Li Yuan slowly woke from meditation. Feeling the power surging through his body, he could not help smiling with satisfaction.
"Feels amazing!"
After a night of absorption, the Adaptive Growth God-Bestowed Soul Bone had fully merged with his body.
His Soul Power Level had risen by only one level, reaching level twenty-seven, but the strengthening of his physique was undeniable.
His muscles were firmer, his bones tougher, and his meridians much wider. Even his Soul Power circulated noticeably faster.
"No wonder Soul Bones are called treasures of the Soul Master World. They really live up to the name..."
Li Yuan clenched his fist, savoring the strength filling him.
Since the Soul Bone grew with its owner's strength, his was currently equivalent to one around seven or eight hundred years old.
A Soul Bone only seven or eight hundred years old had already brought such a dramatic improvement. If it grew to ten thousand years, or a hundred thousand... he could hardly imagine the results!
With a thought, he activated his Soul Bone Skill.
"Soul Bone Skill—White Snake Origin!"
A faint white glow appeared around him, as though a gentle yet powerful force had enveloped his whole body.
Strength, speed, defense, Soul Power recovery... every attribute rose by five percent in an instant!
"A five-percent boost to every attribute... It might not look like much now, but this Soul Bone Skill grows stronger. Once the Soul Bone gains more years, that boost will multiply several times over!"
Li Yuan's eyes gleamed.
And it boosted every attribute, leaving no weakness. Whether in battle, for survival, or during cultivation, the benefits were enormous.
Would he still need to fear Tang San from now on?
Unless... Tang San pulled out "Mother's Entanglement"...
Ahem. He was getting ahead of himself.
He practiced the Cloud-Ascending Ladder movement technique a few more times, weaving and darting through the cramped dormitory. Light as a feather, he left afterimages in his wake.
Though he had only just begun learning it, Li Yuan could already feel the agility and grace it gave him.
"With this movement technique, my Soul Bone Skill, and Ah Bai... Tang San? Hmph. Nothing to fear!"
In high spirits, Li Yuan washed up, enjoyed a hearty breakfast in the cafeteria, and prepared to begin another day of cultivation.
[Richest Little Heiress of Heaven Dou: @Ice-Snow Smart, hey, sister! Have you absorbed that Soul Bone yet? What Soul Bone Skill did you create?]
Ning Rongrong's curiosity was still bursting at the seams. The moment she woke, she rushed over to ask.
[Ice-Snow Smart: Um, I haven't decided what Soul Skill I want yet, so I haven't absorbed it.]
[Viper-Hearted Big Sister: No way. You got a God-Given Soul Bone that incredible, and you're telling me you held off absorbing it for an entire night? (shocked)]
[Loves Eating Carrots: You're tough! (thumbs up)]
[Big Cat in the Night: I don't think I could hold out for even a minute.]
[Ice-Snow Smart: Uh, actually, this Soul Bone won't help me as much as you all think.]
[Richest Little Heiress of Heaven Dou: What a humblebrag! (spitting blood)]
At the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
Ning Rongrong stared at the screen and nearly spat out a mouthful of blood.
A treasure she regarded as priceless, something forever beyond her reach...
In someone else's eyes, it was merely something she could take or leave?
Comparisons really could drive a person mad!
Meanwhile...
At Ye Family Manor in the Heaven Dou Empire.
A stunning young woman in a silver dress stared at the Brick in her hands, her brows knit with worry.
She had long blue hair that cascaded like a waterfall, and beautiful blue eyes that seemed to speak.
She was "Ice-Snow Smart," the group member even Li Yuan had failed to identify.
Ye Lingling.
"Why won't anyone believe me when I'm telling the truth...?"
Ye Lingling muttered softly, a trace of helplessness on her cool face.
She looked at the God-Given Soul Bone in her rewards list. She had drawn it yesterday but still had not claimed it.
It was not completely useless. But for a Soul Master devoted purely to support, its effects really would not be that immediate.
