Graduating Early

Three years later.

On a towering mountain peak several dozen miles outside Nuoding City, a boy of about ten sat cross-legged at the summit. Not far from him, a sparrow-sized bird kept glancing around, as though watching for danger.

The gale atop the mountain howled like blades, flattening even the Blue Silver Grass that grew there beneath its force.

Yet the fierce wind could not shake the boy in the slightest. A faint azure glow emerged from his body, offsetting the effects of the surrounding environment.

After a long while, the boy opened his eyes and murmured, "My Soul Power Level 22 has stabilized. It's time to leave Nuoding City."

The boy was naturally Mo Hui. After three years of cultivation, his Soul Power Level had finally broken through level 20. Not long ago, with the help of his uncle Mo Hen, he had successfully hunted a nine-hundred-year Azure Rainbow Falcon for his second soul ring.

As for how he had convinced Mo Hen to let him absorb a nine-hundred-year soul beast as his second soul ring, that had to do with Whale Rubber, a treasure that only appeared in Douluo Dalu 2.

After absorbing his first soul ring, Mo Hui had considered absorbing a second soul ring beyond his limit. Thus, he began training his body even harder in preparation.

However, Mo Hui soon discovered that there was a limit to how much physical strength could be improved through training. Without proper methods to nurture and recover the body, it was easy to train oneself into ruin.

Under those circumstances, Mo Hui naturally thought of treasures that could directly improve one's physique, such as soul bones, Immortal Herbs, and Whale Rubber.

Soul bones were naturally impossible. Even the most ordinary soul bone had a market value of at least one hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins.

Immortal Herbs were even less possible. Leaving aside the fact that those Immortal Herbs were currently in Dugu Bo's possession, Mo Hui did not fully understand the proper methods for picking and using them. Eating such things carelessly could kill a person.

After ruling out every possibility, the only thing he might be able to obtain was Whale Rubber.

At present, Whale Rubber was merely regarded as an aphrodisiac similar to Viagra. Though its rarity made it fairly expensive, its price could not be compared to the thousands or tens of thousands of Gold Soul Coins it cost in Douluo Dalu 2.

If it truly worked, then his physical constitution could improve significantly in a short time, enough to handle absorbing a soul ring beyond his limit when obtaining his second soul ring.

Still, this was only Mo Hui's guess. Before confirming its effects, he did not want to trouble his uncle, who cared so much about him.

Thus, after saving Gold Soul Coins for a year, Mo Hui finally obtained a small piece of hundred-year Whale Rubber from a pharmacy in the city to test it.

Though it was only a small piece of hundred-year Whale Rubber, Mo Hui still clearly felt his physical constitution strengthen after consuming it.

After confirming that Whale Rubber was truly effective, Mo Hui told Mo Hen about it and prepared to borrow some Gold Soul Coins from him to purchase more Whale Rubber.

At first, Mo Hen naturally did not believe him. But after buying a small piece of hundred-year Whale Rubber to experiment with, Mo Hen was immediately overjoyed.

An aphrodisiac that had been used for so long could actually strengthen a soul master's body. This was a major discovery.

Whether he reported it or hid it as a secret inheritance of the family, it could bring enormous benefits.

In the end, Mo Hen took out all his savings—one thousand five hundred Gold Soul Coins—to buy Mo Hui a considerable amount of hundred-year Whale Rubber, along with a small amount of thousand-year Whale Rubber.

Don't ask why they did not buy Ten-Thousand-Year Whale Glue. Leaving aside who would need Ten-Thousand-Year Whale Glue as an aphrodisiac, merchants would never keep it in stock. Even if they did, its price was far beyond what Mo Hui could afford at present.

"Pidgey, we're going back."

Mo Hui stood up and called to Pidgey in the distance.

"Pidgey~"

Hearing Mo Hui's call, Pidgey immediately transformed into a streak of azure light and flew to Mo Hui's side in an instant, slowly landing on his shoulder.

What Pidgey had just used was precisely Mo Hui's second soul skill, Lightning Flash, which he had obtained after hunting the nine-hundred-year Azure Rainbow Falcon.

Lightning Flash increased its host's speed by three hundred percent, making it four times faster than before. It allowed the user to charge at an enemy and deal damage, lasting for three seconds. Its duration and effect increased along with Soul Power.

The effects of Lightning Flash lay somewhere between an ordinary acceleration-type soul skill and teleportation. Compared with normal acceleration-type soul skills, its boost lasted far too briefly. Compared with teleportation, no matter how fast it was, it could not measure up.

However, in Mo Hui's eyes, Lightning Flash was still an excellent soul skill. Battles between soul masters were decided by the slightest margins, and three seconds was enough to accomplish many things.

Moreover, Lightning Flash had the advantages of low Soul Power consumption and a short interval between uses.

Mo Hui soon returned to Nuoding Academy, with Pidgey following him all the way.

Previously, Mo Hui's Soul Power had been insufficient, so he could not keep Pidgey manifested outside his body for long.

But now that Mo Hui was already a two-ring Soul Grandmaster, as long as no battle occurred, keeping Pidgey outside was no longer much of a burden to him.

After all, Pidgey possessed its own consciousness. Unlike other martial souls, it did not require constant control. Mo Hui only needed to provide Soul Power.

After entering Nuoding Academy, Mo Hui headed straight for the Academic Affairs Office. After knocking on the door, he pushed it open.

"It's Xiao Hui. What brings you here?"

When Director Su saw Mo Hui enter, he asked with a smile.

The other teachers in the Academic Affairs Office also smiled and nodded at Mo Hui when they saw him.

After four years together, nearly every teacher in Nuoding Academy had developed a favorable impression of Mo Hui. Who would not like a child who studied diligently and possessed decent talent?

"Director Su, I'm planning to graduate early."

Mo Hui looked at Director Su and spoke.

Director Su paused upon hearing this, then sighed. "That makes sense. You're already level 19. There's nothing more you can learn by staying at Nuoding Academy."

Then Director Su asked Mo Hui, "Do you have an Intermediate Soul Master Academy in mind? The dean and I can write you a letter of recommendation!"

"Thank you, Director Su, but I want to enroll directly in an Advanced Soul Master Academy."

Mo Hui shook his head.

Director Su froze again. "But the admission requirement for an Advanced Soul Master Academy is to be a two-ring Soul Grandmaster. You..."

"Not long ago, my Soul Power Level broke through level 20. Uncle Mo Hen took me to obtain a soul ring, and I'm now a two-ring Soul Grandmaster."

As he spoke, two yellow soul rings representing hundred-year soul rings rose from beneath Mo Hui's feet and revolved around his body.

Gasp—

At the sight, all the teachers present drew sharp breaths.

A ten-year-old Soul Grandmaster—this broke Nuoding Academy's record. Even that genius with level-five Innate Soul Power had only become a Soul Grandmaster at the age of twelve.