Five Plus Nine Equals What?

Among all the opportunities during the Peerless Tang Sect era, the most crucial were undoubtedly Sky Dream Ice Silkworm and Electrolux.

Setting everything else aside, the emergence of the Soul Spirit system could not have happened without the ideas of these two. One was a native million-year soul beast proficient in the Mental attribute, who pioneered Wisdom Soul Rings for the first time. Then Electrolux, proficient in necromantic magic, combined it with spiritual soul rings to create the Soul Spirit system.

Even disregarding the emergence of this vital system for the Soul Master World, Tian Meng and Electrolux were unquestionably the two most crucial opportunities based on their abilities alone.

One had a million-year soul ring, with his spiritual essence integrated into the other soul rings. He had million-year energy that could be allocated, enough to meet nearly all of Chen Ming's energy needs whenever he replenished soul rings or raised their age.

The secret art for replenishing soul rings did not actually require an external energy supply. In truth, when Chen Ming condensed a replenishment soul ring, he had already gathered all the energy it required. To increase a soul ring's age, he merely needed to fuse it into the soul ring. But this was an opportunity. Just like when Chen Ming had previously fused a Yang Spring replenishment soul ring, the energy from the Crimson Phoenix Nirvana Golden Lotus's seeds had taken the opportunity to merge in, allowing a replenishment soul ring that could have added just over a thousand years to produce an effect of nearly three thousand years.

If Chen Ming's future replenishment soul rings could receive a supply of that essence from Tian Meng whenever they fused with soul rings, he could almost double their replenishment effect.

One had to know that condensing replenishment soul rings was no easy task. If he could cut corners, he naturally would.

As for Electrolux, there was even less need to say anything.

Of course, besides those two, many other opportunities had emerged during this era. Chen Ming had begun reviewing them one by one, and he had no intention of letting any opportunity useful to him slip away.

"This Yang Spring itself is my treasure trove. It can serve as the foundation for raising the age of my first soul ring. With the energy enhancement from the seventy-meter zone, the Yang Spring replenishment soul ring contains more energy, and the lotus seeds' effects have been fully realized. My first soul ring is now nearly six thousand years old."

Six thousand years meant Chen Ming could consider a Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Ring for his second soul ring.

In the ten thousand years since Tang San, quite a few soul masters on Douluo Continent had tried to absorb soul rings beyond the so-called limit. There had been many examples of second soul rings reaching a thousand years, and by now, every generation had several people who succeeded. Yet obtaining a Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Ring before the fifth ring remained an enormous challenge.

The key to a Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Ring lay not only in physical constitution, but also in the Spiritual Power needed to withstand the shock to the soul.

If one's spiritual cultivation was insufficient, rashly absorbing a Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Ring beyond one's level was extremely dangerous.

But Chen Ming truly had no need to worry about spiritual cultivation.

Now that his first soul ring had reached six thousand years, the feedback to Chen Ming's physical constitution was also considerable. He could already endure the energy impact in the seventy-three-meter zone of the Yang Spring.

That position was already worth over seven thousand years.

After cultivating for a while longer, Chen Ming truly had a chance of exceeding ten thousand years of endurance by the time he acquired his second ring.

Time passed.

After refining the lotus seeds, Chen Ming continued to devote himself wholeheartedly to cultivation.

His Soul Power accumulated bit by bit through his training. Two and a half months later, he finally broke through to Rank 18. Another three months later, he reached Rank 19. Even the major bottleneck at Rank 20 only held him back for four months.

A year had passed since Chen Ming entered the Body Sect.

And only fourteen months had passed since his Martial Soul awakened.

"Eighty-three meters."

Seeing his disciple's test result, Du Busi felt a sense of melancholy.

He had never imagined that someone could truly challenge a Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Ring for their second soul ring.

Those who could genuinely equip a Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Ring as their second ring were usually Twin Martial Soul masters.

"Mm, from one perspective, Little Ming does seem to be a Twin Martial Soul master. It's just that he can challenge a Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Ring for the second ring of his first Martial Soul."

Du Busi's teeth ached.

His headache was not about finding a Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Ring to hunt.

He was troubled by Chen Ming's future soul rings.

He was starting with Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Rings at his second ring. What would happen later?

How many years would the third ring be?

What about the fourth?

At this rate of growth, with such outrageous absorption beyond one's level, Chen Ming's Body Martial Soul might complete its Second Awakening ahead of schedule. He would definitely undergo a Second Awakening before his fifth ring.

The feedback from a Second Awakening would certainly allow Chen Ming to challenge a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring for his fifth ring.

That was the real headache.

From the fifth to the ninth ring, there were five entire soul rings. If they all needed to be hundred-thousand-year rings, that meant five Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts, on top of Chen Ming's second Martial Soul.

Du Busi felt like he had taken in a massive burden.

What did five plus nine equal?

Du Busi could not calculate that answer!

He did not want to calculate it.

When he turned to look at his second disciple standing dumbfounded on the shore, Du Busi felt even greater pressure.

"Vina is still manageable. Her degree of absorbing beyond her level isn't absurd, but with her Martial Soul aptitude, the two Martial Souls combined will need at least one Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring each in the later stages. And Ao Tian will need to challenge one for his ninth ring as well."

Exhausted.

Just end it all.

Chen Ming did not know that his teacher was already questioning his life.

He was currently sitting cross-legged in the Yang Spring, absorbing its power as he condensed his second Yang Spring replenishment soul ring.

He could naturally continuously fuse the energy absorbed by the replenishment soul rings into his own soul rings. But to maximize the effect, he still intended to wait until he had sufficient external energy replenishment each time, then fuse it all at once.

"Te-Teacher, Junior Brother only has two rings?" Vina asked Du Busi beside her with her mouth hanging open in disbelief.

"To be precise, he is preparing to obtain his second soul ring."

Du Busi corrected her helplessly.

Vina opened and closed her mouth, only to find that she could no longer make a sound.

Too terrifying.

"For this Soul Hunting Operation of yours, your teacher and junior brother will accompany you as well."

Vina finally understood why her teacher had told her to wait a month ago.

So Junior Brother was about to break through?

"Are you still not planning to try for a thousand-year soul ring with your second soul ring?" Du Busi asked.

Vina opened her mouth, then closed it again. In the end, she nodded helplessly.

That was her family's decision.

Her situation differed from that of ordinary Body Martial Soul masters.

Her Body Martial Soul was her brain, and it was her second Martial Soul. Therefore, the key to her Body Martial Soul's Second Awakening was whether she could withstand the stimulation of consecutively fusing Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Rings into her second Martial Soul after she could endure a Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Ring, rather than accumulating breakthroughs past the limit with every soul ring in the early stages.

Before that, her family did not want her to risk absorbing soul rings beyond her level.

Because her Body Martial Soul was her brain, while she was currently cultivating her first Martial Soul, Snow Lotus. Absorbing beyond her level would not let her enjoy the advantages of a Body Martial Soul master at all, making it difficult for her to endure.

As for Whale Rubber—

There was no need.

In her family's view, the Snow Lotus Martial Soul was a support-type Martial Soul whose ability was healing. Whether she absorbed soul rings beyond her level would not make much difference.

Du Busi had anticipated this answer.

Even if the shock Chen Ming brought could change Vina's mind, it could not change her choice for her second soul ring at present, much less the more cautious Heavenly Soul Royal Family behind her.

"Get ready. This Soul Hunting Operation will take place in Sunset Forest."