Self-Created Soul Skill? Prayer!

"Ahem—"

"Give me some credit. I was once the new Elden Lord of the Lands Between, after all."

Lin Huai stiffly changed the subject.

"Um, I still can't learn the prayers you taught me. Lianlian, do you have any ideas?"

Malenia's voice fell silent.

Just as Lin Huai was beginning to think Malenia couldn't help either, she spoke.

"Possess your Martial Soul, then try using the prayers again."

Following Malenia's instructions, Lin Huai's Winged Helm appeared on his head, while a pure gold Arm Guard and Prosthetic Blade appeared on his right hand.

Recalling the prayers Malenia had taught him, he felt the Soul Power in his body transform and begin to flow.

"Halo!"

A ring of light appeared in Lin Huai's left hand and flew forward. After traveling a few meters, it returned along the same path.

"Triple Rings of Light!"

"Discus of Light!"

"Order Healing!"

"Blessing's Boon!"

Lin Huai successfully used each of the prayers, and danced around in excitement.

"So you have no talent. Possessing your Martial Soul let you use my talent, which is why you were able to use those prayers."

Malenia's tone was calm.

But Lin Huai was thoroughly offended. He loudly protested, "How could that be? When I was striding across the Lands Between, I was known as the 'Lord of Sorceries and Incantations.' How could I have no talent?"

"Did you release the prayers through a Sacred Seal?"

"Yeah. The instructions for using the Sacred Seal said you had to carry a catalyst to use prayers."

Malenia was a little puzzled about how Lin Huai had instructions, but then she remembered how erratic he could be. Perhaps some Tarnished had told him, and he'd gotten it wrong.

"That's right. Gifted beings and demigods are catalysts themselves, so they don't need a Sacred Seal."

"Of course, even the most talented sorcerers still need a staff or some special weapon."

Lin Huai felt a little depressed. So he really was a 9-Intelligence warrior.

Seeing that Lin Huai was on the verge of breaking down, Malenia consoled him.

"Don't be sad. You may have no talent, but didn't you still become a king?"

"But I didn't even get the chance to enjoy a king's power before I ended up here."

Malenia's voice sounded again.

"I have top-tier talent, and I still only learned a few prayers."

"I wish you'd learned more prayers."

Lin Huai's tone was calm.

"All right, stop trying to comfort me."

"If you keep it up, I'm afraid I'll want to be reborn."

Malenia didn't speak again.

Lin Huai slowly came back to his senses as well.

He casually tossed the lead box containing the Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone into his Storage Bracelet.

"Never mind. I'll go test the power of these prayers first."

Lin Huai got up and walked toward the training ground.

Just then, Qian Daoliu happened to push open the door and walk in.

"Xiao Huai, are you going to practice your blade technique?"

Although Lianlian had said he had no talent, Lin Huai couldn't help feeling excited now that he could use the prayers.

"Teacher!"

"I've learned a few skills similar to Self-Created Soul Skills!"

Hmm?

Qian Daoliu's eyes widened. He'd only been gone for a little while, and Lin Huai had already comprehended a Self-Created Soul Skill?

Several of them, even?

Seeing Qian Daoliu's reaction, Lin Huai realized he hadn't explained himself clearly.

"My Martial Soul taught them to me through spiritual transmission."

Qian Daoliu finally understood. That made more sense. Lin Huai's Martial Soul was already extremely powerful and unusual.

Being taught a few Self-Created Soul Skills seemed quite normal compared with having divine thoughts devoured.

Though, of course, normal Martial Souls didn't teach people Self-Created Soul Skills.

"Teacher, I want to test how powerful these skills are."

"Come on. I'll help you test them."

The two of them soon appeared on the training ground.

Lin Huai immediately used Martial Soul Possession.

"Teacher, are you ready?"

Qian Daoliu didn't underestimate the skill. He formed a protective barrier with his Soul Power.

"Go ahead. Let me see what it can do."

Lin Huai raised his hand. With a swing of his arm, he flung a golden ring of energy toward Qian Daoliu.

"Halo!"

The Halo struck the Soul Power barrier without having much effect.

Lin Huai then tried the other two Halo skills.

Their power increased with each one, but none of them had any effect on the Soul Power barrier.

Lin Huai then tried Blessing's Boon. A small golden domain appeared around them. Allies within it slowly recovered from their injuries and regained Soul Power.

He didn't try Order Healing. After all, it was specifically effective against the undead.

Lin Huai was a little discouraged. The damage was underwhelming.

After sensing the skill's power, Qian Daoliu said, "It's strong enough to hurt a defensive Soul Elder. Maybe its power will increase as you grow stronger."

A voice sounded in Lin Huai's mind.

"Exactly. Under the influence of this world's laws, the prayers' power will increase as you grow stronger."

Lin Huai's expression brightened.

"Teacher, you're right!"

"But will you be able to learn them?"

Qian Daoliu recalled how he'd sensed the skills earlier, then shook his head.

"Probably not. The energy your skills use isn't Soul Power. It's a strange energy formed when your Soul Power transforms after you possess your Martial Soul."

As he spoke, he formed a similar ring of Soul Power in his hand.

He threw it at a large stone.

The stone instantly burst apart.

"Just like that. I copied your skill, but its specific effect is different."

"It's like how a Fire-attribute Soul Master can breathe fire, while my imitation releases Holy Flame. The two are fundamentally different."

Lin Huai nodded to show he understood.

He couldn't help feeling impressed again.

Luckily, his teacher was the real deal, far better than that half-baked Yu Gang, who was always staggering around.

"Focus on cultivating your Soul Power and blade technique. Just get used to these skills for now. You can improve them later."

Qian Daoliu gestured for Lin Huai to begin practicing his blade technique.

At the end of the day, Qian Daoliu told Lin Huai that he would be going out to sea the next day.

He also found a Soul Saint to serve as Lin Huai's sparring partner.

After a night of cultivation,

Lin Huai appeared on the training ground again.

A man with ordinary short hair and small, round black glasses stood in the middle of the field.

What was with this strange sense of déjà vu?

"Are you my sparring partner?"

The man hurried over, bowing and scraping.

"Yes, Ancestor!"

"Please, just call me Scott, Ancestor."

Lin Huai was stunned. The words slipped out before he could stop himself.

"Lone Wolf!"

Scott assumed Qian Daoliu had told Lin Huai, but still agreed eagerly.

"Ancestor, you really are amazing. My Martial Soul is indeed Lone Wolf."

"If you need anything, Ancestor, just order me around."

Lin Huai ventured, "Mecha?"

Scott looked a little confused, but quickly responded.

"Chicken frames? Ancestor, you want to eat chicken frames?"

"I'll go buy some right away!"

"Stop. I just said the wrong thing. I don't want chicken frames."

Lin Huai stopped Scott. It seemed this was just a strange coincidence; he hadn't run into that other Scott.

"Why do you call me Ancestor? I'm only seven."

"You're a Soul Saint, for goodness' sake. You don't have to act like this."

Scott's expression was solemn.

"What does age matter? And what does being a Soul Saint matter?"

"The Grand Elder told me that you're going to become the Holy Son, and that you'll become the Pope in the future!"

"I'm your number one subordinate now. You're the one who feeds and clothes me, so calling you Ancestor is only right!"

"Even if I'm lucky enough to become a Titled Douluo, you'll still be my—Ancestor!"

Lin Huai was a little dumbfounded. Was there some kind of causal law tied to the name Scott?

He helplessly waved his hand.

"Suit yourself. Let's start training."

"Right away, Ancestor!"