Su Cheng's Method

"Can side quests be triggered too?" Su Cheng was delighted.

Cross-level Absorption of First Soul Ring had been part of his plan from the start. He was ninety percent confident in it, and it was a crucial step in his future plan to destroy Spirit Hall.

From choosing "Medical Genius" as his talent at the very beginning, to spending a great deal of time studying medicine from the age of three, he had finally reached the moment of harvest.

"You've really made up your mind?" Chen Xin looked utterly shocked upon hearing Su Cheng's request.

He truly had not expected this child to want to hunt a soul beast over 650 years old for his first soul ring.

One had to know that, in theory, the absorption limit for a first soul ring was only 423 years. That was no arbitrary claim, but the result of countless years of experiments by numerous top-tier powers.

Perhaps a few people could surpass that limit, but he did not believe his adopted son, whose Innate Soul Power was merely level 0.5, was among them.

"Father, there is a limit to the soul rings Soul Scholars can absorb because their bodies cannot endure the ring when absorbing it. Take a level-ten Soul Scholar as an example. Their physical limit is right there, and they cannot withstand a soul ring with a higher age limit. But without absorbing a soul ring, they cannot break through their body's bottleneck either."

Su Cheng patiently explained to Chen Xin.

"My research into the Medical Dao and the human body over these years has not been pointless. There are many Acupoints along the body's Meridians.

"Some special Acupoints, when stimulated, can greatly increase the Meridians' efficiency in absorbing energy for a short period while also unleashing the Physical Body's potential. Combined with relatively mild medicinal liquids, they can temporarily raise the body's upper limit.

"After the soul ring is absorbed, the Energy Feedback will be enough to make up for the excessive depletion during that short period."

Chen Xin still found it somewhat unbelievable.

Su Cheng had quietly cultivated without a word all these years, yet he had somehow reached this point.

Su Cheng looked at him earnestly. "Father, you must help me this time. Whether I can join Spirit Hall depends on this."

"What did you say? Join Spirit Hall?" Chen Xin's brows furrowed even more tightly. He could roughly guess what Su Cheng intended to do.

"Of course. I have worked toward this goal since the day I was born. I know my talent is lacking, so naturally I need to find another path. Father, the world has suffered under Spirit Hall for far too long. You'll support me, won't you?"

Chen Xin let out a sigh.

Since Su Cheng had begun cultivating at the age of three, nearly six years had passed. Chen Xin had witnessed all of Su Cheng's efforts during that time.

How could the vengeance for his parents' deaths go unavenged? Chen Xin did not know how to dissuade him.

"I will inform the Sect Master of this and let him decide. But Cheng'er," Chen Xin said solemnly as he gazed into Su Cheng's eyes, "you still have a long life ahead of you. Do not let hatred cloud your eyes."

Hearing this, Su Cheng secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

The position of Sect Master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had now passed to Ning Fengzhi.

If it had been Chen Xin, he might have stopped Su Cheng from taking the risk out of familial affection. Ning Fengzhi, however, would certainly put benefits first. As long as Su Cheng showed enough ability, Ning Fengzhi would never stop him.

At that thought, Su Cheng broke into a radiant smile. "Don't worry, Father. I'll definitely be a good person from now on!"

Just as he had expected, after Ning Fengzhi arrived, he offered a few words of persuasion but ultimately agreed to Su Cheng's request for Cross-level Absorption.

However, Ning Fengzhi clearly did not fully believe Su Cheng could do it, so he planned to accompany them on the soul beast hunt.

Main Quest: Second Ring completed.

Main Quest: Third Ring: Infiltration.

Mission Objective: Join Spirit Hall and gain its trust and favor.

Mission Reward: Increase the final settlement bonus multiplier based on mission completion.

"Cheng'er, are you really going to absorb this 630-year-old Scaled Armor Beast?"

No other subordinates had accompanied them on this soul beast hunt. Only Su Cheng, Chen Xin, and Ning Fengzhi were present.

The Scaled Armor Beast had already been finished off by Su Cheng. Its yellow soul ring, over six hundred years old, hovered before them, waiting for him to absorb it.

To Su Cheng, what type of soul beast his first soul ring came from or what soul skill it would grant was utterly unimportant. His Cross-level Absorption this time was merely to prove his theory.

He had chosen this Scaled Armor Beast simply because its age limit was just right.

"Of course. We've already come this far."

"Will your method really work?" Still uneasy, Chen Xin spoke again to confirm.

"Don't worry, Father. I'm confident."

Su Cheng stepped forward and first took out a jar of medicinal liquid from his Soul Tool, applying it all over his body. Then he removed one Silver Needle after another and inserted them into nineteen Acupoints, including Jingming, Xingjian, Huiyin, Zhongji, Changqiang, and Mingmen.

The effects of this series of preparations were immediate.

His body's potential was instantly unleashed. Energy flowed more smoothly through his Meridians, the originally narrow pathways for energy circulation widened by more than twice their size, and even his physical strength increased dramatically at that moment.

The next step is the most crucial one. If this truly succeeds, it will raise the entire plan's chance of success by at least thirty percent!

Taking a deep breath, Su Cheng sat cross-legged where he stood and summoned his Mutated Spirit, which he had named Broken Sword.

Drawn by his spirit, the soul ring floated before him and settled around the cracked Broken Sword spirit.

Vast, overwhelming power surged toward him like scorching magma, crashing down from all directions. It gave him no time to prepare as it brutally forced its way into the narrow passage.

Fortunately, he had used Silver Needles to stimulate his Acupoints beforehand, increasing the width and flexibility of his Meridians. Otherwise, that impact alone might have caused him to explode and die.

After enduring the first impact, he felt as though his resistance had become slightly stronger than before. The medicinal liquid on his skin also seeped continuously into his body, silently repairing his wounded physique.

Time passed bit by bit...

Finally.

The stabbing pain in his Meridians disappeared, replaced by a warm, ceaseless flow of energy coursing throughout his body. It felt incredibly refreshing.

Su Cheng opened his eyes, and a yellow soul ring now circled his spirit.

Side Quest completed. Reward obtained: Physical Constitution improved.

Ning Fengzhi was completely stunned. "It actually succeeded... It exceeds the theoretical soul ring limit by a full two hundred years, and this is only the first soul ring..."

After the shock came intense delight. It seemed as though he could already see the title of Number One Sect on the Continent beckoning to him.

"Cheng'er, how do you feel? Is anything uncomfortable?" Unlike Ning Fengzhi, Chen Xin's first concern was still Su Cheng's safety.

"No problem, Father. I feel exceptionally good right now." Su Cheng clenched his fist, then carefully examined the changes in his spirit.

He continued, "This Cross-level Absorption directly raised my Soul Power Level to above level twelve, nearly level thirteen. And with the Energy Feedback, that method of stimulation has no hidden dangers at all."

"Good, wonderful!" Even with Ning Fengzhi's composure, he could not help bursting into laughter.

"Can this method be widely applied?" He looked at Su Cheng, his face full of anticipation.

"Of course it can be widely applied. Even Waste like me, with Innate Soul Power of only level 0.5, can succeed." Su Cheng spoke calmly, showing no hesitation in acknowledging his talent deficiency.

Just as Ning Fengzhi was about to comfort him, Su Cheng's next sentence left him frozen in place.

"Sect Master, I intend to spread this technology across the entire continent."