Soul Hunting Operation

After a year of Mu En's guidance, Lin Yi's understanding of his Martial Soul Origin and knowledge of soul skills had undoubtedly advanced by leaps and bounds.

Mu En truly lived up to his reputation as a renowned teacher capable of training one Titled Douluo and three Super Douluos.

In particular, Mu En's Self-Created Soul Skill—King's Descent—born from merging his Martial Soul Origin, Soul Power, and Spiritual Power, had benefited Lin Yi immensely.

Given Lin Yi's talent for comprehension, learning King's Descent should not have been difficult. Both his Spiritual Power and Martial Soul Origin far surpassed the threshold required to learn it. Though his Soul Power was somewhat lacking, the quality provided by his Extreme Attribute and the sheer quantity of Soul Power brought by the Golden Tree made that no real issue.

However, while learning King's Descent, Lin Yi had unexpectedly created several Combat Techniques by combining it with his own Martial Soul Origin. As a result, he directly set aside his progress in learning King's Descent. No matter how powerful Mu En's Self-Created Soul Skill was, it could not be more suitable than Combat Techniques Lin Yi had comprehended himself. What suited him was best.

Mu En greatly approved of this way of thinking and looked forward to seeing this young disciple forge his own path.

That day, Lin Yi finally perfected his Self-Created Soul Skills and eagerly demonstrated them to Mu En.

In the forest beside the Golden Tree, Lin Yi summoned the Golden Tree. With the same opening stance as always, he activated his First Soul Skill, Golden Growth.

Then came his Self-Created Soul Skill—Touch and You're Crippled!

There was no extraordinary spectacle. Lin Yi merely pressed his palm lightly against the ground. Under Mu En's somewhat shocked gaze, the plants around Lin Yi's palm rapidly withered and yellowed. Their life force had clearly been drained away. It was difficult to imagine what would happen if this move struck a person...

It was not over yet. Self-Created Soul Skill—Smash and You'll Scream!

Lin Yi brought his hands together. After a brief charge-up, he spread his palms, and a purple lightning orb appeared between them. He thrust both hands forward and launched it. The orb pierced through several large trees in rapid succession at a speed that gave no time to react, only slowly dissipating under Lin Yi's control.

The final move: Self-Created Soul Skill—Blind Upon First Sight!

Lin Yi had already comprehended this move back in Lightning Strike Valley. This time, he had merely perfected it.

Without anyone seeing him make a move, an incomparably condensed ball of light abruptly appeared. It exploded in an instant, and the intense glare drained all color from everything within its range...

Even Mu En, with his Cultivation Level, was dazzled when he suddenly saw that powerful light. Two streams of hot tears unconsciously ran down his face, only to be directly evaporated by his formidable Soul Power. At least he had not embarrassed himself before his disciple.

After Lin Yi finished, he released Soul Power imbued with Extreme Life, restoring all the plants whose vitality had been drained as well as the trees pierced through by the lightning orb. Only then did he look at Mu En, who was pretending to be calm despite his slightly reddened eyes.

"Master, what do you think of my Self-Created Soul Skills?"

"Heh, you little rascal. You kept them secret just so you could use that last move to ambush this old man, didn't you?"

"Hehe." Lin Yi scratched his head. "Master's Cultivation Level is so profound. How could these little tricks of mine possibly affect you?"

The corner of Mu En's eye twitched almost imperceptibly as he commented, "It seems you have understood very well what I taught you. These three moves are rooted in the four attributes of your current Martial Soul, combined with your precise control over your Soul Power and Martial Soul. That is what made them what they are today. Not bad."

"As expected of Master. You saw through the foundations of my Self-Created Soul Skills at a glance."

Mu En rather enjoyed his disciple's flattery. "I have cultivated for over two hundred years. Naturally, I possess some insight."

"Then, Master, how powerful are these moves of mine?"

"The power of a soul skill depends on the soul master using it. To a soul master skilled in combat, even a weak soul skill can produce unexpected results. You must never become arrogant or careless."

Seeing his disciple obediently nod, Mu En smiled in satisfaction before continuing, "In terms of sheer power alone, ordinary Soul Ancestors would have no ability to resist these moves. Even Soul Kings would suffer if they were careless."

Seeing Lin Yi's somewhat unenthused expression, Mu En chuckled. "What, you are only a Soul Elder, yet your Self-Created Soul Skills allow you to fight across two major ranks, and you are still not satisfied?"

"Besides, your Self-Created Soul Skills cover practicality, close combat, and long-range attacks. Even among Assault System soul masters, they would be considered outstanding."

Lin Yi seemed somewhat comforted.

Mu En's expression suddenly turned a little strange as he casually asked, "It's just that the names you gave them..."

Lin Yi said rather proudly, "Not bad, right? They carry on the same style as the ones from Lightning Strike Valley."

Mu En did not know what to say and could only reply, "They are certainly simple and easy to understand."

Indeed, Lin Yi's Touch and You're Crippled had been created by combining his Extreme Life and Devour attributes. By coming into contact with an opponent's body, it could rapidly devour the life force within. Once the life force of a particular body part was drained faster than the rest of the body could replenish it, the victim would naturally be crippled even if they did not die. It was an extremely terrifying Combat Technique.

However, it also had a flaw. Lin Yi had to make contact with his opponent's body through either his own body or his Martial Soul to use it. It could only serve as a close-range Combat Technique.

