Mutated Thunderfire Saber-Toothed Tiger: Lin Yan Forcibly Absorbed a Thousand-Year First Ring

"Poison?"

Tang San's interest immediately perked up when he heard the word.

The Tang Sect excels most at using poison. If cultivation of the Trash Martial Soul Blue Silver Grass can be linked to poison, then combined with hidden weapons, my combat power will reach a terrifying level, and I will have no equal in the same realm.

It seems Teacher's ideas do have something in common with mine.

He does have some ability after all!

Yu Xiaogang's theories had indeed fooled Tang San.

The reason was simple: Tang San's own experience was limited, and he had a particular fondness for the art of poison. That was why the two had arrived at the same idea independently.

But little did he know...

Tang San carried the Blue Silver Emperor Bloodline within him!

The more poison attributes his Soul Rings contained, the thinner his Blue Silver Emperor Bloodline became. That was why, in the end, he could only complete his Martial Soul's transformation with the voluntary sacrifice of countless Blue Silver Grass plants.

Conversely, if Tang San had absorbed Soul Rings with the life attribute from the start, his Blue Silver Emperor Bloodline presumably would have awakened on its own before long.

Twin Martial Souls! A hammer and a blade of grass!

It was clearly a perfect combination of strong offense and endurance, yet Yu Xiaogang had trained him into a good-for-nothing who could only throw harpoons.

As the saying went: if not for Gangzi, Tang San might actually have enjoyed a good life.

At the very least, if Tang Hao had stepped in, he would certainly have hunted Soul Beasts for Tang San according to Ah Yin's cultivation path, saving him decades of detours.

Even if Dean Notting had stepped in instead, he wouldn't have let Blue Silver Grass absorb a Mandala Snake Soul Ring!

Elsewhere.

Deep in the Soul Hunting Forest.

Rocks flew and trees collapsed.

A heavy stench of blood mingled with the air, making the devastated scene even more harrowing.

In the clearing, a claw wound on Dean Notting's arm was deep enough to expose bone, a shocking sight.

Before him, a pitch-black tiger with long fangs lay at death's door.

"Damn it!"

"This beast is actually a mutated Soul Beast. No wonder it was so difficult to deal with."

Dean Notting now had the strength of a Soul Ancestor.

In theory, even if he couldn't handle an ordinary thousand-year Soul Beast with ease, he shouldn't have ended up in such a sorry state.

He had suffered in this fight because of the gap in information!

Mutated Soul Beasts were not only stronger, but their abilities were also unpredictable and varied.

Take the saber-toothed tiger before him, for example.

If Lin Yan hadn't interfered with it, Dean Notting might very well have come to grief here today.

"Lin Yan, this is a thousand-year Soul Beast! Are you sure you want it to be your First Soul Ring?"

"Do you know the price of being unable to withstand a Soul Ring's age? Your body will burst apart and kill you!"

Dean Notting tried to dissuade Lin Yan, who was eager to try at his side.

"Even with me here to guard you and interrupt the absorption process in time, you'll still end up with damaged meridians at the very least. Your talent will certainly be affected."

"Listen to me, child. If there really aren't any Soul Rings you like in the Soul Hunting Forest, I'll take you to the Star Dou Great Forest another day, all right?"

"If all else fails, I'll hire a Soul Hunting team for you!"

No one knew the strength of the Soul Beast before them better than Dean Notting.

Though its cultivation was only a little over a thousand years, its combat strength surpassed that of ordinary Soul Beasts four or five thousand years old.

It was indeed an ideal choice for a Soul Master's Soul Ring, but the one Lin Yan wanted to absorb was his First Soul Ring!

Who absorbed a Thousand-Year Soul Ring at level ten?

"Dean!"

"I know you're thinking of my safety, but I want to challenge my limits."

Lin Yan's gaze burned!

He and Dean Notting had searched deep in the Soul Hunting Forest for several days before finally finding a Soul Beast suited to him.

It was an eleven-hundred-year-old mutated saber-toothed tiger. Besides its formidable attack power, it had also mutated to gain both thunder and fire attributes.

This was practically a First Soul Ring tailored for him. How could Lin Yan give it up so easily?

"The path of cultivation is nothing more than a struggle against heaven, earth, and man."

"Ever since I was little, I've trained my body every day without fail, strengthening my physique. Wasn't it all for this very moment?"

Lin Yan spoke with fervor, fixing his gaze on Dean Notting as he enunciated every word.

"As a genius, I should do what others cannot!"

"This thousand-year First Ring is both proof of my status as a genius and a testament to my resolve to grow stronger."

"Dean, my mind is made up. Whatever the outcome, I won't regret it."

Dean Notting was moved!

He had to admit that Lin Yan's words were highly convincing, and they perfectly displayed the pride a genius ought to possess.

But... but...

"Ah..."

"All right!"

The dean hesitated for a long while, but in the end, he couldn't bring himself to refuse.

"At this point, I know nothing I say will change your mind."

"It really is an excellent match for your Martial Soul, but its age..."

"Forget it!"

"I'll guard you throughout the Soul Ring absorption. At the first sign of trouble, I'll intervene and interrupt it immediately."

"Lin Yan, remember not to push yourself too hard. Your life comes before everything else."

"Thank you, Dean!" Lin Yan's eyes shone as he bowed deeply to him. "I, Lin Yan, will always remember your kindness in hunting this Soul Beast for me."

Dean Notting helped Lin Yan up and patted his shoulder helplessly. "I only hope you'll come through safely."

Lin Yan could tell that the balding, middle-aged man before him was genuinely worried about his safety.

Whatever his purpose, that concern alone was worth remembering.

Taking a deep breath, Lin Yan said no more.

There was no use saying more. Once he achieved success and fame, he would surely return in glory to repay the kindness shown him today.

Swish!

Lin Yan grasped the air, Tribulation Fire in his left hand and Shocking Thunder in his right. He held two longswords, one black and one white.

A wave of scorching heat and arcs of electricity immediately filled the air.

He thrust fiercely into the eye socket of the saber-toothed tiger beneath him, and the beast that had fought Dean Notting for half an hour finally breathed its last.

Gradually, a purple ring appeared in the air.

Seeing this, Lin Yan immediately sat cross-legged. With a thought, he drew the Soul Ring toward the top of his head.

"Come!"

"My First Soul Ring!"

The Soul Ring's energy formed a connection with his meridians.

In an instant, the violent power of thunder and fire surged like a towering wave, forcing its way into Lin Yan's internal organs.

Lin Yan's brows knitted tightly, and large beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.

A Thousand-Year Soul Ring was extraordinary indeed. Fortunately, he had made ample preparations beforehand; otherwise, that instant alone would have caused the violent energy to swell his body until it burst, killing him.

"Whew..."

He let out a long, trembling breath and desperately mobilized the Soul Power within him. At last, he gradually adapted to the energy.

Seeing this, Dean Notting was astonished, but the worry on his face hadn't diminished in the slightest.

"This child..."

"His talent is strong enough, and his temperament is acceptable, but he's far too reckless and far too eager to prove himself."

"Oh well, oh well!"

"Perhaps geniuses are mostly like this."

"After this failure, I hope he'll remember the lesson."