Mental attribute soul skills are considered troublesome precisely because many powerful mental attribute soul skills cannot be dodged through evasion.
For example, Huo Yuhao's first soul skill, Fear. Although it is only a century soul ring skill, it originates from the innate soul skill of the Fear Demon Dragon, a sub-dragon type mental attribute soul beast. The quality of this soul skill is quite remarkable, but it is limited by the soul ring's age, resulting in restricted attack range and power.
In contrast, Xu Zihuang's fifth soul ring comes from a 50,000-year pure mental attribute, Evil Eye Tyrant.
After all, the Fear Demon Dragon is merely a sub-dragon, not a true dragon. How could its bloodline nobility compare to that of the pure mental attribute Evil Eye Tyrant, a top-tier mental attribute soul beast? When this Evil Eye Tyrant's soul ring combined with Xu Zihuang's Golden Eyes martial soul, it formed the soul skill Mental Storm, which is even more formidable than the innate soul skill of the pure mental attribute Evil Eye Tyrant lineage.
Mental Storm is essentially a wide-range attack, a mental attribute soul skill. However, Xu Zihuang, relying on his tangible yet intangible level of mental power, concentrated the power of this soul skill onto the massive body of a 30,000-year Diamond Mammoth.
For an average Soul Douluo-level soul master, the age of their eighth soul ring typically ranges between 50,000 and 70,000 years. For some Soul Douluo with lesser foundations, their eighth soul ring might only be around 50,000 years.
Naturally, Xu Zihuang's 50,000-year mental attribute soul skill is not something easily resisted.
The reason powerful mental attribute soul skills are so formidable is not only because they cannot be dodged, but also because they can be activated by simultaneously infusing both soul power and mental power. When balanced, this allows for conserving either soul power or mental power. Alternatively, one can unleash the skill with full force, making its power even more terrifying.
Facing a 30,000-year Diamond Mammoth with astonishing defensive capabilities, Xu Zihuang undoubtedly chose the latter.
The higher the age of a soul ring, the greater the total soul power required to activate its associated soul skill. This is an established rule in this world.
Although Xu Zihuang's total soul power surpasses that of many elite Soul Emperors in Shrek Academy's inner courtyard, activating a 50,000-year soul skill is still somewhat strenuous for him. However, by infusing his vast mental power, it becomes entirely manageable.
Over the three years of his fusion with Tianmeng Iceworm, while his mental power level continuously advanced to the tangible yet intangible realm, Tianmeng Iceworm also actively unsealed the seals on its ten mental origin sources.
Of the ten golden halos on Tianmeng Iceworm, three have already transformed into the purest mental power and merged into Xu Zihuang's sea of consciousness. Part of this was used to expand his sea of consciousness, while another part was used to increase his total mental power.
Mental power level and mental power total are two distinct concepts, akin to quality versus quantity.
By filling the qualitative transformation of mental power with quantity, one can significantly save time and more quickly stabilize the realm of mental power.
When the quantity accumulates to a certain extent, it triggers a qualitative transformation. The two are complementary.
Having fused with Tianmeng Iceworm's mental origin, Xu Zihuang's total mental power is worlds apart from when he first stepped into the tangible yet intangible mental power level.
His progress in mental power far surpasses his soul power cultivation.
In other words, he could activate his fifth soul skill, Mental Storm, solely with his mental power.
Yet earlier, he had unreservedly infused both his entire soul power and mental power to activate it.
The result proved he had completely underestimated the power of his fifth soul skill. No matter how astonishing the defense of the 30,000-year Diamond Mammoth's white crystalline keratin layer and fleshly body, it could not withstand the all-pervasive mental power.
The most terrifying aspect of Xu Zihuang's soul skill is that the target, unless their mental power level is at least on par with his to counter it with mental power or their soul power cultivation far surpasses his to resist through sheer cultivation gap, has little chance of withstanding it.
Unfortunately, this Diamond Mammoth met neither condition.
Bathed in a rain of flesh and blood, Xu Zihuang's purple-gold attire remained unstained by even a speck of blood. A few strands of purple hair at his forehead and temples fluttered slightly. Though his face was somewhat pale due to the immense consumption of soul power and mental power, standing at the center of this open area, he exuded an insurmountable presence.
