dmims Chapter 29 Jade Protection
Chapter 29 Jade Protection
As the wind swept across the bluestone walls of Notting College during his second year, Yan Zu was celebrating his eighth birthday.
Over the past year, he has grown taller, his chubby cheeks have gradually faded, and his jawline has become more defined.
Her black hair was simply tied back, revealing her smooth forehead and her calm, watery eyes.
The hunting outfit, made of coarse cloth, was faded from washing, but it couldn't hide the composure that belied his age.
As soon as the morning sunlight streamed into Dormitory 7, the system notification sounded precisely on time:
[Ding! Today's check-in successful!]
[Congratulations, host, on reaching the eight-year growth milestone! This triggers the annual critical reward!]
[Obtained: Seed of Civilization - Hundred Grains Compendium (Foundation of People's Livelihood)]
[Effect: Unlocks complete cultivation technology and high-quality seeds for high-yield crops (hybrid rice, cold-resistant wheat, high-yield potatoes/sweet potatoes), adapted to the soil and climate of the Douluo Continent, and can be directly cultivated.]
Yan Zu ran his fingertips over the cultivation diagrams that appeared in his mind, from seed soaking and seedling raising to pest and disease control, every detail was clear and distinct.
This was not a simple gift of seeds, but a complete agricultural innovation plan—which perfectly aligned with his core goal of promoting the growth of civilization.
He carefully stored the seeds in his storage soul tool, already having a plan in mind: the small courtyard of the Su Family Medical Hall could serve as an experimental field, and once the cultivation was successful, he would promote it through the channels of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School.
The growth of strength will also come naturally.
By the end of the first academic year, Yan Zu's soul power had broken through level 20, just one step away from becoming a Great Soul Master. As planned, he, along with Xiao Wu and the Yan Hu couple, headed deep into the Soul Hunting Forest to hunt for their second soul ring.
"Ah Zu, are you sure it's this area?" Yan Hu lowered his voice, holding the iron axe horizontally in front of him. After more than a year of cultivation and nourishment from resources, the soul power of this "Diamond Iron Axe" has steadily increased to level thirty-three, and the defensive power of his third soul skill, "Immovable Vajra," is even greater than before.
Su Qing stood beside her husband, her Qinghe Martial Soul floating in her palm, its pale green vitality surrounding her.
She also made remarkable progress, with her soul power at level 29 just one step away from the level 30 bottleneck. The busyness of the clinic did not delay her cultivation. On the contrary, the "redemption power" brought about by treating patients, under the guidance of the Qilin's vitality, caused her Qinghe Martial Soul to undergo a subtle evolution.
"According to the clues provided by Manager Chen, the Jade Spirit Turtle often comes to this hot spring valley in early spring."
Yan Zu unfolded a rough hand-drawn map, his Insightful Spiritual Eyes sweeping across the steaming valley ahead. "Its carapace provides extremely strong defense, but it moves slowly and excels in water and earth-based soul skills. What we're looking for is the one with a cultivation level approaching two thousand eight hundred years."
"Two thousand eight hundred years..." Su Qing frowned slightly. "Grandpa, isn't it too risky to absorb two thousand eight hundred years for the second soul ring?"
According to the generally accepted theory in Douluo Continent, the limit for the second spirit ring is about seven hundred years.
But Yan Zu simply smiled and said, "Mother, you know my physical strength. The auspicious origin of the Qilin Martial Soul can greatly mitigate the impact of the Soul Ring, and with the Soul Power control of the Nine Yin Manual, two thousand eight hundred years... is just right."
He paused, a profound look flashing in his eyes: "Moreover, the Jade Spirit Turtle's 'endless life' characteristic is extremely compatible with the Qilin's life-giving nourishment."
If I could acquire a group protection soul skill, it would be useful in the future, whether it's protecting my family or... doing something even bigger.
"Auntie, there's a surge of soul energy about 300 meters ahead, near the pool. It's gentle, but incredibly powerful." Xiao Wu crouched on a treetop, her pink scorpion braid swaying gently in the wind, her nose twitching slightly.
After a year of practice, her "Wind God Leg" technique has reached a minor level of mastery, and her figure is as light as a real jade rabbit.
Beside the pool, a giant jade-colored tortoise, over ten feet in diameter, was quietly basking in the sun on a rock.