As for Smash and You'll Scream, it compressed Thunder to the extreme and formed it into a lightning orb. Once launched, it traveled so quickly that there was simply no time to react. When an opponent was struck, whether they suffered piercing damage from the rapidly moving orb or were blasted by the erupting thunder, screaming was unavoidable.

Blind Upon First Sight had already appeared back in Lightning Strike Valley. At the time, Lin Yi still needed to charge it, and the light orb also took time to explode. After Lin Yi's improvements, however, this Combat Technique had become instantaneous. Faced with a sudden burst of intense light, anyone who looked would be left disoriented.

Only...

Mu En suddenly said, "Xiao Yi, 'Touch'..." Mu En paused, finding that he truly could not bring himself to say the full name. "That Combat Technique of yours that devours life force must not be used unless it is an emergency. Its power is too great, and you are still young. It will be easy for you to lose control of it."

Lin Yi fell silent. Of course he understood Mu En's meaning. This Combat Technique resembled the methods of Evil Soul Masters too closely. Once exposed, it would be troublesome even if Mu En could protect him.

"I understand, Master."

Afterward, Mu En once again subtly expressed his incomprehension toward the names of these Combat Techniques. Leaving aside anything else, would he not be laughed at if he used Combat Techniques with such names during battle?

Lin Yi merely replied that during a fight, who would shout out the names of their moves anyway...

What kind of cringe would that be...

Lin Yi was not the only one to gain something. That evening, he learned that his father, Lin Qingxuan, had broken through to Level 80 and become a Quasi Soul Douluo.

Ever since the Golden Ancient Tree had healed his old injuries during Lin Yi's Martial Soul Awakening, Lin Qingxuan had cultivated for two years before finally achieving this breakthrough.

Moreover, according to Lin Qingxuan, quite a few Inner Court students had recently reached the bottleneck of their current stage and needed to obtain Soul Rings. Therefore, the Inner Court planned to organize a Soul Hunting Operation, sending those students out together in teams.

Lin Qingxuan would serve as the leader of this Soul Hunting Operation. On the one hand, he needed to hunt for a Soul Ring himself. On the other, as the former captain and first Support System member of Shrek's Seven Devils, Lin Qingxuan's skill in combat command and strategic planning was beyond question.

It would not only be Lin Qingxuan. Ouyang Xi would also be going. Though she did not need a Soul Ring, she was Lin Qingxuan's partner and comrade, and the tacit understanding between the two was exceptional.

Furthermore, Ouyang Xi was still the Vice Dean of the Martial Soul Department. The Inner Court students participating this time all belonged to the Martial Soul Department. Cai Mei'er, the Dean, had no time to accompany them, so Ouyang Xi, the Vice Dean, could only take her place.

Another point worth mentioning was that Ma Xiaotao would also be joining this Soul Hunting Operation. Although Ma Xiaotao had not yet entered the Inner Court, she was Yan Shaozhe's disciple and the inheritor of the Evil Fire Phoenix. With neither talent nor strength lacking, she had long been designated as an Inner Court student. Besides, she also had Cai Mei'er as her teacher's wife.

Lin Yi had not expected this cheap niece of his to cultivate so quickly. She had already reached Level 40, a Quasi Soul Ancestor.

A thought suddenly flashed through Lin Yi's mind. "Dad, I want to go on this Soul Hunting Operation too."

"No. The Soul Rings we need this time are all high-year ones. What would a Soul Elder like you be going for?"

"Dad is breaking through to Soul Douluo. I want to help too."

"This..." His son's sudden filial devotion moved Lin Qingxuan somewhat, but the problem remained the same: Lin Yi was still too weak.

"My Martial Soul shares the same attributes as Dad's and Mom's. With me there, both of you will effectively have Extreme Attributes."

Lin Yi raised the stakes again.

Lin Qingxuan and Ouyang Xi exchanged a glance, both somewhat tempted. But all sorts of accidents could occur during a Soul Hunting Operation, and neither of them instinctively wanted their son to take such a risk.

"How about this?" Lin Qingxuan compromised halfway. "Tomorrow, we will go see Elder Mu together. If Elder Mu agrees, then we will take you."

Whether it was the danger of Soul Hunting or Lin Yi's importance to present-day Shrek, Lin Qingxuan could not ignore either. Yet Lin Yi's desire to help his father obtain a Soul Ring made it impossible for Lin Qingxuan to refuse outright. So he might as well go directly to Mu En. If Mu En disagreed, Lin Qingxuan would have a reason to turn Lin Yi down. If Mu En agreed, then he could ask Mu En to send an expert to ensure Lin Yi's safety.

After this entire arrangement, Lin Qingxuan could not help secretly praising himself. In any case, he was certain to come out looking like the good guy. How could his brain be this useful? Otherwise, how could he have produced such an outstanding son...

The next day, Lin Qingxuan brought Lin Yi to the third floor of Sea God Pavilion...

Alright, I admit the names of these Self-Created Soul Skills are a bit ridiculous. The inspiration came from the weapon Cao Cao brought out in The Ultimate Three Kingdoms when I was a kid, called "One Look and You Laugh."

I know it is a terrible joke, but this is my first time writing, so I beg all you readers to let me indulge myself just once.

(If everyone really objects to these names, we can discuss changing them...)

Finally, the new book is now premium. I humbly ask for subscriptions.