Storm Lark, Third Spirit Ring

"Xiao San, how old are you? Down to the month!" Zhao Wuji looked at Tang San with a grave expression.

"Twelve years and seven months." Tang San remembered clearly.

Zhao Wuji nodded.

Twelve years old, on the verge of becoming a Soul Elder—this was unheard of across the entire continent.

For all Spirit Masters, obtaining the third ring brought a qualitative transformation in strength, an unprecedented transformation!

Level thirty was undoubtedly a vast chasm.

Take Xiao Xian, for example. He was clearly so outstanding, yet he had been stuck at this stage for far too long. By the time he broke through, he was already over thirteen, even a little later than Dai Mubai.

Zhao Wuji's gaze was sharp as he looked at Ma Hongjun, Ning Rongrong, and the others.

"Do you see that? Especially you lot. Tang San is the same age as you, twelve years and seven months old, and he's already about to step into another realm. And he's a Food System Spirit Master! Is it talent? Perhaps. But I've never seen any Food System Spirit Master dare to enter spirit battles alone! This is the result of true hard work!"

As an experienced old teacher, Zhao Wuji skillfully began using the power of an example to fire everyone up.

Ning Rongrong's expression turned slightly strange as she listened.

The shock she had received was unprecedented.

Oscar had broken through at fourteen, and if she worked desperately hard, perhaps she could do the same.

But Tang San... this true peer of hers had utterly surpassed her in every respect.

A twelve-year-old Soul Elder... Even if she gave it everything she had, she could never do that!

A Food System Spirit Master with combat power, and such a rapid cultivation speed besides...!

Combat power, Soul Elder, Self-Created Soul Skill... Ning Rongrong could not help glancing quietly at Xiao Xian. Could Tang San's cultivation speed be related to his Self-Created Soul Skill?

Could cultivation through battle really be that fast?

What if I could do it too?

A Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda Spirit Master with combat power...

Ning Rongrong silently bit her lip, lost in thoughts no one could guess.

"..."

Everyone congratulated Tang San on his breakthrough.

Zhao Wuji promised to find him the Soul Beast best suited to him.

After resting for a night, everyone had recovered their energy well.

Without wasting much time, Zhao Wuji led them onward to continue searching for Soul Beasts.

"Senior Brother, what kind of support effect do you think I should choose for my third ring?" Tang San moved close to Xiao Xian and asked excitedly.

Xiao Wu obediently followed behind them, occasionally plucking fruit from the trees at the side.

Xiao Xian raised his right hand, and the fruit in Xiao Wu's hand flew into his palm.

But before Xiao Wu could get angry,

Xiao Xian immediately handed her a Water Skin and some snacks he had prepared earlier.

Holding a pile of snacks, Xiao Wu happily began eating.

Xiao Xian took a bite of the fruit, and as expected, an unsurprised expression appeared on his face. It was really sweet—worthy of being carefully selected by a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast.

Only then did he pat Tang San on the shoulder.

"Your First Soul Skill, Blue Silver Sugarcane, restores vitality."

"Your Second Soul Skill, Blue Silver Vajra Bamboo Shoot, adds defense."

"Your situation is special. For your Third Soul Skill, it would be best to choose one that enhances strength."

"However..." Xiao Xian finished the fruit, paused for a moment, then looked at Tang San. "You're from the Plant System. Plants that enhance strength are still too rare."

The sound of Xiao Wu eating behind them was far too tempting.

Tang San swallowed, took out a Blue Silver Sugarcane, and began gnawing on it, forcing himself to think.

That was right. His situation truly was special. As his Soul Power grew, that hammer martial soul became heavier and heavier, making it increasingly difficult to use.

But plants that enhanced strength... did it really have to be a plant?

According to Master's theory... the Plant System could absorb animal Soul Beasts too!

Back in Notting, Master had recommended the same thing.

When Tang San said this,

Xiao Xian shook his head. "Xiao San, your situation really is special. Your martial soul is Blue Silver Grass. You're a Food System Spirit Master now, but that doesn't mean you'll always be one. If even one spirit ring is added incorrectly, your Soul Skill could very well turn into an attack-type skill."

"And what if it isn't a strength-type spirit ring? Finding some other normal one is better than ruining it."

