Twelve Talismans, The Path to Evolution

Tuoba Xi frowned, his expression filled with worry. "Yan'er, your demands are too high, far too dangerous."

Tuoba Yan looked out the window, his tone calm and unhurried. "Grandfather, rest assured, I have the Horse Talisman with me. I'll hand it over to you for safekeeping before I absorb the Soul Ring."

Tuoba Xi still wore a worried frown. "The Horse Talisman's abilities are limited. When a Soul Master absorbs a Soul Ring, others cannot assist with auxiliary Soul Skills. It can only save your life if the absorption fails."

"That's enough. As long as I don't die, there's a chance. It's worth a try, and it can't hurt."

"Very well."

Seeing that his grandson had made up his mind about the Soul Ring's age, Tuoba Xi stopped dwelling on the matter and asked, "What kind of Soul Beast are you hoping to hunt?"

Speaking of the target Soul Beast, Tuoba Yan's gaze, as he looked out the car window, shifted slightly, glancing sideways at Tuoba Xi with a sigh. "I was thinking of hunting a snake, a monkey, and a dog, but unfortunately, Grandfather hasn't yet achieved Title Douluo, and relying on one person alone would likely be difficult to withstand any one of them!"

Tuoba Xi scoffed at the remark, laughing heartily. "As a Platinum Bishop, how could I fail to kill snakes, insects, monkeys, or dogs!"

Tuoba Yan remained silent.

Tuoba Xi blinked, and suddenly, the words "King of the Forest" flashed through his mind, and he involuntarily gasped, his lips twitching slightly in fear.

He already understood who his grandson was referring to with the monkey—it was an existence he couldn't hope to contend with.

Throughout the Soul Master world, it was rumored that only Haotian Douluo Tang Hao had ever defeated it.

"If the monkey is him, then what are the snake and the dog?"

Tuoba Xi stroked his chin, pondering in his mind, but he couldn't decipher what Tuoba Yan was referring to. He asked, "Yan'er, why are you so insistent on pursuing high-level Soul Beasts?"

"The opportunity to acquire a Soul Ring only comes once, and once it's set, it can never be replaced, not even by a god!" Tuoba Yan paused, then added, "Last time, when I hunted a Celestial Horse, it unexpectedly increased my Agility. I have a feeling that the higher the Soul Beast's rank, the more likely it is to grant me additional attributes."

Celestial Horses are known to possess ancient, celestial horse bloodlines, making them exceptionally rare among Horse-type Soul Beasts.

Tuoba Xi pondered, "You haven't told Grandfather yet, what kind of Soul Beast are you truly hoping to hunt?"

Tuoba Yan had extensively studied Soul Beasts and Soul Skills since childhood, and Tuoba Xi had allowed him to freely choose his evolution path.

In response to the question, Tuoba Yan replied, "Perhaps a sheep, or a chicken, or even a rodent Soul Beast. I won't consider cows or pigs."

Long ago, when he was at the Academy, Tuoba Yan had already planned the evolution path for his Saint Martial Spirit.

Tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, dog, and monkey Soul Beasts were not under consideration.

As a level 20, one-ring Soul Master, he was now better suited to acquiring auxiliary Soul Skills that provide enhancements.

The higher the Soul Ring's age, the stronger the Soul Skill's power, and offensive Soul Skills are more beneficial to a Soul Master later in their career.

The Horse Talisman would definitely increase his strength, making him incredibly powerful.

The Pig Talisman is a piercing gaze.

In Tuoba Yan's evolution plan, he decided to delay acquiring the Pig Talisman and the Bull Talisman, which possessed offensive capabilities.

The Rat Talisman could bestow life force upon inanimate objects, transforming the static into the dynamic, leaning towards puppets. Obtaining it would be like having a thousand armies at his command.

The Sheep Talisman allows for the soul to leave the body. It can quietly enter the dreams of others. It remains to be seen whether, in the Douluo Continent, the Sheep Talisman can bestow the effect of attacking others in their dreams.

