Chapter 4: Apprenticing to Yao Lao, Cultivating the Burning Technique!
"In fact, I don't have a soul bone to give you, but I can grant you an additional martial soul. The martial soul I'm bestowing upon you is Ice, but currently, it lacks a soul," Tianmeng Ice Silkworm said to Huo Yuhao about his Ultimate Ice, his second martial soul.
In the original work, Huo Yuhao's title was "Spiritual Ice," with his Spiritual Eye ranking below his second martial soul, the Ice Emperor Scorpion. However, in reality, during his time at Shrek Academy, the Ice Emperor Scorpion martial soul associated with his Ultimate Ice was actually more valuable than his Spiritual Eye.
Although the auxiliary combat abilities of the Spiritual Eye are unquestionable, Shrek Academy's research level in soul devices is far inferior to that of the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy, so they couldn't fully exploit the advantages of the Spiritual Eye in soul devices.
Moreover, because they didn't understand the method of allowing the primary martial soul to undergo a second awakening, Shrek Academy didn't initially attach much importance to Huo Yuhao, who possessed the most advanced primary martial soul, the Eye of Insight.
At least initially, the Martial Soul Department didn't want to recruit Huo Yuhao as a core disciple. It was only after Huo Yuhao's Ultimate Ice martial soul awakened that they hurriedly came to the Soul Engineering Department without any face to poach him.
With just the Spiritual Eye martial soul, Huo Yuhao was merely a troublesome burden in Qian Duoduo's eyes. Only with the twin martial souls could Huo Yuhao become the object that Shrek Academy would spare no effort to cultivate.
"An Ice without a soul? What does that mean?" Huo Yuhao pretended to be puzzled.
Tianmeng Ice Silkworm explained, "It means that the martial soul I grant you currently only has attributes but lacks form. When you absorb your first Ice attribute soul ring, your martial soul will take shape. Your second martial soul will be whatever type of soul beast you absorb the soul ring from."
"In other words, your second martial soul will definitely be a beast martial soul. You don't need to worry about this; I've already thought about it for you. But your current cultivation isn't enough. I'll take you to obtain the first Ice attribute soul ring's augmentation when your strength is stronger."
"Now you understand why I said my power to enhance your soul rings is insufficient. Therefore, in the future, you must be extremely cautious when choosing soul rings and listen to my advice more."
"No problem, I trust Tianmeng Bro won't let me face any danger," Huo Yuhao nodded with a smile.
"Eh," Tianmeng Ice Silkworm was suddenly speechless.
By saying that, you're making my conscience ache!
"Alright, it's time for you to leave. The situation outside is still dangerous, so you can't delay too long."
Huo Yuhao felt that everything in front of him suddenly became blurry, as if he was instantly drawn into a huge vortex and plunged into darkness.
When consciousness regained control of his body, Huo Yuhao sat up directly. However, when he saw the scene around him, he couldn't help but be stunned.
Dozens of various soul beasts, like the Wind Baboon from before, were all frozen into ice sculptures not far from him. And at the center of the frozen area was the black ring placed on the bluestone.
"Wow, Yuhao, what's going on?" Tianmeng Ice Silkworm was also shocked in his spiritual sea. "I remember that my released energy didn't leak out, so why did this happen?"
A smile appeared at the corner of Huo Yuhao's mouth as he shook his head and said, "Tianmeng Bro, this has nothing to do with your power, but there's another reason."
Walking slowly to the bluestone, Huo Yuhao once again respectfully saluted the ancient black ring.
"Senior, would you please reveal yourself?"
Tianmeng Ice Silkworm in the spiritual sea asked in confusion, "Yuhao, who are you talking to? Why can't I see anything?"
However, at this moment, the black ring on the bluestone suddenly floated up. Above the ring, there was a transparent, elderly figure floating.
The elder was dressed in white robes, with large sleeves fluttering. His hair and beard were all white, giving him an exceptionally gentle appearance. Despite his profound gaze emitting an aura of age and wisdom, it was impossible to conceal his profound wisdom, as if he had experienced countless vicissitudes and desolation.
"Hehe, young one, you have a keen sense of soul perception. Being able to detect my presence shows your truly exceptional talent," the elder chuckled.
"It's not that I sensed the elder's presence, but just now, I was within the range of the cold aura, yet only the surrounding soul beasts were frozen. This indicates that the ring has its own consciousness," Huo Yuhao smiled.
"I see," the elder nodded. "I've observed your experiences over these years. If you hadn't experienced enough hardships, you wouldn't possess such a keen mind. That's very good."
"Now, let me ask you a question, young one. Do you want to become stronger? Do you want to earn the respect of others?"
"Yes," Huo Yuhao nodded. "But I believe that with my own efforts, I should be able to attain strength and status."
Deals are negotiated. Although the elder's identity was obvious to Huo Yuhao, he couldn't be too eager, or he would undoubtedly appear inferior in the elder's eyes.
"Haha, young one, your talent is indeed excellent. However, you should know that you're already eleven years old this year, yet your soul power is only at level eleven," the elder's face, covered in wrinkles, smiled like a blooming chrysanthemum.
