I deleted the previous notice (I wanted to save it, but apparently I can't move it, other than deleting it), but I thank all my dear readers for their consideration and for their birthday wishes yesterday. It's the first time I've received so many birthday wishes, I'll cherish this moment forever. ❤❤❤❤
-x-X-x-
**Chapter 91 Gu Ziyi: "Call Me Master!"**
A week later, Gu Ziyi and the rest of the group finally returned to Spirit City.
He reported his significant gains to Qian Xunji after this unexpected adventure.
"A 100,000-year-old Soul Beast that turned into a human..."
"Voluntarily offered itself as a sacrifice..."
"Kid, you really are full of surprises!"
"You're so lucky..."
"Fortunately, everything went smoothly, and luckily, you weren't harmed, Xiaoyi. It's wise of you to refuse that Soul Beast's sacrifice. Otherwise, your body definitely wouldn't have withstood the energy of a 100,000-year Soul Ring..."
"..."
After learning about his student's experience, Qian Xunji was both astonished and relieved at Gu Ziyi's well-being.
At the same time, he was a little scared. If Gu Ziyi had decided to accept the Soul Beast's sacrifice, things could have ended terribly for him. Even if he survived, he would likely have been crippled.
"Come, show me your 100,000-year Mutated Soul Bone!"
Afterward, Qian Xunji naturally wanted to examine the Soul Bone Gu Ziyi had obtained.
"Yes, teacher!"
*Ding!*
Gu Ziyi nodded and took out the peachwood sword that was the Soul Bone.
["Gu Ziyi, you bastard, you actually put me in a Soul Guidance Device!"]
["You are not allowed to do that again, do you hear me?"]
["I want to stay outside, outside... You don't know how dark and lonely it is in there."]
As soon as the Zhutao Sword was removed, Xiao Tao's indignant and hurt voice echoed in Gu Ziyi's mind.
"Well, that depends on whether you behave or not!" —Mental Conversation
Gu Ziyi handed the peachwood sword to his teacher and responded to Xiao Tao with a smile in his mind.
Over the past week, he had deliberately kept her in the Soul Guidance Device.
If he carried the Zhutao Sword with him, as a sword spirit, Xiao Tao constantly chattered away, which was far too noisy for him.
That's why Gu Ziyi decided to teach her a lesson by "grounding" her in the Soul Guidance Device.
["I promise I'll behave!"]
Xiao Tao quickly assured him.
"Then call me Master first, so I can hear it." —Mental Conversation
Gu Ziyi made his demand simply.
["..."]
"See? That's not being obedient!" —Mental Conversation
["..."]
While Gu Ziyi was trying to discipline Xiao Tao, Qian Xunji held the peachwood sword in his hand.
After temporarily taking possession of it, Qian Xunji naturally tried to see if he could absorb it, but it was impossible.
"Xiaoyi, have you tested the power of this sword?"
Qian Xunji asked as he returned the Soul Bone peachwood sword to his student.
After seeing that his student had transformed the Soul Bone into a sword, he understood that Gu Ziyi intended to use the Soul Bone as a weapon rather than absorb it.
In fact, he was quite surprised that a Soul Bone could even be transformed into a weapon, something entirely new to him.
However, considering that it was obtained through Xiao Tao's sacrifice of a 100,000-year Soul Ring, he wasn't sure if it was worth it.
If it were him, he would have absorbed both the Soul Ring and the Soul Bone without hesitation.
"I tested it. And yes, teacher, it passed the test!"
"The power of this sword is sufficient to break through the defense of a Soul Saint (71–80). However, the speed at which I can control it is not fast enough. A Soul Saint can easily dodge it, so it poses a relatively strong threat to a Soul Emperor (61–70)."
"One of the two soul abilities tied to the sword serves as a lifesaving measure. The other is an offensive ability as powerful as a strike from a Title Douluo, but it can only be used once."
Gu Ziyi quickly shared the results of his tests.