Its carapace is like the finest jade, shimmering with a warm luster, and with every breath it stirs up the growth of the surrounding vegetation—the Jade Spirit Turtle, a soul beast with both earth and water attributes, is known for its long lifespan and terrifying defense.
"Xiao Wu, lure the enemy in," Yan Zu whispered.
Xiao Wu flashed forward, her Phantom Jade Rabbit Martial Soul activated, and her first Soul Ring "Waist Bow" was activated. She shot out like a cannonball, accurately kicking the spirit turtle in the head.
Although no damage was caused, it successfully enraged the thousand-year-old soul beast.
"roar--!"
The Azure Jade Spirit Turtle opened its mouth and spat out a water arrow with astonishing speed. Xiao Wu was prepared, and her figure twisted strangely in the air as she unleashed the "Wind God Leg" technique, "Catching the Wind and Shadows," narrowly avoiding the attack.
"Immovable Vajra!"
Yan Hu roared, his third soul ring lit up, and he transformed into a Vajra Arhat-like body to block Yan Zu's path, his iron axe slashing fiercely at the spirit turtle's flank.
The axe blade struck the tortoise shell, producing a metallic clang, leaving only a white mark.
"What a hard shell!" Yan Hu's hand went numb.
At that moment, Yan Zu moved. He did not release the Qilin Martial Soul, but instead used the Nine Palaces Step, his figure moving like a ghost to circle behind the spirit tortoise.
With its all-out power activated, the Eye of Truth Detection found a point of flow of soul power within the perfect tortoise shell pattern—the subtle opening and closing of the gaps between the shell plates of the Jade Tortoise with each breath.
"Now!"
Yan Zu pointed his fingers like a sword, gathering the Nine Yin True Qi at his fingertips, and precisely struck that point. The enormous body of the Azure Jade Spirit Turtle suddenly stiffened, as if it had been struck by an acupoint, unable to move, its soft armor on its abdomen completely exposed.
"Xiao Wu, step back!"
Xiao Wu flashed, using the momentum to retreat. In that instant, Yan Zu's eyes flashed with a sharp light, and his right hand made a grasping motion, a phantom of an ancient short sword condensing in his palm—it was the Xuanyuan Sword, which had not yet fully awakened!
Although it could not unleash its full power, the "evil-dispelling" aura on the sword merged with the Nine Yin True Qi, transforming into a sharp sword aura.
"laugh--!"
The sword energy precisely pierced the gap in the soft shell of the Azure Jade Spirit Turtle's abdomen, its only fatal weakness. The Azure Jade Spirit Turtle let out a mournful cry, its massive body crashing to the ground, its life extinguished.
A purple spirit ring slowly rose up—it was a high-quality spirit ring that was nearly three thousand years old!
"Auntie, absorb it quickly!" Yan Hu cautiously looked around. "The stench of blood here is too strong; it might attract other soul beasts!"
Yan Zu sat cross-legged, releasing his Qilin Martial Soul. Xiao Yu transformed into a jade-colored light and shadow over ten feet tall, obediently lying behind him.
The moment the purple spirit ring was slipped into her body, a powerful yet gentle energy erupted.
An hour later, Yan Zu opened his eyes, and a jade-colored light seemed to flash in his eyes.
"Did you succeed?" Xiao Wu rushed over and nervously examined his body.
"Level 22."
The soul power cultivated through the Nine Yin Manual is more condensed, so even though it is absorbed beyond the level, Yan Zu's soul power only reaches level twenty-two.
Yan Zu smiled and summoned Xiao Yu. At this moment, the phantom of the Qilin became even more solid, and cloud patterns similar to those of the Azure Jade Tortoise appeared on its back.
With a thought, he unleashed his second soul skill—
"May the jade protect you!"
A pale blue light barrier spread out from him, covering an area of ten meters in radius.
Inside the light shield, Yan Hu felt a lightness all over his body, as if he had been put on an invisible armor.
Su Qing's soul power recovery speed has significantly increased;
Xiao Wu was pleasantly surprised to find that her Phantom Jade Rabbit felt more comfortable than ever before in this area.
"A group shield that covers five people, with a shield strength equal to 80% of my own soul power, lasting for five minutes," Yan Zu explained. "During this time, allies recover 2% soul power and stamina per second. If the shield is not broken, it will also convert into a 'vitality buff' after its duration ends, increasing defense by 20%."
"This...this is simply a divine skill on the battlefield!" Yan Hu gasped. He had traveled all over the country for many years and had never seen such a comprehensive support soul skill.