First Soul Ring: Spinning Tail Needlefish

As they entered the Soul Hunting Forest, Chen Xin asked, "Xiao Tian, you said your spirit needed to absorb attribute-based Soul Rings to grow. Have you decided what your first attribute will be?"

"Yes, Teacher. After considering it all day yesterday, I've completely determined my development path. For my first attribute, I choose water!" After careful deliberation, Tianlin had finally decided on the skill he needed.

If everything went according to his plans, he would surely become a top-tier Power Attack System Battle Soul Master in the future—one who came with his own support abilities.

After all, several of the Demon Sword Skills had terrifyingly powerful support effects, and Tianlin had no intention of giving them up.

Upon hearing this, Chen Xin stopped walking and asked in confusion, "Why? Of all the attributes you listed before, water has the weakest offensive power."

Fire had explosions and burning, lightning had piercing and paralysis, wind had speed and cutting power, while earth had weight and strength. Every one of them was more suitable than water.

Perhaps water in the form of towering waves would not be any less powerful, but the Soul Beasts they were seeking today were only century-old Soul Beasts and could not reach that level. Thus, in Chen Xin's view, water could be acquired later on. Absorbing a ten-thousand-year water-attribute Soul Beast would be the wiser choice.

"Teacher, I understand what you mean, but water is extremely important to my development plan. I have to obtain it as soon as possible," Tianlin said firmly.

"All right, then. Since that's what you want, let's go to the lake immediately. I know of a Soul Beast that may be perfect for you!" With that, Chen Xin led Tianlin toward the Lake Area.

Compared to the other attributes, water was relatively easy to find. There were countless Soul Beasts in the water. Though they could not compare to sea Soul Beasts, they were more than enough to meet the needs of ordinary Soul Masters.

Along the way, they encountered several Soul Beasts, including even thousand-year Soul Beasts, but none dared approach them. Sword Douluo's sword aura was simply too intense. Driven by their instinct to avoid danger, they all chose to stay far away.

Walking alongside a Titled Douluo, a place as perilous to ordinary people as the Soul Hunting Forest was practically no different from a botanical garden.

That was the advantage of having someone powerful to rely on.

Before long, the two arrived beside a massive lake, where quite a few water-attribute Soul Beasts could be seen swimming about.

"Teacher, how about that jellyfish? I can feel a very dense water-attribute energy coming from it." Tianlin pointed at a blue jellyfish.

"A Poison Jellyfish? Judging by its size, it's probably around two hundred years old. No, that won't do. Since I'm personally hunting your Soul Ring, that age is far too low. Besides, the Soul Beast I chose for you is much better than this jellyfish," Chen Xin immediately rejected Tianlin's suggestion.

They could only continue searching. Not long afterward, they came across a fish shaped somewhat like a kitchen knife.

"A Knife Fish. This one isn't bad either, but its age seems too low. It has only just passed three hundred years," Chen Xin said critically again.

At that moment, something seemed to appear beside the Knife Fish. A flash of blue light streaked past, and the Knife Fish's body was pierced straight through the middle.

The attacking Soul Beast possessed terrifying offensive power and incredible speed. Tianlin had not even caught a glimpse of its shadow.

"Teacher, what was that just now? It pierced through that Knife Fish in an instant."

"That attack and speed are exactly what I've been looking for. Xiao Tian, your Soul Ring has been found." Chen Xin waved a hand and sent a streak of sword aura crashing into the lake's surface.

At once, a strange-looking fish was blasted out of the water. Its nose and mouth were connected, resembling a needle, while its tail consisted of four spiral-shaped fins.

It seemed that the fish had just used its spinning tail to accelerate before piercing through the Knife Fish with its nose.

"Heh, it really is a Spinning Tail Needlefish!" Chen Xin immediately acted, using his powerful Soul Power to draw the fish toward him. "Xiao Tian, this is our target. A Spinning Tail Needlefish's age is determined by its size and the number of tail fins it has. Whenever its body grows larger, all of its tail fins fall off and regrow. It is currently medium-sized and has four tail fins, meaning its cultivation is around four hundred years. It couldn't be more suitable for you. I've already restrained it—kill it at once!"

"Got it. Phantom Sword, go!" Tianlin immediately moved. He understood Chen Xin's good intentions. Chen Xin feared that a purely water-attribute Soul Beast would leave his first soul skill lacking in attack power, so he had deliberately found a water-attribute Soul Beast with stronger offensive abilities to make up for that weakness.

The Demon Sword split into four Phantom Swords and immediately slew the Spinning Tail Needlefish on the spot.

Following Chen Xin's instructions from yesterday, Tianlin sat down cross-legged. A dark yellow Soul Ring flew out from the Spinning Tail Needlefish and circled around Tianlin.

"Something's wrong. The depth of this Soul Ring's color isn't something a four-hundred-year Soul Beast should possess." Chen Xin immediately stepped forward to inspect the Spinning Tail Needlefish's corpse. Only then did he discover that the Needlefish had not had four tail fins, but six. Two of them had apparently been severed.

They had likely been cut off by the Knife Fish during their earlier battle.

"Oh no! This Needlefish is actually a six-hundred-year Soul Beast! Tianlin, you have to hold on!"

The absorption of the Soul Ring had already begun, and it could not be stopped. All he could do was hope Tianlin could endure it.

"Damn it, it hurts so much!"

The Needlefish's resentment was like its body, stabbing Tianlin with agonizing pain all over.

An ordinary child would likely have been unable to endure it any longer. Fortunately, Tianlin housed an adult's soul, allowing him to grit his teeth and persist.

"How much longer will this take?" Unknowingly, half an hour had passed. Tianlin had endured until now, but he was nearing his limit.

After all, his body was still that of a six-year-old child. Although he possessed Mount Shu Sect's body-tempering method, he had only obtained it when his spirit awakened. He had never practiced it at all.

At that moment, light shone from Tianlin's left hand. The Holy Spirit Pearl actually appeared on its own and formed the Holy Breath Barrier.

"Is this a spirit protecting its master? I never expected this Divine Spirit to be so intelligent that it would protect its master on its own at such a critical moment." Chen Xin had been deeply worried, but upon seeing this scene, he could not help marveling at the wonder of a Divine Spirit.

With the Holy Breath Barrier, Tianlin's Soul Power, Mental Power, and injuries began to gradually recover.

Another half hour later, he could no longer feel any pain. Instead, he felt only an endless stream of power flowing into his body.

"Wonderful! The most dangerous period has passed. He's now receiving the Soul Ring's energy!" Chen Xin finally let out a sigh of relief. His carelessness had nearly caused the death of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's unparalleled talent.

"I succeeded!" At last, Tianlin opened his eyes. He felt that his strength had increased several times over, especially his Soul Power. It was definitely no longer merely level eleven.

"It's finally done. I'm sorry, Tianlin. My carelessness nearly caused you to explode and die," Chen Xin said apologetically.

Tianlin smiled and shook his head. "It's all right, Teacher. Who could have expected this Needlefish to be so old? But it turned out to be a blessing in disguise. That's how I obtained such an excellent Soul Ring."