Improvements

With all these upgradation, suddenly a large vortex of soul power formed with me being the centre, and I felt changes over my whole body. Not only my martial soul completely upgraded, but I felt my body changing to adapt to the martial soul. I can tell that my body has became more stronger, and I also noticed growth in my body. I noticed streak of blue hair in between my black hair. I suppose its the effect of my new martial soul.

The transformation was both painful and exhilarating—like being unmade and remade simultaneously. My bones grew denser, my muscles more defined, my senses sharper. The vortex of energy swirled around me with increasing intensity, the furniture in the small room beginning to rattle and shift. I gritted my teeth against the sensation of my very cells being reconfigured, forcing myself to remain conscious through the process. The wooden floorboards beneath me began to splinter and crack from the pressure, the oil lamp tipping precariously on the nightstand.

And then, as suddenly as it had begun, the vortex dissipated. I collapsed onto the now-damaged bed, gasping for breath as though I'd run a hundred miles without rest. My skin tingled with residual energy, and every muscle in my body ached with a deep, bone-penetrating fatigue. But beneath the exhaustion was a sense of power—raw, untamed, and vastly greater than what I'd possessed mere moments ago.

"How did you change this much?" Xiao Wu appeared and questioned. Huh, I suppose she is now back to normal. Her spectral form hovered near the foot of the bed, her eyes wide with a mixture of awe and concern as she took in my transformed appearance. The damage to the room was significant—cracks spider-webbed across the walls, the floorboards had warped and splintered in places, and the modest furniture had been pushed to the perimeter of the room as though by an explosive force.

"Well, my martial soul went another evolution, and now I suppose I am near level 26. My innate soul power has increased to level 20." I managed to sit up, running a hand through my hair and pausing when I encountered the new streaks of blue amid the black. The sensation of power coursing through my veins was intoxicating, like liquid lightning contained within a human vessel. I flexed my fingers experimentally, watching as small sparks of energy danced between them.

"Then you should go and get one more soul ring." She drifted closer, circling me with unconcealed curiosity. The moonlight streaming through the window passed through her translucent form, casting no shadow on the worn floorboards below. Outside, a dog barked in the distance, the sound oddly muffled as though my hearing was adjusting to new parameters.

"There's no rush for it. As first I need to adapt to my Martial Soul changes and increase my body limit and I even got some idea for my next soul ring. So, don't worry, as max you can continue to circulate soul power." I stretched carefully, wincing at the soreness in my newly enhanced muscles. The room seemed smaller somehow, or perhaps I had indeed grown slightly during the transformation. The ceiling, which had seemed comfortably distant before, now appeared unnervingly close to my head when I stood at full height.

"What changes did you gain?" She moved to hover directly in front of me, her expression one of intense curiosity. The air around us still hummed with residual energy, like the aftermath of a lightning strike.

As I activated my martial soul, my eye colour changed just like before. And now I can analyze and inspect anything more efficiently and on molecular level.

Just on a whim, I used creation ability to create a G-43 according to the blueprint I have received on my previous reward. And I was even create ammos for G-43. I chose this pistol because its light weight and smaller to fit in my hand. Just as I shoot, the bullet went piercing the wall outside.

Thankfully, the gun had a suppressor attached to its barrel, muffling what would have been a thunderous report into a subdued pfft that barely carried beyond the confines of my room. I examined the weapon with newfound clarity, my enhanced perception allowing me to see the intricate mechanisms within—the firing pin, the magazine spring, the rifling inside the barrel—all without needing to disassemble it.

"What was that?" Xiao Wu floated closer to inspect the strange object in my hand, her translucent fingers passing through the solid metal as she attempted to touch it.

"A weapon from another world," I replied, ejecting the magazine and examining the remaining rounds. "More efficient than any bow or crossbow in this realm, and with proper maintenance, more reliable too."

But I can't create more than 1 meter cube item. I am limited to less weapon at a time and also with knowledge. I suppose I should start collecting soul guide and analyze it. Other than that I can create any type of cold weapon easily. Then suddenly a idea struck that, if void archive which is made from Herrscher core of reason can replicate any Divine Key, why can't I replicate other's weapon martial spirit.

"Hehehehehe." The laugh escaped my lips before I could contain it, my mind racing with possibilities. With my upgraded martial soul, I could potentially analyze and replicate the weapons of other soul masters—a profound advantage in combat scenarios.

