Azure Thunder Tyrant Body. That was the Soul Skill he had obtained from the Azure Thunder Purple-Patterned Lion.
When activated, a layer of lightning patterns appeared across his skin, increasing his strength and speed by 100% each and boosting the efficiency with which he drew upon thunder by 100%.
What's more, while his First Soul Skill remained active, the effects of control abilities against him were greatly reduced. The degree of reduction depended on the difference between the two sides' Soul Power Levels. It had no time limit; as long as he had enough Soul Power, he could keep it going indefinitely.
One Soul Skill, three boosts, and even a powerful resistance to interruption—with no time limit.
Yu Tianchen was more than satisfied with the First Soul Ring he had obtained.
He planted one foot on the ground, lightning flashing beneath him, and shot toward Yu Yuanzhen at incredible speed. In the blink of an eye, he was at Yu Yuanzhen's side, driving a punch at him.
Bang!
A muffled thud rang out.
Yu Yuanzhen's broad palm caught Yu Tianchen's punch without budging.
Feeling the force in his palm and recalling how Yu Tianchen's speed had suddenly surged as he charged over, even Yu Yuanzhen couldn't help but look slightly surprised.
"Not bad, boy. Is this your First Soul Skill? It boosts your strength and speed?"
"That's not all!"
Yu Tianchen took a step back to put some distance between them, then raised a hand and beckoned.
The five drums hovering behind him rang out in unison.
Dark clouds gathered overhead at incredible speed, and more than a dozen thick bolts of lightning suddenly crashed down toward Yu Yuanzhen.
Yu Yuanzhen narrowed his eyes slightly and gave his Soul Power a pulse, dispersing every bolt of lightning that came at him.
"Very good, very good. You can draw down quite a bit more lightning than before."
"I didn't expect a Thousand-Year Azure Thunder Purple-Patterned Lion to grant you three different boosts!"
"That Thousand-Year Soul Ring was well worth it!"
Yu Yuanzhen praised him.
During their journey, he had already seen Yu Tianchen use the Five Thunder Shock Drums to draw down lightning from the sky and temper his body.
Compared to then, the lightning Yu Tianchen summoned now was more than a little stronger.
"But there aren't just three different boosts, Grandpa."
Yu Tianchen had finished showing everything he wanted to demonstrate, so he didn't attack again.
As he recalled his Martial Soul, he also explained to Yu Yuanzhen how his First Soul Skill greatly reduced the effects of control abilities against him.
"So if you reach the Titled Douluo level, then when Soul Masters below that level try to control you, it'll be practically the same as being immune?!"
After hearing Yu Tianchen's explanation, Yu Yuanzhen's eyes widened.
As a Titled Douluo, he understood almost immediately just how much this First Soul Skill would help Yu Tianchen in the future.
Even Yu Yuanzhen couldn't help feeling a little envious of its effects.
"In theory, that should be how it works. Even if someone's cultivation is stronger than mine, the control effect will still be greatly reduced."
"But if they're much stronger, I don't think it'll have any effect."
"That's already very good."
Yu Yuanzhen said with a smile.
A First Soul Skill with so many boosts was already an incredibly powerful Soul Skill.
By comparison, that one small flaw was insignificant.
"All right, Tianchen. Recover your Soul Power here. We'll rest for a while, then get ready to return to the sect."
"I had your second and third granduncles prepare a Mimicry Training Ground just for you. Once we're back at the sect..."
Yu Yuanzhen was just about to tell Yu Tianchen about training at the Mimicry Training Ground after they returned to the sect.
But just then, a panicked cry rang out from nearby.
Yu Yuanzhen and Yu Tianchen both frowned and turned toward the sound.
In the forest not far away,
a bird-like Soul Beast, its entire body a deep blue and wreathed in wisps of icy frost, flapped its wings in a panic as it burst out of the trees. But whether its wings were injured or something else was wrong, it only managed a couple of flaps before flying straight toward Yu Tianchen.
Before it could get close, however, the surging pressure of Soul Power pinned it to the ground.
"A mere four-hundred-year Soul Beast dares to run wild in front of me?"
"What incredible nerve!"
Yu Yuanzhen's eyes glinted with icy killing intent.
"Tianchen, focus on recovering your Soul Power."
"Grandpa will roast you some bird meat in a moment."
"Grandpa, it looks injured."
Yu Tianchen noticed that the bird-like Soul Beast's wing was bent at an unnatural angle and reminded Yu Yuanzhen:
"Could someone have been hunting it, and it came charging over here in a panic?"
"Whether it was being hunted or not doesn't matter."
Yu Yuanzhen replied coolly:
"Our grandfather and grandson caught it. Now it's ours."
As he spoke, he walked over, grabbed the bird-like Soul Beast by the neck, and lifted it up.
Hearing Yu Yuanzhen say that, Yu Tianchen didn't say anything more. He found an empty spot, sat down cross-legged, and began recovering his Soul Power.
Seeing Yu Tianchen enter a meditative state, Yu Yuanzhen began preparing to deal with the Ice Bird.
Though it was an Ice-type Soul Beast and didn't taste very good,
it was still something to eat.
Neither Yu Yuanzhen nor Yu Tianchen had particularly high standards when it came to food.
Just as Yu Yuanzhen raised his hand to end the Ice Bird's life,
an urgent voice suddenly came from the direction of the woods where the bird-like Soul Beast had emerged.
"Sir, please spare it!"
The next moment, a middle-aged man and a dainty, adorable blue-haired girl flew out of the woods and landed on the ground.
The middle-aged man clasped his hands toward Yu Yuanzhen in greeting and said:
"I am Shui Wusheng, the lord of Skywater City. This is my daughter, Shui Bing'er. She's six years old and has just reached level ten in her cultivation."
"This Soul Beast is exceptionally suited to be my daughter's First Soul Ring, so we chased it all the way here."
"We didn't expect it to disturb you. Please spare it, and Shui Wusheng will owe you a favor."
"Oh? So you're City Lord Shui."
Yu Yuanzhen had been somewhat displeased that Shui Wusheng had interrupted him.
But Shui Wusheng had shown perfect courtesy, which eased his expression somewhat.
"If I remember correctly, the lord of Skywater City should be a Soul Saint, right?"
"You're a dignified Soul Saint, yet you let a Hundred-Year Soul Beast escape while hunting it?"
"That explanation doesn't hold up. Show me some solid evidence."
"Otherwise, forget the Soul Beast."
"Today, you two will have to leave something behind before you can go."
As he spoke, nine Soul Rings appeared beneath Yu Yuanzhen's feet in succession.
The pressure of a Titled Douluo surged straight toward the pair before him.
"A T-Titled Douluo..."
When they saw the nine Soul Rings, Shui Wusheng and Shui Bing'er both turned deathly pale.
They truly hadn't expected to encounter a Titled Douluo in a place like this.
Fine beads of cold sweat visibly trickled down Shui Wusheng's forehead.
He hurriedly shielded Shui Bing'er behind him, then bowed respectfully to Yu Yuanzhen once more.
"Please calm your anger, Your Excellency!"
"To tell you the truth, though this Soul Beast is only a Hundred-Year Soul Beast, it has a special means of protecting itself."
"I thought I had already subdued it and let my daughter prepare to obtain its Soul Ring."
"But I didn't expect it to suddenly fight back, break free of my control, and escape."
"Your Excellency can inspect its wings. They should show signs of having been broken. There are several other wounds on its underside, too."
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