Although Xing Tian was as wild and unruly as most people on the evil path, he still knew how to show respect to his elders.
He immediately withdrew his Martial Soul, poured Dugu Bo a cup of tea, and presented it to him.
After Dugu Bo took a satisfied sip, he began explaining at length. "I've seen it in ancient texts. If a Martial Soul is shattered, its owner needs to absorb a Soul Ring within a short time—an extremely powerful one, and one whose form matches the Martial Soul as closely as possible. Ideally, it should be a Soul Ring produced through a Soul Beast's sacrifice."
"This... a sacrifice?"
Ye Renxin's face was clouded with worry. He could hardly believe what he was hearing. "Wouldn't that have to be a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast? Could it be..."
Xing Tian asked curiously, "What's a sacrifice?"
Dugu Bo explained, "A sacrifice is when a Soul Beast willingly offers its Soul Ring and Soul Bone to a Soul Master. In that situation, as long as the Soul Master has reached a bottleneck, even if he's only at level ten, he can absorb a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring and Soul Bone—and absorb them perfectly, gaining complete control over the Soul Skill."
"Furthermore, only Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts can generally offer a sacrifice. The Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts known to exist across the continent can be counted on one hand, and each is at least equivalent to a level-ninety-five Super Douluo. Hunting even one would require several Titled Douluo."
"According to legend, when a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast offers a sacrifice, it creates a special magnetic field. Not even a Titled Douluo, let alone an ordinary person, could interrupt it. Even the legendary gods can't stop it. The sacrifice continues until the Soul Master has fully absorbed the Soul Ring and Soul Bone, and it can even restore him to his peak condition."
Dugu Bo's words had essentially sentenced Xing Tian's Martial Soul cultivation to death. A Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast—and its form also had to match the Martial Soul as closely as possible. It was practically impossible.
Ye Lingling and Dugu Yan were nervous too. Xing Tian held special significance for Ye Lingling, and she didn't want anything to happen to him. As for Dugu Yan, she felt it would be a Heaven's own jealousy of talent if a younger brother with such exceptional talent and such a handsome face couldn't cultivate.
Dugu Bo took another unhurried sip of tea, then said, "It's not as serious as you imagine."
"This kid's Martial Soul is a Beast Martial Soul, so the required age of the Soul Ring can be greatly reduced. And it's not only Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts that can offer a sacrifice. As long as a Soul Beast is of sufficiently high quality and intelligence, it can do so."
"What I said about a Soul Beast offering a sacrifice being ideal applies to Tool Soul Masters. A Beast Soul Master only needs the Soul Beast to willingly merge its origin into him."
Though the difficulty had decreased considerably, Ye Renxin still felt their hopes were slim.
"Even so, it would have to be a Mantis Soul Beast with tens of thousands of years of cultivation. Even if it willingly became a Soul Ring, Xiao Tian couldn't absorb it at his current stage."
Dugu Bo drained his tea and smiled. "That's why I said this kid is lucky. His Martial Soul has essentially re-formed after his death and resurrection, and its origin is basically stable. It's just that a Beast Martial Soul is an energy body, so its form is still unstable. It hasn't settled into a fixed shape. That makes things much simpler."
"All we need is to add an excellent Mantis Soul Ring with an attribute that matches him extremely well. A thousand years will do; the Soul Beast doesn't even have to volunteer."
Dugu Bo lightly squeezed the muscles in Xing Tian's hand. "His physical condition is quite impressive. It's probably also because he died and came back to life. As long as his will is firm enough and he's prepared to suffer, he should be able to tough out a thousand-year Soul Ring."
"That's wonderful! Then all we need is time to find a Soul Beast. Xiao Tian, the problem's solved!"
Ye Renxin and Ye Lingling were genuinely happy for Xing Tian. They were so moved that tears welled in their eyes, while Dugu Yan also breathed a sigh of relief.
"I'd like to see the splendor of a thousand-year first Soul Ring for myself—and what achievements he'll reach in the future."
Dugu Bo was initially quite eager, but he soon poured cold water on them. "There are still two hidden drawbacks."
"What drawbacks? Does it mean Xiao Tian will have to exhaust his potential?"
