Tang San's Spirit Ring Lock

"But do you remember what I told you? There are no useless martial spirits, only useless spirit masters. Through your teacher's tireless research, I finally found a way to break through level 29."

"Even though Luo San Pao held me back, I never gave up hope for it. At last, I found a solution to the problem. Xiao San, in a few days, I'll be able to break through level 30. Aren't you happy? You'll soon have a Soul Elder-level backer!"

Yu Xiaogang said with a smug expression.

Though Tang San did not mean it, he answered with a bright smile, "Teacher, I believe in you. As the greatest Theory Master in the Soul Master World, it doesn't surprise me at all that you found a way to overcome the flaws of your own martial spirit, because I have always believed in you."

Yu Xiaogang quickly took the backpack off his back, pulled out four or five White Radishes, and fed them to Luo San Pao.

Then he revealed a mysterious smile. "I know you all really want to ask why, but don't rush. When the time comes, I will naturally tell you."

"Li Chen, Xiao Wu, stay close. Luo San Pao has a keen sense of smell and can detect the tracks and strength of spirit beasts. If you stray too far from me, I may not be able to protect you properly."

The four of them arrived at the Soul Hunting Forest in the morning.

Luo San Pao led the way while the four followed behind. They searched until noon without finding a suitable spirit beast for Tang San. Unable to hold back any longer, Tang San asked, "Teacher, what kind of spirit beast do you think would be best for my first Soul Ring?"

Yu Xiaogang had actually told him about the arrangements for his first Soul Ring long ago, but he had not been very specific. Now, Yu Xiaogang stopped pretending to be profound and began explaining it to Tang San.

"Xiao San, according to my plan, you should first add a Soul Ring to your Blue Silver Grass. Then your Soul Power should rise by around one or two levels. After that, you can add a Soul Ring to your Clear Sky Hammer, and that should raise you to around level thirteen or fourteen."

"As for which spirit beast's Soul Ring to add, I have already thought that through for you."

"When choosing a Soul Ring for your Blue Silver Grass, you should not focus on attack power. You should place greater importance on supportive abilities."

"For example, it could improve your physical constitution or increase your total Soul Power. That would better support your Clear Sky Hammer. Since your Blue Silver Grass martial spirit does not have much attack power to begin with, it would be better to turn it directly into a support-type martial spirit."

"Xiao San, what do you think of this arrangement?"

"Teacher, I agree with your idea."

One reason Tang San agreed so readily was that the old granny in his ring had told him the same thing.

However, although the old granny knew how to choose Soul Rings, she did not understand the spirit beasts of Douluo Continent. Otherwise, Tang San would have simply gone with his Adoptive Mother to obtain a Soul Ring. There would have been no need for a level-29 Soul Grandmaster like Yu Xiaogang.

"Then, Teacher, we've been searching for so long. What kind of spirit beast do we actually need?"

This was exactly the humble request for guidance Yu Xiaogang had been waiting for. Seeing that Tang San was already extremely anxious,

he finally said slowly, "For your first Soul Ring, you can choose from three types of spirit beasts: Big Belly Pig, Scoundrel Flower, and Undying Vine."

"Big Belly Pig is a spirit beast known for its abundant Soul Power. Its attack power is not strong, but its endurance is extremely high. Its huge belly stores a great amount of Soul Power. If you obtain its Soul Ring, you will most likely gain a skill that increases your total Soul Power."

"As for Scoundrel Flower, as its name suggests, it is a flower that is very difficult to kill. But this does not mean its defense is high. Rather, as long as even a single grain of pollen has not been crushed by Soul Power, it will soon grow into another Scoundrel Flower."

"Its Soul Ring can increase your body's recovery speed, making you a Healing System Spirit Master yourself. During battle, you can heal yourself. That way, when you absorb a Soul Ring for your Clear Sky Hammer, you can choose a spirit beast with a higher cultivation age. Then you can become the first person on the continent to surpass the limit for absorbing Soul Rings."

"Undying Vine is also a spirit beast known for its powerful vitality. Its Soul Ring will most likely grant you a soul skill that strengthens your body and improves your physical constitution. Although that is also a powerful soul skill, I do not particularly recommend it. I still recommend the first two."

Tang San nodded.

Suddenly, Yu Xiaogang's stomach let out a series of grumbles.

Yu Xiaogang looked at the three of them apologetically. "It's already noon. Let's find a place to set up camp, make a fire, and cook. We should fill our stomachs first and rest for a while. There is plenty of time. I got you an entire month off, so we have more than enough time to find suitable Soul Rings for you."

Li Chen and Xiao Wu had no objections. After walking for so long, they were tired as well.

Yu Xiaogang and Tang San's meal was very simple.

They took out Dry Rations and smoked Cured Meat from their backpacks, eating a bite of dry rations, a bite of cured meat, and a mouthful of water. Meanwhile, Li Chen and Xiao Wu's meal was far more lavish.

Xiao Wu took out a large chunk of Black Pork from her Space Ring, along with a Grill Rack and a cutting board.

Li Chen cut the pork into small pieces, threaded them onto Bamboo Skewers, lit the Charcoal they had brought, and began grilling!

Before long, the roasted meat gave off waves of fragrance.

Li Chen sprinkled on the seasonings he had prepared beforehand, making the aroma even more tantalizing.

Li Chen picked up the best-grilled skewer and handed it to Xiao Wu. The golden-brown meat tempted her taste buds, with oil even dripping from it.

Tang San and Yu Xiaogang could not help looking over.

Tang San quietly swallowed his saliva and said to Yu Xiaogang, "Teacher, should we go over and buy some grilled meat from them?"

Yu Xiaogang certainly could not bring himself to do that, but he wanted to eat it very badly too.

"There's no need to buy any. We brought them here to hunt Soul Rings, and they haven't even thanked us. Shouldn't they give us some grilled meat?"

Tang San thought that made sense. After all, even the most ordinary ten-year Soul Ring cost dozens of Gold Soul Coins. In this world, nothing related to spirit masters came cheap.

"Xiao San, aren't you close with that little girl? Go ask her for some."

Hearing that, Tang San walked over.

"Xiao Wu, can you share some grilled meat with us? You have so much, and you can't finish it all anyway."

Xiao Wu did not know why Yu Xiaogang had brought them here to hunt Soul Rings. She thought Yu Xiaogang and Tang San were genuinely being kind, so she immediately wanted to share some with them.

But Li Chen knew exactly why, and he spoke before her.

"Tang San, we do not have much grilled meat either. And it cost us a great many Gold Soul Coins to buy it. It's not impossible if you want some, but rare things are valuable, so as for the price..."

Li Chen rubbed his fingers together with both hands, looking every bit like a Shady Merchant.