The three soul bones Wang Yan retrieved from his soul tool were a right arm bone, a left leg bone, and an exceptionally rare torso bone.
Each of the three soul bones had a distinct color. The right arm bone was a translucent green-gold, shimmering with faint green-gold light. Inside, green patterns resembling plant veins were clearly visible. This right arm bone was remarkably intact, exuding a subtle aura of life.
Clearly, this soul bone came from a plant-type soul beast.
The left leg bone, on the other hand, was a deep black, its subdued, dark glow dimming the surrounding light. Though less intact than the right arm bone, it was still a high-quality soul bone.
As for the pale gold torso bone, it was the most peculiar. It resembled a spinal column but was connected to other bones, as if crafted from golden crystal. A volatile yet powerful energy fluctuation was contained within.
"A torso soul bone?" Seeing the torso bone, everyone's faces showed surprise.
The torso bone, also known as the body soul bone, was among the most precious of the six standard soul bones, alongside the skull bone.
Fusing a skull bone almost always significantly enhanced a soul master's spiritual power. If one were lucky enough to encounter a top-tier skull bone, fusion could even enable the external release of spiritual power. The importance of spiritual power to soul masters was undeniable. Moreover, a skull bone could enhance a soul master's comprehension.
In other words, fusing a skull bone could make a soul master's future cultivation path much smoother.
For this reason, top soul master families were especially cautious when attaching skull bones to their promising heirs, as the position was too critical.
However, the torso bone was even more valuable than the skull bone. While the skull bone boosted spiritual power, the torso bone enhanced a soul master's physical constitution. This enhancement far surpassed what arm or leg bones could provide.
Some soul masters could absorb soul rings far beyond standard configurations, largely because of the physical boost from a torso bone. While arm and leg bones enhanced specific parts, focusing on one aspect, the torso bone provided a comprehensive, all-around improvement.
Wang Yan wasn't surprised by everyone's reactions. Honestly, when he was invited by the Star Luo Empire's Emperor Xu Jiawei to select soul bones from the imperial treasury, he hadn't expected the emperor to include a torso bone.
Wang Yan smiled slightly and began introducing the torso bone first.
"This torso soul bone comes from a type of ape soul beast called the Diamond Baboon."
The Diamond Baboon, a strength-type soul beast, was the largest of its kind. Indeed, in terms of size, under the same cultivation level, the Diamond Baboon was even larger than the Titan Giant Ape, though not as powerful.
According to ancient records, the largest known Diamond Baboon reached a height of forty meters, an undisputed giant in the soul beast world. Its massive size granted it extraordinary strength, with only a few soul beasts capable of overpowering it, one of which was the Titan Giant Ape.
It had no long-range soul skills, relying purely on its physical strength in combat. Its terrifying power endowed it with astonishing defense and speed, earning it the title of King of the Jungle.
The Diamond Baboon's only innate soul skill was called Frenzy. Unlike Bloodlust, Frenzy affected only the body, not soul power. However, it could boost all physical abilities by fifty percent, with far fewer side effects than Bloodlust. After use, it caused only mild weakness, allowing the user to retain combat capability.
The Diamond Baboon was a relatively well-known soul beast, and even Jiang Nannan, a commoner, had learned about it at Shrek Academy.
Wang Yan paused briefly before continuing.
"As you likely know, the Diamond Baboon has only one soul skill: Frenzy. That means the soul skill attached to this torso soul bone is also Frenzy. According to the academy's appraisal, the Diamond Baboon that produced this torso bone had at least twenty thousand years of cultivation."
He didn't rush to assign this soul bone and instead moved on to introduce the left leg bone beside it.
"This left leg bone comes from a ten-thousand-year-old Ghost Shadow Leopard. The Ghost Shadow Leopard has several innate soul skills, and the skill of this soul bone isn't fixed. Depending on the martial soul it fuses with, the resulting skill will vary. However, it's certain that after fusion, it will grant an attack skill activated through the left leg, while also enhancing the soul master's speed."
When Wang Yan's gaze fell on the green-gold right arm bone, a trace of peculiarity appeared in his eyes.
