First Soul Skill, Wind Blade

The first time he entered a Soul Beast Forest, Wu Qi's eyes brimmed with anticipation and longing for his First Soul Ring.

Choosing a Soul Ring of around four hundred years for his First Soul Ring, reaching the limit of what it could absorb, was crucial to absorbing high-year Soul Rings in the future.

If his First Soul Ring was only a ten-year Soul Ring, then absorbing a thousand-year Soul Ring as his Third Soul Ring would be a near-death ordeal.

Wu Qi understood the importance of tempering his body. Even when he had been overlooked in the Wu Family residence, he had never neglected his training.

It could be said that he had made every possible preparation to absorb a perfect First Soul Ring.

Within Sunset Forest.

Two figures, one large and one small, moved through the outer region.

Soul Beast Forests were lawless places. One had to guard not only against attacks from Soul Beasts, but also against the human Soul Masters one encountered.

Yet before absolute strength, all of that was meaningless.

Along the way, the two had encountered villains blocking their path, as well as surprise attacks from Soul Beasts.

Azure Phoenix Douluo easily dealt with them every time. Afterward, he would even smile as he explained the precautions one needed to take during Soul Hunting to Wu Qi.

To him, it might have been nothing more than a minor interruption, but Wu Qi, who had never witnessed such bloody scenes, felt deeply uncomfortable.

"You'll get used to it after throwing up a few more times. The people you've encountered so far can barely be considered the 'good ones' among bad people."

"In the future, you'll definitely encounter truly heinous people. Their methods are enough to make one's blood run cold."

Azure Phoenix Douluo spoke blandly as he handed him a handkerchief and a bottle of water.

After resting for quite a while, Wu Qi raised his head and looked into the distance.

In a fantasy world, cultivation and strength came first. The strong could freely decide the life and death of Weaklings.

And the dying wails of Weaklings could become a beautiful melody in the eyes of certain perverts.

Therefore, the first step to gaining a foothold on Douluo Continent was to become a Soul Master, then gradually become strong enough to avoid becoming meat on someone else's chopping block.

A day later.

Wu Qi was only a child, so his stamina naturally could not compare to that of a Title Douluo.

When he grew tired, Azure Phoenix Douluo had him rest beneath a large tree.

About five minutes later, a crane's cry rang out from the sky.

Azure Phoenix Douluo abruptly looked up, then smiled. "Xiao Qi, good thing we didn't keep going. Otherwise, we would have missed this fellow."

The cry had come from a Wind Cloud Crane. It was around four hundred years old, making it perfectly suitable as a First Soul Ring.

One had to know that once a Wind Cloud Crane surpassed fifty thousand years, it could easily stir the winds and clouds across an entire region.

Any Soul Beast qualified to grow to fifty thousand years possessed an exceptionally powerful bloodline, let alone the outstanding ones among them.

A Wind Cloud Crane's Soul Ring would be immensely helpful to the current Wu Qi.

At that thought, a smile appeared at the corner of Azure Phoenix Douluo's lips. He leaped into the air. "Xiao Qi, wait here."

As soon as he finished speaking, he shot upward into the sky.

Wu Qi raised his head and looked up.

With Azure Phoenix Douluo's strength, dealing with a mere four-hundred-year Soul Beast could not possibly pose a problem.

Looking at this Master he had known for only one day, his emotions were complicated.

Other than blood relations, the bond between master and disciple was the most dependable. Yet having only just become his disciple, no Master would normally place such heavy expectations on him.

Azure Phoenix Douluo likely did not merely regard him as a disciple, but was nurturing him as a successor.

The Qing Luan Martial Soul was a legendary Divine Bird. Its appearance even once was an extraordinary blessing; a second occurrence would be nearly impossible.

In a sense, they were more like kindred spirits who cherished one another.

In a daze, Wu Qi saw Azure Phoenix Douluo return to the ground, carrying the Wind Cloud Crane.

From making his move to returning, it had taken less than a minute. Was this the speed of a Title Douluo?!

