The So-Called Self-Created Soul Skills, Deep Dialogue with the Martial Soul, and Invisible Shackles

That morning, Zhao Linchuan was explaining his understanding of Self-Created Soul Skills to Qian Renxue.

"Xue'er, at its core, the 'creation' in so-called Self-Created Soul Skills is more of a 'discovery.'"

His voice was calm, carrying a guiding tone. "It is the resonance and response that naturally arises after you engage in a deep dialogue with your own Martial Soul."

"When your understanding no longer remains on the surface, when you truly grasp every trait of your Martial Soul and uncover every latent possibility within it, skills that belong solely to you—unique and incomparable—will flow forth from your will and Soul Power as naturally as water reaching its course."

He paused, his tone growing heavier. "Remember, the strongest Soul Skills do not lie in imitating the world outside, but in searching inward and ultimately achieving the 'self.'"

"Your Six-Winged Angel Spirit is itself one of the most supreme and unique existences in this world. The laws and power contained within it are waiting for you to discover and awaken them."

"Look." As he spoke, Zhao Linchuan slowly raised his Right Hand. At first, dazzling, violent Thunder Light flickered above his palm, filled with a destructive aura.

Yet under the guidance of his will, that furious Lightning Light became like a tamed spirit. Its radiance gradually changed, and its nature underwent a strange transformation.

In the end, it became a gentle green Flowing Light brimming with vitality, like newly sprouted leaves in early spring, quietly circling and flowing above his palm.

He looked up at the astonished Qian Renxue and asked, "Do you understand now? Within ultimate destruction, there is also the power of rebirth."

"When yin reaches its extreme, yang is born; when misfortune reaches its limit, fortune returns. Through deep communication with my Martial Soul and an understanding of its essence, this is a new application I discovered and brought forth."

Before his words had even faded, he flicked a finger, and the green Flowing Light filled with life gently entered Qian Renxue's Inside Body.

"Heavens! Such pure, warm life energy!" Qian Renxue closed her eyes and carefully sensed the comfort brought by that energy as it flowed through her Limbs.

After A Long Time, she finally opened her eyes. "Teacher, according to what you said, does that mean the path countless Soul Masters pursue their entire lives—obtaining powerful Soul Rings to gain fixed Soul Skills—has been... heading in the wrong direction?"

"It would not be wrong to say that, yet it would not be entirely right either." Zhao Linchuan shook his head slightly and explained patiently. "The rules of cultivation are what they are now. If you do not absorb Soul Rings, your Soul Power Level cannot break through its bottleneck. That is an iron law."

"No matter how deeply you study your own Martial Soul, if your level holds you back, there are many deeper things you will be unable to reach."

"But at the same time," he said, shifting the subject, "because powerful Soul Skills can be gained so easily after absorbing Soul Rings, most Soul Masters have invisibly developed a dependence on them. They are no longer willing—or rather, no longer accustomed—to sincerely explore the deeper possibilities of their own Martial Souls, possibilities that belong only to themselves."

Qian Renxue's Delicate Eyebrow furrowed slightly as her thoughts extended further. "Then, Teacher, in your view, does our current cultivation system invisibly place a layer of shackles and a cage upon every Soul Master?"

"It is a double-edged sword." Zhao Linchuan's tone remained steady. "The benefit is that absorbing suitable and powerful Soul Rings can indeed allow someone to quickly increase their strength and gain powerful skills that can be used immediately."

"As long as you make good use of those skills and retain the heart to explore yourself, that is the 'benefit.'"

"But if it makes you lazy, causing you to rely entirely on Soul Ring skills and stop thinking and innovating, then that is the 'drawback.'"

Qian Renxue Looked At him, her Beautiful Eyes sparkling with star-like admiration as she sighed sincerely:

"Teacher, being able to meet you makes Xue'er feel incredibly fortunate!"

She slowly walked to Zhao Linchuan's side, her voice soft and full of emotion. "It is as though, while wandering through endless darkness, I suddenly found a brilliant star to guide me forward."

She extended her Right Hand, her fingertips trembling slightly with a faint, barely perceptible anticipation, and said softly:

"Teacher, can you promise to stay by my side forever and teach me?"

"This student... also wants to follow by your side forever!"

Zhao Linchuan did not touch the hand she offered. Instead, he turned his gaze toward the window, his eyes seeming to drift somewhere far away.

"In this mortal world, time is but a fleeting century. Who would dare speak lightly of the word 'forever'?"

He withdrew his gaze, his tone carrying the weight of reality. "Even those Titled Douluo who once commanded the winds and clouds will, after several centuries, become nothing more than a handful of yellow earth, lost in the river of history."

He came back to himself and looked at Qian Renxue, his tone regaining some of its usual teasing. "So, Xue'er, you should focus on cultivating."

"Do not let me, with my black hair, end up seeing off you, with your golden hair."

"Why do you always sound so old-fashioned..."

Qian Renxue muttered under her breath, somewhat dissatisfied. Then she stepped closer, nearly pressing against him, lifted her face, and looked at him with a trace of yearning and probing.

"Teacher, if... I mean, if we could transcend the mortal world and attain eternity?"

Zhao Linchuan gently pushed away the hand that was nearly touching him. His tone was flat, revealing no emotion. "Then... we can talk about it when that time comes."

He stood up, ending the topic. "All right, that is enough for today's lesson."

As though he had suddenly remembered something, he added, "Oh, right. I broke through. When you have time, come hunt a Fifth Soul Ring with me."

"Huh?" Qian Renxue's eyes widened in surprise. "When did you break through, Linchuan? How did I not know?"

Zhao Linchuan stretched lazily and loosened his muscles. "Yesterday, while I was sleeping. I just naturally broke through."

"You bastard! You can break through even while sleeping?" Qian Renxue immediately felt unbalanced. She stomped her foot indignantly. "Why is it that when I sleep, all I can do is sleep properly?"

"Because I use deep meditation in place of sleep, and my Soul Power circulates and accumulates on its own at all times." Zhao Linchuan glanced at her. "And you? You sleep like a little dead pig."

"You are the dead pig!" Qian Renxue huffed sweetly, a blush blooming across her face.

But then, as though she had thought of something, she immediately put on a flattering smile. She grabbed Zhao Linchuan's arm, gently shaking it as she pleaded:

"Linchuan~ dear Linchuan, can we wait a few days before hunting the Soul Ring?"

"A while ago, I refined the Ten Thousand Year Ginseng King you gave me as a 'gift for becoming your student.' I can feel my Soul Power growing very, very quickly. I am about to reach the threshold of Level 60!"