Douluo Continent: My Martial Soul, the Dragon Abyss Sword, has become its scabbard.

Chapter 4 Soul Hunting

In the past two years, Ding Quan has not only improved his soul power level, but also maintained excellent control over his soul power.

Benefiting from his knowledge and imagination from his previous life, Ding Quan borrowed many cultivation methods for controlling soul power.

Knowing the importance of mastering one's own power, and feeling the thrill of constantly becoming stronger, leads to rapid progress.

In addition, his mental strength was indeed stronger than that of ordinary soul masters, and he could sense some faint fluctuations in soul power.

Although I can't walk on the water as easily as on land right now, walking on it is no problem.

With such precise control over soul power, their reaction speed also surpasses that of their peers.

Although I don't know the extent of my current strength, I am much stronger than the big guy in front of me.

Without using his martial spirit, the opponent wouldn't gain any advantage. Once he used his martial spirit, Ding Quan was confident that the amplification effect brought by the sword sheath would prevent the opponent from making a second strike.

Yu Gang was also somewhat surprised by Ding Quan's strength. He couldn't defeat him without using his martial soul, and it would be the same if he used his martial soul but not his soul skills. However, it would be somewhat unfair if he used his soul skills.

Speaking of his first spirit ring, which was a hundred-year spirit ring, he had taken Ding Quan's advice into consideration.

Logically speaking, teachers in junior soul master academies should only hunt ten-year-old soul beasts for their students, since hundred-year-old soul beasts are indeed quite difficult for senior soul master teachers who are not equipped with the best soul rings.

It should be noted that Yu Xiaogang, a peak level 29 Great Soul Master with a perfect Soul Ring configuration, was completely helpless against the nearly 400-year-old Mandragora Serpent and could only flee for his life.

Although Yu Xiaogang is indeed very weak, he still has two yellow spirit rings and his spirit power level is at the peak of the Great Spirit Master.

The teachers at the junior soul master academy almost all have white soul rings, and their strength may not be as strong as Yu Xiaogang's.

Therefore, it is quite normal to obtain a ten-year-old soul ring without any danger in this junior academy.

When Ding Quan was at level ten, he told him to give up hunting powerful ten-year-old soul beasts and instead hunt a plant soul beast called Sawtooth Grass.

This type of soul beast is relatively weak, but its leaves have serrated edges and are very sharp. Most importantly, there are quite a few of these soul beasts in the Soul Hunting Forest.

After paying some money, Yu Gang, led by a college teacher, found a sawgrass that was about two hundred years old on the outskirts of the forest.

After burning it to death with kerosene, he absorbed the spirit ring and gained a spirit skill called "Sharpening," which made his greatsword sharper.

To thank Ding Quan, Yu Gang inquired about the soul beast Ding Quan needed and then went to the Soul Hunting Town to ask about the bamboo soul beast.

After all, Yu Gang has graduated and has plenty of time now.

"Ding Quan, there are indeed many Lone Bamboo Soul Hunting Forests that you need, but the nearest 400-year-old Lone Bamboo is located near the center of the forest, and the academy's teachers dare not take you there."

Inside the warehouse, the two men chatted as they processed a large fish.

"The central location?"

"There are some on the outskirts as well, and they're quite old, close to three hundred years old," Yu Gang said, frowning as he looked at Ding Quan.

"Brother Gang, what about the other soul beasts?" Although Ding Quan had confirmed that they were bamboo-type soul beasts, other soul beasts that could enhance resilience could also be considered.

"The Soul Hunting Forests you mentioned are very rare, and even if they exist, they've already been hunted down by other Soul Masters."

"Less than three hundred years?" Ding Quan's expression darkened. Less than three hundred years was indeed a rather low number.

In fact, given Ding Quan's current physical condition, he could consider getting any spirit rings that are a little past their optimal age.

However, considering that the geniuses of those top forces had received medicinal baths from a young age, as well as the amplification brought to them by their powerful martial souls, they dared not attempt to cross levels. Ding Quan also set the age limit at around four hundred years as a precaution.

Although a three-hundred-year limit is already quite high for a Soul Master's first Soul Ring, Ding Quan still hopes to get as close to the limit as possible.

"I also found out about a bamboo spirit beast, but I'm not sure if it's good or bad," Yu Gang said after thinking for a while, seeing that Ding Quan hadn't spoken.

"Brother Gang, what is it?"

"I heard them say that on a cliff near the sea in the Soul Hunting Forest of Binhai City, there is a strange bamboo soul beast."

"strangeness?"

"Hmm, I heard it's very short, black in color, and completely bare without any leaves."

"Black bamboo, how old is it?" Ding Quan was somewhat surprised, as bare, black bamboo is quite rare.

