It had to be said, as Lu Yu leafed through the Soul Beast bestiaries, he truly felt the same wonder he had felt reading the Classic of Mountains and Seas on Blue Star in his previous life.
The strange beasts in the books came in all shapes and forms. The system was complete, yet full of unknowns, and every page opened onto a brand-new world.
Three different editions of the Soul Beast bestiary lay neatly arranged before Lu Yu as he studied them intently, comparing them in detail.
Beside him, a tall stack of books had already piled up in front of Lu Fei. His little head was buried among the pages, and every so often, the sight of a peculiar Soul Beast drew a childish exclamation of wonder from him.
Lu Yu raised a hand and turned a page. His eyes suddenly lit up.
There in the bestiary was information on the Soul Beast whose Soul Ring Lu Yu had absorbed yesterday-the Golden Armored Ant.
The book recorded in detail: the Golden Armored Ant was born from a mutation in ant-type Soul Beasts. Most ordinary ant-type Soul Beasts had Soul Skills geared toward increasing strength, but the mutated Golden Armored Ant was entirely different, its unique Soul Skill renowned for defense. Among Soul Skills of the same age, the Golden Armored Ant's defensive strength ranked firmly among the best, making its Soul Ring a dream for countless defensive-type Soul Masters.
After reading the entry, Lu Yu felt immensely fortunate.
According to the records, mutated Golden Armored Ants were exceptionally rare and had not appeared for nearly a century. Encountering one at the very beginning of his path as a Soul Master was truly an extraordinary stroke of fortune.
With the Golden Armored Ant's Vajra Indestructibility, I already have top-tier basic defense.
Lu Yu lowered his head, pondering how to plan the combination of his Soul Skills.
But defense alone is nowhere near enough. I can't just stand there and take a beating forever.
For my next Soul Ring, it would be best to get a speed-boosting Soul Skill. Whether I'm pursuing an enemy, fighting them up close, circling and keeping my distance, or making a strategic escape in a crisis, it would greatly improve my chances of survival.
As the thought arose, the first thing that flashed through Lu Yu's mind was Great-Uncle Tang San's inherited Martial Soul-the Sharp-Tailed Swift.
The Sharp-Tailed Swift was said to be the pinnacle of speed in the Soul Beast Realm. If he could absorb its Soul Ring, he would have an excellent chance of obtaining a top-tier speed-boosting Soul Skill.
But after a little thought, Lu Yu decisively ruled out the Sharp-Tailed Swift.
The Sharp-Tailed Swift was a bird that soared through the skies, and its Martial Soul attributes were lightness and swiftness taken to the extreme. Lu Yu's Martial Soul, on the other hand, was a land-dwelling monkey, geared toward close combat. The two differed enormously in their attribute systems.
Though Lu Yu was no expert in Douluo Martial Soul Theory, he understood the importance of compatibility between a Martial Soul and a Soul Ring. Forcing the Soul Ring of a flying Soul Beast onto a land-beast Martial Soul could easily cause an attribute conflict, leaving him with a bizarre, mismatched Soul Skill that was neither fish nor fowl. The loss would outweigh the gain.
Having ruled out flying Soul Beasts, he could only turn his attention to speed-type Soul Beasts on land.
Lu Yu immediately settled on leopard- and wolf-type Soul Beasts. Both groups were predators widely recognized for their speed and agility.
Even the seemingly unremarkable hare-type Soul Beasts far surpassed ordinary people in explosive power and short-distance sprinting speed, making them worth considering as well.
Just as Lu Yu was immersed in thoughts of how to combine his Soul Rings, a gentle cough suddenly sounded.
"Ahem."
Lu Yu and Lu Fei had been so absorbed in the world of their books that they had not noticed Su Yuntao arrive at all. The two soft coughs instantly drew the brothers' attention back to reality.
Lu Yu abruptly came to his senses and rubbed the slightly aching spot between his brows. He looked up, and upon seeing who it was, a bright smile immediately spread across his face. "Grandmaster Su, what brings you here?"
"Hello, Grandmaster Su!" Lu Fei hurriedly put down his book and greeted him obediently.
Su Yuntao nodded slightly and glanced sidelong at Lu Yu, a hint of an almost teasing smile in his eyes.
The look left Lu Yu thoroughly puzzled. He had no idea what he had done to cause Su Yuntao to look at him that way.
