"You want to choose enhancement skills for all your first few Soul Skills? Xiao Qi, that's a bold idea—and a very forward-thinking one."
Dugu Bo thought it over, then said in a low voice.
Chen Jieqi tilted his head slightly. A childlike gleam of mischief danced in his eyes, yet there was a maturity in them that belied his age.
He stepped closer and gently tugged at the dark green hem of Dugu Bo's robe, then continued in a clear voice:
"That's because I have you, Grandpa. I'd only dare make this choice because you're here.
"When I choose my early Soul Rings, you'll be there to help me. So it doesn't matter whether they have offensive abilities. I only need to choose the ones that suit me best.
"Most importantly, low-year offensive Soul Rings aren't very useful later on, while enhancement Soul Rings can be used throughout my whole life.
"That way, the further I progress, the greater my core advantage will be.
"After all, when Soul Power levels are about the same and we set aside Martial Soul counters, a Soul Master's skill damage and endurance determine their limits. Enhancement-type Soul Ring skills are exactly what can provide those advantages.
"Whether it's a boost to Soul Skill damage, attributes, or Soul Power recovery, getting one is a gain. Getting two is a bargain."
By the end, Chen Jieqi's small face was full of earnestness. He looked up at Dugu Bo, his tone brimming with trust and certainty.
"With you protecting me, Grandpa, I only need to build a solid foundation. Then I'll make you proud and protect Yanyan. Isn't that right?"
Before Dugu Bo could answer, Chen Jieqi continued:
"My Martial Soul, the Heart of the Naaru, is an ultimate Light- and divine-type Martial Soul. It naturally has properties like purification, heat, and dissolution.
"When used on myself or my teammates, it can provide a divine enhancement and cleanse negative effects.
"When used against opponents, it can erode and dissolve their Soul Power, as well as heat them up and accelerate their loss of stamina, allowing me to counter or defeat them.
"So my first choice for Soul Ring enhancements is an all-attribute boost, followed by boosts to Light and divine attributes."
Dugu Bo nodded in satisfaction.
"Xiao Qi, you've got your own plan. Of course Grandpa will support you with everything I have. You've always been precocious, and you showed signs of being exceptional from a young age. So, what are you thinking for Soul Beasts?"
Although Chen Jieqi was only six, many of his words and actions seemed far beyond what was normal for his age.
Dugu Bo had never looked too deeply into it. Instead, he treated him like his own grandson.
With Chen Jieqi's help over the past few years, the backlash from Dugu Yan's Martial Soul had eased considerably.
Even Dugu Bo's own condition had been somewhat suppressed, making the past few years much easier for him.
Now, with Chen Jieqi's Martial Soul awakened and his abilities on display, Dugu Bo saw hope. If they could completely resolve the hidden flaw in his own Martial Soul, that would be best.
If they couldn't, then when he was gone one day, his granddaughter Dugu Yan would still have someone to look after her.
"For Soul Beasts, my first choice would be ones with divine attributes, then ones with Light attributes.
"Sacred Scarabs, Light Birds, Sacred Radiance Pegasi, and the like would all work.
"That would not only maximize the enhancement of my Martial Soul's traits, but also give me a good chance of obtaining an enhancement or strengthening Soul Skill."
Chen Jieqi thought for a moment, then explained his reasoning to Dugu Bo.
"Xiao Qi, your plan makes sense. When a Soul Master's Soul Power reaches a bottleneck, getting a Soul Ring and gaining a Soul Skill is only one part of the process. More importantly, it strengthens your Martial Soul, brings out its strengths, and compensates for its weaknesses. That's how you build a steadier path and go further.
"The Yu Clan of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect and the Dai Clan of the White Tiger Clan are both like that. Their combat power is far beyond that of other Soul Masters at the same stage, and their potential is greater too.
"The reason the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon is called the 'number one Beast Martial Soul' is not just its powerful physique, which surpasses other Beast Martial Souls of the same stage. It also has the fierce, domineering attribute of lightning."
Dugu Bo sighed.
The Dugu Family's Jade Phosphor Snake was a high-level Martial Soul, and after evolving, his Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor was an even more exceptional Martial Soul.
But neither its physical strength nor its attributes could compare to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon...
Dugu Yan watched the two of them talking animatedly, her eyes full of happiness and admiration. She urged them:
"Then it's settled. Let's hurry up and set off. It won't be hard to find Soul Beasts under a thousand years old in Sunset Forest."
Dugu Bo nodded slightly and was about to set off when Chen Jieqi suddenly thought of something and hurriedly grabbed his hand.
"Grandpa, wait. First, can you test my physical strength and see roughly what age of Soul Ring my body can withstand?
"The number of years a Soul Ring can have when a young Soul Master absorbs it is proportional to their physical fitness. I don't want to follow the usual rules and end up absorbing a Soul Ring that's only around four hundred years old."
"Xiao Qi, are you sure?
"That's just your own theory. If anything goes wrong, even if Grandpa forcibly interrupts your absorption to keep your body from exploding, the backlash could have serious consequences—possibly even affecting your future."
Dugu Bo looked at Chen Jieqi and hurriedly tried to dissuade him.
