First Soul Skill, Red-Gold Transformation!

"Phew..."

A breath of turbid air carrying a faint scorching heat slowly escaped Xia Ming's mouth.

His eyelashes trembled, and his tightly shut eyes suddenly flew open!

A brilliant red-gold gleam flashed through his eyes and vanished, like a lion's pupils opening and closing, its majesty restrained.

He slowly rose to his feet and stretched his limbs.

A series of crisp pops, like metal ringing, immediately sounded from within his body, brimming with an unprecedented sense of power.

Every gesture he made carried a steady, weighty presence—a qualitative leap compared to before he had absorbed the Soul Ring.

When he looked up at the sky, the sun was already setting.

Absorbing this thousand-year Soul Ring had actually taken him several hours.

Yan Shaozhe, who had been guarding him all this time, finally let the gravity in his eyes melt into a gratified smile when he saw Xia Ming rise successfully.

Sensing the stable and powerful fluctuations of Soul Power emanating from Xia Ming, he nodded in satisfaction.

"Congratulations, little junior brother." Yan Shaozhe's voice carried ease and approval. "Your first Soul Ring has been successfully absorbed.

"From this day onward, you are a true Soul Master. And one whose starting point is high enough to make the vast majority look up in awe."

Xia Ming clenched his fist, feeling the new Soul Power surging through his body.

He also sensed something deep within his Martial Soul, as if some kind of shackle had been broken. An uncontrollable, excited smile appeared on his face.

"Little junior brother, what level are you now?"

Yan Shaozhe suddenly turned to look at him, his gaze filled with curiosity and anticipation.

"Under normal circumstances, absorbing a first Soul Ring near the optimal age usually only raises one's level by one.

"But after that cleansing from Teacher, coupled with today's thousand-year Red-Gold Lion Ring...

"I reckon you shouldn't have stopped at level 11."

"Mm." Xia Ming closed his eyes and carefully sensed the Soul Power inside him.

"I'm currently at the peak of level 16. I should break through to level 17 in a few days."

"What?" Yan Shaozhe was stunned.

He had assumed Xia Ming's Soul Power would be around levels 14 or 15, yet he was already nearly level 17.

One had to know that even Innate Full Soul Power normally only improved by four or five levels in a year.

Xia Ming had risen so many levels in one go. Compared to others with Innate Full Soul Power, he had effectively saved an entire year.

If Xia Ming were given a Soul Ascension Pill now, he might even rise directly to level 20 and attach his second Soul Ring.

If that happened, Xia Ming might become the youngest Soul Grandmaster in ten thousand years!

Even the God-Given Talent of innate level 20 Soul Power might not be faster than him.

Of course, Yan Shaozhe merely thought it to himself. He did not truly intend to do so.

Rapid Soul Power growth was certainly good, but being too fast was not entirely beneficial.

If one's level rose too quickly without the corresponding control over Soul Power and understanding of the Martial Soul's origin to support it,

it might instead plant hidden dangers that would affect one's future.

Even so, Yan Shaozhe's heart still roiled like stormy waves, unable to settle.

He secretly calculated that, with Xia Ming's current momentum and the talent of Innate Full Soul Power,

breaking through level 20 and becoming a Soul Grandmaster before the age of seven was practically inevitable.

He might even become a Soul Elder at nine. That was by no means an impossible dream!

That was a Soul Elder. At that age, ordinary geniuses often still lingered at the Soul Master stage, not even having touched the threshold of Soul Grandmaster.

At this thought, Yan Shaozhe took a deep breath, suppressing his turbulent emotions. The gaze he turned toward Xia Ming became even warmer and more expectant.

"Alright, since you've absorbed the Soul Ring, let's head back directly."

As soon as he spoke, he once again extended his arm and securely held Xia Ming in his embrace.

The next instant, the two of them shot into the air and soared straight into the clouds.

In less than half an hour, Sea God Island had come into view.