"They're not sure about the age either. I heard it's a mutated species that no one has ever seen before. It must be over a hundred years old."

"Where is the location?"

"It's located on the eastern side of the Soul Hunter Forest, near the sea. There's a cliff over a hundred meters high there, and that bamboo is in the center of the cliff. Getting there is a bit dangerous, and since it's a mutated species, not many people have bothered with it."

"Is that so, Brother Gang? Thank you."

"It's good that it's useful, but you should be careful if you try to obtain its spirit ring."

"I know."

The scabbard of the Longyuan Sword is made of black bamboo, so perhaps it has a connection with this black bamboo.

It's best to go and see for yourself before making a decision. If the timeframe isn't right, you can try hunting Guzhu or searching in the wild Soul Beast Forest.

However, considering that the academy will soon be on holiday, it seems I must speed up my breakthrough.

With that thought in mind, Ding Quan approached a beluga whale that was over five meters long and began to attack it.

Sensing the faint soul power emanating from it, it seems to be a soul beast, just not very old.

After splitting open its brain with an axe, Ding Quan's eyes lit up. This very young beluga whale had actually produced whale glue.

Looking at the pale yellow whale gel the size of a pigeon egg inside its brain, Ding Quan reached out and took it off.

I squeezed it with my hand; it was still warm and slightly elastic. I glanced at Yu Gang, who was processing a large fish, and there was no one else around.

I swallowed it whole. I don’t know if it would have any effect if it hadn’t been heated, but I suppose it would.

A few minutes later, he felt a surge of heat rising from his abdomen, followed by a burning sensation. Ding Quan quickly circulated his soul power to absorb it.

Seeing the energetic Ding Quan, Yu Gang couldn't help but speed up.

Half an hour later, Ding Quan felt a shackle being broken from his body and immediately burst into laughter.

He was on the verge of a breakthrough, and this small piece of whale glue actually helped him.

"You've broken through! Izumi, you truly are a genius."

Yu Gang had been watching Ding Quan closely ever since he sped up. Seeing Ding Quan's smile and the fleeting glimpse of soul power he had just witnessed, Yu Gang immediately guessed that Ding Quan had broken through to level ten.

"Luckily!" Ding Quan didn't mince words. If it weren't for that piece of whale glue, he would have needed to spend more time.

"Haha, your breakthrough is perfectly timed. The academy hasn't given you a holiday yet, so you can ask your teacher to take you on a soul hunt. Also, I have a few gold soul coins here, so I think you can ask your teacher to help you search more."

Yu Gang also laughed, and then handed a few gold soul coins to Ding Quan.

Ding Quan did not refuse, presumably because Yu Gang had received these gold soul coins from the Spirit Hall after becoming a Soul Master.

Moreover, with these few gold soul coins, we can ask the academy teachers for a helping hand.

"Brother Gang, thank you so much. I'll pay you back later."

"It's all a small matter!"

The next day.

The Academy's Soul Hunting Office.

After handing his Soul Hunting application to the teacher in charge of registration, Ding Quan placed his hand on the crystal ball next to him that tested his Soul Power level.

Seeing the crystal ball fully lit up, the other party immediately made arrangements.

Ding Quan carried a bundle of rope and followed a middle-aged man into the Soul Hunting Forest. This middle-aged man was the Soul Hunting Instructor assigned by the academy.

The teacher in charge of registration reviewed Ding Quan's information and, knowing that Ding Quan had great talent, also planned to let Ding Quan obtain a hundred-year soul ring.

So, the Soul Master teacher in front of them specially brought Ding Quan to hunt souls.

It seems that geniuses receive preferential treatment everywhere.

Ding Quan also gave him those few gold soul coins, asking him to take him to that strange bamboo. If the age was not right, then he should hunt down the solitary bamboo.

"Ding Quan, we've arrived."

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The teacher led Ding Quan to a cliff. Ding Quan stood at the edge, and below, more than a hundred meters below, waves crashed, and the white spray created by the waves made the rocks appear and disappear.

Ding Quan surveyed the area before finally spotting his target.

In the center of the cliff, a straight black bamboo grows.

Ding Quan was also somewhat surprised when he saw this bamboo. It was only as thick as a person's thumb. If it weren't for its slender shape extending out from the cliff, it would have been difficult to spot.

It seems to grow where there is no soil; it looks like it grew out of a crack in a rock.

After tying up the rope he brought, Ding Quan glanced at the middle-aged teacher.

The middle-aged teacher clenched his right hand, and a bow appeared in his hand, along with three spirit rings—one white, one yellow, and one purple—appearing on his body.

"Second Soul Skill - Wind Chaser Arrow!" The middle-aged teacher's yellow soul ring flashed as he drew his bow and shot an arrow directly at the bamboo soul beast.

jump!

