Camping in the Dark of Night (II)

Even after finishing the beast-repelling defenses, Mo Yuan did not relax. He immediately took out a coil of thin, tough cord, with small, finely crafted copper bells tied along it at intervals.

With practiced movements, he quickly laid the cord around the perimeter of the tent, securing it taut while the copper bells hung suspended, swaying gently.

Should any soul beast approach the defensive line and touch it, the copper bells would immediately ring out with a clear chime, sounding the alarm at once and preventing any silent ambush.

Only after every layer of defense was in place and he had confirmed that the camp was secure did Mo Yuan finally set his mind at ease and walk slowly over to the campfire.

Lin Chen had thoughtfully prepared two small, lightweight folding wooden chairs. Mo Yuan settled into one, his posture relaxed but still harboring vigilance, his gaze constantly sweeping the dark woods around them.

As Lin Chen turned the meat he was roasting, he spoke softly:

"Teacher, your beast-repelling measures are so thorough. Scattering powder, setting up warning bells, putting layer upon layer of protection in place—we practically don't have to worry about soul beasts ambushing us at night."

The dancing campfire cast a warm, gentle glow over Mo Yuan's profile, stripping away the stern sharpness he usually wore when teaching and lending him a softer, more relaxed air.

His gaze unconsciously fell on the skewers of meat in Lin Chen's hands. Rich, savory aromas lingered around his nose, and a flicker of satisfaction quietly passed through his eyes.

Lin Chen was steady-tempered and hardworking, never impatient or negligent during their training journey. Mo Yuan was quite pleased with him.

Watching the young man roast the meat with practiced ease, he said calmly:

"When camping in the wilderness, carelessness is the greatest taboo. Soul beasts have keen senses of smell. An ordinary campfire can only deter low-level soul beasts. Truly middle- and high-level soul beasts have no fear of firelight. Only targeted repellents and warning systems can keep you safe."

Lin Chen nodded in realization. "So that's how it is. I thought lighting a fire would be enough to spend the night safely. I overlooked the threat posed by high-level soul beasts."

"You still lack experience. It's perfectly normal not to know the finer points," Mo Yuan said evenly. "Once you've gone through more training journeys, you'll naturally learn these rules for staying alive."

The campfire blazed, the wood burning steadily and occasionally throwing off little sparks.

Holding the skewers, Lin Chen patiently turned them over the flames. Fat sizzled in the heat, the meat gradually turned golden, and its rich aroma spread continuously, soothing the fatigue left by the day's hunt and breakthrough.

Liuli lay quietly and docilely beside Lin Chen's feet, three crimson fox tails resting gently in front, a furry head drooping slightly and eyes half-closed in repose, looking both languid and well-behaved.

Mo Yuan quietly watched the well-behaved boy and fox for a while. Only when Lin Chen had roasted the meat to a golden brown and its fragrance filled the air did he ask:

"You successfully absorbed the two-thousand-year Flame Spirit Fox soul ring this time, and your martial soul underwent a transformation. Tell me, what is your third soul skill? How good is it?"

At the question, Lin Chen stopped what he was doing and lowered his eyes slightly, sinking into thought.

Earlier, immersed in the excruciating pain of refining the ring and breaking through, he had kept his mind taut throughout, maintaining the circulation of his soul power with no time to spare for changes in his soul skills.

Now that he had fully settled down, his soul power flowed freely throughout his body, and his martial soul origin had fully unfurled. His awareness of the new soul skills was clearly imprinted in his mind and the core of his martial soul.

After sorting through all the changes, Lin Chen raised his eyes to Mo Yuan, his tone earnest and sincere:

"Teacher, there was something unusual about absorbing this thousand-year fire-attribute soul ring. My third soul ring produced two soul skills."

"Two?" Mo Yuan's brows rose slightly, clear surprise in his voice.

He had lived for decades, taught countless soul master disciples, and witnessed more geniuses and fortuitous encounters than he could count. Even so, a single thousand-year soul ring producing two soul skills for a level-thirty soul master was still an exceedingly rare manifestation of transformation.

But his surprise lasted only a moment. Mo Yuan quickly concealed it, his expression returning to its usual calm composure.

He considered it briefly, then said slowly, "Unexpected, but understandable. When ordinary soul masters follow the rules and absorb soul rings of the appropriate age, one ring yielding one skill is a fixed rule. But you're different."

