Douluo Dalu: The Path of Abyss

"Understood, Master," Ye Feng responded respectfully.

Holding a dagger, Ye Feng approached the fallen Violent Gorilla. He hesitated for a moment—this was a soul beast, and its humanoid appearance made his task feel unsettling.

Jian Dao Chen Xin, also known as Sword Douluo, watched quietly without rushing him. Everyone experiences their first time eventually.

After hesitating for five or six seconds, Ye Feng's dagger slashed swiftly across the Violent Gorilla's neck.

Roar!

A heart-wrenching cry erupted from the gorilla as blood sprayed out, staining Ye Feng's clothes. The beast clutched its throat with its massive hand, struggling violently for over ten seconds before collapsing lifelessly.

Following Sword Douluo's earlier demonstrations, Ye Feng formed hand seals. A faint light emerged from the Violent Gorilla's body, condensing into a glowing halo above it.

"Sit down and absorb it. I'll guard you—nothing will disturb your breakthrough," Sword Douluo instructed.

"Yes, Master," Ye Feng replied, seating himself cross-legged. The soul ring shrank rapidly, transforming into a bracelet-sized halo before merging into the Nine Hearts Mysterious Tang martial soul in his right palm.

A rush of fiery energy surged into Ye Feng's body, making his hand feel as though it were submerged in scalding water. His body trembled involuntarily.

"Let strength flow naturally, like a breeze over the hills. Guide the energy into your meridians and let your spirit guard your sea of consciousness," Sword Douluo's calm yet authoritative voice echoed in Ye Feng's ears.

Following these instructions, Ye Feng channeled the energy into his extraordinary meridians and internal organs, while keeping his mind steady, safeguarding the sea of consciousness in his brain. Gradually, the energy calmed and settled.

When Ye Feng opened his eyes, he noticed a crimson hue adorning each petal of his Nine Hearts Mysterious Tang martial soul. The flower's stamen had also turned red.

"Success!" Ye Feng exclaimed, overjoyed.

He had never expected the process of obtaining a soul ring to feel so exhilarating. It was no wonder that everyone aspired to become soul masters, and that soul masters eagerly pursued more soul rings. The sensation was indescribably euphoric.

"What about your soul skill? What's your first ability?" Sword Douluo asked curiously.

Ye Feng activated his soul ring, the bright yellow halo lighting up around him. The red lines on the Nine Hearts Mysterious Tang martial soul shone vividly, especially the newly transformed crimson stamen.

At the same time, a red glow enveloped Sword Douluo.

Closing his eyes briefly, Sword Douluo opened them again and muttered, "My blood flow rate has increased by 30%. My speed and strength are also enhanced by 30%."

"Yes!" Ye Feng grinned proudly. "I've named my first soul skill Beast Blood Boil. It's a growth-type auxiliary ability. For every level my soul power increases, speed and strength are enhanced by an additional 1%. Currently, at level 30, the boost is 30%. The effective range is fixed at 40 meters around me."

Sword Douluo, rare to smile, gently patted Ye Feng on the shoulder. "A remarkable ability. Compared to the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda, which enhances attributes by 10% for every ten levels, your auxiliary capability isn't inferior. If not for the range limitation, this would surpass even Rong Rong's auxiliary soul skills."

Unlike the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda's targeted assistance, Ye Feng's ability provided a range-based enhancement, which made it uniquely versatile.

"Master, what kind of soul beast should I choose for my second martial soul?" Ye Feng asked with concern.

"A control-type soul beast," Sword Douluo replied without hesitation.

"Are you sure? Isn't there a difference between auxiliary and control systems?" Ye Feng asked, puzzled.

Sword Douluo chuckled. "While auxiliary and control systems are categorized differently, they have significant overlap. Assistance comes in three forms: amplification, suppression, and control. Amplification strengthens allies, suppression weakens enemies, and control restricts opponents, aiding allies in combat. Your Xuanyuan Sword martial soul already grants you strong attack capabilities. If you can control the battlefield, defeating opponents will be like cutting down scareDoves."

Sword Douluo's ambition for Ye Feng was clear—he was grooming him to become a one-of-a-kind soul master capable of excelling in both solo and team scenarios.

The Soul Hunting Forest was vast, teeming with countless soul beasts. However, very few met Sword Douluo's stringent requirements. Along the way, they encountered various control-type soul beasts of suitable age, but none caught Sword Douluo's eye.

"Hmm?" Sword Douluo suddenly murmured.

"What is it, Master?" Ye Feng asked curiously.

Activating his third martial soul, the Eye of Hell, Ye Feng's vision sharpened dramatically. Following Sword Douluo's gaze, he spotted a snow-white giant eagle flying through the forest.

The bird's soul power was bright yellow, indicating a hundred-year-old soul beast. Its feathers, resembling ice crystals, sparkled brilliantly as it left a trail of snowflakes in its wake.

"A Snow Eagle," Sword Douluo said with excitement. "This will be your second soul ring."

With his peerless speed, Sword Douluo engaged the Snow Eagle, defeating it effortlessly. In moments, the majestic creature lay lifeless at Ye Feng's feet.

"This Snow Eagle possesses a trace of Ice Phoenix bloodline. At 700 years old, it's the perfect choice for your second soul ring," Sword Douluo declared.

"But Master, it's an ice-attribute soul beast," Ye Feng reminded him.

"Precisely," Sword Douluo affirmed. "Your Nine Hearts Mysterious Tang is a mutated martial soul with non-attribute soul power, similar to Ning Fengzhi's. This allows you to harmoniously absorb soul rings of any attribute, including ice."

"I understand," Ye Feng nodded.

"Begin the absorption process. I'll ensure your safety," Sword Douluo instructed.

"Yes, Master," Ye Feng replied resolutely.

Ye Feng drew his dagger from a storage soul guide and approached the Snow Eagle. Just as he was about to end its life, a hoarse voice suddenly called out:

"Stop!"