The Terrifying Quality of the Sword God Pearls

Half a month later, at the Martial Hall, Grandpa Chen Yu was there too.

After saluting, Chen Xiaojun said solemnly, "Grandpa, Second Granduncle, based on my research over these past few days, I've provisionally worked out the directions for my first three Soul Skills. I began with the qualities of the Sword God Pearls, as we discussed before."

Three Sword Pearls appeared before Chen Xiaojun. Yes, he no longer needed to activate all ten Sword God Pearls in his Martial Soul. He could make just one or several appear in his hand.

The first Sword God Pearl was a pale, translucent white. The second shimmered like a lake beneath the moon, its light rippling in an exceptionally splendid silver-white. The third gave off a fierce Killing Qi, and its entire surface was the color of red bronze.

Chen Xiaojun continued, "After spending these days sensing and communicating with them, I've found that the first represents a refined, elegant sword, the second a sword of Peerless Nobility, and the third..."

Chen Yu said, "The Killing Qi from the third is so strong. It's not inferior to the Seven Kill Sword at all. Your Seven Kill Qi-Concealing Technique works even better on this sword."

Chen Yu had never sensed such powerful Killing Qi from the Divine Sword Pearls before.

Chen Xiaojun sighed. "That's right. It's a sword of Fearless Resolve, and also an assassination sword. A warrior sets out, never to return..."

Chen Yu praised it. "What a sword!"

Chen Xiaojun said, "I studied the seven paths in our clan and found that they have something in common. Two types of Soul Skills are essential, even for the Defense System."

Chen Cong smiled faintly. "Oh? Tell us, Little Xiaojun. What have you discovered?"

Chen Xiaojun grumbled to himself, Second Granduncle, you give me a different nickname every day.

He said, "The First Soul Skill is a Flying Speed Soul Skill. 'Under heaven, nothing can break through if it isn't fast.' Speed, especially sword speed, is important to us, and every path places it among its early skills."

"The second is an Area Attack Soul Skill-Ten Thousand Swords Returning to the Origin. Hmm, even the name is the same. Every path has its own Ten Thousand Swords Returning to the Origin, as does everyone I've asked. Their power varies, and they're all mid- or late-stage Soul Skills."

Chen Cong rubbed his chin and said, "Haha, that's right. Swordsmen all have a few things in common."

"Speed is one of the core elements for us swordsmen. It isn't just about fast attacks; these Soul Skills also have the characteristics of ranged attacks or flight. They're important early on. It's only when Soul Masters reach the later stages and master the Sword-Controlling Art that they use them less often."

"And Ten Thousand Swords Returning to the Origin is absolutely the signature Soul Skill the Seven Kill Sword is best known for. Its Sword Rain attack combines Area Attack, ranged attacks, locking on, range, control, flight, and other effects."

He grinned, showing his white teeth. "So, what are your ideas for your own Soul Skills?"

Chen Xiaojun continued, "My idea is to avoid having them become obsolete later on. The First Soul Skill should grant speed or flight. Speed is also one of the first pearl's qualities."

"The Second Soul Skill should be an Enhancement Skill. The Third Soul Skill can add an attack skill. That fits the qualities of the Divine Sword Pearls, too."

A little while later, Chen Cong said, "Mm, that'll work. You won't be in danger while you're in the village these next few years, so there's no need to rush to add attack Soul Skills to your first two Soul Rings."

"Your approach is sound. This should help solve the problem of early Soul Skills becoming obsolete."

"Actually, we had the same idea, and there's another advantage to it."

Chen Xiaojun's eyes lit up. "Second Granduncle, what advantage?"

Chen Cong said seriously, "According to our ancestors' research, the First Soul Ring is just as important as the Seventh and Ninth Soul Rings. It can more easily change some quality of a Martial Soul."

"Choosing a speed-type skill can make your Martial Soul lighter and faster."

Chen Xiaojun raised his voice slightly. "Second Granduncle, what if my first Soul Skill starts at a thousand years?"

Chen Yu and Chen Cong exclaimed at the same time, "What?!"

Chen Cong said firmly, "Impossible! Even with an Enhancement, if you choose a Soul Beast of the same type as your Martial Beast, or one whose Soul Power is gentle and easy to absorb-even Blue Silver Grass, which is the easiest to absorb-the most your first Soul Ring could handle would be around six hundred years."

Chen Xiaojun shook his head. "That's true under normal circumstances, but Second Granduncle, you've forgotten that my Martial Soul needs Soul Power to activate."

