90: Chapter 90 Heavenly Rank Soul Skill: Starfall - Meteor Shower
"Nothing of the sort, I was just looking around aimlessly."
Lin Mo calmly closed the book.
He hid the pages with annotations inside.
He didn't know Instructor Luo Xueqing well enough yet and didn't want to easily reveal the Soul Skill concepts he had been pondering.
"Not true, you are definitely pondering something." Instructor Luo Xueqing didn't buy it, raising an eyebrow, "I just heard you muttering, something about gravitational acceleration, something about Soul Skill amplification..."
She walked over to the chair opposite Lin Mo and sat down, placing the book she was holding on the table, her eyes bright:
"And those physics formulas you were calculating just now, they sounded quite reasonable to me. Ancient martial arts techniques emphasize using borrowed force to strike, and the same applies to Soul Skills. If one can borrow the momentum of heaven and earth, it can also produce unexpected power."
Lin Mo didn't expect her to have caught the gist of it.
To be able to associate ancient martial arts with Soul Skills, it seems this high-level instructor really wasn't just for show.
For a moment, he was speechless, and could only vaguely reply: "Just thinking randomly, it hasn't taken shape yet."
"Oh? That's perfect, I've also been researching the fusion of ancient martial arts and Soul Skills recently."
Instructor Luo Xueqing seemed to have found someone she could communicate with, her smile deepening.
"The 'high-altitude descent' you mentioned earlier, were you thinking of borrowing from the 'Meteor Descent' technique? I happen to have a rare book here that records the force-application details of this move; perhaps it can give you some inspiration."
As she spoke, she pulled a thread-bound ancient book from her arms and pushed it in front of Lin Mo.
The four characters "Meteor Descent Supplement" on the cover were already a bit blurry, clearly a treasure from a long time ago.
Lin Mo looked at that book, his heart wavering slightly.
When he was pondering earlier, he was indeed stuck on how to apply force perfectly.
Seeing his eyes flicker, Instructor Luo Xueqing took the opportunity to sit next to Lin Mo: "Don't be so nervous, let's just exchange ideas, who knows, maybe we'll spark some inspiration?"
Instructor Luo Xueqing had also been keen on researching the combination of Soul Skills and martial techniques recently.
Having finally found someone with a common topic, she was also feeling a bit excited inside.
"Then... thank you, Instructor Luo."
Lin Mo opened the ancient book; the yellowed pages were filled with archaic handwriting.
There were also several force-application diagrams marked with cinnabar, which were exactly the key points where he was stuck.
His fingertips brushed over the eight characters: "Borrow momentum, do not create momentum; follow heaven, do not rely on force."
His mind suddenly cleared.
It turned out that he had been thinking about using Soul Power to forcibly urge the Pill Furnace to descend.
That was actually inferior; the true "Meteor Descent" required using the gravity of heaven and earth as a guide, with Soul Power acting only as a guide rather than the master.
"Here..." Instructor Luo Xueqing leaned over.
And began to point out her views on the relationship between martial arts and Soul Skills.
The two began to chat naturally, verifying each other's arguments.
Time passed unknowingly.
When the conversation ended, the two were like a couple, separated by no more than a fist's distance.
The faint scent of pine wood on Instructor Luo Xueqing drifted into Lin Mo's nostrils.
"Ahem, Instructor Luo, why are you so familiar with ancient martial arts?"
"My grandfather is an old stick-in-the-mud; he forced me to practice boxing since I was a child." Instructor Luo Xueqing smiled.
Then she ran her fingertips across her temple.
"But fortunately, I practiced some martial arts since I was young. Back when I was executing a mission in the Soul-Breaking Secret Realm, it was that half-baked ancient martial arts that kept me alive."
Lin Mo leaned in to take a look and only then discovered a faint scar on her temple; if one didn't look carefully, it was basically invisible.
