First Soul Skill, Thunderous Poison Dragon Claw

[Select an operation for the Soul Ring: 1. Absorb 2. Decompose]

[PS: Decomposition means breaking the Soul Ring down into its age and Soul Skill. The Soul Ring's age can be added to an existing Soul Ring, and its Soul Skill can be added to an existing Martial Soul.]

"Wow, as expected of the system. It even has the incredible ability to decompose Soul Rings."

After exclaiming, Yu Xiaogang fixed his gaze on the two options on the panel, his index finger moving back and forth between them. For a moment, he found himself at a loss.

On the one hand, Mandala Snakes were extremely rare Soul Beasts. As one of the strongest poison-attribute Soul Beasts, their place in the ecosystem was second only to that of Man Faced Demon Spiders. The Soul Ring before him was therefore quite valuable, and it was also highly compatible with his Blue Electric Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul.

On the other hand, this involved a cultivation secret of the Blue Electric Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul: "Dragon Transformation."

As a pure-blooded dragon-type Martial Soul, the Blue Electric Tyrant Dragon unlocked a Dragon Transformation for a corresponding part of the body whenever its Soul Master gained a Soul Ring from level 30 onward.

Each transformed body part granted the Soul Master an additional Soul Skill, known as a "Dragon Transformation Soul Skill." Its importance went without saying.

But to set foot on the path of Dragon Transformation, one had to fulfill a prerequisite: the first three Soul Rings attached to the Blue Electric Tyrant Dragon had to come from Sub-Dragon Species or True Dragon Species Soul Beasts. Only then could the True Dragon Bloodline within the body be awakened, laying the foundation for future Dragon Transformations.

Unfortunately, although Mandala Snakes were powerful Soul Beasts, they weren't dragon species. Absorbing this Soul Ring would delay his Dragon Transformation and affect the Martial Soul's potential.

"Looks like I'll have to give it up."

Compared with the Soul Ring from this Mandala Snake, the path of Dragon Transformation inherent to the Blue Electric Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul was the proper way to cultivate.

Yu Xiaogang raised his index finger and moved to tap the "Decompose" icon on the panel. Just as he was about to press it, a memory hidden deep in his mind suddenly flashed through it, and his eyes lit up.

"Right! How could I forget the Dragon Devouring Art?"

The Dragon Devouring Art was a cultivation method discovered by the ancestors of the Blue Electric Tyrant Dragon Clan thousands of years ago.

By using a special method of circulating Soul Power, it changed the Blue Electric Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul into its Bloodthirsty State. When absorbing a Soul Ring, the cultivator no longer used the usual method of fusion. Instead, he completely devoured the bloodline within the Soul Ring to strengthen himself. This meant he could pursue Dragon Transformation without absorbing Soul Rings from dragon species.

Furthermore, Soul Masters who practiced the Dragon Devouring Art often had purer bloodlines and were somewhat stronger than Blue Electric Tyrant Dragon Soul Masters of the same rank.

"But the Dragon Devouring Art is extremely difficult to cultivate. If the bloodline turns on me while I'm absorbing the Soul Ring, I'll explode and die. I can't risk my life on that!"

Just as Yu Xiaogang was hesitating, the system's crisp notification sounded again.

[For any Soul Ring granted by the system, the host has a one-hundred-percent chance of success, regardless of the method used to absorb it.]

[PS: This system is a professional. Don't doubt its abilities!]

"Fine, fine. I like that confidence."

Yu Xiaogang stopped hesitating, formed a hand seal, and circulated his Soul Power according to the Dragon Devouring Art.

Once he had completed the technique, he felt a burning heat throughout his body. Every cell seemed to be starving.

He opened his left hand and released his Martial Soul. The Blue Electric Tyrant Dragon was far more restless than before, its eyes filled with crimson. This was the "Bloodthirsty State" described in the Dragon Devouring Art.

Then he extended his index finger and selected the "Absorb" icon on the panel. On the Martial Soul selection screen that appeared next, he chose the Blue Electric Tyrant Dragon.

A yellow ring flew out of the panel at once and settled around the Blue Electric Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul in his left hand.

