You're Making Us Look Dumb!

Ning Yuan opened the Soul Devouring Codex.

On the Douluo Continent, every major power had its own secret techniques that were never passed outside.

Much like the Clear Sky Sect's Clear Sky Nine Absolutes.

This manual was a secret technique Bibi Dong had created based on her own traits.

Such a secret technique was not meant to be shared, yet she had passed it on to him. It seemed she truly intended to nurture him as her disciple.

In that case, he should live up to her expectations.

The Soul Devouring Codex had three functions.

First, it plundered the ambient energy in the surroundings, including but not limited to Soul Power, death energy, and killing intent. Its cultivation speed was twenty to thirty percent faster than ordinary meditation techniques, and in dark environments, it could reach forty to sixty percent.

Second, the devoured energy was refined through special pathways, tempering the body in reverse. The meridians were repeatedly forged and gradually expanded, while resistance to toxins and abnormal conditions continuously increased.

Third, excess devoured energy could be concentrated and released in a short burst, forming an assimilating force field that covered the entire body. At the same time, the power of poison-type soul skills increased, and upon making contact with a target, it could siphon a small amount of the opponent's Soul Power and convert it into his own.

Although the Soul Devouring Codex was a secret technique unique to Bibi Dong, his Venom martial soul shared many similarities with her twin spider martial souls. In particular, their application of the paths of "devouring" and "poison" was practically cut from the same cloth.

That was why this secret technique suited him so well.

Ning Yuan sat down cross-legged and reviewed the circulation route of the Soul Devouring Codex in his mind.

The meditation route of this secret technique was exquisitely complex.

Though Soul Power cultivation relied on circulating it through meditation, there were countless intricacies involved.

The route of circulation that made it easier to increase one's strength required great care.

Ordinary meditation techniques merely guided Soul Power in passive cycles through the body, but the first layer of the Soul Devouring Codex required one to construct a devouring vortex within the meridians.

He closed his eyes and circulated his Soul Power according to the manual.

At first, nothing unusual happened. But when his Soul Power traveled along the designated route and reached his dantian, a faint pulling force suddenly formed.

The air around him seemed to grow heavier. Strands of energy were tugged by that suction, slipping through his pores and entering his body.

This energy was mixed and crude, containing floating Soul Power particles from the air and even some deeper, colder sort of aura.

After being refined and filtered through the technique's circulation route, it became pure and absorbable by the time it entered his meridians.

The efficiency truly was nearly thirty percent faster than his usual meditation.

After circulating it through three full cycles, Ning Yuan noticed the effect of the second layer beginning to emerge.

As the impure energy drawn into his body tempered his meridians, it brought a faint stinging pain that soon turned warm.

He could clearly feel his meridians gradually expanding after their inner walls had been washed over again and again.

At the same time, his Venom martial soul seemed to be nourished.

Clearly, this secret technique possessed a natural affinity for poison-type martial souls.

[Wow! Little Ning Yuan, what are you doing? Venom feels like it's taking a bath! It feels so good!]

Venom poked its head out from Ning Yuan's shoulder, wearing a look of utter satisfaction.

Ning Yuan had no time to pay attention to Venom, though an indulgent smile had already appeared at the corner of his lips.

By the time he finished cultivating and opened his eyes, the sky outside the window had already begun to brighten.

Over the course of a single night, the Soul Power within his body had risen noticeably.

Ning Yuan was delighted. At this rate, he would definitely break through to Rank 30 within three months.

Ning Yuan rose to his feet and stretched his limbs.

He had already decided on his next step: he would go to the Great Soul Arena and take part in soul battles.

"Actual combat is the best way to solidify one's foundation. Levels piled up through meditation alone are like castles in the air—they cannot withstand the test of real battle."

"More importantly, I heard that the Great Soul Arena in Spirit City is holding a seasonal tournament. The prize for first place is an External Soul Bone."

An External Soul Bone was even rarer than an ordinary soul bone. It could grow and evolve, making it a supreme treasure coveted in the dreams of countless Soul Masters.

