First Soul Skill, Soul Bone Skill: Godspeed

Han Yu stretched his aching body, his tone joyful: "Teacher, I succeeded. A thousand-year spirit ring."

Gu Rong waved his hand at these words: "Go on, go on. You've forgotten the pain the moment the wound healed, haven't you?"

He paused, his tone tinged with curiosity: "By the way, what is the first spirit skill of your martial soul?"

"After absorbing the spirit ring, my spirit power reached level thirteen. My first spirit skill is an amplification-type ability that acts upon my martial soul; I call it Thunder Flash. Its effect is to increase both strength and speed by one hundred percent, with no time limit. After activation, I can also consume double the spirit power to transform into an arc of electricity for an instant burst of speed. If I imbue it with my own golden lightning, I can even achieve spatial displacement—it is impossible to guard against, and in the blink of an eye, I can behead an enemy with a single sword strike."

Gu Rong's face showed disbelief as he listened, eyeing Han Yu with a strange expression. He was envious of Han Yu's luck. High-level spirit masters rarely used their early spirit skills in battle precisely because the low age of the rings resulted in insufficient power. Yet, Han Yu's first spirit skill was a percentage-based amplification identical to the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda, and at a full one hundred percent at that. One had to realize that even Ning Fengzhi, known as the number one support, could only manage seventy percent. Even if it were limited to just strength and speed, it was still a rare, top-tier spirit skill in this world.

"A very powerful spirit skill—winning by surprise, killing with a single blow," Chen Xin said, his eyes bright with praise. Tool-type martial souls were different from others; half the strength of a top-tier tool spirit master came from the power of the martial soul, and the other half from the master's own insight. This type of self-amplifying spirit skill was perfectly suited for his Chen Xin Sword Path. By constantly honing sword techniques and discarding external forces, Chen Xin was very satisfied, nodding repeatedly.

"Alright, let's find a place to rest for the night," Gu Rong said. He estimated the time and realized it was a bit rushed to head back now; besides, Han Yu had just gone through a grueling battle and needed rest. Chen Xin nodded in agreement, and the two men each took one person and flew rapidly toward the outer perimeter of the Star Dou Forest.

Before long, they arrived at an open space near the territory of spirit masters, where no spirit beasts would wander. Gu Rong took several tents from his spirit storage device and set to work building them. "Teacher, let me help you." Gu Rong turned back, looking puzzled and confused. Han Yu smiled and set up several formations from his memory around them. A milky-white spirit power barrier appeared above the four of them, acting like a giant tent that isolated all outside sounds; if viewed from the outside, this place would look like nothing more than an empty patch of grass.

A fire rose from a pit in the ground. Gu Rong nodded involuntarily and quickly finished setting up the three tents. He took pre-packaged food from his spirit storage—three vegetable dishes and one meat soup—and set them on an iron rack over the fire to heat. The delicious broth began to bubble as time passed, and a rich, savory aroma filled the air. Ning Rongrong and Han Yu sat to one side, picking up their bowls to taste it. Han Yu took only one sip and felt his entire body lighten, the soreness in his muscles easing.

"I added some medicinal herbs," Gu Rong said, smiling like a kind grandfather. Chen Xin and Gu Rong exchanged a glance, nodded slightly, and said to Han Yu: "Han Yu, you obtained a spirit bone, didn't you?"

"Yes, Teacher, I obtained a skull spirit bone." Han Yu had anticipated this and turned his head to answer. He met Chen Xin's calm gaze, which was clear and devoid of any ulterior motives. Han Yu did not worry that his two teachers would have any ill intentions; although a spirit bone was extremely precious, it could not compare to the value of a genius disciple like himself.

"As far as I know, if a spirit beast's spirit bone and spirit ring are absorbed by the same spirit master, the spirit skill will be strengthened. Your spirit skill should be the result of that, but what about your spirit bone skill?" Chen Xin held up two fingers, pressed one back down, and asked. Ning Rongrong was busy savoring the meat soup when she heard the mention of a spirit bone; she grew excited, and the scalding bowl slipped from her hand.

Han Yu, who was about to answer and explain, felt golden arcs of electricity flash across his eyes. He watched the bowl move through the air frame by frame, his entire body moving as if in slow motion as he twisted and slowly raised his right hand, bracing himself. The next instant, everything returned to normal. Yet, Han Yu felt a blur before his eyes; the bowl he had been staring at had vanished, and he had rushed in front of Ning Rongrong, his right hand suspended in mid-air.

Ning Rongrong sat up straight, not saying a word to Han Yu, who was almost pressed against her; she simply kept her eyes darting to the side in a panic. She, who was always a clean freak, surprisingly did not react this time, appearing somewhat at a loss instead. Chen Xin handed the meat soup, not a drop of which had spilled, back to Ning Rongrong with a doting smile on his face.

"It seems we were not wrong before; this is your spirit bone skill," Chen Xin said with a smile, his tone full of confidence. When Han Yu had finished absorbing the ring earlier, his body had been completely still, yet his eyes had met theirs in an incredibly short amount of time—this defied common sense. No matter the level of a spirit master, physical fitness and reaction times did not differ drastically; it was impossible for the mind to react while the body failed to keep up. Only Han Yu's spirit bone skill, which temporarily boosted his reactions, could explain it.

"Teachers, you really are amazing. This is indeed the Godspeed skill granted to me by the Thunder Tiger Skull. When activated, the speed of objects I see slows down by half. Aside from that, it also increased my mental power, by about two times," Han Yu said with an embarrassed smile. He had intended to use that moment to show off to his two teachers, but he hadn't expected that he wouldn't even see the shadow of their movements.

"Hahaha, with us here, is it really your turn to protect Rongrong?" Gu Rong, standing to the side, wore a smile as he spoke with a pointed meaning. "Han Yu, as a tool spirit master, your physical fitness is your weakness. You must practice diligently and not waste the skill this spirit bone has given you, otherwise, next time you will only be able to stand by and watch the opportunity slip right before your eyes."

Ning Rongrong glared fiercely at Gu Rong, burying her head low with a flushed face.

"Han Yu, Old Bone is right; physical fitness and reaction speed are both indispensable. Once your body can keep up with the reflexes you just displayed, no soul master of the same rank should be your match." Chen Xin set aside a portion of the warmed meal and handed it to Han Yu.

"Yes, I will definitely train hard when I return." Han Yu took it with both hands and nodded vigorously.

"Rongrong, the same goes for you. You will reach level ten soul power before long, and your absorption of a soul ring will be much easier if your physical fitness is stronger." Chen Xin turned his head, his voice turning serious.

"Alright, Rongrong knows." Being singled out, Ning Rongrong pouted, tapping her two index fingers together in front of her chest.

Han Yu's eyes flickered slightly. Thinking of Ning Rongrong's background—born into nobility with no shortage of resources—yet showing such mediocre soul power upon entering Shrek, he suspected she had likely spent her days playing instead of cultivating.

At this thought, the corners of Han Yu's mouth curled up. He quickly finished the food in his bowl and tapped the ground a few times in the air.

The concentration of soul power in the surroundings slowly rose, converging toward Han Yu and Ning Rongrong.

Han Yu sat cross-legged, closed his eyes, and began to cultivate.

Chen Xin and Gu Rong narrowed their eyes, slowly turning their gaze toward Ning Rongrong, who was still eating in small bites.