Don't Drive on Overpasses on Rainy Days

Whoosh.

The lightning spun around and flew back into Nan Liujing's hand, transforming once more into the Dragon Subduing Staff's original form. Its previously oppressive aura had vanished.

A large number of light points surged over and merged into his body. Unfortunately, he still had not broken through to a thousand years, but he was not far from it.

In the distance, the Wind Baboon Leader froze for a moment. Then its cold pupils seemed to bleed, turning completely scarlet. An aura of brutality began to spread, while its deep yellow fur started changing to crimson.

Having lost nine hundred-year Wind Baboons, the entire tribe's chances of survival in the forest would become extremely poor. How could that not enrage it?

Sensing the murderous intent approaching, Dark Blue Soul Power began to flow around Nan Liujing's body. Flickering electric arcs followed his body and climbed onto the Dragon Subduing Staff.

A yellow Soul Ring rose from beneath his feet.

The two human youths who had retreated far away immediately widened their eyes, shocked by the sight.

He's only a one-ring Soul Master?

"Roar."

The Wind Baboon Leader stared fixedly at Nan Liujing. With a low growl, its fur began to flutter, and faint traces of Wind Element flowed around it. Its huge body crouched slightly. The next moment, it kicked off with both legs, rising and charging with the wind. It leaped more than ten meters into the air, traced an arc, and arrived above Nan Liujing's head.

Its two muscular arms came together once more, forming the shape of a war hammer. The difference was that the enhancement from its Wind Attribute Soul Power gave this strike a powerful sharpness. Slashing down from above, it was like wielding a giant axe, carrying an astonishing pressure.

Is this really a Wind Baboon?

Nan Liujing's eyelid twitched slightly, his heart filled with astonishment.

But his movements were not slow. His Soul Ring lit up, and the power of thunder surged from his body like a fountain. A strange scene followed. Nan Liujing seemed to melt, vanishing from the ground.

The Wind Baboon Leader slammed down. Before its blow even landed, the sharp wind pressure churned the ground, sending countless blades of grass flying and revealing thousands of fine cracks. The next moment, a deafening rumble like an earthquake erupted across the grassland.

Wave after wave of wind shockwaves swept wildly in every direction. Even some Thousand-Year Soul Beasts would have feared the power of this strike, yet it had been unleashed by a Wind Baboon at the very bottom of the Soul Beast food chain. It was truly bizarre.

The two youths hiding not far away were blown into disheveled states, their faces stinging as though sharp blades had swept across them. However, the Wind Baboon's cultivation was limited, so the actual range of the attack was not as frightening as it seemed.

"Aw, aw, aw!"

The Ten-Year Wind Baboons with brown-yellow fur in the distance cried out excitedly, cheering on their leader.

Yet no one noticed that above this forest, Plasma flowed like liquid and rapidly condensed into a human figure. His body was slightly curved, resembling a half-moon. Both arms gripped a whip-like, curved staff tightly behind his head. Dark, dim radiance flickered across it, while the faint shape of a dragon's tail emerged from its other end.

After the strike ended, the Wind Baboon Leader's scarlet eyes swept across the surroundings, but it could not find the target it wanted to kill.

"Are you looking for me?"

An indifferent voice came from above. The Wind Baboon Leader looked up instinctively, and its pupils suddenly contracted.

The enormous phantom of a dragon's tail seemed to tear through space and violently lashed downward. Terrifying thunder churned the air, filling the surroundings with distorted illusions and resounding dragon roars.

"Boom!"

A sound like thunder striking the earth exploded where the Wind Baboon Leader stood. Dazzling light suddenly appeared, and a large area of grassland around it collapsed, with countless cracks spreading across the ground.

The Wind Baboon Leader at the very center instantly turned into a cloud of blood mist. It truly died from the slightest touch.

The ordinary Wind Baboons in the distance were still howling in celebration when their throats seemed to be clamped shut, their cheers abruptly stopping. Without the slightest hesitation, a group of Wind Baboons less than a hundred years old scrambled up the trees and fled deeper into the forest, terrified that they would also be beaten to death by a single strike of the staff.

