The Essence of the Bilin Seven Absolute Flower

The Essence of the Bilin Seven Absolute Flower

Poison Cloud Technique sounded like an unremarkable skill. It was quite common in all sorts of Western fantasy settings, and it was not unheard of on the Douluo Continent either.

But this Poison Cloud Technique was no ordinary Poison Cloud Technique. Just as Soul Skills provided by an ordinary black bear and a Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear might both be called Claw Strike, yet differ enormously in power, the Poison Cloud Technique of the Bilin Seven Absolute Flower was exceptional.

The Bilin Seven Absolute Flower was, at its core, highly poisonous. Its best and most powerful means of attack was forming poison clouds. With Chen Ming's intervention, this Soul Ring not only allowed him to perfectly fuse the deadly poison inherent to the Bilin Seven Absolute Flower, but also granted him a special ability: altering the form of his Soul Power.

Soul Power on the Douluo Continent came in three forms: gaseous, liquid, and solid. In this era, Soul Masters had yet to gain a clear understanding of Soul Power's states. Transforming Soul Power from gas to liquid relied entirely on slow, painstaking cultivation. Whether solid Soul Power even existed was uncertain, and things like Soul Cores had not yet entered Soul Masters' awareness.

Yet while granting Poison Cloud Technique, this Soul Ring had also given Chen Ming the talent to alter his Soul Power.

Externally, Chen Ming could transform his Soul Power into poison clouds and release them. He could use Spiritual Power to control the clouds' density and composition, and when necessary, reabsorb the released poison clouds and turn them back into Soul Power. Internally, he could use Poison Cloud Technique in reverse, condensing his Soul Power from a gaseous state into a liquid one, even touching upon solid form and Soul Cores.

In this era, that was an immensely significant matter. Even taking a step back, if he could not form a Soul Core, merely improving the quality of his Soul Power would easily grant him the ability to challenge opponents above his level, or even across entire ranks.

Moreover, through what he had learned over the years, Chen Ming understood that Poison System Soul Masters on the Douluo Continent found it difficult to alter their poisons. They generally relied on the poison inherent to their own Martial Souls, then developed different poisons by absorbing different Soul Rings.

Without Soul Rings, they could not even actively change the composition of their toxins. Bilin Snake Poison was Bilin Snake Poison, and Jade Scorpion venom was Jade Scorpion venom. Even after adding Soul Rings, they were merely mutated Bilin Snake Poison and Jade Scorpion venom—ever-changing, yet never departing from their origins.

Anyone with sharp enough eyes could identify the foundation of a poison at a glance and find an appropriate countermeasure. That was the main reason Dugu Bo had it so rough. His poison might not have been completely figured out over the years, but at least half of its secrets had leaked out. There were plenty of ways to target him.

But Chen Ming could now actively alter and interfere with his own Soul Power. At present, his Soul Power was based on the Jade Scorpion and fused with the poison of the Bilin Seven Absolute Flower. After observing other poisonous creatures, he could find ways to analyze their toxins and actively add the properties of other poisons to his Soul Power.

If possible, he could even eliminate the Jade Scorpion's traits from his Soul Power altogether, making it display only the toxicity of the Bilin Seven Absolute Flower or some other poisonous creature. By adjusting proportions and varieties, he could also create unique mixed poisons unlike anything seen before or since. On the Douluo Continent, this was utterly unprecedented.

When Dugu Bo raised his hand, he released Bilin Snake Poison. What Chen Ming would release in the future, however, was anyone's guess.

When others thought they had already deciphered Chen Ming's poison, he could simply use another poison to kill them. With different poisons working together, they might even produce effects beyond imagination. At the very least, recreating a bargain-bin Life-and-Death Talisman or Three Corpse Brain Pill would be absurdly easy.

Without question, while this Soul Skill itself was powerful, its additional trait was clearly even stronger. It even rivaled, or perhaps surpassed, the properties of certain hundred-thousand-year Soul Skills. If Dugu Bo heard about it, he would probably drool all the way to his feet.

After selecting the Soul Skill, the Soul Ring began to solidify. Chen Ming's spiritual state gradually descended from that realm where he connected with the laws of the Douluo World into ordinary deep meditation.

