The exhilaration of rapidly soaring Soul Power level even surpassed the sage mode, but when his Soul Power level finally stopped at level thirty-six, Li Qing felt speechless.
Does this mean a hundred-thousand-year Soul Bone is not as effective as an immortal herb whose effects weren't fully utilized?
But that's fine too.
He still had a month and a half until he turned eight, so what was there to be dissatisfied with achieving level thirty-six at this age? This had already far exceeded his initial expectations.
It was a bit regrettable that everything that could be intercepted had already been intercepted.
It would be impossible for his Soul Power level to soar as wildly as it did this year. At most, he could gain one or two extra levels of Soul Power compared to normal Soul Masters when absorbing Soul Rings.
"How is it?"
The moment Li Qing opened his eyes, Dugu Bo, as always, asked immediately.
"No pressure at all. Eleven thousand years should still be quite a distance from my limit. As for my Soul Power level, it just barely reached level thirty-six."
Dugu Bo nodded.
He didn't think Li Qing's 'barely' was humblebragging. In his opinion, level thirty-six was indeed a bit low, especially since he had directly reached level twenty-seven after his second ring.
This was even one level lower.
Li Qing felt the feedback from his Soul Skill and found that he had indeed obtained the Life Shield Soul Skill, which could easily drain him dry if not careful.
As expected, this Soul Skill would basically only serve as a decoration in the future.
"Wait!"
Seeing Li Qing switch to his Raven form, Dugu Bo suddenly thought of something and asked, "Your Martial Soul has completely different attributes in different forms, so what about your Soul Skills?"
Li Qing smiled and said, "Naturally, they are also different."
Dugu Bo stared and said, "No, then what's the difference between this and a twin Martial Soul?"
Li Qing said seriously, "There are still differences. Once a twin Martial Soul starts adding Soul Rings to the other Martial Soul, their Soul Power level can soar rapidly, but I cannot."
Dugu Bo: "..."
Is this even called a difference?
Alright.
If you insist on saying it like that, maybe it's not impossible, after all, twin Martial Souls will likely only start adding Soul Rings to the second Martial Soul after becoming a Title Douluo.
And the level increase for Title Douluo is often the most difficult.
Without the advantage of extra Soul Ring slots, even if Li Qing's cultivation speed in the early stage far exceeds that of a twin Martial Soul, he will likely be caught up in the later stage.
Unless he has other fortuitous encounters.
After completing the Martial Soul form switch, Li Qing finally knew what the third Soul Skill in his Raven form was.
Death Barrier.
After injecting Soul Power into the third Soul Ring, he can release a barrier that envelops the enemy. Death energy permeates the barrier, continuously eroding the enemy's body.
Duration is thirty seconds.
Furthermore, the barrier also possesses powerful defense. It's not easy to break it from either the inside or the outside. Even if it can't kill the enemy, it can temporarily restrain them.
In a team battle, the difference between having one more person and one less person is still very significant.
Thirty seconds is often enough time to change the tide of battle or even end the fight. Even if the restrained person can last until the barrier disappears, they will basically be subjected to a group beating.
"Li Qing, that healing of yours?"
Seeing him put away his Martial Soul, Dugu Bo quickly asked about his own issue.
Instead of answering, Li Qing asked, "How was the effect?"
It was his first time using it, and afterward, he was in a hurry to adjust his state and absorb the Soul Ring, so he really didn't know the specific effect, thus he could only ask.
Dugu Bo said, "Very good, my entire right hand has been completely healed."
Li Qing nodded: "Since it's effective, then theoretically, as long as there is enough life force as nourishment, it should be possible to completely heal your hidden ailment."
Dugu Bo said impatiently, "Then I'll go catch a life-type Soul Beast to bring back?"
Li Qing thought for a moment and asked, "Does the hidden ailment affect your cultivation? If not, I think it's better to wait until I advance and treat it along the way."
He said this with multiple considerations.
Firstly, Soul Beasts are precious resources for Soul Masters, especially high-year top-tier Soul Beasts. It's not an exaggeration to say that killing one means one less.
Secondly, life-type Soul Beasts are what he needs; using them purely for medicinal purposes would be a bit wasteful.
However, if the hidden ailment affects Dugu Bo's Soul Power level increase, then waste can only be waste. After all, he is only one level away from being a peak Douluo.
Even if three Soul Bones are not enough for one level of Soul Power, the difference should not be too large. It would be a bit of a loss if the speed is slowed down by the hidden ailment.
"There definitely is some effect, but it's not that significant. If the hidden ailment can be completely healed, I estimate I can break through to nine... at the latest by the end of next year."
"Then let's go."
Before Dugu Bo could finish speaking, Li Qing made a decision. Regardless of how significant the impact was, as long as there was one, there was no need to be soft-hearted. Soul Beasts were ultimately just Soul Beasts.
"Alright." Dugu Bo smiled.
Afterward, the two embarked on a journey to find a life-type Soul Beast, but high-year life-type Soul Beasts were not easy to find. They didn't find one until noon on the third day.
It was a nearly forty-thousand-year-old Evergreen Vine, which, while not top-tier among life-type Soul Beasts, was still considered high-level.
Dugu Bo severely injured it, its life force was then drained by Li Qing to treat Dugu Bo's hidden ailment, and finally, Dugu Bo's hidden ailment was successfully healed.
After the hidden ailment was healed, Dugu Bo felt an unprecedented sense of relief, as if he had become several years younger.
...
"Li Qing, hurry up, we're going to be late! How can you be more tedious than a woman?" Dugu Yan's roar echoed throughout Dugu Manor.
"Coming, coming."
Li Qing was quite speechless. If he wasn't reluctant to give up the simulated cultivation environment, he really wouldn't want to attend this damn school for even a day.
"You're really slow."
Looking at Li Qing who was rushing over, Dugu Yan's face was full of disdain.
"Let's go, let's go."
Li Qing didn't argue much with her, but instead Drill into the carriage that had been waiting at the door for a long time.
Dugu Yan also got in right after.
Dugu Bo was not seen, because he had gone from open to hidden, saying that he wanted to fish for those who were weak but loved to play, meaning those who dared to target Li Qing even though their families didn't have a Title Douluo.
"Slap!"
The coachman cracked the whip, and the three Soul Beast horses with over ten years of cultivation galloped out.
"Oh right, Ning Rongrong has joined our team, and her Martial Soul has evolved into the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, and her Soul Power level has even reached level twenty-three."
Dugu Yan suddenly said.
Li Qing nodded. It seemed Ning Fengzhi had ultimately given this only opportunity to Ning Rongrong. As for her Soul Power level, there was nothing surprising about it.
Ning Rongrong had innate Soul Power of level nine. Assuming her two Soul Rings only added two levels, that would only be level twelve.
In the original work, after Ning Rongrong absorbed the Qiluo Tulip, her Soul Power level directly increased from level thirty-one to level thirty-seven. A Soul Supreme realm could increase by six levels of Soul Power.
It wasn't an exaggeration for a Soul Master realm to increase by ten levels or so.
Li Qing asked, "What about you? What level are you now, and did that Soul Bone give you a flying Soul Skill?"