Douluo: Jianmu Martial Soul, Am I an Abomination of Abundance? Part 4

Thinking About the Future

The next morning.

Mu Ci woke up in the water barrel.

The feeling of comfort coursing through his muscles and bones intoxicated him. It was like the lightness felt by someone who had trained under heavy weights for years when they removed them for the first time, as though he had been reborn.

However, before he could savor it for long, a maid's voice came from outside the door.

"Young Master, are you awake? Master has prepared the carriage and is waiting at the entrance."

Mu Ci jolted awake, remembering that he was to hunt for his first soul ring today. He hurriedly began packing while calling back, "Got it. I'll be right there."

He directly placed everything he needed into his storage Soul Tool. Previously, because he had no Soul Power, some of the things he had prepared had to be piled in a corner of his room. Now, it was much more convenient. Once he had finished packing, he hurried toward the entrance.

Outside Mu Mansion.

From a distance, Mu Ci spotted his grandfather standing before the carriage with his hands behind his back.

He jogged over to Mu Changsheng, scratched his head, and said apologetically, "I went to sleep a little late last night. Sorry for making you wait so long, Grandpa."

"Didn't Grandma and Father and Mother come?"

He looked around and found that, aside from the coachman, only his grandfather was there. He could not help feeling curious.

"For a mere first soul ring, your grandfather alone is more than enough. What, do you think a dignified Spirit Douluo like me can't even handle a hundred-year soul beast?"

"Or do you think your grandfather is like that dead man Tang Gu?"

Mu Changsheng pretended to be angry.

"No, no. Everyone was there yesterday, so I thought we would all be going together today."

Only then did Mu Ci understand. Everyone had been present yesterday because he had awakened his martial soul.

Today, however, they were merely hunting a hundred-year soul beast. Having an expert of his grandfather's caliber, a Spirit Douluo, lead him was already taking the matter very seriously.

As for Tang Gu's approach, no normal person could pull that off. Who tempered their disciple before they had even obtained a soul ring?

Mu Changsheng was a top control-type Spirit Master renowned throughout Heaven Dou, not one of those reckless brutes from the Clear Sky Sect who only knew how to swing hammers.

"It's fine. Get in first. It's a long journey, so we can talk as we travel." Mu Changsheng returned to his kindly expression, looked at Mu Ci, and pointed toward the carriage beside them.

Mu Ci nodded and climbed into the carriage.

The carriage was exceptionally spacious, like a small bedroom. It contained furnishings such as a desk and sofa, while the floor of the compartment was even covered with the fur of some unknown soul beast, soft beneath his feet.

This type of carriage was basically exclusive to the noble Spirit Master circles of Heaven Dou, specially designed for long-distance travel. Its body was equipped with many civilian Soul Tools passed down from ancient Soul Tool civilizations.

The methods for crafting formal Soul Tools were rarely documented and could no longer be reproduced.

However, the patterns for these civilian Soul Tools were simple, and copying them was not overly difficult. Major merchant guilds manufactured them specifically for the Imperial Family and great Spirit Master clans.

After sitting down beside Mu Changsheng, Mu Ci curiously asked his grandfather, "Aren't we going to the Soul Hunting Forest near Godwood City? Why did we bring out this carriage?"

Mu Changsheng calmly picked up a cup of tea from the table, took a sip, and said, "The soul beasts in the Soul Hunting Forest are not of particularly high quality, and high-level soul beasts suitable for plant martial souls are even rarer."

"This time, we're going to Star Dou Forest. Our family once discovered a grove of Azure Vine there.

"As a martial soul, Azure Vine is a top-tier control-type martial soul. As a soul beast, its bloodline is also exceptionally high.

"It is highly compatible with our family's inherited martial soul. Although your Abundant World Tree is a mutated martial soul,

"it is still a plant. Absorbing an Azure Vine soul ring as your first soul ring can't go wrong."

Listening to his grandfather's analysis, Mu Ci nodded in agreement.

Although his martial soul was not the original Abundance Divine Miracle and had undergone some changes due to the laws of this foreign universe, it still far surpassed ordinary plant martial souls. Compared to it, even the Blue Silver Empress was not worthy of carrying its shoes.

He could certainly absorb beast-type soul rings like Tang San. The powerful origin of the Abundant World Tree would not be greatly affected, but why choose an inferior option when a more compatible plant soul ring was available?

Besides following the Path, increasing Abundance Power also required comprehending the Law of Life in the world.

Compared with plant soul beasts like Ghost Vine, Azure Vine possessed vitality on an entirely different level. Choosing it as his first soul ring would also help him comprehend Abundance Power in the early stages.

