Having secured the Immortal Herb resources, the next step was obtaining his Third Soul Ring.
After Tang Yu and Tang Tian left, they headed straight for the Star Dou Great Forest.
On the way.
After thinking it over carefully for a long time, Tang Yu decided that he still wanted to participate in the next Soul Master Competition.
[Mission Two: Beat Tang San again in the Soul Master Competition and win the championship. Reward: one Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone whose age could continuously increase along with the host's cultivation.]
A Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone that could continually increase in age as his realm improved was in no way inferior to an External Soul Bone. It would be an enormous help to Tang Yu in the future.
If he missed this, Tang Yu would never have another opportunity like it.
So he absolutely could not give up this mission or its reward.
However, if he wanted to participate in the Soul Master Competition, Tang Yu had to join an academy and become a core team member.
As for which academy to join, he still needed to think it over.
He first told Tang Tian about his thoughts. "Father, after obtaining my Third Soul Ring, I want to join a Soul Master Academy to cultivate."
Tang Tian frowned. "Yu'er, why do you suddenly have such an idea?"
"Everyone in the Clear Sky Sect has the Clear Sky Hammer Martial Soul. The experience we gain from fighting other soul masters is too limited. I want to spar against all kinds of different Martial Souls and different types of soul masters."
"Only then can I accumulate more extensive and well-rounded combat experience. I believe that would be of great help to my growth."
"Father, I want to become a true powerhouse." Tang Yu was exceptionally serious.
Tang Tian approved of Tang Yu's idea and felt that he was right.
If he remained cultivating in the sect, all he would face were Clear Sky Hammer Martial Souls. It would be easy for his combat methods and combat awareness to become fixed.
Over the more than ten years the Clear Sky Sect had lived in seclusion, many members of the younger generation had developed this problem. Because they had almost no experience fighting soul masters from the outside world, many of them had become rigid in their fighting styles, thoughts, awareness, and subconscious instincts.
When they fought other Martial Souls, problems would easily arise. Their lack of experience meant they did not know how to respond in actual combat, or could not promptly judge the correct way to respond.
Tang Tian knew this.
But there was nothing he could do. Given the Clear Sky Sect's circumstances, most disciples were not allowed to train outside.
If Tang Yu wanted to join a Soul Master Academy to cultivate, he would also need the approval of the Sect Master and the Elders.
Tang Tian fell silent for a moment before asking seriously, "Yu'er, do you truly want to join a Soul Master Academy to cultivate?"
"Father, I'm absolutely determined!"
Seeing how resolute Tang Yu was, Tang Tian agreed just as readily. "Fine! When we return, I'll tell the Sect Master and the other Elders and have them agree to let you cultivate at an academy."
In Tang Yu's memories, Tang Tian had been stern, serious, and a demanding father.
But thinking back, it seemed Tang Tian had never refused any of Tang Yu's requests.
Tang Yu said warmly, "Thank you, Father."
Tang Tian asked, "Then which academy do you plan to join?"
Tang Yu began considering the question again.
Since his main purpose in joining a Soul Master Academy was to win the Soul Master Competition and complete Mission Two, Tang Yu naturally had to join a strong team.
He did not have absolute confidence that he could lead six weakling teammates to the championship by himself.
After all, the Soul Master Competition was a seven-man team tournament. What mattered was team strength and coordination.
Among the strong teams in the next Soul Master Competition of the original work were the Martial Soul Hall Team, Heaven Dou Team One, Star Luo Team One, as well as Skywater, Divine Wind, Blazing Fire Academy, Elephant Armored Academy, Thunder Academy, the Five Great Elemental Academies, and Shrek Academy—nine teams in total.
The other participating teams were all fairly average in strength.
As a member of the Clear Sky Sect, Tang Yu first ruled out the Martial Soul Hall Team. There was no way he could join them.
Tang Yu would not choose Shrek Academy either. He did not like being around that group, and in this life, without the Immortal Herb resources, the Shrek Seven Devils had been mostly crippled.
