Li Yuanhuan was stupefied. It was rare for a new disciple to make such a conjecture. Even so, he patiently explained it to Ling Xiao. “In theory, yes, it’s possible. But you would have to first find seven soul stones representing the seven souls. I’ve never heard of anyone capable of cultivating all seven souls and reach the peak.”
Ling Xiao had a hard time processing all the information thrown at him by Li Yuanhuan. But nevertheless kept his ears open.
After a brief pause to catch his breath, Li Yuanhuan continued. “There are a few individuals who became absurdly strong after cultivating multiple soul stones. For example, Ancestor Qi Mo was truly blessed by the heavens as he successfully cultivated seven soul stones to the blue rank. The indigo-robed man you’re talking about is Li Xuanyi. He’s also a genius from our Clear Sky Continent, cultivating five of his souls up to the indigo rank. They’re far and away the most impressive Chain Soul Masters of our time.”
Ling Xiao was stunned. “Why? Is it that difficult?”
Li Yuanhuan replied with a serious tone, “Yes. The difficulty doubles with every soul stone you add. If you need half a year to cultivate from the red to orange rank, you would need tens of years to cultivate seven soul stones to the orange rank. Do you have this kind of perseverance? Of course, there’s always a genius who’ll make it look easy. But let’s face it, how many are there?”
Ling Xiao felt his heart drop. There were seven soul stones on the Demonic Seven Souls Chain that Ancestor Qi Mo left him. He’d have to cultivate for who knows how long according to Li Yuanhuan’s explanation.
At that speed, his body would be rotting in a coffin before he could even think of reaching the yellow rank. Avenging Ancestor Qi Mo? What a joke!
Unbeknownst to Ling Xiao, Ancestor Qi Mo hadn’t taken him as his disciple on a whim. There was no way Ancestor Qi Mo would leave his legacy to a random nobody just because he was in a tight spot.
Li Yuanhuan continued, “Naturally, cultivating a soul chain with many soul stones has its perks. You saw it this morning. Ancestor Qi Mo is only at the blue rank, a rank lower than the indigo ranked Celestial Soul Masters from the Seven Grand Holy Lands. Yet he could face off against all of them by himself. This is the benefit of cultivating a soul chain with many soul stones. Alright, I’ve been talking enough. You’ll understand all of this a little further down the line. Come, let me help you fuse with the strength soul chain Master gave you.”
Following Li Yuanhuan’s instructions, Ling Xiao sat cross-legged on the small wooden bed and hung the soul chain over his neck, then closed his eyes to meditate.
Li Yuanhuan was speaking in a calm and soft voice, yet it resounded incomparably clear in Ling Xiao’s mind. “Focus your entire being in your heart, then move out and feel your limbs. Now let your mind freely course through your bones…”
Following Li Yuanhuan’s soothingly low voice resembling the sound of nature, Ling Xiao felt his body and mind tense up. It seemed as though he could see the powerful thumping in his chest accompanying him as the blood in his body gurgled with excitement, increasing its circulation speed.
Ling Xiao lacked the vocabulary to describe the wonderful feelings he was experiencing as his body seemed to be rebuild anew.
Li Yuanhuan looked at his Junior Brother in astonishment, speechless. This was the first time he’d seen someone who had such a big reaction after fusing with a soul chain.
“Could Junior Brother be a genius?” Li Yuanhuan rubbed his eyes, lest he was dreaming. After confirming his eyes really weren’t playing tricks on him, an overjoyed expression appeared on his face. “It looks like our Northern Jade Sect has hope for the future, after all!”
Ling Xiao was still immersed in the wonderful feelings. He didn’t seem to notice that the strange token in his chain’s depository was faintly shining again.
The golden speckle on the white end of the circular pattern was the one shining this time around, along with the crimson speckle amongst the three beneath the token.
A long time passed before Ling Xiao opened his eyes, standing up in excitement. The exhaustion on his face lasted a moment before being replaced by bright, expressive eyes.
“Thank you, Senior Brother.” Ling Xiao was wholeheartedly grateful toward Li Yuanhuan for his guidance.
It took Li Yuanhuan a good time to return to his senses. “Junior Brother, you’re actually a genius Chain Soul Master! Other people would take more than a month at minimum to breach the threshold of the red rank after fusing with their soul chain. You actually reached it just like that! I need to tell Master the good news!”
Without waiting for Ling Xiao’s response, Li Yuanhuan charged out the door.
“Don’t-” Ling Xiao stretched his hand out to stop his Senior Brother, but stopped mid-air because Li Yuanhuan had long since ran off to who knows where.
Ling Xiao forced a bitter smile. “He’s really impatient. How am I a genius? It’s only thanks to the Demonic Seven Souls Chain…”
Ever since the Demonic Seven Souls Chain fused with Ling Xiao, he knew his body underwent multiple changes. However, he hadn’t expected for these changes to aide him in his cultivation.
