Half a month later, at the Martial Hall, Grandpa Chen Yu was also present.
"Grandpa, Second Granduncle, based on my research over these past days, I've decided on the initial direction for three of my soul skills, focusing on the temperament of the Sword Spirit Beads," Chen Xiaojun said.
Before him floated three Sword Beads. Yes, at this point, he no longer needed to summon all ten Sword Spirit Beads of his martial soul at once—he could now summon one or a few as needed.
The first Sword Spirit Bead had a pale, transparent glow. The second gleamed with an exquisite silvery-white, like rippling moonlight on a lake. The third radiated a chilling killing intent, its entire form resembling reddish copper.
"After many days of sensing and communicating, I've determined: the first represents a sword of refinement and elegance; the second, a sword of supreme nobility; and the third…"
"This third one has a frightening killing aura—no weaker than the Seven Kill Sword. Your Seven Kill Aura Concealment Technique works even better with this sword," Chen Yu remarked, surprised. He had never previously sensed such killing intent from the Sword Spirit Beads.
"Exactly. It is a sword of unmatched courage—a sword meant for assassination. A warrior who goes forth never returns…"
"What a sword!" Chen Yu praised.
"I studied our family's seven paths and found a common trait: two types of soul skills are essential, even for defense-oriented paths."
"Oh? Let's hear it, Xiaojun. What did you discover?" said Second Granduncle Chen Cong with interest.
("Second Granduncle sure changes my nickname every day," Chen Xiaojun grumbled inwardly.)
"The first is a flight or speed-type soul skill. 'Among all soul skills, speed is the most unbreakable.' Speed—especially sword speed—is crucial for us and is always placed early in the soul skill lineup.
The second is an area-of-effect (AoE) attack skill. Ten Thousand Swords Return to the Sect—yes, everyone uses that name. Each path and even everyone I've asked has their version, though the power varies. It's always a mid-to-late-stage skill."
"Haha, well said. Swordsmen do share certain common traits.
Speed-type skills are a core element for sword cultivators. They often combine the properties of speed, ranged attacks, and flight, making them vital in the early stages. Only when the Sword Control Technique is perfected later does their usage diminish.
As for Ten Thousand Swords Return to the Sect, it's the most iconic soul skill of the Seven Kill Sword—sword rain that combines AoE, ranged, locking, area, control, and flight functions."
Second Granduncle Chen Cong grinned, flashing his white teeth. "So what's your idea for your soul skills?"
"My plan, to avoid becoming outdated later on, is to make my first soul skill a speed or flight-type skill—speed is one of the traits of the first bead anyway. The second would be a buff skill. The third would finally be an offensive skill. This setup also aligns with the temperament of the three Sword Spirit Beads."
After a moment, Chen Cong nodded and said, "Good. You won't face danger in the village over the next few years. It's reasonable not to rush into an attack-type soul skill for your first two rings.
Your thinking is correct. It'll help delay the obsolescence of early-stage soul skills to some degree.
That's our view as well. And there's another benefit."
"What benefit, Second Granduncle?"
"According to the research of our ancestors, the first soul ring is as important as the seventh and ninth. It can more easily alter the martial soul's nature. If you choose a speed-type skill, your martial soul will become lighter and faster overall."
"Second Granduncle, what if my first soul skill starts at the thousand-year level?"
"What?!" Chen Yu and Chen Cong exclaimed in unison.
"Impossible!" Chen Cong said firmly. "Even with buffs, using a same-type or gentle beast spirit soul beast—like the easiest, Blue Silver Grass—at most you could reach about 600 years for your first ring."
"That's true under normal circumstances. But Second Granduncle, you forgot—my martial soul needs soul power to activate."
"Hmm… you're saying, while absorbing a soul ring, your Sword Spirit Beads are also drawing some of the soul power? That would require a higher-level soul beast?"
"Exactly. That's one of the unique traits of my martial soul."
"I thought you only needed to inject your soul power into them, but it's actually like this…"
"Yeah, it must be during the process of gaining a soul ring."
"If that's the case… Brother, Xiaojun, although part of the soul power will be divided and the buff reduced, it's still soul power from a thousand-year beast—which is far better than the first ring of most people. More importantly, it's a true thousand-year soul skill!" Chen Cong shouted excitedly.
The so-called "baptism" refers to the power a soul ring brings when a soul beast dies—granting boosts to soul power, physical essence, and spiritual strength.
"Second Granduncle, to be precise, it's about 1,500 years. This bead told me it needs a thousand-year soul power to activate," Chen Xiaojun smiled.
But Chen Yu became serious: "The soul ring from a beast's death provides not just soul skills and power, but also physical essence and spiritual energy. If the age pushes limits, it's fine—but at a thousand years, the essence and spirit become dangerous. How do you plan to handle that?"
Chen Yu still put Xiaojun's safety above all.
