Fusing a Soul Ring, Purple Brilliant Dragon Claw

In moments, he brought Qin Yu onto the branch of an ancient tree. Below them lay a clearing strewn with fallen trees and flattened undergrowth.

Qin Yu looked down too and saw two Soul Beasts standing over three meters tall.

In the ravaged clearing, a bear-like Soul Beast with dark gold fur stood on the left, while a thick-armed ape-like Soul Beast stood on the right.

The two Soul Beasts glared at each other, their eyes gleaming with menace.

"A Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear and a Titan Giant Ape, just as I thought!"

"Judging by their size and auras, both are at least eight hundred years old. The Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear is older, probably around nine hundred years."

"We're in luck. Both of these powerful Soul Beasts are the right age."

"The Titan Giant Ape would be the safer choice."

"What do you think, Qin Yu?"

Su Yuntao left the choice to Qin Yu.

Qin Yu thought it over before answering. "Director Su, I want the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear."

It was older than the Titan Giant Ape, but not by much. Its age should still be within what he could endure.

Qin Yu had faith in his Purple Brilliant Heaven Destroying Dragon martial soul.

Besides, he thought the bear's tearing power would pair better with dragon claws.

"All right."

Su Yuntao nodded without further comment.

Once Qin Yu was safely positioned, Su Yuntao sprang from the trees and landed between the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear and the Titan Giant Ape.

"Roar?"

Both Soul Beasts froze at the sudden appearance of a human.

"Silver Moon Savage Wolf, possess me!"

Ignoring them, Su Yuntao activated Martial Soul Possession. The phantom of a giant white wolf appeared behind him.

Seven Soul Rings descended from above his head: two yellow, two purple, and three black.

The Silver Moon Savage Wolf was one of the stronger wolf martial souls, on par with the Gale Demon Wolf, though it was more savage.

"Roar!"

Sensing Su Yuntao's hostile intent, the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear and Titan Giant Ape roared, their eyes blazing with murderous fury.

"Seventh Soul Skill: Savage Wolf Avatar!"

Facing two powerful Soul Beasts, Su Yuntao went straight for his strongest technique.

His seventh Soul Ring lit up, and he transformed into an even larger Silver Moon Savage Wolf before lunging at the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear.

At the sight of this, the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear flew into a rage and swung its dark gold claws at him.

But against overwhelming strength, its resistance was futile.

Powerful though the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear was, it had only a century of cultivation. It was no match for a Soul Sage using his Martial Soul Avatar.

Slash!

In a single exchange, Su Yuntao's wolf claws tore across the bear's chest, leaving a hideous wound.

"Roar..." The Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear cried out in pain, its wails unceasing.

Seeing this, the menace vanished from the Titan Giant Ape's eyes, and it instinctively backed away.

The Titan Giant Ape was smarter than the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear. Even with only a century of cultivation, it knew when it was outmatched.

Su Yuntao did not let up.

He knocked the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear to the ground, pinned it with one claw, and slashed its throat with the other. Blood poured from the wound.

The bear's life force rapidly faded.

Terrified by what it had witnessed, the Titan Giant Ape fled into the forest and vanished.

Su Yuntao ignored it and looked elsewhere. "Qin Yu, come here."

Qin Yu jumped down from the canopy and approached the dying Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear.

"Roar—"

With his Purple Brilliant Heaven Destroying Dragon martial soul possessed, Qin Yu's right hand became a dragon claw. He drove it into the bear's bleeding neck.

Slash! Qin Yu ended the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear's life.

He acted decisively, without a trace of hesitation or fear.

A yellow Soul Ring formed above the bear's corpse.

"Qin Yu, use your Soul Power to draw the Soul Ring toward you, then absorb its energy."

"Don't rush. Take it slowly."

Su Yuntao released his Martial Soul Avatar and patiently guided Qin Yu through absorbing the Soul Ring.

Qin Yu sat down where he was. Following Su Yuntao's instructions, he drew the Soul Ring toward himself and began absorbing its energy.

Su Yuntao nodded slightly as he watched.

After observing Qin Yu for a while and seeing no sign of severe pain, he turned his attention to their surroundings, keeping watch for approaching Soul Beasts.

While standing guard, Su Yuntao also examined the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear's corpse.

There was no Soul Bone.

Su Yuntao was not disappointed.

Soul Bones were rare, and the chance of one appearing was extremely low. He had only checked on the off chance.

After moving the bear's corpse away, Su Yuntao continued guarding Qin Yu, never relaxing his vigilance for a moment.

Whenever even a ten-year Soul Beast approached, he quietly drove it off.

Time passed. Afternoon turned to night, and Qin Yu was still absorbing the Soul Ring.

It was not until the next morning that anything changed. The yellow Soul Ring above Qin Yu's head began to dim.

At last, it vanished.

"Phew."

Qin Yu opened his eyes and let out a long breath.

He stood, his mind wonderfully clear. As he stretched, his body crackled.

Su Yuntao came over with a smile. "How do you feel, Qin Yu? Any discomfort?"

"No."

Qin Yu shook his head and smiled. "The Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear was about as old as you estimated, Director Su: nine hundred and ten years."

"Absorbing its Soul Ring greatly strengthened my body, and my Soul Power Level rose to fourteen."

Absorbing a Soul Ring above his level had brought enormous gains.

The improvement to his body was one thing, but the increase in cultivation mattered most. Gaining four levels at once had saved him over a year of hard training.

"Excellent."

Su Yuntao beamed.

He could see Qin Yu's Soul Power Level for himself.

The Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear had been a little older than expected, but Qin Yu had absorbed its Soul Ring without trouble and gained a great deal from it.

"All right, let's head back."

Su Yuntao did not ask about Qin Yu's first Soul Skill.

A Soul Skill was a Soul Master's personal trump card, not something to reveal lightly to others.

"Mm."

Qin Yu nodded and followed Su Yuntao away.

Having absorbed his first Soul Ring, he had also gained his first Soul Skill.

Purple Brilliant Dragon Claw doubled his attack, defense, and speed when used, while adding a tearing effect.

Percentage-based enhancement Soul Skills were always valuable.

Even when he reached far higher levels in the future, his first Soul Skill would still give him a substantial boost.

Spirit Academy.

Su Yuntao planned to see Qin Yu to the academy gates, then go to Spirit Hall and report that Qin Yu had successfully fused with his first Soul Ring.

But when they reached the entrance, they saw a carriage parked nearby.

Judging by its appearance, someone of considerable status had to be inside.

Just then, the carriage curtain parted, and a young girl stepped out.

She was beautiful, with short orange hair and lovely brown eyes that held a natural allure.

Despite her young age, she already had a striking figure, a rare sight.

There was something bewitching about her bearing; every smile and gesture carried a hint of charm.