Looking at the obedient Chi Yuan, Ji Lin smiled. When he transmigrated to this Douluo Continent, he didn't come empty-handed. He brought with him a treasure chest system—his cheat-like golden finger. However, this treasure chest system wasn't the kind of heaven-defying, overpowered system that spoon-feeds the protagonist everything.
Of course, he wouldn't mind having that kind of system—the kind that can carry even a pig to the top. But his treasure chest system was very simple, with only two functions.
The first was that it condensed one treasure chest every year. Opening it would randomly produce a treasure that conformed to the rules of the Douluo Continent. This treasure could be an item, a lifeform, or even knowledge.
The second was a panel interface that recorded all of Ji Lin's data, as well as that of his followers.
Ji Lin opened his status panel.
Name: Ji LinGender: MaleAge: 6Martial Soul: Judgment of ShamashSoul Power: Level 10 Soul ScholarSoul Rings: NoneSoul Bones: NoneSoul Skills: NoneCultivation Technique: Taixu Sword Qi (Fragmented – Soul Power Version)Innate Skill: Key of DestructionDomain: Flame Domain
The panel was very simple. As for the cultivation technique, he obtained it during his second year in this world from a treasure chest.
The original version came from the Honkai Impact 3rd world. The Taixu Sword Qi is a martial art from the mobile game Honkai Impact 3rd and its spin-offs, created by the immortal Chi Yuan (Fu Hua). It consists of five aspects: Heart, Form, Intent, Soul, and Spirit. It is a highly refined martial art that specializes in inner energy (true qi). The original name of the martial art was awkward and cryptic. With the help of an old friend, Chi Yuan reorganized and renamed it using traditional Chinese culture, making it more fitting to the local context.
The Heart and Intent aspects are internal energy techniques, while Form and Soul are sword moves. The Heart aspect is a pre-civilization human modification technique called "Divine Sound." The Form and Intent aspects require specific weapons. The Soul aspect demands high perception, while the Spirit aspect essentially manipulates and extends Honkai energy. The Heart and Form aspects allow the body to channel more Honkai energy, eventually achieving the qualification to control a "god."
The version Ji Lin had was the soul power version, and it only contained the Heart and Intent aspects.
In Taixu Sword Qi, the Heart aspect is the foundational and also the most difficult level (besides Spirit). It has four realms: Still Water, Dustless, Clear Mirror, and Taixu. The "Sword Heart Mantra" consists of 462 strange and seemingly meaningless syllables. There are no written records of it. Its mystery lies in the act of reciting, silently chanting, or listening to it—it trains the heart and mind. A calm heart becomes Still Water; a frozen heart becomes Dustless; a crystal-clear heart becomes Clear Mirror; an invisible heart becomes Taixu.
Adolescence is the best time to temper the Sword Heart—the earlier, the purer. Adults cultivating the Sword Heart is like trying to catch the wind with their hands—futile. Even if one perfects the Sword Heart, it requires lifelong refinement. A slight lapse could break it.
(So-called Sword Heart, in layman's terms, is a method to enter a state of peak combat readiness. Before a fight, you empty your thoughts, relax your body, and become aware of every subtle change within. In the end, you perceive nothing but the energy flowing within your body.)
Those who master the Sword Heart can treat the world as their dantian and their body as meridians. The vital energy, considered the root of martial arts, no longer needs to be hidden. For men, the highest realm achievable is Dustless.
The soul power version of the Heart aspect also had the same four realms: Still Water, Dustless, Clear Mirror, and Taixu. The Sword Heart Mantra was used to cultivate mental state and spiritual power. After four years of cultivation, Ji Lin had just reached the realm of Still Water—what Douluo calls the "Spirit Communication" realm in spiritual strength.
The soul power version didn't have the male limit of stopping at Dustless. If Ji Lin kept cultivating, he would one day reach Taixu. Once the Sword Heart Mantra was perfected, his spiritual power could break through to the Divine Origin Realm and condense divine sense.
As for the Intent aspect, it was used to cultivate soul power, strengthen the body, and increase cultivation speed.
The soul power version of Taixu Sword Qi and the original Taixu Sword Qi could only be said to share the same name but were fundamentally different techniques.
As for the innate skill Key of Destruction, it was Ji Lin's extreme talent. The Judgment of Shamash martial soul had a life absorption effect. Any creature killed by it would have its life force instantly absorbed as nourishment and refined, partially feeding back to the user.
