Two Thousand-Year First Ring!

Transforming Soul Beasts faced far too much danger in the early stages of rebuilding their cultivation.

Human society was filled with powerful experts. Once their identities were exposed, it would bring about a fatal disaster.

If he had a flying Soul Skill, his ability to preserve his life would be greatly enhanced.

Wukong's physical defenses were already strong enough to rival those of a three-ring Soul Elder.

So he was in no hurry to solidify Copper Head Iron Bones into a Soul Skill.

As for offense, he still had the Companion Spirit Artifact, the Ice-Fire Twin Dragon Staff.

If you couldn't win, you ran. That was the survival rule of the early stages.

With that thought, Wukong no longer hesitated.

He immediately poured all of his understanding of the Somersault Cloud divine ability into the Soul Ring that was taking shape.

Buzz—

The surrounding Soul Power fluctuated violently.

The Soul Ring's color began to change.

From its initial white, it swiftly turned yellow.

Then the yellow light deepened until it finally became a deep purple.

His first Soul Ring was complete!

A purple halo slowly pulsed beneath Wukong's feet.

Wukong opened his eyes and sensed the information transmitted by the Soul Ring.

Soul Ring age: two thousand years!

That was two hundred years higher than Wukong's estimated eighteen hundred years.

Clearly, the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum had played a role at the final moment.

And, as expected, Wukong's level had also reached level eighteen.

When ordinary Transforming Soul Beasts condensed Soul Rings, aside from a fixed one-level increase in cultivation, they would not gain any additional leaps in level.

They could not, like those human prodigies, absorb Soul Rings at their limit age and jump two or three levels at once.

But Wukong's situation this time was completely different.

He had taken a top-grade Immortal Herb in advance.

The extra seven levels of cultivation he had gained now all came from the Immortal Herb.

Wukong stood up and excitedly unleashed his first Soul Skill.

The purple Soul Ring beneath his feet suddenly lit up.

"First Soul Skill: Somersault Cloud!"

A mass of white airflow instantly formed beneath Wukong's feet.

The airflow supported his body and carried him directly into the air.

The Soul Skill's effects were obvious: wind beneath his feet, flight through empty space, and a two-hundred-percent speed boost.

Whoosh—

Standing atop the Somersault Cloud, Wukong rapidly darted through the skies above the Lake of Life while sensing the Soul Power consumption within his body.

With his current level-eighteen Soul Power reserves, he could sustain ten minutes of high-speed flight.

Once his cultivation improved and his Soul Power became more abundant, the Soul Skill would last even longer.

Moreover, the speed boost would become increasingly terrifying.

After all, it was a percentage-based enhancement Soul Skill. The further he progressed, the stronger its effects would become.

It would absolutely never become outdated as his strength increased.

"As expected of a thousand-year first Soul Skill. Its effects are truly powerful!"

Wukong landed back on the ground, withdrew his Soul Skill, and began considering his next move.

"For the next few years, I'll live and cultivate in cities near the Star Dou Great Forest."

"If I encounter danger I can't handle, I'll flee straight into the Star Dou Great Forest."

In the original story, the reason Xiao Wu had not dared to live in cities near the Star Dou Great Forest

was mainly because those Titled Douluo often came to the Star Dou Forest to hunt high-level Soul Beasts.

If Xiao Wu got close, those powerful experts could easily detect the Soul Beast aura on her body.

But Wukong did not need to worry about that problem.

Because he had the Lovesick Heartbreak Red.

This Immortal Herb could perfectly conceal the Soul Beast aura on his body.

The only thing he needed to worry about was that he was just a little brat right now.

Running around every day while carrying a flower would draw far too much attention.

It could easily invite unnecessary trouble.

Fortunately, he still had plenty of Gold Soul Coins left behind by Old Poisoner.

He did not need to worry about his early living expenses.

As long as he acted carefully and kept a low profile while developing, there should not be much of a problem.

After sorting out his thoughts, Wukong's emotions settled somewhat.

Then he tried cultivating according to the methods he had used as a Soul Beast.

He wanted to see whether Transforming Soul Beasts truly could not cultivate after leaving humans.