"Refreshing!"

A hearty laugh rang out. Nan Liujing descended from the air, electric arcs still lingering around him. He spun the Dragon Subduing Staff in one hand, then turned it into a streak of lightning that drilled back into his body.

Looking at the points of spiritual power in the pit, he reached out and drew them over. Streams of dense spiritual power rapidly merged into the still-sleeping Thunderclap Nether Vine Soul Spirit.

This six-hundred-year-old Wind Baboon Leader provided sixty years of growth points. Combined with the one hundred and thirty years of growth spiritual power provided by the nine Wind Baboons of one to two hundred years, Nan Liujing's first Soul Spirit's age was forcibly raised to one thousand and forty years.

There were two ways to undergo Spirit Ascension. One was to undergo Spirit Ascension directly within the Spirit Ascension Platform, while the other was to store it first and improve it after leaving the Spirit Ascension Platform.

There was still plenty of time, so Nan Liujing naturally intended to continue raising his Soul Spirit's age. However, he did not begin immediately.

"You two can come out now." Nan Liujing spoke toward a large tree in the distance.

Two figures soon emerged from behind the tree. They were the twin brothers.

The brothers had witnessed the entire process, and the shock on their faces had not yet completely faded.

Especially after noticing the pit and the dense cracks around Nan Liujing, their throats rolled involuntarily.

The youth who appeared somewhat steadier introduced himself with a clasped-fist salute. "Hello, my name is Chu Ziyuan. This is my younger brother, Chu Zihang."

"Chu Zihang?" Nan Liujing's expression turned strange. "Have you gotten your driver's licenses?"

In Douluo Continent, the legal age for Soul Masters to get a driver's license was fourteen, while it was eighteen for ordinary people.

"We have." Chu Ziyuan was baffled.

Chu Zihang asked curiously, "Is there a problem?"

"Remember, don't drive onto an overpass on a rainy day." Nan Liujing smiled and smoothly changed the subject. "My name is Nan Liujing. It's a pleasure to meet you."

Chu Zihang looked utterly confused, but Chu Ziyuan reacted quickly and took the initiative to continue. "We didn't expect to be so lucky. We actually encountered a Special Wind Baboon."

"A Special Wind Baboon?" Nan Liujing's heart stirred. From the very beginning, he had felt that the Wind Baboon Leader was unusual.

The moment Chu Ziyuan heard this, he became certain that Nan Liujing was entering the Spirit Ascension Platform for the first time. He explained casually, "Wind Baboons were originally just a very ordinary species in the Soul Beast world. However, ten thousand years ago, according to the records in the diaries of Dragon God Douluo Bei Bei and Blue Silver Douluo Tang Ya of that generation..."

"When the legendary Spirit Ice Douluo of the continent was young, he once entered the Star Dou Great Forest alone. As a result, he encountered a Ten-Year Wind Baboon and nearly died. Later, when the Spirit Pagoda had been established for five thousand years, the last wild Wind Baboon became extinct. Because of this, the Spirit Pagoda specially created a Special Wind Baboon and added it to the Spirit Ascension Platform."

"When this Special Wind Baboon enters its Blood Rage State, it becomes the kind you just fought. Its combat power is almost comparable to that of a Blood Red Baboon of the same age, a top-tier Soul Beast."

"Because, in the eyes of the Spirit Pagoda High Officials of that era, any Wind Baboon capable of forcing the Spirit Ice Douluo into a desperate situation had to be special. It was probably a Mutant."

The corner of Nan Liujing's mouth twitched slightly.

Who writes diaries like a normal person?

Bei Bei and Tang Ya really went all out, even exposing all of Huo Yuhao's secrets.

But then again, that battle could indeed be called tragic. Although the Wind Baboon failed to kill a god and died regretfully, it had consequently risen to the top of the Douluo Continent Season 2 Fame Ranking.

What? You're asking who was first on the Season 1 Fame Ranking?

That has to be the universally praised Old Six, the Man Faced Demon Spider.