He had to get that soul bone.

After breakfast, Ning Yuan left the residence.

He immediately ran into three people: Hu Liena, Xie Yue, and Yan.

"Morning, little junior brother... No, I should be calling you Holy Son now!"

Hu Liena was the first to tease him.

"Holy Son."

Xie Yue and Yan exchanged a glance, then cupped their fists in greeting as well.

There was no obvious dissatisfaction in their tones, but Ning Yuan could sense something else in their gazes.

After all, they had cultivated in Spirit Hall for many years and were known as the Golden Generation.

Now, a junior brother who had only just arrived had suddenly become the Holy Son, his status placed above theirs.

It would have been a lie to say their hearts were completely unmoved.

At the same time, faint battle intent flickered in both their eyes. So what if he was the Holy Son?

In terms of talent, neither of them was lacking. Strength was what truly mattered.

Ning Yuan saw what was on their minds, but he did not expose it.

"Senior Sister, Senior Brother, you're too polite. Just call me Ning Yuan."

"How could that do? Rules are rules."

"What a coincidence. I ran into Senior Sister the moment I stepped out."

Hu Liena covered her mouth and laughed upon hearing that.

"Did you forget who I am?"

Only then did Ning Yuan recall that Hu Liena was also Spirit Hall's Holy Maiden. Their statuses were equal, so it was perfectly normal for their residences to be next to each other.

"Little Junior Brother, what brings you out so early? Do you have something to do?"

"I do. I'm going to see His Holiness the Pope."

"Oh?" Hu Liena's eyes lit up. "Perfect timing. We were planning to pay our respects to His Holiness too. Why don't we go together?"

Xie Yue casually asked, "Is there something important you need to see His Holiness about, Little Junior Brother?"

Ning Yuan did not hide it. "I want to go to the Great Soul Arena."

The moment he said that, all three of them stopped at once.

"The Great Soul Arena?" Xie Yue frowned slightly. "That isn't a place for fun. It's a place where people gamble with their lives. Why do you suddenly want to go there?"

Yan could not help but cut in, "If you want to cultivate, aren't Spirit Hall's resources enough for you? Why go to a place like that?"

Ning Yuan's expression remained calm. "Cultivating within Spirit Hall will only make me a flower raised in a greenhouse. If I want to truly deserve this position, I need to go out and see blood."

See blood.

Those three words were spoken lightly, yet they plunged all three into silence.

Hu Liena stared blankly at Ning Yuan, with only one thought in her mind.

What kind of place was the Great Soul Arena?

It was a dangerous place where people lived with their heads hanging by a thread.

The Golden Generation had cultivated in Spirit Hall for so many years, yet none of them had ever voluntarily suggested risking their lives in a place like that.

Not Xie Yue, not Yan, and not her, Hu Liena.

Yet this little junior brother had just become the Holy Son, and the first thing he did was apply to train at the Great Soul Arena.

And the tone he used made it sound as though he were merely saying he was going out for a stroll.

You're making the rest of us look pretty pathetic!

Xie Yue narrowed his eyes, his gaze lingering on Ning Yuan's face for a long while.

He had originally wanted to find an opportunity to spar with this new Holy Son and gauge his abilities. He had not expected the other man to head straight for the Great Soul Arena to risk his life.

That courage truly surprised him, though it also earned a measure of his admiration.

Yan smacked his lips, feeling somewhat unsettled.

The Golden Generation had always been the benchmark for Spirit Hall's younger generation. Now that this little junior brother had arrived, the three of them seemed almost too comfortable by comparison.

After several breaths of silence, Hu Liena was the first to speak. "Then I'm going too!"

Xie Yue and Yan froze, then looked at each other.

"Since Little Junior Brother has this much courage, those of us who are his senior brothers and sister can't possibly let ourselves be outdone."

Xie Yue said slowly.

"I'm going too."

"Count me in."

Yan grinned.

"I've been bored lately anyway. Might as well stretch my limbs."