Even if she gained some combat ability through a Soul Bone Skill, her frail body could never charge into battle like a Power Attack System Soul Master.
"Should I... ask Group Leader Brother?"
At the thought, a faint blush rose to Ye Lingling's fair cheeks.
She was introverted and somewhat afraid of social interaction. She rarely spoke to anyone first; even at the academy, Dugu Yan was the only person she could talk to.
After hesitating, she tentatively double-tapped Li Yuan's avatar, intending to tag him.
"Huh? We can chat privately?"
To her surprise, a chat window opened for just her and Li Yuan.
Private chat.
[Ice-Snow Smart: Group Leader Brother, what kind of ability do you think would be best to create as a Soul Bone Skill? (cautiously)]
Li Yuan was cultivating when a notification sounded in his mind, making him stop.
Hm?
A private chat?
How did she find it?
Li Yuan had not told anyone about private chat. He had planned to announce it to everyone in a few days.
Oh well. I'll chalk it up to her being clever.
"I guess she really does deserve the name 'Ice-Snow Smart'..."
Li Yuan chuckled, newly impressed by her sharp eye.
[Li Yuan: Create whatever ability you lack most. If you're a Power Attack System Soul Master who needs speed, choose teleportation. If you're an agility-type Soul Master, choose an invisibility Soul Skill. And if you're a healing-type Soul Master... you could try toxic healing.]
[Ice-Snow Smart: What's toxic healing? (tilts head in confusion)]
[Li Yuan: Say you use a healing Soul Skill that appears to heal your opponent, making them think their wounds are recovering. In reality, it injects a special toxin into their body that keeps draining their life force and Soul Power. Give them hope first, then despair. Kill them and break their spirit. Get it? (wicked grin)]
[Ice-Snow Smart:!!! (eyes wide, as if a whole new world has opened up)]
Ye Lingling stared at Li Yuan's description, utterly stunned.
A healing Soul Skill could be used like that?!
Heal them on the surface, but poison them underneath?
Give an opponent hope that I'm saving you, then strike a fatal blow when their guard was at its lowest?
That... that was far too sinister... no, far too clever!
A whole new world opened before her, leaving her shaken.
So support-type Soul Masters could have such a "vicious" side!
Wait!
Was this really something a proper healing-type Soul Master should do?
Wasn't a healing-type Soul Master supposed to save people and help the world?
The realization belatedly struck Ye Lingling, and she could no longer look at Li Yuan's messages in the group chat the same way.
She felt that even the darkest evil god on the continent would have to bow to Li Yuan.
One night's sleep, and Satan had dropped to second place.
After all, what normal person could come up with such a twisted move?
A person couldn't. At least, a person shouldn't.
No, wait!
Another way of looking at it suddenly occurred to Ye Lingling. Could Group Leader Brother mean that if my toxic healing is strong enough, I can stop people before a fight breaks out?
Then who would need healing? If nobody dares to fight, there'll be no need to heal anyone!
Ye Lingling's eyes lit up. She understood!
She really understood!
[Li Yuan: Oh, and let everyone else in the group know about the private chat function. I have something to do, so I'm off.]
[Ice-Snow Smart: Okay! Thank you, Group Leader Brother! (hands clasped in thanks)]
With her question answered, Ye Lingling was in a wonderful mood.
After some thought, she decided she could not simply take his advice for free. She opened the Red Envelope function and carefully chose a gift.
[A Red Envelope from Ice-Snow Smart!]
[Li Yuan: ???]
[Ice-Snow Smart: Um... thank you for answering my question, Group Leader Brother. There's a thousand-year Blood-Coagulation Grass in the Red Envelope. It might not be worth much, but it's a small token of my appreciation. Please accept it!]
Ye Lingling felt uneasy, afraid he might refuse or think her gift too meager.
To her, a thousand-year medicinal herb was precious, but compared with Group Leader Brother's guidance, it still seemed inadequate.
Before you continue