Flame Sword, a First Soul Skill of Pure Numerical Beauty

Ah Yin had refused at first. As a Soul Beast, how could she lead humans to hunt other Soul Beasts?

But Jiang Nian's Bone Spirit Cold Flame was simply too forceful, so Ah Yin chose to follow her heart.

After all, better a dead Soul Beast than a dead Blue Silver Emperor!

And with Ah Yin, a native of the Star Dou Great Forest, leading the way, Jiang Nian and Qian Renxue no longer had to wander about like headless flies.

On the morning two days later, Ah Yin led Jiang Nian to a halt beside a cliff.

Below the cliff lay several hundred mu of yellow sand. The desolate landscape, devoid of life, clashed with the flourishing surroundings of the Star Dou Great Forest.

Ah Yin clapped her hands. "All right, this is the place. It's the Flame Dragon Lizard tribe. Their leader's cultivation is probably around two thousand years!"

Jiang Nian nodded. He had already used his Soul Power to sense and lock onto the Flame Dragon Lizard's location. "Do you have a grudge against this Flame Dragon Lizard?"

Ah Yin's expression stiffened slightly. "Why do you ask?"

Qian Renxue said in her childish voice, "Master sensed quite a few suitable fire-attribute Soul Beasts along the way. Sister Ah Yin, didn't you take us on such a long detour to get revenge?"

Ah Yin coughed dryly. "N-no such thing. How could I hold a grudge just because this fellow ate the one hundred and three mu of Blue Silver Grass I planted?"

You remember the exact number down to the last mu. It's hard to believe you're not holding a grudge... Jiang Nian didn't dwell on it. Two thousand years was a little high, but he had prepared pills to stabilize the soul beforehand, so it wasn't much of a problem.

He said, "You two stay here and don't move, especially you, Blue Silver Emperor. Otherwise, I won't be responsible if you die."

Ah Yin wanted to retort, but the next moment, she saw Jiang Nian step into the air and stand above the desert.

Then Jiang Nian summoned Emperor Flame, and the waves of heat below surged madly toward it like subjects who had found their emperor.

As the fire elements gradually dispersed, the Flame Dragon Lizard hiding beneath the yellow sand crawled out.

It looked up at Jiang Nian in the sky and let out a fierce roar.

"Noisy!" Jiang Nian raised a hand, and the Flame Dragon Lizard flew toward him, its body beyond its control.

Jiang Nian tossed the Flame Dragon Lizard onto the cliff and tore a small opening in its neck with his Soul Power. Suppressed by his Soul Power, the two-thousand-year-old Flame Dragon Lizard was utterly powerless to resist and could only submit to being slaughtered.

"Xue'er, kill this fellow. Remember to make it quick."

Qian Renxue nodded, drew a dagger, and plunged it into the opening Jiang Nian had made.

Ah Yin turned her head away. Although she had a grudge against the Flame Dragon Lizard, she couldn't quite bear to watch it be killed and have its Soul Ring taken.

Ah Yin's reluctance couldn't keep the Flame Dragon Lizard alive. It wanted to resist, but under Jiang Nian's suppression, it couldn't move at all. It could only let its life slip away, and a scorching purple Soul Ring floated out.

Qian Renxue looked excitedly at the Soul Ring. It had been nearly half a year, and she could finally obtain her own First Soul Ring!

Just as she was about to absorb it, Jiang Nian came to her side and gave her the Soul Stabilizing Pill and Life-Nurturing Pill he had prepared. "Take these first. A two-thousand-year Soul Ring is a little beyond what you can handle."

The Soul Stabilizing Pill could stabilize the soul and prevent unforeseen problems with Qian Renxue's Martial Soul caused by the ring's excessive age.

The Life-Nurturing Pill was rich in vitality and could promptly mend injuries to Qian Renxue's body.

"Mm! Thank you, Teacher!" Qian Renxue took the pills, then sat cross-legged and summoned her Martial Soul, the Broken-Winged Angel, to begin absorbing the Soul Ring.

Ah Yin couldn't help feeling a little surprised as she watched.

She had thought Qian Renxue was only joking about wanting a Thousand-Year Soul Ring as her first, but the little girl actually dared to absorb a two-thousand-year Soul Ring. That would be a first in Soul Master history.

Jiang Nian paid her no attention, concentrating fully on observing Qian Renxue's condition.

Absorbing a two-thousand-year Soul Ring on her first attempt was indeed an ordeal for Qian Renxue.

Before long, fine cracks began appearing on her tender cheeks. Fortunately, thanks to the Life-Nurturing Pill, they were instantly mended as soon as they appeared.

This continued over and over until evening, yet Qian Renxue didn't make a sound.

Just as Ah Yin was nearly asleep, Qian Renxue's eyelashes finally moved.

The color of her Martial Soul began to change, taking on an orange-red hue. Its sole remaining angel wing was also baptized in flame, becoming radiant.

Her Soul Power also began to rise visibly.

Level ten... level eleven... level twelve...

It continued rising until it finally stopped at level sixteen.

"Teacher! Xue'er did it!" The first thing Qian Renxue did upon opening her eyes was look for Jiang Nian and report her results. "My Soul Power rose to level sixteen!"

Jiang Nian touched her head, feeling a little guilty. I wonder what you'll think when you find out your Innate Soul Power was supposed to be level twenty.

