Xu Yao vigilantly watched their surroundings as she asked Qing Mu.

After synchronizing with Bulbasaur's senses, Qing Mu pointed in one direction. "Mom, Bulbasaur found what seems to be a Soul Beast lurking underground over there."

"Hmph! Come out!"

Upon hearing Qing Mu's words, Qing Tianfeng's Second Spirit Ring immediately lit up, and he spat a pale violet Energy Ball toward the direction Qing Mu had indicated.

Boom—

As an explosion rang out, a gigantic Vine shining with emerald light burst from the ground. However, its tip was already somewhat wilted, as though it had been corroded, leaving it looking rather miserable.

Yet upon seeing that emerald-green Vine, the three of them were immediately overjoyed.

Because the Vine before them was precisely the Soul Beast they had been painstakingly searching for: the Green Wood Vine!