Based on the cultivation method he was currently practicing, his future path was more or less set: he would follow the Power Attack System route.
The Five Thunder Shock Drums would not only let him pursue the extreme-element path, but also let him combine them with the Great Sun Thunder Body cultivation method to draw down lightning and temper his body, greatly strengthening his physique.
Strictly speaking, then, the path best suited to him was to push both his physical body and his elements to their limits.
Having established the general direction of his development, Yu Tianchen began leafing through the books he had collected about Soul Beasts, searching for one suitable for his First Soul Ring.
His body was already formidable from practicing the Great Sun Thunder Body, and the Five Thunder Shock Drums had great potential for manipulating thunder.
Yu Tianchen had no intention of choosing an offensive or defensive Soul Skill for his First Soul Ring. Instead, he leaned toward a supportive skill that could enhance himself.
That way, even after he reached the level of a Titled Douluo, his first Soul Skill would still give him a substantial boost.
After looking through the records, Yu Tianchen quickly settled on the Soul Beast he wanted.
The Azure Thunder Purple-Patterned Lion!
According to records kept by the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, the Azure Thunder Purple-Patterned Lion had thunder patterns across its body and fed on the thunder energy of heaven and earth. It could draw lightning down on its own to strike a wide area, while the patterns on its body greatly reduced the effects of control when it attacked.
If he absorbed this Soul Beast as his First Soul Ring,
he would most likely gain a Soul Skill that either resisted control or enhanced his ability to wield thunder with the Five Thunder Shock Drums.
This was the one!
The more Yu Tianchen thought it over, the more excited he became. He immediately made the Azure Thunder Purple-Patterned Lion his primary target for his First Soul Ring.
He then picked out several other Soul Beasts as backups before closing his notebook.
"Once Grandpa comes by tonight, I'll tell him. We should be able to go hunt for a Soul Ring tomorrow."
"And then there are those opportunities on this continent..."
Yu Tianchen tapped his fingers on the desk, his eyes thoughtful.
When he was four, he had heard people from the clan talk about Spirit Hall's Pope, Qian Xunji, pursuing Tang Hao.
That meant he was about four years older than Tang San.
His Martial Soul had already awakened, while the future God King Tang was currently just a two-year-old child, hiding away in his village and secretly practicing the Tang Sect cultivation method.
And the opportunities awaiting him in the future—the hundred-thousand-year hooligan rabbit, the Yin-Yang Dual-Temperance Well, the Eight Spider Lances, and that damn hundred-thousand-year Soul Bone belonging to his mother—
were all unclaimed right now!
The Eight Spider Lances and Xiao Wu could wait. He still had no idea which Man Faced Demon Spider the Eight Spider Lances would come from. Xiao Wu probably hadn't even taken human form yet; she was living in the core area of the Star Dou Great Forest, with two Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts serving as her bodyguards.
For now, he could forget about those two.
The Yin-Yang Dual-Temperance Well and the Blue Silver Emperor's Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone, on the other hand, were worth pursuing.
Especially the Yin-Yang Dual-Temperance Well!
In his previous life, it had been hailed as one of the must-eat destinations on the Douluo Continent.
Without it, the Shrek Seven Devils—including Tang San—would have been crippled by half.
That showed just how precious the Yin-Yang Dual-Temperance Well was.
As the saying went:
Opportunities went to whoever got there first!
He absolutely couldn't let anyone else have the Immortal Herbs in the Yin-Yang Dual-Temperance Well.
Knowing how to use them was one thing. Having them was another.
As for the Blue Silver Emperor's Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone, he would have to wait until Tang San went to Notting Academy and Tang Hao left Holy Soul Village before making his move.
That should be the safest time.
"Mm... I'll leave things at that for now. I can figure out the specifics when the time comes."
Having made some initial plans for the opportunities he knew about, Yu Tianchen stopped dwelling on them.
He got to his feet and went out into the courtyard.
Perfect. He still had time.
He would try using the Five Thunder Shock Drums to draw down heavenly lightning and practice the Great Sun Thunder Body!
Time always slipped by like flowing water when one was cultivating.
That night, when Yu Yuanzhen arrived at the courtyard, Yu Tianchen had already finished cultivating. He discussed his ideas about the direction his Martial Soul should develop in, as well as his plans for his First Soul Ring, with his grandfather.
At first, Yu Yuanzhen was surprised by Yu Tianchen's ideas about his future development.
He and the elders had originally decided that the extreme-element path would be best, and that the little drum Martial Soul would be better suited to the Control System.
But when Yu Tianchen told him that he could use his Martial Soul to draw lightning through his body and temper it, Yu Yuanzhen immediately discarded the plan he had discussed with the elders.
In Yu Yuanzhen's view, the Power Attack System would be easier to cultivate than the Control System.
After all, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan primarily followed the Power Attack System and had plenty of experience cultivating Soul Masters along that path.
After agreeing to personally take Yu Tianchen to the Star Dou Great Forest the next day to hunt for a Soul Ring, Yu Yuanzhen left the courtyard. He planned to use Yu Tianchen's ideas to draw up a special cultivation regimen.
After Yu Yuanzhen left, Yu Tianchen didn't waste any time. Under his parents' watchful eyes, he began cultivating again.
They had to watch him. When he had drawn heavenly lightning into the courtyard to practice the Great Sun Thunder Body, he had given Yu Xiaotian and Ning Xin quite a scare.
The couple insisted on staying beside him to make sure he didn't overuse the lightning to temper his body and injure himself.
And so, the night passed quickly.
When a sliver of fish belly white appeared on the horizon,
Yu Tianchen was sitting cross-legged in the courtyard, his body completely enveloped in lightning. Suddenly, he shuddered.
A faint wave of Soul Power, mixed with the lingering might of thunder, spread out from his body, instantly rousing Ning Xin and Yu Xiaotian, who had been cultivating nearby.
Yu Xiaotian stood and went to his side, watching the state of Yu Tianchen's body.
Ning Xin, meanwhile, immediately released her Martial Soul, ready to help at once if anything happened to her son.
The lightning slowly faded from Yu Tianchen's body.
Before long, he opened his eyes.
A faint glimmer of lightning flashed deep within his pupils.
After a night of cultivation, he had successfully unblocked his first meridian!
The Great Sun Thunder Body had officially been mastered.
He was still a long way from completing the first layer, the Bronze Thunder Body,
but Yu Tianchen was already delighted that he had made such quick progress.
"Xiao Chen, how do you feel? Everything all right?"
Seeing Yu Tianchen wake up, Yu Xiaotian asked.
"I'm fine, Dad."
Yu Tianchen smiled and shook his head.
"I've never felt better."
"Once I've completely figured out this cultivation method, Dad, Mom, you should both try practicing it. With the Mimicry Cultivation Environment inside our clan, you'll definitely be able to advance your cultivation!"
"Your father can try it. This method isn't suitable for me."
After confirming that her son was truly fine, Ning Xin withdrew her Martial Soul and came over with a smile.
"Your grandfather will probably be here in a little while. What would you like for breakfast? I'll cook for you myself today."
"Xinmei, I want steamed egg custard, a double portion of egg pancakes, and stewed beef..."
"No, you don't."
"..."
Watching his father get shut down by his mother as usual, Yu Tianchen couldn't help laughing.
The morning passed quickly amid the family's laughter.
Just as breakfast was ready, Yu Yuanzhen arrived at the courtyard.
After joining them for breakfast, he took Yu Tianchen out of the clan and headed toward the Star Dou Great Forest.
Before you continue