"As for this final soul bone, it's likely the highest quality of the three. It comes from a nearly extinct plant-type soul beast, the Golden Sunflower, with a cultivation of over forty thousand years. This soul bone is called the Light Rejuvenation Right Arm Bone, and its fixed soul skill is Light Rejuvenation. Light Rejuvenation is an auxiliary soul skill that restores soul power using light energy, but it can only draw from sunlight. In bright sunlight, this soul skill's soul power recovery speed is quite impressive."
The Star Luo Empire's decision to offer this soul bone demonstrated significant goodwill.
If the Star Crown martial soul, inherited by the Xu family, didn't conflict with the sunlight absorbed by this soul bone due to its starlight-based cultivation, this soul bone would have been kept from them. But this didn't diminish its value. A soul bone that could continuously restore soul power was a coveted treasure for soul engineers in the Sun Moon Empire, whose foundations were weaker and relied on potions to boost cultivation.
With the Light Rejuvenation Right Arm Bone, they could compensate for their shallow foundations and enhance their sustained combat ability. Unlike traditional soul masters, soul engineers in the Sun Moon Empire typically had weaker martial souls and relied heavily on soul power and various soul tools in battle.
The allure of a soul bone that could continuously restore soul power was undeniable.
By offering this soul bone for Wang Yan to select and bring back to Shrek Academy, Xu Jiawei ensured it wouldn't fall into the hands of Sun Moon Empire soul engineers.
After Wang Yan's introduction, subtle changes appeared on everyone's faces.
The left leg bone from the ten-thousand-year Ghost Shadow Leopard was decent but unremarkable. However, both the twenty-thousand-year Diamond Baboon torso bone and the Light Rejuvenation Right Arm Bone could be considered near-top-tier soul bones.
Especially the Light Rejuvenation Right Arm Bone, whose soul power restoration skill was regarded as a divine skill among auxiliary soul skills. Even in the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, with tens of thousands of years of heritage, no direct disciple of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda martial soul possessed a soul power restoration skill.
Soul power amplification skills and soul power restoration skills were worlds apart. The former temporarily boosted combat power, while the latter enhanced sustained combat ability.
This soul bone was suitable for everyone present. After all, a soul skill that restored soul power was useful for any soul master or soul engineer with soul power.
Wang Yan shifted his gaze from the Light Rejuvenation Right Arm Bone and, with a gentle wave of his right hand, sent the soul bone, suspended by soul power, to Ning Tian, smiling.
"This Light Rejuvenation Right Arm Bone should significantly extend the duration of your Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda martial soul's auxiliary abilities. Ning Tian, this soul bone is yours."
Though the soul bone suited everyone present, it was most compatible with Wang Dong, who possessed the light-attributed Radiant Goddess Butterfly martial soul.
It wasn't that Wang Yan was biased; this was the academy's arrangement.
In the recent Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Dueling Tournament, neither Wang Dong nor Ning Tian had participated. However, Yu Tianhuang's performance was outstanding, contributing significantly to Shrek's championship victory. Based on contributions, Yu Tianhuang was certain to receive a soul bone.
However, given his extraordinary talent, fusing such a soul bone might be a waste. Considering his close relationship with Ning Tian, the academy decided to award this soul bone to her.
Ultimately, Yu Tianhuang was still the one benefiting from Shrek Academy's favor.
Everyone understood the reasoning, and no one objected.
However, Jiang Nannan couldn't help but glance at the soul bone a few extra times. As a commoner, when had she ever had the chance to be so close to three soul bones? Among the seven, everyone else came from distinguished backgrounds or had broad experiences, but when Wang Yan revealed the three soul bones, Jiang Nannan showed the strongest reaction.
One's background determined their perspective. Jiang Nannan also had a touch of frugality, a trait formed later in life—more precisely, when her mother fell gravely ill, and she lacked the money for medicine, forcing her to sell herself to the Mysterious Underworld Sect.
Seeing Wang Yan send the soul bone to her, Ning Tian was momentarily stunned.
As the sole heir to the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, she didn't lack soul bones. With the sect's tens of thousands of years of heritage, even deeper than the Body Sect's, and its immense wealth, she could acquire a full set of soul bones from major auctions across the continent in no time if she wished.
