Six months had elapsed since I first began the intensive training regimen for my team, and the transformation I witnessed left me genuinely speechless. While their soul power growth was undeniably impressive, tracking steady numerical increases week by week, what truly captivated me was the fundamental shift in their mindset.
The initial month had been nothing short of absolute torment for all of them. Day after day, I observed Shui Bing'er push her body beyond her own limit, her legs trembling violently from exhaustion, muscles screaming in protest, yet she never ceased encouraging her younger sister through gritted teeth that spoke of iron determination. "Come on, Yue'er! Remember what captain explained about proper breath control techniques!" she would gasp out between ragged breaths, crystalline beads of sweat cascading from her chin like morning dew, but never once abandoning that protective big sister energy that defined her very essence.
The training grounds became a crucible of transformation during those early weeks. Before dawn broke across the horizon, painting the sky in shades of amber and rose, we would begin with basic calisthenics that gradually evolved into complex movement patterns. I watched each girl struggle with exercises designed to rebuild their understanding of physical capability. Push-ups became endurance tests lasting minutes rather than counting repetitions. Running transformed from simple cardio into lessons about breathing rhythm, foot placement, and energy conservation. Every drill served multiple purposes—building strength while simultaneously teaching body awareness and control.
Once their physical forms had been sufficiently conditioned to handle the intensity of what I had meticulously planned, I made the decision to teach them—the complete, Nine Breath Convince Qi technique. Voluntarily sharing an top-tier cultivation method? Had I completely lost my sanity? The rarity and value of such techniques couldn't be overstated, and I made absolutely certain they comprehended the gravity of the non-disclosure agreement they were entering. Teaching this sacred technique to anyone without my explicit written permission? That would create problems of a magnitude they couldn't begin to imagine.
What gave me the confidence to teach it was my unique advantage—having Xiao Wu available to operate the technique continuously, twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, providing me with insights and experience that no other person could ever hope to achieve without soul assisting you.
"Listen carefully," The atmosphere itself seemed to respond to the importance of the moment, creating an almost mystical backdrop for this pivotal lesson. "What I'm about to teach to you represents the kind of advanced technique that can only be truly mastered by those who possess sufficient soul power control and the discipline to respect its complexity."
However, the real paradigm shift occurred when I successfully discovered how to manipulate soul power in a manner similar to chakra utilization. Tree walking, water walking—the complete arsenal of ninja training techniques adapted for soul power manipulation. The expressions of absolute bewilderment and wonder on their faces when I casually strolled up a vertical tree trunk as if gravity was merely an optional suggestion rather than a fundamental law of physics? That reaction alone was worth every painstaking hour I had invested in calculating the precise energy conversion ratios required for such applications.
"Okay, what the actual hell was that supposed to be?" Shui Yue'er burst out, her usual composure completely shattered as she pointed incredulously at my feet, which remained firmly adhered to the bark twenty feet above ground level. Her voice carried a mixture of disbelief, excitement, and just a hint of indignation that someone could make the impossible look so effortless.
"Advanced soul power manipulation," I called down to them, my voice carrying easily through the crisp morning air. "You've all been thinking far too small, limiting yourselves unnecessarily. Why restrict yourself to only projecting energy outward only with soul ring when soul power can be utilized for so much more? The applications are virtually limitless once you understand the fundamental principles."
The tree climbing exercise initially shattered their preconceived notions about energy manipulation so completely that I could practically see their worldviews reconstructing themselves in real time. Traditional soul masters simply don't conceptualize energy control at such microscopic levels of precision. They're conditioned to think in terms of large-scale, visually impressive attacks—spectacular displays of raw power rather than the surgical precision required to maintain perfect adhesion without inadvertently destroying the surface you're attempting to stand upon.
Shui Yue'er volunteered to attempt the technique first, which was entirely predictable given her naturally competitive spirit. Her initial effort involved slapping her right foot against the trunk with excessive force, soul power scattering chaotically like buckshot fired from an antique weapon. "This is completely impossible! How are you even managing to—" she began, frustration evident in every syllable.
"The secret lies in learning to control your soul power output and creating a controlled vacuum effect beneath your feet," I explained patiently, demonstrating the technique once more. "Just like this, you can achieve adhesion to virtually any surface, but you must constantly adjust the intensity of your soul power according to the specific characteristics of whatever surface you're attempting to stick to. Otherwise—"
As if summoned by my words to provide a perfect demonstration, I deliberately took another step on the tree trunk while channeling excessive power. The ancient oak exploded in a shower of splinters and bark fragments, the sound echoing across the training ground like thunder. "Either you would slip and fall rather ungracefully, or you could completely destroy the surface you're trying to stick to," I concluded, brushing wood debris from my clothing with practiced nonchalance.
Another day my personal development during this period was progressing at a rate that honestly bordered on the ridiculous. I had successfully developed my own variation of the legendary gentle fist technique, adapting its principles for use with soul power rather than chakra. The gentle fist had always been formidable in its original form, but then Senior Bing offered a tactical insight that fundamentally changed everything about my approach to combat.
She observed critically after watching me experimenting on trees about tenketsu point. "Coul you directly inject ultimate ice through those Tenketsu point? Those tenketsu locations where an opponent's energy naturally concentrates and flows?"
That suggestion struck me with the force of divine lightning, illuminating possibilities I had never previously considered. What if I could channel Ultimate Ice energy directly into an opponent's internal energy pathways, disrupting their power from within?
The result of this revelation was a technique I named Gentle Frost—and truthfully, it unnerved even me when I witnessed its full potential.
