First Soul Skill: Gloomy Sea Raging Sand Sky-Spanning Domain

"Grandpa Jin, my Soul Skill isn't called Unfalling Sandcastle."

"Its effects are a little different from Unfalling Sandcastle's."

Looking at Golden Crocodile Douluo, whose eyes were practically overflowing with excitement, Mu Tian'en couldn't help but dash his hopes.

"My Soul Skill—I call it Gloomy Sea Raging Sand Sky-Spanning Domain~"

"Its overall characteristics are somewhat similar to the Unfalling Sandcastle you described."

"My Soul Power reserves have increased substantially, but not by one hundred percent. It's two hundred percent, and it can grow further."

"When I actively use this skill, it creates a body of water around me that belongs to me alone and won't dissolve into other currents. The more times I use the Soul Skill, the farther the water expands, until it swallows up all the surrounding waters."

"Inside that water, enemies' five senses are weakened, their attributes are suppressed, and all my attributes are boosted."

"At the same time, the currents and sand and stones specially treated with my Soul Power become my helpers in this water, working with me to pursue and kill enemies at my command."

"As for that so-called sand-and-stone armor, I don't have it."

Hearing this, Golden Crocodile Douluo had been about to comfort Mu Tian'en.

After all, an armor skill that improved one's defense, transferred damage to a certain extent, and could regenerate repeatedly was also a rare find.

Still, having it inherit most of the Soul Skill's characteristics according to their design was already a stroke of heavenly luck.

As for a protective skill that transferred damage and regenerated repeatedly, Mu Tian'en could still obtain one from a later Soul Ring.

"All I have is this."

With that, Mu Tian'en once again assumed the same pose he had used to create the tiny black hole.

This time, however, what appeared between Mu Tian'en's palms was no black hole at all, but a current of water that could retain its fundamental nature even beside a black hole.

A current so black that it held no life.

Even with Mu Tian'en's current Soul Power, he could only create a single drop.

"What does this thing do?"

Before Mu Tian'en could continue explaining what the drop in his hand did, Golden Crocodile Douluo had already leaned in close.

Unlike the black hole from before, which had made Golden Crocodile Douluo sense danger just by approaching it, this black drop, which looked as though it might vanish completely into the surrounding currents at any moment, gave him no great sense of danger.

But when he actually stretched a finger toward the drop, he discovered that the thing which should have scattered at a poke from the sharp nails extending under his Martial Soul Possession possessed an unprecedented toughness, stubbornly preventing his nail from advancing.

And that wasn't all!

The instant he felt that intense resistance, Golden Crocodile Douluo switched his attack, clenched his fist, and smashed it straight into the drop.

"This drop of water~"

Golden Crocodile Douluo felt the solid impact against his hand, and his eyes narrowed slightly.

Striking it felt like hitting metal.

But this metal was different from those so-called hard metals. It was more like a soft metal that redirected impacts by continuously deforming.

Ordinary protective armor skills, and even the sand armor produced by the Soul Skill Unfalling Sandcastle, only improved protection against sharp weapons by strengthening the sand and stones.

If this drop were used well, it might be able to defend against both blunt and sharp attacks.

It was quite a good material.

There just wasn't enough of it.

He watched as Mu Tian'en strained until his face turned red, yet could only produce a single drop in his hand.

Presumably, producing more drops would take a considerable amount of time and Soul Power.

What a pity~

Something that consumed so much was of limited use.

Especially when a fight broke out unexpectedly.

Compared with this, the sand-and-stone armor, formed from Soul Power and potentially growing more defensive as Soul Power increased, was actually more practical.

Granted, if it used only the sand and gravel produced by the Soul Skill itself, its strength wasn't very high.

And the so-called twenty percent damage reduction was probably only possible because that Ice Sea Cave Turtle Soul Master's own Soul Power wasn't very high.

The further he progressed, the less damage it would reduce.

But this thing before him~

Golden Crocodile Douluo caught the flash of inspiration that passed through his mind.

The little fellow was willing to show it to him, which meant its value definitely didn't lie in something that had to be created on the spot, as he had imagined.

After all, Mu Tian'en's showing-off manner couldn't be faked.

So it wasn't like the so-called protective sand armor, which only appeared when the Soul Skill was used.

Anywhere, anytime?

Golden Crocodile decided he had better ask first.

Hiss~

After pondering for a moment, Golden Crocodile Douluo's expression grew somewhat solemn. "Little Tian'en, are you trying to tell me that these drops can be produced continuously and won't easily dissipate?"

When Mu Tian'en saw that Golden Crocodile Douluo had immediately figured out the use of his Soul Skill's byproduct, he clapped his hands.

"That's right, Grandpa Golden Crocodile. The black water I make won't disappear. It can only be scattered, but as long as I open the black hole, I can bring it back together."

At that instant, Golden Crocodile Douluo realized the value of Mu Tian'en's Soul Skill.

Although he couldn't normally provide armor for other people, as long as he built up a reserve, Mu Tian'en could make armor of unimaginable strength for himself and even his teammates when a fight broke out unexpectedly.

It was a group protective skill, and the longer Mu Tian'en cultivated, the stronger it would become.

"Defense, trapping and killing, support, enhancement—it's a Soul Skill that's almost as powerful and comprehensive as it could possibly be," Golden Crocodile Douluo couldn't help murmuring.

The look he gave Mu Tian'en had long since gone beyond what delight could describe.

"And after absorbing the Soul Ring, my Soul Power has already advanced past level thirteen. This turtle was quite compatible with my Martial Soul."

Mu Tian'en was quite excited.

Now that he had obtained his first Soul Ring, he only needed to return to Spirit Hall to complete his Soul Master certification.

The stipend of one Gold Soul Coin a month wasn't much to Mu Tian'en, who had now joined Spirit Hall.

But back in the village, if he gave it to Grandpa Village Chief, Little Yin and the others might be able to have a few more meals with some oil and meat.

There were also Grandpa Mu and Grandma Niu in the north of the village; they would be able to eat a little better too.

At that thought, Mu Tian'en already wanted to return to Spirit Hall's main hall and complete his Soul Master certification.

But before Mu Tian'en could ask Golden Crocodile Douluo to return to Spirit Hall, he noticed that Grandpa Jin's eyes were frighteningly bright.