With Chrysanthemum Douluo leading the way, Lin Hao arrived at Ghost Douluo's residence.
Ghost Douluo's residence was considerably smaller than Chrysanthemum Douluo's Chrysanthemum Residence.
The entire estate was shrouded in gloomy hues.
Its courtyard walls towered high, and its gates stood tightly shut, exuding a cold, deathly stillness.
Chrysanthemum Douluo paid it no mind. He pushed the gates open and led Lin Hao inside, calling out in his soft, effeminate voice as they walked.
"Old Ghost! Come out and see who I've brought!"
Before his voice had faded, a figure swiftly approached.
The newcomer wore black armor and had a tall build, with long black hair and bangs that covered his eyes. His skin was so pale it was nearly bloodless, and his presence was cold and sinister.
"Old Chrysanthemum, this little fellow is..."
Upon seeing Lin Hao, Ghost Douluo couldn't help looking surprised and uncertain.
"This is little Hao, my new disciple!"
Chrysanthemum Douluo puffed out his chest proudly.
"Little Hao, summon your martial soul and show Uncle Ghost!"
Lin Hao obediently extended his right hand. Brilliant golden-purple light bloomed once more, and a Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum quietly appeared above his palm.
For a moment, Ghost Douluo was utterly startled, hardly able to believe his eyes.
"That's... the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum martial soul?!"
"That's right! And little Hao has innate full soul power, too!"
Chrysanthemum Douluo looked immensely pleased with himself.
At that, Ghost Douluo turned toward Chrysanthemum Douluo in even greater shock, disbelief coloring his voice.
"Old Chrysanthemum, what kind of dog-shit luck did you stumble into?!"
"Hehe, jealous?"
Chrysanthemum Douluo grinned from ear to ear, his face brimming with pride.
"Old Chrysanthemum, congratulations on taking in such a gifted disciple!"
Ghost Douluo spoke sincerely, and there was indeed a hint of envy in his eyes.
"Congratulations alone won't do. You're little Hao's elder, after all. Don't you have a welcoming gift for him?"
Chrysanthemum Douluo gave a soft, teasing chuckle.
Ghost Douluo scratched his head. After noticing the Golden Chrysanthemum Bracelet on Lin Hao's left wrist, he thought for a moment and said,
"You've already given little Hao your Golden Chrysanthemum Bracelet, and I don't have any other suitable gifts."
"As it happens, I stumbled upon a superb weapon from Gengxin City some time ago-a Silver Dragon Spear forged with an admixture of deep sea silver. I'll give that to little Hao!"
With that, Ghost Douluo took a silver spear engraved with dragon patterns from his Storage Soul Tool and handed it to Lin Hao.
The spear was silver-white from end to end, its shaft carved with exquisite dragon patterns that gleamed faintly in the light. Its tip was incredibly sharp and radiated a biting chill.
Although Lin Hao was still young and looked rather comical holding a spear meant for an adult,
he could sense how extraordinary it was.
Deep sea silver was a precious metal more than good enough even for Tang San's finest hidden weapons!
"Thank you, Uncle Ghost!"
Delighted, Lin Hao immediately offered his heartfelt thanks.
Although he now intended to follow the Food System path,
that didn't mean he was abandoning his own strength. Rather, he wanted to bring out the full potential of his Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum martial soul.
As a superb weapon, this Silver Dragon Spear would undoubtedly serve him well in the future.
Hearing Lin Hao's thanks, Ghost Douluo smiled, quite satisfied.
He felt that Lin Hao was a very polite child.
Then Ghost Douluo turned to Chrysanthemum Douluo and asked,
"Since little Hao has innate full soul power, when are you planning to take him hunting for his first soul ring?"
"Tomorrow!"
Chrysanthemum Douluo gave his answer.
"That's also part of why I came to see you. If you're free tomorrow, could you come with me to take little Hao to the Star Dou Great Forest to hunt for a soul ring?"
"Of course I'm free!"
Ghost Douluo agreed without hesitation.
Since it was already getting late,
after spending a little while at Ghost Douluo's residence,
Chrysanthemum Douluo took Lin Hao, together with Ghost Douluo, to an upscale restaurant in Spirit City for dinner.
During the meal, however, Lin Hao kept thinking about hunting for his first soul ring tomorrow.
How should I tell Chrysanthemum Douluo that I want to develop along the Food System path rather than the power attack system?
That evening, after returning to the Chrysanthemum Residence,
Lin Hao feigned curiosity about martial souls and questioned his teacher, Chrysanthemum Douluo.
Since his teacher recognized the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum martial soul and even called it an immortal herb,
were there any books that described it?
He wanted to learn more about his martial soul.
"Of course there are!"
Chrysanthemum Douluo smiled softly and proudly as he spoke.
"Right now, your teacher may be the only person on the entire continent who owns a book recording so many immortal herbs!"
With that, Chrysanthemum Douluo handed Lin Hao an ancient book called the Immortal Herb Illustrated Record.
It described not only the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum, but many other immortal herbs as well.
