Sun Flower

After experimenting for a while and gaining a rough understanding of his martial soul's characteristics, Xu Yang hurried back to the dormitory, changed into a fresh set of clothes, then slipped into the orphanage's Library Pavilion. He headed straight for the section on soul skills and Spirit Beasts, taking out one book on fire-attribute Spirit Beasts and another on light-attribute Spirit Beasts.

He needed to plan out the Soul Rings his Sun Martial Soul would absorb.

The Sun Martial Soul possessed Sun Power—Extreme Yang Extreme Strength—and held attributes close to both Ultimate Fire and light. Therefore, every Soul Ring he absorbed had to come from fire- and light-attribute Spirit Beasts. Preferably, they would be Spirit Beasts related to the sun or possessing both attributes at once.

When the same type of martial soul absorbed the same kind of Spirit Beast, the resulting soul skills were usually similar, with little difference between them.

Thus, the books contained detailed descriptions of the soul skills each type of Spirit Beast could provide.

"First, I need a soul skill that can assist me in controlling flames. With it, I can train myself to manipulate fire with precision. That way, no matter what soul skills I add later, I won't lack offensive methods."

There were basically two forms of fire-based attacks: one was changes in nature, while the other was Form Change. With a soul skill that controlled flames, he would not need to worry about Form Change. His remaining Soul Rings could then focus entirely on improving changes in nature, allowing them to reach the level of Ultimate Fire.

"Fire Spirit Soul Beast: a top-tier fire-attribute Spirit Beast with extremely powerful control over flames. It mostly lives in volcanoes rich in fire elements. If hunted by a Beast Spirit, it will increase resistance to flames, and its soul skill is usually Flame Armor. If hunted by a Tool Spirit, it grants a Flame Release-type soul skill. If hunted by a fire elemental martial soul, it grants Fire Element Control!"

"This is it!"

After reading the introduction to the Fire Spirit Soul Beast, Xu Yang could not take his eyes off it. This Spirit Beast perfectly matched his expectations, but its numbers were simply too scarce, making suitable ones difficult to find.

One had to know that at its peak, a Fire Spirit Soul Beast was comparable to the Heavenly Snow Woman.

Who was the Heavenly Snow Woman?! She ranked third among the Ten Great Ferocious Beasts, the true ruler of the Extreme North, the undisputed strongest.

The fact that the Fire Spirit Soul Beast could stand on par with the Heavenly Snow Woman showed just how rare and powerful it was. Both were elemental spirits.

So, he decided to keep looking and see whether there were other options.

When it came to Soul Rings, Xu Yang's principle was that it was better to go without than settle for something inferior. If he did not find a suitable one, he would not absorb one. In any case, according to some Grandmaster's theory, it would not affect his cultivation.

Of course, he also needed backup plans. He could not remain at the same realm forever just because he failed to find the ideal Spirit Beast, so alternatives were necessary.

Before long, Xu Yang found another suitable Spirit Beast in the book—the Sun Flower. The name alone made it clear that this Spirit Beast was related to the sun. It possessed both fire and light attributes, along with a slight spiritual attribute. Similar to sunflowers from his previous life, it could gather and draw in Sun Power to raise its cultivation, and it could also heal nearby Spirit Beasts.

What caught his attention was its ability to gather and draw in Sun Power. A Spirit Master could inherit this ability as well. It was simply too compatible with the Sun Martial Soul; combined with its own characteristics, who knew how much it could increase his cultivation speed?

"Perhaps the Sun Flower is more suitable as my first Soul Ring!"

After considering it carefully, Xu Yang decided that his first Soul Ring would be the Sun Flower. This soul skill suited the Sun Martial Soul too well. Once he had the ability to gather Sun Power, it would be like carrying a simulated cultivation ground with him, allowing him to improve his cultivation at every moment.

The earlier he obtained a soul skill like this, the better.

Most importantly, Sun Flowers were fairly numerous and relatively easy to acquire.

Still, he needed to look further. There might be an even better choice...

Unfortunately, things did not go as he wished. Or perhaps the orphanage's collection on Spirit Beasts was not comprehensive enough. Xu Yang did not find any other suitable Spirit Beasts—not a single one that satisfied him.

At that moment, Xu Yang had no idea that four people were watching him curiously from not far outside the building.

"Fengzhi, I didn't expect this child to be so much more mature than the other orphans. He had only just awakened his martial soul, yet he was already in the Library Pavilion searching for suitable Spirit Beasts."

"Yes! According to the information provided by the orphanage director, he was found near Seven Treasure City. No one knows who his parents are. But he is very sensible and has never caused any trouble. He even takes the initiative to help care for the other orphans. Among the children who arrived with him, not a single one refuses to listen to him!"

"Not only that, he listens extremely attentively whenever the teachers give lessons, without the slightest slackness. His attitude is excellent. That alone is enough for me to appreciate him!"

As he spoke, Ning Fengzhi's gaze toward Xu Yang became increasingly satisfied. He had already decided to take this child as his disciple.

"He really is quite good," Gu Rong said with a smile in his eyes.

"Madam, Uncle Sword, Uncle Gu, let's go. Let's meet this child!"

Ning Fengzhi called to the three people beside him, then took the lead into the orphanage. Under the guidance of the director, Ning Que, they headed toward the Library Pavilion.

"Xiao Yang, the Sect Leader, the Sect Leader's Wife, and the two Grand Elders have come to see you. Why aren't you coming out to greet them?"

Before they even entered the Library Pavilion, Ning Que's voice carried throughout it. Few people besides Xu Yang ever came to the orphanage's Library Pavilion, so there was no rule requiring silence.

Hearing the call, Xu Yang quickly stood up, closed the books and notes on the table, and looked toward the doorway.

Behind Ning Que stood four people. At the front were a middle-aged man and woman, clearly a married couple.

The man had a face like polished jade, a straight nose, square lips, and gentle eyes. He appeared refined and elegant. His spotless white robes were immaculate, and his black hair hung loosely down his back without seeming the least bit affected. The woman was gentle as water, with an oval face and skin as fair as jade. She too wore white, though hers was a long dress. Her chestnut hair fell all the way to her waist, and she possessed a noble, ethereal bearing.

The two behind them were elderly men. One had an ancient, austere appearance, with white hair and beard. He wore a spotless snow-white robe, his expression indifferent, his eyes seeming unable to see anything around him. Yet merely standing there quietly, he gave off a feeling that heaven and earth, and all things within them, were beneath him alone.

The other had a withered face, shriveled muscles and skin, and deeply sunken eye sockets. He was not the sort of burly man with overly swollen muscles, but his entire skeletal frame was astonishingly large. His clothes seemed to be held up entirely by his bones. A few sparse strands of white hair grew atop his head, and his terrifying height approached two and a half meters.

From their appearance alone, he guessed who they were: Ning Fengzhi, Chen Xin, Gu Rong, and the Sect Leader's Wife, whom the Original Work had never mentioned. In any case, he had no idea who she was.

"Xu Yang greets the Sect Leader, Madam, and the two Elders!"

Xu Yang lowered his posture and spoke respectfully to the four of them.

Although Xu Yang knew that the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had its own motives in taking him in, he was still deeply grateful to them. If the sect had not taken him in, he might well have died long ago, let alone lived peacefully and comfortably until awakening his martial soul.

Therefore, Xu Yang gave them the respect they deserved.