Awakening and Testing the Soul Skill

"Purple and black... interwoven? Existing side by side?"

Ning Fengzhi murmured to himself. He strode forward, heedless of his dignity as sect master, and crouched to examine the energy fluctuations from the Soul Ring up close.

The fluctuations held the solidity and spiritual quality of a Thousand-Year Soul Ring, yet also carried the deep, weighty presence found only in a Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring. Mingled with both was a scorching, ancient aura he had never felt before, as though it came from the depths of the stars.

It overturned everything he knew about the levels of Soul Ring energy.

"Fengzhi, you saw it too."

Sword Douluo Chen Xin finally spoke, his voice low.

"This boy's Soul Ring is no ordinary thing. It did not come from hunting a Soul Beast, nor can an ordinary Soul Spirit or divine bestowal explain it."

He glanced at Gu Rong beside him.

Bone Douluo Gu Rong had also dropped his usual teasing manner. He nodded gravely.

"Indeed. I've roamed the continent for years and seen countless Soul Rings from hunted beasts, but never a phenomenon like this. That color... it's unheard of."

He recalled the faint resistance he had encountered when probing it with his Soul Power.

"Its energy is strange, too. Neither pure fire nor any other known attribute, yet its level is frighteningly high."

Ning Fengzhi slowly rose and looked at Xiao Shenghe with mixed emotions.

This child was the flesh and blood of an old friend who had entrusted him to Ning Fengzhi on his deathbed. His origins had been shrouded in mystery from the start.

"Though the boy's father was an old acquaintance of mine, his identity was a mystery. I fear he may not have been a being born of this world at all."

He kept his voice so low that only the two Douluo beside him, Chen Xin and Gu Rong, could hear clearly.

"Now, with the appearance of this strange 'two-colored Soul Ring,' I have a bad feeling. This goes beyond 'genius.' It touches an unknown realm that could overturn the foundations of existing Soul Master theory."

"Daddy, what do you mean, a bad feeling? Is big brother going to... die soon?"

Ning Rongrong had been anxiously clutching the hem of Xiao Shenghe's clothes. She could barely follow the adults' solemn conversation, but the words "bad feeling" drained the color from her little face. Her eyes reddened at once, and her voice trembled with tears.

Ning Fengzhi froze. Only then did he remember his daughter was still there. He quickly put away his grave expression, smiled gently, and crouched to stroke Ning Rongrong's head.

"Ah, Rongrong, that's not what I meant. Your big brother Shenghe is a peerless talent! He'll be fine. Daddy was just... thinking about some complicated things."

"Okay."

Ning Rongrong sniffled. She did not quite understand, but hearing that her big brother Shenghe was all right brought a smile through her tears. She hugged Xiao Shenghe's arm tightly.

Xiao Shenghe had only just fully awakened from a state like Deep Meditation. Under the focused gazes of three of the continent's strongest figures, and faced with Ning Rongrong's undisguised reliance on him, he felt both warmth and unease.

He looked at Ning Fengzhi, Chen Xin, and Gu Rong, then asked hesitantly,

"Uh, Grandpa Jian, Grandpa Gu, Uncle Ning... what's going on?"

"Shenghe."

Ning Fengzhi's voice had regained its calm, though the shock and deep thought in his eyes had not faded.

"Do you feel any discomfort? And this Soul Ring... how did it appear?"

He kept his tone as gentle as he could, but his question went straight to the heart of the matter.

He needed to determine whether this transformation, which defied common knowledge, was a blessing or a curse for Xiao Shenghe, and whether it concealed a deeper source of power beyond this world's understanding.

Xiao Shenghe drew a deep breath. He could feel the purple-black Soul Ring born of his "Earth Soul, First Ring: Three Thousand Burning Flame" slowly turning within him, faintly resonating with his bloodline.

He knew the conventions of Douluo Continent could not explain it.

He gave the answer he had prepared, speaking respectfully.