"Soul-Breaking Secret Realm..." Lin Mo wanted to lead the conversation, "Are the exotic beasts there very fierce?"
"Not fierce, but evil." Instructor Luo Xueqing's eyes darkened, "The plants there eat people, the stones can absorb Soul Power, and the most terrifying thing is the 'Shadow Fiend', formless and substanceless, specifically gnawing on the origin of the Martial Soul."
She suddenly patted Lin Mo on the shoulder, "If you are interested, kid, when you break through to the fourth rank, I'll take you to explore it."
Lin Mo's heart stirred.
He was also very interested in strange and peculiar things.
Just then, Instructor Luo Xueqing looked at the watch on her wrist.
"Eh, time passed so quickly. I have to go to the Martial Arts Association to submit a report. You take this book and read it first; remember to return it to me when you're done."
"Okay, thanks, Instructor Luo!"
Instructor Luo Xueqing had only walked a few steps when she turned back and winked: "Oh right, when I'm free, I'll find you to chat again."
After saying that, she flicked her red windbreaker and disappeared at the library entrance.
"Hmm... This Instructor Luo Xueqing is really a bit scatterbrained..."
Lin Mo shook his head.
Seeing that the sky had already begun to darken.
He stretched as well.
He sent all the data he had summarized earlier to the System AI, asking it to test and verify them.
...
When he returned to the dormitory, the System AI's data analysis had just been completed.
It not only verified his previous concept but also derived several similar Soul Skill schemes.
And every one of them was above Heaven-Tier.
One of them surprisingly carried the shadow of that "long-lost palm technique."
"Sure enough... after working so hard for so long, it wasn't in vain!" Lin Mo clenched his fists, pacing the room in excitement.
And the one among these Soul Skills that satisfied him the most.
Was the Soul Skill named "Starfall - Meteor Descent."
Starfall - Meteor Descent: [Heaven-Tier Intermediate, Metal and Fire dual attributes. Consumes a massive amount of Soul Power, condenses a giant Pill Furnace in the high altitude, and after locking onto the target area, it descends, triggering an earth-shattering explosion...]
"It's a pity that the empty Soul Skill slot I have now only has an upper limit of Earth-Tier Intermediate." Lin Mo tutted, feeling a bit regretful.
"It seems that no matter what, I must get a Heaven-Tier Intermediate or higher Soul Skill slot by level 30."
His eyes narrowed; he was currently level 23, still seven levels away from level 30.
During this period, he had to at least raise his physique by another level, otherwise he wouldn't be able to bear the upper limit of a Heaven-Tier Soul Skill at all.
Because of this, he would have to madly consume Body Refining Pills and soul condensing pills.
"It costs money..."
Lin Mo rubbed his temples and couldn't help but sigh.
His current net worth really wasn't enough for him to "spend" like this.
"I can only ask Uncle Lu to help sell off all those electronic components."
He took out his phone, intending to send a message to Uncle Lu.
Then he suddenly remembered another matter.
"Right, I wonder how the progress on that primary potion formula is going?"
Thinking of this, he immediately dialed Professor Yi Nan's number.
The result did not disappoint him.
The patent for the potion formula had already been registered.
It was already posted on the patent website.
It just needed some time to ferment.
He had to wait for the pharmaceutical companies that bought the patent to produce the finished products.
Only then could the market be opened step by step, and naturally, the money wouldn't arrive that quickly.
"Alright, sorry to trouble you, Professor Yi, let me know if there's any news."
Lin Mo hung up the phone and leaned back in his chair to ponder.
Soul Power needs to be accumulated, levels need to be rushed, physique needs to be trained, and money needs to be made...
With a pile of things pressing down on him, it actually gave him even more motivation.
"Let's set a small goal first: rush to level 25 within three days, and by the way, refine the Spirit Focusing Pill; that will also be able to improve my spiritual mental power."
His eyes shone brightly.
"As for money... how about I also learn from Teacher An and go to the arena to make a profit?"