Boom!
A massive roar of waves crashed nearby, echoing like thunder. A look of concern crossed Han Yu's striking face as he gripped the Qiaoshi beside him tightly.
In an instant, the blue waves surged forward.
Swish!
Han Yu's body jolted, the force nearly leaving him breathless. Before he could recover, another wave crashed down.
"Wow!"
His face went pale as he gulped down mouthfuls of seawater, but he clung to the Qiaoshi, his fingers turning white from the strain.
"Don't give up, hold on!"
Han Yu bit his lip hard, a trickle of blood flowing out, quickly washed away by the relentless waves.
Red marks covered his skin, and his thin body appeared swollen. Waves crashed one after another, each impact hitting him hard.
"Ah! It's so uncomfortable, I can't hold on any longer," Han Yu exclaimed, feeling dizzy as his consciousness began to blur. Still, his grip on Qiao Shi remained tight.
Boom! Boom!
Du Bu Si watched this scene with satisfaction. "This kid is impressive; his persistence is truly admirable."
After about half an hour, Han Yu could hold on no longer. His grip on Qiao Shi loosened, and he was about to be swept away by the waves.
"Is this my limit?" he thought. Just then, a pair of strong hands grabbed him.
"Teacher!" he exclaimed before everything went dark and he fell into a coma.
Crackling!
The island was quiet that night, and the tide had receded. Han Yu felt as if he were in a warm ocean, enveloped in comfort. His body eagerly absorbed the surrounding warmth, and he could feel his injuries healing rapidly.
After an unknown amount of time, the warmth began to fade, and Han Yu opened his eyes, confused.
"What's happening to me?"
"Teacher, did you cook me?" Han Yu couldn't help but laugh despite the situation. He found himself in a large cauldron, flames roaring beneath it.
Du Bu Si squatted nearby, occasionally adding more fuel.
"Come out as soon as you wake up. What nonsense are you talking about? I'm helping you temper your body."
"Tempering my body?" Han Yu glanced down at his thin form. While he noticed little change, his skin did appear healthier.
"The results won't be immediate; it requires a long soaking," Du Bu Si explained.
Han Yu suddenly understood. Although the effects were subtle, he could feel a difference—his soul power seemed to be moving more quickly within him.
"Gurgle!"
Han Yu shook his head awkwardly. It had been nearly a day since he arrived on the island, and he hadn't eaten anything. Now, hunger gnawed at him, making him feel as if he could devour a mountain of food.
"If you're hungry, come and eat. A good physique needs meat," Du Bu Si said, waving his hand to reveal a large spread of food on the ground.
Han Yu swallowed hard and immediately grabbed a calf from an unknown soul beast, diving into the feast. Despite the spread being enough for four people, he polished it all off.
Lying back on the blue silver grass, he smacked his lips in satisfaction. While the taste could have been better, he felt content.
"Now let me explain the cultivation method of our body sect. We primarily focus on combat skills!" Du Bu Si said, pulling out a parchment scroll and laying it in front of Han Yu.
"Teacher, are combat skills a way to operate soul power?" Han Yu asked, sitting up with curiosity.
He examined the parchment, which featured many small figures in various postures, each adorned with red dots that formed specific patterns.
"Yes and no. Do you know about self-created soul skills?" Du Bu Si replied.
Han Yu nodded; he was familiar with them. Some large sects had their own unique techniques, like the the Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer from the Clear Sky Clan and the Heart Separation Control of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan
"Our approach is similar to self-created soul skills, but there's one key difference: it's more of a methodology," Du Bu Si explained. "Depending on different martial souls, each person's skills will vary."
He was, ready to delve deeper into the subject.
Du Bu Si paused and continued. "For example, if someone's martial soul is an arm, their combat skills will enhance the power of that arm significantly."
Han Yu understood. Essentially, the body sect's combat skills provided various ways to exert force. The specific techniques depended on how one applied them—arms, calves, or even the belly could all produce different impacts if developed well.
"Our combat skills are a type of self-created soul skill that comes from communicating with our martial souls. The actual power of these skills relies entirely on our comprehension abilities," Du Bu Si explained.
At this point, Han Yu felt a spark of inspiration. If he practiced these combat skills in conjunction with his Sharingan martial soul, he might be able to create a range of illusions. By understanding the principles and effects of release, he could potentially manifest them through his martial soul.
But that was just his theory; whether it would work depended on his future practice.
"I haven't learned about your martial soul yet. Can you tell me about its characteristics?" Du Bu Si asked.
"Eye-type martial souls are mostly spiritual, so you'll likely become a spiritual control-type soul master in the future!" he added with a smile. Han Yu realized this was a great opportunity to delve deeper into his own martial soul.
Each martial soul has unique traits that can enhance abilities like speed or strength. Han Yu hesitated, considering whether to mention that his martial soul could evolve. If he disclosed this, Du Bu Si might have a way to help. But if he kept it to himself, he wasn't sure how to resolve it on his own.
"Forget it," he decided. Du Bu Si was the only person he could trust right now, and it wouldn't remain a secret forever. "Teacher, my martial soul is called Sharingan. Unlike ordinary eyes, when I activate the Sharingan, my dynamic vision is significantly enhanced."
Han Yu activated the Sharingan and pointed it out, continuing, "It's classified as a spiritual system, but my eyes are actually more suited for close combat. I can see the enemy's movements as if they're infinitely slowed down. As long as my body can keep up, I can counterattack or even defeat them."
Seeing the surprise in Du Bu Si's eyes, Han Yu added, "With such a powerful ability, it's crucial that I strengthen my close combat skills in the future; otherwise, it would be a waste."
Du Bu Si was taken aback. He hadn't expected Han Yu to possess such an impressive ability. Just imagine: if he could slow down his opponent's movements, it would be like mastering their actions. In a one-on-one duel, if their strengths were comparable, Han Yu would likely come out on top.
Before Du Bu Si could fully process this revelation, Han Yu surprised him again with another revelation.