It was like choosing a university after the entrance exams: leave everything to your parents.
Qian Renxue had the same attitude. She had no plan of her own and wanted Qian Daoliu and the others to decide for her.
That was exactly what she had done in the original story. Qian Daoliu had chosen all her Spirit Rings, but they were a sorry sight.
She had Innate Level 20 Soul Power, yet her Soul Ring Configuration could not even compare with Tang San's or Bibi Dong's. What a waste of such powerful Innate Soul Power.
Ao Zhan sighed inwardly. "I think the worship elders' ideas should only be used as references. You have Innate Level 20 Soul Power, after all. Your Spirit Rings can't be chosen the way an ordinary person's would be. Even the Soul Ring Configurations of past Popes of the Qian Clan should only serve as references."
"So you can't just add a Spirit Ring now. Even if Grandpa Qian or Uncle Qian finds one for you—"
"Xiao Zhan is right. Xue'er, we must be careful with your Soul Ring Configuration. We can't be careless."
Golden Crocodile and the others agreed with Ao Zhan.
Innate Level 20 Soul Power could not compare with Ao Zhan's monstrous Innate Level 40 Soul Power, but it was unprecedented among the Qian Clan's heirs. They absolutely could not choose Qian Renxue's Spirit Rings by ordinary standards.
"I understand, Brother Zhan." Qian Renxue nodded. She knew Ao Zhan would never hurt her.
"Then, Xiao Zhan, do you have plans for your own Spirit Rings and Xue'er's?" Azure Luan asked.
Ao Zhan was an even more extraordinary genius than Qian Renxue. Perhaps his ideas were worth considering.
"Uh... can I say I've never thought about adding Spirit Rings at all?" Ao Zhan scratched his head and admitted it, a little embarrassed.
Spirit Rings were so important to Soul Masters because they needed them to break through to the next major realm. Powerful Spirit Rings could also grant them exceptional Soul Skills, taking their combat strength to another level.
And if a Soul Master chose the right Spirit Rings, later cultivation could yield twice the results with half the effort.
Golden Crocodile was an example. Besides possessing the Super Martial Soul known as the Golden Crocodile King, he had become Spirit Hall's Second Worship and a formidable level 98 Soul Master partly because his ninth Spirit Ring was a hundred thousand years old.
But Spirit Rings were not essential to Ao Zhan.
He was not bound by the limits of Soul Masters. He could break through without Spirit Rings, and he had created many techniques back in the Super Beast Armed World.
He now used Soul Power to perform them instead of Alien Energy, though they were not as powerful as before.
That was no great problem. As his strength grew, his techniques would grow stronger, and he could create more.
So he had no interest in the Soul Skills granted by Spirit Rings and had never intended to add one to his Martial Soul. Everything he had told Qian Daoliu earlier had merely been an excuse he had made up on the spot.
To Golden Crocodile and the others, however, Ao Zhan's words came like a thunderbolt from a clear sky.
"What did you say?!"
"Xiao Zhan! How can you think of going without Spirit Rings?!"
"Spirit Rings are vital to your strength! How will you grow stronger without them?!"
Golden Crocodile and the others panicked. They could not let Ao Zhan think this way!
Ao Zhan raised an eyebrow. "Grandpas, have you forgotten that I can increase my Soul Power without Spirit Rings?"
"Huh?" Golden Crocodile and the others fell silent like geese seized by the neck.
Of course. This boy defied all reason. He was immensely strong, and after fighting Bibi Dong just now, he had not only avoided exhausting his Soul Power but increased it by three levels—all without obtaining a Spirit Ring.
Perhaps Spirit Rings really were optional for him!
"No, no, Xiao Zhan, you can't think like that. Spirit Rings don't just let you break through. They give you powerful Soul Skills!"
"That's right! Soul Skills account for a huge part of a Soul Master's combat strength. You may be good with your fists and feet, but without Soul Skills, you'll be at a disadvantage against other Soul Masters!"
Golden Crocodile and the others pleaded with him earnestly.
Seeing them like this, Ao Zhan knew he would never convince them without showing them what he could do.
"Worship elders, watch closely," Ao Zhan told them.
"Huh?"
Golden Crocodile and the others froze. Then Soul Power gathered in Ao Zhan's palm, flashing with azure light.
"Qingming Art!"
Ao Zhan fired a tremendously powerful beam of azure energy. The air burst apart in its wake.
BOOM!!!
The blast struck a nearby wall, punched straight through it, and hurtled toward the next one.
RUMBLE—!!!
When Ao Zhan withdrew his power, a hole large enough for a grown man to walk through gaped in the wall. Beyond it, three more walls had been pierced by the same strike, the holes forming a straight line. Repairing them would take some work.
Golden Crocodile and the others stared with their mouths open. They had seen Ao Zhan use this Self-Created Soul Skill against Bibi Dong, but it had been nowhere near this powerful!
Had he held back then?
If Ao Zhan had known what they were thinking, he would have nodded.
He had held back. Qian Renxue had been there, and her relationship with her mother had not yet soured. What if Qian Renxue got angry with him for beating Bibi Dong too badly?
The possibility was slim, but Ao Zhan had not wanted to risk it.
"But... but that still doesn't prove anything. You can't rely on this one move alone, or your attacks will be too predictable..."
Crackle, crackle—
Golden Crocodile's mouth twitched. He had been racking his brains for another argument when he saw azure lightning in Ao Zhan's hand, sounding like a thousand birds crying out.
"This..."
"Grandpa Golden Crocodile, my Martial Soul possesses powerful life force. It can Call Wind and Summon Rain, control lightning, and command plants. I also have spatial power. I don't think I lack ways to attack, and if they ever stop being enough, I can develop more techniques."
Ao Zhan dismissed the azure lightning in his hand, then demonstrated the Azure Dragon's command of lightning, water, wind, and wood, along with his spatial power.
He conjured an azure lightning spear and hurled it, then formed a water sphere and a giant wind blade. Next, he clapped his hands, causing wood to spring up beneath his feet, before using Teleportation several times.
Now Golden Crocodile and the others had nothing left to say.
What was there to say?!
The boy's control over his Martial Soul was astonishing!
And that Martial Soul was outrageous. It possessed so many attributes, including spatial power. Who could possibly defeat him?
After watching Ao Zhan show off, Golden Crocodile and the others could only admit, helplessly, that he truly did not need Spirit Rings.
All they could do was change the subject. "Then, Xiao Zhan, since you don't need Spirit Rings, have you thought about what kind Xue'er should get?"
Qian Renxue suddenly exclaimed, "I want to be like Brother Zhan! I don't want Spirit Rings! I want to create my own Soul Skills!"
She looked at Ao Zhan with adoration, her eyes sparkling like little stars.
Golden Crocodile rebuked her at once. "Nonsense! Xiao Zhan is Xiao Zhan, and you are you! Even if you create your own Soul Skills, you still need Spirit Rings to break through!"
"Oh. I see." Qian Renxue was a little unhappy after Golden Crocodile scolded her.
Just then, inspiration struck Ao Zhan. "No. Perhaps Xue'er can be like me after all."