As he thought, Wang Xian's eyes grew brighter and brighter.
He had completely understood the purpose of this skill.
When the blade aura struck an enemy, it directly affected their mind, throwing them into brief fear and rendering them unable to move.
If the enemy was already bound by Blue Silver Grass, the duration of the fear would double. Binding plus fear—the control chain was completely maxed out.
The opponent could not break free after being bound to begin with. Add fear on top of that, and they would not even think of struggling, only able to stand there and take the beating.
"A slash on the mental plane... This Weapon Form was transformed from Evergreen Blue Silver Grass, so the traits listed for Evergreen Blue Silver Grass will also manifest here and influence the formation of soul skills."
Wang Xian slowly nodded and quickly understood why this skill had appeared.
"Next is the Armor Form."
With a thought from Wang Xian, emerald-green light spread from his chest, flowing over his entire body like water.
When the light faded, a suit of deep blue-green armor was fitted tightly over his body.
The armor was not bulky. Every leaf-shaped plate hugged the contours of his body, while the joints used overlapping fish-scale layers that caused not the slightest obstruction to movement.
The surface of the armor plates was covered in fine golden patterns, like the veins of the earth, extending from his chest to his limbs. They flickered in and out as though the armor itself were breathing.
The shoulder armor had been shaped into tiger heads. Two golden crystals were set into each tiger's eyes, giving off a faint pressure, as if a real tiger were crouching on his shoulders.
A vertical golden streak of light ran down the center of the breastplate, extending from his collarbones to his abdomen like a flowing spring.
Three long grass-leaf capes extended from his back. Faint silver-white glints flickered at their tips as they hung behind him, swaying gently with his breathing.
Wang Xian lowered his head to look at himself and clenched his fists.
Even beneath the armor, his fingers remained nimble. The plates around his knuckles automatically contracted and did not interfere with any delicate movements.
He stood and took two steps. His strides were steady and powerful, and the armor's weight was distributed evenly, without any suffocating sense of being weighed down.
"Let's test the passive skill first."
Wang Xian raised his right arm and lightly tapped the armor's surface with the index finger of his left hand.
The instant his fingertip touched the armor, a row of dense barbs suddenly sprang out from the spot he had tapped. Their sharp tips nearly pierced his finger.
Wang Xian quickly pulled his hand back, and only then did the barbs slowly retract.
Not only that, but as the barbs emerged, he felt a faint mental impact rebound from the armor, like someone lightly smacking his forehead. His vision swayed slightly.
It was very slight, but in battle, that fraction of a second of daze could decide life or death.
"Thorn Body." Wang Xian nodded in satisfaction.
Any melee attack that struck the armor would trigger the barbs to stab back, while also carrying mental backlash.
That was equivalent to making his opponents pay a price for every punch they threw. The more they attacked, the worse they would be hurt.
Next came the active skill.
Wang Xian took a deep breath and activated Life Force.
The two tiger heads on his shoulder armor lit up simultaneously, and the golden crystals in their eyes burst with dazzling emerald-gold radiance.
Immediately afterward, the golden patterns on the armor's surface seemed to be infused with energy, instantly becoming bright and piercing. The entire suit of armor expanded slightly and emitted a deep hum.
A surge of heat poured from the armor and flooded into every part of his body.
Wang Xian felt as though his body had been set ablaze.
His muscles tightened, his blood accelerated, and unprecedented power surged through him.
He clenched his fist, his knuckles cracking sharply. The blade-like protrusions on his arm armor opened slightly with his movements, like a beast baring its fangs.
He threw a punch at the air before him.
His fist tore through the air with a sharp whistle, and a pale silver vortex faintly spun around the front of his fist.
Mid-punch, a blurry phantom of a tiger emerged from his fist, opening its jaws as it pounced forward.
The phantom lingered in the air for an instant before dispersing, but the brief pressure it gave off made even the air in the room seem to freeze.
Wang Xian then raised his leg and stomped on the floor.
The instant his armored foot struck the ground, a shockwave spread from beneath it, making the floor let out a dull thump and causing even the bed to tremble.
The hooked claws at the armor's fingertips scraped several shallow white marks into the floor, their Sharpness enough to make one's scalp tingle.
"My strength has doubled, and it even comes with a shockwave and fear-induced paralysis..." Wang Xian moved his body, feeling the surging energy within him, and the corners of his mouth could not help but curl upward.
He tried jumping again.
The explosive force of the leg armor far exceeded his expectations. He shot upward so high that his head nearly struck the ceiling.
He barely adjusted his posture in midair. When he landed, he bent his knees slightly and steadied himself firmly without making much noise.
"My speed is at least fifty percent faster." Wang Xian made a rough estimate, feeling even more satisfied.
He moved around the room in a small area for a few steps. His footsteps were light yet powerful, and every step carried a springing force, as if springs had been installed beneath his feet.
The blade-like protrusions and hooked claws of the armor continually opened and closed with his movements, like a hunting beast.
Soon, thirty minutes passed, and the state ended abruptly.
Thirty minutes of duration was enough for a tough battle.
With a thought from Wang Xian, the golden patterns on the armor gradually dimmed, the expanded plates returned to normal, and the light in the shoulder armor's tiger heads slowly went out as well.
Emerald-green light gathered from his limbs toward his chest, finally turning into a point of light that sank into his body.
The room returned to silence.
Wang Xian sat back down on the bed and let out a long breath.
The Weapon Form had gained a Mental Control skill, while the Armor Form provided all-around attribute boosts and damage-reflection abilities.
"Once the Snake-Eating Frog's training is complete, I'll see whether it has any traits worth fusing."
As Wang Xian calculated in his heart, he closed the System Panel and lay down on the bed, a satisfied smile still lingering on his lips.
"But I already have thirty thousand Cultivation Points. I might as well cultivate the Armor Form again. It only costs one thousand Cultivation Points, anyway."
"Armor Form, Life Armor, cultivating. Progress: 1%. Estimated completion: thirty days."
In the blink of an eye, another two days passed. Today was a rest day at Heaven Dou Intermediate Academy, and Heaven Dou Great Soul Arena, considering Wang Xian's health, had not arranged any more matches for him.
After learning of this, Dugu Yan suggested that everyone go out and have some fun together.
Neither Wang Xian nor Ye Lingling had any objections.
Early the next morning, Wang Xian put on a clean, neat robe, left the dormitory, and arrived at the entrance of Heaven Dou Intermediate Academy.
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