First Soul Skill

Flender smiled and said no more.

Flender looked over the great gathering of soul beasts, then at the Iron Thorns, pointing at one of them. "This one is nearly four meters long. It's an Iron Thorn that's not quite four hundred years old, just right for your current physical strength."

A pair of wings suddenly sprouted from his back.

"Normally, according to the academy's rules, students hunt spirit rings in teams. But since this is your first spirit ring and you don't have much ability yet, your teacher will personally help you this time."

With Flender, a Soul Saint, personally making a move, capturing a mere three-hundred-year-old Iron Thorn was naturally effortless.

"Up!"

With a low shout, he exerted force, uprooted the three-hundred-year-old Iron Thorn, and tossed it at Lu Fan's feet.

Flender handed Lu Fan a small knife. "Finish it."

Lu Fan took a deep breath. Without hesitation, he chopped the three-hundred-year-old Iron Thorn into several pieces with a few strikes.

A yellow spirit ring emerged from above it.

Flender began teaching Lu Fan step by step how to absorb a spirit ring.

Lu Fan followed his instructions, sitting cross-legged and using his Soul Power to draw the spirit ring toward his Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum.

The spirit ring was guided above his head by his Soul Power.

Violent energy instantly surged into his body.

"Mm..."

It was Lu Fan's first time experiencing this, and he had no experience.

The impact of that energy made him groan.

But he quickly adjusted himself and began absorbing it with all his strength.

"So this is spirit ring absorption..."

Following the method Flender had taught him beforehand, Lu Fan worked hard to guide the energy.

The spirit ring's age was within Lu Fan's limits.

So the absorption process was not difficult.

There was no real pain.

Moreover, the quality of his Martial Soul was high enough to exert bloodline suppression over the Iron Thorn.

This made absorbing the spirit ring even easier.

About the time it took to burn an incense stick later.

Lu Fan opened his eyes.

His body had changed greatly.

The greatest change was his height.

Originally, six-year-old Lu Fan had only been 1.2 meters tall.

After absorbing the spirit ring, Lu Fan instantly shot up by around ten centimeters, reaching 1.3 meters.

Some of the baby fat on his face had faded as well, gradually revealing the foundation of Lu Fan's exceptionally handsome features.

His hair had changed too.

After absorbing the spirit ring, the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum had become even stronger. Because of his Martial Soul Mutation, his hair had already begun turning yellow.

Now, after absorbing his first spirit ring, his hair had directly turned yellow, while the hair at his temples had been dyed purple.

It looked just like the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum.

"How does it feel?" Flender walked over and asked.

Lu Fan clenched his fist, then closed his eyes, raised his head, and stretched his body.

"Very good. It feels wonderful. My Soul Power has also broken through to level 12."

Flender said, "Let's see your first soul skill."

Soul skills were the most important things to a Soul Master.

It would normally be very rude to ask such a thing.

But Flender had helped Lu Fan obtain his spirit ring and was also his teacher, so there was naturally no problem with him wanting to see it.

Lu Fan nodded and summoned his Martial Soul.

He raised his right hand, and the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum appeared in it. A yellow Hundred-Year Spirit Ring appeared above his head and slowly descended beneath his feet.

"First soul skill: Singular Velvet Protection!"

With a thought from Lu Fan,

the Hundred-Year Spirit Ring beneath his feet flashed.

The Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum in Lu Fan's hand seemed to take root and sprout from his palm.

Purple and yellow Soul Power petals surged from his right hand across his entire body.

Hundreds of petals were connected by golden Soul Power, protecting Lu Fan within them.

"This is my first soul skill, Singular Velvet Protection. Its effect is to form a protective barrier around me. And if I'm standing on the ground, it will automatically absorb the energy contained in the earth beneath my feet to sustain this soul skill."

Flender had not thought much of the first part, but the latter part truly shocked him. "You mean that if you're like this now, maintaining your soul skill won't consume any Soul Power?"

Lu Fan nodded. "That's right."

"Hiss—"

Flender sucked in a cold breath.

That was a little terrifying.

An ordinary Soul Master had to become a Titled Douluo before he could fly freely.

Didn't this soul skill mean that, as long as Lu Fan neither flew nor jumped, he could stand on the ground and maintain his protective barrier without limit, protecting himself twenty-four hours a day without interruption?

He would be unbeatable in a war of attrition in the wilderness!

"Hahahaha! Excellent! As expected of the little monster of our Shrek Academy."

Flender affectionately reached out and rubbed Lu Fan's head.

Lu Fan was somewhat displeased by this, but considering that Flender had just helped him obtain his first spirit ring, he decided to let it slide this once.

Flender withdrew his hand and looked at Lu Fan with a grin. "Hehe, I helped you obtain your first spirit ring and even got you such a great soul skill. You should agree to become my disciple now, right?"

Lu Fan thought for a moment before asking, "Doesn't taking a master usually involve a gift for the disciple? What gift are you willing to give me?"

"Uh..."

For a moment, Flender did not know what to say.

Seeing Flender at a loss for words, Lu Fan gave a light laugh and offered him a way out.

Lu Fan smiled. "How about this, Headmaster? I don't want anything too expensive. Just get me a few thousand chrysanthemum seeds, let me grow flowers on the academy's back mountain, and make sure no one disturbs me or damages the flowers I raise. If you agree to that, I'll become your disciple."

Hearing that the conditions were so simple, Flender immediately patted his chest and promised, "Easy. As long as you become my disciple, I guarantee I'll settle this little matter within three days."

Lu Fan nodded, then clasped his hands toward Flender. "Teacher above, disciple Lu Fan greets Teacher."

Lu Fan did not immediately perform three bows and nine prostrations like Tang San.

It was merely a normal disciple-taking ceremony.

Flender was quite satisfied with this as well. He stepped forward and helped Lu Fan up. "Good child, good child. Before long, you'll understand that becoming my disciple was definitely the right choice."

"The first benefit is free tuition. Considering your excellent talent and the fact that you're this headmaster's personal disciple, I've decided to waive your tuition for the entire next year. So? Isn't that great?"

Lu Fan did not mock Flender's self-praise.

The two left the Star Dou Great Forest, their master-disciple relationship warm and harmonious.

On the road back to Suotuo City, Flender did not forget to remind him, "Xiao Fan, your talent is too good, and the quality of your Martial Soul is also very high. If you reveal your talent too early, you'll definitely attract the attention of people with ulterior motives."

"What does Teacher mean?"

Lu Fan did not understand what Flender wanted him to do by saying this.

Should he lie low until his cultivation had achieved something?

Flender explained, "I told you before that after breaking through to become a Soul Master, you can register your information at Spirit Hall and receive one Gold Soul Coin. Grand Soul Masters receive ten, Soul Elders receive a hundred, and once you reach Soul Ancestor, there won't be any more."