The Idea of Analyzing Soul Skills

The next morning, dawn had just broken, and soft light pierced through the layers of thin mist over Liu Family Village. But since it was still too early, it had not yet fully dispersed the lingering chill in the air from the night before.

Liu Feng awakened from his dreams and rolled out of bed in one swift motion.

The thought from last night, about analyzing Soul Skills, shone in his mind like a glittering star, making him desperate to share it with his father.

Liu Feng hurriedly washed up, then paced back and forth in the courtyard, occasionally glancing toward his father's room.

At last, Liu Qing appeared in the doorway.

Liu Feng's eyes lit up, and he immediately came forward in quick strides. Excitedly, he said, "Dad, I have a particularly important idea I want to tell you about!"

Excitement flashed in his eyes, and even his voice trembled slightly.

Seeing his son's eager expression, Liu Qing smiled gently. "Don't rush. Take your time."

Liu Feng took a deep breath and calmed his excitement. Then, he poured out all of his thoughts on analyzing Soul Skills—from his reflections on gravity training, to his detailed analysis of Zhang Niu and Zhang Ma's Soul Skills, to all sorts of bold ideas for future cultivation.

Liu Qing listened quietly, the surprise on his face gradually turning into relief.

After Liu Feng finished, Liu Qing pondered for a moment before saying, "Xiao Feng, your idea is very interesting. Analyzing Soul Skills is no simple matter, but I support your idea, and I'm willing to help you with it."

"Once we return from this Soul Hunting trip, I'll discuss it with Zhang Niu and Zhang Ma and see whether they're willing to let you study their Soul Skills."

Liu Feng was overjoyed upon hearing this, nearly jumping up. "Really? Dad, thank you so much!"

Liu Qing smiled and patted Liu Feng on the shoulder. "Don't be happy too early. This is only the first step. There are still countless difficulties ahead."

Then Liu Qing recalled something else. "Also, I hope you can use your First Soul Skill to connect the roots of the herbs planted in our fields. Perhaps that will help the herbs grow sturdily."

A worried look appeared on Liu Feng's face. "Dad, I'm afraid doing that might leave the herbs in the fields with no harvest at all."

Liu Qing nodded in understanding. "I understand your concern, so start by trying it on a small patch of land. When harvest season comes, observe the results before deciding what to do next."

Though Liu Feng was still somewhat hesitant, he nodded in agreement. "All right, Dad. I'll give it a try."

After breakfast, Liu Qing packed his satchel and headed to town.

As usual, Liu Feng threw himself into training.

After finishing his training, he followed Grandpa Liu Bai to the family fields.

Liu Feng had never been involved in farm work before. In the past, the household generally hired people to handle such work.

When Liu Feng arrived at the edge of the fields, he saw a vast stretch of land before him. All of it belonged to his family.

In the distance, a waterwheel turned slowly amid the gentle sound of flowing water, infusing the land with vibrant life.

Rows upon rows of herbs stood neatly arranged. Honeysuckle swayed lightly in the breeze, giving off a delicate fragrance.

The leaves of angelica were broad and emerald green, brimming with vitality.

The angelica plants stood tall and upright, as if telling the story of their growth.

There was also precious ginseng, nurturing the power of life within the fertile soil.

Besides herbs, the fields also contained all kinds of vegetables. Carrot leaves stretched freely beneath the sunlight, bean vines intertwined with one another, and corn stalks stood tall and straight.

"Xiao Feng, this entire stretch of land belongs to our family." Liu Bai pointed at the fields before them, his eyes full of pride. "That waterwheel in the distance is used for irrigation. These herbs and vegetables are usually sold or eaten by us."

Looking at everything before him, Liu Feng felt a surge of love and responsibility for this land.

Liu Bai pointed to a small vegetable patch again. "This little patch is for our family's own meals. I come water it every day. Today, connect a small portion of each type into a network so we can compare the results later."

Liu Feng took a deep breath and prepared to use his First Soul Skill, Deep Roots.

He slowly squatted down, spreading his legs slightly and bending his knees to maintain a stable posture.

His hands slowly rose before him, palms facing downward, fingers slightly spread, as though gently stroking invisible air.

His gaze was focused and unwavering, fixed tightly on the ground in front of him, as though he wanted to blend his willpower into it.

"Deep Roots!" Liu Feng shouted softly. His voice was not loud, but it was filled with power and echoed through the fields for a long time.

Following his shout, dense Green Light surged from his palms. Like new shoots emerging from the soil in spring, it was full of vitality and life.

The light rapidly spread across the ground. Wherever it passed, the soil seemed to be given life and trembled faintly.

Under his control, the roots of Blue Silver Grass burrowed out from beneath the ground.

Those roots were slender yet tough, like nimble little snakes winding through the soil.

