Jing Shaoyu stood up, temporarily setting aside the matter of the green-dressed woman who seemed to be the Goddess of Life. He then began to carefully feel the growth and gains he had achieved after advancing to the Soul King realm.
"Master," he nodded respectfully to Yun Ming.
"Mm," Yun Ming acknowledged, "Let's head down first. Your mistress is also waiting for news of you. It's a good opportunity for her to hear it as well."
"Alright."
The master and disciple left the crown of the Golden Tree and returned to the wooden house where Yun Ming and Ya Li resided. It was early morning, with the first light of dawn breaking through, the air moist and fresh. The gentle breeze carried a slight chill, invigorating those who rose early.
Inside the wooden house, Ya Li was delighted to see Jing Shaoyu and Yun Ming. She stood up softly and said, "Congratulations, A'Yu. A fourteen-year-old Soul King is quite rare even in the history of our academy."
Jing Shaoyu's fifteenth birthday was still a few months away, so he was indeed fourteen years old.
"Brother, congratulations!" Na'er, who had been sleeping on Ya Li's lap, was awakened by her movements. After regaining her senses, she smiled brightly at Jing Shaoyu.
"Mistress, Na'er, thank you," Jing Shaoyu responded with a smile.
"Alright," Yun Ming sat down on a chair, his expression serious, "Tell us about your fifth Soul Skill and other gains."
"Alright," Jing Shaoyu agreed, then steadied himself and summoned his Origin Elf Soul.
After reaching the five-ring Soul King realm, Jing Shaoyu's appearance in the Origin Elf state didn't change much. The fifth Grand Dao Source Stone had formed on the Crown of Nature, with intertwined four-pointed stars inscribed on it, resembling brilliant radiance.
As he had predicted, the Wings of Origin on his back had transformed from two pairs of four wings to three pairs of six wings. The feathers had also turned into a jade-like green, appearing crystal clear and beautiful.
Ya Li looked at the three pairs of wings behind Jing Shaoyu, her beautiful eyes filled with joy. A'Yu was becoming more and more like her, she thought to herself.
The visible changes were only these two, but there were many other transformations that only Jing Shaoyu himself knew about.
Five black Soul Rings rose behind him, and the new fifth Soul Ring lit up. A scarlet halo appeared at Jing Shaoyu's feet, enveloping everyone present. Yun Ming and Ya Li immediately understood the effect of Jing Shaoyu's fifth Soul Ring, their faces showing surprise.
"My fifth Soul Skill is called Scarlet Halo. Like the fourth Soul Skill, Azure Halo, it is a group enhancement skill," Jing Shaoyu explained. "The effect of the Scarlet Halo, as you can feel, enhances a Soul Master's strength, defense, attributes, and Soul Power by two hundred percent, while also reducing their perception of pain."
"Mm, a top-tier support skill," Yun Ming nodded, clearly impressed.
"The combined effects of the Scarlet Halo and A'Yu's fourth Soul Skill, Azure Halo, are already comparable to the six Soul Skills of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Soul," Ya Li chuckled, clearly pleased.
"Brother is amazing!" Na'er clapped and cheered.
"Hehe," Jing Shaoyu chuckled, then began to demonstrate his second new ability, or rather, a new skill.
He raised his right hand, and an intense burst of light instantly filled the wooden house. The light stirred the light elements in the air, significantly increasing the brightness around the house, creating a stark contrast with the surroundings.
"Ah!" Na'er exclaimed, "Such a blinding light!"
"Ahem," Yun Ming coughed lightly, and the light that had illuminated the house vanished instantly. He waved his hand casually and said, "A light attribute Soul Skill?"
"Yes," Jing Shaoyu nodded, pointing to the fifth Grand Dao Source Stone on the Crown of Nature, "This new Grand Dao Source Stone has granted me immunity to light elements and a light element Soul Skill called Radiance Art, a control-type skill with the effect I just demonstrated."
"Blinding?" Yun Ming hit the nail on the head.
"Yes, blinding," Jing Shaoyu said. "For ordinary Soul Masters, it's just blinding, but for dark attribute Soul Masters or Evil Soul Masters tainted with demonic energy, it's not just blinding—it's a purifying holy light."
