With these thoughts in mind, Chu Chengzhou shifted his focus, removed the Body Refinement skill from the AFK slot, and replaced it with his first soul ring.
As it turned out, he did have some talent in creating self-developed soul skills.
After tinkering for less than two hours, Chu Chengzhou successfully created a self-developed soul skill focused on mastering control over one's strength.
[Skill: Control (Gray)]
Though it was only at the lowest gray tier—similar to mundane activities like running, washing dishes, or sweeping—it was still officially recognized as a self-created soul skill by the attribute panel, wasn't it?
The effect of the gray-tier Control skill was simple: it improved control over one's own soul power.
As for how effective it was?
Well, almost not at all—it was better than nothing, but only barely.
However, this wasn't a problem. As long as he had a seed, it could eventually grow into a towering tree.
Immediately, Chu Chengzhou swapped the purple-tier Meditation skill in the AFK slot with the gray-tier Control skill.
Still, Meditation was one of his core skills. Regardless of how effective the upgrades to Control might be, he planned to stop at the yellow tier before switching back to Meditation so as not to waste too much AFK training time.
Meanwhile, thousands of miles away in Tian Dou City, at Moonlight Pavilion:
"Xiao San, how was your trip to Sunset Forest?"
Tang Yuehua patted her nephew's head and asked with a smile.
"Auntie, I've already advanced to a two-ring Soul Grandmaster!"
Tang San raised his right hand, and a faint blue glow of soul power illuminated his Blue Silver Grass martial soul, surrounded by two yellow soul rings.
"Not bad, not bad! My Xiao San truly is a genius!"
Seeing the additional deep yellow soul ring on her nephew's martial soul, Tang Yuehua nodded with pride and satisfaction.
Her nephew had achieved the rank of Soul Grandmaster at just eight years old—a sure sign of future Title Douluo potential. With his twin martial souls, he was destined to become one of the strongest on the continent. Though the Spirit Hall held immense power, there was still hope for revenge in the future.
"By the way, Xiao San, now that you're a Soul Grandmaster, and I'm not a soul master, I can't teach you much. How about I enroll you in a soul master academy?"
Tang Yuehua asked Tang San.
"Auntie, Father said our family's enemies are powerful and forbade me from displaying my martial soul outside."
Tang San yearned to attend a soul master academy.
However, when his father, Tang Hao, entrusted him to his aunt and left alone, he had given specific instructions: neither of his two martial souls should be revealed, lest their enemies find them.
Who were their enemies? Though neither Tang Hao nor Tang Yuehua had explicitly said, Tang San had already guessed.
He was no longer the son of a village blacksmith as in the original story. Now, as the son of the Hao Tian Douluo and the young master of Moonlight Pavilion, he was fully aware of the origins of his hammer martial soul.
Who else but the overwhelmingly powerful Spirit Hall could force the number one sect on the continent into hiding and leave his Title Douluo-level father broken for years?
Tang San, who had been a member of the "Tang Sect"—an assassin organization in his previous life—was no stranger to patience.
If the Spirit Hall was too powerful, then he would bide his time. Once he grew stronger, there would come a day when he could overthrow the Spirit Hall.
Upon hearing this, Tang Yuehua furrowed her delicate brows, thought for a moment, and said, "Alright, Xiao San. I'll arrange for a teacher to come tutor you. A soul master can't focus solely on cultivation—knowledge is also essential."
"Mm-hmm."
Tang San didn't reject his aunt's kindness and nodded in agreement.
More than four months later.
In the evening, inside the work-study dormitory of Nuoding Academy, Chu Chengzhou eagerly opened the attribute panel, waiting for the Control skill to upgrade.
A hundred days ago, the gray-tier Control skill he had created had already been AFK upgraded to the white tier.
Though the white-tier Control skill couldn't yet alter the color of soul rings, Chu Chengzhou was satisfied.
The gray-tier Control skill only worked on controlling internal soul power, and its effects were abysmal.
The upgraded white-tier version, however, not only controlled internal soul power but also provided some degree of control over physical strength. Its actual effectiveness far surpassed the previous gray-tier version.
It could be said that the Control skill was progressing exactly along the lines he had envisioned.
Now, after a hundred days of AFK upgrading, the Control skill was about to undergo another transformation.
The white-tier Control skill already controlled both soul power and physical strength. At this moment, Chu Chengzhou naturally anticipated the effects of the upgraded version.
Not long after, the progress bar for the Control skill filled up, and its rank evolved to yellow.
Instantly, insights about the yellow-tier Control skill flooded into his mind.
After a long while, having digested the feedback from the attribute panel, Chu Chengzhou immediately summoned his True Spirit Flag martial soul and his deep yellow first soul ring.
Over three months ago, he had AFK'd his first soul ring to 899 years.
This wasn't because his physical constitution could only handle an 899-year soul ring, but rather because further AFKing would turn the soul ring's color from deep yellow to yellow tinged with purple. As a powerless little nobody without strong backing, he dared not continue upgrading.
Next, Chu Chengzhou eagerly tested the Control skill.
Immediately, his abundant blood energy—far more vigorous than that of his peers—and the faint soul power fluctuations emanating from his body were completely suppressed.
At the same time, the deep yellow soul ring pulsing around him began to dim.
"It worked!"
Seeing that the upgraded Control skill could indeed alter the color of his soul ring, Chu Chengzhou couldn't help but quietly cheer in excitement.
With a skill to alter the color of soul rings, he could conceal the overt signs of his cheat-enhanced abilities. This way, he wouldn't have to worry about others coveting the nonexistent spirit bone within him.
As for why his seemingly ordinary summonings—mere thousand-year beings—could overpower even four- or five-ring soul masters, or even higher-level ones?
Chu Chengzhou: Pfft~! How dare you ask me such a question when you're so weak?
The upgraded Control skill met his expectations. However, this skill wasn't ranked first in his AFK-upgrade priority list. Since its current effects were sufficient, Chu Chengzhou decided not to continue upgrading it further.
With a thought, he adjusted the two AFK slots, replacing the Body Refinement and Control skills with his first soul ring and the purple-tier Meditation skill.
At that moment, a curious voice rang out: "What worked? What are you talking about?"
Turning his head, Chu Chengzhou saw Xiao Wu, who had been meditating on her bed, now finished with her cultivation and looking at him curiously.
"… Nothing~. Time to sleep!"
Chu Chengzhou didn't mind teaching Xiao Wu the Control skill—in fact, whether she wanted to learn it or not, she would have to.
After all, according to his plan, the Control skill should allow Xiao Wu to suppress the spirit beast aura emanating from her body. Even if the yellow-tier Control skill couldn't do it now, future upgrades would surely make it possible.
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