"I've already demonstrated how to absorb a Soul Ring. Now, it is time for you to absorb yours."

Azure Phoenix Douluo chuckled, brushing away the dust on his body before casually tossing a sharp dagger into Wu Qi's hands.

Wu Qi caught the dagger and drew its blade. Under the sunlight, its cold gleam was dazzling.

Taking a deep breath, he walked toward the Wind Cloud Crane and, following the position Azure Phoenix Douluo had explained, ended the creature's life with a single strike.

Blood splashed across his face, and the stench of it rushed into his nose.

Previously, Wu Qi would certainly have felt uncomfortable.

After Azure Phoenix Douluo's "desensitization therapy," however, he could already endure bloody scenes.

For a moment, he looked at the other man with gratitude written all over his face.

Azure Phoenix Douluo merely adopted a lazy posture and waved his hand. "Absorb the Soul Ring quickly. Your cultivation only begins once we return to Spirit Hall."

Wu Qi nodded solemnly, sat cross-legged, and gently drew the Soul Ring toward his Martial Soul with his fingers.

Absorbing Soul Rings below ten thousand years would not cause Soul Shock. One only needed to withstand the Soul Power pressure carried by the Soul Ring.

A four-hundred-year Soul Ring was somewhat beyond the limit for a six-year-old child.

The impact of Soul Power twisted Wu Qi's face into a grimace.

Azure Phoenix Douluo, who stood guard beside him, lost his relaxed expression and watched every movement closely.

"Can he succeed?"

There had been precedents on Douluo Continent of someone absorbing a four-hundred-year Soul Ring as their First Soul Ring, but those who succeeded had usually undergone six months to two years of Soul Master training before absorbing it.

Wu Qi, by contrast, had no experience in Soul Master cultivation whatsoever.

Azure Phoenix Douluo was also taking a gamble. If Wu Qi succeeded, it would provide enormous help for his future.

Even if he failed, Azure Phoenix Douluo had the ability to interrupt the process without causing Wu Qi too much harm.

In any case, Wu Qi was his only "kind" in this world. He could not simply stand by and do nothing.

Even if Wu Qi failed, he would find a way to restore his damaged talent.

Time passed second by second.

At this moment, every day felt like a year to master and disciple alike.

Fortunately, after roughly two hours, Wu Qi's condition gradually stabilized. There would be no accidents during the remaining final stage.

Azure Phoenix Douluo relaxed. He took a blanket from his Soul Tool, spread it over the ground, then lay down on it and closed his eyes to rest.

At dusk, Wu Qi opened his eyes. A yellow Soul Ring shone beneath his feet.

"So this is the power of a Soul Ring?" Feeling the changes in his strength, he could not help growing excited.

At this moment, his strength had increased several times over compared with before.

The power of a Soul Ring merged with a Soul Master's body, bringing an enormous enhancement.

"What is your Soul Skill?" Azure Phoenix Douluo asked leisurely.

Wu Qi turned to look at him.

Ever since entering the forest, not a speck of dust had touched Azure Phoenix Douluo. Even now, he was lying on the blanket. Could he be a clean freak?

Without dwelling on the matter, Wu Qi displayed his Soul Skill.

"First Soul Skill, Wind Blade."

The Qing Luan Martial Soul flapped its wings, stirring up a powerful gale.

A pair of azure wings fired countless Feather Blades.

The trees ahead were effortlessly knocked down in a swath.

Azure Phoenix Douluo nodded. "It is somewhat forced, but this Soul Skill is only a starting point. If you can develop it into a Self-Created Soul Skill in the future, its power will definitely increase greatly."

Soul Masters could develop Self-Created Soul Skills based on their Soul Ring skills.

Because of the insights granted by Soul Rings, they were easier to cultivate than ordinary Self-Created Soul Skills.

One had to know that the power of Self-Created Soul Skills increased along with the strength of the Soul Master.

With an offensive barrage like a storm of blades, its power would only become stronger as he grew stronger. It might even one day rival Ten Thousand Swords Return to One!

"Master, I'm not finished yet."

Wu Qi could not help reminding him.