"I see," Ya Li said, "That's very characteristic of light elements."
Jing Shaoyu's gaze then shifted to the second Grand Dao Source Stone. The droplet inscription on the second Grand Dao Source Stone had also undergone subtle changes, with a simple snowflake-like pattern now surrounding the droplet. The pure white stone also had a faint azure glow and undertone.
He extended his hand, and an irregular piece of ice appeared in his palm. Seeing this sudden appearance of ice, Yun Ming and Ya Li simultaneously exclaimed, "Ice element!"
"Yes," Jing Shaoyu smiled, "In addition to the light element immunity and skill, I've also awakened ice element immunity and an ice element Soul Skill called Ice Concealment Art, a support-type skill that generates a white mist capable of hiding one's form and concealing one's aura."
"Hide form and conceal aura?" Yun Ming murmured, "What's the specific effect? Show us."
"Oh, alright," Jing Shaoyu agreed, a flash of white light in his eyes as he waved his hands. Thick white mist instantly filled the wooden house, the cold mist clinging to the skin, causing everyone to instinctively shiver.
In the blink of an eye, the mist enveloped all four of them. Though they were less than half a meter apart, they could no longer see each other, and their auras became extremely faint, as if they were standing ten or twenty meters apart.
Yun Ming, within the mist, grew increasingly surprised. He hadn't expected that the mist Jing Shaoyu summoned could also block spiritual detection. If not for his own extraordinary spiritual cultivation, he might have needed some effort to break through the mist's barrier.
"Not bad!" Yun Ming clapped his hands in satisfaction, a gentle wave of energy emanating from his hands, instantly dispersing the mist in the house like the rising sun.
"Brother, does this Ice Concealment Art not distinguish between friend and foe?" Na'er asked curiously.
"For now, that's the case," Jing Shaoyu scratched his head, "But with further development, it shouldn't be like this."
The ice element immunity and Ice Concealment Art both came from the altered second Grand Dao Source Stone. Originally representing the water element, this Grand Dao Source Stone had further awakened after Jing Shaoyu's advancement to the Soul King realm, evolving from a single water element to dual water and ice elements. The talent it bestowed, Monarch of Water, had also upgraded to Monarch of the Sea, granting Jing Shaoyu not only basic water and ice element immunity but also the ability to communicate with the ocean.
Jing Shaoyu wasn't entirely sure what this ability to communicate with the ocean entailed. Did it mean he could control seawater? Or could he converse with marine creatures?
However, he was certain of one thing: the Monarch of the Sea talent was undoubtedly stronger than the Monarch of Water. This realization led him to deeper contemplation. If the Monarch of Water could evolve into the Monarch of the Sea, then theoretically, there should be higher-tier talents for the Monarch of Fire, Monarch of Wind, and Monarch of Earth as well. Perhaps when he reached the Soul Emperor realm, all this would be confirmed.
"This is already quite good," Ya Li said with a smile, "At critical moments, the mist A'Yu summons could prove to be very useful."
"Anything else?" Yun Ming asked.
"Of course," Jing Shaoyu replied, raising his hand as the Staff of Stars appeared in his grasp.
The Staff of Stars hadn't changed much. The blue diamond-shaped gem at the top emitted a beautiful, colorful halo as Jing Shaoyu moved it. The halo rapidly expanded and then vanished into the air, seemingly disappearing, but the surrounding space began to fluctuate abnormally.
Yun Ming, Ya Li, and Na'er, all within this space, felt the air around them become unusually thin. The rich elemental energy that had been present in the air vanished in an instant, as if it had never existed.
"Elemental Stripping!" Yun Ming and Ya Li exclaimed simultaneously, while Na'er's eyes sparkled with amazement.
"Exactly," Jing Shaoyu said, "The ability I'm demonstrating now is called the Forbidden Magic Domain. Its effect is as you and Mistress have said—Elemental Stripping. Within the Forbidden Magic Domain, no one except me can use any elemental abilities unless their Soul Power exceeds mine by ten levels."
"Impressive," Yun Ming remarked, "Soul Masters who specialize in elemental abilities will no longer pose a threat to you, A'Yu."