Unlocking the First Soul Ring: Mandala Snake

Yu Xiaogang looked at the exceptionally gifted Yang Feng before him and decided to cultivate him properly.

Thus, Yu Xiaogang took Xiao Wu and Yang Feng to the Star Dou Great Forest.

Inside the Star Dou Great Forest.

Endless towering ancient trees had their trunks tightly wrapped by thick vines like pythons.

The moment they stepped into the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest, the damp, earthy stench mixed with the fresh scent of vegetation rushed toward them.

Thin Soul Power permeated the air around them. If inhaled into the lungs, even one's Soul Power would begin to stir.

Yang Feng did not know much about the Star Dou Great Forest.

He only knew that Tang San's first soul skill, Binding, had been unlocked in this Star Dou Great Forest in the original story.

At this moment, Xiao Wu also sensed that something was off about the Star Dou Great Forest today.

Xiao Wu scratched her head and said:

"The Star Dou Great Forest feels so strange today!"

"That's right. The Star Dou Great Forest today is completely different from its usual state when soul beasts inhabit it."

"The soul beasts here must have treated us as invaders and entered a state of alert." Yu Xiaogang analyzed with a serious expression.

Yang Feng felt that Yu Xiaogang's explanation was not without reason.

Every year, academies recruited new students. The soul beasts of the Star Dou Great Forest had probably formed a habit by now.

Yang Feng placed a finger against his lips and hurriedly said:

"Keep it down. There's something unusual up ahead!"

The next moment, a thousand-year Mandala Snake shot out from the grass.

"Quick, chase it! This soul beast should be quite powerful."

"It's a Mandala Snake. It would be a good choice for a first Soul Ring!"

Xiao Wu immediately dashed toward the patch of grass where the Mandala Snake had vanished.

Yang Feng did not think much of it when he saw it was a Mandala Snake. In the original story, this little snake's ability had only come with a paralysis effect.

Although he now possessed Innate Full Soul Power, he had yet to copy a particularly powerful Martial Soul, so he could only trail behind the others.

A considerable distance opened up between Yang Feng and Xiao Wu.

"Wait for me! Why are you running so fast?" Sweat began to bead on Yang Feng's forehead.

Yu Xiaogang shouted, "Hurry up and stay close! We're about to catch it!"

At this moment, Yu Xiaogang had already captured the Mandala Snake.

"Yang Feng, quickly absorb this thousand-year Mandala Snake as your first Soul Ring."

"Unlock your first soul skill and see how much it improves your strength."

Yang Feng sat cross-legged on the ground and began absorbing the soul beast's power, converting it into a Soul Ring.

As he absorbed the soul beast, Yang Feng was also planning how to help Zhu Zhuqing break free from her engagement to Dai Mubai.

Then, he would have Zhu Zhuqing join his side along with Xiao Wu.

As for how he should deal with Tang San, who was in Spirit Hall, Yang Feng had not figured that out yet.

As a transmigrator, he had changed the original timeline. He might suffer backlash from unforeseen variables.

Yu Xiaogang had Tang San absorb the Mandala Snake's Soul Power.

Yang Feng looked at the Mandala Snake and felt that this soul beast was actually not bad.

Success came from variables, and failure came from variables.

[The host has unlocked the Soul Ring soul skill: Paralyzing Thorns.]

[The host's Martial Soul, the Imitation Martial Soul Mirror, possesses a special piercing effect.]

[When the host copies another Martial Soul, using that person's Martial Soul grants the host a 20% increase in ability.]

[There will be no situation where two disciples taught by the same master cannot break each other's moves.]

[Of course, the host currently has only one slot for copied Martial Souls. If two Martial Souls are copied consecutively, problems will arise.]

[The Martial Soul abilities and talent bonuses cultivated previously will be overwritten. Please take note.]

"Hoho, even against an opponent with the same Martial Soul and the same talent..."

"I'll still have the strength to fight. That alone is pretty good."

