Preparations Before Contracting a Soul Spirit

"My physique... is at least three times stronger than before I took it."

Gu Ci murmured, "With my current physical strength, absorbing a spirit ring over four thousand years old should be no problem at all."

"If I'm lucky, even one under five thousand years might be possible."

Dugu Yan excitedly bounced on her feet. "I feel like I could kill a cow with one punch now!"

Gu Ci could not help but laugh.

He looked at Dugu Bo. "Grandpa Dugu, next comes the Soul Spirit Art."

"But before that, I need your help preparing a few things."

Dugu Bo waved a hand grandly. "Just tell me what you need."

Gu Ci nodded and began to calculate.

A Soul Spirit Contract required setting up an array, which called for some special materials.

In the original work, Huo Yuhao's Soul Spirit Art had been refined and no longer required the same complexity as at the start, but the basic array materials were still indispensable.

Moreover, the spirit beasts he and Dugu Yan would contract also needed to be selected carefully.

After all, contracting a Soul Spirit for one's First Spirit Ring was still unprecedented on Douluo Continent.

"Write down whatever you need."

Dugu Bo said, "I may not be some fabulously wealthy man, but after all these years, I have built up a bit of a fortune."

Gu Ci nodded, then looked again at the Lovesick Heartbreak Red.

While absorbing the Whale Rubber earlier, he had faintly sensed that call again.

But now was not the time to investigate it.

After absorbing his First Spirit Ring and growing stronger, he would definitely come back to see what secrets this Immortal Herb was hiding.

And that woman in white...

Gu Ci shook his head and suppressed his thoughts.

"Grandpa Dugu, let's return to the estate first."

He said, "Once I have the array ready, we'll go hunt spirit beasts."

After returning to the estate, Gu Ci did not delay and headed straight for the Main Hall.

Gu Xiao and Li Wanyue were discussing matters in the hall. When they saw him enter, Li Wanyue smiled and beckoned. "Ci'er, you're back? Did you have fun in the Immortal Herb Garden?"

Gu Ci nodded, took out two jade boxes from his robes, and solemnly placed them on the table.

"Father, Mother, I brought these for you."

Gu Xiao froze for a moment. When he opened one of the jade boxes, a strange fragrance immediately filled the air.

Inside lay a golden Immortal Herb shaped like a Chrysanthemum. Its layered petals gleamed with a faint golden radiance.

"This is the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum."

Gu Ci explained, "After taking it, its energy will circulate through the whole body, forging an Indestructible Vajra Body and greatly increasing Soul Power."

"Father, you've been stuck at level seventy-two for a long time. This Immortal Herb is perfect for you."

Gu Xiao's pupils contracted slightly.

Though he did not know the name of this spiritual medicine, the dense energy fluctuations alone told him that it was no ordinary treasure.

"Ci'er, this..."

"And this one."

Gu Ci opened the other jade box. Inside was a silvery-white herb with slender leaves that emitted a gentle glow, as if condensed from moonlight.

"This is Moonlight Grass. It has remarkable effects on spiritual-type Martial Souls. Mother, your Eye Martial Soul has been unable to break through its bottleneck for years. This herb should be able to help."

Li Wanyue stared at the Moonlight Grass, her eyes reddening.

Of course, she knew about her own problem.

Although an Eye Martial Soul was rare, it was extraordinarily difficult to cultivate, and the growth of spiritual power was even slower.

She had been stuck at level sixty-five for years, unable to advance even a step. It would have been a lie to say she was not anxious.

After all, this era did not yet possess the secret method for the second awakening of a Body Martial Soul.

"Ci'er, these are far too precious..." Li Wanyue said through choked sobs.

Gu Ci smiled. "Mother, there's no need for such formality between family."

"Besides, these Immortal Herbs would just sit in the Immortal Herb Garden anyway. Grandpa Dugu told me to pick whatever I wanted."

Gu Xiao took a deep breath, closed the jade box, and looked at his son with eyes full of pride.

"Fine, then your father won't stand on ceremony."

He laughed heartily. "Perfect! Let my Foster Father see that the Gu Family is no pushover!"