The effects of the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum were also recorded within-not only could it improve cultivation and aptitude, but according to legend, it could also forge an indestructible diamond body.
Lin Hao accepted the book and leafed through it carefully, all the while planning how to broach the subject.
In the blink of an eye, the next day arrived.
Once their preparations were complete,
Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo took Lin Hao into a carriage and headed straight for the Star Dou Great Forest.
On the way, Chrysanthemum Douluo asked Lin Hao what kind of soul ring he wanted to absorb as his first soul ring-an offensive one, a defensive one, or some other type?
Lin Hao hesitated for a moment before answering.
"Teacher, last night I read in the Immortal Herb Illustrated Record that immortal herbs can all be consumed, and their medicinal effects are far greater than those of a ten thousand year ginseng king."
"And our Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum martial soul can even forge an indestructible diamond body."
"As a flower martial soul, our Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum is naturally awkward to use as a weapon. So why can't we take the Food System path?"
"Food System soul masters can create soul power food to consume. Wouldn't that bring out our martial soul's effects perfectly?"
"Compared with other soul power food, our Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum martial soul naturally has medicinal effects more powerful than even ten-thousand-year-old ginseng, and it can forge an indestructible diamond body."
"Doesn't that make it a top-tier food-type martial soul?"
"You want to take the Food System path?"
Hearing Lin Hao's words, Chrysanthemum Douluo froze, his brows drawing together slightly.
"Little Hao!"
"What you're saying does make sense!"
"But Food System soul masters have almost no combat ability. They can only provide logistical support!"
Chrysanthemum Douluo spoke earnestly.
Lin Hao, however, smiled confidently and replied,
"Teacher, that's only true of ordinary Food System soul masters."
"But our Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum martial soul is an immortal herb! Your Immortal Herb Illustrated Record even says that consuming a Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum can grant the effects of an indestructible diamond body!"
"Even if the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemums I create through Food System cultivation have greatly reduced medicinal potency,"
"as long as I consume them every day, their medicinal effects will keep accumulating, and I'll definitely gain a truly indestructible, incredibly powerful body!"
"As for a food-type martial soul lacking powerful soul skills,"
"I can absorb soul rings with various elemental attributes. For example, I could absorb a Thunder Attribute soul ring to give my soul power that attribute, allowing it to transform into lightning."
"Then I'll surely be able to turn my soul power into different forms of energy, such as the power of thunder, and develop different self-created soul skills. Wouldn't that give me powerful combat ability just the same?"
Lin Hao spoke with a confident smile.
"Besides, Food System soul masters don't necessarily lack combat ability."
"Last night, I read in the Soul Beast Illustrated Record that a Mirror Shadow Beast can copy a soul master's soul skills. It can also transform into other soul beasts, or summon mirror images of other soul beasts and control them in battle."
"So if I can hunt down a Mirror Shadow Beast and absorb its soul ring, I might gain its copying ability. Perhaps I'd be able to copy other soul masters' martial souls and soul skills!"
"And if I combine that with the powerful body I'd gain from consuming Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemums over a long time on the Food System path, wouldn't I be even stronger?!"
Chrysanthemum Douluo hadn't expected Lin Hao to know so much or think so far ahead.
He was shocked, but also somewhat hesitant.
After all, this meant taking an entirely new path.
In this regard, even he wouldn't be able to offer Lin Hao much guidance.
Lin Hao noticed Chrysanthemum Douluo's hesitation and uncertainty, however, and continued to strike while the iron was hot.
"Teacher, do you think your Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum martial soul ranks among the best tool martial souls?"
At that, Chrysanthemum Douluo fell silent.
Although he was a Titled Douluo, he might truly be no match for someone of the same rank whose martial soul was the Seven Kill Sword or the Clear Sky Hammer.
He understood what Lin Hao meant-the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum was a flower martial soul. Even if it was immortal grade, it was naturally ill-suited to being used as a tool martial soul.
Against soul masters of the same rank with top-tier tool martial souls, it was difficult to win.
Thus, making use of an immortal herb martial soul's medicinal advantages and taking the food-type path might be better.
Chrysanthemum Douluo sighed and asked Lin Hao very seriously,
"If you take the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum martial soul down the Food System path, I won't be able to guide you in cultivating your martial soul anymore."
"Besides, food-type martial souls naturally cultivate slowly. That could affect your cultivation as well."
"If I agree to let you take the Food System path and you run into problems in the future, will you regret it?"
Lin Hao answered with ironclad resolve.
"I won't regret it! And so what if I'm a Food System soul master?"
"I'm a member of Spirit Hall. Even if I take the Food System path and have little combat ability, the utility of my Food System abilities will still make me an indispensable member of Spirit Hall!"
Hearing that, Chrysanthemum Douluo finally let go of his doubts and sighed.
"I took the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum martial soul down the power attack system path, but even among soul masters of my own rank, I'm not one of the strongest."
"Perhaps I was wrong."
"The Food System path you mentioned may be the one that suits the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum martial soul best!"
"Since you want to take the Food System path, then go ahead!"
"You have my approval!"
Before you continue