First Soul Skill, Guangling Melody!

Xiao Lin abruptly raised the Nine Phoenix Ceremonial Flute and held it to his lips.

He closed his eyes.

The next moment, the flute began to play.

It was an entirely different melody. It was no longer the gentle, lingering tune of "Prelude to Water Melody," nor the lighthearted liveliness of "Colorful Clouds Chasing the Moon," but an impassioned movement brimming with murderous intent!

Every note was like an unsheathed blade, carrying biting chill and the grim aura of clashing weapons and galloping warhorses. The flute echoed through the forest as though thousands of troops were locked in battle upon a blood-soaked battlefield, blades flashing amid storms of carnage!

"First Soul Skill—Guangling Melody!"

With Xiao Lin's low shout, the yellow Soul Ring on the Nine Phoenix Ceremonial Flute suddenly lit up. A surging torrent of Soul Power burst from the flute, transforming into invisible Sound Blades that shot in every direction!

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

The Sound Blades fell like rain, tearing through the air.

The Sonic Wave Metal-Eating Insects charging at the front were struck by the Sound Blades. Their hard shells split apart as easily as paper, spraying golden-green fluid everywhere.

One, two, ten, a hundred... Wherever the Sound Blades passed, the insect swarm fell in waves like harvested wheat!

Crack! Crack!

The sound waves were blades, cutting through everything!

Xiao Lin stood amid the insect swarm with his eyes shut, wholly focused on playing "Guangling Melody."

His fingers danced rapidly over the flute, notes pouring forth like flowing water and becoming sharp Sound Blades that mercilessly reaped the lives around him.

This was his first Soul Skill.

"Guangling Melody" was one of the ten great ancient melodies, said to have been played by Ji Kang before his execution. It contained an unyielding spirit of resistance and soaring killing intent.

Xiao Lin had combined that artistic conception with the Soul Skill of the Nine Phoenix Ceremonial Flute, creating this unique assault-type Soul Skill.

The Sound Blades could be fast or slow. At their fastest, they were like a torrential downpour, endless and unceasing; at their slowest, they were like a thunderous strike that split heaven and earth.

The Sound Blades ignored part of physical defense and specifically cleaved through Soul Power shields, giving them a natural restraining effect against Soul Beasts that relied on shells or barriers for defense.

And when the melody reached its climax, it could even summon phantoms of ancient assassins to attack alongside him!

Although Xiao Lin's current Soul Power was insufficient to summon those assassin phantoms, the Sound Blade storm alone was enough to make these Sonic Wave Metal-Eating Insects suffer!

The insect swarm began to collapse.

Though the Sonic Wave Metal-Eating Insects feared no death, their courage was ultimately limited before an overwhelming disparity in power.

Watching their companions' corpses pile up like mountains and golden-green fluid gather into streams, the remaining insects finally grew afraid. They scattered in all directions and burrowed back underground.

The song ended, and the flute gradually fell silent.

Xiao Lin lowered the Nine Phoenix Ceremonial Flute and panted heavily. Sweat covered his forehead, and his face was slightly pale, but the light in his eyes was astonishingly bright.

He lowered his head and looked at the yellow Soul Ring flowing over the Nine Phoenix Ceremonial Flute, a smile slowly curving his lips.

That performance of "Guangling Melody" had consumed roughly twenty percent of his Soul Power.

But it lasted a long time, covered a wide area, was a group attack skill, and even ignored physical defense—an effect like that was practically overpowered!

And this was merely the effect after he had attached his first Soul Ring.

If he gathered all nine Soul Rings, if he cultivated the Nine Phoenix Ceremonial Flute to its utmost limit in the future, what kind of scene would that be?

Facts spoke louder than words. The Nine Phoenix Ceremonial Flute truly suited the assault path!

By the time Xiao Lin walked out of Soul Hunting Forest, the horizon had already begun to brighten with the pale light of dawn.

Though he had not slept all night, his spirits were unusually high. Successfully obtaining his first Soul Ring had not only given him his first Soul Skill; more importantly, he had proven through his own actions that Yu Xiaogang was wrong, and that Xiao Lin was right.

That was enough.

When he returned to Nuoding Academy, it was already fully daylight. A few early-rising students were scattered around the campus, doing morning exercises. Seeing him enter from outside covered in dirt with his hair in disarray, they all cast him curious looks.

Xiao Lin ignored those gazes and went straight back to his dormitory, where he collapsed onto the bed and fell asleep.

He slept until the world seemed to blur together. When he opened his eyes again, it was already dusk outside the window.

He sat up in bed, rubbed his sleepy eyes, and began seriously considering his next plans.