"We're back."

Before the words even faded, a figure silently appeared before them, as though he had been standing there from the very beginning.

Mu En's appearance came without warning. Even someone with Yan Shaozhe's cultivation had failed to notice him in the slightest beforehand.

"Teacher's realm is becoming more and more unfathomable." Yan Shaozhe felt a chill in his heart.

But then, the old injuries that had plagued Mu En for years flashed through his mind, and his eyes could not help dimming slightly.

Still, he quickly concealed that trace of concern and respectfully said,

"Teacher, little junior brother has successfully absorbed his first Soul Ring. It came from a thousand-year Red-Gold Lion."

"A Red-Gold Lion? Not bad!"

A trace of approval passed through Mu En's eyes. The next moment, his gaze gently turned to Xia Ming.

"Child, what is your first Soul Skill?"

As soon as those words were spoken, Yan Shaozhe suddenly remembered.

He had been so shocked by Xia Ming's soaring Soul Power that he had forgotten to ask about his Soul Skill.

Xia Ming did not say much. With a thought, the purple Soul Ring beneath his feet suddenly lit up.

His body expanded once more, while a dazzling red-gold sheen flowed across the surface of his skin. He seemed to be clad in golden armor, enveloped in a blazing golden radiance.

A fierce, tyrannical aura rose with it, as though even the surrounding air had become heavy.

"First Soul Skill, Red-Gold Transformation!" Xia Ming's voice rang out from within the golden light.

"It can maintain my transformed state for one hour. During the transformation, my attack, defense, and strength all increase by 150%."

"Excellent!"

Even Yan Shaozhe, who had seen countless top-tier Soul Skills, could not help blurting out his praise.

"The White Tiger Vajra Transformation, the third Soul Skill passed down through generations of the White Tiger Duke's lineage, only increases strength, attack, and defense by 100% each.

"Yet your first Soul Skill has already surpassed it in every respect!"

Enhancement-type Soul Skills were not uncommon on Douluo Continent.

Yet among thousand-year Soul Rings, those capable of achieving an effect comparable to the legendary Soul Skill White Tiger Vajra Transformation were exceedingly rare over the past ten thousand years.

And Xia Ming had accomplished it with his first Soul Ring.

With Xia Ming's already terrifying base strength, if his future Soul Rings continued to grant enhancement-type skills, then with their effects stacking layer upon layer,

even a casual punch might possess enough power to crush the strongest Soul Skills of Soul Masters several realms above him!

"Xia Ming." A fiery gleam flashed through Yan Shaozhe's eyes. "Come, strike me with a punch using all your current strength!"

"Yes."

Xia Ming answered in a deep voice, a golden glint flashing in his eyes.

Domination Domain, activate!

His already immense power surged again, and the golden light around him nearly solidified into substance.

He did not build up any excessive momentum. He merely took one simple step forward.

"Boom—!"

His fist wind roared like thunder, and the red-gold phantom of his fist slammed solidly into Yan Shaozhe's single outstretched palm.

The blast wave exploded outward, sending fallen leaves and dust spiraling back into the air.

Yan Shaozhe did not move an inch, but a distinct shock ran through his palm.

The astonishment in his eyes could no longer be concealed.

"The power of that punch is already no weaker than the fifth Soul Skill of those high-level assault-type Soul Kings in the Inner Court."

Inner Court Soul Kings, when placed in the outside world, each possessed the strength to battle Soul Emperors across ranks.

Yet Xia Ming's punch had already touched that threshold.

In other words, relying solely on the strength of that punch, he might already be able to defeat an ordinary Soul Emperor head-on.

And he had only just obtained his first Soul Ring.

Yan Shaozhe slowly withdrew his hand and looked at Xia Ming as though he were examining a piece of uncut jade beginning to erupt with peerless brilliance.

Mu En had watched silently all along. Only now did he smile faintly, golden light seeming to flow through his aged eyes.

"Very good."