On Lakeheart Island!
Lu Chen withdrew his Martial Soul and stretched hard, his bones crackling like beans in a frying pan. Through his tattered clothes, clearly defined muscles could be seen.
As the first and Second Spirit Rings were added to his Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul in succession, not only had his accumulated Soul Power gradually been released up to rank thirty, but his physique had also been strengthened considerably.
In terms of sheer strength, Lu Chen was not even inferior to some Spirit Beasts. He simply lacked sharp fangs and claws, and the corresponding means of attack.
For now, Lu Chen had only two ideas for improving his offensive abilities.
The first was to try creating his own Soul Skills in battle.
The second was to add Spirit Rings to his Second Martial Soul, the Black Iron Sickle.
Lu Chen immediately rejected the second idea.
Adding Spirit Rings to his Second Martial Soul now, even Millennium Spirit Rings, would be a very poor bargain.
After considering it this way, he could only try the first idea and attempt to create some Soul Skills in the battles ahead.
Lu Chen rubbed his chin, a sharp gleam in his eyes as he thought:
As for Self-Created Soul Skills, my Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul has become much tougher after gaining Spirit Rings. I could try practicing some entanglement techniques.
Entangling-isn't that a plant's instinct? Even if I can't bind an opponent completely, as long as I can slow their movements, I can create an opening to attack.
Another option is compressing and releasing Soul Power. Alternating between those two states should unleash considerable power.
With Blue Silver Revival and Blue Silver Grace, I'm not afraid of getting hurt anyway. At worst, I'll just try a few more times. I'll manage to create my own Soul Skills eventually.
At this thought, Lu Chen gradually formed a plan in his mind.
Just as he was about to turn and leave, he looked again at the fallen Cloud Mist Tea Tree:
"A four-thousand-year Cloud Mist Tea Tree is worth at least four hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins. Unfortunately, what I need right now isn't Gold Soul Coins, but a suitable Second Spirit Ring."
"That was why I could only cut you down. But these tea leaves can't go to waste. Once I leave Star Dou Forest, they'll still be quite precious. I can give them to Mom and Dad, Grandpa Old Jack, and the teachers at Nuoding Academy."
With that, Lu Chen walked over to the fallen Cloud Mist Tea Tree and began picking the tenderest leaves from its top.
Lu Chen spent three days giving the freshly picked, tender tea leaves some simple processing.
Unfortunately, he was no tea maker and did not know how to process Cloud Mist Tea properly. As a result, the Cloud Mist Tea he processed was of middling quality at best, greatly reducing its final value.
Lu Chen sighed repeatedly:
"What a shame. What a terrible shame!"
With this regret in his heart, Lu Chen took a large bundle of Cloud Mist Tea and left Lakeheart Island. Shouldering his pack once more, he began searching for the next Spirit Beast suited to him.
Searching for a suitable Spirit Beast could never be smooth sailing. Only by spending a great deal of time and energy could one hope to find a suitable Spirit Beast in Star Dou Forest, where danger lurked on every side.
Before he knew it, over another month had passed. Besides searching for Spirit Beasts in Star Dou Forest, Lu Chen began making deliberate attempts to create his own Soul Skills.
Whether it was Blue Silver Grass's entanglement techniques or the techniques of compressing and releasing Soul Power, he slowly began to grasp a little of how they worked. He simply lacked practical experience and could not be certain whether they were feasible.
Just then, on a hillside in Star Dou Forest, Lu Chen actually discovered a Sun-Facing Flower standing 1.8 meters tall.
Watching the sunflower-like Plant Spirit Beast from afar, Lu Chen could not help showing a trace of joy:
"A Sun-Facing Flower. Once the sun rises during the day, its flower head keeps facing the sun, absorbing and storing its energy. After sunset, the Sun-Facing Flower falls asleep, but the solar energy stored during the day can form a Blazing Sun Shield."
"Isn't that exactly the shield skill I want? And judging by its size, this Sun-Facing Flower has at least eight thousand years of cultivation, which is also within the age range I can absorb."
For his first and Second Spirit Rings, Lu Chen had absorbed the Spirit Rings of a thousand-year Red Blood Grass and a four-thousand-year Cloud Mist Tea Tree, respectively.
Since he had successfully absorbed those Millennium Spirit Rings, Lu Chen was also confident that he could successfully absorb this eight-thousand-year Sun-Facing Flower's Spirit Ring.
After deciding to hunt this Sun-Facing Flower for his Third Spirit Ring, Lu Chen set down the pack on his back and walked toward it.
It was still broad daylight, with a blazing sun hanging high in the sky. The Sun-Facing Flower's head faced the sun, and it was at its most active.
Lu Chen approached the Sun-Facing Flower, and the Sun-Facing Flower noticed him.
The Sun-Facing Flower was no delicate Red Blood Grass or Cloud Mist Tea Tree. It possessed considerable strength.
Perhaps sensing Lu Chen's killing intent, the Sun-Facing Flower's head trembled slightly, then turned toward him.
At the sight, Lu Chen immediately grew wary.
Sure enough, in the very next instant, the Sun-Facing Flower shot three Explosive Seeds from its flower head straight at Lu Chen.
Lu Chen's gaze sharpened, and he reacted immediately, pushing off hard to leap sideways and dodge the three Explosive Seeds.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The three Explosive Seeds landed where Lu Chen had been standing and instantly erupted in three explosions. Scorching flame energy raged outward, blasting the area for several meters around into a charred patch.
The little flowers and grasses on the ground quickly caught fire in the explosions, and before long, they had turned into ashes scattered across the ground.
At this sight, surprise appeared on Lu Chen's face. Everything he knew about Sun-Facing Flowers came from the explanations of Nuoding Academy's teachers.
Only now, seeing a Sun-Facing Flower firsthand, did he discover to his surprise that it was even more formidable than he had imagined.
If an attack like those Explosive Seeds struck him head-on, it would probably burn him in an instant.
Although surprised by the Sun-Facing Flower's power, Lu Chen had not the slightest intention of retreating. Its Explosive Seeds were just right for training his movement techniques.
The next instant, the Sun-Facing Flower shot another five Explosive Seeds from its flower head.
Lu Chen quickly bent his knees slightly, circulating his Soul Power down to his feet and continuously compressing it in his soles.
Then, like a rocket firing, he released the compressed Soul Power.
However, in a moment of carelessness, the compressed Soul Power exploded. Although the force launched him away, he had no control whatsoever over the direction.
The exploding Soul Power even blasted the soles of his feet into a bloody mess. Heart-piercing pain shot straight to the crown of his head, making him bare his teeth in agony.
With a bang, Lu Chen slammed into the ground after being launched away. He rolled several times before finally coming to a stop.
Despite its various flaws, no matter what, releasing the compressed Soul Power had still launched him away, allowing him to dodge the five Explosive Seeds successfully.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
Five explosions rang out one after another, and the waves of flame they stirred up left Lu Chen covered in soot and dust.
His clothes were scorched black. Already tattered, they now had holes of all sizes burned through them by the drifting sparks. His hair had been roasted somewhat dry, and his face was flushed red from the heat.
Lu Chen paid none of this any mind. He looked at the Sun-Facing Flower with a resolute expression:
"Again! As long as I try a few more times, I'll definitely master this 'Explosive Step'!"