"Hey, I asked for what changes you got and you are giving me such a creepy laugh." Xiao Wu backed away slightly, her form wavering like a reflection on disturbed water.

"You idiot just as you saw I can analyse any material except organic material, and even easily replicate it." I dismissed the gun, watching as it dissolved into particles of light before vanishing completely. Already, my mind was cataloguing the potential applications of this ability.

"Whoa, that's a cool change." Her eyes widened with appreciation, the initial wariness giving way to excitement.

A sharp knock at the door interrupted our conversation. "Is everything alright in there?" The innkeeper's concerned voice carried through the wooden door. "I heard a strange noise."

"Everything's fine," I called back, keeping my voice casual. "Just dropped something heavy."

There was a pause, then the sound of reluctant footsteps retreating down the corridor. I waited until they faded entirely before turning back to Xiao Wu.

"We should leave at dawn," I whispered, eyeing the hole in the wall where the bullet had passed through. "I'll leave extra coin to cover the damages, but I'd rather not answer any uncomfortable questions."

Xiao Wu nodded in agreement, her form already beginning to fade as she retreated back into my soul ring. "Warn me next time before you start shooting things," her voice echoed in my mind as she disappeared entirely.

I spent the remainder of the night in quiet meditation, circulating my soul power through newly expanded channels, familiarizing myself with the enhanced capabilities of my upgraded martial soul. Each cycle brought greater clarity, greater control, greater understanding of the changes that had occurred.

By the time dawn painted the eastern sky with hues of pink and gold, I had packed my meager belongings and left a small pouch of silver coins on the nightstand—more than enough to compensate the innkeeper for the damages I'd caused.

"What do you mean you're not continuing with us?" Old Wei's weathered face contorted in confusion as I informed him of my decision. The caravan had been prepared to depart, the oxen already harnessed to the heavily laden wagons.

"I appreciate your hospitality," I replied, adjusting the strap of my pack across my shoulder, "but I need to travel more quickly than your caravan allows. I'll make the rest of the journey to Suotuo city on foot."

"On foot?" Wei's wife interjected, her plump face creased with concern. "But child, there are bandits on these roads, and worse things in the forests beyond. It's not safe for a young woman traveling alone."

If only they knew the truth—that most bandits would be fortunate to escape an encounter with me with their lives. Instead, I offered a reassuring smile. "I can take care of myself. And I prefer to travel at my own pace."

After a few more attempts at persuasion, Old Wei finally relented, providing me with crude but accurate directions to Suotuo city before extracting a promise that I would seek him out at the market there upon my arrival. I agreed readily enough, though I had no intention of doing so.

As the caravan lumbered away down the dusty road, I turned toward the dense forest that bordered the eastern side of the village. According to my calculations and the crude map I had purchased, cutting through the wilderness would shave at least three days off my journey to Suotuo city, though it would certainly be more arduous than following the established trade routes.

"Are you sure about this?" Xiao Wu materialized beside me as I ventured beneath the canopy of ancient trees, the undergrowth thick and lush around my ankles. Dappled sunlight filtered through the leaves overhead, casting shifting patterns on the forest floor.

"Positive," I replied, scanning the surrounding vegetation with my enhanced perception. "Besides, this gives us an opportunity to test the limits of my new abilities without unwanted observers."

The forest grew denser as I progressed, the sounds of the village fading until they were replaced entirely by the natural symphony of wilderness—birdsong, rustling leaves, the occasional crack of a branch as unseen creatures moved through the undergrowth. My enhanced senses cataloged each sound, each scent, constructing a detailed awareness of my surroundings that extended far beyond normal human capabilities.

"Can you sense anything unusual?" I asked Xiao Wu, who had taken to floating slightly ahead, her translucent form passing effortlessly through obstacles that required me to climb over or navigate around.

"There's a stream about half a kilometer ahead," she replied after a moment of concentration. "And...something else. A presence. Not human, but powerful. Soul beast, perhaps?"

I nodded, adjusting my course slightly to avoid the area she had indicated. While testing my new abilities was one thing, seeking out unnecessary confrontations was another entirely. Strategic avoidance was often the wiser choice, particularly when traveling alone.

