A Soul Ring That Could Grow, Soul Power Soaring

As "reservoirs," the Juvenile Jade and Basalt Pillar could not only provide Gan Lin with Soul Rings, but also recharge them an unlimited number of times, until the energy within the Juvenile Jade and Basalt Pillar was exhausted.

In other words, the age of the Soul Rings the Juvenile Jade and Basalt Pillar provided Gan Lin could keep increasing.

If these things had been single-use, Gan Lin had originally planned to save them for later.

After all, most Soul Masters had little use for their First Soul Ring in the later stages.

Aside from probing opponents and bullying weaklings, the skills that dealt real damage were usually their later Soul Skills. The reason was simple: the first few Soul Rings were too low in age and strength.

But now that Gan Lin knew this, he could hardly wait to absorb and obtain his first Soul Ring.

Still, it wasn't time yet. He needed to tell Grandpa and Sister Yanzi beforehand, so they wouldn't worry.

As for where the Soul Ring came from...

He would have to bring out the ever-useful Lord Rex Lapis.

In any case, a phantom of Rex Lapis had appeared once during his martial soul awakening. Not only that, but from everyone else's perspective, his martial soul was even "god-bestowed."

With the Blackcliff Warbow added to the mix, his story would not only avoid suspicion, but be convincing.

Deep in Sunset Forest, before a cave dwelling wreathed in poisonous miasma, wisps of green flame rose from a bronze pill furnace. Dugu Bo stood beside it with his hands behind his back. He held a jade-phosphorus-colored pill between his fingertips and watched the changes in the medicinal power inside the furnace with a grave gaze. Dugu Yan crouched to one side, fanning the fire. The hem of her pale yellow dress brushed the grass clippings on the ground as she murmured about the heat.

Light footsteps sounded on the mountain path. Gan Lin hurried through the barrier of poisonous miasma, barely concealed excitement on his face. When he reached them, he first bowed properly. "Grandpa, Sister Yanzi."

Dugu Bo glanced up at him and saw that his eyes were bright; it didn't look as though anything had gone wrong.

Gan Lin got straight to the point. "Grandpa, I came today to tell you something—I'm ready to absorb my First Soul Ring."

As soon as he finished speaking, silence fell around the pill furnace for a moment.

The pill nearly fell from Dugu Bo's fingertips back into the furnace. He frowned, sounding somewhat puzzled. "Where did you get a Soul Ring?"

He had indeed planned to take Gan Lin hunting for a Soul Ring in the next couple of days, once the boy had gotten used to his martial soul. But Soul Rings came from Soul Beasts, so where had Gan Lin gotten one now?

Dugu Yan nodded too and urged him earnestly, "That's right, Gan Lin, don't rush. Once you've gotten used to your God-Bestowed Martial Soul, I'll go with Grandpa into the depths of Sunset Forest and help you find a Hundred-Year Soul Beast that suits you best. I guarantee it'll be better than picking one at random."

"I'm not going to hunt a Soul Beast." Gan Lin shook his head and raised his palm slightly. Two glimmers of spiritual light appeared out of thin air.

One was the Juvenile Jade; the other, sharply angular, was the Basalt Pillar. The two objects floated silently in midair, emanating ancient, pure fluctuations of energy.

"These were bestowed at the same time the god's phantom descended," Gan Lin explained. "There's energy sealed inside them. I can absorb it directly, without hunting a Soul Beast."

"Bestowed gifts..." Dugu Bo murmured. He had seen the phantom of Rex Lapis with his own eyes on the day of the martial soul awakening, and the divine presence on Gan Lin's Blackcliff Warbow was unmistakably real. He had still harbored some doubts about the claim of a "god-bestowed martial soul," but now that he had seen these two tokens, the last trace of doubt in his heart vanished.

He looked up at Gan Lin, his tone much gentler. "So you're planning to absorb it today?"

"Mm." Gan Lin nodded. "I was going to wait a little longer, but since this Soul Ring's energy is gentle, absorbing it sooner will let me solidify my foundation sooner. I was just afraid you and Sister Yanzi would worry, so I came especially to tell you."

"That was thoughtful of you." Dugu Bo stroked his beard and made a decision after a moment's consideration. "Come with me into the inner cave. I'll guard you personally."

Gan Lin was delighted and hurriedly thanked him. "Thank you, Grandpa!"

"Grandpa, I'm coming too!" Dugu Yan immediately raised her hand. "I'll keep watch outside for you."

Dugu Bo didn't object, effectively giving his tacit consent.

The three entered the inner cave. The stone chamber was spacious and dry. Gan Lin walked up to the stone platform in the center and looked at the Juvenile Jade and Basalt Pillar before him, but his steps came to a halt.

Which one should I choose?

He had considered the question on the way, but when the moment to choose actually came, he couldn't help hesitating.

The Basalt Pillar's presence was too conspicuous, mighty and overbearing, like a solitary peak that had stood for ten thousand years.

His gaze fell on the Juvenile Jade again.

The emerald-green jade was translucent and lustrous, and it contained a trace of a Geovishap's vital essence.

More importantly, Gan Lin could vaguely sense that the Juvenile Jade naturally possessed the property of "absorbing and integrating"-Primo Geovishaps grew by drawing in the power of various elements from the Ley Lines. This meant that when he used it to recharge a Soul Ring and increase its age later, it could not only increase its strength, but might even gradually incorporate the power of other attributes, allowing the Soul Skill to evolve in more varied ways. The Basalt Pillar, which leaned toward the pure rock attribute, couldn't compare with that potential for growth.

With that thought, Gan Lin hesitated no longer. He took a deep breath, sat cross-legged on the stone platform, and held the Juvenile Jade in his palms.

Dugu Bo stood beside him, holding a hand just above his head. Pale green Soul Power descended like a light veil, protecting Gan Lin completely. Outside the cave, Dugu Yan also kept a vigilant eye on their surroundings.

Gan Lin closed his eyes and sank his mind into the jade in his palms.

Drawn by his will, the Juvenile Jade suddenly shone with a gentle light. The lustrous phantom of a Soul Ring slowly separated from the jade and spread along his arms to his entire body.

Not long afterward, the moment the Soul Ring settled completely beneath his feet, Gan Lin clearly sensed its age-one thousand three hundred years.

Dugu Bo, who was guarding him, suddenly had his pupils contract.

A purple Soul Ring?!

This far exceeded the limit recognized by the Soul Master World for a First Soul Ring! Even a peerless genius with Innate Full Soul Power would never dare use a Thousand-Year Soul Ring as their first. One mistake and their body would explode, killing them.

He was just about to tell Gan Lin to hold steady when he saw that Gan Lin's expression was calm, without so much as a frown.

Dugu Bo's heart slowly settled back into place.

No wonder Gan Lin dared use a Thousand-Year Soul Ring as his first. This was no ordinary Soul Ring; it was clearly pure essence, without the slightest trace of a Soul Beast's violent nature.

Things bestowed by a god truly couldn't be judged by ordinary reasoning.

Time passed second by second, and light flowed through the stone chamber.

Gan Lin's presence climbed steadily: level eleven, level twelve, level thirteen... It surged all the way to level fifteen before slowly stabilizing.

Gan Lin slowly opened his eyes, a flash of gold passing through them.

He clenched his fists and felt that his entire body was brimming with strength. As his Soul Power circulated, it carried a faint sense of power and was more than twice as robust as before.