Chen Cong caught on. "Hmm. You mean that when you absorb the Soul Ring, your Divine Sword Pearls will absorb some of the Soul Power at the same time? In that case, you'd need a Soul Beast with a higher age?"

Chen Xiaojun affirmed, "Right. That's one of the traits unique to my Martial Soul."

Chen Cong suddenly understood. "I thought you only had to pour Soul Power into it yourself. So that's how it works."

Chen Xiaojun said, "Mm. It has to be activated while I'm obtaining the Soul Ring."

Chen Cong gathered his thoughts and said, "If that's the case, Big Brother, Xiaojun, although some of the Soul Power will be divided off and the Enhancement will be weaker, it will still be a reduction from a thousand-year Soul Beast's Soul Power. That's more than the Soul Power granted by other people's First Soul Rings."

Then he cried out excitedly, "Most importantly, this is a thousand-year Soul Beast's baptism. What you gain is a genuine thousand-year Soul Skill!"

The so-called "baptism" was the Soul Power, physical Essence, and Mental Power granted to a Soul Master by a Soul Ring after a Soul Beast died.

Chen Xiaojun smiled. "Second Granduncle, to be precise, it's around fifteen hundred years. The pearl tells me it needs the Soul Power of a thousand-year cultivation base to activate."

Chen Yu asked solemnly, "After a Soul Beast dies, the Soul Ring's power pours in along with its Innate Skill, Soul Power, physical Essence, and Mental Power."

"If you were within the limit, there'd be no problem. But now you're aiming for a thousand years, so the Essence and Mental Power will make it more dangerous. What will you do?"

Although Chen Cong's reasoning made sense, Chen Yu was still most concerned about Chen Xiaojun's safety.

Chen Xiaojun explained gravely, "I'll use the Sword God Pearls to absorb it!"

"I sense them every day, and they've absorbed quite a lot of my Mental Power, like a bottomless pit. So Mental Power won't be a problem."

"They can absorb some Essence too, and Essence is much gentler than Soul Power or Mental Power. As long as I choose the right Soul Beast, it shouldn't be a problem."

"I can absorb around five hundred years' worth of the most violent Soul Power myself."

"Thanks to the clan, I've had Medicinal Baths since I was little, and I've eaten medicinal dishes and Soul Beast meat. Add in two years of exercise, and my body is in very good condition. My physique is quite strong."

"I should be able to absorb it successfully. And if anything goes wrong during the process, Grandpa, you're a Titled Douluo, so you can stop it, right?"

There was no denying that being raised with the Chen Clan's careful attention made a difference. Compared with Tang San, who had been malnourished as a child, Chen Xiaojun's body was far superior to his. He was much taller, not to mention his muscle density and reflexes.

Over the past three years, he'd had more than a hundred Medicinal Baths alone, which had cost hundreds of thousands of Gold Coins.

There was also Soul Beast meat, Spirit Fruits and Vegetables, high-grade rice, and Ye Xiuxin and Chen Xun periodically unblocking his meridians.

On top of that, the Number One Family Under Heaven had passed down its profound arts for two thousand years since its founding, and they were no worse than the Mysterious Heaven Skill.

Then there were the several hours of systematic training he'd done each day for more than two years, along with Chen Yu and Chen Xun's careful guidance.

No one knew Chen Yu's strength, but however you looked at it, he was a Titled Douluo, a Seven Kill Sword Titled Douluo. Chen Xun, according to records from later generations, was a Level 98 Douluo.

If he couldn't beat six-year-old Tang San from the same period, he'd be useless!

Chen Xiaojun was getting excited too. "Suppose I succeed in absorbing a Soul Ring beyond my level this time. Then the second and third pearls should work the same way. Three thousand-year Soul Rings would be of great benefit to my growth."

Chen Yu and Chen Cong exchanged a glance. "Good! The second and third pearls are a long way off. Have you chosen the Soul Beast for your First Soul Ring?"

Chen Xiaojun said, "It should be an elegant, refined Soul Beast. I'm thinking of choosing a Pegasus, Lightfeather Unicorn, Swan, or Spirit Crane-some kind of bird."

"I checked the records. There used to be Pegasi in the Xieluo Mountains. They're both elegant and refined, and they're very likely to grant a speed skill, so the Pegasus is my first choice."

Chen Yu couldn't help nodding. "A Pegasus is very likely to have a Wind Attribute speed skill. It's unquestionably an Upper-ranked Soul Beast. The Soul Skill you gain would be comparable to another Soul Master's Third or even Fourth Soul Skill."