"Pfft, pfft—"
Two white tusks, over five meters long, descended from the sky, embedding into the ground before him. Amid a humming sound, a pitch-black soul ring rippled in midair, exuding a heavy and oppressive aura.
At the center of this black soul ring floated an unusual bone. The heavy and oppressive aura primarily emanated from it.
It was a bone resembling a miniature human right arm, crystalline as ice and sharply faceted like a diamond. The bone was perfectly intact, shimmering with radiant light, enough to captivate countless onlookers.
This was a high-quality right arm soul bone. Based on the characteristics of the Diamond Mammoth soul beast, fusing with this soul bone would greatly enhance the strength of a soul master's right arm while granting a Diamond Mammoth's innate soul skill, which, in most cases, is a defensive soul skill.
Extending his right hand, the soul bone, drawn by soul power, fell into Xu Zihuang's grasp.
Not far behind him, Beibei, who had been preparing to release his martial soul to assist, finally relaxed his tense body. If he weren't so familiar with Yu Tianhuang's character, he might have acted long ago.
His gaze toward Xu Zihuang was filled with shock yet a sense of inevitability, and he gave a wry smile in his heart.
"I'm afraid I'll never catch up to Tianhuang's footsteps in this lifetime."
Beibei, who usually appeared carefree but was inwardly proud, once again felt a sense of defeat from Yu Tianhuang.
Witnessing the terrifying, destructive power of Yu Tianhuang's fifth soul skill, Mental Storm, was only part of it. What frustrated him most was the gap in their progress in cultivating Elder Mu's Sovereign's Descent technique.
As Elder Mu's descendant, Beibei's martial soul bloodline was directly inherited from Elder Mu. It could be said that Elder Mu had personally trained him.
Compared to Yu Tianhuang, Beibei had begun practicing Sovereign's Descent, a technique surpassing soul skills, much earlier.
Yet, in less than a year and a half, Yu Tianhuang had fully mastered Sovereign's Descent and even integrated his own understanding, while Beibei had spent four to five years barely gaining control.
This was something he had personally experienced during a recent spar with Yu Tianhuang.
No longer affected by the Diamond Mammoth's sonic soul skill, Tang Ya, who had recovered, widened her beautiful eyes in disbelief.
In her eyes, Xu Zihuang at this moment was even more captivating than the soul bone.
Unlike Beibei and Ning Tian, she hadn't witnessed Yu Tianhuang's stunning performance at the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Dueling Tournament. Though she knew Yu Tianhuang was strong, her understanding of him was still based on three years ago, when he single-handedly crushed Huo Yuhao, Wang Dong, and Xiao Xiao.
Only now did she realize just how powerful this junior, whom she held in high regard, truly was.
The only one who appeared relatively calm was Ning Tian. In her eyes, no matter what astonishing feats Yu Tianhuang accomplished, she would find them perfectly natural.
The love in her heart was always so dazzling.
Even Bone Elder, secretly following the group, lingered his gaze before retracting it, sighing softly with a smile.
"This child's talent is even greater than I imagined. The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon clan truly produces exceptional talents."
Xu Zihuang collected the two tusks embedded in the ground, holding the soul bone in his right hand as he approached the trio.
There was no need to mention Ning Tian. Beibei and Tang Ya's gazes were clear. Not only was this soul bone unsuitable for them, but even if it were compatible, it was obtained by Yu Tianhuang alone, defeating the 30,000-year Diamond Mammoth. What did it have to do with them?
These were the unspoken rules among soul master teams. Of course, temporary teams thrown together were an exception; in such teams, bloodshed over a soul bone was all too common.
"What a pity. This is a right arm soul bone. If it were a soul bone for another part, fusing it would likely grant you an additional defensive soul skill," Xu Zihuang said to Ning Tian with some regret.
Ning Tian's fourth soul ring came from a Diamond Mammoth, the same type of soul beast as this soul bone. Even if it wasn't a perfect match, the compatibility would certainly be sufficient.
His words were genuine. A 30,000-year soul bone that didn't suit him wasn't worth his attention. If possible, he didn't mind giving it to Ning Tian to further solidify her loyalty to him.
Ning Tian smiled and shook her head.