"Grandpa's right, little brother Xiao Qi. Your talent is already one in ten thousand. There's no need to take this risk. If you choose your Soul Rings step by step, you can still far surpass Soul Masters at the same stage."
Dugu Yan chimed in anxiously.
Seeing Dugu Bo's caution and Dugu Yan's worry warmed Chen Jieqi's heart, but he still spoke with resolve.
"Grandpa, Yanyan, I know you're looking out for me, but talent is only the starting point.
"If I have an advantage over others, then I should work even harder to keep it. A small head start can put you ahead at every step.
"Absorbing a Soul Ring beyond the usual limit can not only raise my Soul Power faster, but also make the Soul Skill it gives me stronger.
"And when I meditate and pray, I sometimes hear a voice whispering in my ear:
"'A genius must do what ordinary people cannot.' I have to get ahead from the very start, and every choice I make must strengthen my foundations. That's how I'll reach the summit."
Looking at Chen Jieqi, only six years old but so resolute and determined, Dugu Bo considered it for a while before finally nodding and saying gravely:
"Grandpa will agree to your request, but only this once.
"If you fail, you'll follow the rules from then on and give up this dangerous idea."
"Deal!"
Looking at the excited Chen Jieqi, Dugu Bo rubbed his brow.
The main reasons he had agreed were Chen Jieqi's precociousness and unusual nature from a young age—and the tiny bit of hope he still held in his heart.
An hour later, Dugu Bo returned with a barely living insect.
It was about seven inches long, rather plump and oval-shaped, with white scales covering its body.
Sunlight reflected off them in a dazzling white gleam, as if the creature wore a suit of white armor. Six horn-shaped serrations lined the front edge of the crescent-shaped shell on its head.
This was a Sacred Scarab with roughly seven hundred years of cultivation.
"Xiao Qi, when I tested your physical strength just now, you seemed able to withstand a Soul Ring of seven to eight hundred years. But to be safe, I chose one that's around seven hundred. Hurry and kill it, then absorb the Soul Ring."
"Okay. Thank you, Grandpa!"
At Dugu Bo's words, Chen Jieqi stepped forward without hesitation and delivered the final blow, sending the creature into eternal slumber.
A bright yellow Soul Ring filled with divine energy slowly appeared above the Sacred Scarab's body.
"Xiao Qi, are you really going to absorb this Soul Ring?
"If you've misjudged your limits, even if Grandpa interrupts you in time and saves you, the backlash could leave you unable to absorb a new Soul Ring for a year, trapping you at your current bottleneck.
"Have you really thought this through?"
Dugu Bo looked at the Soul Ring and asked again, his expression serious.
"Grandpa, I'm confident. Please trust my judgment!"
Chen Jieqi looked at Dugu Bo with determination.
"Then do your best, little brother Xiao Qi!"
Dugu Yan stood nearby and pumped her fist encouragingly.
"Thanks, Yanyan."
Dugu Bo nodded and didn't try to dissuade him again.
He and Dugu Yan watched Chen Jieqi's every move nervously, their eyes even holding a hint of anticipation.
If Chen Jieqi successfully absorbed this Sacred Scarab Soul Ring, which exceeded the usual limit, he would have foundations no one else could match.
It was impossible to imagine how powerful Chen Jieqi might become in the future.
Chen Jieqi summoned the Heart of the Naaru, sat cross-legged, and began absorbing the Sacred Scarab's Soul Ring.
As his Soul Power drew it in, the bright yellow Soul Ring quickly flew over and settled above his head.
At that moment, the bones throughout Chen Jieqi's body gave a faint creak under the tremendous pressure.
Wave after wave of scorching energy poured into him. In an instant, his insides felt as if they were burning, and his body began to tremble violently.
Chen Jieqi couldn't help thinking that anyone else would likely be unable to withstand the Soul Ring's energy as soon as it entered their body. They would bleed from all seven orifices and might even explode.
But he had been physically different from ordinary people since childhood, and his attributes were of the same origin.
Guided and channeled by his powerful spiritual force, the energy never exceeded what his body could endure.
As the absorption continued, the Sacred Scarab Soul Ring's energy seemed endless.
It tempered Chen Jieqi's body again and again. As time passed, his expression gradually relaxed.
Dugu Bo finally breathed a sigh of relief, but continued watching Chen Jieqi closely.
Judging from his extensive experience, Chen Jieqi had made it through the most dangerous stage and had a good chance of completing the absorption.
But they still had to wait. No one could know how things would end until the very last moment.
Since ancient times, Douluo Continent had never lacked geniuses. Many of them had thought the way Chen Jieqi did.
Yet their endings had all been tragic. Not one had succeeded.
Three hours later, Chen Jieqi had stopped trembling noticeably, and his breathing had gradually steadied. The Soul Ring's absorption was nearing its end.
Seeing Chen Jieqi stabilize, Dugu Bo and Dugu Yan finally let go of their last worries. It looked like he had succeeded.
As the bright yellow Soul Ring settled around him, Chen Jieqi felt his body grow lighter.
He felt refreshed from head to toe, as though every pore had opened, and his Soul Power seemed to have grown by a huge amount.
"Grandpa, Yanyan, I did it!"
Chen Jieqi opened his eyes and smiled.
"Good, good, good...
"My grandson has the makings of a god!"