The fact that the Grand Radiance Art could enhance a cultivator's affinity with light elements thrilled Zhu Ziyang. Its appearance completely solidified his once-hesitant decision.
Focusing on the light attribute and supplementing it with death—for him, that was a path full of brilliance and promise.
Of course, the true value lay in the Grand Radiance Art itself. A method that not only cultivated soul power but also enhanced spiritual strength and physical constitution—such a meditation technique was virtually unheard of on the entire continent. Traditional meditation could help with spiritual growth, perhaps, but strengthening the body? Absolutely not.
Yet body constitution was critical for soul masters, as it directly influenced the maximum age of soul rings they could withstand.
Across the continent, the ways for soul masters to improve their bodies were very limited. One basic method was the natural enhancement that came from absorbing a soul ring. Another was consuming rare herbs and treasures—an option reserved for the heirs of great powers. Then there were physical means: jogging like an ordinary person, or even extreme-pressure training that bordered on self-harm.
But none of these could compare to the subtle and constant reinforcement that came during cultivation with the Grand Radiance Art.
Zhu Ziyang felt an unprecedented sense of confidence.
After a night of training, his body and mind felt refreshed like never before. The fatigue from days of travel had vanished. He was in top form.
"Alright! Time to go running with Nannan!" he exclaimed, hopping out of bed. After washing up, he left the house and headed toward Jiang Nannan's home.
He arrived just in time to see Bai Xinyi, Jiang Nannan's mother.
"Aunt Bai!" he greeted warmly.
"Xiaoyang, congratulations on becoming a true soul master!" Bai Xinyi said with a gentle smile despite her pale face, her tone full of genuine joy. She had always liked this clever, polite boy from the village chief's family—not to mention he was a rare talent with full innate soul power. Most importantly, he treated her daughter well. If Nannan could one day end up with him, she'd have no regrets even in death.
"Haha, thank you!" Zhu Ziyang replied cheerfully, then asked, "Is Nannan up already?"
"She is! She's already out running," Bai Xinyi replied. "While you were away hunting for your soul ring, Nannan got up half an hour earlier every day to run."
"Really?!" Zhu Ziyang was surprised, then grinned. "In that case, I'll go find her. Bye, Aunt Bai!"
"Goodbye." Bai Xinyi watched him walk off, lost in thought.
Zhu Ziyang found Jiang Nannan running, drenched in sweat, her bangs sticking to her shiny forehead. She didn't even notice him as she passed by.
"Nannan!" he called, a bit speechless.
"Huh?" she responded reflexively but kept running for another 30 or 40 meters before it hit her: "That voice… was that Brother Ziyang?!"
She stopped immediately and turned around. Sure enough, Zhu Ziyang was standing on a rock by the roadside, smiling and waving at her.
"Brother Ziyang!" she squealed joyfully and ran to him at once.
Naturally, Zhu Ziyang didn't just stand there—he ran toward her too.
When they met, Jiang Nannan threw her arms around him, pressing her face into the side of his neck. It had only been seven days, but it was the longest they'd ever been apart. Every morning during her runs, she missed his presence. Her heart felt hollow. Maybe… this was the love the older girls talked about?
The sudden hug stunned Zhu Ziyang, but after a moment, he returned the embrace with a smile.
Three or four minutes passed before Jiang Nannan finally let go, took a step back, blushed slightly, and smiled goofily at him.
"What is it, Nannan? Why are you looking at me like that?" Zhu Ziyang asked, puzzled.
"It's... nothing," she said quickly, shaking her head. Then she looked up again and asked, "Brother Ziyang, you're back. Did you get your soul ring?"
"I sure did!" Zhu Ziyang replied confidently. "I'm now a level 11 soul master!"
As he spoke, he released his martial soul, and a bright yellow soul ring rose beneath him. The glow made him look even more refined and noble.
"That's a soul ring? It's beautiful!" Jiang Nannan gazed at it in awe and admiration.
"Don't worry, Nannan. With your talent, you'll reach level 10 in less than two months. Then Dad and I will take you to get your first soul ring too!" Zhu Ziyang said, patting her shoulder encouragingly.
"Mm! I'll train hard!" Jiang Nannan, always strong and independent, quickly shook off her envy and answered with firm determination.
"That's my Nannan!" Zhu Ziyang replied, unaware of the awkward implication in his wording. He was distracted, wondering if he could teach her the Grand Radiance Art.
The moment the thought crossed his mind, the words "Forbidden" appeared in his head.
Of course. That was one of the art's restrictions—only those recognized by it can cultivate it.
Apparently, his parents, Zhu Changhe and Liang Ying, couldn't either. He had already taught them the Little Radiance Breathing Technique, but they showed no reaction—just like Jiang Nannan.
A pity, Zhu Ziyang thought to himself.
Jiang Nannan didn't notice. She was too used to how Zhu Ziyang spoke.
"Oh, right! Nannan, have you been practicing the breathing technique I taught you?" he asked suddenly.
"Yes! I practice it every time I go running and before meditating each night," she answered without hesitation.
"Good. Have you noticed any changes?" he asked, a thoughtful look in his eyes.
"Changes? Hmm... Does faster cultivation count? I can now complete eight major cycles! Also, I don't get as winded after running!"
"I see…" Zhu Ziyang narrowed his eyes, processing the information.
Eight full cycles—that was about what he expected, considering her talent. It was probably her current limit. If she wanted to go beyond that, she'd need either a second martial soul awakening or some kind of heaven-defying opportunity. As for her improved breathing after exercise, that was likely a result of the small physical boost gained from martial soul awakening—not the breathing technique.
It made sense. She had only practiced the breathing method for six or seven days—too little time for significant effects.
Thinking this through, Zhu Ziyang smiled and said, "Keep practicing, Nannan. And if you ever feel a strange energy that's different from your soul power appear at your Heart Center, be sure to tell me."
"Okay!" she said sweetly with a smile.
"Alright, let's head back. You're soaked in sweat—stinky!"
"I am not! You're lying, Brother Ziyang!"
"Hahaha!"
They jogged and teased each other all the way home.
—
Back home, Zhu Ziyang began pondering a new idea: combining the Grand Radiance Art with conventional meditation to develop a new type of meditation method.
If the old sages of the soul master world could hear his thoughts, they would surely scoff and scold him:
"You're just a six-year-old brat, and you dare dream of innovating soul master meditation? Preposterous!"
But Zhu Ziyang didn't care. After all, he was a man who carried the knowledge of hundreds of thousands of books.