Wood Azure Dragon Break

After a long while, inside the cave.

Zhao Linchuan sat cross-legged on the ground, the invisible fluctuations of Soul Power around him gradually settling.

A thin layer of grime seeped from his skin, clinging stickily to his body and giving off a faint sour odor.

"Phew—"

Zhao Linchuan slowly opened his eyes.

"This Blue Silver Emperor Spirit Bone really is extraordinary."

He lowered his head to look at his hands and said to himself in delight:

"Not only did it help me open up the Eight Extraordinary Meridians, but its remaining power directly helped me break through to level sixteen Soul Power!"

He clenched his fist, feeling the surging Soul Power within him.

That full, vigorous sensation made his entire body feel lighter.

Six years old, level sixteen!

This starting point already far surpassed that of most Soul Masters his age!

He rose to his feet, dusted the dirt and grime from himself, and walked toward the excavated pit.

"I should leave first. This is not a place to linger."

"Once I find somewhere safe, I can carefully sense the surprises Ah Yin's Soul Ring has brought me."

He bent down and squeezed into the narrow passage, crawling out on his hands and knees.

Outside the waterfall.

The sun shone brightly, while mist filled the air.

Xiao Wu was squatting boredly beside the pool, holding a round little pebble and listlessly tossing it into the water.

The pebble struck the surface, splashing up a small spray and sending ripples outward.

Her lips moved as she muttered something under her breath, though it was impossible to make out what.

When she heard movement from the rock wall behind her, she hurriedly stood up, patted the dust from her skirt, and turned around.

"Oh my god, you finally came out!"

Xiao Wu planted her hands on her hips, puffed out her cheeks, and glared at him resentfully.

"I've waited so long the flowers have wilted!"

"Do you know how long you were in there?"

"My legs went numb from squatting here!"

Zhao Linchuan carefully made his way over along the slippery rock wall without slowing down, replying casually:

"I took a nap and lost track of time."

"Come on, follow me. I'll treat you to a carrot feast."

"Aren't you going to wash up?" Xiao Wu covered her nose and stepped back, her brows knitting together. "You smell sour. You stink!"

"I'll wash later. I'm afraid of catching a chill." As he spoke, he reached out, grabbed Xiao Wu by the wrist, and pulled her forward. "Hurry up. If we're late, we'll miss dinner."

"Hey, hey, hey... slow down!"

Dragged along by him, Xiao Wu staggered after him, her braid swinging back and forth behind her.

"What, are wolves chasing you or something?"

"Slow down!"

"My shoes are about to fall off!"

Zhao Linchuan turned a deaf ear, his feet flying as he pulled her into a jog along the mountain path.

The sunset was infinitely beautiful.

Zhao Linchuan pulled Xiao Wu all the way to a stream.

The water was crystal clear, its bed covered in smooth pebbles. The stream babbled pleasantly as it flowed.

Zhao Linchuan took off his clothes and jumped into the stream, shivering at the icy water.

Xiao Wu squatted on the bank with her chin propped in her hands, watching him while occasionally adding a few dry branches to the fire.

Two freshly killed fish were roasting over the flames, their skins lightly charred as fat sizzled from them.

Soaking in the water, Zhao Linchuan washed his clothes while carefully sensing the Soul Ring skill Ah Yin's Soul Ring had granted him.

At the prompting of his thoughts, a flood of information surged into his mind.

It was a dual-purpose skill called Wood Azure Dragon Break.

When facing an enemy, he could unleash an azure-green Wood Azure Dragon from his palm to attack them.

When aiding an ally, it could transform into a healing rain that restored injuries and vitality.

One offensive and one defensive, one forceful and one gentle—it had endless applications.

It could be said that the soul skill produced by this Soul Ring had not disappointed Ah Yin's status in the slightest.

He sensed the circulation of Soul Power within his body and quietly calculated.

For a powerful Martial Soul like the Wood Azure Dragon, the skills produced by its Soul Rings were almost always fixed. The only differences lay in the strength of the skill and any additional variations it might develop.

"I'm already level sixteen." He silently calculated. "How should I choose my next Soul Ring?"

"Should I find a Soul Beast with a metal attribute to serve as my Soul Ring, or..."

(See the ending for Soul Rings.)

"Are you done washing yet?"

Xiao Wu's voice came from the bank some distance away, carrying a trace of complaint.

"You said you'd treat me to a carrot feast, but instead you dragged me out into these mountains to eat grilled fish."

"I even caught these fish myself, and after catching them, I had to grill them myself too. Hmph!"

Zhao Linchuan came back to his senses, wrung out his dripping clothes, scrubbed them clean in a few quick motions, then stood up from the water and walked barefoot toward the shore.

"I'm done."

"Huh—?"

Xiao Wu watched him emerge naked from the water, blinking as her gaze drifted downward. Tilting her head, she asked innocently:

"What's that?"

"Why don't I have one?"

Following her gaze, Zhao Linchuan looked down, then replied irritably, "You'll know what it is when you're older."

He draped his wet clothes over a stone beside the coals to dry slowly in the warmth of the fire. Then he plopped down beside Xiao Wu, picked up a roasted fish, blew on it, and took a bite.

"We'll make do with this today," Zhao Linchuan said through a mouthful of fish. "Tomorrow, I'll take you to have a carrot feast."

"You can't lie to me again this time." Xiao Wu muttered, "If you trick me again, I won't be your little sister anymore."

"Don't worry." Zhao Linchuan reached out and rubbed Xiao Wu's cheek. "Next time, for sure."

Xiao Wu's face was rubbed out of shape, and she made a couple of muffled "mmph" sounds.

"Take your hand off...!"

The next day, in a small town far from Holy Soul Village.

The streets were bustling with people.

Zhao Linchuan and Xiao Wu sat inside a dessert shop.

Xiao Wu was stuffing herself with the pastries on the plate before her. Every now and then, she picked up her cup and gulped down some water to wash it down before lowering her head and continuing to eat.

Sitting across from her, Zhao Linchuan watched the crowds passing along the street, his gaze somewhat unfocused as his mind rapidly worked through his plans.

According to his plan, he intended to head near Sunset Forest and settle down in a village.

It was close to the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well, which would allow him to secretly observe Dugu Bo's routines there, figure out that old poisoner's movements, and find a way to sneak in once the time was right.

But the problem was... he did not have that much money in his pocket.

Leaving aside buying a house and furnishing it, even the travel expenses to Sunset Forest would be difficult to afford.

Even if he and Xiao Wu went to Spirit Hall to register as Soul Masters and collect the Soul Master subsidy, that little money would only barely cover their daily needs. They would never be able to save any of it.

After all, "staying alive," "making a living," and "living well" were three entirely different concepts.

He had already been reborn—there was no way he was still going to live such a miserable life, right?