Flawless Radiance, Jingliu

"The soul skill is called Heavenfire Judgment."

Xu Tianming briefly explained the soul skill's three forms.

Dual-gun mode.

The greatsword mode, Heavenly Fire Drawn.

And the strongest form, Heavenly Fire Calamity Annihilation.

Kong Deming listened intently.

"The structure of this soul skill is rather complex, and it even has three modes. This isn't something a first soul skill should possess. As expected of a special Soul Ring—you're quite lucky, kid."

He reached out and felt the soul power fluctuations surrounding the guns from a distance.

"The dual-gun mode is suited for long range, while Heavenly Fire Drawn is suited for close combat. As for the final Calamity Annihilation form, don't try it for now. Your body still can't withstand that kind of power."

"I understand."

Xu Tianming nodded. Even without Kong Deming's warning, he would not use the power of Heavenly Fire Calamity Annihilation recklessly.

Kong Deming withdrew his hand.

"This Soul Ring has no side effects, and its soul skill is quite flawless. Aside from its somewhat unusual color, no other issues have been found for the time being."

He paused.

"Any anomaly appearing within the Rift Realm is nothing to be surprised by."

Xu Tianming nodded.

"Teacher, you think so as well?"

"Based on the current situation, it was likely merely mutated by the influence of the Rift Realm."

Kong Deming looked at the Soul Ring.

"As long as it doesn't erode your body or affect your mind, the color of the Soul Ring isn't all that important."

That was a very practical assessment.

The color of a Soul Ring represented a soul master's potential, but it could not serve as the sole standard of evaluation. As long as the Soul Ring could provide powerful soul skills and had no side effects, even a slightly different color was acceptable.

"Then, Teacher, if there's nothing else, I'll head back first."

Xu Tianming put away his martial soul and Soul Ring, then asked quietly.

"Go on."

Kong Deming waved him away.

After returning to the Mo Mang Palace where he lived, Xu Tianming dismissed all the palace maids and attendants at his side.

Once the gates of Mo Mang Palace closed, Xu Tianming was the only one left inside. He sat by the bed, one hand pressed against his chest.

The Star Core was slowly beating there. This time, it had accumulated a great deal of Wish Power.

Personally destroying a Rift Realm and killing a true Rift Realm Lord had earned him roughly as much Wish Power as he had accumulated over the past several years.

A black Star Core appeared in his sea of consciousness. Starlight fragments danced around it, while Wish Power formed a golden river of stars that slowly revolved around the Star Core.

Xu Tianming looked at the Star Core, the corners of his mouth lifting. The third Wish Power summon could begin.

The first summon had been an experiment, and he had already discarded that test subject. The second summon had been Karna, and this time's Wish Power was no less than what had been needed to summon Karna.

That meant he could summon another helper at the level of a Limit Douluo.

Xu Tianming had considered his choice of summon for a long time. In the end, he chose Jingliu.

One of the High-Cloud Quintet.

The Luofu's foremost swordmaster.

A woman who stood at the pinnacle of swordsmanship.

Xu Tianming needed a martial arts teacher. Karna's combat ability was formidable, but he was not skilled at teaching others. Kong Deming could provide resources and connections, but he could not train him into a true powerhouse among soul masters.

Xu Tianming did not intend to follow the path of a Soul Engineer either. He planned to first take the path of a soul master to its limit, then turn back and study soul tools. Kong Deming did not object to this; after hearing Xu Tianming's thoughts, he had even thought of Ye Xishui, the Death God Douluo.

Ye Xishui had also first followed the path of a soul master. Only after reaching the level of a Limit Douluo had she begun researching soul tools. Now, she had become a Ninth-Rank Soul Engineer and was even more likely than Kong Deming to advance into a Level-Ten Soul Engineer.

Thus, Kong Deming approved of Xu Tianming's plan.

Ultimate Martial Souls were already slow to cultivate in the early and middle stages. If he divided his attention to study soul tools as well, he would not master either path and would merely waste this talent.

Walking the path of a soul master first and studying soul tools afterward suited Xu Tianming better.

Xu Tianming closed his eyes.

"Star Core."

"I want to summon Jingliu."

Wish Power began to be consumed.

One soul tool lamp after another within Mo Mang Palace went out. Flecks of light emerged in the air, golden-white and silver-white radiance intertwining as they gradually outlined a human figure in space.

She was a beautiful woman with an icy bearing. Her long hair was silver-white, fading into a cool blue at the ends. It was gathered into a circular bun behind her head and tied with a teal ribbon, while several loose strands draped over her shoulders.

Her features were cold and exquisite.

A black blindfold etched with a silver moon covered her eyes. A teardrop-shaped earring hung from her right earlobe, giving off a faint dark-blue glow as it gently swayed.

Her long robes alternated between sky blue and smoky blue, embroidered with cloud patterns and geometric motifs. A pale, petal-like pleated skirt fell from her waist, while a silver shoulder guard and flower-embroidered cuffs adorned her outer garments. Split-leaf capes and flowing ribbons trailed behind her.

The ribbons bore the changing phases from crescent moon to full moon. Epiphyllum ornaments wrapped around her arms, and knee-high boots encased her slender calves, making her seem like a cold moon that had descended into the mortal world.

That chill was not the repulsion born of arrogance, but the solitude and sharpness left behind after countless years and battles.

The space fell silent.

Jingliu opened her eyes. In an instant, she received all the information: this was the Douluo Continent, and the young child before her was the one who had summoned her.

Jingliu raised her head and looked at Xu Tianming with red eyes.

"Trailblazer, you summoned me. What do you need me to do?"

Her voice was cool and calm.

Xu Tianming did not answer at once. Instead, he first observed her condition. She was not out of control, not chaotic, and there was none of that suppressed Mara-Struck aura.

A weight lifted from Xu Tianming's heart. It seemed this Jingliu had not inherited the harmful effects brought by the Mara-Struck Body. That was a good thing.

Because when Jingliu went mad, there were likely only a handful of people on the Douluo Continent capable of stopping her.

The Jingliu created by Wish Power did not possess her original body's ability to sever stars, nor did this world have Path Power. However, her swordsmanship and combat experience remained.

In terms of combat strength, she was no weaker than this world's Limit Douluos. She stood on the same level as Karna, and she could continue growing stronger.

"Welcome to this world, Jingliu."

Xu Tianming smiled.

"I do indeed need your help."

Jingliu did not speak, waiting for what came next.

"I hope you can become my teacher and teach me martial arts and swordsmanship."

Xu Tianming raised a hand, and a brilliant flash of golden sunlight passed through his palm.

"I have a soul tool teacher, but I don't wish to study soul tools for the time being. Although Karna is proficient in martial arts, he isn't suited to training disciples."

"You want to learn the sword?"

"Not only the sword."

Xu Tianming said seriously, "I want to become a true powerhouse. Swordsmanship, close-quarters combat, battlefield experience—I want to learn all of it."