Soul Skill Selection

Next, Yang Xing led Ning Rongrong through the twisting streets and alleys of Soto City.

The alleys of Soto City grew narrower and narrower.

Ning Rongrong lifted the hem of her skirt as she followed behind Yang Xing, passing through one unfamiliar alley after another. Her expression grew increasingly sour.

"Where exactly are you taking me?"

Keeping a safe distance of five or six meters behind Yang Xing, Ning Rongrong found the large and small bags in her hands so cumbersome that she wanted to toss them by the roadside. But these were the possessions of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's young miss. She could not throw them away.

Yang Xing walked ahead at an unhurried pace.

"I'm taking you to where I live." Without looking back, Yang Xing spoke as if it were only natural. "There are fewer people there. Easier to talk."

Ning Rongrong stopped.

She stopped completely.

In that instant, the way she looked at Yang Xing changed, as though she were looking at a pile of roadside filth.

"You—"

Her voice rose a full octave.

"You wouldn't happen to think this young miss is naturally beautiful and brilliant, and actually want to do something improper to me, would you?"

One hand on her hip, Ning Rongrong pointed the bags in her other hand at the back of Yang Xing's head. The disgust in her eyes and brows was so thick it seemed ready to drip.

"What the hell are you dreaming of?"

Yang Xing did not stop walking.

Listening to the outrageous words behind him, a thought flashed through his mind—just like in the novels from before he transmigrated. Ning Rongrong might only be twelve, but the things she said were bolder than what many adults would say. Who had taught her that? Did the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's family education include this?

"Miss Ning." Yang Xing spoke calmly without turning around. "Since we met, you've said at least seven or eight inappropriate things, haven't you?"

He raised a finger and waved it through the air.

"I haven't said a single one."

"If anyone has improper intentions—it should be you, Young Miss Ning Rongrong, shouldn't it?"

Ning Rongrong's lips moved, but the words at the tip of her tongue were choked back.

For a moment, she was at a loss for words. But she quickly resumed her haughty expression and let out a cold snort through her nose.

"That's because this young miss is straightforward." She raised her chin. "Who knows if you're one of those gloomy creeps who hides a whole mess of thoughts beneath a harmless exterior?"

After saying that, she watched Yang Xing's back as he kept walking forward without any intention of stopping. She paced in place twice before gritting her teeth and following him anyway.

As the two ventured deeper into the city, their surroundings began to change.

The bustling main streets gave way to remote alleyways, and neat stone paving gave way to uneven dirt roads. The buildings on both sides became increasingly dilapidated, with peeling walls and crooked eaves. From time to time, a few stray cats darted through the crumbling ruins.

Ning Rongrong began to walk more carefully.

She tiptoed as though stepping on something filthy. Her delicate little face scrunched up, and she pinched her nose between her thumb and forefinger.

"What kind of hellhole do you live in?" Her voice was thick and nasal. "Why haven't we arrived after walking this far?"

"We're almost there."

Yang Xing's voice came from ahead, as perfunctory as could be.

"Just another seven or eight turns."

"Seven or eight turns?!"

Ning Rongrong nearly tripped over a raised piece of gravel. She was so furious that she wanted to throw the bags in her hands at him.

But what she did not know was that Yang Xing, walking ahead of her, had already stopped paying attention to this road.

All of his attention was immersed in the system panel floating in his field of vision, visible only to him.

Time waited for no one.

He was claiming the reward in these shabby alleys partly because Ning Rongrong might have hidden guards nearby. He needed to get his strength in hand before reaching his home. Otherwise, if those guards attacked him, he would not even have the right to fight back.

On the other hand, once they got inside, he would need something to back up his attempt to persuade Ning Rongrong.

He had been bluffing with nothing but words for so long. If he did not show her something real, he probably would not be able to convince her.

He needed strength.

Immediately. At once.

With a thought, Yang Xing opened the system inventory.

Inside lay a ball of light, above which floated several large golden words—[Level 99 Ultimate Title Douluo Cultivation Set].

He tapped to claim it.

[Ding! Would you like to use it?]

Yes.

The next moment, a translucent blue selection screen appeared before him.

