One Year

Time flew by, and before he knew it, a year had passed.

Eight-year-old "Qin Heng," bearing Huo Yuhao's name, had become an honorable Soul Master.

To the outside world, "Qin Heng" displayed a century-old yellow Soul Ring.

This was "Qin Heng's" achievement over the past year: using Spiritual Power to cover his Soul Ring and forcibly alter the color others saw. As long as someone's Spiritual Power did not surpass "Qin Heng's" own, they would never see through it.

There were no Titled Douluo in Suotuo City, so "Qin Heng" was not worried about being exposed.

"Student Huo, you're graduating already?" Lawrence, the principal of Suotuo City Junior Soul Master Academy, asked.

"Yes, Principal. I feel that the junior Soul Master Academy can no longer offer me much help. I need to continue my studies at an intermediate academy and seek a way to grow stronger."

"Very well! Student Huo, you spent only two years cultivating from Innate Soul Power Rank 3 to Rank 10. That cultivation speed rivals even Soul Scholars with Innate Soul Power at Rank 5 or Rank 6. For the sake of that cultivation speed, I can write you a letter of recommendation. With it, you can directly enroll at Suotuo City Intermediate Martial Soul Academy."

"Then thank you, Principal."

Lawrence waved his hand and quickly wrote a letter of recommendation for "Qin Heng."

It had to be said that Lawrence's recommendation letter was quite useful. With it, "Qin Heng" easily enrolled in Suotuo City Intermediate Martial Soul Academy.

The principal of Suotuo City Intermediate Martial Soul Academy was a Rank 58 Soul King named Shao Yong. His Martial Soul was the high-grade beast Martial Soul, the Blazing Tiger, and he was considered a notable figure in Suotuo City.

After "Qin Heng" enrolled, Shao Yong specifically came to meet him.

"Student Huo, would it be convenient for you to tell me about your First Soul Skill? If it isn't, you needn't answer."

"Qin Heng's" clone presented himself to the outside world as a spiritual-type Soul Master, so he answered Shao Yong's question like this: "There's nothing inconvenient about it, Principal. My First Soul Skill came from hunting a Dream Butterfly. It's called Mental Shock."

Upon hearing the name of "Qin Heng's" Soul Skill, Shao Yong's eyes lit up. "Just as I thought, you're a rare spiritual-attribute Soul Master. Use your First Soul Skill on me!"

At his words, silver light glimmered in "Qin Heng's" eyes, and a yellow Soul Ring simulated with Spiritual Power lit up.

The next instant, Shao Yong felt a sharp pain stab through his brain, followed by roughly three seconds of dizziness.

"Not a bad First Soul Skill. The fact that it can affect me, a Soul King, even slightly shows that your Spiritual Power should be at the level of a high-level Soul Elder."

However, "Qin Heng" himself was not particularly satisfied. The Mental Shock he had just used was also a Self-Created Soul Skill, but its power was fairly ordinary.

The Mental Shock "Qin Heng" had used just now contained Spiritual Power comparable to that of a Soul Ancestor, yet it could only produce the might of a Soul Elder. The investment and return were disproportionate.

Still, "Qin Heng" was not in a hurry. Both Mental Shock and Simulation were things he had developed through his own exploration over the past year. Next, he needed to participate in Soul Fights at the Great Soul Arena, steadily hone his combat skills through battles against Soul Masters, and incidentally test these two Self-Created Soul Skills.

"Qin Heng" displayed his talent before Shao Yong, and Shao Yong gave Qin Heng special privileges at the academy. He was allowed to enter and leave the library freely, and he could attend classes according to his own needs.

"Qin Heng" was very satisfied with this. After thanking Shao Yong, he went to take a look around the library.

The library of Suotuo City Intermediate Soul Master Academy held more books than that of the junior academy, and its knowledge of all kinds of soul beasts was more comprehensive. "Qin Heng" estimated that once he finished all the books here, his understanding of soul beasts would be sufficient.

From then on, the clone's purpose was to build combat experience and test more Self-Created Soul Skills.

Meanwhile, after a year of arduous cultivation, Qin Heng's true body had reached Soul Power Level 49.

At the Soul Ancestor level, raising his Soul Power by five ranks in a year made many people watching him marvel at his talent.

"Your Highness Qin Heng, Her Holiness the Pope requests your presence." A palace guard knight approached, dropped to one knee, and spoke.

Qin Heng acknowledged him, then rose and headed for the Pope Palace.

Over the past year, Qin Heng and Bibi Dong had clearly grown much closer. Mainly because Qin Heng would occasionally reveal information to Bibi Dong through his inner thoughts. About half a year ago, he had even told her about the two bootlicking beasts in the Star Dou Great Forest.

When Bibi Dong learned this information, she was overjoyed and immediately began preparing to hunt Soul Rings.

Unfortunately, before she could gather her people, major news came from the Worship Hall: Golden Crocodile Douluo had broken through to Rank 99.

That day, the phantom of the Golden Crocodile Dragon King circled above the Worship Hall. The pressure of a Rank 99 peerless Douluo made the Spirit Hall's Soul Masters feel as though they could barely breathe.

Fortunately, that pressure did not last long, and Golden Crocodile Douluo quickly withdrew his aura.

Golden Crocodile Douluo's breakthrough placed immense pressure on Bibi Dong.

The worshippers of the Worship Hall did not particularly like Bibi Dong, but Golden Crocodile Douluo was the only one who openly opposed her. With his breakthrough, Bibi Dong's pressure multiplied, and she had no time to go hunt Soul Rings.

For the following half year, Bibi Dong had been occupied dealing with Golden Crocodile Douluo. It was not until recently, when Guang Ling Douluo was recalled by Qian Daoliu and Qian Daoliu sent Golden Crocodile Douluo to guard the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well, that Bibi Dong finally had a chance to catch her breath.

Qian Daoliu had undoubtedly done this deliberately. He could see that, under Qin Heng's influence, Bibi Dong had clearly begun to change, and her attitude toward Xue'er had softened as well. At this stage, there was no need to continue clashing with Bibi Dong.

Besides, Golden Crocodile Douluo had long wanted to visit the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well. His descendants' talents were fairly average, and he wanted to see whether the Immortal Herbs there could help them.

Soon, Qin Heng arrived at the Pope Palace.

This time, Bibi Dong was not seated upon the Pope's throne. Instead, she stood in the hall, holding a book.

"Greetings, Your Holiness the Pope." Qin Heng bowed.

"Rise. Qin Heng, I incorporated the characteristics of my own Soul Power into your Wuji Technique and created a new cultivation method. Help me examine it and see whether there are any flaws."

Qin Heng revealed a surprised expression. He clearly had not expected Bibi Dong to integrate the characteristics of her own Soul Power into the Wuji Technique so quickly and create a cultivation method that suited her best.

After all, Qian Daoliu had obtained the Wuji Technique a year and a half ago. Bibi Dong had spent half a year less studying it than Qian Daoliu, yet she had created a cultivation method before him. Her talent was truly remarkable!

Qin Heng took Bibi Dong's version of the Wuji Technique and read it carefully from beginning to end. In the end, he concluded that this version was perfect, exceptionally suited for Soul Masters with attributes such as darkness, death, and evil.