The human body's meridians were, to put it plainly, an alternate network of blood vessels connected together, transporting the blood that nourished the martial soul-soul power.
Viewed that way, there really was no such thing as visible or hidden meridians. They had always been there; you simply had never paid attention to them.
By following the circuit, attaching spiritual power to the routes along which soul power flowed, and carefully inspecting each stretch of the meridians, one could always find channels that soul power had never entered.
A water pipe with no water flowing through it could still transport water once water was poured into it.
With enough time spent finding every meridian in the human body and opening them all, it would simply be a matter of a steady trickle wearing away at the task.
Even if this method could not accelerate cultivation, nourishing the meridians would still greatly improve the body's strength. Those newly developed meridians could also store more soul power than an ordinary Soul Master's.
Moreover, the process of opening and nourishing his meridians would continually train Ye Qing's control over his own soul power, improve his use of spiritual power, and strengthen it.
Several birds with one stone.
This was a plan well worth investing time in, one that could bring Ye Qing numerous benefits.
Just as he was about to return to cultivating on the Golden Tree and devote most of his future time to developing his meridians, Bei Bei returned to Shrek Academy after spending a month away soul hunting.
As soon as he returned to the academy, Bei Bei headed straight for the Sea God Pavilion. He knew Ye Qing rarely went anywhere and only cultivated on the Golden Tree, so he would find him there.
Bei Bei had guessed correctly. Ye Qing had just returned to his personal spot among the Golden Tree's branches, ready to cultivate and develop his meridians.
He had barely sat down between the branches when Bei Bei's voice came from afar.
"Ye Qing, fight me!!!"
Up in the branches, Ye Qing dispersed the soul power he had prepared to open his hidden meridians, opened his eyes, and sighed softly.
"Fuck, why is it you again? You just keep haunting me."
Then Bei Bei ran up beneath the tree. Three soul rings shone around him, one yellow and two purple, while both his arms had transformed into blue dragon claws wreathed in electricity. He raised his head to look at Ye Qing.
"Haha, I'm already at level thirty-five! What level is your soul power?" Bei Bei laughed with his hands on his hips.
"Level thirty-three." Ye Qing stated his soul power level expressionlessly.
There was no need to hide it. His soul power lagged behind Bei Bei's because of his ultimate attribute, not because his talent was inferior. What was there to be embarrassed about?
Hearing Ye Qing's soul power level, Bei Bei suddenly felt the same bliss as a groom holding his bride on their wedding night. That incomparable sense of achievement was like basking in warm sunshine in the depths of a freezing winter. How delightful!
"You only beat me before because your soul power level was higher than mine. Now mine is two levels higher than yours. I refuse to believe you can still beat me!" As Bei Bei spoke, the electricity around him suddenly surged.
"Come on, let's fight again!"
Ye Qing jumped down from the branches and faced Bei Bei with the ghost of a smile. "Have you forgotten what we say at Shrek? Soul power level isn't everything."
Hum-
Three soul rings likewise rose beneath Ye Qing's feet, but his combination was different: yellow, purple, and black!
A ten thousand year soul ring!
Seeing that black soul ring, a full size larger than the others, Bei Bei visibly froze. He had indeed absorbed the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear's right arm bone, but Mu En had never told him it had dropped when Ye Qing obtained his third soul ring.
Bei Bei soon recovered from his daze, however, and declared firmly, "So what if your soul rings are older than mine? My soul power level is still two levels higher than yours!"
"In that case, make your move." Ye Qing remained calm.
The moment he finished speaking, Bei Bei's body tensed. His third ring, a thousand-year soul ring, abruptly lit up, and his aura rapidly climbed.
Thunderous Wrath!
Bei Bei knew very well how powerful his childhood playmate was. He had challenged Ye Qing no fewer than ten times growing up, only to suffer a crushing defeat every time. That was why he had decided to use his strongest ability right from the start.
After activating Thunderous Wrath, Bei Bei even sprouted a dragon horn where his side-parted fringe lay. His dark eyes turned blue, and lightning flickered in his pupils.
"Come on!" Bei Bei roared, raising his dragon claws as he charged at Ye Qing. His first soul ring lit up, and an enormous claw projection blasted from his hand toward Ye Qing.
Thunder Dragon Claw!
Faced with Bei Bei's attack, Ye Qing did not immediately activate Holy Radiance Protection. Since Bei Bei wanted to play with him so badly, he would play along.
Activating Holy Radiance Protection right away would leave no room for fun.
His right arm lit up. Dense light-attribute soul power was compressed through the Light-Breaking Soul Bone and gathered along the five fingers of his right hand, forming an illusory tiger paw.
After greatly improving his soul power control, he had compressed a modified version of the Light-Breaking Demon soul skill to create this unconventional close-combat self-created soul skill.
He raised his palm and brought it down!
Boom-crack!
Thunder exploded. With a single slap, Ye Qing smashed Bei Bei's Thunder Dragon Claw apart. It burst into streaks of lightning in midair before vanishing.
Before withdrawing his outstretched right hand, Ye Qing swiftly twisted sideways, dodging another bolt of lightning Bei Bei had sent at him.
Then, rather than drawing his right hand back, Ye Qing bent his arm with the turn of his body and drove his right elbow forward.
Thud!
Bei Bei crossed his arms in front of his chest, blocking Ye Qing's elbow strike. While Ye Qing was dodging his attack, he had already charged right up to him. Had Ye Qing's elbow strike not come fast enough, he would have faced a storm of relentless attacks from Bei Bei.
Ye Qing drove his elbow harder, forcing Bei Bei three steps back from their deadlock. Without hesitation, he unleashed his poised left fist, striking the same spot his elbow had hit.
Already retreating, Bei Bei was sent stumbling more than ten steps back by the elbow strike and punch.
Even as a Soul Master with the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon martial soul, he fell short before Ye Qing's powerful physique. In close combat, he had been pushed onto the back foot in a single exchange.
"How is your body so strong?" Bei Bei stared at Ye Qing in disbelief. The impacts had left both his arms tingling and partially numb.
"How else do you think I absorbed a twenty-thousand-year soul ring?" The corner of Ye Qing's mouth twitched. Without another word, he charged straight at Bei Bei.
You attacked first. Now it's my turn.
Since you want a fight so badly, I'll give you one!
Before you continue