"By consuming my own HP, I release sword Qi with attack power equal to the HP consumed, forming sword Qi slashes that obey my every whim. That is my Second Soul Skill: Bloodthirsty Firmament Slash!"
Qian Jun and Jiang Mo exchanged a glance after hearing this. Was this a hundred-thousand-year Soul Skill? It didn't seem all that impressive.
Qian Renxue nodded. "It consumes your own HP? Xiao Gu, why does your Hundred Thousand Year Soul Skill have such a severe drawback? You lose three thousand to deal a hundred to the enemy. This... but judging by your astonishing defense, you should have quite a lot of HP!"
Qian Renxue found it hard to believe that a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Skill was only this powerful. Her own Hundred Thousand Year Soul Skill was incredibly strong.
But Lin Gu smiled calmly. Naturally, they had no idea how much HP he had.
That was why he alone knew how powerful this Soul Skill was.
Just as he had suspected, his Soul Skills and equipment would complement one another.
His Second Soul Skill seemed to cost him three thousand to deal a hundred to the enemy, but that was only for people with little HP.
Lin Gu now had over two trillion HP. In other words, as long as he left himself a little HP, he could unleash over two trillion damage.
Moreover, the sword Qi could sweep in every direction, strike near or far, grow large or small, all at his whim.
Lin Gu thought it over. His HP regeneration of one percent per second was already quite fast, but with the HP consumption of [Blade of the Bloodbath] and this Second Soul Skill, it still wasn't enough.
When more equipment became available later, he would definitely have to get a piece of HP regeneration equipment.
Still, no one on the entire continent should be able to withstand a full-power strike from this Second Soul Skill. I won't need to use it lightly.
Looking at the three people before him, Lin Gu offered no lengthy explanation and simply said:
"You'll understand the wonders of my Hundred Thousand Year Soul Skill in the future. By the way, Sister Xiao Xue, what's your Hundred Thousand Year Soul Skill?"
Qian Renxue pursed her lips in a smile and described her Hundred Thousand Year Soul Skill with great pride:
"My Seventh Soul Skill: Azure Thunder Angel Avatar! With the enhancement of a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring, the avatar has azure lightning coursing all over its body and comes with a Lightning Domain. The domain can release lightning attacks, increase attack power by two hundred percent, and inflict a stun. Anyone struck is stunned for three seconds. It can also gather descending heavenly lightning, concentrate it into a single mass, and unleash it, dealing impact damage as high as one thousand percent."
Lin Gu nodded. "A pretty powerful Martial Soul Avatar, and it even has a domain skill. Not bad."
Qian Jun and Jiang Mo both nodded upon hearing this. Now that was a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Skill. Truly formidable.
But Lin Gu's Soul Skill was far too unworthy of a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring's power. Could it be because it was his Second Soul Ring?
Both men thought this but did not say it aloud.
Happy as Qian Renxue was, she held the two Soul Bones in her hands and thought, Xiao Gu is far too generous. He helped me so much. He must be unhappy with his Second Soul Skill. I'd better give him the Soul Bones.
So she said:
"Xiao Gu, you should take these two Soul Bones!"
Lin Gu was just about to refuse. He disdained using Soul Bones; his equipment was powerful enough. But Qian Renxue hurriedly said:
"Xiao Gu, hear me out. Our Angel Clan has an inheritance..."
She glanced at Qian Jun and Jiang Mo behind her, then quickly leaned close to Lin Gu's ear and whispered:
"Xiao Gu, this is a secret only Grandpa and I know. Our Angel Clan has a complete set of inherited Soul Bones, so I don't need Soul Bones either. Xiao Gu, let your big sister thank you for this. Please accept them."
Qian Renxue had been so shocked earlier, and had obtained a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring herself, that she had forgotten this matter entirely. Only now did she hurriedly bring it up.
Understanding dawned on Lin Gu after he heard this. Oh, right, there was that too. I'd forgotten as well. He nodded:
"All right, I'll take them, then. I don't really want to absorb them just yet!"
Lin Gu put the two Soul Bones from the Sky Azure Bull Python and Titan Giant Ape into his belt, the Six-Snow Sky-Congealing Sash.
He stretched lazily, looked at the devastated forest, and nodded as he said:
"With that, we can head home!"
Qian Renxue nodded. She had reaped a rich harvest on this trip, and so the two made their way back to Spirit Hall, sightseeing and enjoying themselves along the way.
Back in Spirit Hall, Lin Gu returned to his room. That year, Qian Daoliu had arranged a room for him right beside Qian Renxue's.
After all, it wasn't quite appropriate for him to keep sleeping with his granddaughter.
Still, Qian Renxue would suddenly come running over from time to time, because Lin Gu's body was so warm and wonderfully comfortable to hug.
After returning home, Qian Renxue immediately went to show off to her grandfather.
Meanwhile, Lin Gu settled down and examined the system equipment for his third equipment slot:
There were likewise three tiers, but the coin prices had increased again: one hundred thousand, two hundred thousand, and three hundred thousand!
"The third piece of equipment already costs this many coins?"
Lin Gu swallowed and examined them closely. The first options, costing one hundred thousand and two hundred thousand, still weren't good enough. If he was getting something, he always wanted the best.
So he looked at the three-hundred-thousand options. This time, the equipment was pauldrons, and there were three choices as well:
[Shock Damage Pauldrons]: Adds an intimidation effect when attacked, inflicting one second of shock damage on the attacker. (Cooldown: one hour.) When attacked, reflects one percent of the damage back at the enemy. [Damage Absorption Pauldrons]: When attacked, absorbs fifty percent of the enemy's damage and reflects ten percent back at them. [Damage Reflection Pauldrons]: When attacked, reflects thirty percent of the damage back at the attacker.
Lin Gu looked them over. So it's damage-reflecting armor. Looking at it this way, the second option, [Damage Absorption Shoulder Guards], is out. It's completely useless. My shield is already unrivaled under heaven. Do I still need to absorb damage?
[Shock Damage Shoulder Guards] reflects too little damage. It has an intimidation effect, equivalent to a brief crowd control effect, I suppose, but that's not much use either. It only triggers when I'm attacked. Useless. The damage reflection is too low.
I'll choose the third option, [Damage Reflection Pauldrons], with thirty percent damage reflection. That way, I can stand still, and as you keep attacking, you'll kill yourselves with reflected damage. Wonderful. This is the one.
After making his choice, Lin Gu checked his system coins, including those from the slaying missions.
[System coins: twenty-nine thousand coins!]
"That's quite a shortfall. I need to save up more coins. Besides the daily missions, I need to do some slaying missions or other missions. I can't keep staying in the Worship Hall. My coins are increasing far too slowly!"
"There are still seven Soul Rings and seven pieces of equipment to come. At this rate, I'll only need more and more coins. I haven't studied this mission system yet."
"But it seems they only trigger in specific environments or story events. Also, the coin rewards from missions seem to increase after I break through to a new level. I'll study it properly over the next few days."
Lin Gu pondered. He had reached level twenty-nine so quickly, and before long, he would have to hunt for his third Soul Ring. Apart from those near Sea God Island, Xiao Wu was the only Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast left that he hadn't absorbed.
Lin Gu rubbed his chin. That's not enough. It looks like I'll still have to make a trip north.
Just then, those inside the room heard Qian Daoliu's astonished voice:
"What? A Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring? Xiao Gu too?"