"Uncle Ning, Grandpa Jian, Grandpa Gu, I feel no discomfort. I only feel much more power within me, as though... something that had always been asleep has awakened."

"This Soul Ring... formed on its own while I was cultivating today. The scorching power I've had inside me since childhood began circulating by itself and suddenly condensed into a ring.

"As for why, I don't really know."

"Condensed on its own..."

Ning Fengzhi repeated softly, exchanging a glance with Chen Xin and Gu Rong.

That explained why there were no signs of a Soul Beast having been hunted.

There were precedents for Soul Rings reawakening on their own after a Soul Beast took human form and cultivated anew. But Xiao Shenghe's "two-colored Soul Ring" was still the strangest and most inexplicable case of all. Its energy seemed closer to the fusion of some rare marvel of heaven and earth than to the energy of a Soul Beast alone.

Chen Xin said in a deep voice,

"This boy's uncanny talent is rarely seen in this world. If outsiders learn of this Soul Ring, it may draw unwanted covetous eyes—or even disaster."

Gu Rong nodded too.

"Until he can protect himself, this must remain strictly secret. Only those of us here can know."

Ning Fengzhi nodded. There was no other choice.

He looked at Xiao Shenghe again. Alongside his usual affection, his eyes now held a solemnity they never had before.

"Shenghe, remember this: this Soul Ring is your greatest secret and the key to the road ahead. Within the sect, you are still my nephew and Rongrong's older brother."

"Outside, you must never reveal this Soul Ring's unusual appearance lightly. Only do so if your life is at stake."

He paused, then spoke with firm resolve.

"Uncle Jian and Uncle Gu will personally guide your further cultivation and exploration of your Martial Soul and Soul Ring. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect will always stand behind you."

Warmth and a sense of responsibility surged through Xiao Shenghe. He bowed solemnly.

"I understand. Thank you, Uncle Ning, Grandpa Jian, and Grandpa Gu."

"All right, Shenghe. Let's go outside and see what this First Soul Skill of yours can do."

Sword Douluo Chen Xin let the gravity fade from his face. A sharp, curious gleam flashed in his eyes.

He needed to see for himself what kind of ability this unprecedented "two-colored Soul Ring" could grant.

"Yes, Grandpa Jian!"

Xiao Shenghe perked up. He, too, was full of anticipation—and a trace of unease—about the First Soul Skill of his "Earth Soul: Three Thousand Burning Flame."

He followed the three elders, with Ning Rongrong holding tightly to his hand, to an open practice ground inside the sect. Reserved for sparring among high-level Soul Masters, it was protected by a barrier.

Once they had taken their places, Chen Xin turned to Bone Douluo Gu Rong. The faintest hint of a smile touched his lips. "Old Bones, you go spar with the boy."

Gu Rong rolled his eyes.

"Why me? You're the one who wanted him to use his skill. Why don't you go?"

Curious as he was about the Soul Ring, he felt that a mighty Titled Douluo "bullying" a ten-year-old child who had just obtained his First Soul Ring was beneath him.

"Because you're weaker."

Chen Xin spoke evenly, as if stating a fact.

"I might hurt him by accident."

It was only half a joke.

Chen Xin's Seven Kill Sword had attack power unmatched under heaven. Its edge was so fierce that he truly might struggle to test Xiao Shenghe without injuring him.

Gu Rong's Bone Dragon Martial Soul, on the other hand, combined offense and defense, with a greater emphasis on control and protection. His exquisite spatial abilities made him better suited to this sort of "instructive" sparring.

"Why, you old bastard!"

Gu Rong choked on the retort and glared, beard bristling. Still, he had to admit Chen Xin had a point.

Ning Fengzhi stepped in at just the right moment. His tone was gentle as he smoothed things over, but his decision as sect master left no room for argument.

"That's enough, Uncle Gu. Go spar with him. It's a chance to see what Shenghe's Soul Skill can do, so we'll know what to expect."