Seal Cultivation, Spar

Xing Tian realized that Dugu Bo had just assumed he also possessed Innate Soul Power of level 20 and a god-level martial soul.

In reality, this was due to the Nine Deaths Reincarnation Evil Art; every time one survived a death tribulation, their cultivation would increase by at least tenfold.

Due to the restrictions of cultivation rules, this power would not manifest without an attached soul ring. Now that the seal was lifted, Xing Tian's Soul Power Level had increased to level 20 in one go.

Of course, level 20 soul power was only twice that of level 10, but even if Xing Tian were to attach another soul ring, he would not jump directly to level 30.

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

Furthermore, the first death tribulation was unique, as it was used to reshape the body, cleanse the marrow, undergo a rebirth, and open the eight extraordinary meridians, which consumed a significant amount of power; thus, it only resulted in a twofold increase.

Dugu Bo took a long time to finally calm down, saying, "The Heaven Dou Royal Academy is internally complex. Given your situation, I do not advise you to enroll. It would be better to hide in the Ye Mansion or live in the Sunset Forest, take me as your master, and cultivate with me."

Xing Tian thought to himself: Dugu Bo's knowledge is indeed profound, but he is a poison-attribute soul master. I don't know if his poison arts can surpass the Ten Thousand Poisons Heart Sutra. Moreover, my combat style is not primarily based on poison. In my past life, I was used to being alone after finishing my apprenticeship, which is why I practiced the Ten Thousand Poisons Heart Sutra—a technique that doesn't distinguish between friend and foe in battle. I'll pass on that in this life.

"Please wait a moment, Your Excellency Dugu, and take a closer look."

Xing Tian sat cross-legged and slowly performed a series of hand gestures that Dugu Bo could not understand. At the same time, faint purple currents manifested around his body, nine in total, each flowing into nine different positions on Xing Tian's body.

Dugu Bo pushed his spiritual power to the limit to observe, feeling incredibly shocked: This kid is sealing his own cultivation!

That was correct; this was a unique method Xing Tian had created in his past life to better practice the Nine Deaths Evil Art.

The Nine Deaths Evil Art was extremely dangerous and placed high demands on the practitioner's power. If someone assisted from the side, the difficulty could be reduced.

However, Xing Tian preferred to rely on himself, as it was safer, so he developed a secret technique to seal his own cultivation.

He used nine major acupoints—the Tanzhong, Shenque, Qihai, Guanyuan, Huiyin, Mingmen, Zhiyang, Lingtai, and Baihui—to filter and seal his true qi. This not only further purified the true qi but also prepared it for future breakthroughs.

Since this was his first time sealing true qi in this life, Xing Tian was still a bit unpracticed. He did not finish until the dawn of the next day, while Dugu Bo stood guard for him the entire time.

"Many thanks to Your Excellency Dugu for guarding me."

"No need for thanks. I am merely fulfilling a request. Besides, you have opened my eyes and shown me what a true genius is. It was worth it, truly worth it. After I evolved my martial soul into the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor, I condensed a pill bead that holds half of my strength; it is somewhat similar to your method of sealing cultivation."

Dugu Bo felt a bit ashamed: "But that was brought about by martial soul evolution. Compared to your complete self-control, it is still far inferior. You must have sealed your cultivation into those major acupoints, right?"

"Exactly!"

As expected of a Title Douluo, he had deduced most of it so quickly.

Dugu Bo sighed deeply and said, "The key is not just the acupoints, but the sealing method. Truly, the waves behind push the waves ahead, and the waves ahead die on the beach. I am truly old..."

After expressing his emotions, Dugu Bo brought Xing Tian back to the Ye Mansion.

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

"It is resolved!"

Xing Tian summoned his Dark Evil Spirit Mantis martial soul, and a pale purple soul ring rose from beneath his feet, the aura of a thousand-year soul ring fully exposed.

The room, previously lit by lamps, instantly dimmed. The light from the soul guidance lamps became like candlelight, and the ambient temperature dropped slightly.

The three of them felt goosebumps all over and shivered, but more from instinctive fear than the cold.

The attributes of the Dark Evil Spirit Mantis martial soul were too overbearing: darkness, evil, and death. Only soul masters or soul beasts with light, holy, or life attributes could contend with it.

Although the Nine-Heart Begonia martial soul also possessed life attributes, it was not powerful enough, and having only life attributes was insufficient.

Ye Renxin's cultivation was high enough to ignore this, but due to his advanced age and old ailments, he was still affected.

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

"Level 13."

Dugu Yan was a bit puzzled: "Isn't that a thousand-year soul ring? Why only level 13? You know, a four-hundred-year soul ring can increase one's level by nearly two."

Dugu Bo explained at the right moment: "Yan Yan, don't forget, this kid also needs to stabilize his martial soul, so naturally, he couldn't increase that much."

"So that's how it is."

This explanation was perfect, with no flaws to be found.

Dugu Yan's emerald-like eyes rolled around, and she said with a smile, "Xiao Tian, since you have already obtained your soul ring, why don't we spar? Let me experience your soul skills, how about it?"

Dugu Bo immediately stopped her: "Yan Yan, don't ask for trouble. That is a thousand-year soul skill, and when unleashed by his top-tier martial soul, you will get hurt!"

Dugu Yan turned away with an indifferent expression.

"I just want to try. Besides, without attribute suppression, control-type soul masters are the strongest in one-on-one fights at the same level. Poison-attribute soul masters are even more terrifying in early-stage combat. I won't necessarily lose."

Dugu Yan felt that although Xing Tian's martial soul gave her a strong sense of oppression, she hadn't used her own martial soul yet, her level was higher than Xing Tian's, and combined with the aforementioned advantages, she didn't think she would lose.

"Fine, then you can try." Dugu Bo agreed helplessly.

But the next moment, he used soul power transmission to speak to Xing Tian.

"Kid, Yan Yan is proud and arrogant. If I don't satisfy her, this will be endless, and she will ignore me, her grandfather. But I also understand that her personality needs to change, otherwise, it will be of no benefit to her cultivation. Help me polish her a bit. But! Go easy on her, or I won't let you off!"

Xing Tian was speechless; this request was too demanding, but he had no choice but to agree.

The group moved to the Ye Mansion's martial arts arena.

Although the Ye family was a healing-type family, like the direct descendants of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, the other half of their members had to be battle soul masters, so it was normal for them to have a martial arts arena.

Xing Tian and Dugu Yan stood on opposite sides of the ring, and Dugu Yan was the first to initiate Martial Soul Possession.

Her body became extremely supple, and her legs fused together, turning into a thick, large snake tail. She relied on the swaying of the snake tail to support her body. A diamond-shaped green scale appeared on her forehead, and her pair of green eyes became exceptionally sharp. The cold aura she exuded lacked any trace of human emotion.

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