As midday approached, I found a small clearing beside the stream Xiao Wu had detected earlier. The water ran clear and cold, originating from the distant mountains that loomed on the horizon. I refilled my water skin (Pouch made from animal skin) before settling against the trunk of an ancient oak to rest.

Then I moved on to explore more about my martial soul. I concentrated on the concept of the G-43 pistol again, but this time, I modified the design in my mind before materializing it—adjusting the grip to better fit my hand, reinforcing the barrel to withstand higher caliber ammunition, adding improved sights for greater accuracy at range.

The modified weapon appeared in my palm, its weight comforting and familiar despite the alterations. I aimed at a distant tree and squeezed the trigger, watching with satisfaction as the bullet struck precisely where I had intended, the suppressor once again muffling the sound to little more than a quiet cough.

"So you can not only create, but improve upon the original designs," Xiao Wu mused, floating closer to examine the modified weapon.

"Within certain parameters," I agreed, dismissing the pistol back into non-existence with a thought. "I'm limited by my understanding of the underlying principles and materials. I couldn't, for example, create a weapon that requires elements that don't exist in this world."

"Can you create Gold Coins?"

"Yes, But it will disappear after it leaves certain radius. And I will only use this trick for scammers." 

As the afternoon wore on, I continued experimenting with more advanced applications of my enhanced martial soul. I discovered that I could analyze the soul power signatures of nearby plants and animals, distinguishing between ordinary flora and fauna and those with potential soul beast lineage. This would prove invaluable for hunting suitable candidates for future soul rings.

I also found that the "Freeze" ability that had replaced "Charm" in my first soul ring was far more versatile than I had initially assumed. Rather than simply immobilizing an opponent's body, it could target specific aspects of their consciousness—freezing thought processes, emotional responses, even sensory input if applied with sufficient precision.

As we continued through the forest, I practiced maintaining my enhanced perception while navigating the challenging terrain. Each day brought new discoveries about my upgraded abilities, new applications I hadn't considered before. I found I could analyze the structural integrity of natural formations, identifying safe paths across unstable ground or weaknesses in the rocky outcroppings we occasionally needed to climb.

By the fifth day of our journey through the wilderness, we encountered our first significant challenge—a small pack of Razor Wolves, mid-tier soul beasts known for their coordinated hunting tactics and razor-sharp claws that could slice through armor with ease. In my previous state, such an encounter would have necessitated a strategic retreat or a desperate battle. Now, I watched them with clinical interest as they attempted to surround me, their yellow eyes gleaming with predatory intent.

"I count seven," Xiao Wu observed, her form flickering nervously despite being invisible to the soul beasts. "The alpha is the larger one to your right, with the scarred muzzle."

I nodded almost imperceptibly, my enhanced perception already having identified the pack hierarchy and the likely attack vectors they would employ. When the first wolf lunged forward—a younger male testing my defenses—I didn't bother drawing a weapon. Instead, I activated the "Freeze" ability, targeting its consciousness with pinpoint precision.

The wolf collapsed mid-leap, its mind temporarily suspended in a state of non-awareness while its body continued to function at the most basic level—heart beating, lungs expanding and contracting, but all higher functions ceased. The effect rippled outward, catching two more wolves in its periphery with diminished but still effective results.

The alpha snarled, hackles rising as it sensed the unnatural power at play. Rather than retreating as most animals would when faced with an unknown threat, it charged forward, fangs bared and claws extended—a testament to the enhanced intelligence that separated soul beasts from their ordinary counterparts.

This time, I materialized a simple weapon—a short spear with a razor-sharp blade that gleamed with an unnatural blue light, the metal infused with a portion of my soul power to enhance its cutting ability. With a fluid motion born of countless hours of training, I sidestepped the alpha's charge and drove the spear through its shoulder, severing tendons and muscle with surgical precision.

The wounded alpha retreated with a pained yelp, blood matting its dark fur. The remaining wolves hesitated, their instinctual aggression warring with the sudden realization that their prey was far more dangerous than anticipated. After a tense moment, they backed away, disappearing into the undergrowth with their injured leader.

"You've improved," Xiao Wu commented as I dismissed the spear, watching it dissolve back into particles of light. "Your fighting ability are improving continuously, otherwise this encounter would have been far more challenging."

"And consumed significantly less soul power," I agreed, noting that my reserves had barely been tapped by the brief confrontation. "The efficiency is remarkable."