A Third Soul Skill Beyond Imagination

Lin Yi had successfully advanced to Soul Elder, but Mu En discovered that Lin Yi's Martial Soul seemed somewhat different from before.

Upon the Golden Tree, besides its original aura of Radiance and life, there seemed to be another presence. Beyond the brilliant gold, a second color had appeared.

Mu En and Beibei stared at Lin Yi's Golden Tree in astonishment.

Purple arcs of lightning leaped amid the swaying, rustling golden leaves atop the entirely brilliant-gold Golden Tree. Aside from its original Extreme Light and Extreme Life, as well as the Devour attribute gained from absorbing the First Soul Ring, the Golden Tree had unexpectedly gained a fourth attribute—lightning!

Moreover, Beibei actually sensed a faint pressure from those lightning arcs, leaving him secretly clicking his tongue in wonder. The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon was known as the continent's number-one Assault System Beast Martial Soul, and that reputation was certainly well earned. Whether its True Dragon bloodline or its own powerful Lightning Attribute, both were top-tier. Yet the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon's thunder actually felt pressured before the Golden Tree's lightning. What did that mean?

"Is your Lightning Attribute also an Extreme Attribute?"

The shock in his heart made Beibei ask the question.

Lin Yi shook his head. "It hasn't reached the extreme level. It still feels somewhat inferior to my Radiance and life. It should count as half-step extreme, or perhaps pseudo-extreme..."

Mu En smiled. "It's already quite good that your Martial Soul has gained another attribute. Try out your Soul Skill. With a Lightning Attribute, it should be a powerful offensive Soul Skill."

Lin Yi shook his head again. "Master, it isn't merely an offensive Soul Skill. I think it would be more appropriate to call it a Functional Soul Skill."

"A Functional Soul Skill?"

That was certainly a new term.

Lin Yi did not waste words. Both of them were trustworthy, and he did not feel there was anything worth concealing about this Soul Skill.

He looked around. In order to evade the rampaging Thunderfall earlier, they had already moved far away from the center of the valley. The dark clouds filling the sky could not affect this place.

Thus, his First Soul Ring lit up, and Golden Growth activated. The Soul Power required by a seventy-thousand-year Soul Ring was far too immense. Even though Lin Yi's Soul Power quality far surpassed those of his rank, he could only rely on external assistance when using this Soul Skill.

A short while later, as if he had accumulated enough Soul Power, his Third Soul Ring lit up. The Soul Power throughout Lin Yi's body rapidly drained away, yet nothing seemed to happen.

Just as they were puzzled, Mu En suddenly raised his head to look into the sky. Seeing his great-grandfather's movement, Beibei raised his head as well.

Above the Golden Tree, a vast expanse of dark clouds had unknowingly gathered. As time passed, the clouds grew larger and larger. Moments later, a cloud mass spanning a hundred meters appeared.

Beibei was already dumbfounded. A Soul Elder could accomplish something like this with his Soul Power? Was he really human?

Though Mu En did not lose his composure, his eyes were filled with shock so profound it could not be dispersed.

The dark clouds churned in the sky as though they were nurturing something. Faint rumbling sounds came from within them.

Lin Yi let out a long breath. The Soul Power consumed by this Soul Skill was terrifying...

Mu En noticed Lin Yi's reaction. "Is this your Third Soul Skill?"

Lin Yi smiled slightly. "Master, don't be impatient. This is only the beginning. The main event is about to arrive."

As though answering Lin Yi's words, the instant he finished speaking, a thunderous crack rang out. A bolt of lightning descended from the dark clouds and, amid Beibei's startled cry, struck Lin Yi's Golden Tree directly.

Mu En had wanted to intervene, but upon seeing Lin Yi's calm expression, he held himself back and continued watching.

The lightning crashed down, and the Golden Tree was immediately damaged. Golden branches and leaves scattered in every direction, while a charred black mark appeared where branches had broken. With his Martial Soul injured, Lin Yi's face turned pale as well. Fortunately, Golden Growth was still active, and his complexion soon recovered.

But it was not over yet!

Lightning descended from the clouds again, and the Golden Tree was wounded once more. Under Golden Growth, Extreme Life began to display its effects, slowly healing the injuries suffered by both the Golden Tree and Lin Yi.

Beibei's earlier alarm had turned into confusion.

Why? Why did the Soul Skill Lin Yi himself had released keep striking his own Martial Soul? It could not be that the target of this Soul Skill was random after activation, could it? Or perhaps...

Beibei secretly glanced at Lin Yi. This fellow deserved to be struck by lightning in the first place...

As though sensing Beibei's gaze, Lin Yi looked over and met his eyes. Lin Yi felt that Beibei's gaze seemed full of malice. Just as he wondered whether he had imagined it, Beibei had already looked away.

