The Possibility of Not Adding Soul Rings

Just like filling out college applications after the entrance exams, everything was left to her parents' arrangements.

Qian Renxue had the same mindset. She had no plans of her own and wanted Qian Daoliu and the others to handle it for her.

That was what she had done in the original story. Qian Daoliu had chosen all her Soul Rings for her, but her Soul Ring configuration in the original story had been truly dreadful.

She possessed Innate Soul Power at level twenty, yet her Soul Ring configuration was inferior even to Tang San's and Bibi Dong's. It was such a waste of that powerful Innate Soul Power.

Ao Zhan sighed inwardly. "I think the ideas of the Worship Grandpas can only serve as references. After all, you have Innate Soul Power at level twenty. Your Soul Ring choices absolutely cannot be the same as ordinary people's. Even the Soul Ring configurations of the Qian Clan's previous Popes can only be used as references."

"So, you can't casually add Soul Rings right now. Even if Grandpa Qian or Uncle Qian adds Soul Rings for you—"

"Little Zhan is right, Xue'er. You must be careful with your Soul Ring configuration. You cannot be careless."

Ao Zhan's words won Golden Crocodile and the others' agreement.

Innate Soul Power at level twenty might not compare to a freak like Ao Zhan, who possessed Innate Soul Power at level forty, but it had never appeared among the Qian Clan's heirs in all these years. Therefore, ordinary logic absolutely could not be used to add Soul Rings for Qian Renxue.

"Brother Zhan, I understand." Qian Renxue nodded. She knew Ao Zhan would never harm her.

"Then, Little Zhan, have you already made plans for Xue'er's Soul Rings and your own?" Azure Luan asked.

After all, Ao Zhan was an even more heaven-defying genius than Qian Renxue. Perhaps his thoughts could offer some reference as well.

"Uh... would you believe me if I said I'd never considered adding Soul Rings at all?" Ao Zhan scratched his head and said it somewhat sheepishly.

Soul Rings were extremely important to Soul Masters because they were required whenever Soul Masters wanted to break through to a major realm. Powerful Soul Rings could also provide powerful, top-tier Soul Skills, raising their combat strength to another level.

At the same time, if Soul Rings were properly added, subsequent cultivation could yield twice the results with half the effort.

Golden Crocodile was a good example. Aside from his exceptional Golden Crocodile King martial soul, the reason he could become Spirit Hall's Second Worship and attain the formidable level of ninety-eight was that his ninth Soul Ring was a hundred-thousand-year one.

However, Soul Rings were not necessities to Ao Zhan.

He was not restricted by the Soul Master profession. He could break through without Soul Rings, and back when he had been in the Super Beast Armed World, he had created many skills himself.

The only difference was that he now used Soul Power instead of Alien Energy to cast them, and their power was weaker than before.

Still, that was no major issue. As his strength increased, his techniques would grow stronger as well, and he could create even more in the future.

Therefore, he simply did not care for the Soul Skills granted by Soul Rings and had never considered adding Soul Rings to his martial soul. What he had told Qian Daoliu earlier had merely been a convenient excuse.

But Ao Zhan's words were like a bolt from the blue to Golden Crocodile and the others.

"What did you say?!"

"Little Zhan! How could you think of not adding Soul Rings?!"

"Soul Rings are tied to your strength! How can you improve without them?!"

Golden Crocodile and the others panicked. Ao Zhan's way of thinking would not do!

Ao Zhan raised his brows. "Grandpas, have you forgotten that I can increase my Soul Power without Soul Rings?"

"Huh?" Golden Crocodile and the others looked like geese whose necks had been grabbed. Ao Zhan's words left them completely speechless.

That was right. This kid was absurdly heaven-defying and bizarre. Not only was he powerful, but after fighting Bibi Dong just now, his Soul Power had not merely avoided being depleted—it had actually risen by three levels, all without obtaining a Soul Ring.

So for him, Soul Rings seemed entirely optional!

"No, no, Little Zhan, you can't think that way. Soul Rings don't just let you break through; they can also give you a powerful Soul Skill!"

"Yes, yes! Soul Skills account for a huge part of a Soul Master's combat strength. Even if you're good with your fists and feet, without Soul Skills, you'll still be at a disadvantage against other Soul Masters!"

Golden Crocodile and the others tried to persuade him earnestly.

Seeing them like this, Ao Zhan knew that he would not convince them without displaying something.

Ao Zhan said to them, "Worship Grandpas, you'd better keep your eyes wide open for what comes next."

"Huh?"

Golden Crocodile and the others froze for a moment. Then they saw Soul Power gathering in Ao Zhan's palm as azure light flickered.

"Qingming Art!"

A powerful azure energy beam shot from Ao Zhan's hand, bursting the air wherever it passed.

Boom!!!

The attack struck a nearby wall, effortlessly blasting through it before hurtling toward the next wall.

Rumble—!!!

Once Ao Zhan withdrew his power, a hole large enough for a grown man to pass through had appeared in the wall. Looking through it, they could see that three more walls had been punched through by that strike, their holes aligned in a straight line. Repairing them would take quite some effort.

Golden Crocodile and the others gaped. They had seen this Self-Created Soul Skill when Ao Zhan fought Bibi Dong earlier, but it had not been nearly this powerful then!

Had he held back at the time?

If Ao Zhan knew what they were thinking, he would naturally have nodded.

He really had held back, because Qian Renxue had been there. Her relationship with her mother had not yet completely fallen apart. What if Qian Renxue got angry with him if he beat Bibi Dong too badly?

Though the possibility was small, Ao Zhan did not want it to happen.

"But... but that still doesn't prove anything. You can't rely only on that one move, or your attack methods will be far too limited..."

"Chirp, chirp, chirp—"

Golden Crocodile's mouth twitched slightly. He racked his brains for another way to persuade Ao Zhan, only to see azure lightning in the latter's hand, crackling like the cries of a thousand birds.

"This..."

"Grandpa Golden Crocodile, my martial soul possesses powerful vitality. It can Call Wind and Summon Rain, control lightning, and manipulate plants. Added to that is my spatial power. I don't think I lack attack methods. Even if they truly aren't enough, I can develop more techniques myself."

Ao Zhan put away the azure lightning in his hand, then demonstrated the Azure Dragon's control over lightning, water, wind, and wood, as well as spatial power.

For example, he condensed an azure lightning spear and threw it, created water spheres and gigantic wind blades, then clapped his hands and had wood sprout beneath his feet before teleporting several times.

This time, Golden Crocodile and the others were completely speechless.

What else was there to say?!

This kid's control over his martial soul was far too strong, wasn't it?!

And this martial soul was too heaven-defying. It possessed so many attributes, even spatial power. Who could possibly defeat him then?!

After being thoroughly dazzled by Ao Zhan, Golden Crocodile and the others could only helplessly admit that he truly did not need Soul Rings.

With that, they could only change the subject. "Then, Little Zhan, if you don't need Soul Rings, have you thought about what Soul Rings Xue'er should add?"

Qian Renxue suddenly exclaimed excitedly, "I want to be like Brother Zhan too! I don't want Soul Rings! I want to create my own Soul Skills!"

She looked at Ao Zhan with utter admiration, her eyes full of stars.

But Golden Crocodile immediately rebuked her. "Nonsense! Little Zhan is Little Zhan, and you are you! Even if you can create your own Soul Skills, you still need Soul Rings to break through!"

"Oh, I see." Qian Renxue was a little unhappy after being scolded by Golden Crocodile.

At that moment, inspiration suddenly struck Ao Zhan. "No, perhaps Xue'er can be like me too."