Carrot and Stick, the King's Methods and the Third Spirit Skill

For an ordinary soul master, absorbing a soul ring beyond one's limit is no different from walking through the gates of hell.

The residual soul of a five-thousand-year soul beast carries enough resentment and impact to instantly shatter the mental sea of a quasi-Soul Elder.

But Xue Yao is different.

Not only does he possess a powerful physique honed to the limit for two years—far surpassing his peers—but he also holds the vast mental strength accumulated from living two lifetimes.

Coupled with the absolute bloodline suppression of his god-level martial soul, the Royal Griffin, the moment the violent, lingering resentment of the deceased Wind-Breath Dragon entered Xue Yao's mental sea, it was instantly crushed by an invisible golden claw.

Time ticked away, second by second.

The group behind him stared intently at the young man in white sitting cross-legged.

Finally, after about half an hour.

"Hum—"

Accompanied by a crisp hum of soul power, the deep purple soul ring stabilized completely around Xue Yao.

It shimmered in tandem with his previous two rings—one yellow and one purple—radiating a powerful, heart-palpitating fluctuation.

Xue Yao slowly opened his eyes, a flash of cyan-gold brilliance, sharp as a blade, vanishing from his pupils.

He exhaled a long breath of stale air, feeling the soul power surging like a rushing river within his body, and a satisfied arc tugged at the corner of his mouth.

Level thirty-one!

Not only did he successfully cross the threshold of a Soul Elder, but because the energy contained in a five-thousand-year soul ring was so immense, it pushed his soul power directly to the peak of level thirty-one!

Of course, compared to the increase in soul power, Xue Yao was more concerned with what kind of monstrous soul skill this five-thousand-year top-tier Sub-Dragon soul ring had bestowed upon him.

With a thought, Xue Yao immediately examined the soul skill information emerging in his mind.

Third Soul Skill—[Quick Move]!

This is a purely augmentation-type skill.

Basic effect: Upon activation, your own speed (and that of your detached martial soul) increases by eighty percent instantly! Furthermore, this effect can be stacked with the second soul skill, [Ride the Wind]!

If it were only this, the skill would be considered mediocre, especially since the second soul skill, [Ride the Wind], already provides a one-hundred-and-twenty percent speed boost.

But when Xue Yao saw the hidden secondary effect of this skill, even his composure couldn't help but leap violently.

[Quick Move] special mechanism: When the enemy target is in a "defense-type soul skill" state (such as shields, hardening, armor augmentation, etc.), the speed boost of this skill doubles!

A finishing blow! Xue Yao exclaimed inwardly, his eyes instantly turning scorching hot.

In the combat system of the Douluo Continent, the most troublesome opponents are those defense-type soul masters hiding behind turtle shells.

Facing enemies who shrink behind layers of shields, agility-attack soul masters often fall into the awkward situation of "scraping" the enemy, only to be worn down and killed in the end.

But now, this [Quick Move] perfectly solves that problem!

In physics, kinetic energy equals mass times the square of velocity.

The faster the speed, the more the destructive power of impact and cutting increases exponentially!

Just imagine, when encountering an enemy who has activated their strongest defensive shield, Xue Yao instantly activates his third soul skill, causing his speed to double to one hundred and sixty percent!

If he stacks it with the two hundred and forty percent from [Ride the Wind]...

Under that terrifying speed, combined with the Little Griffin's extremely powerful physical impact (Flash Strike) or the sharp wind-attribute physical penetration (Gale Pierce), it would be a pure dimensional strike!

It doesn't matter if you are a Xuanming Turtle or a Diamond Mammoth, or how many layers of turtle shells you have equipped; in the face of such extreme speed and kinetic energy, everything would be instantly pierced and torn apart!

This is an absolute armor-breaking god-skill that counters all "turtle shells"!

The stronger the enemy's defense, the faster he rushes, and the more ruthlessly he kills!

"Yao'er."

Just as Xue Yao was secretly simulating tactical combos, Feng Cang's voice, suppressing both excitement and gravity, rang in his ears.

Xue Yao looked up to see Feng Cang already standing before him.

The level eighty-three Soul Douluo looked at Xue Yao now with more than just his usual closeness; there was a near-fanatical reverence in his eyes.

"Yao'er, you succeeded. A five-thousand-year third ring—this is nothing short of a miracle."

Feng Cang lowered his voice, his tone laced with ruthless determination. "However, the tree that stands above the forest will be destroyed by the wind. The talent and strength you displayed today are simply too shocking. Before you have fully grown, the outside world must never know that the Farack Kingdom has produced such a peerless monster. Otherwise, the assassins of the Martial Soul Hall will swarm here."

Feng Cang looked back coldly at the knights and guards in the distance, speaking in a voice only the two of them could hear: "I have already forcibly confiscated their rosters. Their parents, wives, and children are all in my hands. If they dare to utter a single word, I will slaughter their entire families."

Listening to Feng Cang's report, Xue Yao stood up and lightly brushed the non-existent dust from his clothes.

He nodded slightly, a trace of appreciation flashing in his eyes.

