Lin Yu looked up at the drifting characters in the sky and quickly recognized them.
These were the very characters inscribed on the Soul Suppressing Stele, but unfortunately, he could not understand them.
If only his clones could use the system's power.
As soon as Lin Yu had this thought, his main body instinctively chanted, "Translate!"
"Ding, translation requires one million evolution points. Do you wish to translate?"
Lin Yu was overjoyed upon hearing this voice. He soon understood; by transmitting the characters through his clone to his main body's mind, it was equivalent to his main body seeing them, so the system could directly translate.
"So that's how it is," Lin Yu mused.
"Yes!" he chanted.
"Ding, translation successful. Congratulations to the host for obtaining the 'Divine Soul Art'."
In the next moment, countless contents flooded Lin Yu's mind, a vast ocean of characters pouring into his consciousness.
Divine Soul Art: This is a divine art for cultivating the soul. It has ten levels, and upon reaching the tenth level, one can achieve the realm of divinity through the soul. It contains ten soul techniques, each also divided into ten levels. Any realm can cultivate them.
They are: Soul Refining Technique, Soul Manipulation Technique, Soul Transcending Technique, Soul Severing Technique, Soul Mimicry Technique, Soul Seizing Technique, Soul Illusion Technique, Soul Return Technique, Soul Searching Technique, and Soul Splitting Technique.
Soul Refining Technique: Refines soul pearls, consumption of which can enhance soul power.
Soul Manipulation Technique: Can control soul-type beings.
Soul Transcending Technique: Can transmigrate vengeful spirits.
Soul Severing Technique: Can condense soul power to attack a target's soul.
Soul Mimicry Technique: Can alter the form, aura, and other aspects of a soul.
Soul Seizing Technique: Can intimidate souls.
Soul Illusion Technique: Can create soul illusions.
Soul Return Technique: Can recall a soul that has left the body, returning it to the physical form. If the body has not been dead for long, it has a chance to activate its vitality and revive. It has miraculous effects on comatose patients.
Soul Searching Technique: Scans the memories of a soul.
Soul Splitting Technique: Splits soul power and attaches it to objects, bestowing them with soul power, allowing them to use the main body's soul techniques.
"Ten soul techniques, each with ten levels. I have effectively learned the first level of all of them now."
Lin Yu closed his eyes. He discovered that among these soul techniques, the Soul Splitting Technique was the most surprising to him.
The appearance of this technique indicated that his clones could also use soul techniques. However, the only regret was that at the first level, he could only split one portion of soul power.
But at the second level, he could split two portions; the third, four; then eight, sixteen; and at the tenth level, one thousand and twenty-four portions.
Excited, he opened his eyes.
What greeted him was the Empress, standing before the Soul Suppressing Stele, gazing at the floating characters in the sky in a daze.
Suddenly, the Empress said dejectedly, "These characters... they're so familiar, but I don't understand them!"
Lin Yu heard this, a smile gracing his lips.
Having obtained the 'Divine Soul Art', Lin Yu was in an excellent mood. He began to command his clones to scout the surroundings, looking for any other discoveries.
His main body, meanwhile, withdrew its consciousness and no longer concerned itself with the clones. The main body began to cultivate the 'Divine Soul Art'.
He sat cross-legged and closed his eyes to cultivate.
Instantly, streams of energy representing souls appeared within his perception. He circulated the divine art, and these energies converged towards his soul.
In a short while, much soul energy integrated into his soul, strengthening it.
Bliss!
This was Lin Yu's greatest feeling at the moment.
This was not the bliss of the physical body, but a bliss originating from the most fundamental core of his soul, making him unable to stop.
...
Meanwhile.
Prime Minister's Estate.
Shui Qianchou and the little flood dragon were at a stalemate.
"How about we call it a day?" Shui Qianchou proposed.
"Agreed!" The little flood dragon also gave up the idea of killing Shui Qianchou.
Their strengths were comparable, and further fighting would be difficult to determine a victor. It was better to call a truce.
As for the ownership of the divine artifact, it was not too late to fight over it once it was found.
