Douluo Continent: The Eye of Truth

Chapter 29 Second Soul Skill: Mental Suggestion

Left with no other choice, the large-headed spirit apes picked up whatever was convenient around them, imbued it with soul power and spiritual power, and hurled it at Huo Yuhao and the other three.

The larger objects thrown by the giant apes were deflected by Huo Yuhao's hidden weapons, disrupting their trajectory and causing them to veer off course. The smaller and less noticeable objects were simply ignored by Huo Yuhao.

With the help of the Level 3 Soul Power Circuit - Refraction, the tiny attacks that were about to hit Huo Yuhao were deflected and did not cause him any harm whatsoever.

The three students who fell to the ground and lost consciousness were rather unlucky. Although Huo Yuhao helped them deflect the larger attacks, some minor attacks still landed on them.

The attacks, imbued with soul power and mental energy, left them bruised and dizzy, but in reality, their injuries weren't that serious; they just looked a bit miserable.

Meanwhile, the attacks of the big-headed spirit apes became increasingly sparse, because with Lie Yong's charge, a large number of big-headed spirit apes were burned into dried corpses. At this time, Lie Yong was already extremely close to the hiding place of the mutated three-eyed demon ape.

Therefore, the groups of two or three large-headed spirit apes abandoned their attack on Huo Yuhao and the others and turned to try to entangle Lie Yong.

"That guy looks like he's trying to run away. Well, the Big-Headed Spirit Ape isn't even one of its own kind, just a subordinate. But I'm not letting you get away with what's already in my grasp, Little Yuhao, watch me!"

Tianmeng Ice Silkworm said confidently, "As a million-year soul beast, although I can't beat those hundred-thousand-year soul beasts, I can still bully these small hundred-year and thousand-year soul beasts with my huge spiritual power."

"Hehehehe, since I became your spirit ring, Xiao Yuhao, I haven't seen you use any of the other skills I gave you. Let me demonstrate for you: Mental Interference!"

Although mental interference is a type of soul skill, it ultimately depends on who is using it. While Tianmeng Ice Silkworm's mental power level is not top-notch, its mental power attainment at its peak was already close to a tangible and substantial level.

It wasn't difficult for him to control the range of his mental interference to a single target.

The moment the mental interference hit, the big-headed spirit ape that had been desperately trying to stop Lie Yong seemed to wake up from a dream, squeaking and trying to escape. At the same time, the three-eyed demon ape that had been hiding in the shadows also revealed its whereabouts.

Seeing this, Lie Yong naturally wouldn't miss such a good opportunity. His fourth and fifth spirit rings flashed alternately, and a roar rang out from Lie Yong's mouth, deafeningly loud. The big-headed spirit apes that were closer were all stunned to the ground.

Then, Lie Yong's figure transformed into flames, his speed increased dramatically, and he grabbed the three-eyed demonic ape that was in a brief state of unconsciousness and another large-headed spirit ape with a cultivation level of about eight hundred years by the neck.

Once the other big-headed apes awoke from their dizziness, they disregarded their seriously injured or unconscious brethren and scattered, fleeing the area.

"This big-headed spirit ape's cultivation level is quite suitable for you, and this three-eyed demonic ape is also very rare. Which one do you want as your spirit ring?" Lie Yong grabbed two spirit beasts and walked towards Huo Yuhao.

At this time, the other three students had also regained their senses, and Huo Yuhao removed the silver needles that had been inserted into their bodies to seal their acupoints one by one, restoring their ability to move.

"However, I didn't expect that the leader of this group of big-headed spirit apes would be a three-eyed demon ape, and it seems to be a mutated species."

Compared to the average height of the Big-Headed Spirit Ape, which is around 1.5 meters tall, the Three-Eyed Demon Ape in Lie Yong's hands is a full two meters tall, and its body is also much stronger than that of ordinary Three-Eyed Demon Apes.

Aside from its black fur, which emitted a faint purple halo, just like a normal three-eyed demon ape, it actually had a closed eye on its forehead.

It's important to know that the so-called Three-Eyed Ape is just a name given to them by humans, because the Three-Eyed Ape has a wisp of golden hair on its forehead that resembles an eye.

The mutation of the other party clearly shows that it has at least mutated the mental attributes that the Three-Eyed Demon Ape was originally good at. As for whether other mutations have occurred, it is unknown.

