Next up was the upgraded version of the [Lightning Reading] trait.
[Soul Ring Grants Bone (Purple): Each soul ring will grant you a soul bone of the same age. These soul bones are for your exclusive use and do not occupy regular soul bone slots.]
[Reincarnated Soul Beast (Purple): You are a reincarnated soul beast with innate full soul power. You can condense soul rings on your own, but may risk being discovered by a Titled Douluo.]
[Power of the Blue Lightning (Purple): You possess the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon martial soul, and will gradually undergo dragonization as your level increases.]
Soul Ring Grants Bone?
So the soul bones granted will match the age of your soul rings—meaning early on, they'd be hundred-year or thousand-year bones. Only later will ten-thousand-year bones appear. A bit weak at the start.
If I choose this, I'll need to keep it as a permanent trait to maximize its value.
Should I lock it in?
That ability to generate soul bones without occupying normal slots… is actually pretty great.
Counting limbs, torso, and skull, I'd be able to carry up to 15 soul bones total!
The other two... not viable.
Reincarnated Soul Beast was tempting at first glance, but Lin Feng quickly shook off the thought. Spending all day with Dugu Yan, it was hard to predict when Dugu Bo might show up. If his identity were exposed, he'd probably end up dissected for parts—and there'd be no one to argue his case.
As for Power of the Blue Lightning, although it's a top-tier martial soul, choosing it would overwrite his Flaming Sun Three-Headed Serpent. That would mean losing his fusion ability with Dugu Yan. Not to mention he had no way of explaining the sudden change to his family.
After weighing the pros and cons, Lin Feng selected Soul Ring Grants Bone.
A mysterious force surged through his right arm.
A soul bone had appeared—his reward from the ring. And with it came a soul bone skill: Crimson Scale Serpent Arm.
[Crimson Scale Serpent Arm: Summons multiple crimson-scaled serpents from your right arm to strike enemies or coil around yourself for defense.]
"Nice... very versatile."
Lin Feng's eyes lit up.
It could act as both shield and whip. Truly a useful tool.
Next, he checked the upgraded version of Analysis.
[Master of Flight (Green): You possess an extraordinary gift for flight and will achieve airborne combat earlier than most soul masters.]
[Silver-Tongued (Green): You are eloquent and persuasive, possessing a tongue sharp enough to talk your way out of any situation.]
[Survival Expert (Green): You gain top-tier wilderness survival instincts and knowledge.]
In a world where strength reigns supreme, speech and survival skills were more for the weak.
"System, I choose Master of Flight."
As soon as he confirmed the choice, a flood of knowledge poured into Lin Feng's mind. He was now a qualified flight specialist.
He felt light, like a feather.
His current soul power wasn't sufficient for full flight yet—at best, he could hover 10 centimeters off the ground. But based on his understanding, once he reached Soul Emperor rank, he could fly freely in the sky.
Lin Feng was overjoyed.
Finally, he glanced at the refreshed options of the remaining traits. Neither had upgraded, and their replacements weren't any better.
He decided to keep them as his permanent traits.
With everything settled, Lin Feng slowly opened his eyes.
He sprang to his feet. A yellow soul ring rose beneath him.
"Father, I did it!"
Lin Feng's face lit up with excitement as he turned to his father, Lin Ye, who had been watching over him.
"That's great," Lin Ye said calmly. "What's your first soul skill?"
"First Soul Skill: Flame Serpent Constriction."
Lin Feng raised his right hand. A crimson serpent wreathed in fire shot forth, wrapping tightly around the trunk of a century-old tree.
Boom!
The trunk cracked, sending splinters flying. What remained was a scorched stump, popping and hissing in the flames.
"My first skill creates a fire-serpent that wraps around and immobilizes enemies, delivering explosive damage with a burning effect."
Lin Feng smiled and explained.
Lin Ye stared, stunned, then burst into laughter.
"Attack, control, and even tracking—what a versatile soul skill!"
"Feng'er, this skill is rare and top-tier! Excellent!"
He could hardly contain his joy.
"Yeah, I think it suits me too."
Lin Feng nodded with a grin.
Just then, he felt a strange pull. His gaze shifted toward the Serpent's corpse.
Somehow, he sensed something still inside.
He raised his sword and sliced open the serpent's belly.
There it was—a yellow soul bone, glowing faintly red.
"A soul bone?"
He stared, stunned.
A 400-year-old soul beast dropped a soul bone?
Lin Ye, beside him, was just as dumbfounded.
"Father, what's this?"
Lin Feng asked with feigned confusion, though internally he was thinking: My luck's insane.
"Haha! That's a torso soul bone, Feng'er."
"They rarely drop, even when hunting soul beasts."
"They grant special abilities—and the best part? They only use one-tenth the normal soul power to activate!"
Lin Ye was visibly excited.
But Lin Feng hesitated.
If he absorbed it now, it would occupy one of his limited bone slots.
What if a better one came along later?
Maybe... he should give it to his father.
"Father, why don't you absorb this soul bone?"
Lin Feng turned to him.
"Ah, I'm already a Soul Sage," Lin Ye chuckled, waving it off. "A hundred-year soul bone won't do much for me."
"And besides—what kind of father takes his son's soul bone?"
"Feng'er, you absorb it. It'll boost your power significantly."
Lin Ye spoke with warmth, waving away the offer.
"Then... let me save it for later, once we're home."
"I'm a little tired now."
Lin Feng, unable to convince him and not wanting to use it himself yet, made up a reason and tucked it away.
"That works too."
On the way home—
Lin Feng quietly activated Trait Insight again to review his father's status.
[Name: Lin Ye]
[Gender: Male]
[Age: 46]
[Innate Soul Power: Rank 7]
[Martial Soul: Flame-Yang Three-Headed Serpent (High-Tier)]
[Soul Power: Rank 73]
[Traits: Modest Talent (Green), Military Strategist (Green), Early Death (Black)]
"System, refresh all traits."
[Ding! Traits refreshed.]
Lin Feng looked.
Neither [Modest Talent] nor [Military Strategist] had upgraded or changed significantly.
He chose to keep them for now—just like his own permanent traits.