"By the way." Chu Zihang cut in excitedly. "Killing a Special Wind Baboon can earn you a Soul Spirit Selection Card."

"What is that?" Nan Liujing felt that he needed to review his knowledge.

Chu Ziyuan explained with a smile, "The so-called Soul Spirit Selection Card is actually an Easter Egg Reward. As long as you kill a Special Wind Baboon, you can choose any Soul Spirit under ten thousand years from within the Spirit Pagoda, including those of Rare Grade."

"Its value is immeasurable. In this era, Soul Spirits provide Soul Masters with far too great a boost. A good Soul Spirit can absolutely change a person's life."

"However, Special Wind Baboons are extremely rare. Someone once killed Wind Baboons continuously for half a year in the Beginner Spirit Ascension Platform and still failed to obtain one."

"Oh, right. After you leave the Spirit Ascension Platform, staff members will come looking for you. Congratulations."

After Chu Ziyuan's explanation, Nan Liujing finally understood everything.

However, relying on his uncle's connections, he did not particularly need this so-called Soul Spirit Selection Card. He would keep it for now. Perhaps he could exchange it for something else of equal value in the future.

The three of them chatted briefly for a while. Then the Chu brothers prepared to take their leave first and continue squeezing as much as possible out of their Spirit Ascension Platform entry qualification. After all, each entry cost several hundred thousand.

Chu Ziyuan clasped his fists again. "I hope to see you on the Youth Genius Ranking in the future."

"I'll take your word for it." Nan Liujing watched the brothers leave.

Both sides had only asked each other's names and had not asked about anything related to their identities as Soul Masters. Asking too much of someone unfamiliar would have been impolite.

But Nan Liujing had definitely left a deep impression on the brothers.

Not only was he young, but he also had only one Soul Ring, yet he had instantly killed a group of Century Wind Baboons and a Special Wind Baboon.

Although they had met only by chance, once Nan Liujing grew powerful in the future, the brothers would be able to use the story as something to boast about.

Withdrawing his gaze, Nan Liujing moved and concealed himself among the dense leaves of a tree branch. After confirming that no Soul Beasts nearby would disturb him, he immediately prepared to begin Spirit Ascension, intending to continue hunting Soul Beasts after he succeeded.

In truth, Spirit Ascension was not particularly complicated. It was simply a matter of wildly injecting the collected spiritual power into the Soul Spirit's body.

The Thunderclap Nether Vine still sleeping within the Sea of Consciousness began emitting purple lightning. Gradually, it was almost completely enveloped, making its form impossible to see.

But Nan Liujing could sense that the aura emitted by the Thunderclap Nether Vine was rapidly rising.

In less than a minute, the lightning faded, and the Thunderclap Nether Vine reappeared. Changes were clearly visible to the naked eye.

The Flower Bud at its top had become a deeper color. Its vines had changed from light purple to Deep Purple, and the number of vines had increased to ten.

"Refreshing..." A faint voice drifted over.

Nan Liujing instantly opened his eyes and released his Mental Power.

Occasional gusts of wind blew through the forest, stirring the fine leaves, but there was no other movement.

Nan Liujing frowned. Had he misheard?

Buzz~

Just as Nan Liujing was puzzled, an unusual Thunder Pattern suddenly appeared in his eyes.

An astonishing suction force, like an invisible hand, seized his skull and forcibly dragged him back into the Sea of Consciousness.

The successive changes caught Nan Liujing completely off guard. He looked around in alarm, and his pupils could not help but contract slightly. Floating right in front of him was an almost transparent light shadow.

It was his Candy Martial Soul.

"What is this?" Nan Liujing froze.

Rumble!

Suddenly, deafening thunderclaps exploded from above.

The Heavenly Tribulation Pearl suspended over the Sea of Consciousness suddenly shot out a Brilliant Gold radiance. Under Nan Liujing's astonished gaze, it rapidly merged into the light shadow of the Candy Martial Soul.

