Passive Soul Skill: Spirit Nourishment

"Please stand in the center of the Soul Guiding Platform."

The Spirit Transmitter pointed to the circular platform.

Wang Zhi stepped forward and stood in the center.

The Spirit Transmitter went over to the control panel, placed the Soul Guide Container holding the Glow Grass into a recess, and began operating it.

"The fusion process may be a little uncomfortable, but don't worry. That's normal."

"You just need to keep your mind calm and use your Soul Power to guide the Soul Spirit into your body."

As soon as he finished speaking, the patterns around the platform began to glow.

Soft golden light poured in from all directions, enveloping the entire platform.

At the same time, the Soul Guide Container holding the Glow Grass opened automatically.

A pale green ball of light slowly floated upward, suspended in midair. Then, as if drawn by something, it drifted toward Wang Zhi..

The instant the light touched Wang Zhi, a cool sensation coursed through his body.

It was a coolness entirely unlike the platform's warmth, as if a clear spring had been poured over his head and flowed along his meridians. Every cell it passed seemed to cheer.

Wang Zhi closed his eyes and immersed his consciousness in his body.

He "saw" the Glow Grass.

The little plant turned into countless tiny motes of light and merged into his Sea of Consciousness.

Each mote carried gentle, nourishing energy that softly replenished his Spiritual Power.

His Spiritual Power had already reached Spirit Origin Realm Peak, but at that moment, it seemed to undergo some kind of catalyst...

And began to transform.

The sensation was strange.

It was like a clear spring had suddenly begun flowing into a previously still lake.

The water grew clearer and deeper, while the lake itself slowly expanded.

Wang Zhi could clearly feel...

His Sea of Consciousness was expanding and rising to a higher level.

He had no idea how much time had passed.

Perhaps only an instant, perhaps a long time.

When Wang Zhi opened his eyes again, the light on the platform had faded.

He looked down at himself. A yellow Soul Ring rose from beneath his feet and slowly revolved around his body.

Yellow—a Hundred Year Soul Ring.

It also meant that he had officially become a One-Ring Soul Master.

He felt the Soul Power flowing through his body.

It was denser and more abundant than before.

With a thought, he circulated his Soul Power and realized that he had broken through the level ten limit and reached level eleven.

But what interested him even more was his Spiritual Power.

He tried to direct it, and the feeling was completely different from before.

If his Spiritual Power had once been a lake, now it was a stream.

More active and more nimble.

He suspected that his Spiritual Power might have broken through to Spirit Connection Realm.

At the same time, information about his First Soul Skill surfaced in his mind.

First Soul Skill: Spirit Nourishment.

A Passive Soul Skill that increased the rate at which his Spiritual Power recovered during battle.

Wang Zhi froze for a moment, then the corners of his mouth lifted slightly.

It didn't look like a particularly powerful Soul Skill.

But for him, it was a top-tier one.

After all, he needed enough Spiritual Power to keep summoning Shadow Soldiers.

The fiercer the battle, the faster his Spiritual Power would be depleted. With this Soul Skill, his ability to fight for extended periods would improve considerably.

It didn't directly increase his combat strength, but it would let him keep fighting for longer.

That was exactly what he needed.

The door to the Fusion Chamber opened.

Wang Heng was waiting outside. As soon as his son emerged, he hurried over.

His gaze fell on the yellow Soul Ring around Wang Zhi, and his eyes filled with pride and relief.

"Did it work?"

Wang Zhi nodded.

"It worked, Dad."

Wang Heng laughed heartily and put an arm around his son's shoulders.

"Let's go! Home!"

"Your mom will be over the moon when she hears that your Martial Soul underwent a Secondary Mutation and you fused with such a good Soul Spirit!"

Laughing and chatting, the father and son left the Spirit Pagoda as the Spirit Transmitter respectfully saw them off.

The Spirit Transmitter watched them disappear into the crowd before turning back.

He silently committed a name to memory.

Wang Zhi.

This child was destined for greatness.

When they got home, Wang Heng saw that Wang Zhi really could live on his own, and then boarded the Soul Tool Train back to Shrek City without worry.

He wanted to tell Ling Lin the good news in person.

Their son's Martial Soul had undergone a Secondary Mutation, and it had turned out for the better!

After seeing his father off, Wang Zhi's life returned to normal.

He cultivated by day, studied the Shadow Legion at night, and occasionally summoned a few ninjas to practice coordination.

A month passed quietly amid this fulfilling routine.

The opening day of Sea and Land Academy.

The morning sun spilled across the broad streets. Carrying a small bag, Wang Zhi headed for Sea and Land Academy alone.

From a distance, he could already see the Academy Gate, imposing and magnificent.

The area outside Sea and Land Academy was packed with people.

The broad plaza was crowded with students arriving to register and their parents.

There were well-dressed children from wealthy families, ordinary folk in simple clothes, and people of every age milling about.

Every New Student had at least one or two family members beside them. Some had even brought the whole family, grandparents and all.

Wang Zhi walked through the crowd alone, drawing quite a bit of attention.

Many parents looked at him curiously, wondering whose child he was and why he had come to register alone.

Some of the other New Students glanced at him, then looked away.

Just then, a clear voice sounded beside him.

"Hey, are you here to register?"

Wang Zhi turned to look.

A girl stood before him, smiling at him.

She looked about eleven or twelve, with long green hair cascading like a waterfall and gleaming softly in the sunlight.

Her eyes were large, a lovely jade green like two sparkling gems, and they curved into crescents as she smiled.

Her skin was fair, and a faint blush colored her cheeks. When she smiled, two shallow dimples appeared at the corners of her mouth.

She looked just like a lively little deer.

"My name is Zhou Tian'er. I'm in the fourth year of the Intermediate Academy at Sea and Land Academy, and I'm helping welcome the New Students today."

The girl introduced herself with a smile, her voice clear and pleasant.

Wang Zhi was slightly taken aback.

He hadn't expected to run into the sisters from the Original Work so soon.

Zhou Tian'er and Zhou Hanyou.

The owners of the Martial Soul Fusion Skill, Ice and Snow Forest.

His gaze lingered on the girl's face for a moment, then he nodded.

"Hello, senior."

"Come on, come on! I'll take you to get registered."

Zhou Tian'er waved eagerly and turned toward a row of registration windows.

Wang Zhi followed her, watching the Green Figure bounce along ahead of him. He couldn't help finding it amusing.

This senior was quite lively.

Zhou Tian'er led him to a window with a shorter line, took a form from inside, turned around, and handed it to Wang Zhi.

"Here, fill in your basic information first."