As for the Chicken Talisman, it would grant the holder the power of levitation. The name says it all—a chicken, a chicken. No highlights.

Among the Saint Martial Spirit and the Golden Eyes Martial Spirit, Tuoba Yan was currently focusing on cultivating the Saint Martial Spirit.

There were countless Soul Masters who had exploded and perished due to recklessly absorbing Soul Rings that were beyond their level. Tuoba Xi only had this one grandson, and he wouldn't allow him to take such risks.

After careful consideration, Tuoba Yan earnestly advised, "Yan'er, don't blindly pursue the age of a Soul Ring; a Soul Beast that resonates with your Martial Soul is the best choice. If you encounter a Soul Beast with a suitable age and resonance, don't be picky."

"Alright."

Tuoba Yan concisely accepted Tuoba Xi's advice.

A brilliant Soul Skill can sometimes compensate for the lack of a Soul Ring's age.

Just as with the Force Clan, deliberately hunting the same type of power-based Soul Beast reportedly had seven of its nine rings originating from the same giant, powerful gorilla, allowing them to trigger a unique combat form.

Seeing Tuoba Yan responding briefly and concisely, as if something was on his mind, Tuoba Xi asked with concern, "Yan'er, are you troubled by something?"

Tuoba Yan nodded slightly.

"What is it?"

"I'm thinking about Hu Li Na."

"Hu Li Na?"

"And Bibi Dong."

"The Pontiff?"

"And Qian Ren Xue."

"Your cousin?"

Tuoba Yan stopped there, saying no more.

His relationship with Hu Li Na was currently delicate, neither friend nor foe.

Every time he thought of her disappearing figure from a few days ago, Tuoba Yan felt that she wouldn't let things rest.

Hu Li Na hadn't yet become a Saintess, so her actions were not yet frightening, but Bibi Dong was the real threat.

As the Pontiff of the Martial Soul Hall, Bibi Dong bore the divine trial of the Rakshasa God. Although her Soul Power was suppressed to level 96 due to the interference of the Asura God, she could unleash combat power that could overturn a Douluo and Douluo, and she held immense power.

It's laughable that the Judgement Elders—the Grand Elder Qian Dao Liu, the Second Worship Golden Crocodile Douluo, the Third Worship Azure鸾 Douluo, and the many other elders of the Elder Hall—remain completely unaware, firmly believing in her.

Stopping Bibi Dong from destroying the Martial Soul Hall's fate is difficult.

As for Qian Ren Xue, the role she plays in the future downfall of the Martial Soul Hall is equally crucial.

Tuoba Yan's rebirth into this Martial Soul Hall beset by internal and external troubles can only be described as a hellish start. He refuses to passively wait for fate, constantly pondering how to reverse the tide and rewrite the tragedy.

Seeing his grandson mention Hu Li Na, Tuoba Xi mistakenly believed he had changed his mind, and happily said, "Yan'er has finally realized he wants to pursue Hu Li Na. I'll definitely support you!"

Hearing this, Tuoba Yan gave his grandfather a sidelong glance, his eyes full of meaning.

Tuoba Xi didn't understand the look in Tuoba Yan's eyes and continued, "If you want to learn from the Pontiff, I'll fully support you. She's been subtly hinting, trying to get our family's Ten-Thousand Year Whale Glue. I'm seventy percent certain I can use this as an opportunity for her to take you as a disciple."

After speaking, Tuoba Yan shifted his posture, facing Tuoba Xi directly.

Tuoba Xi continued, "As for your cousin, Qian Ren Xue. She is your cousin, after all. Although the blood relationship is distant, not within three generations, I can't guarantee that the Grand Elder will be willing to betroth your cousin to you!"

Before the words were even out, Tuoba Yan had already sat up straight, his gaze fixed intently on Tuoba Xi.

Tuoba Xi was a little stunned by the intense stare, and asked in a small voice, like a child who had made a mistake, "Did I say something wrong again, Grandpa?"