It worked!
A gleam flashed in Lin Hao's eyes, and the corners of his mouth rose involuntarily.
With this Soul Skill, the greatest weakness of his Food System path—its slow cultivation speed—would be greatly offset!
All he needed to do was eat a Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum with the effects of spirit-gathering grass each day, created using his First Soul Skill: Singular Velvet Sky·Spirit Gathering.
Even if his cultivation speed could not match those top geniuses, it certainly would not be slow!
"Hao, how is your first Soul Skill? Can it increase your cultivation speed?"
Just then, Chrysanthemum Douluo stepped forward and asked with concern.
"Yes, Teacher."
Lin Hao smiled as he spoke.
"I've named my first Soul Skill Singular Velvet Sky·Spirit Gathering."
"After consumption, it gathers the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, greatly increasing cultivation speed!"
"Excellent!"
Chrysanthemum Douluo gave a soft, effeminate laugh, looking as though he had expected nothing less, his eyes full of gratification.
"As expected of my disciple!"
"With this first Soul Skill, the slow cultivation speed of your Food System path will undoubtedly be offset to a great extent."
"Although your cultivation speed in the future might not match what it would have been on the power attack system path, it certainly won't fall behind Soul Masters with level-seven or level-eight innate Soul Power."
Ghost Douluo also showed a rare hint of approval, nodding as he said:
"The Soul Skill from four-hundred-year-old spirit gathering grass should be quite effective."
"Hao, make good use of this ability."
"Your Uncle Ghost looks forward to seeing you forge an entirely new, even stronger path for Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum Soul Masters!"
Although they had successfully obtained his first Soul Ring,
it was already dark.
Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo had set up camp, preparing to rest there for the night.
They would take Lin Hao back to Spirit City tomorrow.
The campfire crackled in the darkness, its orange-red light illuminating the three of them.
The nights in the Star Dou Great Forest were far from quiet.
From time to time, the low growls of Soul Beasts drifted over from the distance.
But with two Titled Douluos keeping watch, their campsite was the safest place in the entire forest.
Now that he had obtained his first Soul Skill,
Lin Hao was ready to test the effects of the Soul Power Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum created by his First Soul Skill.
He could hardly wait to learn whether the Soul Power Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum he produced after choosing the Food System development path would work as he had imagined.
And if it did not, just how different would it be?
So Lin Hao took a deep breath, then immediately activated his first Soul Skill with a low shout.
"First Soul Skill: Singular Velvet Sky·Spirit Gathering!"
The next moment, dazzling golden-purple light mingled with an emerald-green halo burst from Lin Hao's right hand.
Amid the swirling light, a peculiar flower slowly took shape in his palm.
This Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum looked much like his original Martial Soul, yet there were clear differences.
The Soul Power Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum looked as though it had been carved entirely from green jade. Its translucent emerald petals glowed with a warm luster in the firelight.
Only the flower's center still stood tall, radiating a faint golden glow.
Most striking of all were the four leaves growing along its stem, resembling those of spirit gathering grass. Each was crystal clear and brimming with vitality.
A peculiar flower combining the traits of the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum and spirit gathering grass lay quietly in Lin Hao's hand.
Beside him, Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo both turned to look when they heard Lin Hao's voice.
"Hao, are you going to test the effects of your first Soul Skill right now?"
Chrysanthemum Douluo asked.
"Yes, Teacher!"
Lin Hao nodded, holding the Spirit-Gathering Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum created by his First Soul Skill: Singular Velvet Sky·Spirit Gathering, as he spoke solemnly.
"But besides that, I also want to see the inherent effects of the Soul Power food my Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum Martial Soul produces after taking the Food System path."
"After all, according to your Immortal Herb Illustrated Record, Teacher, the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum is an immortal herb with powerful medicinal properties of its own. It might be able to raise my Soul Power rapidly."
"And the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum can also produce an indestructible diamond body."
"I'm really curious whether that's true!"
"Then give it a try, Hao."
Hearing this, Chrysanthemum Douluo felt a little anticipation himself. After a moment's thought, he spoke.
"The roots and stems of our Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum Martial Soul don't seem to be edible. All its essence is in the petals."
Lin Hao did not hesitate at those words, biting straight into the petals of the Spirit-Gathering Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum.