Feng Cang played the "villain" perfectly.

Thunderous methods, without a hint of hesitation—this is exactly the awareness a qualified guardian should have.

However, the art of kingship lies in balancing grace with power.

Since Feng Cang has already taken "power" to the extreme, it is now time for him to bestow "grace."

Xue Yao slowly turned around to face the Royal Knights and the Kingdom Guards.

This group of usually proud elites, having witnessed Xue Yao's instant kill of the Sub-Dragon and being threatened by Feng Cang with the lives of their families, were already on the verge of a mental breakdown.

Xue Yao's delicate, eight-year-old face suddenly softened into a gentle expression, tinged with a wry smile and an air of apology.

He took a step forward, walking slowly toward the group of soldiers.

"Gentlemen, please, rise quickly."

Xue Yao's voice was crisp and mild, like a spring breeze brushing away the tension that had gripped everyone's nerves.

As he spoke, he unfastened a heavy storage pouch from his waist.

"Today's events were truly quite sudden. Elder Feng was a bit too anxious on my behalf, so his actions were inevitably a bit excessive, and his words may have offended you all."

While speaking, Xue Yao walked up to the lead captain of the knights, who had been sent flying by Feng Cang's slap and still had traces of blood at the corner of his mouth.

He reached out with a fair, small hand and personally helped the tall knight captain to his feet.

Following this, Xue Yao grabbed a large handful of golden coins from the pouch and pressed them directly into the captain's hand.

"One hundred Gold Soul Coin." Xue Yao looked into the captain's shocked eyes and smiled. "You have all followed me deep into the Sunset Forest, and your hard work is commendable. Consider this a small token of my personal appreciation, so everyone can buy some wine. For Elder Feng's rudeness just now, I, Xue Yao, apologize to you all on his behalf. I hope you can be magnanimous and not take it to heart."

With that, Xue Yao bowed slightly and performed an impeccably standard gesture of apology toward the soldiers before him.

Immediately after, Xue Yao waved his hand, and a massive shower of golden light flew from the storage pouch, landing precisely in the hands of every soldier present.

One hundred Gold Soul Coin for each person!

This was equivalent to ten full years of military pay for an ordinary soldier of the Farack Kingdom!

For these low-ranking officers and knights, this was an absolute windfall from the heavens!

Every soldier on the field was stunned; holding those heavy Gold Soul Coin in their hands, their minds fell into a brief state of system failure.

This high and mighty Prince, this monstrous prodigy who could kill a five-thousand-year-old Sub-Dragon at the age of eight, was actually... actually handing out money to them personally?

And he was apologizing to mere foot soldiers for the rough behavior of his guard?!

An indescribable warmth surged wildly in the heart of every soldier!

The fear caused by Feng Cang's death threats and the resentment buried deep in their hearts were instantly shattered by these heavy gold coins and Xue Yao's gentle, humble smile!

"Yo-Your Highness! You are too kind to us!" The knight captain's eyes turned red, and he gripped the gold coins tightly. With a thud, he knelt on one knee again. This time, his action was not forced in the slightest; it was filled with absolute fanaticism and total devotion!

"I swear to serve Your Highness to the death! If a single word of today's events leaks from our lips, there is no need for Elder Feng to act—we shall cut off our own heads to atone for our crimes!"

"We swear to serve Your Highness to the death!!!" Two hundred and fifty elite guards knelt on one knee in perfect unison. The look in their eyes toward Xue Yao was no longer filled with fear, but replaced by extreme adoration and awe!

To follow such a peerless, enlightened master—one with god-like talent, who cared for his subordinates and was so generous—was a blessing they had cultivated over eight lifetimes!

Standing in the rear, Feng Cang felt a trace of shock flash through his murky, aged eyes.

Watching Xue Yao's slender yet upright back, he couldn't help but gasp.

Because he had suddenly discovered a terrifying detail.

Although Xue Yao spoke of apologizing for him, although he had distributed huge rewards to everyone, and although his attitude was as gentle as a spring breeze...

Yet! From beginning to end, Xue Yao had not even glanced at the two rosters clutched in Feng Cang's hand!

He never once mentioned having Feng Cang return the rosters!

What did this mean?

It meant that Xue Yao had used the gentlest smile and the most generous wealth to buy the hearts of these men.

But at the same time, he had tacitly allowed Feng Cang to keep the families of these men held firmly as hostages!

In the left hand, a mountain of gold coins and the Prince's favor; in the right hand, a butcher's knife hanging over the necks of their entire families!

A combination of kindness and might!

How could this be a scheme played by an eight-year-old child? This was clearly the work of a supreme monarch who understood the art of imperial rule and held the hearts of men in the palm of his hand!

Feng Cang lowered his head, looking at the two thin rosters in his hand, then looked toward the white-clad youth in front who was smiling and comforting the soldiers.

At this moment, the level 83 Soul Douluo felt a soul-deep reverence for an eight-year-old child.

"The Farack Kingdom... is about to produce a true dragon." Feng Cang whispered in a trembling heart.