Chapter 3: Two-Winged Radiant White Tiger
Qian Xunji reached out and picked up the soul bone, which glowed with a gentle yet dense energy. It was crystalline and transparent.
Qian Jun and Jiang Mo both revealed undisguised fervor in their eyes as they looked at this soul bone. Nobody would ever think they had too many soul bones—it was always a rare treasure. Even for a Titled Douluo, possessing a single piece of soul bone was already a remarkable feat. Though Qian Jun and Jiang Mo's families relied on the Wuhun Hall and had inherited soul bones, even so, they were still not fully equipped with soul bones themselves.
"Two elders, please stand guard for me."
The moment he took the soul bone, Qian Xunji sat down cross-legged and began absorbing it without hesitation. Although the clan possessed the Angelic Six-Piece Set, all of which were 99,999-year soul bones perfectly suited for the Six-Winged Angel Martial Soul, they only reached the 100,000-year level once all six were absorbed—requiring one to have rank 100 soul power. Since Qian Xunji could not fully absorb them anytime soon, he would eventually have to remove them again or pass them down to future generations. Hence, he decided to absorb this particular soul bone.
In the original storyline, the highly prideful Qian Xunji probably wouldn't have taken it. Yet as the Young Master of the Wuhun Hall, this was, in fact, the first soul bone that Qian Xunji ever absorbed.
The instant he began absorbing it, a blue glow enveloped Qian Xunji. Soul bones were more precious than soul rings not only because they were hard to obtain and could be passed down, but also for another crucial reason: there was no soul power requirement for absorbing them. In other words, if you were fortunate enough to acquire one—even if you had only rank 1 soul power—you could still absorb a 100,000-year soul bone.
Half a day later, Qian Xunji finished absorbing the soul bone and opened his eyes. A flash of blue passed through his pupils, and his gaze seemed clearer and brighter than before. It was as if his mind had been enhanced by an unknown degree, his thought process more lucid. When he focused his spiritual power, he could distinctly perceive everything within a five-thousand-meter radius.
"Congratulations, Young Master!"
Qian Jun and Jiang Mo both offered their congratulations.
"Even though the Young Master has only just broken through to Soul Douluo, his spiritual power has already reached the level of a Titled Douluo," they said.
"You two elders needn't be so polite. In a moment, when I battle the soul beast, I'll have to trouble you to stand guard and keep other soul beasts away."
With that, Qian Xunji and the two elders proceeded into the inner region of the Star Dou Great Forest to search for a suitable soul beast.
In the Star Dou Great Forest, the deeper one ventured, the denser the spiritual energy became. Soul beasts trained faster in such an environment, and since the area was limited, weaker soul beasts were driven outward. Survival of the fittest remained an eternal law of the world.
As the Young Master of Wuhun Hall, Qian Xunji had access to the entire Wuhun City library and thus possessed extremely extensive theoretical knowledge. To acquire a soul ring, one had to find a soul beast that best matched the martial soul's attributes. A higher-year and higher-quality soul beast would be ideal.
According to the texts, a soul master should only choose a soul bone that best fit them in order to maximize its power. The same was true for soul rings: once absorbed, a soul ring would fuse with both body and martial soul. To activate a soul skill, a soul master had to draw on some of the soul power within their body to merge with the power in the ring. The soul ring served as a vessel, and the "rules" it contained formed the soul skill's shape and effect.
Only if the soul ring's attributes suited the martial soul would it be effortless and powerful to channel one's soul power. During the fusion of the soul ring with the body and martial soul, the energy within the soul ring would also feed back into the martial soul, causing it to evolve—or deteriorate, if ill-matched. This explained why, for instance, if a fire-attribute martial soul absorbed an ice-attribute soul ring, not only would the ring's skill be wasted, but it would also affect future cultivation.
After three days and nights of searching, the group finally found a soul beast with a strong radiant aura at roughly seventy-five-thousand years of age. It had two wings on its back and was about eight meters long. Its entire body was covered in white, needle-like fur striped with black. Its four limbs were thick and brimming with explosive power, and its four tiger fangs—each nearly thirty centimeters long—were pure white, faintly gleaming with gold, sharp enough to tear anything apart.
This top-tier beast of seventy-five-thousand years was the Two-Winged Radiant White Tiger.
The Radiant White Tiger's golden pupils fixed on Qian Xunji and the others—more precisely, on Qian Jun and Jiang Mo—filled with wariness. At this level of cultivation, the beast's intelligence was not far from that of humans. The aura from Qian Jun and Jiang Mo made it feel a lethal threat; they were likely Titled Douluo. Titled Douluo bringing a weaker individual here could only mean one thing—to hunt it for his soul ring.
"Two elders, please stand guard!"
Qian Xunji took two steps forward. Two yellow, two purple, and three black soul rings emerged at his feet, and the Six-Winged Angel rose behind him.
Elder Qian Jun said in a serious tone, "Young Master, that Two-Winged Radiant White Tiger at seventy-five thousand years is strong enough to rival a Titled Douluo. Let us handle this beast!"
"That's why I need you two elders to guard me. If I truly end up in mortal danger, please intervene."
Qian Xunji's fifth soul ring lit up underfoot, and a resplendent longsword formed of scorching golden flames appeared in his hand—his Fifth Soul Skill, Holy Sword.
Seeing Qian Xunji place so much trust in them, Qian Jun and Jiang Mo felt they must not disappoint him. Two yellow, two purple, and five black rings emerged around each of them—nine soul rings in total. One red and one blue Coiling Dragon Staff, each as thick as a wrist, appeared in their grasps.
They let loose the powerful soul force of Titled Douluo without restraint, driving away nearby soul beasts so Qian Xunji would have a clear battlefield—and making it easier for them to rescue him should he be in danger.
Qian Xunji pointed his sword at the Two-Winged Radiant White Tiger. "Come, soul beast. At your level, I'm sure you understand what I'm saying. Your fate is already sealed. If you fight back, there's still a chance you'll kill me and take someone down with you."
"Roar—!"
The Radiant White Tiger roared at Qian Xunji in fury. Its golden vertical pupils flashed with murderous intent, and its black stripes lit up with specks of glimmering golden radiance. Slowly, the two wings on its back spread out.
What Qian Xunji said was indeed true. Its situation was undoubtedly one of certain death. If that was so, it might as well drag Qian Xunji down with it.
The ground underfoot sank. The Two-Winged Radiant White Tiger shot forward like a streak of golden lightning, opening its gaping maw. Its head twisted at a right angle as its four thirty-centimeter tiger fangs lunged at Qian Xunji's waist, seemingly aiming to bite him cleanly in half.
Second Soul Skill: Angelic Wings.
An illusory pair of wings appeared behind Qian Xunji, making his body turn translucent. The Radiant White Tiger's fierce bite passed straight through him.
Angelic Wings granted immunity to all physical attacks and reduced energy attacks by fifty percent.
At the moment the Radiant White Tiger's body passed through Qian Xunji, his newly enhanced mental awareness—amplified by the spirit-type head soul bone—swiftly guided his reaction. The Holy Sword in Qian Xunji's hand slashed out. Crimson blood spurted from beneath the tiger's forelimbs!
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