"I'll have the Sword Spirit Beads absorb them! I've been sensing them every day. They draw in a lot of my spiritual power—it's like a bottomless pit. So I'm not worried about the mental side.
As for essence, the beads can absorb part of that too. And essence is gentler than soul power or spirit energy. As long as I pick the right soul beast, it shouldn't be a problem.
The most volatile is the soul power itself. I can probably handle up to 500 years' worth on my own.
Thanks to the clan, I've been taking medicinal baths and eating medicinal meals and soul beast meat since I was young. After two years of training, my body is pretty strong.
I should be able to absorb it successfully. And if something goes wrong, Grandpa is a Titled Douluo—he can intervene, right?" Chen Xiaojun explained seriously.
"If I can pull off this leap in absorption for my first ring, I'll do the same for the second and third. Three thousand-year soul rings would benefit my development enormously."
"Good! The second and third are still far off. Have you chosen your first soul beast yet?"
"I want something elegant and refined. I'm considering a Pegasus, Radiant Feather Unicorn, Swan, or Spirit Crane—bird-type beasts.
According to my research, the Xieluo Mountain Range used to have Pegasi. They're graceful and refined, and highly likely to provide speed-type skills. Pegasus is my top choice."
"Pegasi indeed often yield wind-attribute speed skills. They're high-grade soul beasts, and their soul skills are equivalent to a normal soul master's third or even fourth ring," Chen Yu said, full of anticipation.
"Chen Wu."
"Uncle Yu." Chen Wu entered upon hearing his name.
"These next couple of days, take Xiaojun to Blackmoon Forest. Let him confront some soul beasts and see blood. Tell Old Black to hold back a little."
The Shaolin Mountains extended northwestward. On this side, there was a basin with exposed bedrock, covered in loess and loose soil.
A few miles past the village's northern outskirts lay a forest at the base of the basin—lush with birch, lacquer, and poplar trees, inhabited by low-level soul beasts, all under ten thousand years.
The ruler of Blackmoon Forest was a pack of Blackmoon Wolves. Their leader, Blackmoon Shadowfang Wolf, known as Old Black, was effectively "raised" by the Chen Clan—having witnessed their hundred-year legacy. Even a wolf must bow under the eaves.
On the Douluo Continent, raising soul beasts wasn't rare. All major forces did it:
The Spirit Hall's Hunting Forest, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's Thunder Valley, and the Star Luo Royal Family's Royal Forest, for example.
Wolf packs were among the most disciplined soul beasts. With a wolf king's restraint, they rarely caused trouble. Their combat strength wasn't weak either—making them excellent sparring partners and guardians for the Chen Clan children.
Of course, the Chen Clan also gave the Blackmoon Wolves many benefits. When the city or town conducted soul-beast purges, they always tipped the wolves off in advance.
"Understood. I'll visit Old Black today," Chen Wu accepted the task and left.
Frankly, even without a warning, the Blackmoon Wolves wouldn't dare act rashly—they were far too familiar with the Chen Clan's garb. Still, Chen Yu was just being extra cautious.
"Xiaojun, take this storage soul device. It was originally meant for your martial soul awakening, but I felt that one was too small—so I got you a bigger one. You know how to use it, right?"
Chen Yu handed him a blue-and-white bracelet, engraved with interwoven gold and silver cloud patterns—elegant and regal in appearance.
"Thank you, Grandpa! This soul device is impressive! What's its name?" Chen Xiaojun had long been eyeing a storage soul device—it was standard equipment, after all!
He probed it with his senses. It was about 3–4 meters wide and long, almost 3 meters tall, with over 30 cubic meters of space. He was quite satisfied.
"Name it yourself."
"Then I'll call it... Radiant Light Bracelet."
"Earlier you mentioned your martial soul's traits. Anything else you've sensed?" Chen Cong asked.
"Yeah. First, as I said, my martial soul draws soul power upon activation. The first bead needs a 1,000-year soul ring. I suspect the second and third will need more than that—they'll increase progressively."
"Hmm, that's possible," Chen Cong nodded.
Holding up two fingers, Chen Xiaojun continued, "Second, each Sword Spirit Bead has a unique special ability—just like the Seven Kill Sword carries innate killing intent and can absorb killing intent to grow. These can only be confirmed upon activation. I only have a vague sense that this bead is connected to wind or light attributes."
"That's certain. A martial soul of this level must have some special traits," Chen Cong agreed.
"Third, the ten beads seem to be interconnected in some way. Here's the question—am I wielding one martial soul or ten? I still need to explore that."
"I can answer that. You are both one martial soul and ten martial souls. This type is called a Set Martial Soul—extremely rare," Chen Cong explained.
"Anything else?"
"That's all for now."
"You've summarized very well. I think you can also approach this from another perspective: your martial soul may be a prototype of a super martial soul. Consider the ten beads as a whole—look at the bigger picture. Maybe that's connected to the third point you made, about their interconnection."