After half an hour of trying,

Wukong quickly discovered where the problem lay.

First, his perception of the spiritual energy of heaven and earth had become sharper, his meridians more open, and his Soul Power flowed faster... In terms of cultivation, he was indeed hundreds or even thousands of times better than he had been as a Soul Beast.

That was normal as well. Humans were the spirits of heaven and earth, and they cultivated quickly by nature. A few decades of cultivation could rival the accumulated foundation of Soul Beasts built over thousands, tens of thousands, or even hundreds of thousands of years.

But there were two fatal problems...

The biggest problem was that after his Transformation, he no longer had a Soul Core inside his body.

Back when he was a Soul Beast, he relied on his Soul Core to absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth and thereby increase his cultivation.

That was a Soul Beast's instinct, and its cultivation speed depended on its bloodline aptitude.

But now, he no longer had a Soul Core and had no idea how he should cultivate from here on.

The other problem concerned Fortune.

After his Transformation, all of his original Soul Beast Fortune had dispersed.

What appeared in its place was Fortune belonging to a human.

But this human Fortune was now extremely thin.

According to the observations of the Truth-Breaking Golden Eyes, it could barely support him until he reached the level of a three-ring Soul Elder.

In other words, if he did not enter human society and absorb human Fortune,

then once his cultivation reached Soul Elder, he would fall completely into a bottleneck and be unable to advance no matter how he cultivated.

"No wonder both Xiao Wu and Ah Yin had chosen to attach themselves to those talented Soul Masters."

"So they were borrowing the Fortune of human prodigies to maintain such rapid cultivation speed."

Wukong stroked his chin, finally understanding the survival logic of Transforming Soul Beasts.

But this was not a problem for Wukong.

Because he possessed the Truth-Breaking Golden Eyes, he could actively seize the Fortune of heaven and earth or other living beings.

As long as he infiltrated human society, there was no need for him to deliberately approach those talented Soul Masters.

That would also greatly ensure his own safety.

Wukong had long known that a Soul Beast's Transformation would be difficult.

So after discovering these two major problems, he did not feel overly dejected.

Instead, he felt extremely fortunate.

Fortunately, he had first pledged allegiance to Di Tian and unexpectedly awakened the Truth-Breaking Golden Eyes.

Otherwise, his path to godhood would surely have been even more arduous and dangerous.

However...

Forcibly seizing Fortune that did not belong to him would bring karmic backlash.

So before he had sufficient strength, it was best not to do that.

Over the next few days,

Wukong remained at the Lake of Life and spent a few more pleasant days with Xiao Wu and the others.

He familiarized himself with his human body, as well as the Soul Ring and Soul Skill he had just condensed.

Several days later, at dawn,

Wukong took Cai Lin and formally bade everyone farewell, preparing to head for human society.

Xiao Wu's long rabbit ears drooped as she said with reluctance and excitement written across her face:

"Little Monkey, you have to be careful."

"Once I undergo Transformation, I'll go to human society and join you!"

Wukong smiled and nodded in agreement.

"No problem. But I'll come back to visit you every year."

"So if you undergo Transformation, don't rush to leave this place. You can wait for me to return, then go to human society with me."

Wukong paused before adding a few more words.

"If your mother comes back, you can ask her to wait for me too."

"I'd quite like to meet her. I can also ask her about human society."

The main reason Wukong said this was because he wanted to help Xiao Wu's mother avoid her fatal calamity.

After all, she was the mother of his friend and also part of the Soul Beast faction. If he could help, then he would help.

As long as she stayed at the Lake of Life, even if Bibi Dong brought countless Titled Douluo, they would only be delivering themselves to their deaths.

Xiao Wu happily agreed when she heard this.

"Alright, alright! I'll ask her to wait for you. Once Mom finds out I made a friend like you, she'll definitely be happy too."

Da Ming and Er Ming also stepped forward.

"Brother Wukong, take care."

"If you encounter danger, run into the forest. We'll back you up!"

Wukong cupped his hands toward the two Soul Beasts.

"Many thanks, you two old brothers. Old Sun will remember this."