Back in the Ancestral Hall, Ji Yang was speechless.
It seemed he had overestimated these souls, leading to a misjudgment. However, he quickly let go of his frustration.
The survival period hadn't been short, and he had likely gained something valuable.
[Simulation complete!]
[You have learned a new technique: Gathering Yin]
[You have mastered a new supernatural power: Soul Condensation]
[You have acquired another supernatural power: Armor Cloak]
[You have learned a new combat skill: Taizu Long Fist]
Gather Yin: Actively change your physical form to absorb Yin Qi.
Soul Condensation: Use your life force to condense souls.
Armor Cloak: Consume vital energy to cover souls with leaf armor.
Taizu Long Fist: A high-level Yellow tier combat skill (transferable three times).
Ji Yang's excitement soared as he read the messages.
He hadn't expected such substantial gains: a technique, two supernatural powers, and a combat skill.
Moreover, they were closely related to his recent simulation experience.
Remembering the numerous souls in the Netherworld, Ji Yang thought about the possibility of replicating them in this mortal realm.
If he could do that, the Chen Clan would undoubtedly become stronger.
Eventually, Ji Yang's gaze landed on the high-level Yellow Tier combat skill---Taizu Long Fist. It was probably the same technique that the first soul had practiced daily.
In this world, vital energy drove martial arts, and combat skills played a crucial role.
Techniques and fighting skills were divided into four levels and twelve grades: Heaven, Earth, Profound, and Yellow.
Among them, Taizu Long Fist belonged to the Yellow level, with three sublevels.
Combat skills had the power to significantly enhance a warrior's strength.
Some formidable techniques even allowed practitioners to surpass their innate abilities.
Despite their decline, the Chen Clan lacked even a decent combat skill. Their Body Tempering Realm warriors relied solely on their own life force and hunting skills.
Now, the Taizu Long Fist existed as a wealth of knowledge flooding Ji Yang's mind.
He had mastered every aspect of the technique---the circulation of vital energy, the specific meridians involved, and the intricate techniques.
At this moment, he embodied the pinnacle of this martial art.
Unfortunately, as a mere tree, Ji Yang couldn't use the Taizu Long Fist. After all, he lacked hands.
Even though the high-level Yellow tier martial art was considered average, it would greatly enhance the Chen Clan's overall strength.
Most importantly, Ji Yang could pass on this knowledge through transmission, albeit with limited opportunities.
Ji Yang's attention shifted back to the Gathering Yin Method, the most significant gain from this endeavour.
By absorbing Yin Qi, he could rapidly increase his vital energy. The more vitality he accumulated, the greater his overall improvement would be.
He wondered how effective Gathering Yin would be compared to the Lunar Eclipse Technique.
Without hesitation, Ji Yang activated the Gathering Yin method.
His body began to transform, just as it had in the Netherworld.
First, the roots changed, followed by the trunk, the branches, and the leaves.
Eventually, his entire form turned a deep black. Whenever he stopped practicing the technique, he could return to his previous appearance.
This was the transforming aspect described in the technique.
After transforming into his tree-like form, Ji Yang's vision underwent a subtle change.
He could now see things previously hidden from him, such as Yin Qi.
However, as he scanned the surroundings of the Ancestral Hall, his expression froze.
Where was the expected Yin Qi?
In the Netherworld, the Yin Qi resembled a grey mist, permeating everywhere.
Even at a distance of a few meters, it covered the area and obscured distant views.
This rapid exposure to Yin Qi fueled his growth. However, back in the real world, Ji Yang only saw a small amount of mist in the Ancestral Hall.
How meager was it? Compared to the Netherworld, it was like a drop in the ocean.
Based on his previous experience of absorbing Yin Qi, even if he absorbed all the surrounding mist, it wouldn't significantly increase his vital energy.
With this realization, Ji Yang fell silent, and his earlier plans faded away.
However, he soon recovered.
In addition to Gathering Yin, he also possessed another technique: Soul Condensation.
Soul Condensation allowed him to gather and condense vital energy, but before he could use this technique, he had to find a living soul.
Ji Yang looked around once more, but the surroundings were still empty.
This was the ancestral hall of the Chen family, not the Netherworld.
Where would he find so many living souls?
Wait, the Ancestral Hall!
His gaze shifted to a room within the Chen Family Ancestral Hall.
In the middle of the room was a wooden structure with several tiers.
Each tier held several memorial tablets - the final resting places of the Chen family ancestors.
At the bottom were three new plaques, honouring the three clan members who had fallen in battle against the Li family.
However, Ji Yang's attention wasn't focused on these tablets.
Instead, he focused on the faint, ethereal figures attached to them.
Normally, he wouldn't have been able to see these souls, but his transformation had given him that ability.
Weren't these the same souls he encountered in the Netherworld?
Compared to the Netherworld, these souls clinging to the memorial tablets seemed even more broken.
Their limbs were cut off, their heads were severed, and their bodies were riddled with holes.
Even their colors were more desolate than in the Netherworld.
Rather than calling them living souls, it would be more appropriate to call them soul remnants.
Moreover, the higher the position of the tablet in the family, the more broken the attached souls appeared.
In fact, the highest levels had no souls at all.
However, near the bottom three tablets, Ji Yang noticed three different souls.
Their gazes were blank, and they floated aimlessly nearby.
After locating these souls, Ji Yang did not hesitate any longer.
He activated the underground roots that extended from his body and emerged from the ground beneath the Ancestral Hall.
His roots, once a brownish-grey colour, were now pitch black.
This transformation allowed him to effectively bind the souls.
He quickly used his roots to pull the twenty or so broken souls out of the dilapidated ancestral hall.
Although he understood the basic principles of this technique from the ancient texts, Ji Yang remained uncertain about its precise effects.
He decided to experiment. He grabbed one of the souls with his root and activated the Soul Condensation Technique.
To his surprise, the soul disappeared from his hand and its life force diminished.
Perplexed, Ji Yang wondered if he had failed.
Ji Yang refused to give up.
After all, these souls had no memories, and sooner or later, they would fade away.
It wouldn't hurt to experiment with them.
He continued his attempts, but five consecutive failures left him frustrated.
None of the souls responded successfully. Ji Yang checked the description of the Soul Condensation Technique.
It clearly stated that it required a certain amount of consuming vital energy. Since he hadn't used any, it was undoubtedly a failure.
Could it be that these souls were too damaged?
Determined, Ji Yang decided not to accept defeat.
With over twenty souls here, he refused to believe that he couldn't succeed with at least one!
Quickly, one by one, the souls disappeared from Ji Yang's roots.
However, just as he was contemplating further experiments, he realized that there were no more souls in the ancestral hall. He had successfully absorbed them all.
Disappointment filled Ji Yang's heart.