Sealing His Cultivation, Sparring

Xing Tian understood, too. Dugu Bo had just assumed he was also born with level twenty Innate Soul Power and a god-level Martial Soul.

But in truth, this was because of the Nine Deaths Reincarnation Evil Art. Every time he survived a death tribulation, his power increased at least tenfold.

Because of the restrictions imposed by the rules of cultivation, this power wouldn't show without an attached Soul Ring. Now that the seal was lifted, Xing Tian's Soul Power Level had risen straight to level 20.

Of course, level twenty Soul Power was only twice as much as level ten. Even if Xing Tian attached another Soul Ring, he wouldn't jump straight to level thirty.

That was because the purity of his true qi also had to increase tenfold, which was like compressing and refining all his original power.

On top of that, the first death tribulation was special. It was used to transform his body: cleanse his marrow, remake his bones, and open all eight meridians. This consumed a great deal of power, so in the end, his strength had only doubled.

Dugu Bo took a long time to finally calm down. "The inner workings of Heaven Dou Royal Academy are complicated. Given your circumstances, I don't recommend you enroll. You'd be better off hiding away in Ye Mansion or living in Sunset Forest. Become my disciple and cultivate with me."

Xing Tian considered it. "Dugu Bo's knowledge is indeed vast, but he's a Poison-type Soul Master. I don't know whether his poison arts can surpass the Ten Thousand Poisons Heart Sutra. Besides, poison isn't the focus of my fighting style. In my previous life, after leaving my master, I was used to being alone, so I cultivated an art like the Ten Thousand Poisons Heart Sutra, which made no distinction between friend and foe in battle. I'll pass this time around."

"His Excellency Dugu, please wait. Take another closer look."

Xing Tian sat cross-legged and slowly formed a series of hand seals that Dugu Bo couldn't understand. At the same time, nine faint streams of purple qi appeared around him, flowing into nine different points on his body.

Dugu Bo focused his spiritual power to its utmost and watched closely, his heart shaken. "That boy is sealing his cultivation!"

That was right. This was a unique method Xing Tian had devised in his previous life to cultivate the Nine Deaths Evil Art more effectively.

The Nine Deaths Evil Art was exceptionally perilous and demanded immense power from its cultivator. Having someone assist could reduce the difficulty.

But Xing Tian would rather rely on himself. It was safer that way, too, so he had developed a secret technique to seal his own cultivation.

He used nine major acupoints—the Shanzhong, Shenque, Qihai, Guanyuan, Huiyin, Mingmen, Zhiyang, Lingtai, and Baihui—to filter and seal his true qi. This further purified his qi while storing it for use when breaking through.

Since this was his first time sealing his true qi in this life, Xing Tian wasn't very practiced. He didn't finish until the first light of dawn the next day. Dugu Bo stayed by his side the whole time, protecting him.

"Thank you for protecting me, His Excellency Dugu."

"No need to thank me. I was just keeping a promise. Besides, you've opened my eyes and shown me what a true genius looks like. It was worth it—worth it indeed. After cultivating my Martial Soul until it evolved into the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor, I condensed a Dan Bead. Half my strength lies in it, and it's somewhat like your method of sealing your cultivation."

Dugu Bo felt a little ashamed of himself. "But that came about because my Martial Soul evolved. Compared to your complete control over your own power, it's nothing. You've sealed your cultivation in several major acupoints, haven't you?"

"Exactly!"

As expected of a Titled Douluo. He'd already deduced most of it.

Dugu Bo let out a long sigh. "It's not just the acupoints, but the sealing method, too. The waves behind push the waves ahead, and the waves ahead die upon the shore. I really am getting old..."

After a moment of reflection, Dugu Bo took Xing Tian back to Ye Mansion.

Ye Renxin, Ye Lingling, and Dugu Yan saw them and immediately came over, asking curiously, "Is it resolved?"

"It is!"

Xing Tian summoned his Dark Evil Spirit Mantis Martial Soul. A pale purple Soul Ring rose from beneath his feet, and the full aura of a Thousand-Year Soul Ring became clear.

The room, which had been brightly lit, instantly darkened. The Soul Guidance Lamp dimmed until it was like a candle flame, and the temperature dropped slightly.

The three of them broke out in goosebumps and trembled, though it was less from the cold than from instinctive fear.

The Dark Evil Spirit Mantis Martial Soul's attributes were far too domineering: darkness, evil, and death. Only Soul Masters or Soul Beasts with light, holiness, or life attributes could stand against it.

The Nine Heart Begonia Martial Soul also had a life attribute, but it wasn't powerful enough. And the life attribute alone wasn't quite enough, either.

Ye Renxin's cultivation was high enough to ignore these effects, but his advanced age and old ailments left him vulnerable to them.

"Xiao Tian, what level are you now?" Ye Lingling asked curiously.

"Level 13."

Dugu Yan looked puzzled. "Wasn't it a Thousand-Year Soul Ring? How did you only gain three levels? A four-hundred-year Soul Ring can raise you by almost two levels."

Dugu Bo explained at just the right moment. "Yanyan, don't forget this boy still had to stabilize his Martial Soul. Of course he couldn't gain that many levels."

"I see."

It was a perfect explanation, with no holes to pick.

Dugu Yan's emerald-green eyes darted about, and she said with a smile, "Xiao Tian, now that you've got a Soul Ring, why don't we spar? Let your big sister here see your Soul Skill. How about it?"

Dugu Bo immediately stopped her. "Yanyan, don't go looking for trouble. That's a Thousand-Year Soul Skill, and it's coming from his top-tier Martial Soul. You'll get hurt!"

Dugu Yan turned away, looking unconcerned.

"I just want to try it. Besides, without an attribute advantage, Control Type Soul Masters are the strongest in one-on-one fights among their peers. Poison-type Soul Masters are especially formidable in the early stages. It's not like I'm sure to lose."

Dugu Yan felt that although Xing Tian's Martial Soul gave her a strong sense of pressure, she hadn't even used her own Martial Soul yet, and her level was higher than his. With the advantages she'd just mentioned, she didn't think she would lose.

"All right, then. Give it a try." Dugu Bo agreed with a helpless look.

But the next moment, he sent Xing Tian a voice transmission using Soul Power.

"Boy, Yanyan's proud and stubborn. If you don't indulge her, she'll never let this go—and she'll stop talking to her grandfather, too. But I know that stubborn streak of hers needs fixing, or it'll do her cultivation no good. Help me knock her down a peg. But! Go easy, or I'll never forgive you!"

Xing Tian was speechless. That was asking a lot, but he had no choice but to agree.

Everyone moved to the Martial Arts Arena at Ye Mansion.

Although the Ye Family was a healing-type family, like the direct disciples of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, the other half of each pair had to be Battle Soul Masters. Having a Martial Arts Arena was only natural.

Xing Tian and Dugu Yan took their places at opposite ends of the platform. Dugu Yan was the first to use Martial Soul Possession.

Her body grew incredibly limber. Her legs fused together into a thick snake tail, which she swung back and forth to support herself. A diamond-shaped green scale appeared between her brows, and her green eyes turned exceptionally sharp. The icy aura around her held not a trace of human emotion.

"Xiao Tian, watch out for big sister's poisonous mist."