However, finding a soul bone perfectly suited to her was rare. Soul bones compatible with auxiliary soul masters were scarce on the continent.
The Light Rejuvenation Right Arm Bone was one such rare fit. She hadn't expected Wang Yan to give it to her.
But she quickly understood the intent. Instead of immediately accepting the soul bone, she glanced at Xu Zihuang beside her.
In front of everyone, Xu Zihuang took Ning Tian's smooth, fair hand and said with a light smile, "Take it."
Ning Tian's face flushed slightly. She wasn't entirely used to Xu Zihuang holding her hand in such a setting, especially with Beibei, Xu Sanshi, and others giving her and Xu Zihuang teasing looks.
But she wasn't flustered. With a slight nod to Xu Zihuang, she stored the soul bone in the exquisite starlight sapphire storage ring on her other hand.
Wang Yan watched Xu Zihuang and Ning Tian with a smile, his expression turning wistful. Their intimate interaction reminded him of his own youth at Shrek Academy. Among the academy's countless geniuses, his talent was unremarkable, leading him to focus on martial soul research.
He realized he had never considered his own lifelong matters. His dormant heart began to stir. For some reason, images of a female Inner Court disciple flashed through his mind.
Taking a deep breath to clear his tangled thoughts, Wang Yan lifted the torso bone from the twenty-thousand-year Diamond Baboon.
"This torso soul bone's skill is Frenzy, best suited for close-combat soul masters. Caitou, though you're a soul engineer, you need to bear the weight of various soul cannon barrels. This soul bone is most suitable for you."
"Huh?" He Caitou, flattered, waved his hands, his honest face flushing. "This soul bone should also suit Senior Bei and the others, right? I…"
Before He Caitou could finish, Beibei interrupted with a smile. "Caitou, my Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon martial soul isn't specialized for close combat. Fusing this soul bone might actually hinder me. Sanshi is a defense-type soul master, focused on withstanding attacks, so the Frenzy skill isn't ideal for him either. As for Tianhuang, his situation is similar to mine."
Xu Sanshi lazily draped an arm over He Caitou's shoulder, feigning aloofness. "Stop dawdling. I don't even want this soul bone."
"Brother He, take it. Teacher Wang is right—this soul bone really suits you," Xu Zihuang added with a smile.
In the end, He Caitou accepted the soul bone with a shy grin.
The harmonious dynamic among the group warmed Wang Yan's heart.
As he sent the torso soul bone to He Caitou, he lifted the ten-thousand-year Ghost Shadow Leopard's left leg bone.
"The Ghost Shadow Leopard excels in speed. Nannan, this soul bone is perfect for you."
Staring at the pitch-black soul bone now before her, Jiang Nannan's eyes lit up.
This was a ten-thousand-year soul bone, worth at least a million gold soul coins.
In the past, such a soul bone would have been entirely out of reach for a commoner like her.
With Jiang Nannan receiving a soul bone, Xu Sanshi had no objections.
The only one who seemed out of place was Wang Dong, who had been nearly invisible throughout, with little presence. This had been the case since the trip to Star Luo City for the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Dueling Tournament, where he remained on the fringes.
As the team's teacher, Wang Yan noticed this.
"Everyone, head back and fuse your soul bones as soon as possible. Though the academy is safe, an innocent man with treasure invites trouble."
"Yes, Teacher Wang," everyone responded in unison.
As Wang Dong prepared to follow the others out of the office, Wang Yan suddenly spoke. "Wang Dong, stay behind."
Wang Dong paused, bewildered.
Meanwhile, Xu Zihuang, leaving with Beibei and the others, glanced back at Wang Dong.
He genuinely wanted to avoid too much interaction with Wang Dong, but as a reserve team member, future dealings were inevitable.
Suddenly, he sensed something and turned back, his eyes meeting Ning Tian's.
"What's wrong?" Xu Zihuang asked softly, noting the subtle emotion in her eyes.
Ning Tian smiled brightly, seemingly unaffected. "I'm planning to fuse this soul bone tonight. I want you to stand guard for me."
"Alright," Xu Zihuang replied gently.
In his mind, he concluded: Ning Tian had likely known for a long time that Wang Dong was a girl.
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