"Sealing Jutsu: Absorption Seal, my ass!" Jiang Lan nearly lost control of his expression after learning the effects of his second Soul Skill.
Wasn't this ridiculously overpowered?
His Innate Domain made him immune to attribute-based attacks, his First Soul Skill made him immune to control and debuffs, and his Second Soul Skill could absorb physical and energy attacks.
What was the difference between this and cheating?
With Jiang Lan's current physical strength, he could completely absorb the attacks of a five-ring Assault System Soul King without taking any damage, convert them into his own Soul Power, and unleash it again.
In other words, all attacks from Soul Masters with five rings or fewer were ineffective against him.
Of course, it was not as though he could not absorb attacks from a six-ring Soul Emperor. It was just that the violent Soul Power might damage his meridians and internal organs, leaving him with severe internal injuries.
Jiang Lan slowly opened his eyes, and his clothes once again felt tight.
He had grown taller and broader. Even his hair had begun changing from black to a pale ice-blue hue.
Tsk, Hormone Continent really was something else. And the edgy hairstyle thing too.
"Lan'er, what is your second Soul Skill?" Shui Qinghan eagerly asked when she saw Jiang Lan awaken from meditation.
"My second Soul Skill is called Restraint. Its effect is..." Jiang Lan briefly explained the effects of Starlight to Shui Qinghan.
"What a terrifying Soul Skill!" Shui Bing'er exclaimed, covering her mouth.
Absorbing another person's Soul Skill, turning it into one's own strength, then sending it back...
Could a Millennium Soul Ring really produce a Soul Skill like this?
With this one Soul Skill alone, who among those at the same level could possibly be Little Junior Brother's match?
"Your second Soul Skill has already placed you in an inherently unbeatable position." After a long silence, Shui Qinghan could not help but comment.
"When you reach Title Rank, I'm afraid no one will be able to stand against you."
As she spoke, Shui Qinghan crouched down again and looked Jiang Lan directly in the eye, her expression solemn as she instructed him.
"Also, do not tell anyone the true effects of your second Soul Skill. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Teacher!" Jiang Lan nodded lightly.
"Mom, I'll keep Little Junior Brother's secret too," Shui Bing'er immediately promised.
"Good~ Bing'er is becoming more and more sensible." Shui Qinghan smiled as she rubbed her daughter's little head.
"Hehe~" Shui Bing'er narrowed her eyes with a smile, then looked at Jiang Lan curiously and asked.
"Little Junior Brother, what is your Soul Power Level now?"
"Level twenty-six." Jiang Lan thought for a moment before answering.
The medicinal power of the Ten-Thousand-Year Whale Glue had raised him by one level, while this six-thousand-year Soul Ring had directly raised him five more levels.
"Level twenty-six?!" Shui Bing'er exclaimed.
Little Junior Brother had only just obtained his second Soul Ring, yet he was already close to level thirty.
"Lan'er, you're not even seven yet, are you?" Shui Qinghan immediately asked.
"Mm, there's still a little over a month left." Jiang Lan nodded.
It had only been a little over ten months since he had transmigrated here—not even a full year.
"A level twenty-six Soul Grandmaster under seven years old!" Shui Qinghan was overjoyed and could not help but laugh.
"By the time you're eight, you'll probably have reached Soul Elder."
An eight-year-old Soul Elder—this would absolutely be an unprecedented achievement.
With such a gifted disciple, how could she, as his teacher, possibly keep herself composed?
By comparison, Bing'er becoming a Soul Grandmaster at eight could only be considered fairly outstanding.
Of course, in ordinary people's eyes, Bing'er's talent was already that of a peerless genius.
"Lan'er, your future cultivation must focus on condensing your Soul Power and building a solid foundation. Do not rush to break through your realm, or you may leave behind hidden dangers. Do you understand?" Shui Qinghan earnestly advised.
"Understood~"
"It's good that you understand." Shui Qinghan smiled faintly and casually rubbed Jiang Lan's head again. "It's getting late. Let's set up camp here and rest for the night. Tomorrow, we'll help Bing'er search for an Ice Spirit Sparrow."
"Okay~" The two answered in unison.
As soon as the words fell, Jiang Lan began digging into the snow.
The snow of the Far North, hardened by years upon years of accumulation, was as soft as mud beneath Jiang Lan's sharp dragon claws. He easily dug out a snow cave large enough to hold three people.