It looked very much like an evil soul master's ability, so Ji Lin usually avoided using it openly.
His innate domain, Flame Domain, came with the Judgment of Shamash martial soul. Within the domain's range, enemies would suffer from the burning effect of extreme fire—their soul power circulation, movement speed, recovery, and spiritual strength would all be suppressed.
Meanwhile, within the domain, Ji Lin's various attributes would be enhanced: attack, speed, spiritual strength, and fire-element damage would all increase.
Below Ji Lin's panel was a follower panel:
Follower: Chi YuanGender: FemaleAge: ?Martial Soul: Red PhoenixSoul Power: Level 99 – Ultimate DouluoSoul Rings: Yellow, Purple, Purple, Black, Black, Black, Red, Red, RedSoul Bones: OmittedSoul Skills: OmittedCultivation Technique: Taixu Sword Qi (Fragmented – Soul Power Version)Innate Talent: Phoenix BloodlineDomain: Phoenix Domain
Also a very simple panel. Chi Yuan was a follower Ji Lin acquired in his sixth year via a treasure chest. She was a new lifeform modeled after the immortal Chi Yuan by the system. She had flesh, blood, thoughts, and emotions. Though she looked the same, she was not the original Chi Yuan.
Ji Lin never treated her as a mindless puppet just because she came from a treasure chest. Otherwise, he wouldn't have publicly acknowledged her as his teacher.
Everything that happened today had been under Ji Lin's control. The shockwave from his martial soul awakening attracting Xu Jiawei and the Worship Hall elders was unexpected.
But Chi Yuan's arrival and taking him as a disciple were all part of Ji Lin's plan. He needed a visible backer. Though Xu Jiawei valued him greatly, his age was still a limitation. There were things he couldn't handle directly, so he needed a representative.
The moment Chi Yuan appeared, the system had already arranged a reasonable identity for her: a solitary Titled Douluo with no relatives, sect, or background—very rare on the continent.
That's why Xu Jiawei and the others were able to recognize her.
"Next up is acquiring my first soul ring. Tool-type martial souls don't have high compatibility requirements. As long as it's a fire-attributed beast, it'll do. Of course, getting one from a top-tier soul beast would be better."
Ji Lin closed the interface and lay on the bed, thinking.
"Tomorrow, take me to the Star Dou Forest to hunt for my first soul ring. The requirements aren't high—an 800-year fire-type soul beast will do."
Ji Lin turned lazily on the bed and said to Chi Yuan.
"Alright, A-Lin. Then I'll go back to my room. I'll come pick you up tomorrow."
Chi Yuan nodded, turned around, and left Ji Lin's room, returning to her own quarters.
Meanwhile, Xu Jiujou arrived at Xu Jiawei's palace. The other elders had already left. Only Xu Jiawei remained, waiting for her.
"Brother, I've arranged lodging for Lord Chi Yuan and Xiao Lin. But brother, can we really trust this Chi Yuan Douluo? Are we just handing Xiao Lin over like this?"
Xu Jiujou no longer had the cheerful look she wore in front of Chi Yuan—she was filled with worry.
"Don't worry, Jiujou. I've heard of Chi Yuan Douluo's reputation. She's not a bad person. I can tell she bears no malice toward Ji Lin and genuinely wishes to take him as her disciple. And she's a fire-element soul master, which is perfect for Ji Lin, who possesses the extreme fire attribute."
Xu Jiawei comforted her.
"Besides, Chi Yuan Douluo is extremely powerful. From our interaction, I'd say she's at least a Level 98 Super Douluo. No one in our Star Luo Empire could match her. If she had ill intentions, she could've just attacked. Why bother with such pretenses?"
Xu Jiawei explained.
"That's good. Having a Super Douluo to teach and protect Xiao Lin means I won't have to worry about him encountering danger in the future."
Xu Jiujou finally relaxed.
"Oh, right, brother—Xiao Lin has innate full soul power. We should take him to get a soul ring soon."
Xu Jiawei chuckled and shook his head.
"Silly girl, we no longer need to worry about Ji Lin's soul ring."
"Oh—right! Xiao Lin has a teacher now."
Satisfied with the answer, Xu Jiujou happily returned to her quarters.
Watching her leave, Xu Jiawei looked up at the sky and muttered, "Grow up quickly… the time left for you… for us… is running out."