Soul Power from the Bilin Seven Absolute Flower's Soul Ring poured into his body. Its origin fused with his Martial Soul, and his body changed along with it. He grew taller, the density of his bones and muscles increased, his Life Force became more vigorous, and even his appearance seemed to improve.

Plant-like patterns appeared across the shell of Chen Ming's Martial Soul. The scorpion tail behind him swayed, and its tip took on a melted texture. The origin of his Martial Soul flowed into it, and the tail began to slowly lengthen.

The twelfth tail segment formed and darkened, but it did not stop. A tail segment still in the process of growing slowly emerged.

"This is... twelve and a half segments?"

Chen Shijie had lost count of how many times he had been stunned, but after staring blankly for a while this time, he still managed to force out an answer.

Generally speaking, a Soul Master's Martial Soul rarely displayed such ongoing growth. But once it did, one could refer to the corresponding Soul Beast.

In Chen Shijie's view, although Chen Ming's thirteenth tail segment had not fully grown in, it would continue to mature along with his cultivation. Perhaps he would not even need to absorb a Second Soul Ring; by the time he cultivated to level twenty, the thirteenth tail segment might naturally mature on its own.

"The fourteenth segment with the second ring, the fifteenth with the third... a Scorpion Emperor Martial Soul?"

"The First Soul Ring was sacrificed by the Bilin Seven Absolute Flower, and his Martial Soul will reach Emperor rank at level thirty... My grandson Chen Ming has the aptitude of a Titled Douluo!!!"

"My grandson Chen Ming has the aptitude of a Titled Douluo!"

With no idea where he found the self-control, Chen Shijie set up a Soul Power barrier in front of Chen Ming, then grabbed Chen Tianyun by the collar and shouted fiercely beside his ear. Chen Tianyun, who had also wanted to get excited, was left completely dazed by the roar and nearly forgot who he was. Only after a long while did he groggily nod in agreement.

Using the Soul Power barrier, the two spoke cautiously as they waited for Chen Ming to finish absorbing the ring. More than two hours later, the Soul Power around Chen Ming gradually stabilized, and his tightly shut eyes slowly opened.

Once he confirmed that Chen Ming was awake, Chen Shijie lunged forward and lifted Chen Ming high into the air.

"My grandson Chen Ming has the aptitude of a Titled Douluo!"

"Dad, be careful! Don't scare Xiao Ming; he just finished absorbing his Soul Ring!" Chen Tianyun grabbed Chen Shijie's arm and hurried over to warn him.

Hearing that, Chen Shijie calmed down slightly. He pulled Chen Ming into his arms for a fierce hug before finally setting him back on the ground. But before Chen Ming could say anything, Chen Tianyun, who had been standing nearby, immediately crowded over and began feeling him all over with both hands, carefully checking his condition.

"His physical condition is excellent, his Soul Power condition is excellent... He couldn't possibly be any better! Xiao Ming! You have the aptitude of a Titled Douluo!"

"Second Uncle, Grandpa, calm down..." Chen Ming had originally had plenty to say, but after the two made such a fuss, he could only twitch his lips and try to soothe them.

After about the time it took to drink a cup of tea, the two finally regained their composure under Chen Ming's reassurance. Their usual expressions returned as they began asking him questions.

A Soul Master's Soul Skills were important secrets and would not be revealed to outsiders. But telling one's family was perfectly normal.

Chen Ming omitted his selection on the spiritual level, merely saying that he had followed his instincts and obtained a special Soul Skill. He briefly explained the effects of Poison Cloud Technique and the ability the Soul Skill had granted him.

However, Soul Masters of this era had not deeply researched qualitative changes in Soul Power. Neither Chen Tianyun nor Chen Shijie realized just how outrageous this granted ability truly was. Instead, their attention shifted to Poison Cloud Technique itself.

Under their watchful eyes, Chen Ming used his First Soul Skill, Poison Cloud Technique, on a small scale and created a small poison cloud. Once they confirmed that his Martial Soul had indeed acquired the poison of the Bilin Seven Absolute Flower, Chen Tianyun and Chen Shijie exchanged a glance, suddenly feeling as though a great weight had been lifted from their hearts.

"The wish our ancestors dreamed of has finally been realized in a descendant of the family..."

A new month had begun. I hope all you esteemed readers will support me.