"You two, do you know what time it is? Aren't you hungry?"
Su Yuntao's reminder finally brought Lu Yu and Lu Fei back to their senses. The two exchanged a glance, then looked at the books covering the table and smiled sheepishly.
In fact, Su Yuntao had arrived at the library entrance some time ago and stood watching for quite a while.
Su Yuntao had come to check on the two of them, only to see with his own eyes that the children had shown no inclination to play or slack off. They had spent the entire time studying the books with a thirst for knowledge. Such temperament and focus far surpassed those of children their age, leaving Su Yuntao increasingly appreciative and satisfied.
Su Yuntao brought out the food carrier he had been holding behind his back and gently set it on the wooden table, then pulled over a chair and sat down.
Looking at the food carrier before him, Lu Yu was briefly taken aback. Even though he had lived two lives, he felt a little embarrassed.
Ever since the brothers awakened their Martial Souls, Su Yuntao had given them a meditation method and Copper Soul Coins, and treated them to two meals.
"Grandmaster Su, you..."
Lu Yu had just started to decline when Su Yuntao raised a hand and cut him off.
"All right, how much can two little brats eat? You can't possibly eat me into poverty, can you?" Su Yuntao waved a hand with a smile and pushed the two warm meal boxes in front of the brothers.
Lu Yu did not refuse again. After thanking him, he picked up his meal box and began to eat.
Seeing the brothers pick up their chopsticks, Su Yuntao smiled even more broadly and chatted casually with Lu Yu. He could also tell that, of the two brothers, Lu Yu was carefree and outspoken, unlike a child, while Lu Fei was quiet and not good with words.
"You've been reading for so long. Is there anything you don't understand?"
Lu Yu's chopsticks paused, and his eyes turned. Wasn't there a real Soul Master right in front of him? He could simply ask Su Yuntao about the Soul Beast he wanted to find.
"Grandmaster Su, I actually do have a question. Can you recommend any speed-type Soul Beasts, preferably ones that run on the ground?"
"Grandmaster Su, your disciple happens to have a question I'd like to ask you."
At those words, the smile on Su Yuntao's face stiffened. He looked at Lu Yu in confusion, then turned to glance at Lu Fei, who had his head down as he ate.
Su Yuntao remembered clearly that Lu Yu's Martial Soul was a golden-haired monkey. Although it was an external Martial Soul, it was still a standard strength-type melee Martial Soul.
His Soul Skills should have been the sort that increased strength, reinforced the body, and delivered powerful close-range attacks. Normal Soul Masters would prioritize honing their combat strength and improving their damage output. Su Yuntao had never seen a novice Soul Master with a strength-type Martial Soul who, instead of pursuing attack, was single-mindedly seeking a speed Soul Skill.
Su Yuntao's gaze grew serious, and he frowned. "Your Martial Soul is a monkey, focused on physical strength and close combat. You should be prioritizing strength- and assault-type Soul Rings, which would improve your combat strength the most. Why are you looking for a speed Soul Skill instead?"
Lu Yu had long since prepared his answer. At the question, he pretended to be dejected, lowering his head slightly. His tone held a note of self-mockery and maturity.
"Grandmaster Su, as you know, my talent is ordinary, while my younger brother Lu Fei has innate level-five Soul Power. His talent far surpasses mine, and his future is bound to be limitless. As for me, my aptitude is average, so I can only be more cautious and focus on staying alive."
Lu Yu looked up, his gaze sincere and his tone earnest. "I don't ask to become particularly powerful in battle. I only hope to master a few defensive and speed-type Soul Skills to protect myself. When my brother and I train and gain experience together in the future, I don't expect to be able to help Lu Fei. At the very least, I can't hold him back. If I can take care of myself, that will be the greatest use I can be."
His words were both mature and clear-sighted.
After hearing him out, Su Yuntao's doubts vanished in an instant, replaced by heartfelt emotion and sympathy.
Su Yuntao had never imagined that Lu Yu, young as he was, could be so mature and clear-sighted. Not only was he not jealous of his younger brother's outstanding talent, he was quietly planning for himself, intent only on avoiding becoming a burden to his brother and keeping his family safe.
Such a temperament was far rarer than a genius who had talent but was spoiled and arrogant.
Su Yuntao's expression softened. He slowly began to speak, patiently answering Lu Yu's question.