“Whatever, let Senior Brother act crazy all he wants. I wonder what the Northern Jade Celestial Fist is like. It’s supposed to be in the soul stone, right?”
With a shudder, Ling Xiao entered his soul chain. A series of images were projected in his mind, just as though he had personally seen them before.
These images were of a silhouette practicing a series of boxing techniques.
If Ling Xiao wanted to make the silhouette punch even a little faster, he would practice the boxing techniques like a gale. If he wanted him to slow down, the silhouette would slow down to a state where it was almost like he was at a standstill. This was simply miraculous to Ling Xiao.
While this silhouette was practicing the series of boxing techniques, there were also explanations accompanying every move explaining the proper use of the body and control over the soulforce.
This was just like having a real master coach him!
“I can finally learn what it’s like to be a Chain Soul Master!”
With exultation in his heart, Ling Xiao closed his eyes and started following the movements of the silhouette. In that narrow room of his, he practiced the Northern Jade Sect’s most basic boxing technique, the Northern Jade Celestial Fist.
Ling Xiao entered a state of nothingness.
At this time, Cheng Qiantai arrived outside Ling Xiao’s room and started watching him repeat the Northern Jade Celestial Fist move for move with an astonished look on his face.
If he hadn’t done a background check on Ling Xiao, he would’ve been convinced Ling Xiao had learned this technique before.
When he just started, Ling Xiao’s movements were still somewhat shaky and a little slow. But as time went on, his fists moved faster and his moves became sharper. One could see that Ling Xiao was intoxicated in this state with his eyes closed shut.
“Genius. He actually is a genius…” Cheng Qiantai mumbled to himself, yet his mind was in a spectacular mess. What was he to do with this disciple?
He’d already planned to find a random excuse to kick the eyesore called Ling Xiao out of the Northern Jade Sect. Things were different now and he would hate to do so.
In fact, if Valley Master Shen Nanfeng of the Sunken Wind Valley knew that Ling Xiao was such a gifted cultivator, he definitely wouldn’t have thrown him over to the Northern Jade Sect.
A disciple like this was the root and future of every sect!
“Hmm?” Ling Xiao’s vigilance was far better than before. Moreover, Cheng Qiantai didn’t deliberately mask his voice so Ling Xiao could still hear it even though he was speaking very softly.
“Master?” When he saw that Cheng Qiantai had personally come over to his small house, he couldn’t help but feel a little surprised.
However, wandering around for many years made Ling Xiao lose every last shred of shame. His astonishment was brief and he immediately throttled that sprouting emotion, replacing it with one of respect instead. “Disciple Ling Xiao pays his respects to Master.”
“Yes.” Cheng Qiantai gave a brief reply, but his tone no longer contained the coldness and anger it had before. “Are you used to it?”
Why does he suddenly sound so sincere? Are geniuses really that valuable? Ling Xiao questioned in his heart.
When he looked at the Celestial Soul Masters who were always on their high horses, he thought they were the Favoured Children of the Heavens—the people he hated the most.
Geniuses naturally belonged within the category of Ling Xiao’s detestment.
Ling Xiao replied in a respectful manner, “Master, I’m still not used to it.”
When they heard him say this, even Li Yuanhuan was a little startled, let alone Cheng Qiantai.
Ling Xiao didn’t pay attention to the brilliant looks on their faces as he continued, “I haven’t had people like Master and Senior Brother treating me so well before, so I’m still not used to it.”
Even though Cheng Qiantai was experienced in the ways of the world, he didn’t find anything amiss with Ling Xiao’s sudden flattery. Other than being a little perverse, this boy is actually pretty good.
Cheng Qiantai looked at Ling Xiao with a serious expression, then nodded in praise. “Ling Xiao, come outside and show me the Northern Jade Celestial Fist you were practicing just now.”
“Yes, Master.” Ling Xiao walked out of the narrow room and stood on the empty space outside.
Even though it was nighttime, the area outside was brightly lit from the white fluorescent powder lamps endowed with every small house.
Spotting their Master and Senior Brother, many disciples walked out of their houses to see what was going on.
“Huh? It’s the little beggar?”
“What’s he standing there for?”
“Could it be that Master wants to personally coach him?”
“Even someone like him is worthy?”
Countless discussions formed amongst the disciples. Some were shocked, others were indignant, but all of them revealed an undisguised jealousy!
Ling Xiao ignored their gazes. He submerged himself in a calm manner as he stood firmly on the ground.
His mind moved before his body. Under its guidance, Ling Xiao perfectly executed the Northern Jade Celestial Fist that others didn’t think had much use.
Adam's Ale Translations 
Thanks for the chapter.
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