Breakthrough to Soul Elder

Over the past year, Ye Qiu had also organized 1v1 battles among the students. Of course, Ning Keke did not participate. As a Support System Soul Master, she could not possibly fight Assault System or Control System Soul Masters. The same went for Qian Yuling, a Summon System Soul Master.

Qian Yuling and Mo Ying had battled constantly, but Qian Yuling had never once defeated him. This left her miserable. After losing to Mo Ying during the class placement exam, she had already resolved never to lose again. However, victory and defeat did not follow Qian Yuling's wishes. Every time she faced Mo Ying full of hope, his Second Soul Skill would always deal her a crushing blow. Still, after losing enough times, Qian Yuling gradually got used to it.

Although Mo Ying was powerful, his Soul Power cultivation speed could not compare to Qian Yuling's. After a year, Mo Ying was only level 29, while Qian Yuling had surpassed him and reached level 30. As long as she obtained her third Soul Ring, she would become a Soul Elder.

This year had allowed Class One of New Students to grow tremendously. Everyone's Soul Power had risen by roughly three levels. Ning Keke had also reached level 21 and become a Soul Grandmaster. Within the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, her talent ranked second. Ning Fengzhi, the Sect Master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, and Sword Douluo had personally accompanied her to obtain her Soul Ring. That day, Ning Keke witnessed the power of a Titled Douluo.

Ye Qiu looked at the twenty students before him and said, "You are the best group of students I have taught so far. A year is actually very short, but as your homeroom teacher, I am extremely proud to see how much you have grown. Among you, perhaps some will become Titled Douluo-level powerhouses. When that day comes, I will proudly be able to say that you were once my students. All right, enough talk. I now announce that the New Student Competition will be held seven days from now. You have these seven days off; what you do is up to you. I have only one requirement: the champion and runner-up of this New Student Competition must both belong to our Class One!"

Applause erupted below the stage. Lu Xiaoguo stood up and said, "Teacher Ye, although you have only taught us for a year, we will repay the help you have given us with our performance in the New Student Competition. Believe in us!"

As soon as Lu Xiaoguo finished speaking, Mo Ying said, "That's right, Teacher Ye. The championship is mine!"

Qian Yuling stood up as well. "Teacher Ye, don't listen to his nonsense. The championship is mine."

Mo Ying glanced at Qian Yuling. "You? You should know that you've never beaten me."

Qian Yuling replied, "That was before. I'm level 30 now. In these seven days, I'll go obtain a Soul Ring. Then we'll see whether you can still beat me."

Mo Ying froze. That was right. No matter how strong he was, he was only a Soul Grandmaster, while Qian Yuling would be a Soul Elder—a whole major realm above him. Moreover, every time Qian Yuling advanced a major rank, she could potentially obtain a powerful Summoned Beast. As a Soul Grandmaster facing a Soul Elder, he truly had little chance of winning.

Seeing Mo Ying fall silent, Qian Yuling sat down in satisfaction.

Ye Qiu was amused by the scene. There was nothing to be done about it; after all, his students were still very young.

Ye Qiu said, "All right, next are the groups. Yu Ling, Ning Keke, and Shui Wuyue will form one group. Mo Ying, Lu Xiaoguo, and Hua Ruyi will form another... As for the remaining two students, Li Shi and Li Jie, they will serve as substitutes."

The reason he had not placed Class One's strongest pair, Mo Ying and Qian Yuling, in the same group was because he wanted to see them face each other during the New Student Competition.

After assigning the groups, Ye Qiu said, "Because the New Student Competition is a team battle, you must coordinate with your teammates. During these seven days off, you can spend more time building teamwork with your own teammates. That's all. I now declare the start of your break!"

When Qian Yuling returned to her dormitory and found that Dugu Yan was not there, she left her a note saying that she was going to obtain a Soul Ring and telling her not to worry. After that, she rode Fleet back to the Worship Hall to find Qian Daoliu.

"Grandpa, I'm back!" Qian Yuling called out the moment she entered the Worship Hall.

The figure in the center of the Worship Hall turned around. When he saw Qian Yuling, he was somewhat surprised. Then, sensing the aura of her Soul Power, he was utterly astonished.

