Douluo: Martial Soul Iron-Eating Beast, Never a Slave

Perhaps Spirit Hall would not trouble the Zhao Family, but what if that was not the case? What if Spirit Hall still held a grudge over Zhao Wuji's affairs back then and struck at the Zhao Family?

That was why Zhao Father did not dare let Zhao Mu venture into the world too easily.

Second Grandfather smiled faintly. "Even if Spirit Hall still bears hostility toward our Zhao Family, it does not matter. Have you forgotten? Mu'er's martial soul is a mutated martial soul, not our Zhao Family's traditional Vajra Bear martial soul!"

On the Douluo Continent, a martial soul was another form of identification for a soul master and could not be faked. Therefore, if it was not a Vajra Bear martial soul, it would be difficult to connect it to the Zhao Family.

After all, martial soul mutations were extremely rare.

"Furthermore, it will be difficult for us to provide the heavenly treasures Mu'er needs for his future breakthroughs. A single Mountain-Back Iron-Armored Bamboo is already our limit. It will be very hard for us to find a heavenly treasure even better than the Mountain-Back Iron-Armored Bamboo. Only outside will such a possibility exist!"

Hearing this, Zhao Father gave Second Grandfather another look. "Second Uncle, so your recommendation that Mu'er choose the Mountain-Back Iron-Armored Bamboo for his second soul ring was also based on this consideration?"

Second Grandfather did not deny it. "I was considering Mu'er's safety as well. If Mu'er can truly absorb the Mountain-Back Iron-Armored Bamboo as his second soul ring, he will have some ability to protect himself. I mean well."

"Besides, as Mu'er's father, you should have noticed that he possesses maturity and steadiness far beyond his peers. If we teach him for a while longer, then even if Mu'er goes out into the world, he will not be easily bullied."

Zhao Father took a deep breath, paused, and said, "I'll go back and discuss it with A-Ru."

Second Grandfather frowned. "You are the Zhao Family's head, yet in the end, you are still ruled by your wife!"

"A-Ru is Mu'er's mother too!" Zhao Father replied.

"Fine, think it over yourself!" With that, Second Grandfather flicked his sleeve, turned, and left.

Before leaving, he glanced at Zhao Mu. The latter's refinement had clearly reached its later stages, and he would likely obtain his second soul ring soon.

Watching Second Grandfather's departing back, Zhao Father murmured to himself, "Mu'er should decide how he walks his future path. If he wants to go out, I will naturally support him. If he wants to stay in these mountains, I will naturally raise him for the rest of his life!"

"Though it seems he and that little Heibai have been eating more and more lately..."

Under Zhao Father's protection, Zhao Mu's energy absorption gradually stabilized.

As the final trace of dense energy was absorbed and refined by Zhao Mu, he slowly opened his eyes. A dark golden gleam flashed through them. His appearance had not changed much, but Zhao Mu now gave off an even steadier, more dependable feeling.

At the same time, a new purple soul ring condensed beneath Zhao Mu's feet.

His second soul ring was also a thousand-year soul ring!

The two purple soul rings echoed each other, pulsing around Zhao Mu's body.

Looking at the two purple soul rings beneath Zhao Mu's feet, Zhao Father was equally shocked. However, with the thousand-year first soul ring as precedent, he was much calmer this time.

"Both of his first two soul rings are thousand-year rings. Even in the outside world, he is probably one of a kind..." A proud smile rose on Zhao Father's face.

"Mu'er, did your second soul ring inherit the defensive traits of the Mountain-Back Iron-Armored Bamboo? Now that you have absorbed your second soul ring, what is your second soul skill?" After his pride subsided, Zhao Father did not forget to ask about Zhao Mu's second soul skill.

A soul master's soul skills were personal secrets. Asking about them was impolite unless one was among the closest of family.

A father asking his son was perfectly fine!

Zhao Mu did not hide anything. After carefully understanding his second soul skill, he immediately used it.

Looking at Heibai on the ground, Zhao Mu was not stingy with the chant this time. It seemed that, like Support System food-type soul masters, every soul skill had a corresponding chant.

"Heibai, go!"

"Second Soul Skill, Immovable as a Mountain, Indestructible!"

Awooo!

As Zhao Mu spoke, Heibai did not hold back this time and decisively made his move.

Zhao Father had treated him to food. He would give him this much face!

With a roar, Heibai was bathed in dark golden radiance. His originally silly and adorable appearance changed as well. His body grew taller. Though he did not shoot up to over two meters tall like in his lightning state, he still grew by a head. His fur and skin were dyed dark gold beneath the glow.