Then he called loudly toward the doorway, "Chen Wu!"

Chen Wu heard Chen Yu call him and came in. "Uncle Yu."

Chen Yu said, "Over the next couple of days, take Xiaojun to the Black Moon Woods and let him face some Soul Beasts. Let him see blood. Tell Old Black to take it easy."

Shaolin Mountain stretched northwest. There was a hollow in the mountains here, its top marked by exposed bedrock, with Yellow Earth and loose material covering the surrounding area.

A few li north of the village lay an open area with a patch of woods at the foot of the hollow. The trees were lush and included birch, lacquer, and poplar. There were some low-level Soul Beasts in the woods, mostly Soul Beasts under ten thousand years old.

The Black Moon Woods were ruled by a pack of Black Moon Wolves. Old Black, their leader, was a Black Moon Shadowkiller Wolf, and was considered to be "raised" by the Chen Clan. He had witnessed a century of the Chen Clan's fortunes and misfortunes. Under another's roof, even a wolf had to bow its head.

Actually, "raising" Soul Beasts wasn't unusual on Douluo Continent. All the great powers did it.

For example, the Spirit Hall's Soul Hunting Forest, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's Thunderbolt Canyon, and the Star Luo Imperial Family's Royal Forest.

Wolf packs were among the most disciplined Soul Beasts. With a Wolf King keeping them in check, things were unlikely to go wrong, and they weren't weak in battle. They were an excellent choice for protecting the Chen Clan's children and serving as sparring partners.

Of course, the Chen Clan usually gave the Black Moon Wolf Pack plenty of benefits too. Even when the nearby city or town needed to clear out Soul Beasts, they'd send word to the pack.

"Understood. I'll go speak to Old Black today." Chen Wu left after receiving his orders.

Actually, even without a warning, the Black Moon Wolves wouldn't dare cause trouble. The pack knew the Chen Clan's clothing all too well. Chen Yu was just being overly concerned.

Chen Yu said, "Xiaojun, take this Storage Soul Tool. I should have given it to you when your Martial Soul Awakened, but Grandpa thought the one I had back then was too small, so I got you a bigger one. You know how to use it, right?"

Chen Yu handed Chen Xiaojun a blue-and-white bracelet. A strip of alternating gold and silver Cloud Patterns was engraved around the middle, giving it a very noble appearance.

Chen Xiaojun had coveted a Storage Soul Tool for a long time. It was standard equipment, after all. "Thank you, Grandpa. This Soul Tool looks impressive. What's it called?"

Chen Xiaojun sensed it. It was three or four meters long and wide, and nearly three meters high, with a total volume of over thirty cubic meters. He was very satisfied.

Chen Yu waved his hand. "Name it yourself."

Chen Xiaojun thought for a moment. "The Radiant Light Bracelet."

Chen Cong continued asking, "You mentioned your Martial Soul's characteristics just now. What else have you sensed?"

Chen Xiaojun said, "Mm. I mentioned that activating the Martial Soul absorbs Soul Power. The first pearl needs a thousand years' worth. I suspect the second and third won't each require a fixed thousand years, but will increase one by one."

Chen Cong nodded. "Hmm, that's possible."

Chen Xiaojun raised a second finger and said, "Second, each Sword God Pearl has a different special ability of its own, just as the Seven Kill Sword comes with Killing Qi and absorbs it for its own use."

"I can only confirm what they are after activating them. Right now, I only vaguely sense that this pearl should be related to the Wind and Light Attributes."

Chen Cong strongly agreed with this. "That much is certain. How could a Martial Soul of this rank not have anything special about it?"

Chen Xiaojun stated the last characteristic. "Third, these ten pearls are connected to one another in some way."

"I have a question: do I have one Martial Soul or ten? I'll have to figure that out later."

Chen Cong nodded with a smile. "I can answer that. You have one Martial Soul, and you also have ten Martial Souls. A Martial Soul like this is called a Set Martial Soul, and it's extremely rare. Anything else?"

Chen Xiaojun shook his head. "That's all for now."

Chen Cong was quite pleased with Chen Xiaojun's self-analysis. "You've summed it up very well."

"I think you can also approach this from another perspective. Your Martial Soul is the embryonic form of a Super Martial Soul. Consider the ten pearls as a whole and look at this embryonic form from a broader perspective: what is it?"

"Perhaps that's related to the third thing you mentioned-the connection between them."