"Although I don't fully understand the power system of this world, I do know that you are currently lagging behind your peers by a considerable margin. It's not easy to catch up with and surpass the outstanding ones of your age."
"You're right," Huo Yuhao nodded again. "So, do you have a way to help me improve my strength?"
The elder descended to the ground, his gaze scanning Huo Yuhao several times. A cunning smile flashed across his face, then quickly disappeared.
"Do you want to become an alchemist?"
"An alchemist? What's that?" Huo Yuhao pretended not to understand.
In the depths of his spiritual sea, even Tianmeng Ice Silkworm was suddenly drawn to the elder's words.
"An alchemist, as the name suggests, is someone who can refine various miraculous elixirs to enhance strength. In the world I belong to, any alchemist will be sought after by various forces at any cost and highly esteemed," the elder explained.
"However, those who can become alchemists are extremely rare. Firstly, they must have a fire attribute, and secondly, within the fire attribute, there must also be a trace of wood energy to catalyze the alchemy process."
"Keep in mind that a soul always possesses only one attribute; it's impossible to have other attributes mixed in. Therefore, a body with two different attributes, one strong and one weak, only occasionally occurs due to mutation. That's why those who can become alchemists are few and far between."
Upon hearing the elder's words, Huo Yuhao hurriedly interrupted him, "Elder, does that mean my soul possesses a trace of wood energy within the fire attribute?"
"Hehe, your situation is even more complex," the elder glanced meaningfully at Huo Yuhao. "Originally, in my perception, your soul belonged to the water attribute. But now, your soul possesses both fire and wood attributes. A trace of wood energy within the fire attribute is perfect for becoming an alchemist."
Huo Yuhao's heart stirred as he realized that this sudden addition of the fire and wood attributes was likely due to the fusion of his own soul with the original owner of the body, Huo Yuhao.
"However, merely possessing the fire and wood attributes in the soul still cannot make one a true alchemist. Because another necessary condition for an alchemist is equally indispensable, and that is soul perception!"
"Due to the existence of your so-called Spiritual Eye martial soul, your soul perception is extremely powerful. Moreover, your fusion with the previous giant meatworm greatly enhanced your soul perception. Therefore, you are indeed a genius for cultivating as an alchemist."
Huo Yuhao's eyes flashed slightly, thinking to himself that his already extraordinary advantage had unexpectedly doubled.
If he were to transplant the alchemy system from the Douluo Continent to this world and cultivate alchemy to improve his cultivation, then his progress in cultivation would inevitably surpass that of the original Huo Yuhao in the story.
"Alchemists have a clear hierarchical system, ranging from low to high, divided into ranks one to nine. So, little guy, do you want to learn or not?" Shaking his head, the elder suddenly became a little impatient.
"I do, I do!" Huo Yuhao no longer hesitated, nodding eagerly like a chick pecking at grain.
"Hehe, willing? If you are, then apprentice yourself to me," the elder sat on the bluestone with crossed legs, smiling cunningly.
However, the elder did not expect that this time, the young teenager in front of him would not bargain with him again, but would directly kneel down and perform the three kneels and nine kowtows with sincerity.
In his previous life, he had admired the elder in front of him greatly, and he had also fantasized about what it would be like to become his disciple.
And now, his dream unexpectedly came true. Naturally, Huo Yuhao wouldn't let go of this opportunity.
The elder reached out to help, but then withdrew his hand, accepting Huo Yuhao's gesture of apprenticeship calmly.
And when Huo Yuhao finished all the formalities meticulously, the elder's voice also became a bit more affectionate, "My name is Yao Lao, as I said earlier, I don't belong to this continent. In our world, there are no martial souls or soul power like yours, but various rare techniques and combat skills."
"As for other matters, I won't tell you for now, so as not to distract you. But since you've become my disciple, what I've learned will certainly be passed on to you."
"To become an alchemist, you must at least cultivate a fire attribute technique. And in our world, cultivation techniques are divided into four tiers: Heaven, Earth, Profound, and Yellow."
"A fire attribute technique? Hehe, Master, since I'm your disciple, why don't you give me a Heaven Tier fire attribute technique to cultivate?" Huo Yuhao deliberately extended his hand, pretending to be naive, and asked Yao Lao with a smile.
"You brat, do you think Heaven Tier techniques grow on trees? You're quite the talker!" Yao Lao's face twitched, laughing and scolding. "I don't have a single Heaven Tier technique here, but I do have a technique that's even more mysterious than a Heaven Tier one. Do you want to learn it or not?"
"More mysterious than a Heaven Tier technique? What level is that technique?" Huo Yuhao asked.
"The technique is called the Burning Technique, a low-level Yellow Tier technique," Yao Lao said lightly.
"No problem, I want to learn!" Huo Yuhao instantly raised his hand, revealing a face full of excitement.
Yao Lao: ???
What's so great about cultivating a low-level Yellow Tier technique? Did I just take in a fool?