Standing on two feet, he did not look as domineering and majestic as he did in his lightning state, but he possessed an additional sense of solidity, determination, and unshakable calm.

After transforming, Heibai curiously examined his new form before looking at Zhao Father and Zhao Mu in turn.

"Father, the second soul ring inherited the Mountain-Back Iron-Armored Bamboo's toughness. Heibai's entire body has now hardened, and his defense has greatly increased. He is like a little vajra!"

Awooo, awooo, awooo!

I'm the Vajra Panda King!

Heibai was displeased and corrected Zhao Mu.

Little vajra sounded far less imposing than Vajra Panda King!

Zhao Mu did not continue arguing with Heibai over names. This guy was just a chuuni panda.

Zhao Mu and Zhao Father came to Heibai's side, touched his thigh, then knocked on it.

Clang, clang!

"Just as expected of something that absorbed the Mountain-Back Iron-Armored Bamboo. It really is like vajra—hard as iron and ringing like a bell."

Heibai then proudly scratched his slightly enlarged backside and looked at Zhao Mu.

Awooo, awooo, awooo!

Let's see how you kick my butt now. You'll hurt your foot!

"Hm? Hurt my foot?" Hearing Heibai's words, Zhao Mu's thoughts suddenly became active again.

Was the second soul ring only a defensive state?

That was not enough!

PS: Starting tomorrow, updates will return to twice daily. I hope all dear readers will support me! This little nobody bows in thanks! Thanks to ALing Dreams for the monthly ticket, and thank you for the support!

Forces were mutual!

Zhao Mu clearly remembered hearing that before.

As for whether he had learned it in middle school or high school, he could not remember.

But since forces were mutual, when two things collided, the impact they received should be roughly the same. At that point, the degree of damage would depend on each side's ability to endure it.

When two cars crashed, the force of the impact was nearly equal. At that point, a well-built car suffered less damage, while a poorly built one would be devastated.

Another example was what Heibai had just said. After Heibai hardened, if Zhao Mu kicked his butt again, Heibai would not feel pain because of the hardening. Instead, Zhao Mu's foot would hurt as if he had kicked a rock.

So, if hardened Heibai collided with an enemy, Heibai's high defense would keep him safe, while the other side would be in serious trouble!

Right!

This could work!

No wonder people said the best defense was offense.

Zhao Mu suddenly felt enlightened!

If Heibai merely hardened himself and stood there silently enduring others' attacks, that would only be pure defense. But if he hardened himself and slammed into others, that could also be the best form of attack!

Hearing Zhao Mu mutter to himself, Heibai's large face immediately fell, and every trace of his earlier smugness vanished.

Awooo, awooo, awooo!

How were human brains even built?

It was clearly a defensive skill, yet he wanted him to ram into others. Was he even human?

However, all of Heibai's complaints were ultimately futile.

A moment later.

The sounds of hard objects colliding rang out in the bamboo forest.

"Heibai, use Rocket Headbutt!"

At Zhao Mu's command, a dark golden figure suddenly dropped onto all fours and began running, then fiercely smashed his huge head into a distant boulder.

Judging by the movement, he had already become somewhat proficient. It was much smoother now.

Boom!

As Heibai's huge head struck the boulder, the boulder instantly shattered and scattered beneath the immense impact.

As for Heibai, he rubbed his head with his front paw. Aside from getting some dust on himself, he had not suffered much damage.

"It really works! As long as we practice diligently, Heibai, this can definitely become one of our greatest killing moves!" Zhao Mu was very satisfied with the destructive power of Heibai's charge.

Zhao Father stood frozen for a long while. The power of this Rocket Headbutt was indeed impressive. It felt as though even a level-thirty Soul Elder might not be able to withstand such a hit.

He had personally watched his son come up with Rocket Headbutt. Zhao Mu's strange ideas left him at a loss for words. It had originally been nothing more than a defensive skill, yet Zhao Mu had somehow turned it into an offensive skill.

He just felt a little sorry for Heibai.

Awooo, awooo, awooo!

Heibai howled. If he were not rewarded with a bamboo stalk for every Rocket Headbutt, he would never foolishly ram stones.

An Iron-Eating Beast would never be a slave!

Awooo, awooo, awooo!

"You actually came up with a new use for such a fine defensive soul skill. It truly opens one's eyes!" After Zhao Mu and Heibai stopped practicing their new skill, Zhao Father finally stepped forward and spoke.

Zhao Mu spread his hands, his face full of helplessness as he said sincerely, "It can't be helped. Soul masters have too few soul skills, so I can only figure things out myself."

Too few soul skills? Then create your own!