True Monarch of Manifestation Before Others at Guanjiangkou

"Let's not talk about that!" Qingyi shook her head, a smile returning to her face.

"Hui'er, this spear of mine was specially commissioned. Even with your current cultivation, you can activate its embedded skill, Sky-Rending Gale. The reason is that the Right Arm Bone I provided back then was exceptionally complete, including the claw bones and an entire arm bone."

"The claw bones form the blade, while the arm bone forms the shaft. They are seamlessly integrated—you could even regard it as a special external Soul Bone."

"Soul Masters face no cultivation requirements when absorbing Soul Bones, and as long as the absorption succeeds, they can freely use the attached skills. Only the power matches their own cultivation. So why can't a Soul Tool made with a Soul Bone as its core retain that trait?"

"That was also the subject that Level 8 Soul Engineer had been researching back then, and what he needed happened to be a complete arm bone."

"As it happened, the clan still had one that no one had absorbed."

As she spoke of old memories, her entire tone became noticeably lighter.

"After asking around, it turned out it had been set aside for me to absorb. Your mother had to put in quite some effort to convince the Elders to use it to make a Soul Tool. Those old fellows in the clan were terrified that the precious Soul Bone would be ruined by that Level 8 Soul Engineer."

I'd be scared too, Minghui thought.

A complete arm bone from a top-tier agility attack-type Soul Beast, with a thirty-thousand-year cultivation—this was the sort of treasure that could tempt even a Titled Douluo.

Who wouldn't call someone a prodigal for taking such an excellent Soul Bone and gambling it on a Soul Tool?

Only because his mother had Innate Level 9 Soul Power and exceptional talent, combined with the Azure Family's deep foundations, could it have happened at all.

"Luckily, your mother made the right bet in the end." Qingyi slightly raised her chin and continued.

"Come to think of it, this work could be considered that Soul Engineer's masterpiece. Because the family was willing to provide such an excellent Soul Bone as research material, we also formed a deep friendship with him."

"It's just a pity that he ultimately failed to advance to Level 9."

"His talent actually wasn't bad. He possessed Innate Level 7.5 Soul Power, but he spent too much of his youth researching Soul Tools, neglecting cultivation during his prime training years. In the end, his Soul Power stalled at Rank 79, and he died of old age with regrets. His experience also made me fully understand why the family had never allowed its disciples to study Soul Tools all these years."

At that, regret filled her face once more.

"Ah, what a pity! If he had broken through to Soul Douluo, then with his research experience in Soul Tools, he surely could have advanced to become a Level 9 Soul Engineer in one stroke."

"Then your mother would have had a Level 9 Soul Tool suited to her."

Fan Yu from Shrek Academy did not research close-combat Soul Tools. It seemed she had no hope of ever wielding a Level 9 Soul Tool spear in this lifetime.

"Mom, don't lose heart!" Minghui comforted her. "With my Body Martial Soul abilities, researching Soul Tools would be easy, wouldn't it? Add in my cultivation talent, and maybe I'll break through to Titled Douluo by thirty."

"By then, I'll spend a little of my spare time doing research, rise straight to Level 9 Soul Engineer, and personally forge a Level 9 spear-type Soul Tool for you."

Qingyi smiled and nodded happily.

"Alright. Mom will wait for that day."

With that, she lifted the spear in her hand and returned to the subject.

"Hui'er, it is precisely because this Scythe-Claw Wind Dragon's Right Arm Bone was directly used as material to make a Soul Tool, rather than being absorbed and nourished within the body, that it has a carrying limit. That is also this Soul Tool's flaw."

"If a Titled Douluo uses it and injects too much Soul Power at once, the Core Array inside cannot convert it in time, and the Soul Bone can be damaged from within."

"That is why I stopped using this Soul Tool after breaking through to Titled Douluo."

"But for you, it is just right!"

