Absorbing the soul ring was easier than Han Yu had anticipated. Before long, he reached the eleventh level of soul power, with some left over, and he could sense that a breakthrough to the twelfth level was imminent.
A circle of slightly dark yellow soul rings appeared beneath his feet, radiating the aura of a hundred-year soul ring.
"Interesting," he thought. "It's not the Snow Demon's mental tremor, but rather it has transformed into mental control."
His first soul skill, Mental Control, could be activated through the Sharingan. By locking eyes with an enemy, he could invade their mind and control them instantly—provided their mental strength was weaker than his.
He estimated that, with his current mental power, he could control an ordinary soul master for a few seconds. That brief window would be enough for him to deliver a fatal blow. The only drawback was that the skill had to be used at close range.
Suddenly, a system notification chimed in his mind:
"Ding! The system awakens. Congratulations to the host for breaking through to the soul master level. You will receive a white-level treasure chest. Please choose!"
"Option 1: Increase the innate soul power level by two levels. This option will only appear once and will not be available again."
"Option 2: Increase the current soul power by ten levels, which will cause slight soul power deficiency, and the soul power cannot be increased for half a year."
Han Yu paused, weighing his options carefully.Absorbing the soul ring was easier than Han Yu had anticipated. Before long, he reached the eleventh level of soul power, with some left over, and he could sense that a breakthrough to the twelfth level was imminent.
A circle of slightly dark yellow soul rings appeared beneath his feet, radiating the aura of a hundred-year soul ring.
"Interesting," he thought. "It's not the Snow Demon's mental tremor, but rather it has transformed into mental control."
His first soul skill, Mental Control, could be activated through the Sharingan. By locking eyes with an enemy, he could invade their mind and control them instantly—provided their mental strength was weaker than his.
He estimated that, with his current mental power, he could control an ordinary soul master for a few seconds. That brief window would be enough for him to deliver a fatal blow. The only drawback was that the skill had to be used at close range.
Suddenly, a system notification chimed in his mind:
"Ding! The system awakens. Congratulations to the host for breaking through to the soul master level. You will receive a white-level treasure chest. Please choose!"
"Option 1: Increase the innate soul power level by two levels. This option will only appear once and will not be available again."
"Option 2: Increase the current soul power by ten levels, which will cause slight soul power deficiency, and the soul power cannot be increased for half a year."
"Option 3: Reward B-level ninjutsu, Shadow Clone Technique, which allows the user to create a physical clone using soul power. The clone possesses all the abilities of the original body. After the clone is dismissed, its memories and experiences return to the original."
Han Yu's mind raced with possibilities.
"The first option increases my innate soul power by two levels, which would elevate me to seven and a half. That's excellent for my current needs.
"Option two offers a quick boost to my soul power, but I can't afford to be stuck without improvement for six months.
"And while the Shadow Clone Technique is powerful and could enhance my skill development, it won't provide immediate combat strength.
What should I choose?"
He deliberated, feeling the weight of his decision. Each option had its merits—long-term growth, immediate power, or skill enhancement.
In the end, he resolved, "It's decided. I choose option three!"
"Ding! Congratulations on selecting option three and obtaining the Shadow Clone Technique."
The system continued, "Shadow Clone Technique: Use soul power to create a physical clone. The clone shares the main body's soul power, has independent consciousness, and can withstand certain attacks. Upon its dismissal, the clone's memories and experiences return to the main body."
Excitement surged within Han Yu. "With the Shadow Clone Technique in hand, I can train and strategize more effectively!"
Han Yu's heart raced with surprise. He realized that the first two options were inferior compared to the Shadow Clone Technique.
"With my current strength, splitting a clone shouldn't be difficult. This means I can practice combat skills at double the speed."
Once he completed his reward selection, the system fell silent.
Han Yu had mixed feelings about this system. However, he was grateful for the rewards, as they would enhance his strength and provide more options in combat. The shadow clone could attack and had some ability to resist hits, allowing it to assist him effectively. While it would divide his already limited soul power, he felt reassured since his skills were primarily spiritual.
"Next, I need to find a soul beast to practice!" Han Yu thought eagerly, ready to test his new abilities.
After examining the snow demon's body, he found no soul bone, which was expected. He smiled, undeterred, and turned to exit the cave.
He felt the thrill of new possibilities as he prepared to continue his journey in the Far North.
Stepping outside, he noticed the temperature had dropped slightly, prompting him to pull the hood of his cotton coat tighter.
After acquiring his first soul skill, Han Yu was eager to test its power.
"Since I can't find a spiritual beast, I'll look for a power-type soul beast instead," he thought, continuing onward. His small footprints marked the snowy ground, but they were quickly covered by the swirling snow.
"Roar!"
After a short walk, a massive figure caught Han Yu's attention. It was a soul beast resembling a tiger, around three to four meters long, its snow-white fur unmarked except for eight black stripes on its tail.
"It's the White Ice Tiger. It looks like it has been practicing for about eight hundred years," Han Yu noted, a gleam of excitement in his eyes. This soul beast would be perfect for testing his mental control.
The White Ice Tiger spotted Han Yu and regarded him with hostility, crouching slightly before pouncing with incredible speed.
"That's fast!" Han Yu exclaimed, preparing to react.
Han Yu did not dare to be careless. The scarlet Sharingan activated instantly, radiating a chilling aura.
"Under these eyes, nothing can escape. My vision has seen another world!" he declared with a grin. With his enhanced insight, the speed of the White Ice Tiger appeared painfully slow to him.
Drawing his sword, Han Yu infused it with soul power, causing the blade to glow with a blazing white light. As the White Ice Tiger pounced, Han Yu deftly dodged the attack with a well-timed jump. The force of the tiger's strike created a massive pit in the snow, demonstrating its immense power.
Han Yu narrowed his eyes, watching the tiger with heightened vigilance. After missing its attack, the White Ice Tiger shook its head and let out a furious roar.
"Little tiger, why are you yelling? Watch me!" Han Yu taunted. In an instant, he vanished from his spot and reappeared right in front of the tiger.
The White Ice Tiger was taken aback, clearly not expecting Han Yu's sudden speed.
"Good opportunity! Mind control!" Han Yu shouted as he widened his eyes. The scarlet Sharingan spun rapidly, unleashing a powerful mental force that struck the tiger.
The White Tigers's body stiffened, and a blank expression spread across its face.
"Success!" Han Yu exclaimed, feeling a rush of triumph.
Puff!
The sword in his hand mercilessly slashed at the White tiger's waist, and the blade light turned into a slash, leaving a huge wound on the White tiger's body.
Blood gushed out immediately, like a broken water bag.
But in just a moment, it was frozen by the cold air and turned into an ice sculpture-like artwork.
Han Yu's mouth twitched. Was this a disguised way of stopping the bleeding?
Then, Han Yu swung out another knife and slashed directly at the white tigers's head.
Slash!
The White Tigers body instantly separated and fell on the snow, rolling a few times before stopping abruptly. A circle of deep yellow soul ring slowly emerged.
Without any obstacles, under the assistance of soul power, the sword became extremely sharp and did not show any resistance at all.