The two of them immediately returned to their rooms to cultivate in seclusion.

Gu Ci did not disturb them. Instead, he returned to his own courtyard and began studying the Soul Spirit Array.

He had already read <The Theory and Practical Implementation of Soul Spirit Art> several times, and every detail of the array's construction was deeply ingrained in his mind.

Three days later.

Early in the morning, Gu Ci was practicing his fists and kicks in the courtyard when he suddenly sensed two powerful auras erupting from different directions within the estate.

One was violent as thunder and carried the majestic might of a tiger.

The other was serene as water, yet contained vast spiritual fluctuations.

The corners of Gu Ci's lips rose.

His father and mother had broken through.

Sure enough, moments later, Gu Xiao's booming laughter rang out. "Hahaha! Level seventy-five! I finally reached level seventy-five!"

He strode out from the Backyard, his entire spirit renewed. Faint Thunder Light flickered around him, and his aura was far stronger than before.

When he saw Gu Ci, he swept his son into his arms. "Good son! Your father feels like he could punch a ten-thousand-year spirit beast to death now! Even becoming a Titled Douluo is within reach!"

Li Wanyue also emerged from her room. Her temperament had become even more ethereal, faint light flowing within her eyes, and she appeared several years younger.

"Level sixty-eight."

She spoke softly, her eyes full of delight. "And my Martial Soul seems to have undergone some kind of change. My spiritual power is at least twice as strong as before."

Through his Heavenly Eye, Gu Ci could see that his mother's Eye Martial Soul had indeed evolved. It had originally been nothing more than ordinary eyes, but now a faint moon shadow had appeared deep within her pupils.

"Congratulations, Father. Congratulations, Mother." Gu Ci smiled.

Gu Xiao set him down and was about to speak when a dark green figure descended from the sky.

Dugu Bo landed in the courtyard. When he saw Gu Xiao and Li Wanyue, surprise flashed through his eyes.

"Xiao'er, you... reached level seventy-five? And Wan'er, you broke through too?"

Gu Xiao grinned and explained what had happened.

After hearing him out, Dugu Bo's gaze at Gu Ci became even more complicated.

This boy not only possessed astonishing talent himself, but could benefit his family as well. He truly was a lucky star.

He opened his mouth as though he wanted to ask something, but felt too embarrassed to say it.

Gu Ci saw through his thoughts and explained with a smile, "Grandpa Dugu, it's not that I didn't prepare anything for you."

"Your Jade Phosphor Snake Venom is too unusual. Taking an Immortal Herb rashly now might instead aggravate the poison."

"Once you use the Soul Core Method to solve the poison problem, you can personally choose from the Immortal Herb Garden. Pick whichever one you like."

Dugu Bo was stunned for a moment, then burst into hearty laughter. "Good boy, that's thoughtful of you! Then I'll wait for that day."

After laughing, he took a cloth bag from his Soul Tool. "The materials are ready."

"Blood from a Thousand-Year Ink Flood Dragon, bone powder from a Ten-Thousand-Year Earth Dragon, Deep Sea Silver Sand... nothing is missing."

Gu Ci accepted it, carefully inspected everything, and nodded in satisfaction.

"Thank you, Grandpa Dugu. Time is of the essence. Let's go to Sunset Forest today."

"So soon?" Dugu Bo raised an eyebrow.

Gu Ci glanced at Dugu Yan beside him. "The poison in Yanyan's body has only been temporarily suppressed. Every extra day we delay means another measure of risk."

"The sooner she contracts a Soul Spirit, the sooner we can rest easy."

Dugu Yan nodded vigorously. "Grandpa, I'm not afraid!"

Dugu Bo fell silent for a moment, then slowly nodded. "Fine. Then we'll set off now."

Gu Xiao stepped forward. "Foster Father, I'm going too."

Li Wanyue added, "I'll come as well. If anything goes wrong, an extra person means extra help."

Dugu Bo waved them off. "You two just broke through. Focus on stabilizing your realms. With me here, nothing will happen."

"Besides, too many people would only make it easier to alarm the spirit beasts."