"Xiao Ling, you... reached level 30?" Qian Daoliu asked, his voice trembling slightly. In just one short year, Qian Yuling had soared from level 21 to level 30. Even Qian Renxue had not possessed such terrifying talent before.

Qian Yuling nodded obediently. "Yes, I've reached level 30. I came back this time because I want Grandpa to help me obtain my third Soul Ring. I could have obtained it on my own, but the last two times I absorbed Soul Rings, I felt it was very easy. My physique is also somewhat special, so I think I can absorb a higher-level Soul Ring this time."

Qian Daoliu pondered for a moment. "Are you sure?"

Qian Yuling nodded.

"Then let's set out now."

"Mm."

Qian Daoliu and Qian Yuling once again arrived at the Star Dou Great Forest. According to Qian Yuling's plan, a seven-thousand-year Soul Beast would be enough for her third Soul Ring.

Originally, Qian Yuling had wanted to directly absorb a ten-thousand-year Soul Ring, but she decided it was safer to first test herself with a seven-thousand-year one.

After searching the Star Dou Great Forest for a while, Qian Daoliu and Qian Yuling found their target: a Thunder Dragon that was around seven thousand years old.

After locating the target and confirming the Thunder Dragon's age, Qian Daoliu did not waste a word. He directly beat the Thunder Dragon until it had only one breath left. Qian Yuling then stepped forward and finished it off. A deep purple Soul Ring floated out from the Thunder Dragon's body. Poor Thunder Dragon—it had come out to forage, only to lose its life.

Qian Yuling summoned her martial soul, the World Tree Root, and circulated her Soul Power to draw the Soul Ring onto it. In an instant, she entered her Sea of Consciousness once again. The Thunder Dragon's resentment let out a roar and charged toward Qian Yuling. The familiar scene played out once more: the phantom of the great tree behind Qian Yuling lashed out with a branch, scattering the Thunder Dragon's resentment.

In reality, Qian Yuling opened her eyes, and surging Soul Power radiated from her. Qian Daoliu nodded to himself. Sure enough, Xiao Ling's physique allows her to absorb high-level Soul Rings. This child's talent truly is...

Qian Yuling summoned her martial soul. Three Soul Rings—yellow, yellow, and purple—rose beneath her feet and bobbed up and down. Her Soul Power had reached level 31. She had officially become a Soul Elder.

Qian Daoliu smiled and said, "Xiao Ling, tell me. What is your Third Soul Skill?"

Qian Yuling nodded. "My Third Soul Skill is Upper Spirit Summon. It requires lower spirits of the same attribute to be sacrificed before they can be summoned. They are Spirit Summon - Flame Herrek, Spirit Summon - Ice Shadow Aquilis, Spirit Summon - Aurora Grellin, and Spirit Summon - Undead Merkel. Furthermore, the elemental attributes of the upper spirits are Ultimate Attributes." At that point, a gleam flashed through Qian Yuling's eyes. With Ultimate Attributes, she believed she could completely defeat Mo Ying.

Qian Daoliu was shocked as well. "Ultimate Attributes!"

It was no wonder Qian Daoliu reacted this way. Ultimate Attributes represented the pinnacle of elemental attributes and could suppress any other element. Mo Ying had relied on the Ultimate Attribute of his martial soul to defeat Qian Yuling back then.

Qian Yuling continued, "Grandpa, I'm not finished yet. I gained something else this time. My second Soul Ring previously gave me a Passive Soul Skill, Summoned Beast Enhancement. Although I didn't gain a new Passive Soul Skill this time, Summoned Beast Enhancement has changed from raising the Summoned Beast's level by five to raising it by six. It seems that it will continue increasing along with the number of Soul Rings I have in the future."

"What?!" Qian Daoliu was even more shocked this time. According to Qian Yuling, she was now a level 31 Soul Elder with three Soul Rings, and Summoned Beast Enhancement could raise a Summoned Beast by six levels. In other words, any of Qian Yuling's Summoned Beasts would be level 37. Once she became a Soul Ancestor with four Soul Rings, it could increase again. And if she reached Titled Douluo, or even Limit Douluo...

Qian Daoliu calmed his excited emotions and said, "Xiao Ling, you have given me far too many surprises. Come, let me see your Third Soul Skill."

"Okay," Qian Yuling agreed.