He looked up at Lin Chen and explained earnestly:

"You absorbed a ring beyond your limits, forcibly enduring the Rampage energy of a two-thousand-year fire-attribute soul ring. Throughout the process, your flesh, meridians, and martial soul origin were all tempered under extreme pressure. Such a profound transformation already transcends the norm, so unlocking Dual Soul Skills is nothing strange. Across the continent, past and present, there have been plenty of precedents for absorption beyond one's limits producing two skills, or even unusual mutated soul skills."

Hearing this, Lin Chen breathed a little easier. The lingering surprise in his heart dissipated, and he continued to give an honest account of all the changes he had experienced:

"That's not all. The soul skills from my first two rings changed too. As my third soul ring took shape and my martial soul transformed as a whole, my first and second soul skills improved in every aspect. Their power, duration, and soul power circulation speed all increased considerably. It was as though they advanced along with my martial soul."

This time, Mo Yuan's expression did not change at all. Looking entirely accustomed to such things, he explained calmly:

"That's a normal transformation, nothing surprising. A soul master's martial soul is an integrated system. Tug a single strand of its foundation, and the whole body moves. By absorbing a high-level soul ring, you strengthened your martial soul origin and widened the meridians through which your soul power flows, slightly raising the grade of your entire martial soul. Your earlier soul skills were born from and depend on your martial soul. As the martial soul grows stronger, its skills naturally follow the principle of Rising Tide Lifts All Boats, strengthening in every aspect."

As he looked at his steady-tempered, exceptionally gifted disciple, the approval in his eyes deepened:

"By that reckoning, you've gained tremendously from this soul hunting trip. With two skills from your third soul ring, plus the complete transformation of your first two skills, your overall combat strength already far exceeds that of ordinary level-thirty soul masters at the same stage. Even against veteran Soul Grandmasters above level thirty, you would have the strength to put up a fight."

Lin Chen bowed slightly, his manner sincere and respectful:

"I owe these gains entirely to your protection throughout, Teacher. Without you drawing the soul beasts away, keeping the risks under control, and standing guard over me all night, I would never have dared to absorb a ring beyond my limits, much less trigger a transformation of my martial soul."

Mo Yuan waved a hand, his tone calm and clear:

"Outside help is ultimately just support. Hunting for a soul ring and tempering your body, enduring the scouring of extreme energy, holding your mind steady without letting your efforts collapse—all of that depended on your own will and foundation. A disciple with an impatient temperament and a flimsy foundation would never have withstood the Rampage backlash of a Two-Thousand-Year Soul Ring, no matter how thoroughly I protected them."

At this point, Mo Yuan's tone grew a little more serious:

"But you mustn't become too pleased with yourself. Two soul skills and stronger existing skills are an enormous stroke of fortune, but hidden dangers of backlash lurk within them as well. Absorption beyond your limits can all too easily leave concealed injuries in your origin. Tonight, regulate your breathing and energy carefully, stabilize your martial soul's foundation, and closely sense the flow of soul power inside you. You cannot afford the slightest oversight."

The campfire continued to blaze, and a gentle night breeze swept away the chill of the woods.

The camp's inner and outer layers of protection remained secure and thorough. The copper bells were silent, and the beast-repelling powder kept the presence of nearby beasts at bay. The entire area was peaceful and safe.

Liuli seemed to understand their conversation and lazily rolled over, three crimson fox tails brushing gently across the ground before rubbing against Lin Chen's shoes.

Looking at the docile, languid Liuli, Mo Yuan's gaze softened a little, and he reminded Lin Chen again:

"Liuli shares a symbiotic bond and a common origin with you. This time, Liuli completed the three-tailed transformation first and shouldered most of the energy pressure, allowing you to break through safely. Tonight, you and your beast companion should regulate your breathing and energy together, stabilize your cultivation, and familiarize yourselves with the rhythm of your new soul skills. Do not make any reckless moves during the night. Once dawn breaks tomorrow and the danger in the woods decreases, we'll return to the Academy."

"Understood, Teacher." Lin Chen nodded in acknowledgment and sat quietly beside the campfire, sensing the abundant, robust soul power within him as he carefully explored the new state of his transformed martial soul.