The dark clouds did not stop. Bolts of lightning continued to fall, scattering the Golden Tree's branches and leaves.

Before long, the Golden Tree, once lush with branches and leaves and brimming with vitality, had turned into a bare piece of lightning-struck wood. Its once beautiful brilliant-gold color had become charred black.

Beibei watched with growing unease, but neither Lin Yi nor Mu En spoke, so he did not dare say anything carelessly. He could only watch.

Little did he know that Mu En's heart was equally filled with bewilderment. What exactly was the effect of this Soul Skill? Was it simply striking oneself?

Watching Lin Yi's Golden Tree get blasted into lightning-struck wood, Mu En was anxious. Yet looking at his disciple, whose face was pale but who remained calm, his status as master made it impossible for him to ask. He could only worry inwardly.

Finally, when the Golden Tree had been blasted down to only half a trunk, the lightning strikes finally ceased. Counting carefully, there had been thirty-six bolts in total.

Lin Yi's face had become exceedingly pale. With his Martial Soul injured, he naturally would not feel well either.

Yet as he looked at the Golden Tree that had been blasted down to half a trunk, Lin Yi smiled instead.

"This is my Third Soul Skill, Golden Tribulation."

Following Lin Yi's words, a streak of vibrant green light emerged from the Golden Tree. The life aura it emitted alone affected the surrounding plants. Under the astonished gazes of the two men, the plants began to grow rapidly.

As the green light flowed across the Golden Tree, the tree visibly regained its vitality. The charred black faded, brilliant gold reappeared, and the trunk began to grow. Upon reaching the top, it split into branches and leaves once more.

In mere moments, the Golden Tree, which had looked half-dead just moments ago, recovered its former lushness. Lin Yi's complexion also returned to normal.

Furthermore, Mu En keenly sensed that the Golden Tree's aura had risen by an almost imperceptible amount, and its origin seemed to have grown slightly stronger as well.

Recalling Lin Yi's earlier statement that this Soul Skill was called Golden Tribulation, Mu En seemed to understand something.

Lin Yi smiled as he watched the changes in his Martial Soul. "This is the effect of Golden Tribulation. Just as I mentioned before, lightning brings not only Destruction, but also rebirth."

"The fusion of lightning and Extreme Life simulates heavenly lightning. It uses lightning to remove the dross and preserve the essence, pushing the Golden Tree beyond its limits and raising its upper limit. As for any additional offensive power, I consider that merely secondary."

Listening to Lin Yi's relaxed, delighted words, Beibei and Mu En were left with nothing but shock. Soul Masters had existed for tens of thousands of years, Martial Souls came in all forms, and Soul Skills were even more varied, yet Lin Yi's Golden Tribulation still surpassed the two men's imagination.

Was this truly something a Soul Skill could accomplish?

Unlike Beibei, who was left only with shock, Mu En became excited after his astonishment faded. Such a peerless prodigy belonged to Shrek.

As long as Lin Yi could grow safely, Shrek would have no worries for a thousand years.

Five hundred of those years were the time Mu En believed Lin Yi himself could endure, while the other five hundred would come from the prestige Lin Yi left behind.

At this moment, in Mu En's eyes, as long as Lin Yi could grow naturally, even his lingering prestige alone would be enough to protect Shrek's peace for five hundred years.

Mu En had already valued Lin Yi highly before, but Lin Yi's current performance was undoubtedly telling him that it was not enough. The previous investment and regard were not enough!

Having fully realized this, Mu En instead calmed down. Lin Yi had already become his disciple and entered Shrek Academy. From now on, all he needed to do was keep increasing the investment. With Shrek's accumulation over ten thousand years, it would always be able to feed this little fellow. It was nothing more than sparing no expense—Shrek could afford it!

Unlike Beibei's shock and Mu En's excitement, Lin Yi felt exhilarated!

Because through this Soul Ring, Lin Yi had confirmed something: the theories of the Otherworld truly worked!

The memories from the Otherworld had always been Lin Yi's greatest secret. Yet in the past, those memories had not brought him much convenience, because the Otherworld was ultimately different from the Douluo Continent. There were no such extraordinary existences there. Everything related to the extraordinary was merely theory. Without practical testing, how could one know whether those theories were feasible?

But this time, Lin Yi had gambled with a Soul Ring, betting that those theories were viable. The facts proved that he had won!

Without a doubt, the Third Soul Skill—Golden Tribulation—was a Soul Skill that had never before appeared on the continent. Its effects were undeniably powerful. At this moment, Lin Yi was certain that this Soul Skill would be the foundation of his path to the heavens.

After more than seven years in this world, Lin Yi had finally seen his own path!