The first time I tested it on a captured soul beast (strictly for research and development purposes), the effect was profoundly unsettling in its subtlety. There was no dramatic explosion, no instant death, no spectacular display of overwhelming power. Instead, there was simply instantaneous freezing, inexorable shutdown of biological functions as microscopic ice crystals formed along crucial energy channels throughout the creature's body. Blood flow became disrupted and sluggish, vital organs slowly freezing from the inside out in a process that was as fascinating as it was horrifying.
"That's..." Senior Bing observed the beast's steadily deteriorating condition with a mixture of professional fascination and genuine concern etched across her features. "That's significantly more terrifying than explosive technique I had imagined about. It's essentially internal body damage that causes organs to freeze and cease functioning entirely."
"Gentle Frost," I christened the technique, partly because of its deceptively subtle nature and partly because 'Slow Death by Internal Freezing' lacked the elegant simplicity that effective technique names required.
I dedicated considerable time to teaching the girls about alternative applications of soul power—tree climbing, water walking, and other fundamental control exercises that would serve as building blocks for more advanced techniques. Their amazement at these basic applications was both endearing and encouraging, as it led them to think more creatively about energy manipulation and develop proper soul power control instincts. Even though most of them couldn't yet execute simple tree climbing successfully, their fundamental operation and understanding of soul power had far exceeded their canonical versions' capabilities.
Beyond technique training, I assisted each team member in hunting for appropriate spirit rings, and these expeditions revealed just how dramatically the team had progressed. Four soul power levels gained in six months represented prodigy-level advancement that was only possible through a combination of premium cultivation resources and my specialized cultivation methodology.
Shui Bing'er maintained her position at level 38, which might appear slow to outside observers but was actually strategically perfect. As vice team leader, she needed consistent power levels to maintain delicate group dynamics and serve as a stable foundation for the team's tactical formations.
Baixue's second spirit ring acquisition was provided by Silver-eyed leopard soul beast that offered a 999-year yellowish-purple ring. While she possessed the physical capability and spiritual strength to handle the more powerful option, practical considerations ultimately determined our choice.
"Without specialized ring concealment skills," I explained as the beast's dissipating soul energy began coalescing into ring formation, "displaying a purple second ring immediately makes you a high-priority target. Every major power throughout the continent would want to either recruit you through various means or eliminate you as a potential future threat to their interests." And anyway after she get higher level she can unlock the seal to achieve first two soul ring of black 10,000.
She nodded without a moment's hesitation, complete trust evident in her expression. "I have complete faith in your judgment, Sister Qingxue."
Shui Yue'er and Xue Wu's purple ring absorption processes were where our months of careful preparation truly demonstrated their value. The Whale Glue body enhancement treatments combined with my constant mental support during the dangerous absorption phases allowed them to safely handle 6000 and 5000-year rings respectively—achievements that should have been impossible for soul masters of their level.
The Dean's reaction was priceless. Her confidence in me and my methods went from 100% to what 1000% and still climbing. Anyway, she has also contributed a lot by providing proper resources related food and cultivation material.
However, what truly struck me was how their remarkable advancement, incredible as it undeniably was, appeared almost glacial when compared to my own development pattern. Four levels gained in six months versus my established pattern of jumping ten full levels per spirit ring absorption created a disparity that was simply staggering to contemplate.
My soul power had already pushed beyond level 40, which created entirely new categories of challenges and opportunities. Physical strengthening became absolutely critical for safely handling the increasingly powerful soul rings that higher levels demanded. With head and trunk soul bones already successfully absorbed and integrated, I had four limb slots remaining available. This meant four more soul beasts to hunt, four more dangerous expeditions into territories where creatures powerful enough to provide appropriate soul bones made their homes.
The third ring unlock gave me access to create more larger blueprints. Like now I can create Grenade launchers, rocket launchers, machine guns—from hot weapon blueprint. The only limitation was explosives except the ammos of grenade launcher and rocket launcher. Well, being not able to make simple explosive like grenade, landmine, C4 etc left me bad taste because it is not included in the blue print. Anyway, I could reverse engineer grenade launcher ammo, to get explosive and make a dynamite from the explosive itself. Anyway, "The Art of Explosion" across Douluo Continent would've been... little problematic.
Three new achievements capped off this period perfectly:
[Bronze Achievement: Genin Ninja - Replicate basic chakra applications using soul power. Reward: Kawarimi no Jutsu (Substitution Technique)]
[Silver Achievement: Martial Trainee - Create original soul skill. Reward: Shundo-instant movement technique (UQ Holder)]
[Silver Achievement: Martial Prodigy- Learn a martial technique (Gentle fist) from scratch. Reward: Black Flash (JJK)]
Both rewards were movement-based skills, which aligned perfectly with my evolving combat philosophy and fighting style. The substitution jutsu might be classified as E-rank in terms of raw power, but combat effectiveness was never determined by arbitrary rankings—success depended on timing, surprise, and tactical application. Replace yourself with a wooden log at precisely the right moment during battle? Game over for your opponent, regardless of their power level.
Shundo proved even more valuable in practical application. Pure physical enhancement with no energy requirements whatsoever distinguished it from most soul master movement skills, which typically drained spiritual power at unsustainable rates during extended combat. According to its source UQ holder anime, the mc had to first spent his time only using his legs for his daily works, like eating, brushing teeth cooking etc to practice leg coordination and control to achieve initial steps to master Shundo. This technique relied entirely on muscle memory, coordination, and physical conditioning—areas where my martial spirit's integrated eye-brain-nervous system combination provided significant learning advantages, allowing me to master complex movement faster. So, I don't need to use my legs to do daily activities with my legs to master it.
And finally Black Flash from JJK, another attack skill, but it has ability to enhance my damage, to bring out my 120% of the potential. It might be cool technique, but once you understand it principle, it is easier to execute. And now this version CE is replaced with soul power.