"Although the mutated soul beasts that survive are stronger than their original kin, the soul skills they produce are also more unstable. Moreover, this three-eyed demonic ape's strength should be around a thousand years, but I have no way of knowing the exact number."

"But with your current physique, it might be difficult for you to withstand it. If all else fails, you should choose this 800-year-old big-headed spirit ape as your soul ring. Although it's a bit inferior, at least it's safe."

Upon hearing this, Huo Yuhao shook his head: "Teacher Lie, I'm willing to give it a try. My martial soul gives me a feeling that the soul skills produced by this Three-Eyed Demon Ape might be very suitable for me."

Huo Yuhao casually made up an excuse, saying that he didn't know whether it was suitable for him or not, and he didn't care. As long as he could break through, that was enough. What more could he ask for? Anyway, it couldn't be too bad.

With the Eye of Truth, Huo Yuhao could easily create the soul skills he needed without the extensive trial-and-error time and exhaustive methods that other soul masters used when creating their own soul skills. He could simply decompose and combine existing, known soul skills.

As for whether it can be absorbed, that's definitely possible. After all, with the expert Tianmeng Ice Silkworm around, neither the backlash from the fusion of soul rings and soul power, nor the lingering resentment of soul beasts within the soul rings, are significant problems.

Lie Yong nodded, not needing to say anything more. After all, although he was a teacher, he wasn't a nanny and had no responsibility to unconditionally consider all aspects of the students' needs. He had already given his advice.

Since the other party has already made their decision, there's no need for me to say anything more. The student should bear both the risks and the rewards alone.

Lie Yong tossed the unconscious three-eyed demonic ape to the ground and said to Huo Yuhao, "Then you finish it off. Has everyone else recovered? If so, keep watch around, lest those monkeys launch a surprise attack!"

Huo Yuhao immediately took out the weapon he had prepared beforehand and pierced it directly into the brain of the Three-Eyed Demon Ape through its forehead. The Three-Eyed Demon Ape twitched once and then lost its life.

Immediately afterwards, a purple halo slowly rose from the head of the three-eyed demon ape. Although there was a barely perceptible yellow mixed in, there was no doubt that with the formation of the spirit ring, this was a thousand-year-level spirit ring.

Huo Yuhao sat cross-legged in front of the corpse of the Three-Eyed Demon Ape. This was his first time truly absorbing a soul ring, so he was somewhat nervous.

With the attraction of the soul power within his martial soul, he began to draw upon the thousand-year soul ring produced by the mutated three-eyed demonic ape. The soul ring was drawn onto Huo Yuhao's body, and immediately Huo Yuhao's soul power began to surge.

The energy contained in the thousand-year soul ring was still too vast. Although Huo Yuhao's body had been modified and strengthened considerably, his foundation was still somewhat weak, making it too difficult for him to absorb it.

At the same time, the spiritual power and resentment left behind by the Three-Eyed Demon Ape, hidden within this soul ring, began to impact Huo Yuhao's spiritual sea.

It should be noted that this situation usually only occurs when absorbing a ten-thousand-year spirit ring. If any other ordinary spirit master were to try to absorb the Three-Eyed Demon Ape's spirit ring as their second spirit ring, they would absolutely only fail.

However, Huo Yuhao is not an ordinary Soul Master; he's overpowered.

Heavenly Dream Ice Silkworm, activate!

Under the immense spiritual power of the Heavenly Dream Ice Silkworm, the originally volatile and somewhat cold soul power was perfectly diverted and flowed into the hundred meridians that Huo Yuhao had opened up within his body.

Then, under the precise control of the Heavenly Dream Ice Silkworm, it flowed into the ever-flowing soul power cycle within Huo Yuhao's body, where it was subsequently annihilated, transformed, and absorbed.

"Mr. Yi, what do you think?"

After the pressure from the soul power impact was relieved, Huo Yuhao immediately sought advice from Electrolux in his spiritual sea.

The aged voice replied, "The big worm was right before; this guy is indeed tainted with a lot of resentment. If you absorb it directly, it might leave some hidden dangers for you later."

"However, with me here, there's naturally no problem. Just consider it a small supplement; absorb it without worry."

"As for the methods to dispel and refine resentment, I haven't fully recalled them yet. I'll pass them on to you once I've fully remembered them."

Huo Yuhao felt a cool current of energy sweep over his entire body from his spiritual sea, and the slight swelling and discomfort he had felt earlier immediately disappeared.