Dugu Bo waved a hand. "Nothing like that. First, he may not be able to choose his Martial Soul cultivation path freely in the future. He could end up having to fight through Martial Soul Mimicry."
"Most Beast Soul Masters fight by using Martial Soul Possession, transforming their bodies to battle. With Martial Soul Mimicry, the Martial Soul is released directly and controlled by the Soul Master in combat, much like a Beast Martial Soul that fights separately from its host."
"In that case, the Soul Master bears a lighter burden, but his own body is more vulnerable."
"Once a Beast Soul Master reaches the Titled Douluo realm, he can switch freely between the two fighting styles, with almost no difference between them. It all depends on his preference."
"But when a Beast Soul Master chooses a first Soul Beast whose form closely resembles his Martial Soul, he can cultivate Martial Soul Mimicry by choice. Unless he becomes a Titled Douluo, however, he'll have no choice but to fight that way. He won't be able to use Martial Soul Possession."
"But his Martial Soul hasn't settled into a fixed form, so he might lose the ability to choose for himself. He could be forced to cultivate Martial Soul Mimicry."
Xing Tian was already very satisfied. "Compared with being unable to cultivate at all, that's nothing. Thank you for your guidance, His Excellency Dugu."
Ye Renxin asked, "And the second drawback?"
Dugu Bo shook his head with a wry smile. "Heh, it's a thousand-year first Soul Ring. Just think how many people it'll draw who'll covet it."
Ye Renxin and Ye Lingling immediately understood what Dugu Bo meant. Xing Tian probably wouldn't be able to study at Heaven Dou Royal Academy with Ye Lingling, and he might not even be able to leave Ye Mansion until he was strong enough.
Just then, Xing Tian said something that shocked everyone. "Actually, I know a way to change the color of a Soul Ring."
"What?" x4
Xing Tian explained, "When I was little, I was playing around and accidentally got lost in the mountains. It happened to be pouring that day, and while looking for shelter, I stumbled upon a cave. Inside, I found a skeleton and an ancient book. The book described a secret art that could change the color of a Soul Ring. I just don't know if it works."
Of course, Xing Tian was making the story up. The secret art he was talking about was actually a cultivation method his master had passed down to him in his previous life: the Rejuvenation Art.
By breathing in vital energy and practicing fetal breathing, a cultivator could nourish his entire body. His whole being would be imbued with new life, and his power would rise to a new level.
The Rejuvenation Art was therefore an auxiliary cultivation method, practiced after one had already cultivated other arts.
The Rejuvenation Art had another special function: it could use one's power to change the apparent age of oneself or others.
In his previous life, Xing Tian had discovered that the Rejuvenation Art offered little help with his Nine Deaths Reincarnation Evil Art. The time needed for breathing in vital energy and practicing fetal breathing was also far too long, so he hadn't spent time cultivating it.
Still, Xing Tian thought the ability to change one's apparent age was pretty useful. He could use it when he grew old someday, so he modified the Rejuvenation Art.
He simplified it, keeping only the ability to change one's apparent age. After all, being handsome was a lifelong affair.
Unfortunately, although Xing Tian had cultivated it in his previous life, he'd never actually used it. He'd been only in his twenties when he died.
Dugu Bo asked, "May I take a look?"
Xing Tian promptly transcribed the Rejuvenation Art from memory. He changed the references to true energy and similar concepts into Soul Power, added material about Soul Rings, then handed it to Dugu Bo.
Dugu Bo began reading. The more he read, the more astonished and absorbed he became. In the end, he exclaimed repeatedly, "What a profound secret art! It must have been created by a Titled Douluo—no, a Super Douluo. Brother Ye, have a look too."
Ye Renxin took it and read through it. His reaction was almost identical to Dugu Bo's.
"It really is profound. At its core, it uses special methods to alter one's appearance through vitality and spiritual power. It can even change the color of a Soul Ring, but it demands a great deal of vitality and spiritual power. Xiao Tian, can you do it?"
Xing Tian answered confidently, "I can! After dying and coming back to life, my vitality and spiritual power are exceptionally abundant. But I'll still need about two years of seclusion and hard cultivation."
Before you continue