Originally, he had intended to leave Nuoding Academy once he obtained his first Soul Ring. With his current strength and the experience from his previous life, he might not be unable to make something of himself outside.

But after this direct clash with Yu Xiaogang, he had changed his mind.

Leaving just like that would be letting Yu Xiaogang off too easily.

That petty man had used underhanded means to cut off every channel through which Xiao Lin could seek help, trying to force him to lower his head and admit his mistake.

If Xiao Lin had not been capable himself, any ordinary six-year-old child would probably have been driven into a corner, with no choice but to submit to Yu Xiaogang in the end.

This score could not be settled so easily.

Moreover, falling out with Yu Xiaogang meant standing on the opposite side of Tang San as well.

Tang San looked honest and simple on the surface, but in truth, he had more schemes than anyone. Since he had taken Yu Xiaogang as his master, he would certainly stand with Yu Xiaogang. Future conflicts between them were practically inevitable.

Since they were destined to become opponents, Xiao Lin did not mind making preparations in advance.

For instance—taking Tang San's opportunity.

A place name surfaced in Xiao Lin's mind—the back mountain of Holy Soul Village.

Buried there was a Hundred-Thousand-Year Blue Silver Emperor Right Leg Bone, the only inheritance Tang San's mother, Ah Yin, had left for her son.

Not only was this Soul Bone of an exceptionally high age, but it also came with an incredibly powerful flight skill. It could be said to be one of Tang San's most important advantages in his early years.

If he could get that Soul Bone...

Xiao Lin's heart began beating faster.

A Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone was a supreme treasure coveted across the entire Douluo Continent!

Even if he could not use it now, keeping it for later would make it priceless. Besides, the Blue Silver Emperor's attributes did not conflict with the Nine Phoenix Ceremonial Flute. Perhaps they might even produce some unexpected reaction.

However, that thought only circled through his mind once before he forcibly suppressed it.

Going for the Soul Bone now? That would be courting death.

Tang Hao, that Titled Douluo-level father, was most likely lurking near Holy Soul Village at this moment, secretly protecting Tang San.

If Xiao Lin rashly went to the back mountain to dig up the Soul Bone and Tang Hao caught him red-handed, his fate would probably be worse than dying in the insect swarm.

The fury of a Titled Douluo was not something a level-eleven little Soul Master like him could endure.

So, he had to wait.

Wait until Tang San left Nuoding Academy and headed for his next destination. Wait until Tang Hao's attention followed Tang San away, loosening his watch over Holy Soul Village.

Only then could he slip into the back mountain unnoticed and take that Soul Bone.

And that waiting process would take at least several years.

"Then I'll lie low at Nuoding Academy for a few years first," Xiao Lin muttered to himself, lightly tapping the edge of the bed with his fingers.

"I can use this time to stabilize my cultivation and increase my Soul Power. The Nine Phoenix Ceremonial Flute was meant to develop steadily in its early stages anyway. There's no need to rush out and take risks."

He drew up a detailed plan for himself.

His primary goal was to raise his Soul Power above level thirty before leaving Nuoding Academy.

Only by reaching the Soul Elder level would he truly possess a certain ability to protect himself, ensuring that he would not be constrained at every turn while traveling outside.

His secondary goal was to collect Whale Rubber.

Whale Rubber came from whale-type Soul Beasts in the deep sea and was an extremely precious medicinal material.

Its greatest use was raising the maximum age limit of Soul Rings that a Soul Master could absorb.

In other words, with enough Whale Rubber, he could absorb a Millennium Soul Ring as his second Soul Ring rather than being limited to a Century Soul Ring like everyone else.

The difference between a Millennium Soul Ring and a Century Soul Ring was as vast as heaven and earth.

If he could cross into the millennium threshold with his second Soul Ring, it would mean that his starting point was far ahead of everyone else's, and his later advantages would only grow greater.

As for his longer-term goal, it was naturally the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.

That treasured place deep within Sunset Forest gathered the finest Immortal Herbs and spiritual medicines in the world.

If he could enter it and casually pick a few Immortal Herbs to consume, his cultivation could advance by leaps and bounds. It might even help him lay a solid foundation for reaching Titled Douluo.

However, the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well was currently Dugu Bo's territory. That Old Poison had a strange temperament, but his strength was undeniably formidable. His poison techniques were unfathomable, and even Titled Douluo did not dare provoke him lightly.

To snatch food from his hands, Xiao Lin would need at least the strength of a Soul Emperor.

"One step at a time, one bite at a time." Xiao Lin stretched, then jumped down from the bed. "I'll handle what's in front of me first. The rest can wait."

Having thought everything through, he immediately felt his mind clear, and his entire body relaxed considerably.