During the journey back, he tested the sword's power with Yu Long and Li Chanfei.
The peachwood sword itself was sharp enough to penetrate a Soul Saint's defenses. After all, Soul Bones weren't initially designed to be used as melee weapons. They're primarily vehicles to carry the soul abilities they possess.
Gu Ziyi used Xiao Tao's sacrificial energy to help transform the Soul Bone into a sword and tempered it with an extremely cold spring during the transformation process, enhancing its destructive power.
The sword's strongest soul ability, its offensive move, was equivalent to a Title Douluo's strike. During his tests, Yu Long and Li Chanfei immediately avoided it after sensing its power, not daring to face the attack directly.
"So, Xiaoyi, you now have the strength to fight a Soul Emperor?"
"And you have a trump card powerful enough to contend with an unprepared Title Douluo!"
"So, in this Soul Master Competition, no one will be able to rival you, right?"
After hearing the test results, Qian Xunji was surprised and delighted with his student.
He hadn't expected Gu Ziyi, who had just reached the 40th rank Soul Ancestor level, to have such combat power.
This level of power far exceeded Bibi Dong's!
However, thinking again that Gu Ziyi's strength was due to the sacrifice of a 100,000-year Soul Beast, Qian Xunji found it reasonable.
"Teacher, all of this assumes that I'm holding this sword during combat."
"In the Soul Master Competition, no external tools are allowed, so my sword won't be permitted either."
Gu Ziyi shook his head and deliberately concealed the fact that the sword was actually a Soul Bone.
As long as he didn't say anything, others would never know that the peachwood sword was a 100,000-year Soul Bone.
Even if it were leaked or discovered one day, whether the Soul Master Competition would recognize the sword as a legitimate tool is debatable.
After all, Gu Ziyi hadn't absorbed the sword into his body but wielded it as a weapon. No matter how one looked at it, the sword would appear to be an external tool.
Unless the Martial Soul Hall forcibly intervened in the rules.
Still, there was no need. Gu Ziyi didn't want others to know he possessed such a valuable Soul Bone.
Even if it was said that anyone who stole it couldn't absorb it, people wouldn't believe it and would want to try anyway.
"You're right, Xiaoyi. Since you don't intend to absorb the Soul Bone, it's better not to disclose that you have it."
"It's just a pity. If you could use it, you and your sister would surely win first place in this Soul Master Competition!"
After hearing Gu Ziyi's words, Qian Xunji nodded in agreement.
"Teacher, don't worry. Even without this sword, my sister and I are confident we'll win the championship in this Soul Master Competition."
Hearing his teacher's lament, Gu Ziyi immediately smiled confidently.
"Oh? Is it because of your fourth soul ability?"
Seeing his student's confident expression, Qian Xunji quickly guessed and asked in surprise.
"Yes, teacher!"
Gu Ziyi immediately explained the effects of his fourth soul ability.
"In this Soul Master Competition, the strongest team is Team Haotian because of Tang Hao."
"With my sister and me here, our Martial Soul Hall Team isn't weak to begin with. It's hard to say who would lose in a direct confrontation. Originally, Team Haotian had better chances of winning. But now that I've advanced, the situation has changed!"
Gu Ziyi spoke with unwavering confidence.
"Haha, good, very good!"
"Teacher believes in you, Xiaoyi. I'm looking forward to seeing you and your sister win the championship!"
Qian Xunji laughed heartily, clearly relieved by his student's confidence. He believed in Gu Ziyi; since he dared to say this, he must be prepared.
"Yes, teacher, don't worry!"
Gu Ziyi responded confidently.
"Good, I believe in you!"
Qian Xunji nodded in satisfaction before turning to discuss other matters with Gu Ziyi.
"Xiaoyi, you must have noticed during the Soul Master Competitions how weapon-type Martial Souls were used as ordinary weapons in combat, right?"
"What are your thoughts on this matter?"
…
(End of Chapter)
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