First Soul Ring, Seven Thousand Years

A God-level Martial Soul truly deserved its name. Though its wings had yet to fully grow, its sharp edge was already impossible to conceal!

"Shouldn't I absorb a Soul Ring first?" Lu Leng could not help asking.

"Soul Rings are certainly important, but they are not urgent for you. What matters most now is building a solid foundation. Without a solid foundation and proficient control over Soul Power, no matter how great your talent is, you will still be defeated!" Bibi Dong coldly reprimanded him.

"I understand, Teacher." Lu Leng had truly taken the lesson to heart.

It seemed Bibi Dong was not all that bad. At the very least, she treated her own people quite well.

Lu Leng hesitated. He had previously been thinking of finding an opportunity to escape, but now... perhaps he should wait a little longer?

Time passed, and two months went by in the blink of an eye.

Over those two months, although Lu Leng's Soul Power had not increased by a single level, his control over it had reached a near-perfect level. It was still immature compared to Bibi Dong's, but compared to himself two months ago, the difference was like heaven and earth.

Lu Leng stood in the Secret Chamber and slashed at an Iron Stake in front of him.

The air no longer boomed, nor did purple lightning flicker. It looked like an utterly ordinary slash. Yet the moment the blade struck the Iron Stake, thunder exploded, and the entire stake was instantly torn into pieces.

"Not bad. Your Soul Power does not leak outward but is condensed within the blade, then erupts all at once upon striking, producing power your opponent would never expect. You have already gained an initial grasp of using Soul Power." Bibi Dong praised him. In merely two months, he had improved so much. Not only was he gifted, but his comprehension was exceptional as well.

"It is all thanks to Teacher's excellent guidance," Lu Leng said sincerely.

Over these two months, Bibi Dong had come nearly every day and taught him hand in hand. That was why he had made such astonishing progress.

Looking at Bibi Dong's breathtakingly beautiful face, he suddenly thought that perhaps staying in Spirit Hall was not so bad after all.

"Let's go. Today, I'll take you to hunt a Soul Beast and attach a Soul Ring for you."

"Yes!" Lu Leng said excitedly.

He had waited for this moment for a long time.

Star Dou Forest. There were three people in the group.

Bibi Dong, Chrysanthemum Douluo, and Lu Leng.

"Your Martial Soul is an extremely offensive Tool Martial Soul, so your path is the Assault System. We'll hunt a Soul Beast between five thousand and seven thousand years old for you." As she spoke, Bibi Dong gestured for Ju Yueguan to capture a Soul Beast.

"Five thousand to seven thousand years?!" Lu Leng was startled. "Isn't the limit for a first Soul Ring four hundred and twenty-three years?"

"You know quite a lot." Bibi Dong gave him a surprised glance, then said, "The limit is real, but that is for ordinary people. You are different. Your Martial Soul is a God-level Martial Soul. From the moment you were born, it has been subtly strengthening your physique. Though it had not awakened, it has always truly existed. I believe you have felt that over these past two months."

Lu Leng nodded. That was indeed the case. Over the past two months, he had clearly felt his physical abilities improving. And it was not an ordinary improvement, but an extremely rapid one. At first, he had thought something was wrong with him, but later he learned it was because of Zhan Luo, his Martial Soul.

Especially when he held Zhan Luo in his hand, the sensation became even stronger. That was why he had gotten used to not recalling Zhan Luo.

Bibi Dong continued, "In addition, you already possess level twenty-one Soul Power and have initially mastered control of it. Therefore, I conclude that absorbing a seven-thousand-year Soul Ring will pose no problem at all!"

"Then I want a Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Ring for my first one." Hearing this, Lu Leng said excitedly.

A Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Ring—when fighting, he could reveal it directly, black light flashing, looking incomparably badass!

"If you want to die, I will stop you." Bibi Dong poured cold water over his head. "Remember this: you are now a member of Spirit Hall. Every decision you make affects Spirit Hall's development. You are not alone anymore. There are some things you cannot simply do however you please."

"..."

Lu Leng was speechless.

See? He had said from the start that he did not want to join Spirit Hall, but no one believed him.

The ending was bad enough, and there were so many rules too.

"Then can't I wait a while before absorbing a Soul Ring?" Lu Leng was clearly unwilling to give up on the Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Ring.

"No. The earlier a Soul Master cultivates, the better their later development will be. You are currently in your golden cultivation period. You cannot abandon future growth over a single Soul Ring. Besides, this is only your first Soul Ring. It will not have much impact on you later on," Bibi Dong explained.

"Fine, then."

Lu Leng could only give up.

Very soon, a battle broke out in the distance. Not long afterward, Chrysanthemum Douluo returned with a barely breathing Soul Beast.

"It's so huge!" Lu Leng stared at the Soul Beast approaching like a small mountain, his mouth hanging open in shock.

The Soul Beast was as large as a three-story villa. Ju Yueguan held it aloft with one hand, making it seem so frail and tiny.

Boom!

Chrysanthemum Douluo threw the mountain-like creature down, and only then did Lu Leng see that it was actually an elephant. Its entire body was covered in hard, unbreakable armor, and its two enormous tusks were exceptionally sharp. In the present day, it would absolutely have been considered a fearsome beast.

Yet in Chrysanthemum Douluo's hands, it had been dealt with effortlessly.

"This is a Thousand Jin Charging Elephant. Judging by its size, it should be about seven thousand years old, just right. Absorb its Soul Ring, and I will stand guard for you." Bibi Dong was quite satisfied with this Soul Beast.

The Thousand Jin Charging Elephant was inherently highly offensive. Paired with the Zhan Luo Martial Soul, it was the best possible match.

"Yes."

Lu Leng stepped forward, drew Zhan Luo, and killed the Soul Beast with a single slash. Faint purple motes of light began gathering above the Soul Beast's body, quickly forming a purple ring of light. The Soul Ring's color was vivid, and Lu Leng could feel the immense energy contained within it.

Without hesitating further, Lu Leng held Zhan Luo as Soul Power gathered in his hand, then flowed along Zhan Luo and reached out toward the Soul Ring.

Drawn by the pull, the Soul Ring came to Lu Leng's side, then rapidly shrank and settled around his Zhan Luo Blade Martial Soul. In an instant, Lu Leng felt a scorching energy rush into his body.

"Stay conscious and guide it with your Soul Power!"

Bibi Dong's voice reached his ears at just the right moment, but the corner of his mouth curled into an involuntary cold smile. What does this little bit of energy amount to? Do I even need to stay conscious?

Bibi Dong: "???"

Chrysanthemum Douluo: "...That was quite the brag."

Bragging aside, Lu Leng still had to handle the process properly.

The surging Soul Power continuously tempered Lu Leng's body like a ferocious tiger rampaging wildly within him. He only felt as if his body were being stretched apart, the pain unbearable. Fortunately, after the pain came a warm current, like spring rain and a gentle breeze, repairing the damage that had just been done.

About a quarter of an hour later, Lu Leng opened his eyes.

Lu Leng knew that he had succeeded.

"Not bad. How does it feel?" Bibi Dong asked.

"Not bad. It feels like soaking in a hot spring." Lu Leng said it as casually as if it were nothing.