First Soul Skill

Flender smiled and said nothing more.

Flender looked toward the gathering of soul beasts, then at the patch of Iron Thorn, and pointed to one of them. "This one is nearly four meters long and is an Iron Thorn with a cultivation age of less than four hundred years. It is just right for your current physical constitution."

A pair of wings suddenly sprouted from his back.

"According to the academy's normal rules, students usually hunt soul beasts in groups. However, considering this is your first soul ring and you currently lack the ability, I, your teacher, will personally take action to assist you this time."

With a Soul Saint powerhouse like Flender personally taking action, a mere three-hundred-year-old Iron Thorn was naturally taken down with ease.

"Rise!"

With a low shout, he exerted force to pull the three-hundred-year-old Iron Thorn up by its roots 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 struck several times, hacking the three-hundred-year-old Iron Thorn into several pieces.

A yellow soul ring emerged from its remains.

Flender began to teach Lu Fan step-by-step how to absorb a soul ring.

Lu Fan followed his instructions, sat cross-legged, and began to use his soul power to guide the soul ring toward his Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum.

The soul ring was drawn by his soul power to the top of his head.

Violent energy surged into his body in an instant.

"Ngh..."

As it was his first time experiencing such a thing, Lu Fan lacked experience.

He couldn't help but groan as he was struck by this surge of power.

However, he quickly adjusted his state and began to absorb it with all his might.

So this is what absorbing a soul ring is like...

Lu Fan followed the method Flender had taught him beforehand, striving to guide this energy.

The age of the soul ring was within Lu Fan's tolerance range.

Therefore, the absorption process was not difficult.

There was no feeling of pain.

Furthermore, the quality of his martial soul was high enough to exert a bloodline suppression over the Iron Thorn.

This made the difficulty of absorbing the soul ring even easier.

About the time it takes for an incense stick to burn later.

Lu Fan opened his eyes.

His body had undergone significant changes.

The biggest change was in his height.

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

After absorbing the soul ring, Lu Fan's height shot up by about 10cm, reaching 1.3 meters.

The baby fat on his face had also faded slightly, beginning to reveal the foundation of Lu Fan's naturally excellent features.

His hair had also changed.

After absorbing the soul ring, the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum became even more powerful. His hair had already begun to turn yellow due to his martial soul mutation.

Now, after absorbing his first soul ring, his hair color had turned completely yellow, and the temples of his hair had been dyed purple.

It looked just like the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum.

"How do you feel?" Flender walked over and asked.

Lu Fan clenched his fists, then closed his eyes, tilted his head back, and stretched his body.

"Very good. I feel wonderful, and my soul power has broken through to level 12."

Flender: "Show me your first soul skill."

Soul skills are the most important things for a soul master.

Under normal circumstances, it would be very rude for someone to say this.

But since Flender was the one who helped Lu Fan obtain the soul ring and was also his teacher, it was perfectly fine for him to want to see it.

Lu Fan nodded and summoned his martial soul.

He extended his right hand, and the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum appeared from it. A yellow, hundred-year soul ring emerged above his head and slowly descended to his feet.

"First soul skill: Singular Velvet Protection!"

As Lu Fan focused his thoughts, the hundred-year soul ring at his feet flickered.

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

Purple and yellow soul power petals surged from his right hand across his entire body.

Hundreds of petals were linked by golden soul power, shielding Lu Fan within.

"This is my first soul skill: Singular Velvet Protection. Its effect is to form a protective barrier around me, and as long as I am standing on the ground, it will automatically absorb the energy contained within the earth to serve as the consumption for this soul skill."

Flender didn't think much of the first part, but he was truly shocked when he heard the latter: "You mean, if you are like you are now, you won't consume soul power while keeping your soul skill active?"

Lu Fan nodded: "That's correct."

"Hiss~"

Flender drew a sharp breath.

This was a bit terrifying.

Ordinary soul masters had to reach the Title Douluo realm to fly freely.

Didn't this soul skill mean that as long as Lu Fan didn't fly or jump, he could stand on the ground and keep his protective shield active 24 hours a day without interruption?

He would be invincible in a war of attrition in the wild!

"Hahahaha, good, truly worthy of being a little monster of our Shrek Academy."

Flender reached out and ruffled Lu Fan's hair with doting affection.

Lu Fan felt a bit displeased at this, but considering Flender had just helped him obtain his first soul ring, he decided to let it slide this once.

Flender withdrew his hand and looked at Lu Fan with a grin: "Hehe, I've helped you obtain your first soul ring and even secured such a great soul skill; surely you should agree to take me as your master now."

Lu Fan thought for a moment and asked: "Doesn't taking a master usually involve a gift? What kind of gift are you willing to give me?"

"Uh..."

Flender was momentarily at a loss for words.

Seeing Flender struggling for a response, Lu Fan chuckled and offered him a way out.

Lu Fan smiled: "How about this, Dean? I don't need anything too expensive. If you help me get a few thousand chrysanthemum seeds, let me plant flowers on the back mountain of the academy, and ensure no one disturbs me or destroys the flowers I raise, I will agree to take you as my master."

Hearing that the conditions were so simple, Flender immediately patted his chest and promised: "That's easy. As long as you take me as your master, I guarantee this small matter will be resolved within three days."

Lu Fan nodded, then cupped his hands toward Flender: "Master is above, disciple Lu Fan greets you, Master."

Lu Fan did not perform the three bows and nine kowtows like Tang San had.

It was just a standard apprenticeship ceremony.

Flender was very satisfied with this and stepped forward to help Lu Fan up: "Good child, good child. Before long, you will realize that taking me as your master was the right choice."

"The first benefit is a tuition waiver. Given your excellent talent and the fact that you are the Dean's personal disciple, I have decided to waive your tuition for the entire coming year. How about that? Isn't that great?"

Lu Fan did not mock Flender for his self-aggrandizement.

The two of them walked out of the Star Dou Great Forest in a display of masterly kindness and filial piety.

On the way back to Soto City, Flender did not forget to instruct: "Xiao Fan, your talent is too great, and the quality of your martial soul is very high. If you stand out too early, you will definitely be targeted by those with ulterior motives."

"And what does Master mean by that?"

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

Was he supposed to lay low until his cultivation was successful?

Flender explained: "As I told you before, after breaking through to become a Soul Master, you can go to the Martial Soul Hall to register your information and receive one gold soul coin. A Soul Grand Master gets ten, a Soul Elder gets one hundred, and once you reach the Soul Ancestor level, there are no more."