"Little Feng, you've changed so much."
Once her excitement subsided, Ling'er finally began to notice Bei Ming Feng's current state.
The greatest changes in Bei Ming Feng were his bearing and his eyes. His eyes had turned jade blue, the same color as that crystal.
Before, because of his innate soul power and various other factors, Bei Ming Feng's bearing had been unremarkable. His quiet, reserved nature had only made him seem all the more ordinary.
But now, perhaps thanks to those eyes, he gave off the air of a spirit of the wind, as though wherever he stood, the wind was there with him.
"Yes, I feel like I'm brimming with power."
Bei Ming Feng gripped the Windchaser Bird tightly. "Not only that, I feel my martial soul merging with the Windchaser Bird. Right now, the Windchaser Bird feels just like my martial soul."
The next moment, five soul rings slowly rose around Bei Ming Feng: yellow-blue, purple-blue, purple-blue, black-blue, and black-blue. He also held the Windchaser Bird No. 1 in his hand.
"Huh?"
Ling'er lowered her head and studied the soul rings at Bei Ming Feng's feet curiously. "Little Feng, look! Your soul rings have blue stripes on them!"
"They do! Why did they turn out like this?"
Bei Ming Feng was just as astonished. All his soul rings had come from the Spirit Pagoda, and there had been nothing wrong with them. So why had they become like this?
Just then, a golden light flashed, and Bei Mingyuan appeared before them.
"This is the power of the Windchaser Bird No. 1. Little Feng, you'll gradually come to understand it."
"Ancestor!"
At the sight of him, Bei Ming Feng's eyes widened. Those clothes, that face-this was Bei Mingyuan, the ancestor of the Bei Ming family!
Every branch of the Northern Underworld imperial family had a portrait of Bei Mingyuan, so all its members knew him well. Bei Ming Feng hurriedly knelt and kowtowed. "Greetings, Ancestor!"
"Greetings, Ancestor!"
Beside him, Qiu Ling'er's eyes also widened in surprise at his words, but she was quick to react and hurriedly knelt as well.
"All right, children. Get up."
Bei Mingyuan waved his hand, and a gentle breeze lifted them both to their feet. "This is merely my projection, not my true body. There's no need for so much ceremony."
"Yes, Ancestor."
Bei Ming Feng stood up, then raised the Windchaser Bird curiously. "Ancestor, what brings you here?"
At his question, Bei Mingyuan smiled faintly. The fact that he was still alive was hardly a secret.
Everyone on the Northern Underworld Continent knew that Bei Mingyuan, the North Nether Great Emperor, possessed tremendous strength and had some connection to the Progenitor. Having already stepped into the realm of gods, her lifespan had long since become practically limitless.
"Hehehe. After spending so many years in seclusion, I've grown terribly bored. Since Xi Zhao was heading to the Douluo Continent this time, I came along to see how you were doing."
Bei Mingyuan reached out and patted both their heads with a soft chuckle.
Bei Ming Feng nodded in understanding, then asked, "Ancestor, rumor has it that the Progenitor created this soul tool's blueprints. Is that really true?"
"Hmm... that's correct. These blueprints are indeed the Progenitor's work."
Bei Ming Feng nodded and began recounting something from the past. "Actually, the Windchaser Bird isn't the only one. The Progenitor created many more works."
"They aren't in the Northern Underworld Empire's treasury. Instead, they're scattered across the various continents. Anyone who possesses these items will qualify!"
"Qualify? For what?"
Looking at the two youngsters' curious faces, Bei Mingyuan smiled faintly. "To become the Progenitor's disciple."
"!!!"
At Bei Mingyuan's words, both their eyes widened. What had they just heard? They could qualify to become the Progenitor's disciple?
"Pick your jaws up."
Bei Mingyuan pushed their jaws back into place. "You merely qualify. None of this will be quite as wonderful as you imagine."
"After all, the venerable Progenitor didn't release just a handful of treasures, but dozens. In other words, your opponents won't just be yourselves, but all those exceptional talents as well."
"You must have noticed how the Windchaser Bird has transformed your body. Everyone who obtains one of these extraordinary treasures will have their aptitude raised to the very highest level."
"In other words, your starting points will be almost exactly the same, but where you finish will depend on you."
Hearing this, Bei Ming Feng let out a soft breath, his gaze becoming utterly resolute. "I'm not afraid. I'll claim that qualification with my Windchaser Bird No. 1!
"I'll prove to the world that I, Bei Ming Feng, am not useless! I'll prove I'm no worse than anyone else!"
"Then you'd better give it your all."
Bei Mingyuan pointed at the Windchaser Bird. "When the Progenitor drew up the designs for this Windchaser Bird, he left room for upgrades."
"In other words, it's still a blank canvas full of unknown possibilities. What you paint upon it will depend entirely on you."
"Yes!"
Bei Ming Feng gently stroked the Windchaser Bird in his hand. "I'll use it to make a name for myself. I won't disgrace you, Ancestor!"
"Hahaha, good boy."
Bei Mingyuan nodded in satisfaction, then said solemnly, "The road ahead will be fraught with hardship. Only those with great perseverance can advance. You must always remember to hold fast to your true heart."
"Don't worry, Ancestor!"
Beside him, Qiu Ling'er patted her chest. "I'll stay by his side and make sure to teach him properly."
"Haha, then I can rest easy."
Looking at the two spirited youngsters, Bei Ming Feng smiled faintly, turned, and left the cabin.
All that talk about qualifying to become the Progenitor's disciple was something he had made up on a whim.
The Windchaser Bird was one of the first soul tools he had developed. Although it did indeed have an upgrade port, he had never expected anyone to actually activate it.
But now, he had changed his mind. Wasn't this interesting? A group of people with completely different powers competing against one another, with the final victor receiving the richest prize.
He had created all these things simply because he thought it was fun. But if one of them truly achieved the final victory, then that person would indeed be qualified to become Bei Mingyuan's disciple.
"Give it your all, little ones."
Bei Mingyuan lifted his head, his eyes seeming to pierce the entire firmament as he saw the many, many children who qualified.
"Heaven Crystal Beast, were you really created by the Progenitor?" a boy asked doubtfully.
"Of course! I'm a noble Divine Weapon Beast, nothing like those soul beasts!"
Heaven Crystal raised his head and spoke proudly.
"Storm Falcon, is that your name?"
A boy dressed in blue cradled a little car that looked like a toy. "How do I activate you?"
"Flame Burst Lie Jia! Flame Bullet!"
"Ice Turtle Locke, Divine Shield Defense!"
"Fallen One, you've committed countless evil deeds. Today, I'll bring you to justice!"
A red-haired boy in white training clothes pointed his red longsword at the Fallen One ahead.
"Kekeke, the person who can kill this old man hasn't been born yet!"
"Take this! Rainbow Pierces the Sun!"
Before you continue