With his wings fluttering behind him, Xiao Yan hovered mid-air, his hands suddenly thrusting forward, fingers curled like eagle claws.
"Hmm?" Yao Lao initially thought Xiao Yan was practicing some combat skill, but he suddenly sensed a vast soul force gathering in Xiao Yan's hands.
Ancient alchemists could maximize the power of soul force, even rivaling the combat skills of some powerful experts.
This technique, known as 'Soul Skill' by ancient alchemists, was divided into offensive and training types.
Unfortunately, most of these techniques have been lost.
If Xiao Yan could comprehend a Soul Skill, its value would far surpass that of ordinary combat skills, by ten or even a hundred times.
Recalling his soul confrontation with the Black Flame Purple Cloud Eagle during his flight skill training, Xiao Yan's hands moved with sharp precision.
Soul force is formless and invisible; to the average person, it might seem like Xiao Yan was merely performing some rustic moves, purely for show.
But with Yao Lao's soul force, he could naturally sense the immense power gathering in Xiao Yan's fingers, far from ordinary.
Xiao Yan's movements became smoother and more fluid. With a sudden flex and extension of his fingers, five bursts of energy shot into the ground.
The energy pierced through the soil like it was rotten, penetrating over ten meters deep. The holes left behind were smooth as mirrors, with no energy leakage.
Such fine control over soul force even shocked Yao Lao.
He could sense that Xiao Yan's Soul Skill was still quite rough, but with further refinement, its power could reach at least the high Xuan level.
This was a high Xuan level Soul Skill, not the ordinary combat skills commonly found on the continent.
Not only was it extremely rare, but its power also far surpassed that of high Xuan level combat skills.
As his wings slowly retracted, Xiao Yan sat cross-legged on the grass again, closing his eyes to reflect.
[Using your experience from the soul confrontation with the Black Flame Purple Cloud Eagle, you had an epiphany and comprehended the Soul Skill: Soul Devouring Wind Claw.]
[Soul Devouring Wind Claw: A high Xuan level Soul Skill, a powerful claw-based offensive Soul Skill. The claw's wind has the power to tear through souls.]
Upon this epiphany, Xiao Yan's mind was illuminated like a bright lamp, instantly becoming clear.
His eyes snapped open, and a vast soul force surged from between his eyebrows like a tidal wave.
Xiao Yan's hands moved like sharp eagle claws, and with a loud shout, ten powerful streams of energy shot out like arrows, all aimed at the protective barrier around his body.
This force was unstoppable, like a tiger charging down a mountain. The barrier set by Yao Lao immediately showed ten glaring holes.
"Good lad, you've even managed to comprehend a Soul Skill," Yao Lao's mechanical bird slowly landed on the grass, and his soul floated out.
Although the barrier he set wasn't at full strength, it was still broken by Xiao Yan. This Soul Skill was of no low grade.
Xiao Yan slowly stood up: "Teacher, it's been a while since you showed yourself. Did you want to test the power of my Soul Skill?"
"Let's give it a try," Yao Lao indeed had this intention. He hadn't seen much of this Soul Skill and wanted to see what Xiao Yan had comprehended.
Xiao Yan grinned, his foot stomping the ground as he charged at Yao Lao like a fierce tiger.
With a thought, his hands were already imbued with vast soul force, his sharp claws leaving behind afterimages.
Seeing Xiao Yan's fierce attack, Yao Lao waved his arm, and a cold white flame shot out.
The flame tumbled in mid-air, instantly forming a mirror of icy flame, emitting a cold white light, like a protective shield.
Xiao Yan's claws rapidly tore at the icy flame mirror, and under his relentless assault, cracks began to appear.
"Not bad!" Yao Lao exclaimed in surprise. With a push of his hand, just as the icy flame mirror was about to shatter, it reformed into that cold white flame, rushing towards the attacking Xiao Yan.
Though the flame was only the size of a fist, it carried the force of a tidal wave, forcing Xiao Yan back over ten steps.
Such exquisite flame control. Xiao Yan sighed inwardly; compared to Yao Lao, he still had much to learn in this aspect.
Pausing his movement, Xiao Yan accelerated the soul force within his body and shouted, "Soul Devouring Wind Claw!"
As Xiao Yan's shout echoed, five bursts of energy shot from his fingers, carrying the Bone Chilling Flame attached to his hands, all aimed at Yao Lao.
"Condense!" Yao Lao shouted. The Bone Chilling Flame attached to the soul attack suddenly released an extreme cold force, the cold white light flashing, instantly freezing Xiao Yan's soul force.
But Xiao Yan's soul combat skill was extraordinary, with immense force.
Even though it turned into five icy spikes, its speed didn't decrease.
Yao Lao was also stunned; this was truly bizarre! His eyes narrowed, and with a thought, the cold ice suddenly heated up rapidly, transforming into five clusters of scorching flames.
As these five clusters of flames appeared, the temperature of the entire valley seemed to rise slightly, as if the air itself was becoming hotter.
Under this intense heat, Xiao Yan's soul force was almost completely incinerated in an instant.
Yao Lao's hand suddenly clenched, and the five clusters of flames instantly merged into a cold white palm, carrying vast energy as it struck towards Xiao Yan.
"Truly powerful!" Xiao Yan knew that using a Soul Skill to counter this attack would be difficult. His Dou Crystal trembled violently.
A vast and pure energy was released, flowing into his meridians as Dou Qi.
With the fusion of the Profound Yellow Flame and the Yin-Yang Double Flame in his palm, Xiao Yan raised his hand to block.
In an instant, a force like a tidal wave surged forth.
Xiao Yan's legs immediately assumed the stance of the Two Character Horse, using 'Void Extinction' to dissipate the force.
This time, Xiao Yan only took two steps back before stopping.
Yao Lao nodded slightly; Xiao Yan's combat skills were indeed exquisite. This palm strike would be hard for even an ordinary Dou Spirit to withstand, and Xiao Yan had just broken through to the Great Dou Master level.
At this moment, Yao Lao's eyes suddenly narrowed: "He's actually using two fused strange flames to devour my Bone Chilling Flame!"
Although this bit of strange flame wasn't beneficial for Xiao Yan's cultivation, this move of his truly grasped the essence of the Flame Mantra's fusion of strange flames.
Scenes flashed through Xiao Yan's mind, and a spark of inspiration struck him.
[Through long-term observation of Yao Lao's soul body and personal understanding of Soul Skills, you had an epiphany and comprehended the Soul Skill: Li Ling.]
[Li Ling, a secret Soul Skill, condenses soul force into a sword. This sword has the effect of devouring souls to strengthen itself.]
Knowing that the Soul Palace had many soul bodies, ever since he saw Yao Lao's soul body, Xiao Yan had been researching skills and secret techniques targeting soul bodies.
(End of Chapter)
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