Han Yu rolled his aching body, his voice full of delight. "Teacher, I did it. A thousand-year Soul Ring."
Hearing this, Gu Rong waved a hand. "Go on, go on. You've already forgotten the pain now that the scar's healed, have you?"
He paused, curiosity coloring his voice. "By the way, what's the first Soul Skill of your Martial Soul?"
"After absorbing the Soul Ring, my Soul Power reached level thirteen.
"My first Soul Skill is an enhancement skill that works on my Martial Soul. I call it Thunder Flash.
"It increases my strength and speed by one hundred percent, with no time limit.
"After activating it, I can also expend twice the Soul Power to turn into an electric arc and accelerate instantly.
"If I add my own golden lightning, I can even cross space. It's impossible to guard against—one instant, one sword, one head."
Gu Rong listened, looking somewhat incredulous as he sized Han Yu up with a strange gaze.
He was quite envious of Han Yu's luck.
High-level Soul Masters rarely used their first few Soul Skills in battle, simply because low-year Soul Rings lacked power.
Han Yu's first Soul Skill was actually a percentage-based enhancement, just like the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda's—and it boosted him by a full one hundred percent. Even Ning Fengzhi, hailed as the greatest support Soul Master, could only manage seventy percent. Though it enhanced only strength and speed, it was still an exceptionally rare Soul Skill.
"An immensely powerful Soul Skill. It can catch your opponent off guard and kill with a single strike." Chen Xin's eyes shone as he praised it.
Tool Martial Souls were different from other Martial Souls. Half of a top weapon Soul Master's strength came from the power of his Martial Soul, and the other half from his own insight.
A Soul Skill that enhanced Han Yu himself suited the Chen Xin Sword Path perfectly. He could continually hone his swordsmanship and cast aside external forces. Chen Xin was very pleased, nodding again and again.
"All right, let's find somewhere to rest for the night," Gu Rong said.
He estimated that the return journey would be a bit rushed. Besides, Han Yu had just been through a fierce battle and needed to rest.
Chen Xin nodded in agreement. The two of them each took one of the others and sped toward the outskirts of Star Dou Forest.
Before long, they reached an open patch of ground. It was close to the Soul Master territory, so no Soul Beasts would come around.
Gu Rong took several tents from the Soul Tool at his waist and set about putting them up.
"Teacher, let me help."
Gu Rong turned around, puzzled.
Han Yu smiled and arranged several formations he remembered around them.
A milky-white Soul Power barrier appeared above the four of them, like a huge tent that shut out all sounds from the outside. From the outside, the spot looked like nothing but an empty patch of grass.
A ball of fire rose from a hollow in the ground.
Gu Rong nodded in spite of himself and quickly set up three tents.
He took out the packed food from his Soul Tool: three dishes and a meat soup. He set an iron rack over the fire and warmed the food.
As time passed, the savory soup began to bubble, and its rich aroma wafted through the air.
Ning Rongrong and Han Yu sat to one side and picked up their bowls to taste it.
After just one sip, Han Yu felt his whole body relax, and the soreness in his muscles ease.
"I added some medicinal ingredients to the food." Gu Rong smiled like a kindly old grandfather.
Chen Xin and Gu Rong exchanged a glance and nodded lightly. Chen Xin turned to Han Yu. "Han Yu, you obtained a Soul Bone, didn't you?"
"Yes, teacher. I obtained a Head Soul Bone." Han Yu had expected the question. He turned his head and answered.
He met Chen Xin's open gaze. Chen Xin's eyes were clear, without a trace of ulterior motive.
Han Yu wasn't worried that either teacher had ill intentions. A Soul Bone was precious, but not as valuable as a genius disciple like him.
"As far as I know, when one Soul Master absorbs both the Soul Bone and Soul Ring of the same Soul Beast, the Soul Skill is enhanced. That should be what happened with your skill. So what's your Soul Bone Skill?" Chen Xin held up two fingers, folded one down, and asked.
Ning Rongrong was savoring her meat soup in small sips. At the mention of a Soul Bone, she got a little excited, and the scalding bowl slipped in her hands.
As Han Yu prepared to explain, golden arcs of lightning flashed in his eyes. His gaze tracked the bowl through the air frame by frame. His whole body seemed to slow as he twisted around and gradually raised his right hand, ready to catch it.
The next instant, everything returned to normal.
But Han Yu's vision blurred. The bowl he'd been staring at had vanished, and he found himself in front of Ning Rongrong, his right hand suspended in midair.
Ning Rongrong sat up straight. She said nothing to Han Yu, who was almost pressed against her, and could only glance around in a panic.
She was usually a neat freak, but, surprisingly, she didn't fly into a fit this time. Instead, she seemed at a loss.
Chen Xin handed Ning Rongrong her meat soup, without a single drop spilled, and smiled indulgently.
"Looks like we were right. That's your Soul Bone Skill." Chen Xin smiled, his voice full of confidence.
When Han Yu had finished absorbing it earlier, his body had been completely still, yet his eyes had met theirs in an instant. That was impossible by all reason.
At any level, Soul Masters' physical abilities and reactions didn't differ by that much. It wasn't possible for their minds to react while their bodies failed to keep up. The only explanation was that Han Yu's Soul Bone Skill temporarily enhanced his reaction speed.
"Teacher, you're both incredible. This really is the skill the Thunder Tiger Skull gave me: Godspeed. When I activate it, everything I see moves half as fast. It also boosts my mental power, by about two times." Han Yu smiled sheepishly.
He'd wanted to use the opportunity just now to show his two teachers, but he hadn't expected that he wouldn't even catch a glimpse of them making their move.
"Hahaha! With us around, do you think you'll ever need to protect Rongrong?" Gu Rong chuckled, his smile full of meaning. "Han Yu, as a weapon Soul Master, your physical abilities are your weak point.
"You need to train hard. Don't waste the skill this Soul Bone gave you. Otherwise, next time you'll still have to watch your chance slip right past you."
Ning Rongrong glared fiercely at Gu Rong, blushing as she lowered her head.
"Han Yu, Old Bone is right. Physical ability and reaction speed are both essential. Once your body can keep up with the reaction you just showed, I doubt any Soul Master of the same rank will be your match." Chen Xin served out a portion of the reheated food and handed it to Han Yu.
"Yes. I'll make sure to train hard when we get back." Han Yu took it with both hands and nodded firmly.
"Rongrong, the same goes for you. You'll reach level ten Soul Power before long. The stronger your body is, the easier it'll be to absorb a Soul Ring." Chen Xin turned to her, his voice growing stern.
"Fine, Rongrong knows." Ning Rongrong pouted as she was called out, tapping her two index fingers together in front of her chest.
Han Yu's eyes shifted as he thought of Ning Rongrong's circumstances. She came from a noble family and lacked nothing, but her Soul Power level when she enrolled at Shrek had been exceptionally mediocre. She probably spent all her time playing and never trained.
With that thought, the corners of Han Yu's mouth lifted. He quickly finished the food in his bowl, then lightly tapped the ground a few times.
The Soul Power in the surrounding area slowly grew denser, converging around Han Yu and Ning Rongrong.
Han Yu sat cross-legged and closed his eyes to cultivate.
Chen Xin and Gu Rong narrowed their eyes and slowly turned to Ning Rongrong, who was still eating in tiny bites.