Long Chen put away his Martial Soul, and the Nine-Tailed Fox Phantom disappeared with it.
Ye Tianming exclaimed:
"Xiao Chen, this new Soul Skill of yours is powerful too. It has a strong bewildering effect."
"Yes, Uncle Ye. Just as you expected, it has an extremely powerful control effect and can leave an opponent stunned. What's more, I can control my opponent's movements with my thoughts. As long as their mental strength isn't more than ten times mine, they'll be affected by this Soul Skill. The effect will grow stronger as I do."
Ye Tianming smiled and nodded.
"Xiao Chen, this Soul Skill gives you the ability to hold your own against Soul Masters at the Soul King level."
Long Chen was also thrilled, but he tried to remain calm.
"I didn't expect it to be so powerful either. I don't even know why it turned out this way."
"Haha! I've never seen anything like this either. The abilities your Dark Night Demonic Lute has given you are truly bizarre. Still, your Second Soul Skill is much more normal than your first."
Ye Tianming glanced around.
"It'll be dawn soon. Get some rest while you can. Once it's light, we'll leave the forest."
"Okay. Uncle Ye, I want to visit the academy and see Lingling. I have something to give her."
Ye Tianming nodded.
"Good timing. I've been missing that girl too. All right, go get some sleep."
"Mm."
Long Chen slept for two hours, and then dawn broke.
The two of them left the Star Dou Great Forest and headed for the Royal Academy outside Heaven Dou City.
They chatted as they walked.
Ye Tianming said:
"Xiao Chen, you're already a twenty-two-level Soul Grandmaster. You can begin the next stage of your training."
"Will I be fighting Soul Beasts?"
"That's right."
Ye Tianming nodded and explained in detail:
"The first stage of your special training was meant to improve your physical fitness, strength, and speed. The next stage will be the real test.
"The earlier training was to make you capable of fighting Soul Beasts at close quarters. You can use Soul Power and weapons.
"But your two current Soul Skills are a Dimensional Strike against Soul Beasts below the thousand-year level, so you mustn't use them during your training.
"Without your Soul Skills, even Soul Beasts that have lived for only a few decades will pose a serious threat to you.
"What you need to do is keep fighting them and defeat them, but you mustn't kill them.
"You may suffer more injuries during this stage of your training. But your aunt and I will both be there with you."
Long Chen understood the care and concern behind Ye Tianming and his wife's efforts.
They were helping him set out on the right path.
This kind of training would not only improve his combat skills quickly, but also help him master his inner urge to kill.
As long as he was strong enough inside, he could keep the Heart Demon from controlling him, even though his Dark Night Demonic Lute Martial Soul possessed a powerful Evil Attribute.
"Uncle Ye, I'll follow your arrangements."
"Good boy. Once you get your third Soul Ring, if your Soul Skill is a little more normal like your Second Soul Skill, I'll send you to the Royal Academy to keep Lingling company."
"Really?"
"Mm. I know you've always worried about Lingling. I'll feel much more at ease with you by her side. Besides, the Royal Academy has top-notch training resources that will greatly benefit your growth."
"Then I'll train hard and try to break through to level thirty as soon as possible."
~~~~~~~
Long Chen and Ye Tianming arrived at Heaven Dou Royal Academy.
They passed through the academy's imposing gates and followed the familiar paths to the Teaching Building.
Ye Tianming went to find his friend, Liu Zhicheng, to ask how Ye Lingling was doing.
Long Chen went straight to the Dormitory Building where Ye Lingling lived.
He was no longer a six-year-old child, so it wouldn't be appropriate for him to go inside. He waited at the entrance, planning to ask one of the girls to call Ye Lingling down.
"Long Chen?"
As Long Chen waited, a voice suddenly came from behind him.
He turned around and saw Dugu Yan.
Two years had passed, but Dugu Yan still wore her hair short. Her green eyes and the figure she was beginning to develop as she grew older made her look even more alluring.
Long Chen smiled faintly.
"Hello."
"So it really is you. It's been two years, and you've grown quite a bit. You're here to see Lingling, right? I'll go get her."
"Mm, thank you."
"Don't mention it."
Dugu Yan smiled and strode into the Dormitory Building.
Before long, Ye Lingling came to stand in front of Long Chen.
She was wearing a pale blue school uniform, and her long hair fell like a waterfall.
When she saw Long Chen, she hurried over, delight and surprise in her eyes.
"Brother Chen, you're here."
"Mm. Uncle Ye went to see Teacher Liu, so I came to find you."
"Brother Chen, let's go somewhere else to talk."
"Sure."
There were plenty of girls coming and going at the dormitory entrance, so it wasn't a good place to talk.
Ye Lingling led Long Chen to a small garden on the academy grounds. They found a quiet corner and sat down.
"Lingling, how have you been lately?"
"Everything's been good. What about you? You must have broken through level twenty by now, right?"
"Mm, I just broke through. A few days ago, Uncle Ye and I went to the Star Dou Great Forest to hunt a Soul Beast. After absorbing its Soul Ring, I reached level twenty-two."
"Level twenty-two? Brother Chen, you're amazing."
Ye Lingling looked at Long Chen with admiration, her eyes full of pride and joy.
"What about you? What level are you?"
"I'm only level sixteen."
Then Ye Lingling told him about her recent progress in training.
Long Chen also told Ye Lingling about the interesting things he'd learned and accomplished while studying medicine at Guang'an Hall, the hardships of his Devil Training, and the Second Soul Skill he'd just acquired.
Ye Lingling listened closely, her expression focused.
"Brother Chen, your days are always so full. By comparison, training at the academy is much more boring."
"Lingling, I have some good news for you. Once I break through level thirty, I might be able to join your academy."
"Really? That's wonderful!"
At the news, Ye Lingling beamed with happiness.
She hadn't been this happy since her grandmother passed away.
Long Chen was happy too. He hoped Ye Lingling could move on from her grief soon.
"Lingling, I have something to give you."
As he spoke, Long Chen took a fine little wooden box from the Storage Artifact at his waist. Inside was the Whale Rubber he had prepared especially for Ye Lingling.
Ye Lingling was curious.
"Brother Chen, what's this?"
"It's a supplement. It can make your body more resilient, so absorbing Soul Rings will be easier and less painful in the future."
"Is there really something that good?"
Ye Lingling took the box and eagerly opened it.
A faint, sweet fragrance wafted out.
"Wow, it smells so good."
The transparent beads of Whale Rubber looked like yellow crystals.
Ye Lingling asked uncertainly:
"Brother Chen, is this something you eat?"
"Mm."
"But it looks as hard as a rock. I'm supposed to swallow it just like this?"
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