But being able to absorb a Thousand-Year Soul Ring as your first is much better than cultivating along your normal path.

Jiang Nian gazed at her, and Qian Renxue's panel appeared before his eyes.

[Target: Qian Renxue]

[Soul Power Level: 16 (Soul Master)]

[Note: Individual's level is unstable, detrimental to future growth]

[Template: Seraphim (10% unlocked)]

[Template progress raised to 10%. Individual's Martial Soul has unlocked the Seraphim's Blade of Judgment]

[Current attitude toward host: dependent]

[Cultivation technique: Flame Mantra (modified for the current world, 99% compatibility)]

[Dou Techniques: Suction Palm, Eight Extremes Collapse]

[Soul Skill: Holy Judgment - Flame Sword]

Not bad. I thought she'd unlock a wing first, but she unlocked the Seraphim's weapon instead... Jiang Nian nodded, reflecting that it was indeed worthy of a two-thousand-year First Soul Ring.

But her unstable level was a problem.

Jiang Nian took Qian Renxue's hand and used his own Soul Power to regulate her meridians. "Hold your breath and focus. Stabilize your Soul Power first."

Qian Renxue obediently closed her eyes. Her somewhat unstable level began to compress, finally dropping to level fifteen.

Although she had dropped a level, her Soul Power had become more solid.

A foundation was more important than anything. A level lost now could be regained in a few days of cultivation, but if it remained unstable, it would cause serious problems.

Only after Qian Renxue's Soul Power had stabilized did Jiang Nian release her. "What do you think of your first Soul Skill?"

"It's amazing!" Qian Renxue said excitedly. "My first Soul Skill is called Holy Judgment - Flame Sword. I can pour my Soul Power into it and slash, dealing fire damage equal to 200% of the Soul Power I put in."

Just one slash?

And 200% damage?

Jiang Nian saw no fancy moves, only numerical beauty.

With Qian Renxue's current Soul Power, if she poured it all in, even a Soul Grandmaster probably wouldn't dare take the blow head-on.

Jiang Nian nodded. "Try slashing this Flame Dragon Lizard with your Flame Sword. Let's see if you can break through its defenses."

"Mm!" Qian Renxue summoned her Martial Soul at his words and slowly raised her right hand.

Her Martial Soul, the Broken-Winged Angel, made the same movement.

The next moment, flames gathered on the right hands of Qian Renxue and her Martial Soul, and a huge Blade of Judgment appeared in their hands.

Qian Renxue gripped the sword's hilt with both hands, and the Martial Soul behind her did the same.

"First Soul Skill, Flame Sword!" Qian Renxue called out in a low voice. The Soul Beast's Soul Power surged like flames, pouring continuously into the Blade of Judgment in her hands.

The Martial Soul behind her finally spread its sole wing, and flames ignited its entire body with a bang.

As Qian Renxue poured in her Soul Power, the Blade of Judgment in her Martial Soul's hands also began to burn.

Once she had charged it sufficiently, Qian Renxue raised her hands and slashed down fiercely, and the Martial Soul behind her did the same.

As the sword fell, the scorching flames made even the air crackle.

Boom!

With a muffled impact, a gash was cut into the Flame Dragon Lizard's scales, but the attack could penetrate no farther.

Disappointment flashed across Qian Renxue's face. She had poured in seventy percent of her Soul Power, yet she hadn't expected to fail to cut through even the Flame Dragon Lizard's scales.

"Teacher... did Xue'er disappoint you?"

Watching this, Ah Yin couldn't help feeling her face twitch.

Little girl, who exactly are you comparing yourself to?

Your master is a Titled Douluo. Isn't it perfectly normal for him to suppress a Flame Dragon Lizard with ease?

You're only level fifteen, and you broke through this Flame Dragon Lizard's defenses with one slash. Isn't that enough?!

Girl, keep this up and you're going to break through my defenses!

Jiang Nian laughed when he heard her. "Girl, you've already done very well. You're only six, and your future is limitless."

Flame Sword was very powerful, but its shortcomings were also obvious. Pouring Soul Power into it took time, and too long a windup was no good thing.

But from Jiang Nian's observations, perhaps once Qian Renxue's Broken-Winged Angel spread its second wing, this first Soul Skill wouldn't need such a long charge time.

Qian Renxue pouted and nodded. "I still like the Suction Palm and Eight Extremes Collapse you taught me better, Teacher!"

"As long as you like them." Jiang Nian stood up. "Let's go. We've been away for a while; it's time to head back to Suotuo City."

Ah Yin glanced at the two of them. "Um... Your Excellency, can I leave now?"

"What? You don't want to leave? Then I'll have to train you properly."

"No, no, no... Ah Yin thanks Your Excellency for sparing my life!"

With that, Ah Yin hurried away as if fleeing. But she hadn't gone far before she turned back, looking at Jiang Nian coquettishly. "Teacher, where are we going next?"

Teacher?!

Qian Renxue grew wary and clung tightly to Jiang Nian's arm.

Before Qian Renxue could speak, laughter came from not far away. "Ah Yin, so here you are. I didn't expect Brother Jiang to be here too!"

Jiang Nian now understood why Ah Yin had turned back. It turned out Brother Tang Xiao was blocking the way outside.