The instant the petals entered his mouth, a fresh sweetness spread across his tongue, carrying a faint herbal fragrance. Soft and juicy, they were unexpectedly delicious.
Lin Hao finished all the petals in just a few bites.
Then, as though all its essence had been consumed,
the remaining Spirit-Gathering Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum in his hand instantly dissolved into countless motes of Soul Power light. They drifted through the night sky like fireflies before vanishing without a trace.
After eating the Spirit-Gathering Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum,
Lin Hao immediately felt a searing energy surge into his body, flowing rapidly through every limb and bone.
The energy was intensely hot, bringing a faint burning sensation, yet it was not violent.
Instead, it carried a gentle, nourishing warmth. Wherever it passed, his muscles, bones, and meridians felt as though they had been washed in warm water, sending a comfortable tingling through him.
For a moment, Lin Hao felt the surrounding spiritual energy of heaven and earth begin gathering continuously, slowly converging around him as though drawn by some attraction.
At the same time, his body grew considerably stronger under the energy's nourishment.
He could clearly feel his strength increasing, his body becoming lighter and more powerful.
Yet his Soul Power barely increased at all.
A little disappointed, Lin Hao slowly opened his eyes.
"How was it?"
Chrysanthemum Douluo asked immediately, his eyes full of concern and curiosity.
Lin Hao shook his head with some regret and said,
"Teacher, the Food System path should be a good choice for the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum Martial Soul, but the inherent effects of turning it into Soul Power food still fall quite a bit short of what I imagined."
"Part of this Spirit-Gathering Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum's medicinal effect matches the Soul Skill: it gathers spiritual energy and increases my cultivation speed."
"The other part nourished my body. I can clearly feel that my strength has increased considerably."
"And that power improved my entire body."
"Besides strength, my speed, explosive power, even the toughness of my skin and the strength of my bones have all improved considerably. The effects are very noticeable."
"But there wasn't any clear increase in my Soul Power cultivation..."
By the end, a trace of regret had entered Lin Hao's voice.
He had been hoping this Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum could directly increase his Soul Power cultivation like a genuine immortal herb!
"It really can improve physical attributes!"
After hearing Lin Hao's account, Chrysanthemum Douluo could not help being astonished.
"The Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemums produced by taking this Martial Soul down the Food System path not only carry the Soul Skill's effects, but can also noticeably improve physical attributes."
"If this continues, could they truly allow a Soul Master to achieve the Indestructible Body?"
As for Lin Hao's complaint that there had been no noticeable increase in his Soul Power cultivation,
a hint of amusement appeared on Chrysanthemum Douluo's delicately handsome face, and he sighed.
"Hao! Don't demand perfection."
"This Soul Skill's effects are already very good!"
"A normal Immortal Grade Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum is a spiritual treasure of heaven and earth that needs thousands upon thousands of years to mature."
"That's why consuming one can noticeably increase Soul Power cultivation."
"But what your First Soul Skill: Singular Velvet Sky·Spirit Gathering creates is merely Soul Power food with the same outward appearance!"
"It's perfectly normal that it can't noticeably increase your Soul Power."
"The fact that it can greatly improve your physical attributes already makes its effects extraordinary!"
After speaking, Chrysanthemum Douluo could not help marveling a little, looking at Lin Hao with eyes full of admiration and anticipation.
"You brat, taking the Food System path might really have been the right choice."
"If you can truly achieve the Indestructible Body by consuming the various Soul Power food versions of the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum produced by your Martial Soul,"
"your defense will definitely rival that of a defense-type Titled Douluo, and your strength will be nothing to scoff at either!"
"And compared with a defense-type Titled Douluo,"
"if your Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum Martial Soul can obtain Soul Power foods with special enhancement and amplification effects by hunting different Soul Beasts and absorbing their Soul Rings,"
"for example, hunting a Mirror Shadow Beast as you suggested, obtaining its Soul Ring, and gaining a Soul Power Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum that can copy other people's Martial Souls and Soul Skill effects,"
"even with a time limit, a Soul Master with the defense of a defense-type Titled Douluo combined with the speed of an agility attack-type Titled Douluo would already be powerful enough!"
The more Chrysanthemum Douluo spoke, the more excited he became, as though he could already see Lin Hao commanding the winds and clouds in the future.
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