Tuoba Xi frowned deeply and said worriedly, "Yan'er, your demands are too high. It's far too dangerous."
Tuoba Yan looked out the window and replied calmly, "Don't worry, Grandfather. I have the Horse Talisman with me. Before absorbing the soul ring, I'll hand it over to you for safekeeping."
Tuoba Xi still looked troubled. "The Horse Talisman's abilities are limited. When a soul master absorbs a soul ring, no one else can assist with support soul skills. It can only preserve your life if your absorption fails."
"That is enough. As long as I don't die, there will be another chance. There is no harm in trying."
"Very well."
Seeing that his grandson had made up his mind, Tuoba Xi stopped dwelling on the soul ring's age and instead asked, "What kind of soul beast do you wish to hunt this time?"
At the mention of his target, Tuoba Yan's gaze shifted slightly as he looked out the carriage window. He glanced sideways at Tuoba Xi and sighed. "I would like to hunt that snake, monkey, or dog, but Grandfather has yet to become a Title Douluo. Alone, you would probably be no match for any one of them!"
Unconvinced, Tuoba Xi laughed heartily. "As a Platinum Bishop, is there any snake, insect, monkey, or dog that your grandfather cannot kill?"
Tuoba Yan said nothing.
Tuoba Xi blinked. The words "King of the Forest" suddenly flashed through his mind, and he sharply sucked in a breath. Fear made the corners of his mouth twitch.
He already understood which monkey his grandson meant. It truly was an existence beyond his ability to contend with.
Across the soul master world, it was said that only Haotian Douluo Tang Hao had ever defeated it.
"If the monkey is that one, then what are the snake and dog?"
Tuoba Xi rested his chin on his hand and pondered in silence, yet he could not figure out what Tuoba Yan meant. He pressed on, "Yan'er, why are you so determined to pursue high-level soul beasts?"
"There is only one chance to obtain a soul ring. Once it is set, it can never be replaced for the rest of one's life—not even after becoming a god!" Tuoba Yan paused before continuing, "When we hunted the Celestial Horse last time, it unexpectedly increased my agility. I have a vague feeling that the higher a soul beast's rank, the more additional attributes it may grant me."
The Celestial Horse possessed the bloodline of an ancient divine flying horse and was exceptionally rare among Horse-type Soul Beasts.
Tuoba Xi pondered for a moment. "You still haven't told Grandfather exactly what kind of soul beast you wish to hunt this time."
Since childhood, Tuoba Yan had read extensively and possessed considerable knowledge of soul beasts and soul skills. Thus, Tuoba Xi allowed him to choose his own path of evolution.
Faced with the question, Tuoba Yan replied, "Perhaps a goat, perhaps a chicken. Rodent-type soul beasts are not out of the question either. Cattle and pig types are not under consideration for now."
As early as his days at the academy, Tuoba Yan had already planned out the evolution path of the Saint Martial Spirit.
Tiger-, rabbit-, dragon-, snake-, dog-, and monkey-type soul beasts were not among his current considerations.
As a level-twenty, one-ring soul master, it was more suitable for him to obtain a support soul skill that provided enhancements.
The older the soul ring, the more powerful the soul skill. Moreover, the later a soul master acquired offensive soul skills, the more beneficial it would be.
The Ox Talisman would certainly increase his strength, granting him immense power.
The Pig Talisman was laser eyes.
In Tuoba Yan's evolution plan, he had decided to delay obtaining the offensive Pig Talisman and Ox Talisman.
The Rat Talisman could grant life to inanimate objects and turn stillness into motion. It leaned toward puppetry. With it, one could rival an army of thousands.
The Goat Talisman allowed the soul to leave the body. It could quietly enter another person's dreams. He simply did not know whether, on the Douluo Continent, the Goat Talisman would also allow one to attack others within their dreams.
As for the Chicken Charm, it granted its holder the power to levitate. Just as its name implied, it was utterly useless, with nothing remarkable about it.
