LIGHTNOVELSTORY Chapter 20: Ye Feng's Second Soul Skill
Ken Daochen's Expectations
Sword Douluo Chen Xin silently observed Ye Feng, wondering if he had achieved the elusive state of unity between man and sword. While he knew this was nearly impossible within a mere three months, a faint glimmer of hope lingered in his heart.
Shui Bing'er's Challenge
"Shui Bing'er, Martial Soul: Ice Phoenix. Level 20, Control-Type Battle Soul Master. Please advise!" Shui Bing'er took a step forward, her single yellow soul ring glowing. Behind her, an icy phoenix emerged, the air around it swirling with snowflakes. The temperature in the area dropped sharply as the Ice Phoenix appeared.
"Ye Feng, Martial Soul: Nine-Hearts Xuantang. Level 30, Control-Type Battle Soul Master. Please advise!" Ye Feng said calmly. A yellow soul ring manifested beneath his feet, and in his hand, a translucent crabapple blossom shimmered like fine jade.
"Level 30? But you only have one ring?" Shui Bing'er's expression shifted to one of astonishment.
Shui Ruohan, Shui Bing'er's grandfather, furrowed his brows in disbelief. "Child, could it be... you were born with rank 30 innate soul power?"
"Yes." Ye Feng's tone remained steady.
The revelation shocked everyone present. Typically, a soul master could only achieve rank 30 with three rings, as each ring provided a significant power boost. For Ye Feng to have reached rank 30 with only one ring could only mean one thing—his innate soul power at awakening was astonishingly high.
A Mutated Martial Soul?
"Nine-Hearts Xuantang?" Shui Ruohan murmured, a thoughtful look in his eyes.
As the dean of Tianshui Academy, Shui Ruohan had extensive knowledge of the soul master world. He had heard of the legendary Nine-Hearts Begonia but had never encountered the term "Nine-Hearts Xuantang." After a moment's pause, he speculated aloud, "Could it be a mutated version of the Nine-Hearts Begonia?"
Shui Bing'er initiated her first soul skill. "Freezing!" With a flicker of her soul ring, a wave of icy power enveloped Ye Feng, encasing him in black ice.
"It's over," Shui Bing'er said confidently, a small smile playing on her lips.
However, before she could savor her victory, a golden glow radiated from within the ice. Ye Feng's body emanated a surge of soul power, and his single soul ring flashed as he activated Beast Blood Boiling, boosting his strength and speed by 30%.
Bang!
The ice cracked audibly. Moments later, Ye Feng burst free, sending shards flying in all directions.
"Impossible!" Shui Bing'er gasped, her composure faltering. She activated her first soul skill again, but as soon as the ice formed, it shattered once more. In the blink of an eye, Ye Feng appeared before her, his fist hovering a mere inch from her face.
"You've lost," Ye Feng declared calmly.
Shui Bing'er's Shock
"Are you... really a Control-Type Soul Master?" Shui Bing'er asked, her voice tinged with disbelief.
Ye Feng nodded. "Yes, I am."
"Then how are you so fast? You move like an agility-type soul master!" she pressed.
Ye Feng scratched his head awkwardly. "Perhaps it's due to my mutated martial soul."
In truth, Ye Feng's incredible speed was due to his system's enhancements, which had significantly boosted his agility. However, he had no intention of revealing this secret.
"Mutated martial soul... Nine-Hearts Xuantang..." Shui Bing'er murmured, committing the name to memory. This was the first time she had been defeated by someone her age.
A Respectful Farewell
Shui Ruohan stroked his beard and said, "Bing'er, you've lost. The Snow Eagle's soul ring now belongs to him. Let us leave. Grandpa will find you another suitable soul beast."
"Yes, Grandpa," Shui Bing'er replied softly. She took a few steps but couldn't help glancing back at Ye Feng. Her gaze was calm, and a faint trace of admiration flickered in her blue eyes.
Ye Feng noticed her look and felt relieved. At least his actions hadn't left a negative impression.
Sword Douluo's Advice
"Are you interested in that girl?" Chen Xin asked, a teasing edge in his voice.
Ye Feng looked startled. "Master, what are you saying?"
"Ye Feng, you're too young to be thinking about romance. Focus on your cultivation. You can consider such matters when you attend an advanced soul master academy," Chen Xin said, his tone unusually stern.
"Master, I wasn't—" Ye Feng stammered, clearly exasperated.
"Good," Chen Xin interrupted. "Now, finish off the Snow Eagle and claim its soul ring."
Ye Feng nodded, ending the Snow Eagle's life with a swift slash. As the creature's body faded, its soul ring emerged, glowing faintly. With practiced movements, Ye Feng guided the soul ring into his Nine-Hearts Xuantang martial soul.
A New Skill
When Ye Feng opened his eyes, Chen Xin immediately asked, "What's your second soul skill?"
"Ice," Ye Feng replied. Demonstrating, he used his new ability to encase a nearby tree in a thick layer of black ice.
"The ice layer is 30 centimeters thick at my current level. For every level I gain, the thickness increases by 10 centimeters," Ye Feng explained.
"Impressive," Chen Xin said, nodding in approval. "With time, this ability will become a powerful tool in battle."
A Curious Question
"Master, can you defeat Poison Douluo?" Ye Feng asked suddenly.
Chen Xin raised an eyebrow, his expression unreadable. "Why do you ask?"