Spirit Hall Academy.
Soul Fighting Arena.
Zhang Nanfeng glanced at the students of Junior Class Ten and quickly noticed that one person was missing.
He looked toward the entrance to the Soul Fighting Arena, but the last student was nowhere to be seen.
Just as he was about to ask about it, a petite figure came up to him.
"Teacher Zhang, Duan Fan asked for leave."
It was Wen Xiyue speaking. Her expression was calm, as if she were simply stating a fact.
Zhang Nanfeng frowned slightly. "Hadn't he already come back? I saw him during the theory class just now."
Wen Xiyue said, "He did come back, but he asked to miss this practical class."
"What for?"
Zhang Nanfeng asked, his frown deepening.
Wen Xiyue said, "He asked for leave to cultivate."
Duan Fan really had gone to cultivate, but he hadn't asked Wen Xiyue to request leave for him. He had left as soon as the theory class ended.
Wen Xiyue didn't know why she'd asked for leave on Duan Fan's behalf, either. Perhaps, deep down, she simply didn't want anyone disturbing his cultivation.
If Zhang Nanfeng didn't see him, he would surely go looking for Duan Fan.
"All right, I understand."
Zhang Nanfeng seemed to suddenly remember something. His furrowed brow slowly relaxed, and he said no more about Duan Fan.
"Get ready for class!"
Zhang Nanfeng spoke with a stern expression.
All the students in Junior Class Ten immediately perked up and settled into class.
Mimicry Cultivation Area.
Inside the wooden cabin.
Duan Fan was already cultivating.
The process of circulating the body-tempering technique, Diamond Skill, was still painful.
But Duan Fan could endure it.
This was Duan Fan's first time cultivating since obtaining his Second Soul Ring.
As soon as he began cultivating, Duan Fan immediately felt Diamond Skill circulate much faster than before.
Compared to before he obtained his Second Soul Ring, he could now cultivate Diamond Skill more than twice as fast.
Duan Fan figured this was probably related to his breakthrough in strength and his increased Soul Power Level.
He had long since discovered the virtuous cycle of cultivating Diamond Skill: the higher his Soul Power Level, the faster he could cultivate Diamond Skill, and the faster he cultivated Diamond Skill, the faster his Soul Power grew.
"At this rate, it feels like I'll reach Soul Power Level 30 in just a few months. I might not even be seven by then."
"A six-year-old Soul Elder. Not bad."
Duan Fan cultivated until evening.
He was in excellent form today. His Soul Power hadn't increased by much, but he had gradually stabilized the boost from the Thousand-Year Black Flame Demon Fox Soul Ring.
Duan Fan had absorbed a fifteen-hundred-year Soul Ring as his Second Soul Ring, and his Soul Power Level had soared by several levels.
Taking a day or two to stabilize it would make his future growth in Soul Power steadier.
Compared to usual, Duan Fan finished cultivating an hour earlier today.
After leaving the Mimicry Cultivation Area, he headed straight for the library at Spirit Hall Academy.
There, he found his uncle, Fang Qingshan.
Cafeteria.
Fang Qingshan and his nephew Duan Fan found a seat by the window. They ate and talked about what had happened over the past few days.
Duan Fan told Fang Qingshan how he had obtained his Second Soul Ring, and also told him that he possessed Twin Martial Souls.
Fang Qingshan listened intently, the look of shock on his face never fading.
He was especially incredulous when he heard that Duan Fan's Second Soul Ring was a fifteen-hundred-year Black Flame Demon Fox Soul Ring.
And when he finally heard that Duan Fan possessed Twin Martial Souls, the hand holding his chopsticks even trembled.
"You silly boy, having Twin Martial Souls is such an important thing, and you only tell me now? Don't you trust your Uncle Fang?" Fang Qingshan looked at Duan Fan with a hint of reproach.
Duan Fan grinned sheepishly. "Of course I do. Now that you know, isn't it all the same?"
"I didn't realize Twin Martial Souls would have such a huge impact, either."
"If I'd known, I wouldn't have told you."
Fang Qingshan chuckled in exasperation. "Were you planning to hide your Twin Martial Souls for the rest of your life?"
"I know you don't want too much attention. That would put a lot of pressure on you."
"I can understand why you didn't want to tell anyone, nephew."
"But now that you've told me, face it bravely."
"I believe things will keep getting better for you."
"Mm."
Duan Fan nodded firmly, then said, "Uncle, after dinner, let's go to the Soul Skill Practice Area in the Soul Fighting Arena. I'll show you my Martial Souls and Second Soul Skill."
Fang Qingshan smiled and shook his head. "Let's not. You've worked hard these past few days. After dinner, go back to your dorm and get some good rest. There'll be plenty of chances to see them later."
Hearing this, Duan Fan felt a rush of gratitude.
It seemed Uncle Fang was the only one who truly cared about him, rather than the Thousand-Year Soul Ring and Second Martial Soul.
Duan Fan urged him again. "Come on, Uncle. It won't take long."
Fang Qingshan was finally tempted. "Can't you just get some rest, boy? Do you really have to show off in front of your uncle?"
Duan Fan grinned. "I really do. If I don't show you my Second Soul Ring and Second Martial Soul, I won't be able to sleep tonight."
Fang Qingshan finally gave in. "All right, all right. You really are something else."
Duan Fan knew Fang Qingshan genuinely wanted to see them. Given his uncle's passion for studying Martial Souls, if he didn't truly care about Duan Fan, he would have dragged him to the Soul Skill Practice Area already.
After that, Fang Qingshan ate noticeably faster. He finished first, then quietly waited for Duan Fan.
Once Duan Fan finished eating, the two of them went together to the Soul Skill Practice Area inside the Soul Fighting Arena.
"Uncle, which would you like to see first? The Thousand-Year Soul Ring or the Second Martial Soul?"
In the spacious room, Duan Fan looked at Fang Qingshan with a smile as he asked.
Fang Qingshan waved a hand helplessly. "Whatever. You really are something, boy. I told you to go back and rest, but you just had to drag me here."
Duan Fan smiled. "Then I'll show you my Second Martial Soul first."
Fang Qingshan agreed at once. "Good."
His eyes were already fixed on Duan Fan's left hand, almost glowing with excitement.
Duan Fan smiled, held out his left hand toward Fang Qingshan, and slowly opened it.
Black wisps surged forth and instantly coalesced into a long axe.
The patterned haft, the broad blade spread like outstretched wings, and the deep-blue gemstone embedded in the blade's center all made Fang Qingshan's eyes shine.
"Your Second Martial Soul really is an axe. Your father's Martial Soul was an axe too, a Black Axe."
As Fang Qingshan looked at it, his eyes reddened. His voice filled with emotion as he said, "Your axe looks even stronger than your father's Black Axe. Then again, you have Innate Full Soul Power. How could your Martial Soul be ordinary?"
"It's wonderful. You possess Twin Martial Souls, inheriting your mother's Paintbrush and your father's Black Axe. You also have Innate Full Soul Power, and you work so hard. If your parents were still here, they'd surely be proud of you!"
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