Gu Qing Wants to Create a Self-Created Soul Skill for Me! Loyalty! Absolute Loyalty!

Ning Rongrong's eyes lit up. "If you personally guide us, how many points would one session cost?"

"That depends on your performance."

Leaning back in his chair, Gu Qing said, "There's no upper limit on points; it all depends on your ability. How far you can go depends on how many points you can earn. Any more questions?"

The four of them answered in unison, "No."

"Very good."

Gu Qing sat on the desk and smiled. "Before I devise specific training plans for you, I need to see your Martial Souls and soul skills first. Let's go to the training ground."

"Zhu Zhuqing, you go first."

Zhu Zhuqing nodded, took two steps back, and stood in the open space at the center of the office.

Soul Power surged through her body, and an icy aura spread outward from her. Zhu Zhuqing's eyes suddenly glowed with a faint, chilling green light, her pupils narrowing into catlike slits as her black hair fluttered without wind.

Sharp, blade-like cat claws sprang from her fingertips. Her ears stretched and sharpened, while a jet-black cat tail flicked out behind her, tracing an arc through the air.

After merging with the Hell Spirit Cat, Zhu Zhuqing's already frosty features gained a touch of wildness. Her tightly fitted black combat outfit outlined her slender yet supple waist and full curves, making her cold beauty impossible to look away from.

Two bright yellow soul rings rose beneath her feet, slowly rotating amid the green glow of her Soul Power.

"My first soul skill—Hell Stab."

Before Zhu Zhuqing had finished speaking, she vanished from where she stood. In the next instant, she appeared three meters away, her cat claws leaving behind two silver-bright streaks in the air as a piercing screech of torn wind rang out.

"It concentrates speed and Soul Power into a single point, exploding forward in an instant for a piercing attack with the cat claws."

"Second soul skill—Nether Hundred Claws."

After landing, she did not pause. Her body spun at high speed, and the Soul Power around her transformed into countless claw shadows that poured toward the air before her, filling the space as the shriek of tearing air echoed through the office.

Once the claw shadows dispersed, Zhu Zhuqing stood steadily in place, breathing lightly. The soft curves beneath her chest rose and fell faintly, making her look unexpectedly adorable.

"It unleashes over a hundred claw strikes in rapid succession. Its attack range covers a fan-shaped area ahead, with extremely fast attack speed and broad coverage. It is suited for close-range entanglement."

After speaking, Zhu Zhuqing returned to her original position, her cat tail still swaying lightly behind her.

Gu Qing nodded slightly without speaking, then turned to Ning Rongrong.

Ning Rongrong took a deep breath and extended her right hand. A cluster of seven-colored light glowed in her palm, and an exquisite seven-tiered pagoda slowly emerged from within it.

The pagoda was entirely made of glazed crystal, with each level flowing with a different-colored halo that reflected brilliant colors across her palm. Two yellow rings slowly rotated around its base.

A bright yellow soul ring rose beneath her feet and slowly revolved around the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda.

"The Seven Treasures have names. The first: Strength."

Ning Rongrong gave a light shout, and the red glow on the first level of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda suddenly lit up. A red beam shot from the pagoda and sank into Tang San beside her.

Tang San raised her brows slightly, feeling a gentle force flow into her body. Her strength steadily increased by a noticeable amount—but why was it so much weaker than Brother Gu Qing's Martial Soul enhancement?

"The second: Speed!" The second level lit up, and another beam of light descended upon Zhu Zhuqing.

Zhu Zhuqing froze slightly and lowered her head to look at her hands. For once, a trace of surprise entered her cold voice. "My speed has increased... by at least thirty percent."

Ning Rongrong withdrew the pagoda and looked at Gu Qing. "My first soul skill enhances strength, while my second soul skill enhances speed.

"At present, I can provide a single enhancement to two teammates at the same time. The increase is around thirty percent, and its duration is tied to my Soul Power consumption."

Gu Qing set down his pen and folded his hands on the desk. After pondering for a moment, his gaze first fell on Zhu Zhuqing as his fingers casually tapped against the tabletop.

"Zhu Zhuqing, your speed is nearly unmatched among people your age, but your attack style relies too heavily on linear charges. Once your movements are predicted, you can easily be forced into a disadvantage.

"Your training direction will be extreme speed and independent assassination. You will not rely on a Martial Soul Fusion Skill or bind yourself to anyone.

"What you need to do is turn all your speed into your final strike. Find the angle best suited to the way your Martial Soul exerts force, compress all your Soul Power into a single attack, and kill the enemy in one blow before they can react.

"I'll tentatively call this Self-Created Soul Skill Netherworld Absolute Kill."

Zhu Zhuqing abruptly raised her head.

A Self-Created Soul Skill!

She had only heard those four words from elders throughout her life. It was a domain only Soul Sages and stronger had the qualifications to touch.

She had thought that entering Self Academy and receiving a tailored training plan would already be the greatest stroke of luck in her life.

Yet now, this boy who looked about her age was casually saying that he would create an entirely new soul skill for her.

Such a thing—let alone in the Star Luo Empire, even across the entire continent—she had never heard of anyone being able to casually design a Self-Created Soul Skill for another person.

Zhu Zhuqing looked at Gu Qing, complicated emotions churning in her dark violet eyes before finally condensing into one simple sentence. "Headmaster Gu, I, Zhu Zhuqing, will remember this kindness."

She lowered her head and looked at the hand that still bore faint cat-claw scars from old injuries. Other than becoming stronger and being loyal, it seemed I only had my appearance and figure to offer. I wonder if Gu Qing would like that.

At that thought, Zhu Zhuqing's expression turned slightly shy, though a faint blush quietly crept over her ears.

Ning Rongrong stood beside her, watching the scene with feelings she could not quite describe.

A tailored Self-Created Soul Skill—if something like that were offered to any sect outside, the elders would fight until their heads bled for it. Yet Gu Qing gave it away as easily as if it were nothing.

As Ning Rongrong was thinking, Gu Qing had already turned toward her.

"Ning Rongrong, the enhancement abilities of your Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda are among the best on the continent. But the traditional path releases all power outward, leaving you with no defensive ability whatsoever. Once an enemy breaks into the back line, you can only wait to die."

"So there is only one way to solve this problem: make the enhancements apply to yourself as well. Strength, speed, and defense—the three attributes will flow back through the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda into your body, turning an item that assists 'others' into 'yourself.'"

Ning Rongrong's eyes flew wide open, and her voice unconsciously sharpened.

"Apply the enhancements back onto myself? That's impossible!"

"The enhancement path of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda is inherently outward-facing. Once the Soul Power leaves the pagoda, it can only affect the target. There's no way for it to turn back midway.

"The elders of my sect have studied it for decades without finding a solution..."

"That's because they've always been looking for a path outside the pagoda." Gu Qing interrupted her, drawing a circle in the air with his finger.

"The Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda's enhancement Soul Power is a one-way output, but a soul master's meridians form a cycle.

"If you construct a Soul Power vortex above the dantian and make the outward enhancement Soul Power complete an internal cycle before leaving the pagoda, the enhancement effects can cover both yourself and your teammates at the same time."

Gu Qing watched Ning Rongrong stand there blankly, only then remembering that she was rather slow when it came to cultivation.