Chapter 7
Superpowers weren't the point.
Lin Bai ran his fingers over the wooden ring on his index finger. With a thought, an 'L'-shaped black steel creation appeared in his palm.
An M9 semi-automatic pistol.
A classic military sidearm.
He had used the leftover points from purchasing telekinesis to buy it. It wasn't expensive, but it was more than enough to deal with most enemies below the Soul King level on the Douluo Continent. Against those with weak defenses, a single shot could be fatal.
The weight of the gun in his hand made the Soul Hunting Forest feel less eerie. The oppressive air seemed fresher, and the dim sunlight a little brighter.
His tension eased. With steady steps, Lin Bai moved through the forest, his eyes sharp and focused. Soon, his gaze caught a disturbance in the foliage—a green mantis clinging motionlessly to a branch, blending almost perfectly with its surroundings.
But to Lin Bai, those four large characters hovering above it were impossible to miss.
[Bronze Mantis: 430 Years]
[Bloodline Source: Golden Mantis]
[Evolution Conditions: Can evolve into a Silver Mantis after ten thousand years or by absorbing metallic spiritual objects like Silver Pump Marrow.]
As he continued to observe, more details surfaced.
[Mutation Path: By devouring nearly a hundred of its kind, it can evolve into a Bloody Mantis. The twin blades formed from blood gold can absorb an enemy's blood during attacks to replenish its own energy. The more it kills, the faster it grows.]
[Soul Skills (varies by Martial Spirit): Sharp Slash, Twin Blade Strike, Steel Slash, Cross Charge.]
[Weakness: Abdomen]
[Martial Spirit Compatibility: 74%]
[Soul Skill Mutation Rate: 2.6%] (Click to view detailed mutation probabilities.)
[Chance of Soul Bone Drop: Extremely Low]
[Individual Stats: Male. Length—65.72 cm. Forelimbs—...]
The stream of information was overwhelming. Lin Bai blinked rapidly, stopping the identification process. He had no interest in the Bronze Mantis's mating history.
This was the first time he had used the Eye of Appraisal on a soul beast, and the sheer depth of detail surprised him. It was enough to strip the mantis of all its secrets.
"So, my appraisal ability is basically a beast-taming golden finger?"
He quickly refocused. The real question was whether he should kill the mantis. It was unaware of his presence, and he could take it down effortlessly with either telekinesis or a bullet.
"430 years—just within the optimal range for a first soul ring. A few extra years shouldn't matter. The Yin-Yang Nine Dragons Jue strengthens my body, not to the level of dedicated external arts, but still far beyond a soul master of the same rank."
Before he could decide, the Bronze Mantis reacted. It sensed something. Its triangular head turned, large compound eyes locking onto him, glinting with a cold light.
"Shit. Who told you to notice me?"
Firing a pistol here would attract too much attention. Instead, Lin Bai activated his telekinesis. A formless wave of mental power surged from his brow, wrapping around his Ghost Gate Golden Needle martial spirit.
The golden needle shot forward in a blur, leaving behind streaks of radiant light.
Buzz!
The mantis sensed danger. Its wings vibrated, creating a sharp rustling sound as it darted away, landing on another tree twenty meters away.
Soul power surged around its blade-like forelimbs, glowing with a faint cyan hue. The mantis launched itself at Lin Bai, swords crossed in an executioner's strike.
"An overestimating fool."
Lin Bai barely spared it a glance before lifting himself into the air with telekinesis, soaring twenty meters up in an instant.
The mantis froze mid-charge. Despite its metallic enhancements, its ability to fly was limited. Watching its prey escape skyward, a deep survival instinct overrode its aggressive nature. It turned sharply and fled into the forest.
"Too late."
Lin Bai's voice was calm. His golden needles reversed their trajectory, striking the mantis's exposed abdomen. With another wave of mental power, he slammed it to the ground, pinning it down in a shallow pit.
The mantis thrashed, its swords slashing wildly, but it couldn't break free.
Lin Bai frowned. Telekinesis relied on the strength of his mental power but was ultimately a physical force. Without a proper weapon, its direct lethality was limited. The fact that the mantis had survived a full-force attack proved that.
But he quickly relaxed.
"It's not that my mental power is weak—I'm just too weak. Besides, with my Golden Needle Martial Spirit, I'll never lack weapons."
Tang San's hidden weapons? Compared to his telekinetic control?
Not even worth mentioning.
And as for those muscle-brained martial artists who only focused on brute force?
A faint smile played on his lips.
Using telekinesis, he carried the still-struggling mantis toward a hillside, then shaped his mental power into an invisible shovel. The earth shifted aside, forming a hole just large enough to fit him. He jumped in and covered it with branches, blending perfectly with the surroundings.
With a final thought, his golden needle plunged into the mantis's brain.
Its movements ceased. A bright yellow soul ring emerged from its corpse as Lin Bai retracted his martial spirit.
Weapon souls could be wielded externally, but their existence relied on soul power. Without replenishment, they could dissipate mid-battle. Telekinesis helped prolong their duration, but sustaining them in a prolonged fight would be difficult.
"That's a problem for later. For now—let's see what my first soul ring has to offer."
Seated cross-legged in the damp hideout, Lin Bai drew the yellow soul ring toward him. As it merged with his martial spirit, an unfamiliar energy surged through his meridians, forcefully breaking through each acupoint.
Pain.
Burning, tearing, unrelenting pain.
But Lin Bai remained still, his expression calm. His powerful mental strength allowed him to suppress the pain entirely. Yet, he knew doing so would be a waste of potential. Pain was a necessary step in refining his foundation.
He detached himself from the discomfort, observing the process with clinical precision.
He wouldn't slack off just because he had multiple golden fingers. The potential of a martial spirit wasn't as limited as it seemed.
Every path to divinity had its own merits.
And Lin Bai intended to explore them all.