There was none of the pain he remembered from absorbing Soul Rings. This Soul Ring, granted by the system, was like a warm winter sun. Its gentle, soothing power seeped into Yu Xiaogang's body, and he absorbed it with ease.

About an hour later, the entire absorption process was complete.

Yu Xiaogang opened his eyes, and information about the Blue Electric Tyrant Dragon's first Soul Skill appeared in his mind.

Soul Skill: Thunderous Poison Dragon Claw. Condenses Soul Power into the shape of a dragon's claw to attack. Easily tears through the defenses of opponents of the same rank and inflicts paralysis.

"Compared with the first Soul Skill of a conventional Blue Electric Tyrant Dragon Soul Master, mine is more powerful and also inflicts paralysis. That must come from the Mandala Snake's neurotoxin."

Yu Xiaogang was very satisfied. He put away his Martial Soul and the system panel, composed himself, and began cultivating the Mysterious Heaven Skill.

Now that he had awakened a Second Martial Soul, his aptitude had improved considerably. But because of his age, breaking through the current 30th-level Soul Power bottleneck was still a major challenge.

After careful consideration, Yu Xiaogang decided to use the Mysterious Heaven Skill to cultivate his Soul Power anew.

After all, in the original story, the Mysterious Heaven Skill was known for nourishing the body and being balanced and gentle. Once he had fully converted his Soul Power, it would give him a solid chance of breaking through his current bottleneck.

[Mysterious Heaven Skill, proficiency +1]

Yu Xiaogang glanced at the system notification and continued immersing himself in his cultivation of the Mysterious Heaven Skill.

Three years later.

Early morning, atop the dormitory building.

Yu Xiaogang sat cross-legged with his eyes closed. He took a deep breath, then slowly exhaled. Each breath followed a distinctive rhythm.

Then he opened his eyes and looked toward the eastern horizon, where the faintest hint of dawn had appeared.

His gaze remained fixed on that pale strip of sky. When it had widened to a certain extent, a faint purple light suddenly appeared.

Yu Xiaogang's sharp eyes caught the purple glow. He then circulated his technique, nourishing his eyes with it.

Once the sun had fully risen, the pale strip of sky streaked with purple vanished completely. His eye cultivation for the day was finished.

[Purple Demon Eye, proficiency +1]

Yu Xiaogang nodded, got to his feet, and went downstairs. He picked up a bundle from his dormitory room, left the building, and headed for the academy gate.

Quite a few people were already gathered there. Among them was Tang San, a boy dressed in plain blue clothes.

Three years had passed, and Tang San had grown quite a bit taller. He was beginning to look like a little adult.

Standing beside him were two others: Dean Klay and the academy's teacher, Mo Hen. Both were dressed casually and looked quite capable.

Once Yu Xiaogang arrived, they all climbed into a carriage waiting by the roadside and set off toward the Soul Hunting Forest.

Inside the carriage.

Klay looked at Tang San, his eyes growing ever more kindly.

At just nine years old, Tang San had reached level 20 in Soul Power. This not only broke the record at Nuoding Junior Soul Master Academy; even at Spirit Hall, where experts abounded, someone like him would be exceptionally rare.

Thinking of this, Klay couldn't help asking the man beside him, "Xiao Gang, what kind of Soul Ring should we choose for Tang San this time?"

This was basically an open-book test.

Yu Xiaogang glanced at his disciple, the corners of his mouth lifting into a smile. "A Ghost Vine, around 600 years old. There are a few in the Soul Hunting Forest."

"Ghost Vine. A plant-type one. Good, good."

Klay went on to offer his analysis, leaving Yu Xiaogang to shake his head helplessly.

When it came to knowledge of Soul Beasts and Martial Souls, his old friend was, to put it mildly, clueless. When they were young, Yu Xiaogang had even drawn up his cultivation plan and chosen his Soul Rings for him.

Across from them, Tang San listened to the Dean speak at length. Although he noticed a few mistakes, he didn't dare say anything. He just kept smiling and nodding along.

Mo Hen, who knew the Dean's character well, turned his head away and secretly stifled a laugh.

The carriage rolled toward the Soul Hunting Forest amid the cheerful atmosphere.