"Human, you just wait until this dragon finds the divine artifact and leaves this realm in glory!"
"Hmph, one day, I will cleave you in two with a single blade!"
The other humans and exotic beasts, seeing their leaders stop fighting, also ceased their combat.
After a fierce battle, both sides were evenly matched, with neither able to kill the other, and they could only stop.
This was because outside the Prime Minister's Estate, a large number of soldiers had gathered, and experts from Cloud Capital had also converged.
The experts of this world had weak physical strength, vulnerable to poison, but their soul power was strong, and they wielded strange soul techniques, making them unpredictable.
After the humans and exotic beasts stopped fighting, they broke through in two different directions.
The experts from Cloud Capital rushed to intercept them.
"Kill them!"
However, in the next moment, beams of power enveloped an area of several hundred meters. Countless soldiers perished in this single strike, terrifying the others into a hasty retreat.
By the time they reacted, Shui Qianchou and the little flood dragon had already disappeared.
Only a few individual experts saw them heading towards the Imperial Palace.
...
Dawn broke!
At the location of Lin Yu's main body.
Lin Fan and Bai Xiaosa, who were sound asleep, were awakened by Lin Yu.
Lin Fan said with annoyance, "Big brother, I haven't slept enough. What are you doing waking me up so early in the morning, calling souls?"
He had been sleeping soundly, and being woken up by Lin Yu made him unhappy.
"Less nonsense. Finish washing up within ten minutes, then we depart for Cloud Capital."
"Ah? Can't we go a bit later?"
"No. One minute later, and I'll recall you."
At these words, Lin Fan's face changed drastically. He quickly put on his clothes and got up to wash up.
Bai Xiaosa was in the same situation.
Before they left, Lin Fan said, "Meng Qiu, wait for my return here. Don't go out, do you understand?"
Feng Meng Qiu was about to say something, but Lin Fan kissed her. Feng Meng Qiu's face turned red, but her heart was filled with joy.
Lin Fan said tenderly, "Alright, be good and wait for me to return."
"Mmm," she replied softly, watching Lin Fan turn and leave.
The three left the city and headed towards Cloud Capital.
On the way.
Bai Xiaosa whispered, "Lin Fan, did you guys go all the way?"
"Go all the way to what? I don't know what you're talking about."
"You know."
"I don't know!"
"You really do."
"I really don't."
Lin Yu, listening to their back-and-forth, chided, "Shut up, and pick up the pace!"
Scolded by Lin Yu, the two dared not continue their bickering.
Along the way, Lin Yu also felt a touch of emotion. He blamed himself for accidentally reading Lin Fan's feelings just now, yet he also savored the recent sensation, his mind somewhat dazed.
He quickly shook his head, dispelling these distracting thoughts.
They quickened their pace towards Cloud Capital.
The three traveled at high speed. At their full capacity, they reached Cloud Capital in just over ten minutes.
"Let's go to the Imperial Palace!" Lin Yu said.
Cloud Capital was already in chaos. The deaths of the Prime Minister and the Great General had caused immense social upheaval, and the Empress was also missing.
The entire Cloud Capital was plunged into disarray.
In the Imperial Palace.
The exotic beasts and humans looked at the massive crater below and gritted their teeth before jumping in. They had searched every corner of the palace and were almost certain that this was the location of the divine artifact.
Shui Qianchou, filled with excitement, followed them down.
The little flood dragon coiled around one of its subordinates and also jumped down.
Not long after they jumped in, commotion was heard from outside the gates.
Lin Yu and the other two finally arrived.
Lin Yu looked around. Bai Xiaosa's eyes twinkled as he said,
"Brother Lin, there are traces of exotic beasts and humans here. They jumped into the cave. The cave is about a hundred meters deep."
Lin Yu nodded and said, "Let's go down too."
Lin Fan said, "Big brother, shouldn't we be careful?"
"You go first!" Lin Yu kicked Lin Fan's backside, causing him to lose his balance and tumble into the cave.
Although the cave was deep, it was not enough to harm Lin Fan, as he had been inside before, so Lin Yu was not worried about his safety.
"Let's go, we're going down too."
"Okay!"