"Hui'er, this spear isn't heavy. With your current physical strength, you can wield it easily. Although your cultivation prevents you from unleashing the embedded skill's true power, the gale you swing out can still deal considerable damage against Soul Masters of the same realm. Most importantly, this is a Level 8 Soul Tool. Its blade is made from the claw bone of a thirty-thousand-year Scythe-Claw Wind Dragon, and its sheer strength is enough to break a Soul Sage's defenses."

"The longer the weapon, the greater the advantage. When you face powerful Tool Martial Souls in the future, before you begin cultivating the Radiant Plume Divine Bow, I believe this Soul Tool will be of no small help to you."

"Besides, a weapon is an extension of one's limbs. Practice some Spear Technique when you have time. It may even benefit your future progress in fist and foot techniques."

"Mom will demonstrate the Spear Technique for you now." As she spoke, she walked toward the open space ahead.

"It's not even the New Year yet, and there is still some time before Shrek Academy begins. During that time, you can come ask Mom whenever there's something you don't understand."

"Yes, Mom!" Minghui nodded solemnly. His Body Martial Soul immediately activated as he stared unblinkingly at his mother's movements.

Then his mother moved. Vast Soul Power surged in all directions, scattering dust into the air, while a layer of Green Light spread across the spear in her hand in the blink of an eye.

With a whoosh, the spear danced, and fierce winds immediately rose across the field.

Thrust, lift, hook, sweep, cleave—one basic move after another flowed from his mother's hands.

With every move, the blade at the tip trailed Green Light, allowing Minghui to see more clearly the effect each technique could produce. As time passed, the basic moves evolved further. At times they resembled saber forms, at times staff forms, and at other times direct thrusts like a spear or sword.

Minghui watched with his jaw hanging open. At that moment, his mother looked like a living female God of War in his eyes.

My mom is freaking awesome!

After a while, his mother finished with a sweeping strike. The momentum she had built to its peak poured forth all at once, flinging out a dazzling streak of Green Light.

Riiip! It sliced a deep ravine straight through the bluestone pavement in the distance.

It was the complete version of the Soul Tool's embedded skill, Sky-Rending Gale.

As his mother withdrew her spear and stood still, Minghui instinctively began clapping, praising her from the bottom of his heart.

"Mom, you're amazing!"

That was so cool! I want to learn it!

Hearing her son's praise, Qingyi proudly raised her chin. Then she turned with a smile.

"Come, Hui'er. Give it a try."

Minghui hurried over in a small jog, solemnly accepting the spear from his mother. His back instinctively straightened.

From this day onward, call me the True Monarch of Manifestation Before Others at Guanjiangkou!

Guanjiangkou was the name Body Sect disciples used for the dock at the entrance and exit of the village at the foot of the mountain. A plaque bearing those three characters hung beside it. Streams from the valley converged into a small river, which flowed into the great river at the village entrance. That was where the village began and where it connected with the outside river.

Thus, it was named Guanjiangkou.

He wasn't Erlang, but he was about to head to Shrek Academy and show off.

In the words of cultured people, that was called manifesting before others!

So calling himself the True Monarch of Manifestation Before Others at Guanjiangkou was perfectly reasonable!

As a believer and junior brother of the Goddess of Life and the God of Destruction, as well as the sole Personal Disciple of Du Busi, the current Sect Leader of the Body Sect—when he stepped into the world and appeared before others someday, he would strive to promote the true meaning of the gods and the Sect's creed.

He, the True Monarch of Manifestation Before Others at Guanjiangkou, was duty-bound to do so!

"Very good, full of spirit!" Qingyi smiled as she watched her son, whose head had yet to reach Renhu's, then silently retreated toward her husband.

Minghui rallied himself, continuously recalling the moves his mother had demonstrated, and began practicing them in imitation.

"Not bad. You have a bit of the spirit!"

"Hui'er, stop for now. Lower your waist a little more. Yes, yes, just like that."

His mother gave remote guidance from afar, instructing him with all her heart.