As for beast-type soul rings, an Emerald Swan would undoubtedly be the best choice.

Among all the soul rings on Douluo Planet suited to the Abundant World Tree, aside from that Golden Tree, the second best would be the Star Dou Fierce Beast, the Emerald Swan Bi Ji.

However, Bi Ji was currently accompanying Silver Dragon Fish in the small space beneath the lake, so there was no need to even consider it. Under the protection of her clan leader Bi Ji, the Emerald Swan clan never left the Core Circle either.

If an opportunity arose in the future, he could try making a deal with Silver Dragon Fish.

After all, she could do nothing but lie at the bottom of the lake and recover from her injuries. Once his Abundance Power reached the middle or higher tiers, healing part of her wounds should not be difficult.

Mu Ci still had no idea whether his martial soul would gain the ability to transform accompanying spirit beasts once it reached the middle or higher tiers.

If it could, then turning Bi Ji into an existence like an Abundance Mystic Deer would let her evade Heavenly Tribulation and attain immortality. Surely few soul beasts could refuse that.

Mu Ci's thoughts had long since drifted to the horizon. From his first soul ring, he had already thought ahead to his ninth. After all, this was the timeline of Douluo I. God King Tang had yet to sit high in the God Realm, and no pair of eyes in the heavens would be constantly watching him.

All opportunities had yet to be consumed. The vast world held endless possibilities.

"Traveling from Godwood City to the entrance of Star Dou Forest will take at least several days. During that time, I'll teach you our family's exclusive high-level meditation method, as well as some precautions Spirit Masters should keep in mind when traveling the world." Mu Changsheng looked at Mu Ci, who was sitting properly at his side, took out a small booklet from his storage Soul Tool, and handed it to him.

"Read it yourself first. If there is anything you don't understand, ask me." With that, Mu Changsheng rose from the sofa, walked over to a reclining chair, lay down, and slowly closed his eyes.

Mu Ci opened his family's high-level meditation method and began reading it with great focus.

After all, he was now a person of Douluo Continent, not one of those Path-crazed lunatics from the Honkai: Star Rail Universe who could rely on sheer will. One moment of enlightenment, and they could shatter stars in an instant.

His strength now had to be cultivated bit by bit, so practicing a meditation method was extremely important.

In only a short while, he had finished reading the meditation method in his hand.

However, after finishing it, Mu Ci felt deeply troubled. Not because it was difficult, but because it was too simple.

The meditation methods of Douluo Continent were almost entirely based on vague concepts such as aligning oneself with the heart of heaven, making them difficult to describe in concrete language.

He compared it in his mind with the basic meditation method he had once read in the study and found that this so-called high-level meditation method merely added some insights from high-level Spirit Masters.

It could indeed help beginners get started to a certain extent, but whether it could speed up cultivation was another matter entirely.

"No wonder God King Tang's Mysterious Heaven Skill could dominate Douluo's history for tens of thousands of years.

"These people simply relied on talent. Those with good talent could cultivate to higher realms, while those without it could only muddle through life and wait for death. They never even thought of finding a way to overtake others.

"No. Only by being one step ahead can I stay ahead at every step. I must create a true cultivation method that belongs to me."

Looking at the meditation method in his hand, Mu Ci felt sorry for the cultivators of Douluo Planet, and he also resolved not to follow their old path.

Once he obtained his first soul ring and awakened true Abundance Power, he would begin exploring his own cultivation method using the meridian diagrams from his past life. After all, Tang San's Mysterious Heaven Skill could be used here and could even help Tang Hao open his extraordinary meridians, proving that Douluo people were no different when it came to meridians.

Abundance Power was the greatest foundation for his bold idea. Although the Path of Abundance did not possess the astonishing destructive power of Hunt or Destruction, it was absolutely unrivaled in recovery.

Mu Ci closed his eyes and began meditating according to the method described in the book.

Soul Power had to be accumulated drop by drop. If he wanted to safely overcome future crises, then he absolutely could not slack off in his daily cultivation.

An Encounter Outside Star Dou

Five days later, at dusk, near the outer border of Star Dou Forest.

A luxurious carriage slowly entered this bustling town.

The town's crude walls were covered in scars, with undried beast blood still staining many places. Most of the pedestrians coming and going bore wounds both old and new. Seeing the carriage enter town, most people revealed respectful and fearful expressions.

Everyone in the town made their living around Spirit Masters, so they had seen plenty. At a glance, they recognized that this kind of carriage belonged exclusively to nobles and hurriedly moved aside.

