Time slipped by like a white colt flashing past a crack in the wall. In the blink of an eye, half a year had passed.
At the training grounds, Ban Shu stood motionless, dressed in black training clothes and carrying a Painted Halberd.
Countless wooden posts surrounded him, encircling him at the center.
Ban Shu had his eyes closed, quietly adjusting his state. The Painted Halberd in his hands turned slightly, poised to strike.
Suddenly, he moved.
Ban Shu drove his feet into the ground and spun the Painted Halberd in his hands, unleashing a mighty sweeping strike. Amid a series of dull thuds, countless wooden posts were cleaved in half and fell to the ground.
But he didn't stop there. After the sweep, he smoothly retreated and spun to dissipate the force, then followed with a sudden thrust over his shoulder.
Bang!
The wooden post was pierced in an instant. Ban Shu put his waist and abdomen into it and delivered an upward slash, splitting the post in two.
As the Painted Halberd in Ban Shu's hands continued to sweep through the air, the wooden posts around him one by one met their doom. Some were cut in half, while others were reduced to dust by the tremendous force.
Before long, every post had been destroyed. Ban Shu let out a long breath and slowly lowered his weapon.
"Xiao Ban, you're just incredible!"
Once Ban Shu had finished his practice, Bibi Dong emerged, holding two bottles of water. Smiling, she handed one to him. "Here, drink some water and take a break. I added a little salt so it can quickly replenish what your body needs."
"Mm, thank you, Sis."
Ban Shu was a little thirsty, so he took the bottle and gulped it down in two swallows.
"Slow down. It's not like anyone's going to steal it from you."
Bibi Dong complained, then took small sips from her own bottle. She had just been practicing fist techniques alongside their teacher, too.
She might have been a hopeless bookworm, but when it came to throwing hands, she was formidable.
Over the past six months, Bibi Dong had become strong enough to punch straight through a wooden post and snap a ten-centimeter-thick piece of wood in half with a single kick. It was terrifying.
But when it came to studying, she was still the same as ever. Ban Shu's encouragement had kept her from coming in last, but she was only average at best.
Catching up to a top student like Ban Shu, who had every talent stat maxed out, was simply too much to ask. Bibi Dong didn't mind at all—in fact, she couldn't care less.
"Hahaha, Xiao Ban, not bad! You've completely mastered this set of basic spear techniques."
Li Yan, who had been watching from the side, walked over with a hearty laugh and patted Ban Shu's shoulder in satisfaction.
"That's thanks to your good teaching, Uncle Li."
Ban Shu smiled and answered modestly.
"The young really do surpass their elders. Truly."
Li Yan chuckled. Over the past six months, Ban Shu had thoroughly absorbed everything he'd been taught—and even worked some of his own insights into it.
At this rate, it wouldn't be long before Li Yan had nothing left to teach him.
Watching the two of them chatting, Li Yan smiled happily. Then, as though he'd suddenly remembered something, he said,
"By the way, Xiao Ban, I remember you said your Soul Power has reached level twenty. Shouldn't you go get a Soul Ring?"
"Mm."
Ban Shu nodded. "I've already spoken with our teacher. We're setting out for the Star Dou Great Forest in two days to get my second Soul Ring."
That was right. Over the past six months, the combined effects of his meditation method, the strange energy, and the Whale Rubber medicinal baths had made his cultivation speed far surpass that of his peers.
In just half a year, he had cultivated from level fourteen to level twenty. Once he obtained another Soul Ring, he would officially become a Soul Master.
Ban Shu dared say that his cultivation speed now surpassed that of most people on the Douluo Continent. Even Bibi Dong couldn't hold a candle to him.
"Good, good, good."
Li Yan sighed, praising him again and again. "You really are gifted. Your Soul Power has increased so much in just half a year. It's truly terrifying, you Little Monster."
"Exactly!"
Bibi Dong reached out and patted Ban Shu's head, smiling as she said, "Even a super genius like me, with Innate Full Soul Power and Twin Martial Souls, has to admit that your talent is greater than mine, Xiao Ban."
"I'd call you the most talented person on the Douluo Continent today."
"Uh... then thank you for the praise, Sis Dong'er."
Hearing her say that, Ban Shu felt a strange sensation well up inside him. It was kind of odd.
"All right, that's enough for today. Hurry back and get some rest." Li Yan patted them both on the head and urged them along.
"Okay."
Ban Shu and Bibi Dong turned and left the training grounds, returning to their rooms.
After his medicinal bath, Ban Shu sat cross-legged and began his usual meditation.
"..."
But for some reason, he couldn't get into the right state, no matter how long he tried.
"Sigh..."
Ban Shu sighed, got off the bed, and sat down at his desk.
"I'm getting a Soul Beast the day after tomorrow. Looks like I need to think carefully about my future Soul Ring plans."
Ban Shu summoned his Painted Halberd and studied his weapon closely.
Ever since awakening this thing, Ban Shu had known it wasn't yet complete. In fact, it was only the tip of the iceberg when it came to his Martial Soul.
Divine Steed Guardian Ban was the true power of his Martial Soul.
But strangely, Divine Steed Ban was supposed to use Fire Release. Where had the lightning attribute come from?
Ban Shu frowned. Could it be that after I transmigrated, Naruto had released some money-grubbing new skin?
Knowing Morefun, it really did seem possible!
Forget it. Most of the Uchiha had both lightning and fire attributes anyway, so there was no need to obsess over it.
Was that damned fire really the most important thing about Lord Divine Steed Ban? No! It was those four words: Peerless Under Heaven!
With that, all the other Soul Skills were just fluff!
You like it when my basic attacks have super armor, bro?
If you use your substitution, I'll use my ultimate. Once it's over, I'll start biting you like crazy. If you grab me, I'll use my second stage. Once I'm down, I'll have four bars in two seconds.
And guess what? My ultimate's ready again!
Meanwhile, my friend, all you can do is tremble under Uncle Ban's fearsome might, then pat him on the head to show your respect.
Realizing his thoughts were getting more and more off track, Ban Shu hurriedly shook his head, driving the memories from his past life out of his mind.
"What am I thinking? Damn!"
Ban Shu let out a breath and slowly lowered his head—then jumped in surprise.
At some point, he had actually drawn a "head pat" reaction image on the paper. It was practically muscle memory.
Slapping his cheeks, Ban Shu picked up the "head pat" and was about to throw it away, but after holding it up for a while, he carefully put it away instead.
"Maybe it'll come in handy someday," Ban Shu told himself.
Back to the point: he started thinking again about his future Soul Ring Configuration and direction.
Early Soul Rings didn't have much use in the later stages anyway. In that case, he might as well make them all enhancement skills.
His first Soul Skill was an enchantment skill that increased the damage of his Painted Halberd and even had a lightning-paralysis effect.
Then for his second Soul Ring, he'd go with an enhancement skill...
After thinking for a long time, he picked up his pen and started writing and sketching in his book, narrowing down which Soul Beasts would suit him.
Before you continue