Standing nearby, Ghost Douluo had never expected Lin Hao to choose the Food System path, let alone persuade his old companion, Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan.
He, too, was filled with emotion.
After all, Lin Hao's reasoning made perfect sense.
Compared with those top-tier tool Martial Souls, the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum Martial Soul was an immortal herb with powerful medicinal properties. It was indeed better suited to the Food System path than the power attack system.
The only problem was that Food System Soul Skills produced Soul Power food, offering no combat skills!
But as Lin Hao had said, if he could cultivate an indestructible diamond body and create his own combat Soul Skills, that would work too!
Thus, Ghost Douluo said nothing.
After more than a day of travel, Lin Hao finally reached the Star Dou Great Forest with Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo.
"We're here. Get out!"
Under Chrysanthemum Douluo's guidance, they climbed down from the carriage.
Before them stretched an endless green sea of forest, filled with towering ancient trees whose branches and leaves blotted out the sky.
Sunlight spilled through the gaps, casting dappled patterns of light and shadow across the ground.
The air carried the scent of damp earth and the fresh fragrance of vegetation, brimming with vibrant life.
"Come on. Let's head inside!"
Then, led by Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo, Lin Hao entered the Star Dou Great Forest.
As they walked, Chrysanthemum Douluo explained.
"Following the Food System Soul Master path isn't that simple!"
"Generally speaking, you must meet two conditions to take the Food System path."
"First, your Martial Soul must be edible. Second, your first Soul Ring must come from an edible plant Soul Beast!"
"Otherwise, even with a noodle Martial Soul, if your first Soul Ring comes from a snake Soul Beast, the resulting Soul Skill won't produce Soul Power food. It'll be poisonous entanglement instead."
Listening to Chrysanthemum Douluo, Lin Hao's gaze grew a little strange.
A poisonous snake Soul Beast's Soul Ring...
If my teacher weren't Chrysanthemum Douluo, I'd suspect he was taking a jab at someone!
"Then, Teacher, what Soul Beast do you think I should choose for my first Soul Ring?"
Lin Hao couldn't help asking.
Chrysanthemum Douluo shook his head and sighed.
"If you chose the power attack system, I could offer you some advice."
"But if you choose to follow the Food System path, there really isn't much I can teach you."
"All I can say is, tell me what effect you want from the plant Soul Beast you absorb for your first Soul Ring, and I'll keep an eye out for a suitable one."
"Hmm..."
Lin Hao thought for a moment, then said.
"Teacher, you said food-type Martial Souls cultivate slowly."
"Then, for my first Soul Ring, I'd like to absorb one that improves my cultivation speed!"
Although Lin Hao had wanted his first Soul Ring to give him combat power,
when he considered the slow cultivation speed of Food System Soul Masters,
Lin Hao still decided to absorb a Soul Ring that would improve his cultivation speed first.
Afterward, he would find a way to consume more whale rubber to strengthen his physique, allowing him to absorb a Thousand-Year Soul Ring as his second Soul Ring.
Then his second Soul Ring could provide combat power, such as a Thunder Attribute Soul Ring.
A Thousand-Year Soul Ring would certainly have a better effect!
Of course, another major consideration was that the Thunder Attribute Soul Beast also had to be edible, which Lin Hao felt would be rather difficult.
"One that improves your cultivation speed? Understood!"
Chrysanthemum Douluo nodded, replying in his soft, feminine voice.
Then he and Ghost Douluo began searching the Star Dou Great Forest, guarding Lin Hao from the front and rear.
Along the way, Lin Hao witnessed the forest's primeval wilderness and immense expanse.
Towering ancient trees blotted out the sky, with thick vines winding between them.
A deep layer of fallen leaves covered the ground, soft beneath their feet.
The cries of all kinds of Soul Beasts rose and fell in the distant woods, some deep and resonant, others sharp and piercing.
During their journey, Lin Hao saw many Soul Beasts, some he had heard of in his previous life and others he had not.
Among the familiar ones was the renowned Godslayer Wind Baboon.
It was a burly ape-type Soul Beast covered in blue-green fur, with unusually long arms, exposed fangs, and blood-red eyes gleaming with ferocity.
There was also lone bamboo, which the "Grandmaster" Yu Xiaogang-who had passed fifty without even reaching rank thirty-had praised as "very tough."
It was an emerald-green bamboo stalk, straight and upright, unlike ordinary bamboo that grew in groves.
Instead, individual stalks stood alone in different places, far apart from one another.
There were also Netherworld Wolves, Ghost Leopards, Ghost Tigers, and more.
The unfamiliar ones were even more numerous.
There were Scarlet Flame Tigers, crimson all over, with a flame burning on their foreheads.
There were Azurewood Pythons five or six meters long, their scales the color of green wood.
There were also Rock-Armored Rhinos clad in thick stone armor, each step leaving a deep footprint in the ground...
Every kind of Soul Beast opened Lin Hao's eyes to something new.
The auras of the two Titled Douluos enveloped their surroundings. Sensing them from afar, the Soul Beasts fled in panic, not daring to approach.
Occasionally, a few low-level Soul Beasts too blind to know better charged over, only for a single glance from Ghost Douluo to send them fleeing, practically pissing and shitting themselves in terror.
Thus, they traveled through the forest for most of the day.