"I don't recommend taking the risk."

Tang San froze for a moment, then silently sighed. His situation really was complicated.

Master... had no solution either.

"..."

The group searched for roughly two hours.

Xiao Xian quietly raised his eyes and looked ahead.

Several kilometers in front of them, Xiao Jue had caught a seemingly suitable Soul Beast.

Xiao Xian did not remind them, merely waited in silence.

Before long, Xiao Jue came racing through the air toward them—every step it took was supported by a distinct gale beneath its limbs. It was two or three meters above the ground, moving incredibly fast.

"Xiao Jue is back!"

"What's in its mouth?!"

Dai Mubai, who was clearing the path at the front, extended the claws in his hands, looking somewhat startled.

Zhao Wuji had noticed it long ago. His eyes remained fixed on Xiao Jue, while a pleased smile quietly appeared on his lips. "Oscar, Tang San, you'd better thank Xiao Xian properly!"

Tang San and Oscar were both clever people. Hearing this, their eyes lit up, and they quickly looked ahead.

Tang San in particular made no attempt to conceal the purple gleam blooming in his eyes.

"It's a Soul Beast...! A bird-type Soul Beast. Xiao Jue caught a Soul Beast and brought it back!" Tang San murmured.

Very soon,

Xiao Jue landed in front of them.

Outside its ferocious Dragon Mouth, a layer of grim purple light had condensed, forming another illusory Dragon Mouth more than twice as large.

Beneath that terrifying purple illusory Dragon Mouth was a bird-type Soul Beast that could barely struggle. It had blue-black feathers, a sharp and delicate head, and a layer of Silver Cloud Pattern densely covered its wings.

At that moment, most of its body was clamped tightly in Xiao Jue's jaws. Purple light kept flashing from its wounds, desperately burrowing deeper inside!

The flesh beneath the bird-type Soul Beast's skin twisted and convulsed!

Dai Mubai, Ma Hongjun, and the others all tensed. What a tyrannical effect!

What if Xiao Jue bit one of them...?

Was this Xiao Xian's Third Soul Skill?!

"It's a Storm Lark! Its body is two-point-six meters long, and it's probably between fourteen hundred and seventeen hundred years old." Tang San carefully examined it and stated with certainty.

Dai Mubai was stunned. "A Storm Lark...? Can either of you absorb it?"

A bitter smile appeared on Tang San's face. In theory, they could.

"Xiao San can't. Brother Oscar, you take it," Xiao Xian said.

Buzz—!

A violent gale suddenly erupted, blasting the fallen leaves from the ground. Everyone was startled and looked toward Xiao Jue.

"It's not Xiao Jue. It's this Soul Beast." Xiao Xian glanced at the Storm Lark in Xiao Jue's mouth. "The silver patterns on this Soul Beast's wings can gather gales and accelerate its speed. Sometimes, it can even fly backward."

"If Brother Oscar absorbs it, there's a high chance it'll grant him an agility-type Soul Skill. If he's lucky... in any case, it suits him well. Right now, this Soul Beast is only making its final struggle."

Xiao Wu stood behind Xiao Xian and Tang San, her eyes filled with reluctance as she lowered her head. "Do Soul Beasts... have to kill Soul Beasts...?"

Xiao Xian glanced at her and thought silently, Then don't get any spirit rings after level sixty. Stay a Soul Emperor for the rest of your life.

Tang San sighed softly and tried to comfort her.

Xiao Xian brushed his hand over his waist, took out a sharp blade, tossed it to Oscar, and said calmly, "Brother Oscar, go ahead. Just slit its throat. Make it quick."

Oscar was overjoyed. "Thanks, Brother Xian!"

Xiao Jue tilted its head.

It offered the Storm Lark's head toward Oscar.

Whoosh—!

Oscar did not hesitate. He brought the sharp blade down in one stroke.

"..."

Purple Soul Power rapidly gathered above the Storm Lark's body, condensing into a ring of light.

Xiao Jue spat out the corpse, then swiftly turned around, kicked off the ground several times, and shot away again, vanishing into the dense forest.

The others all looked at Xiao Xian in surprise.

"Xiao Jue says it found traces of other suitable Soul Beasts too. It wants to catch another one."