The three entered the snow cave. Shui Qinghan took out a soul-tool lamp and hung it on the snowy wall, illuminating the somewhat dark interior.
Next, Shui Qinghan took cooking utensils, ingredients, and sleeping bags from her storage bracelet. She also sealed the entrance to the snow cave, leaving only a vent for air circulation.
Shui Qinghan simply cooked a pot of meat porridge and shared it with Jiang Lan and Shui Bing'er.
Neither Jiang Lan nor Shui Bing'er was picky. Being able to eat hot food in the Far North was already quite good.
After dinner, Shui Qinghan extinguished the fire, put away the soul-tool lamp from the snow wall, and said.
"You two keep watch for the first half of the night. I'll take the second half."
"Yes, Teacher—Mom~" Jiang Lan and Shui Bing'er replied, then sat cross-legged and began meditating.
The snow cave was pitch-black and so quiet that they could hear only each other's breathing.
Neither of them spoke. They simply cultivated in silence.
Talking could cover up faint sounds and might even attract Soul Beasts with exceptionally sharp hearing.
The wind howled outside the snow cave, and from time to time, faint wolf howls could be heard.
Only after they changed shifts did the two wish each other good night and lie down in their adjacent sleeping bags.
Nothing happened that night. Early the next morning, Shui Qinghan woke Jiang Lan and Shui Bing'er and led them to the location where the Ice Spirit Sparrow had previously appeared.
Their group searched the outer region of the Far North for several more days.
Fortunately, their luck was fairly good this time. After checking only a few locations, they encountered an Ice Spirit Sparrow just over three thousand years old.
Shui Qinghan acted decisively, beating the three-thousand-year-old Ice Spirit Sparrow half to death before letting Shui Bing'er deliver the final blow.
A purple Millennium Soul Ring slowly appeared above the Ice Spirit Sparrow's corpse.
After using Martial Soul Possession, Shui Bing'er immediately sat cross-legged and used her Soul Power to draw over the Soul Ring of the Ice Spirit Sparrow that was just over three thousand years old, lowering it over herself from above.
The next moment, a scorching and violent energy surged into Shui Bing'er's body, madly battering her meridians and body, bringing waves of dull pain.
Shui Bing'er's body trembled slightly, and her lovely face was filled with pain. Beads of sweat rolled down from her forehead, while crimson droplets of blood gradually seeped from the surface of her porcelain-white skin, staining her clothes red.
Shui Qinghan watched Shui Bing'er's blood-covered body with a tense expression, her delicate hand lifting and falling several times.
Fortunately, the Millennium and Ten-Thousand-Year Whale Glue had not been consumed for nothing. As time passed bit by bit, Shui Bing'er's expression gradually calmed, her body stopped trembling, and the Soul Ring absorption began proceeding smoothly.
Three hours later, Shui Bing'er slowly opened her eyes, and a trace of joy flashed through her lake-blue eyes.
"Bing'er, what is your second Soul Skill?" Shui Qinghan asked.
"Mom, my second Soul Skill is the Ice Phoenix Staff. It creates a staff entirely condensed from ice element, greatly increasing the power of ice-element and ice-attribute Soul Skills. The amplification effect is one hundred percent. Also, the temperature of Soul Skills and ice element becomes even lower—so low that it can even approach the temperature deep within the Cold Spring." Shui Bing'er said, her lovely face brimming with joy.
"A weapon-type Soul Skill with an amplification effect too?!" Shui Qinghan was both shocked and delighted.
"Congratulations, Senior Sister, on obtaining a top-tier Soul Skill." Jiang Lan smiled and congratulated her.
This second Soul Skill was far better than the Ice Ring Armor from the original work.
"Bing'er, what is your Soul Power Level now?" Shui Qinghan asked again.
"My Soul Power?" Shui Bing'er sensed her Soul Power Level as well, then said in delight.
"My Soul Power is level twenty-four now!"
Excluding the one level granted by the Ten-Thousand-Year Whale Glue, this Ice Spirit Sparrow Soul Ring that was just over three thousand years old had actually raised her three levels at once.
"Not bad." Shui Qinghan nodded slightly and said with satisfaction, "In the days ahead, you must both properly consolidate your cultivation and familiarize yourselves with your newly acquired Soul Skills. Do you understand?"
"Understood~"
"Mm, it's time for us to head back."
Their gains from this Soul Beast hunt had been abundant. The two top-tier Soul Skills alone had made the entire trip more than worthwhile.
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