Finally, at the entrance to a valley, Chrysanthemum Douluo suddenly stopped.
He closed his eyes and carefully sensed their surroundings.
"Come on. Let's take a look inside."
As though something had occurred to him, Chrysanthemum Douluo led Lin Hao and Ghost Douluo deeper into the valley.
After entering the valley,
they followed a stream upstream for about half an hour before the view suddenly opened up.
In a small hollow grew a plant shaped like a four-leaf clover.
Its leaves were an emerald green, each crystalline and translucent, as though carved from the finest jade.
The entire plant shone with a faint green light, making the surrounding air fresh and moist. It felt like standing deep in the mountains at dawn, refreshing the spirit.
"This is... spirit gathering grass!"
A gleam flashed through Chrysanthemum Douluo's eyes. He hurried forward, crouched to examine it carefully, then turned to Lin Hao, his face full of joy.
"Hao, this spirit gathering grass is nearly four hundred years old!"
"This plant Soul Beast is extremely rare. It actively absorbs the spiritual energy of heaven and earth around it, making the concentration of spiritual energy where it grows far higher than elsewhere."
"And it's edible, without any toxicity. On the contrary, it contains abundant life energy!"
"After absorbing its Soul Ring, you should obtain a Soul Skill with a similar effect. It will certainly improve your cultivation speed!"
Hearing this, Lin Hao's heart filled with joy.
A four-hundred-year Soul Ring was already quite good for a first Soul Ring.
Moreover, spirit gathering grass suited his needs perfectly, improving his cultivation speed and making up for the Food System path's slow cultivation.
"Go on, Hao."
Chrysanthemum Douluo patted his shoulder encouragingly.
"This spirit gathering grass has no offensive abilities. Destroy it with your Silver Dragon Spear, then absorb its Soul Ring."
"We'll guard you from nearby."
"Yes, Teacher!"
Lin Hao nodded, took a deep breath, and retrieved the Silver Dragon Spear from his Golden Chrysanthemum Bracelet, gripping it tightly.
Forged with deep sea silver mixed into it, the spear felt cold in his hands and had substantial weight.
His small, six-year-old body struggled a little to hold it.
But with his rank-ten Soul Power supporting him, it was hardly too heavy to lift.
Holding the Silver Dragon Spear, Lin Hao walked toward the spirit gathering grass, step by step.
The emerald-green four-leaf clover swayed gently in the breeze, seemingly unaware of its approaching fate.
Green motes drifted slowly from its leaves like fireflies, their beauty intoxicating.
Lin Hao gritted his teeth, raised the Silver Dragon Spear, aimed at the spirit gathering grass's roots, and thrust down hard.
Squelch!
The gleaming silver spearhead pierced the soil, striking precisely into the spirit gathering grass's roots.
The spirit gathering grass trembled violently, the green light on its leaves flickering as though it were making one final struggle.
But just as Chrysanthemum Douluo had said, this plant Soul Beast had no means of attacking.
Within just a few breaths, the spirit gathering grass's light faded completely.
Soon, countless yellow motes streamed out of the Spirit Gathering Grass, gathering above into a bright Yellow Soul Ring that hovered in the air, slowly revolving.
A four-hundred-year Soul Ring!
"Hao, now!"
Chrysanthemum Douluo's voice came from behind him.
"Sit cross-legged, summon your Martial Soul, and draw the Soul Ring over!"
Hearing this, Lin Hao put away the Silver Dragon Spear and sat cross-legged, extending his right hand to summon his Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum Martial Soul.
Then he circulated the Soul Power within his body, drawing the spirit gathering grass's Soul Ring over until it slipped around the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum Martial Soul in his hand.
An immense surge of energy instantly poured into Lin Hao's body.
Compared with animal Soul Beasts, the spirit gathering grass, as a plant Soul Beast, released very gentle Soul Power through its Soul Ring. Like a trickling stream of warmth, it flowed throughout Lin Hao's body, nourishing every limb and bone.
Lin Hao felt warm all over, as though soaking in a hot spring. Every pore opened, greedily absorbing that pure energy.
He had no idea how much time passed.
When Lin Hao opened his eyes again, the sky had already begun to darken.
Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo stood guard on either side of him.
Seeing him wake, Chrysanthemum Douluo immediately asked with concern:
"Hao, how do you feel?"
"Teacher, I feel great!"
Lin Hao smiled and stood, stretching his limbs. His entire body felt full of strength, and his spirits were much brighter than before.
Looking down at his palm, he saw a bright Yellow Soul Ring slowly revolving around his Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum Martial Soul, radiating a gentle glow.
It worked!
Lin Hao was delighted and pleasantly surprised.
At the same time, he sensed a mysterious body of information appearing in his mind.
It contained the complete details of the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum Martial Soul's first Soul Skill.
Since he had chosen to follow the Food System path,
Lin Hao's first Soul Skill naturally came with a soul incantation!
The incantation was: Singular Velvet Sky·Spirit Gathering!
Its effect was to consume Soul Power to create a Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum imbued with the properties of spirit gathering grass.
After being eaten, it would continuously gather the surrounding spiritual energy of heaven and earth for a period of time, greatly improving the user's cultivation speed.
The efficiency and duration of this spiritual energy gathering depended on Lin Hao's cultivation rank.
Before you continue