Three figures appeared in the outskirts.
Qian Chaoyun led Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong into the forest outside Shrek City.
In the clearing, Qian Chaoyun nodded in satisfaction. "This place meets the requirements perfectly. There's plenty of space."
Huo Yuhao stepped forward and asked, "Senior, can we begin?"
Wang Dong said impatiently, "I really want to know how Senior grew so quickly and became so strong. Yuhao and I will listen carefully."
Qian Chaoyun spread his hand, and a wooden sword sprang out of his Storage Soul Tool. He said to them, "The two of you can attack me together. I'll point out the shortcomings in your cultivation."
"Oh, right. You can use your soul skills and Martial Soul Fusion Skill. I won't use my martial soul or Soul Power. I'll guide you using only my physical body."
Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong were stunned.
This... wasn't that a little too much?
They could understand him not using his martial soul, but not using Soul Power either? Could Senior really withstand them?
At that moment, Qian Chaoyun gave them a look. Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong exchanged glances and immediately stopped hesitating.
The next instant, Huo Yuhao's eyes lit up, and his first purple thousand-year soul ring rose.
This was the thousand-year soul ring he had obtained after entering the Star Dou Great Forest alone.
He had obtained this thousand-year soul ring when he woke up after being attacked by a Wind Baboon, and it had also granted him a powerful soul skill.
"First soul skill, Mental Illusion."
In the next moment, Qian Chaoyun was dragged into a spiritual space by a surge of Spiritual Power. A figure appeared before him—it was his other self.
This soul skill was pretty interesting. An Inner Demon Illusion.
It seemed Huo Yuhao did not have Tian Meng, so some god king had given him a cheat instead. This soul skill was clearly not something a thousand-year Soul Beast could grant.
"Heart Like Still Water."
Yet Qian Chaoyun merely closed his eyes and instantly shattered Huo Yuhao's illusion-type soul skill.
The moment he looked up, Wang Dong was already flying toward him, activating her first soul skill, Wing Scythe Blade.
Qian Chaoyun raised his hand, and the wooden sword in his grasp moved continuously, blocking Wang Dong's Wing Scythe Blade.
After several exchanges, Wang Dong not only gained no advantage, but also could not find a single opening in her opponent.
Meanwhile, Huo Yuhao's figure flashed rapidly, darting back and forth like a ghost. He activated Purple Demon Eye to help Wang Dong find an opening while throwing Dragon Whisker Needles.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—!
The fine needles came screaming through the air. Qian Chaoyun held his sword sideways to block them, catching the Dragon Whisker Needles.
However, the moment he turned around, he saw Wang Dong activate her Second Soul Skill, Butterfly God's Light.
In an instant, the entire clearing was illuminated. Qian Chaoyun was swallowed by the light as a mass of brilliant radiance came crashing down on him.
"Slash!"
Qian Chaoyun drew his sword and slashed. Sword Qi swept forth, instantly cutting the ball of light in half and causing it to explode in midair.
Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong froze.
Wait, that could be done?
Without Soul Power or a martial soul, Senior's sword still had Sword Qi? That was ridiculously strong!
"Use your Martial Soul Fusion Skill!"
Qian Chaoyun called out at that moment.
Seeing this, the two no longer hesitated. They immediately embraced, releasing terrifying Soul Power fluctuations as a golden vertical eye appeared.
"Dazzling Withering, Golden Road."
As the words fell, a dazzling light beam erupted from the golden vertical eye and shot straight at Qian Chaoyun.
Qian Chaoyun's mind remained as calm as ever, while the wooden sword in his hand trembled slightly.
The next moment, the wooden sword returned to its sheath, then was suddenly drawn!
Strands of black Sword Qi spread across the blade as it slashed head-on toward the light beam, forming cross-shaped black blades of light.
Boom—!
Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong instantly lost all ability to resist and crashed to the ground in a faceplant.
The two climbed back up, both wearing depressed expressions.
Senior had not used a soul skill, Soul Power, or his martial soul, yet he still possessed such terrifying strength. They simply could not understand it.
Even with all their soul skills combined, they could not damage a single wooden sword. It was utterly frustrating.
They could not understand why there was Sword Qi on that wooden sword.
Huo Yuhao got up and said helplessly, "Senior, we really can't beat you."
Wang Dong also looked dejected. "That Sword Qi is so strong, even stronger than my soul skills. We're no match for you at all. Even two more of me wouldn't be enough. Where does Senior's Sword Qi come from?"
Qian Chaoyun nodded. "This is called intent."
Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong straightened their postures and listened attentively.
Then Qian Chaoyun spoke seriously. "The boosts brought by martial souls and soul skills give us many more means of fighting enemies. When Soul Power is exhausted, we need to rely on the strength of our bodies. This is called Combat Skill."
"The reason you can't find my openings is because my heart is very calm. Every opening is well protected, and with my intent added to that, you cannot find any flaws."
"For a martial soul like Wang Dong's, she can continuously use Martial Soul Possession to improve her understanding of attacks. In a state where her heart is as still as water, she can find the opponent's openings more quickly, because the calmer you are, the more panicked your opponent becomes."
"Huo Yuhao's Spiritual Eye is also extraordinary. What you need to do is calm down and carefully explore the mysteries of your martial soul. You can use the Tang Sect's Purple Demon Eye to develop multiple soul skills for your Body Martial Soul."
"Who said a Body Martial Soul must obtain soul rings before it can gain additional soul skills? The greatest mystery of a Body Martial Soul lies in exploration. Whether it is the brain, skin, or eyes, all possess limitless potential for exploration."
The two listened in a daze, their faces flushing as they excitedly rubbed their hands together.
This guidance had truly opened the door to a new world for them.
Only then did the two realize that martial souls could be developed in so many ways.
Huo Yuhao in particular was beyond excited.
This was simply ecstatic joy.
A Body Martial Soul could be explored without limits. As long as his abilities were sufficient, wouldn't he be able to develop even more soul skills?
This guidance was far too precious.
Senior Qian Chaoyun was practically a godlike man!
Qian Chaoyun swept his gaze over the two and said, "Next, I'll teach you how to enter a state where your heart is as still as water. Get ready."
"My only request is that you defeat Dai Huabin in the New Student Competition, because I can't go to the newbie village and crush beginners. That wouldn't be fair to the New Students."
Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong nodded together and began cultivating according to Senior's instructions.
In the blink of an eye, several days passed quickly.
Every day after class, Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong came to the outskirts to train. They had no concept of time, immersed in the art of cultivation.
In such a short time, their improvements were terrifying, even more effective than Old Woman Zhou's weight-bearing training.
Wang Dong successfully comprehended intent, improving in every aspect.
Huo Yuhao was even more outstanding. Through endlessly exploring his Spiritual Eye martial soul, he comprehended three Body Martial Soul skills:
Mental Coverage, Mental Search, Soul Attack.
These soul skills had only just been explored, and even Huo Yuhao could not guarantee that he would successfully activate them every time.
Fortunately, their gains were enormous. The two improved rapidly and left many New Students far behind.
Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong were eagerly looking forward to showing their skills in the New Student Competition.
That day, after the two completed their training once more, Qian Chaoyun nodded slightly. "All right, the training ends here!"
Before you continue