Visible to the naked eye, the Candy Martial Soul, which had originally lacked Soul Spirit enhancement, gradually lit up with traces of brilliant radiance. It was no longer transparent, and fine Dragon Scales faintly emerged across its surface. However, these were not the Dark Blue Dragon Scales of the Thunder Dragon Soul, but much brighter Golden Dragon Patterns.

Resounding dragon roars continuously surged from within the Candy Martial Soul. A rich fragrance soon drifted out. After taking one breath, Nan Liujing clearly felt that gathering his Mental Power had become much easier.

"I never imagined that the opportunity the Heavenly Tribulation Pearl seized for you would be used on this power of yours. It can also be considered an unexpected joy." The voice carried a hint of surprise. It was Thunder God Ling Ting.

Nan Liujing gazed at his drastically changed Candy Martial Soul and could not help asking, "Senior, what do you mean?"

Thunder God said, "When the Heavenly Tribulation Pearl entered your Sea of Consciousness, I sensed that your soul seemed to have suffered some kind of impact and was continuously shattering. You would have died within half a month. So I took the liberty of extracting a power hidden within your body that should never have been born and used it to repair your soul."

"Inevitably, this Candy Martial Soul became tainted with a trace of your Soul Power. But because it was used to repair your Soul Origin, it lost its practical value."

So this is why I was able to wake up, and why my Mental Power was naturally so strong?

Nan Liujing suddenly understood. "In other words, although I have Twin Martial Souls, my Candy Martial Soul was actually ruined because it repaired my soul?"

The impact Thunder God mentioned was most likely caused by the awakening of his memories from his previous life conflicting with the memories of this life. If he had been a Soul Master Expert, he might have been able to endure it. But when he was still a child, he had been utterly incapable of bearing it, and had therefore died.

Thunder God said, "I don't really understand the cultivation system of your world, but it is more or less as you said. It was ruined, which is why it appeared transparent."

"However... after the Heavenly Tribulation Pearl merged the power it seized into it, it revived. You can still use Soul Power to control it, but it cannot fuse with a Soul Spirit like that Dragon Subduing Staff. As for the more specific details, you will have to experience them yourself."

Nan Liujing fell into a long silence. Who could have imagined that such a string of changes would occur to him?

After Thunder God finished speaking, he said nothing more. The enormous Sea of Consciousness once again became quiet.

His consciousness withdrew, and the world before Nan Liujing once again became a dense forest. With a thought, a golden Soul Ring rose from beneath him, dispelling the darkness around him.

Looking at this special "Soul Ring," Nan Liujing's expression became unusually complicated.

"Forget it. Things have already come to this. There's no point thinking about anything else. I'll first try out what this Candy Martial Soul, enhanced by that opportunity, can do."

He was still curious about what the opportunity actually was.

He spread open his left palm. With a thought, the golden Soul Ring began emitting a gentle radiance and continuously absorbing the Heaven and Earth Yuan Power around him. A light shadow gathered in his palm. After half a minute, an enticing fragrance spread through the air, and a candy appeared in his palm.

It bore golden Dragon Scales and was shaped like the Super Lollipop from GG Bond, though it was not nearly as large.

"It takes half a minute to create one. That's slow. It automatically absorbs Heaven and Earth Yuan Power as its Energy Source, so I consume almost no Soul Power." Nan Liujing summarized the candy creation process.

Overall, the creation time for this candy was somewhat long. It was temporarily unclear whether the speed would increase as his cultivation grew, and he also did not know how long it could be preserved.

But its advantages were obvious as well. It did not consume any of his own Soul Power, preventing the amount of Soul Power available for using the Dragon Subduing Staff from becoming insufficient because he had created Soul Power food.

Nan Liujing picked up the Super Lollipop glowing with a hazy golden light. He looked left and right, and after confirming that no one was nearby, he tried tossing it into his mouth.

The moment it entered his mouth, his expression changed.

First Soul Skill: Thunder Dragon Breaks Through the Sky!

For the exact appearance, everyone can refer to the "Four Beans" charging mechanic in Black Myth Wukong.

This explains why the Candy Martial Soul's inherent fragrance can enhance the gathering of Mental Power.