Chapter 8 Test
"Five hundred years!" Su Ling'er exclaimed. "Do you know what you're saying? Some soul masters don't even have a second soul ring that exceeds five hundred years!"
Yet Quan Yi appeared very calm. He replied calmly, "Mother, I know very well. With my physical strength, five hundred years isn't even my limit."
"Indeed, your physical strength is enough to rival that of an ordinary level-twenty auxiliary-type tool soul master." Unlike Su Ling'er, Quan Yue didn't seem surprised. Instead, after thinking for a while, he realized that Quan Yi's analysis did make sense, so he agreed.
Su Ling'er, however, spoke with a face full of worry: "This is different from your previous training. Absorbing a soul ring carries risks. If something goes wrong, at best you could lose your martial soul; at worst, you could lose your life. And once you start absorbing a soul ring, not even the gods can intervene. Xiao Yi, there's no need to take such a big risk."
Quan Yi didn't answer, but looked at Su Ling'er with determined eyes. Su Ling'er also met Quan Yi's gaze, and the two fell into a standoff.
Both of them wanted to change the other's mind through this silent confrontation.
At this moment, Quan Yue suddenly spoke: "I agree with your idea."
Quan Yi looked at Quan Yue in surprise, just about to thank him, but Quan Yue immediately continued: "However, I have conditions."
Quan Yi didn't understand what Quan Yue meant and asked in confusion: "Please tell me, Father."
"I have two conditions. First, within two months, you must master the two sets of fist techniques I'll teach you. Second, you must obtain the soul ring yourself. Your mother and I will only watch from the side."
"If we intervene, it means you failed. At that time, I hope you will obediently absorb a four-hundred-year soul ring."
Quan Yi didn't rush to answer, but thought carefully about whether he could fulfill these two conditions.
He felt that this was a test. To convince his family, he had to show his own ability. So after thinking for a moment, Quan Yi nodded, signaling that he agreed.
"Good. Let's stop here for today. Come to the basement early tomorrow morning, and I'll officially start teaching you to cultivate." Seeing that Quan Yi accepted the conditions, a hint of a smile appeared on Quan Yue's face.
After saying goodbye to his parents, Quan Yi turned and left. When he reached the basement exit, he pulled out the door bolt and slowly opened the heavy door. This action stunned the guards at the door.
A door that normally took two adults using all their strength to open had actually been easily opened by a six-year-old child. This made them even more deeply aware of the gap between ordinary people and soul masters.
But what they didn't know was that Quan Yi had relied purely on physical strength without using any soul power. From this, it could be seen that Quan Yi's physical strength had reached an incredible level.
Quan Yi stepped out of the iron door. Although only half a day had passed, it felt like a lifetime.
Meanwhile, underground, Su Ling'er was questioning Quan Yue.
"How could you agree to him?" Su Ling'er complained.
"Didn't you notice Xiao Yi's eyes? Those were the eyes of someone who had already made up his mind. Even if we refused, he would definitely try to do it himself. At that time, the situation would truly be out of our control."
"Besides, Xiao Yi isn't like other children. Even if you can stop him once, you can't stop him next time. He's destined to leave us one day and go on his own journey. All we can really give him is our experience and skills."
A trace of reluctance flashed in Quan Yue's eyes. Since he had often been busy with family matters, he hadn't been able to accompany Quan Yi as much as he wished; and in the future, it might become even harder.
But if a fledgling eagle wants to soar, parents shouldn't stop it. Quan Yue could only harden his heart and silently watch his child leap off the cliff.
Yet it wasn't that he could do nothing. The conditions he proposed, though strict, were not impossible to complete. This was both a test and a form of teaching.
Through this method, Quan Yue could pass on his martial techniques to Quan Yi. Since it couldn't be stopped, this was the only way he could help.
At this moment, Quan Yi had returned to his room. He took out the notes he'd made on soul beasts and carefully screened for those that fit his needs.
He wasn't frightened by those harsh conditions. After four years of training, his heart had become incredibly strong. Such difficulties couldn't stop him.
He continuously picked out soul beasts that met his criteria and recorded them separately. Fortunately, he had organized this information beforehand, so soon Quan Yi finished screening.
After finishing, he carefully put away the notes and took out a new piece of paper.
Right now, Quan Yi was thinking about his future training plan.
After becoming a soul master, the things Quan Yi needed to cultivate became much more diverse.
First was meditation. Soul power is the fundamental strength of a soul master, so meditation should be his top priority in the future.
Second was physical training. As an assault-type soul master, physical training was absolutely essential, and it directly affected whether he could absorb higher-level soul rings. This was an important part of his plan.
Third was skill training, including fist techniques and soul power circulation. Thinking about all this, Quan Yi felt that even all his time wouldn't be enough.
Fortunately, in this world, meditation could replace sleep and also help restore the body, though it would cause mental fatigue for a while. This meant Quan Yi could have a whole day to train.
Quan Yi wrote down all the things he thought of on the paper. This wasn't yet a real schedule; he would need to adjust it continuously during his training.
Looking at the preliminary framework he had created, Quan Yi smiled with satisfaction. With this plan, he knew what he needed to do in the days ahead.
After writing, Quan Yi went to the swimming pool to start his midday workout. Because of yesterday's martial soul awakening and the banquet, he hadn't been able to swim at noon and night, so today he had to make up for it.
Moreover, starting tomorrow, Quan Yi would be training in fist techniques, and might not have time to come to the pool for a while. Thinking of this, Quan Yi sped up his swimming.
The next morning, early, Quan Yi arrived at the basement. He saw Quan Yue sitting cross-legged, cultivating soul power.
Quan Yue also noticed the movement and slowly opened his eyes.
Quan Yi wore a white short-sleeved shirt and black shorts—clearly chosen to allow freedom of movement.
Quan Yue nodded with satisfaction.
"It seems you're ready. Today, I'll first teach you the meditation method. After that, I'll teach you our Quan family's ancestral fist techniques."
"Come, sit here."
Quan Yue pointed to the cushion opposite him, signaling Quan Yi to sit.
Quan Yi hadn't seen this cushion yesterday, so it was probably specially prepared for him.
When Quan Yi sat down, Quan Yue began explaining the key points of meditation.
There weren't many important points: first, calm your heart and mind; second, sense the soul power within your body; then concentrate and circulate the soul power through the body. Each full circulation would increase the soul power.
Quan Yi closed his eyes and quietly sensed the soul power inside him. As he focused, an image of his body's meridians appeared in his mind.
Could this be the legendary internal visualization?
Moreover, although it was called meditation, wasn't this just like the inner power cultivation methods in martial arts novels?
Why did this world not have a corresponding detailed cultivation method, and instead use such a crude way of training?
Countless doubts rose in Quan Yi's mind.
(The chapter ends)