Yang Feng noticed the more important point: this Soul Ring was not especially important right now. What mattered was unlocking Martial Soul soul skills.

Otherwise, even if he copied a Titled Douluo's Martial Soul...

And inherited equivalent Soul Power, it would be extremely awkward if he had no soul skills.

A low voice interrupted Yang Feng's calm thoughts.

"How do you feel after absorbing the thousand-year Mandala Snake? Is there anything abnormal with your body?"

"If you feel any physical discomfort, tell me immediately."

Yu Xiaogang began asking Tang San what changes had occurred to his Martial Soul after absorbing the Soul Ring.

Yang Feng extended his right hand and revealed his Martial Soul.

"It's roughly like this. The Mandala Snake turned into a snake-shaped ornament coiled around the outer edge of the Imitation Martial Soul Mirror."

"My Martial Soul also has a trait: it can copy other people's Martial Souls. The Soul Ring I just obtained gives me a 20% boost in strength when facing the same Martial Soul!"

Looking at Yang Feng's Martial Soul, Yu Xiaogang could not help feeling envious. Though he was called "Master" at the academy, his Soul Power had actually been stuck at rank 29, unable to advance any further. He was deeply helpless about it.

The young man before him had awakened with Innate Full Soul Power and even possessed an exceptionally rare Mutated Martial Soul. This was practically the ideal Yu Xiaogang had dreamed of.

What some people pursued their entire lives was merely the starting point of others at birth.

Although Yang Feng had only a single Martial Soul, once its potential was broken down, it could even surpass Tang San's Twin Martial Souls.

"Your talent ceiling is much higher than Tang San's, the one from Holy Soul Village who just went to Spirit Hall!"

"By the way, if you become my disciple, more cultivation resources will be allocated to you."

Yang Feng pretended not to understand, wearing an innocent, confused expression.

Could Yu Xiaogang still be thinking about taking me as his disciple?

Not a chance, Xiaogangzi. I'm not even afraid of Tang Hao. Why would I be afraid of a mere Xiaogangzi like you?

"I've never considered becoming someone else's disciple!"

"Right now, I'm merely an unknown junior at the academy."

Hearing Yang Feng's words, Yu Xiaogang clearly understood that his attempt to take him as a disciple had failed once again.

The higher Yu Xiaogang held Yang Feng up at the academy, the harder it would become for Yang Feng to get away. In the end, he would sink deep into Yu Xiaogang's stubborn obsession.

"Yang Feng, once you've made up your mind, my door will always be open to you."

"Contact me the moment you've thought it over!"

Xiao Wu looked at Yu Xiaogang's special treatment of Yang Feng with a face full of disdain.

After Yu Xiaogang had learned Yang Feng's current strength, he believed everything was under his control.

Afterward, Yang Feng continued following Yu Xiaogang back to Nuoding Academy.

While they were returning to the academy, Xiao Wu suddenly asked Yang Feng a rather presumptuous question.

"I heard you know someone named Tang San, a blue-haired guy who awakened Twin Martial Souls?"

"Is he from the same village as you?"

Xiao Wu had not actually expected Yang Feng to answer. She merely mentioned it casually.

Just as she turned to leave, a voice came from behind her. "The Tang San you mentioned, that talented young man who awakened Twin Martial Souls? He has already joined Spirit Hall."

Hearing Yang Feng's words, Xiao Wu's eyes instantly lit up.

PS: I'm a new author. I started trying to write novels in November 2024 without getting signed, and now, at nine in the morning on September 2, 2026...

I received a contract offer from my editor. I'd like to thank my editor here.

Kowtow.

I was so excited at noon that I did not sleep all afternoon.

(The work has officially been signed today. Readers, please favorite it, keep reading, and vote with recommendation tickets. These things are truly important to an author.)

To all the benefactors who have given me fourteen favorites since I started until now.

I will work hard to write this novel well.

Kowtow.