The arrow hit the bamboo directly. The black bamboo trunk bent and the arrow passed through it and hit the rock wall directly, and several pieces of gravel fell down.

"It seems to have no offensive means and can defend against my second soul skill. It's undoubtedly a hundred-year-old soul beast. Let's go down," the man said, tying a rope around himself before leaping down.

"Okay!" Ding Quan hurriedly followed, it seemed those few gold soul coins were worth it.

Ding Quan slowly landed near the bamboo spirit beast, step by step, and only then could he truly see its full appearance.

This bamboo is only three or four meters long, with a straight stem and distinct nodes, and its roots grow in the crevices of the cliff.

Only at the base of the plant are there a few branches with a few slender bamboo leaves.

Its entire body was black, exuding a jade-like luster, like a piece of antique that had been handled and polished.

It didn't attack when it came up to it, so it seems that the other party really has no means of attack.

The middle-aged teacher shot another arrow, which also passed by the bamboo body, leaving only a white mark on the slender bamboo body.

Ding Quan tied a rope around the top of the bamboo and then pulled hard, turning the bamboo from standing upright to lying horizontally.

Still showing no signs of breaking, Ding Quan didn't hesitate. He gripped his right hand and slashed the Dragon Abyss Sword directly at its base.

clang!

A metallic sound rang out; the Dragon Abyss Sword had only made a mark on it, and the sound was nothing like that of striking bamboo.

Seeing the tiny gap at the mark, I realized that the bamboo was harder than I had expected.

Seeing that the bamboo was not reacting, Ding Quan quickened his pace and, a few minutes later, cut a notch at its base.

At this speed, I wonder how long it will take to cut it down.

More than ten minutes later, Ding Quan looked at the bamboo in his hand with a blank expression. He cut it in half, but where was the soul ring?

"We must hunt it down and uproot it completely," the middle-aged teacher said after glancing at the bamboo section that had been bent into various shapes.

"It seems so." Ding Quan stuck the bamboo in his hand aside. This bamboo was extremely tough, and even when it was connected end to end and squeezed hard, there was no sign of it breaking.

However, it might be difficult to uproot the entire plant.

Looking at that section of root again, my eyes lit up.

The root grows along a crack in the cliff.

Ding Quan took out a kettle from his body; it didn't contain water, but kerosene.

They poured it into the crack, and after seeing that there was oil at the base of the plant and not finding any other spirit beasts, they set it on fire.

Ding Quan watched the flames rise and waited quietly.

More than ten minutes later, under Ding Quan's anxious gaze, a bright yellow spirit ring appeared.

This color is much darker than Yu Gang's spirit ring, but lighter than the yellow spirit ring that the teacher in front of him had when he released his martial spirit.

"Teacher, what do you think of the age limit of this spirit ring...?" Ding Quan knew he could absorb the age limit of this spirit ring, but he still asked.

"Judging from this color, it should be around three or four hundred years old, which suits you very well, but I don't know the exact age."

"Thank you for your help, teacher."

After attaching the spirit ring to himself, Ding Quan and his teacher arrived at the cliff face.

Ding Quan sat cross-legged and began absorbing the soul ring.

A gentle surge of soul power instantly rushed into Ding Quan's body. Although the soul power was gentle, its energy still caused Ding Quan to feel a slight stinging sensation.

Ding Quan hurriedly used his soul power to suppress the stinging sensation. It seemed that this soul ring was almost four hundred years old.

Even absorbing a spirit ring that's less than four hundred years old, especially one produced by a bamboo-type spirit beast, feels the same. It seems that my decision to play it safe and not absorb a spirit ring that's too high a level was the right one.

The energy increases exponentially with age.

For example, a Soul Master's first Soul Ring has a lifespan of over four hundred years, and their second Soul Ring has a lifespan of over seven hundred years.

The two have a lifespan that differs by less than double, but their energy is increased several times.

A Great Soul Master with the same Martial Soul can easily crush a Soul Master; the difference in strength between the two is more than double.

Without further thought, Ding Quan focused on the soul skill he desired.

A Soul Master's will can also influence the generation of Soul Skills. Soul Masters with the same Martial Soul may obtain different Soul Skills when hunting the same type of Soul Beast. This shows that a Soul Master's thoughts can affect the effect of Soul Skills to a certain extent.

Ding Quan felt as if his body was injected with vitality, and his whole body felt swollen. This was his body growing wildly.

Half an hour later, Ding Quan opened his eyes and sensed his soul power. It was only level eleven, but it would only take him one or two months to reach level twelve.

He glanced at the Longyuan Sword in his hand, and a yellow soul ring slowly fell down, and finally slowly rotated under his feet.

After feeling the soul power, Ding Quan smiled happily.

(End of this chapter)