It would already be difficult enough for them just to qualify through the Preliminary Tournament.
The Five Great Elemental Academies only accepted students with corresponding attributes. Thunder Academy was the only one Tang Yu could choose, since his Clear Sky Hammer carried the lightning attribute.
So after carefully counting them up, Tang Yu actually had very few academies to choose from: Star Luo Royal Academy, Heaven Dou Royal Academy, and Thunder Academy.
"Without question, Star Luo Royal Academy is the strongest of these three academies, but it's simply too far from the Clear Sky Sect." By the time Tang Yu's thoughts reached this point, he already had his answer.
He replied, "Father, I plan to join Heaven Dou Royal Academy."
Thunder Academy was quite strong, but it was not as strong as Heaven Dou.
Heaven Dou Academy's team lineup was very well-rounded. In Tang Yu's view, it suited him better.
"Heaven Dou Royal Academy? That works." Tang Tian nodded. "Once you obtain your Third Soul Ring, I'll take you to Heaven Dou Royal Academy to enroll."
Tang Yu smiled. "Father, are you planning to act first and report afterward?"
"So what if I am? Since I've agreed to let you cultivate at an academy, then you can go. Going earlier or later makes no difference."
Tang Yu gave him a thumbs-up. "Impressive!"
Tang Tian's expression did not change at all in the face of Tang Yu's praise.
He pretended to look at the scenery outside the carriage window, but where Tang Yu could not see, the corners of his mouth were already threatening to rise. Damn mouth! Don't curl up! I'm a stern father who doesn't smile easily in front of Yu'er!
The journey from Sunset Forest to the Star Dou Great Forest was much farther, taking roughly a week.
Along the way, Tang Tian absorbed one of the Mad Strength Purple Gold Ginseng plants, and his Soul Power directly broke through from the peak of Rank 93 to Rank 94.
He could also clearly feel that his cultivation speed had become much faster than before.
Tang Tian was overjoyed. "As expected of the Mad Strength Purple Gold Ginseng recorded by our ancestor Tang Chen. At this cultivation speed, I'll surely break through Rank 95 in the future. I might even have a chance to step into Rank 96!"
After seeing the effects Tang Tian achieved after absorbing it, Tang Yu also decided that he would absorb the other Mad Strength Purple Gold Ginseng later.
Seven days later, father and son arrived at the Star Dou Great Forest.
"Yu'er, although you absorbed those two top-grade body-tempering Immortal Herbs containing Fire Poison and ice poison, greatly strengthening your physique, isn't choosing a four-thousand-year Third Soul Ring still a little risky?" Tang Tian asked worriedly.
"No problem, Father. Trust me."
Tang Yu knew just how greatly those two Immortal Herbs enhanced one's physique. In the original work, they had directly allowed Tang San's Fourth Soul Ring to reach the Ten Thousand Year Level. His choice of four thousand years was already relatively conservative.
"Fine. Then Father will hunt you a four-thousand-year soul beast." Tang Tian nodded and led Tang Yu deeper into the Star Dou Great Forest.
There were many soul beasts with four thousand years of cultivation near the Inner Area.
The two chatted as they walked.
"Yu'er, our Clear Sky Hammer Martial Soul has a long history of inheritance. Through the experience passed down by countless generations of our ancestors, there are two Soul Skills that we must basically master."
"These two Soul Skills are Clear Sky Bodyguard and Soaring Strike."
"I suggest that you consider Clear Sky Bodyguard for your third soul skill," Tang Tian said.
P.S. I was worried that I might have remembered wrong, so while writing this, I specifically checked the original work. Clear Sky Bodyguard and Soaring Strike are not inherited Self-Created Soul Skills, nor are they any kind of ultimate art or secret technique. They are simply Soul Ring Soul Skills.
As for why one can directly choose a Soul Skill, the next chapter will explain it. Please keep reading.
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