One line was written clearly upon it: [Please customize your soul skills before proceeding with cultivation infusion.]

Yang Xing's thoughts stirred.

"I can define these soul skills however I want?"

[Ding! Yes, Host. You may customize soul skills in any form, including but not limited to any power system or anime ability known from your previous life. Original designs are also permitted. The system will adapt them accordingly.]

Yang Xing could not resist running his mouth.

"System, you're still here? Didn't you say you'd disappear once I completed the mission?"

He remembered it clearly. The system intelligence had said before that it would disappear after he took in his first disciple and completed the initial mission. Ning Rongrong had already signed the contract, so why had this thing not left yet?

[Ding! Host, I will only completely fulfill my mission and disappear after assisting you in using the mission reward in full for the first time. This is my final service.]

This was the last time.

Yang Xing's mind fell silent for a moment.

Then, in his mind, he put on an exaggerated expression of utter grief.

"Oh? Hearing you say that, I really am a little reluctant to let you go. You've been with me for ten years, after all. Leaving just like that is a little too heartless."

[Ding! Thank you very much for your reluctance, Host. I have also been very happy during these ten years accompanying you. I believe that you will only grow stronger in the future and reach the pinnacle of life!]

Yang Xing scoffed disdainfully in his mind.

"Getting sentimental right at the end, are you?"

But insults aside, an indescribable melancholy truly rose from the depths of his heart.

Ten years.

Though this system intelligence was stupid and loved to brag, it truly was the only existence in this world that knew everything about his past. His transmigration, his previous life, all the thoughts he could not tell anyone else—only this system had heard them.

From now on, he really would be alone.

Melancholy was melancholy.

Yang Xing's steps did not stop. Ten years of hardship had long tempered his character into something far more resilient.

Since the matter was already set in stone, what use was wallowing in sentiment?

Strength was everything.

He gathered his thoughts and continued.

"What is my soul ring configuration?"

[Ding! The Host's soul rings are the most perfect standard configuration: yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black, black, red. Nine rings in total. They are—first soul ring: 999 years; second soul ring: 999 years; third soul ring: 9,999 years; fourth soul ring: 9,999 years; fifth soul ring: 99,999 years; sixth soul ring: 99,999 years; seventh soul ring: 99,999 years; eighth soul ring: 99,999 years; ninth soul ring: 199,999 years. All are at the maximum age for their respective colors.]

Yang Xing looked at the information.

To be honest, compared with the protagonists in those novels he had read, whose first soul rings were often hundred-thousand-year rings and whose later rings were hundreds of thousands or even millions of years old, this was not particularly exaggerated.

But it was enough.

He had gotten it for free. Pure profit without investment.

Besides, he clearly remembered that Douluo Continent had plenty of opportunities to improve soul ring quality. Title Douluo Deep Sea Silver Mother, the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, all manner of heavenly treasures.

With his foreknowledge, Yang Xing could simply take it slow.

Most importantly, this set of soul rings was absolutely in a class of its own in the current Douluo Continent.

There was no second.

"What about my martial soul? Is it still that little wooden stick?"

This was what Yang Xing cared about most. As the future youngest Title Douluo on the continent, if he still had to show his face with a little wooden stick as his martial soul, where would his dignity go?

[Ding! The martial soul will undergo adaptive enhancement after cultivation infusion. Its form will automatically adjust according to the soul skill system chosen by the Host.]

Adaptive enhancement.

Fine. As long as it was not a little wooden stick.

Yang Xing relaxed and began seriously considering his soul skill selection.

This was of the utmost importance. The seventh of his nine soul rings was the fixed Martial Soul Avatar, so there was no need to choose it. The remaining eight soul rings corresponded to eight soul skills. He had to choose the power system that suited him best.

A series of powerful abilities from memories of his previous life flashed through his mind.

The Eight Extraordinary Skills? The Twelve Talismans? Devil Fruits? All kinds of heaven-defying abilities from Chinese and Japanese anime?

Yang Xing hesitated for a few seconds before finally settling on two choices.

Under One Person—the Eight Extraordinary Skills.

Jackie Chan Adventures—the Twelve Talismans.