After all, no one knew what temperament the Lord Soul Master inside might have. If they accidentally offended one, they might die without even knowing how.

The carriage traveled through town for a while before stopping in front of the best inn.

"Master, Young Master, we've arrived," the coachman respectfully said to the two people inside.

Mu Changsheng nodded, led Mu Ci out of the carriage, and signaled for the coachman to park it.

"Mu Ci, it's getting late. We'll rest at this inn tonight and obtain your soul ring early tomorrow morning." Mu Changsheng spoke as he led his grandson inside.

The moment they entered the inn's main hall, an attendant came over to guide them to a booth.

Only two or three tables of guests were scattered throughout the inn. Most were Spirit Master teams who specialized in helping nobles with needs capture common hundred-year soul beasts.

The two had only just sat down and had not yet given the attendant any further instructions when a booming greeting sounded beside them.

"Elder Mu, I never expected to see you here."

The two turned toward the source of the voice. Before them stood three people, one adult and two children, all dressed in golden-red clothing.

The speaker was a tall, sturdy man nearly two meters in height. His features were resolute, and both his hair and eyes were crimson. His entire aura was scorching and explosive, like a humanoid tyrannosaur.

A boy and girl who looked eight or nine years old stood behind him on either side. Their features were five or six parts similar to the burly man's, though the girl's lines were gentler. Her exposed skin resembled fine jade, fair and delicate. Her snowy chin was slightly raised with a hint of arrogance, and her gaze occasionally swept over Mu Ci.

"Huo Kuang, it has indeed been a long time. Judging by your aura, you're about to break through to Spirit Saint. Not bad, not bad. You haven't slacked off these past years. That old brute Huo has a worthy successor!" Mu Changsheng looked at the three of them, then carefully examined Huo Kuang. A trace of surprise appeared on his face.

"You flatter me. Brother Mu Sheng has always been ahead of me. With you constantly guiding him at his side, I imagine he won't be far from breaking through to Spirit Saint either. When that time comes, I must gather with Brother Mu Sheng."

After speaking, he extended a hand and introduced the two little ones behind him to Mu Changsheng.

"It's quite a coincidence. My son and daughter have just obtained their first soul rings, and we ran into you the moment we came out."

"This must be your young nephew. I even held him when he was born. I never expected him to be so grown up already. Now that I think about it, it should be time for his martial soul awakening. Since he has come to Star Dou Forest to hunt souls already, could he have Innate Full Soul Power?"

After modestly exchanging a few words with Mu Changsheng, Huo Kuang looked toward Mu Ci, who sat opposite him. His expression turned surprised as he suddenly thought of something and tentatively asked.

Mu Changsheng stroked his beard and smiled faintly at Huo Kuang. "Not at all. Mu Ci's martial soul underwent a positive mutation and is much stronger than his father's. He has Innate Soul Power at rank nine and happened to reach rank ten over the past two days, though he is still no match for that boy from the Feng Family."

"A mutated martial soul? Innate rank nine!" Huo Kuang and his son looked Mu Ci over from head to toe, exclaiming in surprise.

The little girl beside them, however, stared directly at Mu Ci with her large red eyes. Her fair chin lifted even higher, her lips pouted skyward, and her exquisite little face was full of defiance.

With Innate Soul Power at rank nine, he was almost certainly likely to become a Title Douluo in the future.

Generally speaking, a Spirit Master's limit was their Innate Soul Power plus one rank. For example, someone with innate rank seven Soul Power would most likely become a Spirit Saint and had a small chance of becoming a Spirit Douluo, and so on.

Among this generation's martial soul awakenings in the advanced Spirit Master academy circles of Heaven Dou,

apart from Feng Xiaotian of Godwind Academy's Feng Family, who had awakened the mutated martial soul Gale Two-Headed Wolf several years ago and possessed the talent of Innate Full Soul Power, no one else could stand alongside Mu Ci.

Yet when Huo Kuang thought of Feng Xiaotian, he could not help sighing. That boy's talent and martial soul were excellent in every way, except he was not particularly devoted to cultivation.

Instead, he was interested in Self-Created Soul Skills. At twelve years old, his Soul Power was only rank twenty-six. After hearing about it, his grandfather and father had lectured him many times, but he refused to change. For that reason, many people at Godwind Academy felt it was a pity for his exceptional talent.

"Hmph, isn't his talent just a little better? Who can say what the future holds!" The bright-eyed, white-toothed little girl felt immediately uncomfortable upon hearing that someone her age had better talent than her. She turned her head away, stopped looking at Mu Ci, and muttered with a pout.