Chapter 38: The Second Soul Skill

Chapter 38: The Second Soul Skill

Upon returning to the Imperial City, Xue Qinghe first paid a visit to the Emperor and Empress to assure them of his safety. He then tended to some court affairs and social obligations before finally returning to the Crown Prince's residence.

However, instead of retiring to his own chamber, Xue Qinghe turned and entered Wang Si's room. Stretching his arms and rubbing his shoulders, he began to complain, "These clothes are so uncomfortable, and those two old fellows have me running all over the place..."

Hearing the complaint, Wang Si interrupted his cultivation practice. "You think cross-dressing is easy? You'll have your fair share of hardships from now on." He teased.

"So be it," Xue Qinghe retorted, tugging at his clothes before finally letting out a sigh of relief. He then walked over to stand before Wang Si, gesturing at the height difference between them. "At least they got the height right. That way, I won't have to worry about being found out."

Looking at the playful expression on Qian Renxue's face, Wang Si reached out and ruffled her hair affectionately. Qian Renxue controlled her soul bone, returning to her original appearance.

"There's still a lot for you to learn," Wang Si continued, "and the most important thing for you is to maintain distance from me. You're aware of Xue Qinghe's attitude towards me, and he seems to have become wary of me over the past two years. I think that might be a challenging aspect for you to portray..."

In response to Wang Si's admonishment, Qian Renxue merely smiled and nodded, leaving Wang Si unsure of how much she had taken to heart and what she would actually do.

Having said what he needed to, Wang Si once again reached out and playfully ruffled Qian Renxue's hair.

Qian Renxue tilted her head, a mischievous smile playing on her lips as she looked at Wang Si. "By the way, there's something I forgot to tell you. The Star Luo Empire's assassination plan failed, and they're furious about it. Your beloved 'Xue Ya' will be their next target, and unfortunately, today as she leaves the Moon Pavilion, they will make their move." Qian Renxue's eyes sparkled with amusement as she regarded Wang Si.

Wang Si was taken aback by Qian Renxue's words but merely shook his head with a resigned smile.

For the past three years, Qian Renxue had been living by his side, assuming the identity of 'Xue Ya'. Over a month ago, a covert agent from the Spirit Hall had begun studying Qian Renxue's daily life in detail so that when Qian Renxue took Xue Qinghe's place, no one would notice any discrepancies.

However, from the sound of Qian Renxue's words, it seemed she did not want that undercover agent to continue living as 'Xue Ya' by her side.

Killing 'Xue Ya' at this point might arouse suspicions about her identity, but it was unlikely that anyone would guess the truth about Xue Qinghe.

"If it makes you happy," Wang Si replied, "and if Ning Fengzhi and the others can capture one or two assassins from the Star Luo Empire, it will give us additional leverage."

Currently, only Wang Si and 'Xue Qinghe' had returned via the underground passage. Ning Fengzhi, the Bone Dragon Douluo, and the others were still at the Imperial Soul Beast Hunting Ground.

According to their prior plan, Ning Fengzhi was supposed to capture a few assassins during this operation, after which the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, the Heaven Dou Empire, and the Spirit Hall would jointly pressure the Star Luo Empire.

Hearing Wang Si's words, Qian Renxue raised an eyebrow inquisitively. "'Again'?"

To ensure the success of Qian Renxue's undercover mission, Qian Daolu had pulled out all the stops, inviting numerous Title Douluos to lend their support. The goal was to maximize the benefits for the Heaven Dou Empire in the event that Qian Renxue's infiltration was successful. If 'Xue Qinghe' could secure a significant advantage for the empire, no one would doubt his identity.

However, as far as they knew, the only leverage they had over the Star Luo Empire was the fact that they had sent assassins to target Xue Qinghe, Ning Fengzhi, and Wang Si in the Heaven Dou Empire.

Qian Renxue was curious as to why Wang Si had said 'again'.

Wang Si merely smiled in response, and then his martial spirit took form.

His martial spirit had truly undergone a transformation, and it was nothing short of revolutionary.

Unlike before, when it had been a mere empty skeleton, Wang Si's martial spirit now resembled a living creature.

Indeed, it only resembled a living being.

One could still make out the outline of the skeleton, but it was now covered in a layer of orange-red flames, and on Wang Si's head, the flames formed the shape of a lion's head.

As for the body, aside from the dense, orange-red 'mane', its form was indistinguishable from that of a human.

Its paws remained those of a regular person, but its palms had undergone a peculiar transformation.

The effect of the Thousand Refining Blood was to merge other powers into one's bloodline, and when he unleashed the second soul skill, the power of the soul ring influenced him directly.

It was the Blazing Lion, the very soul beast that he had absorbed as his second soul ring.

The Blazing Lion, according to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, was a soul beast with a guaranteed amplifying soul skill. Just how powerful could it be?

If he had truly only gained its power, then his Bronze-level awakening would be considered a failure.

While the Thousand Refining Blood could merge other powers with one's bloodline, it surely wouldn't be as effective as merging during an awakening.

At that critical moment, he had mobilized the strongest power within him—the sun's power that he had nourished with various other abilities.

And this was no ordinary sun power. Over the past three years, he had come into contact with numerous top-tier martial spirits from the Royal Soul Academy, absorbing the soul powers of many other martial spirits, including those of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon and the Nine-Heart Ginger.

If he could successfully merge those two orbs of sun power into his bloodline, his strength would undoubtedly soar to new heights.

However, the process had been interrupted.

Those two orbs of sun power, treated as "foreign objects" by his martial spirit, were squeezed into his eye sockets, becoming the eyes of his martial spirit.

The essence of his entire body had been reduced to a pair of oversized eyeballs! Wang Si couldn't help but feel annoyed.

"Alright, don't be too upset," Qian Renxue consoled him, taking his hand in hers. "Remember, you didn't even have a martial spirit to begin with. Now, not only do you have one, but it has also evolved, making you more powerful than most Soul Masters."

Taking a deep breath, Wang Si calmed the anger within him.

"My second soul skill is an amplifying skill—'Burning Blood'!" Wang Si declared. A purple light radiated from his purple soul ring, and his soul power began to circulate in a unique trajectory, igniting a circle of orange-red flames around him.

"This soul skill concentrates my qi and blood, and then ignites it with my soul power. During its activation, all my attributes are more than doubled. Once my soul power is depleted, the skill will start burning my qi and blood instead. Regardless of when I end the skill, my body will enter a weakened state afterward, which I can recover from by replenishing my energy. And after I recover, my qi and blood will be enhanced."

This was Wang Si's refined explanation of the soul skill, as he had incorporated the Thousand Refining Blood into the skill's activation process.

In reality, the original soul skill lacked the ability to enhance his qi and blood. The authentic second soul skill merely burned blood and always resulted in a weakened state afterward.

It was a poor trade-off—a long period of weakness in exchange for a short burst of power—and the skill made sure everyone knew it was meant for amplifying one's strength by exaggerating the visual effects.

It was downright embarrassing.

Wang Si felt that the Blazing Lion had bestowed upon him its most lackluster skill! However, Qian Renxue's focus at that moment wasn't on Wang Si's burst of power but rather on the circulation path of his soul power.

"Yet another soul skill that simply stimulates your body's power. No wonder you said 'again' when referring to having another bargaining chip against Star Luo," she remarked, a slight headache forming from the even more intricate soul power route, but she brushed it off. After all, she could just "dual cultivate" with Wang Si directly...

All she needed to do was lie there and let Wang Si do the work.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end