"Just as I expected. After absorbing the Cockcomb Phoenix Sunflower, my attributes have become Ultimate Fire and Ultimate Light. Even my original soul skills have improved significantly — especially my first soul skill, 'Morninglight.' Its effect has increased by at least 20%."
Xu Yang was ecstatic. Attaining an extreme attribute meant he had taken the first step toward becoming a Title Douluo. From here on, all that was left was diligent cultivation and accumulating soul power.
Taking several deep breaths to calm himself, Xu Yang then sat down and began to meditate. Although consuming an immortal herb wouldn't destabilize his foundation or cause soul power to feel erratic, the sudden increase in power did cause some disruption in his soul power control.
What he needed to do now was eliminate that lack of control and reach a state where his internal soul power responded like an extension of his own limbs. And the only way to improve control was through meditation and constant cultivation.
Xu Yang had always placed great importance on soul power control. He often wondered why, in wuxia worlds, martial arts techniques seemed far more expressive than the soul skills in this world. Eventually, he understood — the key difference lay in energy control.
In many wuxia stories, internal force (neili) has a unique trait: when a martial artist has shallow internal force, they're no match for someone who practices external techniques long-term. But once their internal force becomes profound, the tables turn.
A classic example of shallow internal force is Linghu Chong; a representation of deep internal force would be someone like Duan Yu.
The same applies to soul power — the difference lies in one's control over it.
To that end, Xu Yang temporarily classified soul power control into four levels: Enhancement, Burst, Compression, and Micro Control.
Enchancement: Similar to basic martial arts techniques in wuxia — using soul power to strengthen martial souls, weapons, and even fists and feet, enhancing attack, defense, and speed.
Burst: A more advanced level, akin to top-tier martial arts in wuxia, where each move can unleash power several times, even dozens of times, beyond one's own strength.
Compression: Not simply condensing soul power — that's something most soul masters can do with preparation. What Xu Yang refers to is a more refined manipulation, improving soul power quality and responsiveness.
Micro-control: Achieving fine-tuned control of soul power, not just on a macro level, but even at a micro level.
The latter two levels require significant improvement in one's spirit, willpower, and realm of comprehension. At minimum, one needs to reach the Soul Ancestor level for Compression, and likely Soul Sage for Micro-control.
Of Xu Yang's planned first five soul skills, aside from "Dawnlight," the rest were all functional types that assisted in mastering soul power control. Especially the upcoming soul skill from the Sun Sacred Beetle — "Shaping" — which involved both Enchancement and Compression.
By training tirelessly, Xu Yang took three full days to completely eliminate the instability from the medicinal enhancement, returning his control to the level before taking the immortal herb and fully solidifying his cultivation.
Once stabilized, he wasted no time and immediately sought out Lady Ning to help him hunt for his third soul ring. Ning Fengzhi had already consolidated his own cultivation a day earlier and had left for the Star Dou Forest with Ning Haiyan and Sword Douluo Chen Xin.
"Master's wife, I've stabilized my cultivation. Let's go hunt a soul ring!"
His voice arrived before he did. Xu Yang wasn't the type to deliberately hold back his soul rank. After all, cultivation at the Soul Elder level was vastly different from that at the Grandmaster level. Advancing earlier could give him a huge lead.
"Then Uncle Gu, I'll leave Rongrong to you!" Hearing his voice, Lady Ning gave a helpless smile. She walked over to Gu Rong, who was sipping tea nearby, and handed Ning Rongrong over.
"Don't worry! I'll take good care of her. You go take that brat to get his soul ring. I bet he's been itching to go!" Gu Rong chuckled as he took Ning Rongrong into his arms and waved her off like he was shooing someone away.
Lady Ning rolled her eyes and walked outside.
"Yang'er, let's go!"
She didn't waste words and took Xu Yang by the hand, leading him out of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. Over the past three days, Ning Fengzhi and the others had already confirmed, using soul power pressure, the maximum age limit for Xu Yang's third soul ring:
Anything under 10,000 years was safe to absorb!
The pure Yang and intense medicinal effect of the Cockcomb Phoenix Sunflower had not only evolved his Sun Martial Soul into an extreme variant, but also completely reinforced his entire body, inside and out. The effect was even more remarkable than Whale Rubber, allowing Xu Yang to withstand immense power.
If not for concerns about the mental shock of a ten-thousand-year soul ring, Ning Fengzhi would've let Xu Yang absorb one already.
Large sects never recklessly endanger their core disciples. Besides, Xu Yang's current age and cultivation didn't support a ten-thousand-year ring — a point even he agreed with.
He had no intention of getting himself crippled. That would be a terrible loss.
However, his fourth soul ring must absolutely be ten-thousand-year grade. Otherwise, it wouldn't be worthy of his soul ring setup.
The Sunset Forest wasn't far from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. For a Soul Douluo, the journey would've taken far less time — but considering Xu Yang's pace, they still made it in just five hours. Lady Ning could've cut that in half if she were alone.
"Yang'er, do you remember where the Sun Flower Field is?" Lady Ning asked casually as they walked through the forest.
"I remember!"
"Then you lead the way!"
Xu Yang nodded and ran ahead. Having visited twice already, he was quite familiar with the area. As for the soul beasts in the forest — with a Soul Douluo like Lady Ning present, none dared to approach.
As soon as Xu Yang approached the Sun Flower Field, the entire area began to shake. The Sun Flower King at the center instantly retreated underground, and hundreds of soul beasts that cultivated around the Sun Flowers scattered in all directions in a panic.
The Sun Flowers had already become familiar with Xu Yang's aura. After being forcefully picked twice, they had developed a conditioned response.
"This…" Xu Yang was dumbfounded at the sight.
Fortunately, their target this time was the Sun Sacred Beetle. They only needed to lock onto the few flying Sacred Beetles above. As a Soul Douluo, Lady Ning didn't need to observe physical traits to determine a soul beast's age — she could sense it directly through soul power pressure.
With just a sweep of her gaze, she spotted a Sun Sacred Beetle about two meters long with a sword-like horn on its head. Its soul power was dark purple approaching black — nearly reaching the ten-thousand-year threshold.
"That's the one!"
With a smile, Lady Ning summoned a slender, blue-gemmed sword. The blade was no wider than a finger. Eight soul rings—yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black, black—appeared beneath her feet. As the third ring lit up, she vanished.
"So fast!"
Xu Yang didn't even see how she moved. His vision blurred — the next instant, Lady Ning was already above the beetle. Her long leg kicked down hard, striking directly on the beetle's tough carapace.