At the same time, the most threatening mental attack from the Three-Eyed Demon Ape was also neutralized.

Compared to the two extremely high-quality beings residing in Huo Yuhao's spiritual sea, one representing quality, the divine consciousness of Electrolux, and the other representing quantity, the spiritual origin of the Heavenly Dream Ice Silkworm.

This tiny three-eyed demonic ape was clearly no match for him. Soon, with the smooth flow of soul power within his meridians, Huo Yuhao's absorption of this soul ring was coming to an end.

At this moment, Huo Yuhao was using his Eye of Truth and Mental Detection simultaneously to observe and record the structure of the soul rings dropped by the dead big-headed spirit apes around him, comparing and sampling them with the soul rings on the soul masters' bodies.

Since the absorption of spirit rings is aided by the Heavenly Dream Ice Silkworm, Huo Yuhao naturally doesn't need to worry too much; at least, this applies to spirit rings at the thousand-year level.

"Hmm, the soul ring structures of these big-headed spirit apes have subtle differences in their underlying construction, but compared to the soul rings of a soul master, they seem to lack the influence of the corresponding martial soul."

"Or perhaps, the Soul Master's Martial Soul merges with the Soul Ring, covering up any possible structure the Soul Ring itself might possess."

"If the final structure formed by the covering can be successfully completed, then the spirit ring will naturally transform into the spirit master's spirit skill. However, if the final structure conflicts, then the fusion will fail."

"However, we still need to go back and study the specifics further. We've seen how other Soul Masters fuse Soul Rings this time, so let's go back and calmly compare them. It's still not very safe here right now."

Opening his eyes, Huo Yuhao was quite satisfied with the soul ring that had been fully fused within him and the slight increase in soul power.

"Level twenty-three, no, twenty-four? Although I can't keep up with Huo Yuhao's progress, he absorbed the Ice Emperor's spirit ring, while I only absorbed a thousand-year-old spirit beast's spirit ring. I should be content."

As for his second soul skill, after carefully sensing it, Huo Yuhao's expression became somewhat strange. "What is all this? Is this really an ability that a three-eyed demonic ape with both dark and mental attributes could mutate?"

"It is indeed quite eerie, though. At first, I thought it would focus on fear, but it turned out to be like this. No wonder it can control so many big-headed spirit apes."

By analyzing his own soul skill, Huo Yuhao discovered that it was actually a form of mental suggestion. Due to the characteristics of his own spiritual eye, Huo Yuhao's martial soul had almost no effect on the soul ring produced by the mutated three-eyed demonic ape.

It almost completely preserved the spirit ring itself, which is one of the most powerful spirit skills of the Three-Eyed Demon Ape.

It can subtly alter how those around us perceive us through the frequency of our mental energy, and it changes our perception almost fundamentally.

Even if the affected person has mental resistance, they cannot resist it. However, if it is only used for a short period of time, it can be said that it has no significant effect.

In other words, the focus of this soul skill is not on combat at all. As for the Three-Eyed Demon Ape, it must have used this soul skill to control the Big-Headed Spirit Ape clan to abandon their racial prejudices and submit to it wholeheartedly.

Of course, the Three-Eyed Demon Ape should also have some strong control-type mental soul skills, just like the one it used on Huo Yuhao and the others before.

However, Huo Yuhao has already recorded the way the Three-Eyed Demon Ape's soul skill is used through the Eye of Truth, and he should be able to reproduce it when he returns.

However, the soul skill that Huo Yuhao obtained was somewhat useless for a soul master to use. Although he tried it, Huo Yuhao found that the soul power consumption and the soul power fluctuations and mental power fluctuations generated by this second soul skill were almost negligible and extremely difficult to detect.

However, if a normal person sees a Soul Master's Soul Ring light up during a battle, they would definitely be wary, so how could they possibly stay by Huo Yuhao's side for long?

"However, upon closer reflection, it's not entirely useless. Soul masters or soul beasts influenced by this mental suggestion are almost unable to construct an effective mental defense against me."

"While this mental suggestion technique isn't very practical in combat, it should have some surprising effects when used on oneself. Furthermore, it can be used as a basis for modifying other soul skills."

"The million-year spirit ring was already sealed by Tianmeng, so it can't be easily modified. This thousand-year spirit ring, however, can be used to test it out."

(End of this chapter)