Chapter 4: Sword Qi
Li Chang'an's absorption of the Soul Ring went far more smoothly than expected. His innate full Soul Power lived up to its name. Even a Soul Ring approaching five hundred years old posed no real obstacle for him. His body trembled slightly during the process, but the absorption itself completed without issue.
By the time he opened his eyes again, the sun had shifted from morning to high noon.
The middle-aged Soul Sage, who had been standing vigil throughout, took a step forward the moment Li Chang'an stirred. There was no attempt to hide his curiosity—this was, after all, the main reason he'd been sent here: to observe the boy's Martial Soul and determine whether his talent was truly as extraordinary as reported.
"What Soul Skill did you obtain?" he asked directly.
Li Chang'an rose to his feet, brushing the dust from his robe. "I'll show you."
He summoned his Martial Soul. The Emerald Serpent Sword shimmered into existence, its green blade pulsing faintly as his single yellow Soul Ring flared to life.
"Soul Skill: Sword Qi."
He swung the sword lightly through the air. A faint whoosh rang out—barely audible—but what followed was anything but subtle.
Threads of razor-thin sword energy—no thicker than a hair—lashed out in a fan-shaped spread. They struck a line of trees several meters away.
Chi-chi-chi!
Dozens of holes appeared instantly in the tree trunks, as if an invisible sewing needle had pierced straight through them. A moment later, green smoke began to rise from the wounds. The edges of the punctures fizzed and bubbled as a corrosive reaction set in.
The trees, each as thick as three men embracing, began to groan under the internal decay. The Soul Sage's eyes widened.
Li Chang'an exhaled slowly. The blow had left his face a little pale—clearly, channeling so much energy at once had drained him—but he still stood tall.
He turned to the Soul Sage and explained, "This Soul Skill lets me release sword qi. The output depends on how much Soul Power I use. I can release a single strand, or expend everything at once in a wide spread like this."
He paused, then added, "The sword qi is not only highly penetrative—it's also venomous."
The Soul Sage approached the nearest tree and inspected one of the holes. He could see straight through it to the other side. A single thread of sword qi had pierced clean through the massive trunk.
Even more impressive: the residual toxins were still actively corroding the wood, the green smoke lingering like the breath of a venomous beast.
The Soul Sage's heart stirred. Such a degree of penetration—and poison on top of it. This is no ordinary first Soul Skill.
"Don't mistake this for simple Soul Power projection," Li Chang'an said, as if reading his mind. "This isn't just me imbuing Soul Power into the sword and flinging it outward. The energy's very nature has changed. It's no longer raw Soul Power—it's been fundamentally transformed into something sharper, more lethal."
He glanced at the corroding wood. "Think of it like turning water into oil. The Soul Ring rewrote the properties of the energy entirely. Without the skill, I couldn't create this effect, no matter how much raw power I had."
The Soul Sage gave a low hum, his gaze never leaving the tree. He could already imagine it: in the future, when this boy faced his enemies, he'd unleash a volley of sword qi. Even a graze would be enough—once the venom entered the bloodstream, the opponent's strength would begin to collapse from within.
A terrifying combination of offense and attrition.
Li Chang'an's expression remained calm, but inwardly he was pleased. This was exactly the reaction he wanted. He had no intention of hiding his strength. Not now.
Currently, he had no wealth, no powerful clan, and no formal allies—just his bloodline as a minor noble and the strength of his Martial Soul. The best way forward was to draw attention from the highest seat of power in the land: the Emperor of the Heaven Dou Empire.
Why hide when he could shine?
Though the Heaven Dou Empire had appeared weak and declining in the original storyline, its cultivation resources were nothing to scoff at. An empire of this scale, even in decline, had deeper reserves than most sects. If Li Chang'an could win imperial favor, he'd have access to rare elixirs, powerful teachers, and protective oversight.
Better to rest under a great tree's shade than try to stand alone in the burning sun.
As for joining Spirit Hall or sects like the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan?
Unrealistic.
He lacked the necessary connections. These weren't places one simply walked into. Even if he somehow joined, how could he be certain of earning their trust or being treated as a true disciple? Without a major figure personally vouching for him, he'd always remain an outsider.
Sure, if someone like Bibi Dong herself took an interest in him, that would be different. The same went for Sword Douluo of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan. If either made him a personal disciple, his status would instantly rise to the core.
But right now, he didn't have that kind of backing.
The Heaven Dou Empire, on the other hand, was another matter entirely. As a noble with an impeccable background, he was the perfect candidate for cultivation support—and in a time when the empire's top-tier strength was lacking, someone like him was exactly what the court would want to groom.
Even if the empire was a battered old ship taking on water, a crippled vessel was still far larger than a single person.
Wouldn't Qian Renxue—currently impersonating the crown prince—try to assassinate him for flaunting his power?
Not likely.
He posed no threat to her position. He wasn't a royal, just a noble, and thus no obstacle to her control of the throne. If anything, he was a valuable asset—a loyal prodigy who could be drawn to the "crown prince's" banner. As long as her identity remained hidden, she had every reason to cultivate his loyalty.
And if her disguise was ever exposed?
By then, the game would already be won or lost—and Li Chang'an would be irrelevant to the larger war.
Besides, even if he had potential, in the eyes of people like Qian Renxue or Bibi Dong, he was just a seed that mightbecome a Titled Douluo one day. And Spirit Hall certainly wasn't lacking in Titled Douluos. Why waste energy assassinating someone like him?
Even Feng Xiaotian, who had innate full Soul Power and a rebellious streak, wasn't worth killing until he became a real threat. And Dugu Bo only earned a target on his back because of his unique poison arts and overt hostility.
Li Chang'an didn't plan to act hostile. He planned to become indispensable.
He had a longer game in mind: enter Tiandou Academy, get close to Dugu Yan, and through her, access the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well—the legendary medicinal spring that could reshape one's fate. If he succeeded, that treasure would one day bear his name.
So no—this wasn't the time to hide his talent.
It was the time to show it boldly, to secure protection, and attract resources. Let them see his worth. Let them invest in him.
And when the moment was right, he'd make sure the return on their investment was something no one saw coming.