"What's meant to be will be. Didn't Senior Brother Beibei and Senior Sister Xiaoya say before? A lot of it depends on luck."
She was open-minded and, with her insight, wouldn't let herself be swayed by such a soul bone.
Beibei could tell Xu Zihuang's earlier exertion had been significant and said seriously, "Tianhuang, recover your condition first. It's already dark, and it's not safe to retreat to the outer area. We'll likely have to spend the night in this mixed zone."
"Mm." Xu Zihuang nodded solemnly, storing the right arm soul bone from the 30,000-year Diamond Mammoth in his soul guide device before sitting cross-legged to restore his soul power and mental power.
In the perilous Star Dou Forest, caution was always warranted.
The group stood around Xu Zihuang to protect him.
Beibei bore the brunt of the responsibility. The soul beasts in the mixed zone were either groups of soul beast clans or solitary soul beasts with at least 3,000 years of cultivation. Ning Tian, as a support-type soul master, aside, even Tang Ya could only assist from the sidelines.
Looking at Xu Zihuang in meditation, Tang Ya pouted and said seriously, "Junior Sister Ning Tian, though Tianhuang isn't the type to actively attract attention, there won't be a shortage of girls trying to pursue him in the future. You'll need to keep a close eye on him."
Having spent time together, she had long approved of Ning Tian. Despite coming from a top-tier soul master sect like the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, Ning Tian never gave off an air of superiority. Moreover, the Tang Sect and the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect shared a deep connection. In the past, it was the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect's funding that helped the Tang Sect flourish. Even in recent times, the sect had provided financial aid to the declining Tang Sect.
She naturally hoped Ning Tian and Yu Tianhuang would last.
Ning Tian, quietly watching Xu Zihuang, heard Tang Ya's words, and her beautiful eyes shimmered.
She didn't need Tang Ya's reminder to understand this. However, so far, only two people truly made her feel pressured.
One was Ma Xiaotao, who led the Shrek team at the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Dueling Tournament, and the other was Meng Hongchen from the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy.
Both were exceptional prodigies, even surpassing her in cultivation talent.
But she had her own advantages. Rather than dwelling on these matters, it was better to focus on improving herself.
Taking up Tang Ya's topic, Ning Tian naturally shifted the conversation.
Amid the low voices of the two women, nearly half an hour passed.
During this time, Xu Zihuang reopened his eyes, the fatigue in them gone, displaying astonishing recovery speed.
The elevation of his mental power level greatly enhanced the recovery speed of both his soul power and mental power.
Xu Zihuang and Beibei took turns keeping watch, passing the night safely. The lingering blood aura of the 30,000-year Diamond Mammoth was highly deterrent, and no soul beast dared approach all night.
The next morning, the group continued deeper into the mixed zone under Xu Zihuang's guidance.
The winter morning in the Star Dou Forest was chilly, with high humidity, forming a misty morning fog. The dense, cold, and damp mist, mixed with the fresh scent of plants and soil, drifted with the breeze.
The sun had yet to rise, and the fog was at its thickest, with extremely low visibility.
However, for Xu Zihuang, Beibei, and Tang Ya, the fog posed no issue. Xu Zihuang relied on his Golden Eyes martial soul's ability to see through the essence of all things, while Beibei and Tang Ya used their Purple Demon Eyes to observe their surroundings.
Still, Tang Ya and Beibei's vision was far less clear than Xu Zihuang's.
Just as the sun rose and the fog was about to dissipate, Xu Zihuang suddenly halted.
"We're here."
As if in response to his words, dense rustling sounds arose from all directions. Not only Xu Zihuang but also Ning Tian, Tang Ya, and Beibei saw the source of the noise.
They were spiders the size of human heads, covered in black carapaces, their eight long legs moving rapidly, creating a string of afterimages. Their abdomens bore white patterns forming a pale human face, with eight small eyes glinting with eerie purple light.
These were Human-Faced Demon Spiders. Though none of these spiders exceeded a century in cultivation, their numbers reached a staggering hundred. Densely packed, they were a chilling sight.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here are the chapters for today (づ￣3￣)づ╭～
"Don't forget there are 40 early chapters available on Patreon
[email protected]/facficmax10--------(@→a)