Between the Saint Martial Spirit and the Golden Eyes Martial Spirit, Tuoba Yan was currently focusing on cultivating the Saint Martial Spirit.
Countless soul masters had burst apart and died from absorbing soul rings beyond their level. Tuoba Xi had only this one grandson—how could he allow him to take such a risk?
After weighing the matter repeatedly, Tuoba Xi still urged him earnestly, "Yan'er, when hunting soul beasts, do not blindly pursue their age. A soul beast compatible with your Martial Spirit is the best choice. If you encounter one of suitable age that is compatible, do not be too picky."
"Alright."
Tuoba Yan accepted Tuoba Xi's advice with a succinct reply.
An exquisite soul skill could sometimes make up for a soul ring's insufficient age.
Just like the Strength Clan, which deliberately hunted the same type of strength-based soul beast. It was said that seven of their nine soul rings came from the same kind of Giant Strength Ape, allowing them to activate a unique combat form.
Seeing that Tuoba Yan answered only when spoken to and seemed preoccupied, Tuoba Xi asked with concern, "Is something troubling you, Yan'er?"
Tuoba Yan nodded lightly.
"What is it?"
"I'm thinking about Hu Liena."
"Hu Liena?"
"And Bibi Dong."
"Her Holiness the Pontiff?"
"And Qian Ren Xue."
"Your cousin?"
Tuoba Yan stopped there and said no more.
His relationship with Hu Liena was now subtle—neither enemies nor friends.
Whenever he recalled her departing figure from more than ten days ago, Tuoba Yan always felt that she would not let the matter rest.
Hu Liena had yet to become the Saintess, so her actions were not enough to fear. Only Bibi Dong was a true threat.
As the Pontiff of Spirit Hall, Bibi Dong bore the divine trial of the Rakshasa God. Although the Asura God's interference had suppressed her Soul Power at level ninety-six, she could still unleash combat strength capable of overturning the Douluo Continent. On top of that, she held great power.
What was laughable was that the Judgement Elder—the Grand Elder Qian Daoliu—the Second Worship Golden Crocodile Douluo, the Third Worship Azure Luan Douluo, and the many other elders of the Elder Hall were still completely in the dark and trusted her without reservation.
It would be difficult to stop Bibi Dong from destroying Spirit Hall's fate.
As for Qian Ren Xue, she too would play a pivotal role in Spirit Hall's future downfall.
Tuoba Yan had been reborn into this Spirit Hall beset by internal and external troubles. It was practically a hell-level start. Unwilling to sit and wait for death, he constantly contemplated how to turn the tide and rewrite the tragedy.
When Tuoba Xi heard his grandson mention Hu Liena, he mistakenly thought that Tuoba Yan had changed his mind. Delighted, he said, "Yan'er has finally decided to pursue Hu Liena. Grandfather will definitely support you!"
Tuoba Yan glanced sideways at his grandfather, his gaze meaningful.
Tuoba Xi failed to understand the look in Tuoba Yan's eyes and continued, "If you wish to take the Pontiff as your master, Grandfather will support you with all his strength as well. Recently, she has been making indirect inquiries about our family's Ten-Thousand Year Whale Glue. I am seventy percent certain that I can use this opportunity to have her accept you as her disciple."
After saying that, Tuoba Yan shifted his sitting position and turned to face Tuoba Xi directly.
Tuoba Xi continued, "As for your cousin Qian Ren Xue, she is your cousin. Though your blood relation is rather distant and you are not within three generations of each other, I cannot guarantee that the Grand Elder would be willing to marry your cousin off to you!"
Before he had even finished speaking, Tuoba Yan was already sitting upright, staring intently at Tuoba Xi.
Tuoba Xi was left somewhat bewildered by the stare. Like a child who had made a mistake, he asked softly, "Did Grandfather say something wrong again?"
Before you continue