On Yun Tian's side, he and Dean Yuan Hua walked through the Soul Hunting Forest. Compared to the Star Dou Forest, the vegetation here was much like that of an ordinary small woodland, lacking the former's primordial aura.
At that moment, Yun Tian spotted a pale green bamboo stalk beside the path. Was this the "soul beast" Gangzi had personally praised?
Noticing Yun Tian's gaze, Yuan Hua patiently explained, "This is a Ten-Year Solitary Bamboo. Its defining trait is toughness, but I don't believe anyone would choose a soul beast like this."
"After all, anyone who comes here to hunt soul beasts is surely aiming for a hundred-year one."
Yun Tian nodded and continued deeper into the forest with Yuan Hua. The soul beasts here were still relatively low-level; to find one with a better cultivation age, they had to venture farther in.
After walking for some time.
Rustle!
"Stop."
Yuan Hua raised a hand to signal him not to move, then summoned his Harpoon Martial Soul, his gaze warily fixed on the bushes not far away.
Even as a Soul Ancestor, he still had to be cautious in a place like this.
Then, under their watchful eyes, a strangely shaped little dragon slowly crawled out.
It was over three meters long, its entire body covered in dark bluish-green scales that gleamed with a cold, metallic sheen.
Its head was long and sharply contoured. From its forehead all the way to its tailbone ran a raised, straight bony ridge like a long spear. Its limbs were thick and powerful, and every step left claw marks in the ground.
"This is an Iron-Spine Dragon Spear Beast!"
Yun Tian's words delighted Yuan Hua. They had found one so easily? Their luck really was good.
Without hesitation, Yun Tian activated Destiny's Eye. The next second, the Iron-Spine Dragon Spear Beast's attributes appeared.
[Purple · Earth Dragon Spear Bone], [Purple · Gather Strength, Conceal Edge], [Blue · Hundred Years of Bitter Cultivation], [Blue · Devotion]
[Purple · Earth Dragon Spear Bone: Possesses a pure Earth Dragon Bloodline and an exceptionally powerful body. Can serve as a vessel for a spear-type Martial Soul.]
[Purple · Gather Strength, Conceal Edge: Conceals its own aura and does not casually leak Soul Power. Extremely suited for forging a restrained, weighty foundation in the way of the spear.]
[Blue · Hundred Years of Bitter Cultivation: Has cultivated for four hundred and fifty-three years.]
[Blue · Devotion: A pack-type soul beast. When necessary, it will cover its pack's retreat.]
[Note: Aside from a very small number of special soul beasts, soul beasts below a thousand years old cannot innately possess gold-tier or higher attributes!]
Looking at the Iron-Spine Dragon Spear Beast's attributes, excitement flashed through Yun Tian's eyes. As expected of the soul beast most suited to the Sky-Piercing Spear—even its attributes were largely related to spears.
And... could that blue Devotion attribute be manipulated somehow?
"Modify Devotion. Change 'devote' to 'sacrifice.'"
An imperceptible light flashed from the Iron-Spine Dragon Spear Beast's body. Then, before Yun Tian's eyes, that blue attribute slowly turned gold.
[Gold · Sacrifice: Sacrifice oneself to fulfill another.]
Those simple eight words completely changed the way the Iron-Spine Dragon Spear Beast looked at Yun Tian and Yuan Hua. Its eyes were filled with recognition and hope.
It spread its claws and slowly walked toward Yun Tian, its body glowing with an earthy yellow light.
"Xiao Tian, be careful!"
Yuan Hua did not know what was happening, but he instinctively stepped in front of Yun Tian. Four Soul Rings—yellow, yellow, purple, purple—appeared beneath his feet.
"No need to worry. It plans to sacrifice itself."
"Sacrifice itself?"
Yuan Hua was stunned. A soul beast they had never met was actually going to sacrifice itself directly for Yun Tian. What incredible fortune!
Yet he did not relax or withdraw his Martial Soul and Soul Rings. He knew of sacrifices, but witnessing one in person was still deeply shocking.
Yun Tian was also quite moved. This Iron-Spine Dragon Spear Beast happened to possess the Devotion attribute; another soul beast might not have had it at all.
That was what gave Yun Tian the opportunity to modify it.
The Sky-Piercing Spear emerged from Yun Tian's body, shining with golden streams of light as it stood upright before him.
The Iron-Spine Dragon Spear Beast's body slowly vanished, transforming into a mass of earthy yellow energy.
As the earthy yellow energy continuously poured into Yun Tian's body, a yellow Soul Ring spun beneath his feet, finally condensing successfully.
A heavy force like a mountain pressing down surged through his meridians. There was no sharp tearing pain, only layer upon layer of crushing weight. The essence of earth and rock, along with the edge of refined iron, flowed through his meridians and gathered in his palm before pouring into the Sky-Piercing Spear.
Boom!
The spear shaft trembled slightly, as though it had gained a deeper foundation—restrained, suppressive, and steady.
Picking up the Sky-Piercing Spear, Yun Tian slowly exhaled a breath of stale air. After absorbing this Soul Ring, he had reached level thirteen. His first Soul Skill was called Clouds Hang Low.
"Xiao Tian, how did it go?"
Yuan Hua's concerned voice came from beside him. Yun Tian's aura while absorbing the Soul Ring had been incredibly powerful. Was this the strength of a Mutated Martial Soul?
"I've reached level thirteen, and I've unlocked a very good Soul Skill."
The yellow Soul Ring beneath his feet flickered faintly.
A restrained yet impossible-to-ignore spear intent radiated from Yun Tian's body.
"First Soul Skill, Clouds Hang Low!"
The spear shaft dipped slightly, gathering all Soul Power within the spear without allowing even a trace of sharpness to escape. With a sweeping strike forward, a faint blue-gray wave of air visible to the naked eye spread outward in all directions.
It was incredibly fast.
It also carried a faint suppressive force.
The branches of nearby trees sank slightly under that force, and the fallen leaves were swiftly pressed to the ground.
If used in a spirit battle arena, this Soul Skill's range would cover half the field.
Whether rocks or trees, anything within the area that came into contact with the wave of air was instantly severed at the waist.
Clouds Hang Low swept out a field of force. The objects around it were instantly pressed taut, while a faint suppressive force arose within the area, making it difficult for living beings inside to leap into the air. It felt as though an invisible weight had been placed beneath their feet.
As for the wave of air, it was an attack formed from the spear intent of Clouds Hang Low and Soul Power.
"If I have no anti-air attack, then I'll make sure none of you can take flight!"
This trait was extremely powerful. The core of Clouds Hang Low lay in those six words: unable to leap into the air. It was practically the nemesis of flying Soul Masters.
The Sky-Piercing Spear's original trait was aerial suppression, and this trait could further strengthen that foundation.
It imposed gravitational suppression on top of preventing flight.
Looking around, Yun Tian saw that every tree within the range of Clouds Hang Low had fallen, all broken at the exact same point.
Yuan Hua had witnessed the entire process. He did not understand spears, but was that range and power normal? There was also that sensation as though his legs had been bound. He had been within the area too; although he could still move, he had indeed been affected.
"Xiao Tian, your Soul Skill is simply astonishing. And this is only a hundred-year Soul Ring."
"I still have to thank you for accompanying me here, Dean. Otherwise, I wouldn't have been able to obtain such a compatible Soul Ring."
Yuan Hua laughed heartily. This kid truly had a way with words. The soul beast had clearly sacrificed itself, yet Yun Tian still did not forget to thank him for his help.
Neither arrogant nor impetuous, humble and courteous—his character was completely unlike those geniuses who became contemptuous of everyone else the moment they gained talent.
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