Liu Feng's hands danced gently through the air, like a conductor directing a grand symphony.

His fingers sometimes came together and sometimes spread apart. Every movement was precise and forceful, as though he were holding a silent conversation with the roots of the Blue Silver Grass.

First, he connected a small portion of each kind of herb, allowing them to link together on their own.

Under the guidance of the Blue Silver Grass roots, the roots of those herbs gradually intertwined.

Liu Feng kept his eyes fixed on everything, not missing a single detail.

His brow furrowed slightly as he concentrated fully on controlling the Blue Silver Grass roots, ensuring that they could accurately find the roots of the herbs and blend into them perfectly.

His lips moved faintly, as though he were murmuring something. He was silently encouraging himself while also communicating deeply with his Soul Power.

As the roots continued to intertwine, small networks gradually formed.

A Relieved Smile appeared on Liu Feng's face, but he did not lower his guard and remained highly focused.

Next, he attempted to connect part of each medicinal material network to the large Blue Silver Grass Network.

He stood up, slowly drew an arc through the air with both hands, then suddenly pressed them downward.

The roots of the Blue Silver Grass seemed to receive an order and rapidly extended toward the Blue Silver Grass Network within the village.

A trace of nervousness showed in Liu Feng's eyes, and his heartbeat involuntarily quickened.

He knew how important this step was. If it succeeded, it would bring a new opportunity for the growth of the herbs.

At the instant the roots connected, Liu Feng felt a wondrous connection form between himself and those herbs.

His body trembled slightly, and surprise appeared on his face.

He closed his eyes and carefully felt that connection. It was as though he could hear the herbs' faint "breathing" and sense their desire to grow and their need for nutrients.

The corner of his mouth lifted into a confident smile. He knew his attempt had succeeded.

Afterward, he connected some of the herb networks not to the large Blue Silver Grass Network, but to other herb networks.

As for the final portion of herb networks, he connected them neither to the large Blue Silver Grass Network nor to any other network, building only a "local network" belonging to their own type of herb.

He tested three types of networks in order to compare which arrangement was more suitable for growing herbs.

He squatted down, his hands moving quickly over the ground as though painting a mysterious picture.

Under his control, the roots of the Blue Silver Grass connected the networks of different kinds of herbs together.

This was an extremely complicated process, requiring his control over Soul Power to reach its utmost limit.

Fine beads of sweat covered Liu Feng's forehead. Sweat slid down his cheeks and dripped onto the Ground Underfoot.

His breathing became hurried, and every breath was accompanied by white water vapor.

His hands trembled slightly, but he continued gritting his teeth and persevering.

His eyes revealed an unshakable determination. No matter how great the difficulty, he would not give up.

Throughout the process, Liu Bai watched from the side, his eyes filled with concern.

"Xiao Feng, how are you? Can you manage?" Liu Bai's voice carried a trace of worry.

Liu Feng wiped away his sweat and nodded. "Grandpa, I'm fine. It just feels a little strenuous."

Liu Bai said sympathetically, "If you're tired, take a break."

But Liu Feng shook his head firmly. "No need, Grandpa. I want to finish it all in one go."

After much effort, Liu Feng finally completed every connection.

He slowly stood up. His legs were slightly numb from squatting for so long, but he paid no attention to that.

He looked at the land before him, his heart filled with accomplishment.

Under the effects of his Soul Skill, the herbs seemed to have taken on a rhythm of life. Their leaves swayed lightly in the breeze, as though thanking him.

"Grandpa, look. This should do it," Liu Feng said excitedly.

Looking at the scene before him, Liu Bai nodded repeatedly. "Good, very good. After some time passes, we'll see how these herbs grow differently."

Liu Feng and Liu Bai remained busy in the fields for a while longer before returning home.

Over the following days, Liu Feng came to the fields every day to carefully observe the herbs' growth.

He discovered that the herbs connected to the large Blue Silver Grass Network grew noticeably faster. Their leaves were greener, and their plants were sturdier.

The herbs connected only to themselves, on the other hand, showed relatively ordinary growth.

Although the herbs connected to other herb networks did not grow as quickly as those connected to the large Blue Silver Grass Network, they seemed to produce some kind of wondrous Chemical Reaction between them, and the quality of the herbs appeared to improve.

As time passed, Liu Feng became increasingly proficient in using the Blue Silver Grass Network. He also hoped more and more that, once his father returned, he could reach an agreement with Zhang Niu and Zhang Ma and allow him to begin researching Soul Skill analysis.

During the days he waited for his father, Liu Feng did not remain idle.

Besides observing the herbs' growth every day, he continued with his own cultivation.

He spent increasingly longer periods training beneath the waterfall, while his weight-bearing training continued in an orderly manner.

His Physical Quality and Soul Power steadily improved, and he could clearly feel himself drawing another step closer to his goal.